Trixie hooked her forelegs over the railing as she watched the carriages draw closer. Fleur watched impassively as the filly did her best to climb up her neck to get a better view, and Twilight tried not to do anything because it was less painful that way.

"Ah! There you are!" said a voice from off to their left. It belonged to Octavia who was rapidly approaching them, "I've been looking all over for you."

"I'm guessing everything went okay then?" Fleur asked once Octavia had positioned herself next to them.

"More than okay actually. You have no idea how nice it's been to play again. I've made sure the actual cello player is... incapacitated for the rest of the day so I should be safe to play with the band through the party and good gracious Twilight! Where's your horn?"

"Didn't you know? Twilight's a bona-fide earth pony now." Trixie snorted and went back to looking over the rail, muttering something about stupid alicorns and their stupid powers.

"I've disguised it with magic. Since you're playing with the band I had to come up with another cover story and now I'm going as an actual guest, so to speak."

"I see. Fair enough I suppose. I do have something I want to talk to you about actually," Octavia said, addressing them all. "It's about something I've noticed about the music I've been playing. The songs, they're all from Equestria."

"Really?" Twilight said with genuine surprise. "How are songs from Equestria here?"

"The same way the rest of the stuff from Equestria is getting here probably," Trixie said as she continued to stare out over the rail.

There was a quiet clonking sound as Fleur facehoofed, "I knew there was something I was meant to talk to you about. Loads of stuff in this ship was made in Equestria. Decor, cutlery, drinks! Loads of stuff!"

"But... that doesn't make sense," Twilight insisted. "How would all this stuff get here? And why?"

"Did you ask Celestia what it was she was exporting into Mareitania?" Fleur asked. "Because I'm guessing most of it has ended up in the hooves of the Duke, or at least his son."

"But why though? I've been working under the impression that the Duke had absolutely no respect for Equestria and certainly not for anything that came out of it." Twilight tried to sit down to ponder the mystery but yelped and changed her mind when the dress tried to get intimate with her.

"Are you okay?" Octavia asked cautiously.

"I'm fine, it's just that this dress wasn't made for a pony with my proportions. That or dressmakers in Mareitania really hate their clientele. I'll try and make some more adjustments later when we're out of sight."

"Do you think that the Duke knows about all this stuff from Equestria?" Fleur asked, "This could all be the work of the Viscount since I get the feeling he's a bit of a fan."

"What makes you think that?" Trixie asked, her head bobbing up and down as she spoke since her chin was resting on the rail.

"Well he was at the Equestria games. In fact he was sat barely ten meters away from you, Twilight."

"He was?" Twilight frowned in thought as she tried to remember. The pony with the stupid hat, silly beard, ridiculous blue cape and the white unicorn mare with the oversized headdress came up in her mind, compared with memories of meeting them at the summit just prior to Tirek's attack. "Omigosh! You're right! He was!"

"And this helps us how?" Trixie said questioningly, finally turning to look at the others.

"It could mean that he's open to Equestrian philosophy," Twilight told her. "If we can get to him perhaps we could encourage him to increase contact with Equestria. Perhaps we could even get him to make changes so that unicorns get treated better and pegasi could live free!"

"I doubt it. Need Trixie remind you that the Duke rules here, not the Viscount, and that if changes were to be made I'm sure the Viscount would be trying to make them. Since he isn't I guess he doesn't care much."

"But all the visits he's made to Equestria must mean something?" Twilight said, almost pleading in the hope that she could have a way to resolve this whole thing peacefully.

"Twilight," Fleur said as kindly as she could, "you've met Prince Blueblood right?"

"Yes, many times."

"Then I assume you know what he's like. The Viscount is Mareitania's equivalent; a ponce, a twit, a bit simple with no real power, and no desire to change the status quo if it keeps him in the lap of luxury. The only difference is that one day he will rule, unlike Blueblood. He probably treats all those visits to Equestria as holidays."

Twilight deflated as what Fleur said settled in her mind and grouched slightly that despite her being a princess, Fleur was probably more politically savvy than she would ever be. "He could at least be an ally though if we do start something here."

"Perhaps," Fleur conceded. The train of carriages was now on the outskirts of town and were starting to head down the road through the centre of town towards the docks. The townsponies were lined up along both sides of the road and were cheering madly as the carriages passed them, although they might have been cheering madly with relief that it would soon all be over.

As a token of gratitude for the crowds false devotion, the Viscount hung out the window of his carriage and waved. He kept waving until his carriage pulled up alongside the boat, which as far as Twilight could tell had moved to its current position without her ever noticing. She jumped when, from somewhere on the boat, there came a loud toot and searched about for the source and quickly became worried when she noticed the columns of black smoke pouring from the tall metal chimneys that sat side by side in the middle of the ship. "Fleur?"

