The chapter begins with the interview of Minuette, much to her shock. She doesn’t think that her job and life are that important but the unicorn interviewer correctly her. So Minuette finally has the courage to talk about herself and reveals that she is responsible for Cadence’s schedule and the first aid medic of the Princess. But so far that skill was never needed. She is also very fixated on dental hygiene and her attention to detail could even impress Twilight Sparkle. The pony actually wanted to become a dentist as a child but she couldn’t handle being a doctor and all the suffering that they usually see. She keeps having horrible nightmares of ponies in misery, so she knows that she wouldn’t be able to handle it. Her interest in dental hygiene did lead to her knowing a few spells that can keep things clean, including Shining Armor.
But that isn’t her only ability, her real talent lies with order and time. She even was at Celestia's School For Gifted Unicorns and her dragon egg test ended with her making sure that Spike has healthy teeth. Celestia likely found that hilarious. At the school she also ran into Twilight but her efforts to befriend her were as fruitless as befriending a brick wall. Then this very same brick wall ended up befriending five ponies to save all of Equestria. Minuette’s obsession with dental hygiene started when her parents fell in love with her own pretty smile. They found her as a doorstep baby and the only things with her were a note and a fob watch.
The next one is Sunset who seems a bit afraid of the interviewers. She admits that while the pegasus did do a lot of dangerous things in the past, she was never as afraid as she was when the others forcefully interrogated her. Eventually she gains the courage to talk more about herself and her role is it to deliver Cadence’s messages. She does enjoy her job very much, especially when it involves flying, which she did love since she was young. Sunset also thinks that Celestia is a good person and it is hard to take these rumors about her seriously once you have met the real ruler. The pegasus also plans to eventually go back to her family and to continue their business after she has seen the world. And while she does miss her old friends, she also gained a few new ones with her work like Cadence, Twinkle, Minuette and Sparkler.
Twinkle Shine is next and she is a lot less humble and less shy compared to her two fellow hoofmaidens. She takes a lot of pride in them being able to turn normal Cadence into Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. So this time the interviewers don’t need to encourage her and she begins to talk about herself. Similar to Minuette, she was also in the same school and met the same anti-social brick wall. Twinkle’s main task is it to take care of Cadence’s appearance and she knows how important it is for a ruler to look impressive enough to the citizens, especially if that ruler is also a goddess and has to live up to even higher standards.
It turns out that they are actually supposed to visit the Dragon Queen on this journey and to prepare them, Cadence did show them pictures of the Queen and ended up terrifying Twinkle Star. Unlike the others she seems happier with her profession and might either continue doing this or go into hairstyling. And she really likes Cadence’s mane and wonders if she could eventually end up styling an energy-like mane on Cadence’s head. The unicorn interviewer does warn her that these hair needs to be kept clean as otherwise sentient life might grow inside.
Then perspective switches back to Minuette who has a minor breakdown and it all about time and schedules. It reminds the interviewers on the Smartypants incident when Twilight enchanted her doll to be loved by all. They do agree that a good plan is important but you shouldn’t loose track of the present time as you plan for the future. But it is very hard to create a schedule that actually includes time for the unexpected. After being asked about it, the pony also reveals her point of view of how they ended up in this position.
Twinkle Shine found the ad but for now Minuette is more concentrated on Lemon Hearts, known angry protector of all lemons. Never try to burn down life’s house with lemons on her watch. They already all have scholarships to get them through college but being hoofmaidens would make the process a lot cheaper and simpler. The pony has an eye for details and can see how the ad is structured and what that is likely meant to accomplish. After befriending Cadence, Minuette began to understand how horrible the “Princess Molestia” articles are for Twilight and Celestia. How these articles caricature the very idea of friendship beyond age and turn it into demented lust.
And Minuette still wonders if becoming hoofmaidens might actually make college more difficult for them instead. Twinkle Shine is exited about working with royalty but Lemon Hearts couldn’t care less. Yet the idea of brushing Cadence’s teeth for her is strangely interesting for Minuette but as soon as the first work day started, she learned the truth in a rather embarrassing manner. And while the pony will not talk about that incident, Twinkle Shine has more to say about the rest of the story. She, Minuette, Lemon Hearts and Sparkler were looking for something payable but still impressive enough for Canterlot standards to eat. There she found the ad and thinking about it, Cadence is the only Alicorn with no bad press.
So she went directly to Moondancer with the ad but the idea of doing so basic things for the Princess does not interest her friend that much. Twinkle on the other side always wanted to be a hairstylist yet at the same time she didn’t want to disappoint her parents, who thought that it wasn’t profitable enough. Being responsible for the hair of the Goddess of Harmony and Music on the other side sounds much MORE impressive and might win the approval of her parents. In the end Moondancer still politely declines the offer but thinks that maybe Minuette might be interested. Both Sparkler and Lemon Hearts do decline as well, leaving Twinkle and Minuette short of one member. Then they did meet Sunset.
Unlike the others the pony is rather evasive about her part of the story. Eventually she says that after leaving the circus, she was unable to find work that does fit somebody with her very specific abilities and her search for a place to live brought her to Canterlot. She wasn’t exactly welcomed but even the saviours of the world aren’t greeted that nicely in Canterlot. It didn’t bother her much since she didn’t intend to stay. But then she saw an ad for the position as a hoofmaiden and remembered that while Celestia is seen as eternal by everybody, Cadence was born into this world not so long ago. And the circus did ask for her blessing since they need to coordinate their moves in perfect harmony and she actually gave it to them. They really appreciate that the Alicorn of Harmony took the time to read their letter and answered it. Plus Cadence’s role as a diplomat would allow Sunset to see the entire world, so she decided to give it a try.
Twinkle and Minuette quickly gain their positions with their abilities but Sunset is clearly the much less obvious choice. She only has experience with working in the circus. After being asked about why she had to leave her family work behind and why she wants to work with the Princess finally she gets asked the questions that decide if she could become Cadence’s messenger. And much to her shock after the rather unemotional job interview, she is accepted for that position. Then on their very first day Sunset meets her two fellow hoofmaidens for the very first time. Despite their friendly greeting the Pegasus feels being left out, not only because of her race but because she is an outsider and isn’t from a noble bloodline. Instead of the expected rejection they like her name and teeth and quickly Minuette deduces that she must be working as a performer.
Sunset can also see how much energy Twinkle Shine puts into everything and how Minuette is able to scan every detail around herself. Eventually she reveals her past to them but instead of being ridiculed, they support her and talk about their own family issues. One thing leads to another and soon they know each other very well. Soon a new friendship is born.
