Days To Come

"So... How are you feelin' sugarcube?" I asked trying to break the awkward silence as we walked to town.

"Oh I'm fine. It's just that I hope Rainbow will be alright." She said with her quiet voice.

"Don't worry none. She'll be fine. It's not like she hasn't faced worse things than being without her friends for a week or two." I reassured her.

"While we're on our way, we could stop by Rarity's and see what she's up to." I said now walking toward the boutique with Fluttershy by my side.

"Hey Rarity! You in here?" I called out to her door outside the boutique.

"Applejack? Come in darling. I'm just making a dress at the moment. Sweetie Belle? Could you open the door for our guest?"

I heard hoofsteps towards the door. The door then opened to reveal Sweetie Belle.

"Hi Applejack." She said sadly.

"Well hello. What's wrong?" I asked coming in with Fluttershy behind me.

"The rock climbing didn't go as planned." She said.

That made me smile and almost laugh out loud. I guess l'll be seeing Applebloom at the stand today.

"Well I'm sorry to here that Sugarcube." I said trying to hide my smile so I'm not offending her.

"Hey sis. and hi Fluttershy." Applebloom called appearing behind Sweetie Belle.

"So rock climbing didn't work out huh?" I said apologetically.

"No. Scootaloo was the only one to not fall and get scratched up. Only because she had wings." Applebloom pouted.

"I'm sorry to hear that sugar." I said.

Rarity then came to the door with her levitating some ribbon. "Come in. Come in. I can set my order aside for now." She said opening the door fully to see a room with different kinds of fabrics on the floor and random sketches of drawings for dresses.

"I know it's a little messy. You can call it organized chaos." She said looking sternly at Sweetie Belle as if she had something to do with this.

"Sorry Rarity. But I have to go to my stand and sell my remaining apples." I said pointing to Fluttershy to back out of the doorway. "Are you comin' lil. sis?" I asked.

"Yeah. Bye Sweetie Belle. We'll try to get our cutiemarks in baking tomorrow." Applebloom said to Sweetie Belle.

"Alright. But please do come back again." Rarity said looking disappointed.

She shut the door behind us leaving Fluttershy, Applebloom, and I walk to town square.

"Come on. Look around Fluttershy." I said as we got to town square. Today's Sunday. Every Sunday around here,  some ponies set up food carts and sell their products.

"Well. Alright. But I'll be ba-" Fluttershy was cut off by Applebloom. "Look! Are those Royal Guards?" She asked.

"Applebloom! It's not polite to interrupt anypony, and it's also not polite to point." I scolded Applebloom.

"Sorry sis. It's just so weird. Why are they in Ponyville? Is Celestia in town?" Applebloom asked not flinching from my scolding. I let it go.

"Hmmm. It does seem a might odd. I'll go and talk to them. Go look around with Fluttershy." I told Applebloom.

I walked over to the nearest guard. His armor was a little different than the other normal gold. His was also gold but, it had a symbol resembling Celestia's cutie mark.

"What's goin on 'round here?"

"Well miss, we're here for protection purposes. I could say this to you, for I very well know you must be an element."

"Why in tarnation do we need protection?" I asked making him uncomfortable. He must know something I don't.

"I'm sorry ma'am. But I can not tell you. You'll know soon enough. There will be an assembly in town around here all about it this evening."

He then walked off to talk to some of the other guards. All bearing Celestia's cutie mark.

I went back to my stand to sell some of the last harvest we had last year. Thanks to Rarity and her magic, they're all preserved.

Finally Applebloom and Fluttershy came up to my stall. Which seemed to take forever for how slow business is going.

"Hey sis! Did you talk to that guard?" Applebloom spoke up first carrying a bag of what seemed to be fruits for Fluttershy presumably.

"Hey. Applebloom. Could you take control of the stall for me? I have to talk with Fluttershy silently." I waited for Applebloom to object, but luckily, she thought better of it.

"Okay. But tell me when you come back." Applebloom said to me before going over to the Apple family stall.

I walked farther away from the stall to be sure Applebloom wasn't within earshot. I then spoke up.

"Fluttershy, I need you to tell Pinkie Pie and Rarity that there's going to be a big announcement this evening." I said hoping that she would just say yes.

"What's the announcement?" She asked looking in the direction of some guards.

"I'm not sure. But it's bound to be something why the royal guards are here." I answered best as I could.

"Okay. I'll do it. Are you going to tell Applebloom?" She asked.

"Not plannin' on it." I said flatly looking towards Applebloom.

"Then I'll tell Rarity not to tell Sweetie Belle." Fluttershy agreed.

"Alright. We'll meet again 'round here Sugarcube."

I then went back to the stall and did not say anymore than I had to to Applebloom. I now will wait till evening I told myself knowing this is going to be a very long day.