Mary was fast asleep in her bed warm and snug as a bug. A happy lazy pony indeed, when suddenly her alarm clock began ringing and she was forced from her comfortable bed to silence it. She sat up in bed, glancing around the room, getting her bearings. Once she did she found her nightstand to get her glasses so she could start her day without being completely blind. First was her morning shower, then she did her mane, then brushed her coat, put on her neck tie, tail, then breakfast. Today however she added one more thing to her morning to-do list: awaken the new secretary if still asleep.

She made her way down to the guest bedroom to see Trixie sleeping soundly. The azure mare snored lightly with her bedhead sticking out slightly from under the covers. Mary smiled and walked over to the sleeping unicorn. She place her hooves on Trixie, who had wrapped herself up in the blankets, and gently shook her.

"Miss Lulamoon, time to wake up." She whispered gently into Trixie's ear.

Trixie groaned turning over in the blanket. After a few more tries Mary managed to get Trixie up. Getting out of bed, the sleepy unicorn completely ignored Mary as she zombied her way to the bathroom with a loud moan. Her mane was a big tangled mess and her fur was sticking out in small patches.

Mary giggled at Trixie as she wobbled past without a word until she reached the bathroom and began to mumble to herself as she ran into the door with a loud, thud. She thought how cute it was to see her like this.

"Oh, poor Trixie." Mary sighed shaking her head.

She walked out of the room into the kitchen and prepared breakfast for the two of them along with coffee for herself waiting to see if Trixie would want something else before hand. As she sat down waiting, Trixie came out of the room looking much better still half asleep.

"Good morning, Miss Lulamoon. Did you sleep well?" she asked sipping her coffee. "I made breakfast for us. Would you like some coffee?"

Trixie shook her head. "Good morning and no thanks. Trixie doesn't prefer coffee. Water will be fine thank you."

Just as Mary stood to get the water Trixie intercepted her. "No please, allow Trixie. She can get it you eat and we'll get started for the day."

Mary shook her hooves in front of Trixie. "Oh no, Miss Lulamoon, you're my guest so I as a good hostess should get it for you please sit and eat."

Trixie was about to protest when Mary tapped a hoof impatiently with a scolding look that would make any mother proud. Trixie looked once and immediately her instincts told her to sit, so she planted her butt down on the seat and ate silently.

Satisfied with the results, Mary went to the kitchen to get Trixie a glass of water. In the amount of time it took to get to the kitchen and back with her water, a minute at best, Trixie had finished her breakfast and was sitting in her chair waiting for Mary's return. Mary's jaw hung in amazement at the speed which Trixie ate her food.

"You know, Trixie, you could have eaten slower if you wanted." She handed the glass of water to Trixie. "We don't have to be at the office until 10 o'clock you can relax a bit if you want." She stated, sitting across from her eating her own breakfast.

Trixie looked ashamed much to her surprise. "Trixie is sorry, for her bad manners. She's use to eating fast to keep up with the Pie family so we could get to work before the dawn. The moon crystals love the night and grow better under darkness." she said sadly. "Trixie meant no offense."

"Oh no, I merely meant you can eat at your own pace. This isn't the Pie farm." She took a bit from her pancakes enjoying the warm taste of the syrup and pancake mixing in her mouth. It was heavenly.

"So, you ready for your big day?" she asked excited to get help for the first time ever.

Trixie had a different opinion on the day ahead. "Trixie is nervous actually. Will the ponies of Ponyville accept Trixie after everything she's done?"

Trixie began to play with the table cloth with her magic making it take various shapes and forms. Some were very complex others were simple like spheres and stars. She has such great mental discipline, you'd never guess from the way she acts. Mary thought to herself. She put her fork down looking into her eyes.

"Don't worry I'll be there with you. If you're worried about being attacked in broad daylight you have nothing to fear, Ponyville has some of the most caring understanding ponies you'll ever meet."