"Yes Twilight?"

"I was informed that Mareitania wasn't very technologically developed and hadn't yet developed steam power. Was I misinformed?"

"No, there aren't any trains or anything and nothing was being developed that I knew about when I lived here, why?" Twilight pointed skyward to where the smoke was pouring from, "Ah... Well, fifteen years is a long time and it's not like I knew everything that was going on." She considered the smoke for a moment, "Is this going to be a problem?"

"Hopefully not. That depends what other applications they've used steam engines for."

"Such as?"

"In the hidden vaults of the Canterlot archives there are... designs... for weapons based around steam engines. Terrible machines that can go anywhere without rails, have thick protective armour and have weapons that can spew steam hot enough to cook a pony in seconds. Giant catapults that can hurl a two ton rock over a mile, and not to mention the perverse uses somepony came up with for firework powder." Twilight shuddered and turned back to the town and watched as the Viscount trotted on board. "There's a reason Celestia keeps certain things hidden from the public. A very good reason. I only found them by accident since I now have unfettered access to everything like that."

"And you think they could have stolen these designs?"

Twilight shook her head, "Nah, but that's not to say they couldn't come up with something like that anyway."

"You guys are the worst at reassuring ponies aren't you," the filly said from atop Fleur's back where she had been largely forgotten. "It's almost like you want me to freak out at what you're dragging me into."

"Hence why we really weren't sure about bringing you along for all this." Fleur nuzzled the filly affectionately, "Too late now, you're stuck with us."

"Oh don't worry, I ain't going nowhere. At the very least just to spite Trixie." Trixie just snorted scornfully as she watched the rest of the Viscount's guests trot into the ship. Once the last pony was onboard there was a shout prompting somepony to raise the gangway and untie the moorings. The boat started drifting in the current until suddenly, with a scream from the horn, the paddle wheels churned to life and started to slowly propel the boat to its destination.

"You hear that?" said Trixie, holding a hoof up to her ear. Twilight and the others did the same but heard nothing, "I'm pretty sure Trixie just heard an entire town sigh with relief."

"Weren't we meant to be departing at three?" Octavia mused out loud.

"Eh, who cares? It's more dramatic this way."

"Can't... get... it... loose!" There was a ripping sound and a cry of victory from Twilight who held up the offending piece of her clothing triumphantly in her magic. "Oh thank goodness!" she exclaimed as she wriggled her rump experimentally.

"Bravo!" Trixie cheered mockingly. "Maybe we can move you up from conquering dresses to entire countries."

"If you had any idea how painful that was you wouldn't be saying that." Twilight balled the offending cloth up and almost threw it away before reconsidering. It'd probably be better if she didn't start throwing stuff around where anypony could find it.

"I wonder how much longer Fleur's going to be?" Octavia asked as she finished buttoning up her pale lilac dress. "I was hoping she would be back before I had to return to band practice." She picked up her mask and placed it on her head, "How do I look?"

"Like Octavia with a mask and a dress on," Trixie said with an eye roll.

"You look nice," Twilight told her, giving Trixie a gentle kick. "Good luck tonight and don't worry about your belongings. We'll take care of them." Octavia smiled bravely before heading out the door.

"How come she's the only one who gets to do something they like tonight?" Trixie whined.

"Because it allows her to observe without being obtrusive, and it also lessens the chance of us being caught if somepony asks her something a noblepony should know the answer to."

"I think you're just being soft on her."

"If there was a way you could perform a magic show up there tonight, would you?"

"Well... yeah, in a heartbeat."

"And we would be happy to let you do it as long as you still did what we needed you to do."

"I guess..." Trixie groaned and flopped onto her back, "Sorry if I'm being a bitch. I guess I'm just nervous."

"You? The Great and Powerful Trixie? Nervous?"

"It happens, especially when I'm going to be acting as a prostitute in a room full of amorous rich arseholes. You're lucky it's me that got stuck with this job."

"Yeah... you're right. Thanks Trixie. You know, despite everything that's happened between us in the past, and despite all the teasing, I have to admit, I'm glad you came."

"Yeah, I suppose you guys are alright, even if Fleur is kinda bossy and that filly is a pain in the flank."

"That almost sounds like flattery coming from you Trixie," said a widely grinning Fleur from the doorway. "You know, you two are pretty cute when you're getting along."

"You're back! Did you find a room? Please say you found a room!"

"Yes Trixie, I did indeed find a room. It's in the servant’s lodgings but it should serve us well enough. Better than the cargo hold anyway."

"Don't care! I swear if we stayed in here and I woke up tomorrow with somepony staring at me I'd... I'd... I don't know what I would do..."

