Fleur lay back in her chair and swished her hooves in the three bowls that had been set up around her for her hooves to soak in. "I'm getting real sick of the smell of tea tree stuff."

"Is it working though?" Octavia asked. "The apothecary said it'd take a few days to really tell the difference."

Fleur shuddered, "Don't mention that weirdo around me. How the heck did he remember us buying laxatives that one time from months ago in a totally different town? Asking whether my friend got over her constipation isn't a typical greeting. I mean I can totally get wanting to leave Whiplash, but what are the odds of them coming here?"

Octavia sighed heavily, "Just answer the question Fleur."

"Yes my hooves feel better. I'm just a little bit annoyed that insane pony is actually good at his job." She lifted a hoof out of the water and watched the liquid drip out of the indentations left by the nails, "Too bad he can't fix the holes. Or my horn."

"You know Twilight's been working on a healing spell. Perhaps we should ask her to try healing you once we get back to Puddingarde?"

"No thanks. As far as I remember she hasn't made it work, and no offense to Twilight, but I'm not being her guinea pig. Maybe once she's perfected it."

"Hey!" The filly trotted into the bathroom, a white unicorn following after her with a box held in her magic, "Lilydrop's here with some... things."

"Weren't you supposed to be getting a dress fitted?"

"If by fitted you mean rummaging through old clothes for something that'll fit me, then yeah." The filly jumped up onto the toilet lid and sat down. "I'd rather go naked than wear some offensively frilly dress made fifty years ago for a pony half my age. Curse me for being so diddy," she finished, pouting.

"Filly..."

The filly pointed at Lilydrop, "How about you ignore me and talk to the nice pony, hmm?"

"Fine," Fleur said, begrudgingly giving the filly a short reprieve. She cleared her throat and smiled at the newcomer, "Hi."

"Um, hello. I've been to pick up your special order." Lilydrop placed the box on the floor and opened it to pull out four brown boots. "I hope they fit."

"Ooh, presents." Forgetting certain problems, she tried to pick one of the boots up in her magic, and she jammed a hoof against her forehead as a jolt of pain shot through her head. "Aaaahhhh... Don't do that again." Things only got worse as liquid dribbled off her hoof and into her right eye. "Ahh-hah-hah-ow! That fucking burns! Agh... fuck my life."

"Hold on." Lily drop gathered up an orb of clean water using her magic and helped Fleur to wash her eye out, giving Octavia a chance to pick up one of the boots and study it.

"These look like normal boots," she said after turning it around in her hooves a few times. "Brown, laces, almost comes up to her knees. Normal."

"They're meant to look normal," said Lilydrop. "I don't think Fleur would want to go around with a binder on each hoof. Don't worry, they'll do the same job."

"Isn't the boot going to go over her burns if it comes up to her knee," the filly pointed out. "Isn't that a bad thing?"

"I'm sure it'll be fine," Fleur grunted. "It sure as hell can't be as bad as getting tea tree watery... stuff in your eye."

"Actually, I never thought of that," Lilydrop admitted. "I'm sorry."

"It doesn't matter. It won't matter in the slightest if I still can't walk while wearing them."

"Which is why I also brought these." Lilydrop pulled a trio of small bottles out of the box, "I know you didn't want any strong pain killers because you need your wits, but I strongly urge you to reconsider."

"No thanks. I've had enough encounters with various forms of pain relief lately, and I think I better stop before I end up going weird."

The filly grinned at Fleur, "You're talking about laudanum aren't you? I tried that once. It was pretty fun."

"And really bad for you. What else have you got Lilydrop?"

"Birch leaf or willow bark, take your pick." She held out the two bottles.

Octavia looked closely at the bottle on the left, seeing its contents of little white pills, "Is that aspirin?"

"Aspirin?"

"Aspirin. Made from the bark of the willow tree and mixed with corn starch to be made into tablets."

Lilydrop's eyes went wide, "You know about these!? B-but my master only just worked out how to m-make them!"

"But they've been around for..." Octavia saw Fleur watching her and decided to not go any further.

"We'll take them," Fleur said once she felt that Octavia was sufficiently cowed and not about to ruin the world view of any more ponies.

"O-kay..." She placed the other bottles back into the box while Fleur stared at the remaining bottle wistfully, wishing that she could actually open it and take some. "I guess we should try those boots for size now."

