Talk:Trade Ya!/@comment-1746153-20140312132254/@comment-10390252-20140312134226

In medieval times in Europe, before modern roads and transportation made it possible to distribute over entire nations, you had to go to a tradesman or craftsman to get something that you wanted. Often, these individuals would live in villages scattered over huge areas. Somewhere along the line, a tradition develped where all the traders and craftsmen in a particular region would gather together in one town for several weeks to sell their wares, meet new customers and make arrangements for work to be done elsewhere.

This appears to be what is happening at Rainbow Falls - Merchants and craftsponies from all over Equestria will be setting up temporary shops at the great Fairground (probably where the Qualification Trials were held). You will find smiths, carpenters, coopers (barrel-makers), thatchers (thatched roof makers) plus more general merchants bringing spices and silks from Saddle Arabia, ivory from Zebrafrica, furs from Griffonstan and gemstones from The Crystal Empire amongst many other astonishing and exotic items from around the world.

I have no doubt that the Apples will have a stall there to sell their apples and baked goods (I suspect that Granny may be a member of the Baker's Guild); the Cakes may be there to, as will Pinkie's family (Igneous is almost certainoly a Master of the Miner's guild). Rarity will havce a stall/tent to sell her dresses and book new clients and Fluttershy may have a tent to care for the animals brought from all over the planet for trade or simply because they want to see new places. As a Princess, Twilight will doubtless have the very richest merchants wishing to gain her custom to the point where Rainbow (who I can see appointing herself her bodyguard) will need to metaphorically beat them off with a stick.

There will be performers there too (*coughTrixiecough*); magicians, minstrels and wandering players earning bits from entertaining the crowds. The Crusaders will certainly need to be kept close at hoof otherwise there is not telling where they may end up, what they may break or to whom them may end up apprenticed.

Yes, that's another feature of these events. I can see AJ (less so Rarity's parents or Scootaloo's parents) bringing Applebloom to the Fair to arrange for her apprenticeship with a Master Apothecary if potions do turn out to be the filly's special talent. It is the sort of thing that you go to these events to do.