"I do. I'd be thankful that staring at me was all that they were doing. I doubt stowaways get treated very nicely on here. Anyway, I left the filly in the room so we best get back to it."

"Do you think we could sneak into dinner? I'm starving!" Trixie whined as she flailed her limbs like a child mid-tantrum. Twilight, who was sat on the bunk to the left of her, gave Trixie a dirty look when Trixie's thrashing smacked her right in wing.

"You're a unicorn," Fleur reminded her. "The only reason you would be in there is if you were serving the food. Even then, that's making a broad assumption that they would even allow unicorns on here to do so."

The filly jumped on the bed on the other side of Trixie and started bouncing up and down, "It's a party full of corpulent rich types. so there's bound to be a buffet going on. You can fill up at the party!"

"You know it amazes Trixie where you get these words from. Corpulent is at least a three bit word."

"Bits? Why the hell would I want one of those nasty things stuck in my mouth just for saying a word?"

"Bits is the name for the currency in Equestria," Twilight explained.

"Bits huh? That's a stupid name. Why name your currency after a torture thingy?"

"..." Twilight frowned at the thought the filly had given to her. Bits had indeed been used as a form of punishment in the dark days of pre-Equestria, so why had Celestia seen fit to name the currency after them? Knowing her mentor it was probably an ironic joke concerning the evils of money. "I don't know," she said at last. "I hadn't really thought of that. I'm guessing bits are still used around here since you know what they are."

"Yes and no," Fleur said slowly. "Being forced to wear a bit and bridle used to be the punishment for gossiping back in the really draconian days of Mareitania and is still a legit punishment for doing so. Thing is that nopony really seems to care about gossiping anymore so it doesn't really happen."

"Why not just use a gag?" Trixie asked.

"A bit allows a pony to eat and drink whereas a gag wouldn't," Twilight told her. "The main idea of a bit punishment is mostly in the discomfort and humiliation, while at the same time making talking really hard. It still allows the pony to function properly."

Fleur gave the others in the room a sly smirk, "You know, bits are still used in Equestria in some ways..."

"Oh no you don't!" Trixie burst out, giving Fleur a look of warning. "You keep your kinky fetishes to yourself!" Twilight's and the filly's eyes boggled at what they had just found out.

"Oh it's not my fetish Trixie," Fleur purred, "but I know there are some ponies out there that very much enjoy that sort of thing..."

"If you're trying to imply Trixie is into that sort of thing, good luck. I didn't even consider such things during my megalomaniacal days."

"Ponies would do that? For fun?" Twilight asked, flabbergasted.

Fleur looked smug for a moment and was about to answer when Trixie clamped her mouth shut with her magic, "Yes they do, and no, we aren't going to go into it as amusing as that would probably be." She glanced at the small clock on the wall, which showed it to be quarter to six. "It's high time we started to get ready anyway, so we have no time for a tangent right now."

"You're no fun," Fleur said with a pout once Trixie released her. "I hope you're not this prudish at the party."

"Now remember 'Lady Aramon,'" Fleur grabbed Twilight by the shoulders, "you are a high society lady so be sophisticated and charming. As much as I love your usual adorkable self it could get you into trouble here." Fleur turned to the filly and nuzzled her, "And you, 'Ancilla,' do what Twilight tells you to."

"Ugh, seriously? What kind of a name is Ancilla anyway?"

"It-uh... It means servant in old equestrian," Twilight told her, having the decency to look embarrassed as she did so.

"Servant!? You've decided my name should be servant!?"

"No, that is Lady Aramon's name for you," Fleur explained. "Since Twilight is of the bookish persuasion it would make sense that Lady Aramon is too. Sooo... giving you an old equestrian nickname would make sense for her." Fleur patted the filly on the head, "It's just for tonight, you'll live."

"That buffet better be good," the filly grumbled.

"What about us?" Trixie asked as she pulled a black satin glove onto one of her forelegs. "Are we just going as ourselves?"

"Yep, the only reason Twilight's going under a different moniker is because Twilight Sparkle is hardly an earth pony name-"

"And because the Viscount might recognise it and get suspicious of how an earth pony in Mareitania has exactly the same name," Twilight added.

"Quite, and while Twilight could get away with calling the filly, 'filly,' since that is an incredibly snooty thing to do-"

"Because calling me servant is better?"

"-I think it’s better she doesn't. So yes Trixie, we are going as ourselves since we are in fact, total noponys."

"Right, so Ancilla and I are to go to the party from the beginning-"

"And Trixie and I will join you in a bit. If you get in trouble ask Ancilla to get a message to us, and when we're all there let's try our best to keep an eye on each other."