"Marvellous idea." Fleur relaxed while Lilydrop and Octavia dried her hooves off, pretending that she was at a spa being pampered. She knew it wasn't true, but the delusion helped her to not feel like a helpless foal. The idea was a little harder to sell to herself as her hooves were squeezed into the boots. "Damn those are tight."

"That's the idea," Lilydrop explained. "They stop the hoof from spreading so the holes won't crack."

"I know that, but damn those are tight." Fleur kept quiet as Lilydrop laced them up, right up until her burnt leg. "Stop! Stop, that hurts too much!" she squealed.

"Sorry. I guess we'll leave that one undone for now. It's probably a bad idea to lace it up anyway. Can you stand?"

Fleur rocked forward and slowly rose to her hooves. "It still hurts a bit, but not as much." She took a few experimental steps, "My left leg still isn't up to much though. It feels like it's drunk."

"I'm afraid that might never change," Lilydrop said apologetically. "Burned places often feel numb afterwards."

"And yet it still hurts. Figure that one out." She took a few more steps around the bathroom before heading out into the bedroom. "I don't think I'll be doing any dancing tomorrow, but it'll do. Beats using that wheelchair anyway."

The filly jumped onto the bed, "What about your burnt leg though? You can't have one boot undone, mostly because it looks silly."

"I have an idea," Octavia said brightly. "Lilydrop, could you bandage her leg for me please." Lilydrop complied, and while she did so Octavia laced up the bottom of the boot around Fleur's hoof, and knotted it before lacing the rest up loosely once Lilydrop was done. "There, how's that?"

"Hmmm... it's okay I guess. Not what I would call comfortable, but passable. Thanks. And thank you Lilydrop, and your-uh, master. Do we owe you anything?"

"No-no, Lord Hayfield said he was covering the payment."

The corner of Fleur's mouth quirked up in a small smile, "Y'know, I really like that stallion."

"So if you don't need me for anything else I'll be on my way."

"I don't think we do, so thank you very much for everything, and take care."

"I thought I was supposed to say that to you," Lilydrop joked, "but okay. Bye." The unicorn left and Fleur paced around the bedroom a few more times.

Fleur paced on the spot for a few seconds, "I need to walk somewhere. Right now while I still can."

Octavia wanted to say no, thinking that Fleur really ought to still be taking easy for a while, but there was no way she could argue with how happy Fleur appeared. "O-okay, if you're sure you can handle it."

"Oh, I'm sure. Bring it on walking!" Fleur looked around for a moment, spotting the bottle of aspirin on the bed, "Could you give me a couple of those first? Y'know, as a precaution."

"I'm pretty sure that isn't what walking normally looks like," the filly commented with no small amount of amusement as they made their way down to the dining room where they hoped to find the others. They knew at the very least Summer wouldn't be there judging by the sounds coming from her room as they passed. "You're also slow as balls."

"You have no idea how weird this is filly, and I'm still kind of scared my hooves are going to crack."

"It's fine Fleur," Octavia said comfortingly, "there's absolutely no rush."

"Unless you actually want to go somewhere today..." the filly grumbled, deftly avoiding the lazy kick Octavia swung her way.

"Nopony's keeping you here filly."

Fleur sighed, "It's fine Octavia, let me handle this. Filly?"

"Yeah?"

"Shut up before I go even slower."

"Is that possible? You can go slower than this?"

"Filly!"

"Forget about it Octavia." Fleur smirked crookedly back at the filly, "It's almost exactly what I would've said."

After much awkward walking, pained grunting, wobbly legs, and over dramatic sighing from the filly, they eventually made it to the dining room, finding a few ponies setting things up for the next day.

Ivory looked up and beamed as she saw Fleur walk in. "Hey! You're walking! Check you out being all ambulatory."

"I know right! Watch out Duke, Fleur is reluctantly back on her hooves!" She made her way to the table and sat heavily, panting slightly as her hooves ached. "If he's as old as I think he is, he can't be much faster than I am."

"Those boots are a little bit... country though."

"They sure are! Put me in a little frilly gingham dress, hide my horn... stub... thing, and I'd look like a proper naughty little country gal."

