Applejack didn't know what she was expecting when she wondered down the main street of the city, she wasn't even sure why she was doing it. Mostly to get a break from the farm. It felt like that was all she'd done with an exception of Christmas, since the fog. Work work work. Everything had to get harvested, belatedly, then things needed to be planted for winter crop. Stuff in the greenhouse needed to be taken care of. The crop needed to be flash frozen so that it would keep longer.
The list was a mountain long, and while she had help, she still felt she was working her hooves to the bone. She couldn't ask people to do and then not put her backside in gear too.
But of all things she expected it was not to see Rarity's shop all lit up. She wasn't prepared for that. The other filly's disappearance had hit her hard. Losing her and Princess Luna had almost been too much last year. But she wasn't about to lose the shop. She wasn't going to let just anyone hop on in and take over like they knew what they were doing. Which they didn't. Not like Rarity.
But Applejack didn't have a rude bone in her body. Not anymore. Or she tried to hide it real well. So as much as she wanted to, she didn't barge in and demand whoever was in answer for themselves. Instead, she opened the door and called in. "Hello?"