"Okay." Twilight checked her makeup and prodded at her mane which Fleur had spent some time piling up onto a beehive on the top of her head. She gently placed her mask on her face and took a calming breath, "Okay, I'm ready."

"Good luck," Fleur said to her without looking as she was helping the filly with her mask. "Remember to head up to the guest rooms before heading to the ballroom so you don't look suspicious coming from the servants quarters," she added before ushering them out the door.

"Hang on," Twilight said, pausing in the doorway. A cone of purple magic floated in front of her forehead for a moment that spat a orb of purple light at their belongings. "Just putting a teleportation marker on our stuff in case we need to teleport back here in a hurry or vice versa, y'know, just in case."

"Hey Twilight? I meant to ask before why the Viscount would know your name?"

Twilight gave the filly a calm yet stern stare, "I hope that's not how you plan to address me amongst our peers," she said as haughtily as she could.

The filly rolled her eyes and bowed deeply before asking again in a far more refined, yet cheekily chipper voice. "Apologies m'lady Aramon, I merely wished to enquire about how the Viscount would recognise you?" she said before giving Twilight a cheeky smirk.

Twilight um'd and ah'd a few times while she tried to decide how to answer honestly while not giving away too much and staying in character. "Well, you see, back where I come from I'm recognised as a fairly important pony, and as such I have had reason to meet the Viscount on one of his visits, if only briefly. That's why I fear he might recognise me."

"An understandable concern m'lady, but I don't see how that would be an issue?"

Twilight almost giggled with joyful amusement at the filly's posh accent before getting serious again, "I'm not meant to be here. Ever. That's why it's an issue. By the way, might I commend you on your elocution."

"My what now?" The filly looked genuinely puzzled by what she said.

"That somewhat ruined it but I meant you talk very nicely."

"Oh, thanks!" The two ponies continued in silence, both of them interested in what they could see of the boat around them. Now they were away from the cargo hold and the servants quarters the décor was decidedly nicer. If Rarity were there she might have commented on the dark wooden panelling and the interestingly baroque styling's of the hallways other fixtures. Since Rarity wasn't there though all they could say was that it looked nice, although Twilight was reasonably sure the filly was looking around for small, expensive and easy to steal items, rather than actually admiring how it looked.

Soon enough they came upon the ballroom and Twilight finally got to see what the others had told her about. The filly, sensing her moment, scrambled ahead to open the double doors for her and Twilight had to take a moment to remember not do it herself with her magic. She stepped through onto the landing of a staircase that led down to the ballroom floor, while to either side of her were two smaller staircases that led to a single balcony that wrapped around the entire room.

Twilight stared slack-jawed as she wondered about how they managed to create this on a river boat. While the ballroom wasn't that big, it was larger than what she expected to find. Clearly the boat was bigger than she had thought it to be. She looked around hoping to see one of two ponies. Octavia she spotted easy enough on a stage at the opposite end of the room in the shade of the balcony. Her heart fluttered a little with relief that she was okay.

The other pony was proving harder to locate due to the small issue of the room being quite full of ponies, each of them wearing a mask including the servants that were winding their way through the crowd holding trays in either their magic in the case of unicorns, or upon their backs if they were earth ponies. She was also made aware of something else when the filly brought it to her attention.

"There. Buffet. Hungry. Can I? Please?" The filly was almost dancing on the spot in her desperation. Twilight had to admit the buffet along the wall to her left was an impressive sight, complete with edible flower arrangements and ice sculptures.

Twilight brought her head down to the level of the filly's and whispered in her ear, "Okay, but keep your eyes and ears open for anything of use to us, and if somepony asks why you're here you're to tell them you're here as a hoofmaid to Lady Aramon."

"Uh-huh." The filly zoomed off down the stairs towards the buffet leaving Twilight alone. Okay Viscount, where are you? She remained at the top of the stairs, doing her best to try and find some clue as to the whereabouts of the Viscount while at the same time doing her best to look casual and slightly aloof. It wasn't an easy look to maintain.

This isn't working... Deciding it was perhaps time to mingle, Twilight bit her lip and descended the stairs as regally as she could. Before she had even got to the bottom she was accosted by a tan coloured stallion wearing a navy military style jacket and matching mask. He gave a small bow and offered a hoof in assistance down the last few steps which Twilight graciously accepted even though it technically made things harder since it gave her one less hoof to work with. He then kissed her hoof and introduced himself.

"Good evening my lady, and must I say you look ravishing tonight."

"Why, uh... thank you good sir. You're... cutting quite the-uh, dashing figure yourself." Twilight grinned nervously and hoped the mask was hiding the fact that she was already sweating profusely.

"You're too kind," he said, giving her another bow. "Might I ask your name?"