"I'd like to see that." Fleur's head sunk slightly, and she turned to see Soarin standing behind her. "I can just imagine slowly taking it off you to have a roll in the hay like a proper country mare."

"The only reason I'd have a roll in the hay with you Soarin, was if I was trying to suffocate you in it."

Soarin grinned at her, "Charming as always I see."

"What can I say, you bring out the best in me."

"Really? Because I'd like to put my best in-ah!" Soarin rubbed his ribs where Octavia had jabbed a hoof at him. "Rude."

"Unless you're about to be helpful Soarin, please leave; the big ponies are trying to talk." Octavia sat beside Fleur, "And frankly your best really isn't that great." Fleur and Ivory had to stop themselves from laughing out loud.

The filly tapped him on the leg, "Come on Soarin, I'll help you find a bathroom so we can get some water on that burn." Fleur held up a booted hoof which the filly tapped one of her own against.

"Yeah, well... whatever." Soarin left, mumbling to himself the whole time until he was out of the room.

"So what are you up to?" Fleur cheerfully asked Ivory. Seeing Soarin flustered like that was the cherry on what was already a well iced cake.

"I'm trying to work out a seating plan so the ponies Hayfield thinks will be harder to convince are sat with ponies that'll be a lot easier. Of course then I have to consider their spouses and any other ponies they bring, and how they're going to be seated as well. Then there's the fact that Lord Perry and Lady Fairly despise each other for something their great grandfathers did, etcetera, etcetera." Ivory ran a hoof back through her mane and sighed irritably, "I sometimes think we should get them all drunk and see how it goes from there."

Fleur leaned forward to see what Ivory had come up with so far. "Is that how it worked for the Viscount?"

"Not really. Political allegiances aren't a big issue when there's only one side. Besides, he's as dumb as a brick and wouldn't know subtlety if it snuck up beside him and buried a knife in his chest."

Fleur snirked, "Do I detect wishful thinking there?"

"Perhaps."

Octavia twisted her head as she tried to read the plan. "So what if some Lord has one opinion, but his wife or whatever has another?"

"Now do you understand my predicament? It gets even more difficult when you factor in the weird rivalry some of their wives have."

"Oh dear."

"Seriously, we could just kill them all," the filly suggested.

Fleur patted her on the head, "No sweetie, that makes us look like the bad guys."

"Then there's Lord Castor's son Penfold, whom nopony wants to sit next to," Ivory continued dreamily.

"Why not?" Octavia asked.

"He's a bit... odd..."

The filly cleared her throat, "Smash the beetles, smash 'em, kronk kronk kronk?"

Ivory was surprised by that, "You've met Penfold?"

"Yeah, at that party thing on the boat. You don't really forget a pony with such a vendetta against beetles."

"No, I suppose not. Now, not to be rude, but I really need to get this done, so if you'll excuse me."

"Of course." Fleur slowly stood back up again. "When should we expect the guests to start arriving?"

"Tomorrow afternoon, so I suggest you all get as much rest as possible, because I can guarantee that tomorrow is going to be a headache for all of us."

The filly yawned and stretched, the long hours of a good night sleep making way for the even longer hours of what was likely to be a really boring day. She rolled onto her back to scratch her belly with a hoof before rolling to nudge Fleur into wakefulness, a brief spike of panic hitting her when she found Fleur wasn't there. "Fleur?"

"I'm in the bathroom."

"Oh." Feeling a bit silly the filly flopped out of bed and sleepily wandered into the bathroom where Fleur was being tended to by a unicorn maid. "Who's this?"

"This is Curly, Lady Lockett's personal maid. She's helping me to hide my horn stump thingy. How do I look?" Fleur turned so the filly could see her.

Normally Fleur's mane fell down the side of her head, but the maid had plaited half of it, pulling it across her forehead and under her horn before ending it by her left ear. "Simple, but it looks nice. Works too."

"Do you want her to do your mane?"

"Heck no." The filly yawned and rubbed her eyes, "What time is it anyway?"

"About half ten."

"Aww, did I miss breakfast?"

"I could bring you some breakfast if you wish," Curly offered.

"Yes please!"

"Bring it to the balcony though," Fleur interrupted. "We're going to go watch the guests arrive. In fact, bring a pot of coffee up with you, please."

"Of course." Curly curtsied and left, and Fleur grinned at the filly.