"Trixie sure hopes so."

Mary placed a gentle hood on her shoulder. "Don't worry about it, dear, it'll all be fine you'll see." she spoke so softly it reminded Trixie of her mother or at least what she could remember. Which wasn't much, but it warmed her heart to hear that some pony cared for her well being.

Mother, it's been so long. I wonder how she's doing? She thought eating without a word.

As they finished breakfast Trixie did the dishes after arguing with Mary about who should do what. To Trixie since she was staying without rent she should help to earn her keep for the night, much to Mary's reluctance she agreed to allow Trixie to assist her with the house keeping for the next hour. It was easy enough since the house only had five rooms all together. Two bed, one bath, kitchen with a sizable dinning and living room. It being one story helped too.

When they finished the clock tolled nine and they began to get ready for the day. Trixie tied her mane up in a ponytail and wore one of Mary's spare neck ties and a small vest. Once finished they left the house, Trixie laughed at Mary while she fumbled her keys to lock the door with her hooves and mouth. This earned Trixie a good scolding from her new employer.

As they made their way to the town hall very few ponies were out at this hour but what few there were glared at Trixie but otherwise kept their distance. In that time Trixie was told of the finer points of her job as Mayors Assistant.

"-and you'll be in charge of keeping a complete, accurate, and detailed list of all appointments the time and location! Location is very important! I very much can't go to a meeting I can't find now can I, Miss Lulamoon?" she asked loudly so Trixie could hear from behind. Trixie herself was scribbling on a note pad as fast as she could with her magic in case the Mayor said anything that was out of the ordinary. So far she could have guessed almost everything she was told.

"Yes, Madam Mayor. I got all that. Question, how will I be doing my community service?" She asked as a young pink filly with a silver tiara ran past her saying, "I'm late, I'm late!"

Mary stopped so Trixie could catch up with her. "Actually we're taking a detour to head to Sweet Apple Acres. The Apple family will be your community service." she said continuing to walk down the path towards Sweet Apple Acres.

As they passed by a food stand a mare glared at them and made a snide comment at Trixie. As the walked down a dirt road a large sign came to view saying: Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres! The two ponies walked among the trees and foliage before coming upon a house with a large red barn next to it. Trixie was in awe at the size of Sweet Apple Acres. It was massive making the Pie rock farm seem so small and humble. Trixie wishes she never complained about how big the rock farm was. Cloudy Quartz was right. Trixie thought to herself.

They walk up to the house and Mary knocked on the door. A elderly green earth pony opened the door with a warm smile on her wrinkly face.

"Well, howdy do Mayor! And What brings you to these here parts?" she said waving a hoof herding Mary and Trixie inside.

"Nice to see you too Granny Smith. How have you been lately?" Mary asked kindly shaking the green mares hoof.

"Oh you know these old bones aint get'in any younger. Speaking of which," Granny Smith eyed Trixie who was feeling rather nervous, "Who's this fine young mare? Got yourself a young marefriend here Mary?" Granny Smith asked slyly eyeing the tan mare while Trixie was blushing.

Mary blushed intensely looking at Trixie before averting her gaze. "N-no Granny Smith! You know I'm too old to play the dating game!" she said quickly.

The old mare frowned at the tan pony, shaking her head.

"Now you listen here young'n," she said swatting Mary's backside, "I'm too old to play with young stallions and what not. You are older yes, but you aint that old. You best get them while you can or you'll end up like me!" Granny Smith laughed as she spoke her last words sitting on her rocking chair. "You aren't getting any younger so you best hurry on while the pluming's still working right!"

"GRANNY!" a voice called from the next room.

An orange earth pony mare with a stetson hat came in from the other room scolding the elderly mare. "Now you go on and leave the Mayor alone now! She has enough to worry about without you addin to it!"