"Oh, my apologies, my name is Twiaaa- Lady Aramon." Twilight mentally kicked herself for stumbling so soon. "And you might be?"

"Sir Perry, at your service. Are you alright my lady? You seem ill at ease."

"Sorry, sorry! I'm not exactly used to this sort of thing and I'm worried I'm making a complete fool of myself." Twilight hadn't intended to be so honest then but there was no going back now.

"First time to one of the Viscount's balls?" Twilight nodded and the stallion grinned easily, "Don't worry, they usually end a lot more informally than they begin. I don't suppose I could ask where you're from? I don't recognise your name."

Luckily Twilight had planned ahead for this bit, mostly by attempting to divert the question. "Are you trying to rob a lady of all her mystery Sir Perry?" Twilight tried to titter demurely but even to her it came across as a bit manic. "If you must know, my family struck it rich down south so we're new money, so to speak."

"I see, I see. Sorry if I seem a bit forward but was that filly your daughter? I only ask because this is hardly the place for a filly of her apparent age."

"She's not my daughter!" Twilight blurted out before catching herself and coughing to cover her embarrassment, "She's my hoofmaid."

"Hoofmaid? Rather young for a hoofmaid isn't she?"

"Well, that's... the way I like 'em." Sir Perry stared at her a little blankly before grinning and giving her a saucy wink. "I bet you do," he said while Twilight suddenly realised what she had inadvertently implied.

"No no no! That's not what I meant! I just meant that she's special! I mean she's different! No! Wait, she's-uh... she's... errrrgghhh..." Twilight fell silent and stared at the space between her hooves, wishing the floor would open up and swallow her. It was a much as she could do to not teleport away and spare herself the shame of being in public right now.

Perry patted her on the back consolingly, "It's alright my dear, we all have our own peculiar taste's."

"Eh-heh, eh-heh-heh-heh..." Kill me now... Twilight took a cleansing breath and did her best to compose herself, "I don't suppose you know where the Viscount is? It would be improper of me to not wish him a happy birthday at his own party."

"I don't think he's arrived yet. Knowing him he's probably off powdering his nose before arriving fashionably late at his own party."

"Powdering his nose? He's wearing a mask, why would he need makeup?"

"Hah! Good one your ladyship. Now if you'll excuse me I have other guests I must say my hellos to." He departed and left Twilight on her own which suited her fine because it gave her a chance to silently burn with shame and humiliation. Bravo Twilight, I can fight ancient magic stealing centaurs, demonic shadow kings, and other eldritch abominations, but can't hold a conversation with a pony without humiliating myself. Good thing we're wearing masks.

"Can we go to the ball now? I'm hungrrryyyyy!" Fleur rolled her eyes for what felt like the hundredth time in ten minutes as she was reminded again of just how petulant Trixie could be. She looked at the clock and noted that it had been half an hour since Twilight and the filly had departed. She had thought to wait for an hour before Trixie and herself made her way there but Trixie didn't seem interested in waiting.

"Alright, fine. I'm sick of the sound of you whining so yeah, let's go." Trixie bounced off the bed and stood at the door dancing with giddy anticipation while Fleur took a moment to make some final checks on their outfits and to force a mask onto Trixie's head since she had almost forgotten it. "Okay, I think we're ready."

"We've been ready for ages Fleur. I have no idea why you made us wait so long!"

"Because it wouldn't be fit for a lady like Twilight's pretending to be, to arrive at the exact same moment as a couple of gaudily dressed prostitutes. Now come on." Fleur led the way out of the room and up towards the guest rooms, hoping to take the same route as the others to the ball since it would look odd even for them to arrive through the servants entrance.

As they walked neither of them couldn't help but notice they were drawing attention due to the way they were dressed. "I feel dirty," Trixie whispered out the corner of her mouth.

"And you look like you feel dirty," Fleur whispered back. "You're meant to be a prostitute so you could at least try to act a little shameless." As an example Fleur put on her most sultry expression and put a little more sway into her hips.

"You walk like you're drunk when you do that you know," Trixie informed her. Fleur ignored her and hurried on a few steps so she was ahead of Trixie. They made it to the guest quarters and mixed into the few ponies that were arriving late to the party. They kept a respectable distance behind a couple of ponies and were about to follow them into the ballroom when a grey stallion in a black suit stopped them.

"I really don't think you're meant to be going in there," he told them.

"Sure we are," said Fleur. "We're here as... entertainment for the guests so inclined to do such things."

The stallion almost growled at her, "The 'entertainment' as you call it, don't go in the ball for so many reasons I could almost laugh about why you would think that." The stallion gave the appearance of being completely humourless, "If you would follow me I will escort you to your workplace."