"So, how was it being totally undressed in front of a stranger?"

"Huh?" The filly's head whipped around to look at her unclothed body, her scars fully on display. "I didn't even think about that. Weird."

"It's almost like you're coming to terms with it, like you no longer think your scars are anything to be ashamed of."

"Don't you get all psychoanalytical at me Fleur, and I've never been ashamed of my scars. It's not my fault ponies hate me for having them." The filly looked at her scars again and her head drooped slightly, "Please tell me they've found something for me to wear tonight."

"On the chair by the dresser." The filly made her way to where Fleur said, finding a small red and white dress next to a simple black but elegant dress that the filly assumed was Fleur's. She struggled her way into it and found a mirror to study herself.

"I look like a frickin' candy cane. I can't seriously be expected to wear this..."

"I thought you'd say that, so I also had them make a little something for you." Fleur pointed to her dress, and it took the filly a moment to work out that she was pointing to something under it. The filly pulled at the corner she could see, revealing a small purple waistcoat. "I know that's kind of a colt thing, but-"

"Are you kidding? I love it! Finally, a fashionable piece of clothing for the mutilated pegasi." She tore the dress off and tossed it into the corner, slipping the waistcoat on instead and buttoning it up, "Fits like a glove. Thanks Fleur."

"Meh, thank the pony that made it. Now come on, let's head to the balcony; Octavia and the others should be there already." Fleur pushed the door open, "And I'm walking there! Heeee!"

The filly rolled her eyes, "Yes, walking's exciting, I know."

"Oh shut up, I know what you're like when Twilight takes you flying." The filly had to concede that one. They made their way to the balcony, finding that Octavia was indeed there, along with Summer, Ivory, and Soarin, who, along with Summer, had a small blanket draped over his back to hide his wings. "Good morning."

The others returned the greeting while Fleur and the filly took a seat. "Your mane looks nice," Ivory commented once they were sat.

"Thanks." Fleur breathed the fresh morning air in deeply, pausing as something occurred to her. "Wait, shouldn't you be with Hayfield greeting the guests?"

"I was planning to, yes, but it might not be such a good idea. You see, I was thinking about it last night, and I realised there might be a not unreasonable chance that I've been charged with treason for abandoning the Viscount in favour of you. Probably doesn't look good for me to be down there. At least not yet."

"No, I suppose not." Curly came up with their breakfast, placing it on a table next to Fleur. "Thank you," Fleur said to the maid while the filly dug straight into a croissant. Curly poured a cup of coffee for Fleur and curtsied before departing. She carefully picked the cup up in her booted hooves and savoured the aroma, "That's the stuff. So, has anypony arrived yet?"

"Not yet, but they shouldn't be long." They chatted idly, enjoying the sun as they waited for the guests to arrive. As Ivory had expected, it wasn't very long until the first guests arrived in a trio of carriages. "That's Lord... Blueberry, Lord Hatchet, and Lord Castor, meaning that everyponies favourite beetle smasher is here good and early."

The filly pointed down at a cloaked and hooded pony that was dragging a heavy trunk off the back of the middle carriage, balancing it on her back before heading inside with it. "Who's that?"

"I don't know," Ivory admitted. "One of Lord Hatchet's servants I assume. She isn't dressed like the others though. Maybe his daughter's trying to sneak in without him knowing." They continued watching as the carriages were unloaded, with more making their way up to the manor. As that was happening, Octavia noticed that Summer was shaking.

"What's wrong?" she asked, drawing the attention of the others. Summer didn't say anything, but pointed down at the ponies below, or rather three of them, "What about them?"

"They completed the challenge," Summer said quietly, still watching the three ponies.

"Challenge?" Octavia's eyes widened as she worked out what Summer was saying, "Oh Summer, I'm so sorry! Do you want to go back inside?"

"No!" Summer shouted, stunning the others. "No," she repeated a bit quieter, "I need to not be afraid of them."

The filly turned her head back towards the three ponies Summer had indicated. Two of them were servants of the various Lords and Ladies, but the third... "Did you just point at Penfold?" Summer nodded meekly, "Really? How the hell did-" The filly stopped, thinking that she should probably be a bit more delicate than she usually was. "Nevermind, you don't have to say anything."

