The White Mare's Burden

Rarity looked out the window of the Ponyville express at what was to be her new home. It didn’t look like much, since she had already been to the more glamorous parts of Equestria. But she was willing to give it a chance. The other cities and locales she visited had surprised her, though not always pleasantly.

At first, Rarity had been forced into her study-abroad session almost literally kicking and screaming. She remembered the fit she threw at the train station. “I don’t see why I have to visit every backwards niche of society to rule over them!” she had whined to the nearest train station employee. “I can learn everything I need right here in Canterlot! Have you seen how they dress out there?“

The train passed through a tunnel, and Rarity found herself staring at her own reflection in the window. She felt she had learned a lot since she started her tour of Equestria. Where she had once felt contempt for the savages outside of Canterlot, she now felt a sense of pity. The outsiders needed her, and people like her. It was only the best and brightest who were allowed in Canterlot. In the University of Canterlot, they studied and honed their powers and studied various arts. After graduating from the University, these mages were ready to protect and uphold the rule of the Kingdom of Equestria, serving as soldiers, scholars, and government officials.

Rarity tossed her hair back over one ear and examined her reflection. Her long hair was purple and straight, curling towards the end. Rarity smiled at herself, then pouted prettily, batting her eyelashes. Practice makes perfect, and Rarity liked to think she had perfected the art of pouting.

Rarity was studying to be an emissary of Canterlot. Officials in Canterlot liked to remain aloof and rule over the rest of the domain from afar, and their elitism was becoming a problem. As a response to recent uprisings in the outskirts of the kingdom, with rebels attempting to claim independence, the Princess decreed that a portion of students from Canterlot go to live among the commoners in order to better understand the others. The common folk needed her and people like her to take care of them! How they survived without magic, she would never know.

As the Ponyville express exited the tunnel, Rarity was greeted by a wave of green. She gasped and made another practiced face, mouth opened in a perfect “o” shape. “My, it’s so green! I don’t believe I’ve ever seen so many trees!”

She wrinkled her nose, dissatisfied with her performance. “My, it’s so green! It’s soooo green! How many tree’s there are, I mean! I’ve never seen so many trees!”

That was better, Rarity thought to herself. Though she sounded less sophisticated, she thought it sounded more off-guard, and impressed. She wanted the Ponyville citizens to think she liked their quaint little village.

With all these trees, where would all the Ponies live? Ponyville couldn’t have a population of more than a thousand people or the land would be more developed. Judging from the number of orchards, the economy was probably largely agricultural. She would be surprised if they had any exports other than apples.

Rarity prepared to disembark, magically gathering her possessions from about the cabin into one of her many trunks. Just one more stay out in the goonies before she could return to Canterlot!

She stepped off the train and onto the platform. “My, it’s so green! I’ve never seen so many trees!”

Nailed it.