"But, but, but, buffet!" Trixie whined. "I was promised a buffet!" Fleur almost slapped her as her sense of control over the situation whirled away from her. Instead she stood behind her and poked Trixie on the rump with her horn until she reluctantly followed after the stallion.

The stallion led them past the ballroom to another room that was heavy on the red velvet. In the center of the room was a mass of cushions upon which lounged a collection of mares and a couple of stallions, earth ponies and unicorns alike, none of which were wearing masks. A corridor led to a series of doors, and the sounds coming from at least one of them left no room for doubt what those rooms were for.

They were greeted by a stone faced mare who did her best to look down her snout at them despite the fact that Fleur was a whole head taller than her. "And who might you be?" she asked, the sneer in her voice grating on Fleur's ears.

"They were trying to get into the ballroom," the stallion told her. "Try to make sure your charges don't go wandering off again."

The mare humphed indignantly and the stallion departed. "Take those masks off, you won't be needing them here," the mare said brusquely. "Since you're obviously new here I'll tell you what you need to know," she pointed at the cushions where one of the mares reclining on them waved in greeting, "You are to wait here until a stallion or mare comes to make his choice, should they pick you, you to take them to an empty room and provide your services. Once they are satisfied you are to clean yourselves up in the room then return here in preparation for you next customer, understood?" Trixie held up a hoof. "Yes?"

"How much are we getting paid for this?" Fleur looked sideways at Trixie since that wasn't a question she was expecting her to ask.

"You are to be paid a sum of one hundred marcs, with a bonus of ten marcs per customer serviced. The more you work, the more you earn. Is that all?" Trixie didn't have anything else to ask and Fleur certainly didn't. The mare nodded at them and departed to go sit at a desk at the entrance.

Fleur tossed her mask away and slumped onto one of the cushions followed by Trixie who dug into the bowl of fruit she found in the center of the cushions. "Fleur?"

Fleur sighed, "Yes Trixie?"

"When this is over I'm going to murder you. A lot."

"Fair enough."

"Hi," said one of the unicorn mares gathered around them, "First time doing this?"

Fleur studied the mare for a few seconds before answering. She was a pale aquamarine colour with a cream coloured mane and tail, and to Fleur's mind looked far too sweet and innocent to be doing something like this. "Yeah," Fleur told her. "I'm a bit nervous to be honest."

"It's okay, we all had our first time once, but honestly it's not too bad. Most of the ponies that come here are usually very respectful and nice. My name's Tulula. What's yours?"

"I'm Fleur and this is Trixie." Trixie nodded at Tulula with her mouth full of grapes.

"Well it's super nice to meet you both," Tulula said to the both of them. Fleur was going to say more when a finely dressed stallion fell into the room after tripping over his own hooves. Even so early into the evening it was clear he had drank quite a lot.

"'m 'ere to take 'is lordships' challenge," he slurred once he had got back onto all four hooves.

The mare at desk did her best to hide her grimace with a smile but didn't quite manage it. "Apologies my lord but the challenge isn't quite ready yet, but if you go and wait in the furthest room down there I will have it brought to you in a few minutes." The stallion nodded drunkenly and stumbled off to wait in the designated room.

"What's the challenge?" Fleur asked. Trixie leaned in closer to hear the answer.

"The challenge... is... well, it's a pegasus."

"A pegasus?"

"Mmhmm, every party like this the Viscount has a pegasus mare brought on board and the challenge is to have sex with it. Any noble pony that lowers themself to fuck her gets awarded one thousand marcs on the spot. Last party he held he gave away almost thirty thousand marcs!"

Fleur felt sick with horror, and Trixie looked the same. "That's disgusting!"

"I know. Having sex with a pegasus..." Tulula shuddered at the thought.

"Huh? No, I mean, does the pegasus get a choice?"

Tulula frowned as if she didn't understand the question before giving Fleur a funny look. "What does that matter?" Fleur said nothing since it was clear what Tulula's stance on the situation was. Trixie swallowed what she had been eating and lay still, looking a little green.

A few minutes later a stallion came in leading a sky blue pegasus on a collar and leash. Her wings had been bound in their middle so they could neither stretch out fully, or fold completely. Clearly the idea was to make her look like a pegasus while completely removing her ability to fly. Judging by what Fleur could see of the pegasus's expression from behind her pink curly mane it must have been quite uncomfortable. There were also tears staining her cheeks and Fleur felt her own tears welling up in sympathy.

Fleur looked at Trixie, and Trixie looked at Fleur, and it was obvious that neither of them had adequate words to describe how they felt about this. I hate this country. I hate this country so much...