"It's fine." Summer watched Penfold for a few seconds as he wandered off to a nearby tree in the gardens, her expression full of pity rather than contempt. "They made him."

"Made him? How could they make him?"

Ivory grimaced, "I remember that," she said weakly. "The Viscount thought it'd be funny to make him take the challenge, and naturally because the Viscount was the ringleader, everypony went along with it. Well, except for Castor. Poor bastard drank himself under the table that night, whereas normally he doesn't touch the stuff. I can't imagine how you felt about it Summer."

Summer was still watching Penfold as he scraped at the ground around the tree. "I just felt sorry for him. He didn't want to do it any more than I did."

The mood lowered after that, and they watched sullenly as a half dozen more carriages arrived. The hope that this dinner party was meant to possess was tainted after Summer's revelation, and only got worse as she pointed out a few more ponies.

"This doesn't seem like a good idea any more," Fleur said as the last guest made their way inside. "How the hell are we supposed to expect these ponies to obey our rules when they can do that to Summer so easily?"

"We'll manage," said Ivory, even though her own confidence had abandoned her as much as it had the rest of them. "Not all of them are bad."

"Are you really totally unshakably sure we can't kill at least some of them? I really think some of them deserve it."

Fleur patted the filly on the back, "Maybe next time filly, maybe next time."

Time passed, and carefully planted rumours spread throughout the guests since Ivory didn't want it to be a total surprise when Hayfield announced his intentions at dinner. So far it had been difficult to gauge how the mood of the guests was concerning the rumours, and was one of the topics of conversation as Fleur, Ivory, Octavia, and the filly readied themselves with minor assistance from Summer.

"Surely Lord Castor's experiences with his son must mean he hates the Duke and Viscount more than anypony here?" Octavia argued. "I mean, how could he side with them after what the Viscount did!"

"Actually Lord Castor is one of the ponies that I think would happily join us," Ivory agreed, "but only if some of the rest of the ponies there are in favour of joining us. He wouldn't dare go against the group otherwise."

"Surely he has a bit more backbone than that?"

"I wouldn't count on that," said Fleur. "A lot of nobles are as bad as sheep when it comes to following the herd. To be different risks a loss of influence as nopony would respect an outcast. Of course by nopony I mean the other Lords and Ladies. Normal ponies love an outcast."

"Isn't Hayfield supposed to be an outcast?" Octavia countered.

"Yeesss..." Ivory admitted, "but he's a very rich and successful one from a well respected lineage. That scores him a lot of points. They'll at least listen to him, even if they don't agree."

"I'm going to be so bored at this dinner aren't I?" the filly lamented. "Let it be known I did it purely for the free food."

There was a knock at the door, and Soarin entered. "Dinner's almost ready to be served so you might want to head down now."

"Okay. Thank you Soarin." Ivory helped Fleur apply a last few finishing touches to her makeup while Octavia pulled Summer aside.

"Are you sure you're going to be okay? I don't have to go down there if you'd rather I stay here?"

"No, it's okay. There's a little spot on the roof where I can hide. I'll just stay there. Good luck."

"Right, yes, luck... Because that is so consistently on our side." Octavia hugged Summer, "Take care while I'm gone." She followed the others out of the room, but stopped to grab Soarin and drag him outside.

"What? What did I do?"

"It's about Summer."

"I swear I'm not going to touch her. I'm not even going to bother flirting with her, and not just because it'd be a waste of time. I won't even talk to her if that's what she wants!"

"No Soarin, I want you to keep an eye on her."

"Huh?"

"I'm worried about her. I never thought about how much of her past would be dragged along to this thing we're doing, and I don't want her doing anything stupid. Promise me you'll keep an eye on her."

"I promise. Now go have fun... hmm... Perhaps fun is too strong a word. Go have something anyway."

"Thank you Soarin." She left him and trotted after Fleur and Ivory to try and catch up to them. It didn't take her long as she found them around the corner with Ivory trying to comfort a shaking Fleur. "Uh... what's going on?"

"I don't know," said Ivory. "She just started panicking.'"

Octavia lifted Fleur's head to look her in the eye. "What's going on Fleur? This isn't like you."

"I don't know... I just... I thought I saw somepony that looked like Aunt- I mean the pony that did this to me."