Trixie recognized this pony. She made her do an applesauce facial for her with the apples she made her collect. Oh the irony. The orange pony turned to the Mayor taking her hat off placing it over her chest. "I'm right sorry about this Mayor. Granny forgets her manners sometimes these days." the glanced back at the green mare to emphasis her point.

Granny Smith huffed crossing her arms."Now you listen here Applejack, when I get my great grand kids from either you or yer brother then I'll quite my gripping. Until then..."

"Oh granny." Applejack shook her head replacing her hat. "I'm so sorry, Mayor. It ain't our business what you do with your personal life. Who was granny talk'in about anyway?" Applejack glanced around until her gaze fell upon Trixie. Then like a ton of apples hitting her it was all clear.

"What are you doing here Trixie?" she asked confused by the unicorns presence.

This caught the unicorn by surprise, she had expected the earth pony to be furious with her at first sight. Mary stepped in before the unicorn was able to speak. "You see Applejack, Trixie is here to do some community service for Sweet Apple Acres for damages rendered and she's my new assistant." she pulled Trixie closer to her studying Applejack's reaction.

Applejack had a skeptical look on her face. "Right, you excuse me for not believing that Mayor. Trixie? Really? You can do better than that."

Trixie's face fell at the harsh words from Applejack's mouth while Granny Smith frowned at her. "Now Applejack that was rude! You apologize to the young mare now!"

Applejack turned to face Granny Smith. "Now I will gladly take the extra help after what she done Granny, but I'll be a fillyfooler before I accept her help on ma farm willingly." the orange mare said stomping her hoof on the ground with pure ire in her voice. "Now if you please excuse me Mayor, I have a lot of trees to buck and chores to do. Good day." she said tilting her hat walking past Mary and bumping into Trixie hard in the shoulder.

Mary sighed walking over to Trixie. "Well that could have gone better. You OK?" she looked over her shoulder

Trixie rubbed her shoulder not because it hurt, but because it hurt her emotionally and she couldn't help but rub it to calm herself after the encounter. "Trixie is fine thank you. So now what-"

"You can come and start tomorrow at sunrise." Applejack's voice came from the room over as she trotted to the door opening it. "Now I'm sorry, I was rude. I may accept your help but I don't have to like it. You just stay away from my family and we won't have trouble. Got it?" she said leaving and slamming the door shut.

Trixie looked at the floor dejectedly. Granny Smith waddled over to her patting her on the back. "Don't you worry none young'in. Applejack is just very protective of her family and friends. She'll come around in time. Come by at noon and we'll set you up with work OK?" Granny said waddling back to her rocking seat sitting again.

Trixie gave her an odd look. "But Applejack said morning."

Granny Smith smiled rubbing her eyes. "Don't you worry none. I'l let you decide." Granny smiled at the two younger mares. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm mighty tired can you see yourselves out? I don't mean to be rude none."

"Not at all Granny Smith." Mary said gesturing to the door with her head to Trixie. The two made their way out. "Have a good day Granny Smith."

"Good day GRanny Smith. Thank you again for helping Trixie." The zure unicorn said with a polite bow.

Granny smith nodded falling asleep in her chair while Mary tenderly closed the door as to not disturb her.

"Looks like we're off to a good start Miss Lulamoon." she said cheerfully. "Though Applejack could have been a bit nicer I will admit."

Trixie shook her head in agreement. "While Trixie understands why she responded that way, she did come off a bit strong. At least she didn't attack Trixie or anything rash like that." she said following Mary. "She seemed to be calm until you asked if Trixie could work on the farm."

"Don't worry Applejack will forgive you in time. Just gotta have patience." Mary said walking next to her. "Let's get back to Town Hall. We have a long day ahead of us, and we need to discuss living arrangements for you."

As the two ponies walked down the path heading back to town Applejack watched them head off the property from a hill she stood on. Once out of site she went back to bucking the trees muttering to herself. "You best watch yourself Trixie. I'm watching you." Applejack said coldly.

Author's Notes:

Minor revisions made to this chapter.