To say Twilight felt lost was an understatement. Wanderers lost in the desert have felt more secure in the knowledge of where they were going, even if it's a one way trip. So far all she had done was reaffirm her knowledge that she was awful in these situations.

She had done her best to mingle and meet ponies and get involved in conversations where she might pick up some useful information, but so far all she had done was make a lot of unneeded apologies, and learn that the celery dips were proving popular.

She had been so busy doing nothing that she had missed the arrival of the Viscount and was now trying her best to edge her way into the group of ponies surrounding him and listen in to their conversation. So far this had been a pointless effort since all she had heard was more of the same empty chatter that she had gotten off everypony else. At least that was until some mare asked a question she could finally get into.

"My lord, I heard you went to something called the Equestrian games, what was it like?"

"It was quite the spectacle," the Viscount answered in his strangely deep voice. "I can assure you that you will never see anything else like it."

"Is it true what they say, that earth ponies, unicorns and even pegasi live as equals?" Now we're getting somewhere!

"That is indeed the truth, and I must say that Celestia does an admirable job of keeping the unicorns and pegasi in line." What!? It’s not like that at all!

One of the mares in the crowd gasped theatrically, "You met the goddess Celestia? What was she like?"

"She was tall, and white, regal, and majestic. But I can assure you she was no goddess. Just because she has a horn and wings doesn't make her better than us. Any one of us could do a better job of ruling Equestria." Twilight almost bit through her lip trying to suppress her anger. She knew Celestia wasn't a goddess, but the way the Viscount had said she wasn't made it sound like he thought of her as even less. It's not being an alicorn that makes her better, it's her love and compassion for those she rules.

"It also seems that Equestria has picked up a few more princesses in the last few years. Princess Luna, who claims to be Celestia's sister, Princess Cadence who's bright pink and looks like a joke, and Princess Twilight who... Y'know what, I'm not sure what she's for. I guess even Celestia needs a pet." Twilight could feel herself trembling with rage as the other ponies laughed at the Viscounts joke.

"It must be terribly confusing," said a stallion from next to the Viscount, "having a horn and wings. I wouldn't know if I were coming or going with all that!" Twilight glowered at the ponies around her and was about to leave when the Viscounts wife caught her eye since the tall white unicorn was staring right at her. The mare gestured with her eyes towards the corner of the room and Twilight got the impression she wanted to talk.

The mare whispered something to her husband and departed with Twilight following after her. They went to the corner opposite to where Octavia was playing, and the tall mare turned to look down on Twilight. "You shouldn't be here."

"Huh?"

"You shouldn't be here Princess Sparkle. Not here in this party, and not here in Mareitania. It's not safe for you."

"Wha- What do you mean, I'm not- I'm not a princess..."

"You're the right colour, have the right stripes in your hair and I can see part of your cutie mark where your dress has been damaged." Twilight's head whipped around and saw there was a tear in the dress which she must have made during her adjustments earlier. "I can also see the parting in the feathers of your mask where your invisible horn is poking through. I'm just going to assume the same magic is hiding your wings." Twilight's jaw hung open in amazement and the mare smiled at her. "One of the joys of quietly hiding in the background is that I tend to see a lot more than most others."

"I- me- I- huh?" Panic swiftly followed after the confusion, "Please don't tell anypony!" Twilight had to curse her luck that she had been recognised by one of the four ponies in the country capable of doing so.

The unicorn gestured for Twilight to calm down, "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me. I only want to know why you're here and to warn you to be careful."

Should she trust this mare? Twilight didn't know and although she wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt since she hadn't summoned the guards as soon as she realised who Twilight was, there was far too much at risk. Unfortunately though, the time Twilight spent deliberating over this was long enough for the unicorn to develop her own suspicions.

"You're here to bring an end to Mareitania aren't you.”

Twilight hung her head and admitted the truth, "Yes, and then again, no. I'm here to put an end to the brutal regime here and make the ponies here free."

The mare gave Twilight an appraising look before smiling brightly, "Good."

"Good?"

"Yes, good. It needs to happen and seeing as how you're here it seems Celestia has finally lost patience. I knew she would grow tired of our lies soon enough but the Viscount never listens, and neither does his parents."

"I-I don't understand."

"Do you know what the Duke promised Celestia at that meeting at the Crystal Empire?"

"Yes, access to Mareitania."

"And did Celestia tell you what they wanted in return?"

"No, she never mentioned it."

"Dragons had been threatening our borders. No actual attacks but their presence was very much visible. The Duke asked Princess Celestia to approach the Dragonlord and force him to stop the incursions since there is only one individual the dragons fear and respect as much as the Dragonlord and that is Celestia, although I imagine now that there are three more alicorns around, that fear and respect will shift to you, Princess Luna, and Princess Cadence as well."