Octavia searched up and down the corridor, "I don't see anypony Fleur. Are you sure you're not just nervous about this dinner?"

"Don't talk to me like I'm a little foal Octavia!"

"Alright, fine. Fleur, there's nopony else here so buck up and get yourself downstairs. There's lots of ponies here, along with Snowbright's ponies, so even if she is here you'll be safe, okay?"

Fleur held a hoof to her chest as her breathing slowed, and eventually she nodded. "Okay. I'm okay. You'll stay by me though, won't you?"

"All night if I have to, now come on, we're going to be late."

By the time they made it to the dining room the starter was being served, but that wasn't enough to stop the stunned silence that filled the room as Ivory entered and took her seat on the same table as Hayfield.

As she sat whispers started making their way around the various tables, and more than a few ponies turned to watch her uneasily as she tucked her napkin in and helped Fleur with hers.

"Please, continue," she said after drawing out the awkward silence as long as she could. Slowly ponies returned to their meals, but even then she would still receive errant glances from some of the guests.

"What? Nopony shouting 'what is the meaning of this?'" The filly pouted, "What a gyp."

"That's probably a good sign," Fleur whispered. "Nopony's arguing with her being here, and nopony's storming out."

"Or they're totally in the dark about me defecting, and they're waiting for the Viscount to arrive," Ivory remarked between mouthfuls of asparagus.

Octavia swallowed and placed her fork back on the table. "When are you making the big announcement?"

"After the main course. Well fed ponies tend not to leave in a hurry." She held a forkful up for Fleur, "I just wish I could hear what they're all talking about."

A slightly more relaxed atmosphere filled the room as the dinner progressed and the wine flowed, but there was still the elephant in the room sat next to Hayfield providing enough of a distraction to keep things on edge. The servants cleared away the dishes from the main course, and the moment of truth came.

Hayfield stood and rang a spoon against the side of a glass, quickly pulling everyponies attention to him. "My friends, I'd like to thank you all for coming today, and I hope you enjoy yourselves, but I would be lying if I didn't say I had an ulterior motive for bringing you all here. I'm sure all of you are aware of the rebellion growing in the south, and the time has come for us to do something about it."

"Are you saying we should help the Duke crush it?" a voice called out from the side of the room.

"No, Lord Perry. I'm saying we should join it." As predicted, the uproar was immense, but not overwhelming. It was obvious to those watching for it that more than a few of the ponies gathered there were thoughtful rather than outraged.

"Are you mad!?" another of the lords shouted over the noise. "The Duke would kill every one of us if he found out!"

Hayfield slammed a hoof on the table, "Only if he wins! Now I suggest you do me the courtesy of sitting down and hearing me out!" He waited patiently as the level-headed ponies in the room encouraged the more rambunctious ones to quieten down.

"The Duke and his rule are failing, and have been for a very long time. Even before our current Duke was born. This country has been on the verge of toppling for so long that its become a way of life for all of us! But no more. It seems that the time has come again that the ponies of this country that have suffered under his hooves for so long have had enough, and once again rebel against the dukes' rule. The difference is that this time they can win."

"How could you say that!?"

"Because it's obvious to anypony that knows anything! They have freed some of the pegasi. Pegasi that fight for them in return. The teachings of magic have spread amongst the unicorns, making them into formidable weapons, and they are led by no less than a princess of Equestria!" Hayfield gave them a moment to let that sink in.

"That's right, the rebellion has the backing of Equestria and Princess Celestia, and is being led by Princess Twilight, whom so happens to be an alicorn like Celestia. They are the greatest threat that has ever come up against the Duke, and it is obvious that he is outmatched."

"That's not true," a pony said languidly, "the Duke has thousands of soldiers. There's no way he could lose even against Equestria." A few more voices called out in agreement.

"How many of you are aware of the battle that took place not far from Neigh Orleans recently?" Hayfield asked after a short pause. "Ten thousand soldiers went under the command of General Filigree to crush the rebellion. How many do you think returned from that battle?" Many of the guests looked to each other for answers, but none were forthcoming. "I'll tell you. A lot, lot less than went there. The rebels almost wiped them out."

"That's impossible," shouted a pony.

