“And so, the movement passes,” said Mayor Mare, announcing the Ponyville Town Council's decision on the topic at hoof. “On the 52nd of Spring, Lord Noblesse Oblige: heir to the Counties of Vanhoover and Everfree Province, will be allowed to establish his Provincial Capital here in Ponyville!”

All Ponies who cared enough to show up at the Ponyville Courthouse to hear the Town Council's verdict, started to stamp on the ground and cheer out. A member of the Equestrian Nobility choosing a settlement for his or her Provincial Capital is a big deal. The Provincial Capital is the bureaucratic heart of the province. This comes with many advantages to whatever settlement is chosen for this honor. In addition to total tax exemption, there is massive incentives for organizations to open branches of their companies in the lucky location that becomes a Provincial Capital. There is also incentive for Parliament to oh-so-slightly change the domestic trade routes so that the Provincial Capital becomes a hot-spot for these trade routes. This commonly means a slight increase in business for cities as well as other small perks. But for a small township, like Ponyville, it means a huge influx in wealth as well as development.

Of the Ponyville populace who was in attendance for the town meting, there was of course the local businessponies. Among these businessponies there was arguably the richest pony in Ponyville: Filthy Rich, his wife would have been standing next to him but his wife, being the head of the school board, was one of the councilmares standing next to the Mayor. Mr. and Mrs. Cake, the proprietors of the most popular shop in Ponyville: Sugarcube Corner, were also in attendance and probably the most excited about the upcoming influx of population, business, and overall capital that Ponyville was about to experience.

Not all of the important Ponies who were at the town meting were businessmares of course, some of them weren't even Ponies. There was Zecora, the Zebra shaman and one-time hermit, who had recently cured many bizarre aliments that had afflicted the residents of Ponyville. And much to chagrin of every living thing in sight, there was Discord, the recently reformed chaos-incarnate who may or may not have cause those aforementioned aliments that the resident striped mystic had dealt with.

Even the most exalted of Ponyville's residents were present at the town meting, the Elements of Harmony. Rarity, Fluttershy, and Twilight Sparkle all stood next to each other celebrating with the town (some more sedately than others). The other three would also be celebrating, but Pinkie Pie had to foalsit the Cakes' twins during the meting. Applejack and Rainbow Dash, being the respective heads of the Agricultural Union and Ponyville Weather Team respectively, were also councilmares who were currently standing in proximity to the Mayor and (much to their discomfort) the head of the school board.

“Oh this is just. The. Best. Possible. Thing!” cried out Rarity, not being blind to the upcoming business opportunities or the fact that Ponyville could easily become another high class city like Manehattan or Canterlot. Fluttershy did say something, but it was drowned out in all of the cheering, stomping, and the celebrating.

Mayor Mare motioned for the attendees to quiet down, in the hopes of more good news, the populace gladly obeyed, if only just enough for the Mayor's voice to be heard. “Though Ponyville won't officially become the Provincial Capital of Everfree Province for another two months, Lord Noblesse Oblige will be granting our town the honor of his presence next week to discuss development plans with the town council in person, as well with the intention of connecting with the people our fair town!” The excitement in the Mayor's voice was clear as day and barely contained as the Mayor was almost hoping in place, though this was a sentiment the whole town shared in. “And so, this meting is adjourned!”

At that statement, everypony would be headed home, but with all of the good news and it just being past noon, everypony headed for their favorite eateries to celebrate. Most would have went to Sugarcube Corner, but it simply wasn't big enough to serve so many ponies, though that could easily change in the coming months.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash immediately joined their friends as soon as Mayor Mare had ended the meting. “I don't think I've ever seen a meting be so short!” Said Rainbow Dash, all while giggling. “Ah'll say, Ah'm pretty sure the council has never been in total agreement before today!” Replied Applejack, more jovial than usual.

“You would be right in that regard Applejack,” Replied Twilight Sparkle. “When I first arrived here in Ponyville, I did some research in the town archives, and this is the first time that a Ponyville Town Council has come to a unanimous decision.”

“Well, I for one, am glad that the Town Council was able to agree for this occasion,” Said Rarity, still giddy about the prospect of Ponyville evolving into a critical Equestrian metropolis. “And just think: with Ponyville being so close to Canterlot, Twilight's connections to the royalty, and the Count-to-be and his connections to the Twin Thrones, Ponyville will be a prospering city in no time!”

Twilight, being naturally studious, knew exactly what Rarity meant and simply nodded in agreement. Rarity did lose Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and even Fluttershy when she mentioned the Count.

“Um,” Fluttershy started to speak, but had a nasty habit of using her vocal cords before she fully thought out her statements or questions, only adding to her innate social awkwardness. “What do mean by 'Count-to-be?'”