"But why would you need to ask Celestia to do that? Don't you have an army?"

The mare looked around warily and waved Twilight a little closer. "Yes we have an army, but it's far more suited to oppressing the ponies of Mareitania than defending them. The thing about dragons, Princess, is that they fly, and without pegasi and magically trained unicorns our armies are helpless against them. Before the dragons we had to ask Celestia for help against griffons that were attacking our northern villages, again because griffons can fly and we were helpless then as well. If we were to move our armies against these threats we would lose and look weak, which is something the Duke absolutely refuses to appear as."

"So without unicorns and pegasi in your armies you're-"

"Almost completely helpless against outside threats, yes. So we ask Celestia for help and give her false promises for her aid. And now that has finally backfired because who can we ask for help against Celestia? Not that it matters to me, I'm glad she's coming."

"Um... well she's not exactly coming, per se. She's sent me to bring change to Mareitania from the inside. She's not marching an army in here."

The mare shrugged, "Either way, I see little difference."

"Aren't you concerned we might harm your husband?"

"Husband?" The mare smiled as if Twilight had told her something funny. "He's not my husband, I think a more appropriate term for what he is to me would be master."

Twilight was confused for a moment until she remembered what Luna had told her of this mare not being the Viscount's wife, but his concubine. "Sorry, Luna did tell me about your situation but I guess I forgot. So you don't care for him at all?"

"I used to," the mare smiled wistfully. "If he'd had gotten his way he'd have married me long ago, but his parents threatened to disown him if he did. About the only good thing they've ever done." The mare must have noticed the confusion on Twilight's face and felt further explanation was needed. "Just because he loves me doesn't mean I love him. I'm just a whore he picked up one night and got too attached to."

"Wait... I'm confused. Do you even like him?"

"Yeeesss... or, at least I used to. In the beginning he was a different pony and I have to admit I was quite fond of him. He used to be far more open to the idea of equality between the three tribes, but it seems the ideals of his parents have finally poisoned him, and he's barely the pony I used to know. Perhaps he might find the right path again with the right guidance, but I fear only Celestia herself could give him that. As it is I think he barely remembers that I'm a unicorn myself with some of the things he says about them."

"You sound like you admire Celestia."

"I do. She has done a marvellous job of bringing the three tribes together, and in doing so created something far better."

"But Celestia didn't bring the tribes together, that happened before she came to rule." Since the mare didn't seem to know the true story of what happened in Equestria after the ponies left Mareitania Twilight spent a few minutes telling her the hearthswarming tale.

"So in the end it wasn't Celestia that brought the three tribes together, but the ponies themselves realising their differences were only skin deep..." The mare smiled at the idea before a frown spread across her face, "Where did we go so wrong?"

"By letting old hatreds get in the way of progress. Only with tolerance and friendship can Mareitania hope to recover from the mistakes of the past. It also helps to not think of ponies as three tribes, but as one people."

The mare nodded thoughtfully. Clearly Twilight had broadened her horizons a bit today, as the mare had done for Twilight. "I thank you for this talk Princess Sparkle, you have given me much to think about."

"Please, call me Twilight. I don't suppose I could ask your name? I was never told it during your visit."

"Ivory Spire, but you may call me Ivy. Lady be with you Twilight Sparkle." Ivy gave Twilight a small nod and a smile before returning to side of the Viscount who was miming something that Twilight could already tell was offensive to unicorns. Seeing him acting like that reignited some of her former anger and she turned away in disgust.

Twilight wandered around for a little and happened to glance at the clock, noting it was past nine and therefore long past the time when Trixie and Fleur should have joined her. She headed to the buffet in the hope of finding the filly. "Ancilla?" she called out. "Ancilla, are you here?"

"I'm here," groaned a small voice from below her. She looked down to see the filly crawling from beneath the table cloth. She seemed to be a bit bloated and looked ill. "Don't eat the spinach puffs, they're poison!"

"How much did you eat?" Twilight asked, trying to keep her amusement from her expression, although she needn't have worried since she was wearing a mask.

"I dunno... A lot? I've never had free food before. Well, legitimately free food anyway." The filly rubbed her stomach which gurgled in protest. "If you want something my lady it better not involve any sudden movements."

"Actually I was hoping you could go find the others. They should have been here by now."

"Anything you want me to tell them?"

"Yeah, give them my apologies in advance in case I accidentally on purpose blow a hole in the bottom of this ship and sink it."

"Riiiiight..."

Author's Notes:

You can haz chapter.

Found out there's a little blip on the map kind of village about 40ish miles south of where I live called Fleur de Lys. For reasons I don't fully comprehend this makes me obscenely happy.