Rarity actually stopped, and turned to look at her friends. Rarity lost her composure when she saw the confused looks on her friends' faces, and was left flabbergasted. So it was Twilight who explained.

“Lord Noblesse Oblige is the same age as your sisters, so while he isn't old enough to say serve in Parliament, his 'noble privilege' still gives him the ability to exert power over his family's holdings if he is the eldest member.”

The less political inclined of the group stopped and gasped. “Y-you mean he's an orphan, the same age as the Crusaders?” Asked Fluttershy, shock apparent on her face. Fluttershy's horror was made even more obvious by the fact that she spoke in a tone of voice that could be considered an 'inside voice.'

“That's rough.” Was all that Rainbow Dash could say in response to this revelation, Applejack's reaction while sedate, was still some what of a surprise.

“Ah can relate.” Was all the resident farm filly said, catching her studious unicorn friend off-guard.

“Wait! What!” Twilight had never met Applejack's parents, but with how wide spread the Apple Family was, she simply thought that Applejack's parents were helping a cousin's less successful orchard. But the possibility that Applejack, and especially young Apple Bloom, were orphans had never crossed the unicorn's mind.

“Oh Applejack, I had no idea. I am so sor-ghh.” Twilight would've continued her apologetic rant, had Applejack not stuffed her hoof into Twilight's mouth.

“Listen sugarcube, it don't bother me no more. Just don't mention it Apple Bloom. There were complications with her birth, there were no Medi-Mages on hoof, and Ma' didn't make it. Ah can't be certain, but Ah think that Apple Bloom is still hard on 'er self about it.”

Applejack removed her hoof when Twilight nodded in the affirmative. Sugarcube Corner was in sight at this point, and of course, that meant the group of five was in sight of an eccentric pink mare.

“What can I get for you all today?” Asked Pinkie Pie, holding a notepad with the limited telekinesis that can be used by all pony kind via hoof, and a pencil in her mouth.

The group of five had been a good one-hundred meters away from the famous bakery. But in the blink of an eye, the group was seated at a table inside of Sugarcube Corner. It was these antics that Pinkie Pie was famous for, and it was something that everypony accepted about Pinkie Pie and did not bother questioning.

Everypony gave their orders and Pinkie ducked beneath the table and came back with a tray of fresh baked goods. “Pinkie, you're so random.” Was that Rainbow said in amusement.

Roughly fifteen minutes had passed while the Elements of Harmony spoke about recent events in their lives and about what the future held for the town. The group of five, six when Pinkie didn't have to see to other customers, was happily engaged in converse when a familiar purple wyrmling and three well known foals came into the store.

“Twilight!” Was all Spike could say, as he was clearly exhausted. The founders of the Cutie Mark Crusaders were all obviously concerned for the well being of their drake friend.

“Geez Spike, you ran all of the way here from the schoolhouse.” Scootaloo spoke with amazement and worry in equal volumes at the dragon's stamina and seeming lack of thought towards his own health.

“Spike? What has you so worked up?” Asked Twilight as she came to her number-one assistant’s side, horrified at Spike's condition.

All Spike could do was hold up a letter as he wheezed. This sparked Twilight's curiosity.

Few ponies could send letters with their magic through Spike, among those few were the ruling Princesses of the country. Usually Celestia: Princess of the Sun, Twilight's mentor and effectively her second mother.

While the princess and Twilight did send casual letters to each other, Celestia would not usually interrupt the celebrating as she knew best how Twilight put the solar diarch's opinion before everything else, which meant this was emergency.

After taking a brief moment to make sure that Spike was alright, Twilight took the letter in her light purple magic and read aloud.

Too my beloved student,

An urgent matter has arisen concerning the noblepony that is to inherit the county you and your friends call home. I would prefer to not bother either of you, especially when you are probably celebrating your township's luck, but I feel that you and your friends are best suited to deal with the issue at hoof. As such, I request that not only yourself, but your friends, and the “Cutie Mark Crusaders” come to Canterlot. A royal transport carriage is en route for Ponyville as you read this letter, I will explain the problem to your group when you arrive.

Your friend and mentor, Celestia von Equiss.

Author's Notes:

Hello everyone reading! You can call me Spooky. This is my first story, but I hope that everyone rates honestly and fairly. Feel free to ask me questions about my story, and if you notice any typos please point them out to me in a polite way. I can't make any promises about up-date rates, but I will try to submit new chapters, frequently until the story is finished.

For the purposes of this story, everything that happened after "Games Ponies Play" is non-cannon. However, that does not mean that some events in this story won't mimic that of episodes that come after "Games Ponies Play."