"It's true. The rebels took on an army of ten thousand with an army of less than five thousand, and won. Do you know why? Because they work together! A rebel army of earth ponies, unicorns, and pegasi, working together in unity managed to defeat an army double their number! And so I put it to you my good Lords and Ladies, that we either support this burgeoning rebellion, or stick with the failing rule of the Duke and be crushed along with him."

Conversation erupted on all of the tables as discussion rapidly took place. The filly grinned and leaned over to whisper in Fleur's ear, "For somepony that was reluctant to do this that was a brutal speech! Ten outta ten! Bravo!"

"It was rather unexpected, yes." Fleur's eyes drifted over the various tables, trying to gauge the reactions of the ponies. "I guess we'll have to see how effective it was."

Ivory stood and banged a hoof on the table to garner their attention. Once she had it she raised her glass and took a delicate sip. "I'm sure I don't need to tell you who I am," she began, "since I recognise each and every one of you. If you weren't aware though, I have chosen to leave the Viscount and join the rebellion, and yes I am aware of that being treason, so there's no need to go on about it." She gestured to Hayfield, "While I thank Lord Hayfield for his rousing speech I am afraid that he didn't quite deliver the point I will now make. You are being given an opportunity to help the rebellion in exchange for keeping what you already have."

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

"It means that you get to keep your wealth and your land after this is all done. All we ask in exchange is supplies to support our war effort, and that you obey our rules concerning the equal treatment of unicorns and pegasi." Ivory sighed inwardly at the scowls a few ponies wore.

"And if we don't join you?"

"Then you will likely lose your land, your wealth, and if you're very unlucky, your lives. We don't want to kill anypony, but we cannot allow ponies who support the Duke to continue to do so."

"You're just trying to intimidate us!"

"No, she's not." Fleur stood to lend her voice to the discussion. "My name is Fleur de Lis, and I fight for the rebellion. Actually I'm one of those that helped to create it, so I know what I'm saying when I tell you that she isn't trying to intimidate you, she's trying to protect you. We have no interest in intimidating you, or punishing you for your past deeds. We're trying to build a better Mareitania, a Mareitania that all belong in, equally, and if you're supporting the Duke then you're in the way of that. I'm afraid that in that situation we'll have no choice but to deal with you."

"And if you lose?"

Fleur closed her eyes and sighed, "Well that's just it. As much as I like to think it wouldn't happen, we could still be defeated. We're not forcing you to join us, and I doubt all of you will, but in the end ponies are going to lose whichever way this goes."

"Just think about it," Ivory finished.

They sat down as discussion resumed around the tables. Neither of them particularly cared what was said, but generally hoped that it was in their favour. They were trying to give the ponies here a chance to save their skins, but that only worked when there was no doubt of the rebellion winning. Even then they only invited vipers into their nest as some of these ponies weren't exactly what you would call open minded about what the rebels were asking in terms of treating all ponies equally.

Dessert was brought out and Fleur poked her dish a few times, but her appetite was gone. "I really think I fucked this up," she admitted. "I can't believe I said that."

"We always knew there was a high chance of this going wrong," said Ivory. "Quite simply there's really no nice way to ask what we're asking."

"They should at least be thankful we're giving them a choice at all," Octavia chimed in. "We could've just 'crushed them beneath us' as Hayfield so eloquently put it."

"Actually that's the kind of rhetoric they're used to with the Duke, 'it's my way, or... No, wait, just my way.'" Ivory dipped her spoon into her dessert and stuck it in her mouth. "I'm starting to wish Twilight had come with us as well. Seeing the real life alicorn that leads the rebellion is probably a bit more awe inspiring than we are."

Ivory's ear twitched as a panicked shout came from the furthest table, "Has anypony seen Penfold?"

Summer paced about on the roof of the manor, her hooves clomping heavily on the tiles as she limped slightly. She had planned on trying to relax but the memories that seeing some of these ponies again had brought up...

Summer scowled and turned to face the other way, starting a fresh journey back to the other end of the manor, her wings spread to balance her as she made her way along. She passed where Soarin was sat, idly watching her as she fretted, even if she was grateful for his silence.

She stopped as a new sound reached her, a rhythmic thudding that came from the gardens. She jumped and reached the edge of the roof nearest where the sound was coming from with a flap of her wings, and peered down over the edge, seeing a pony hitting their hoof against the roots of a tree. It was Penfold.

She started to turn away again, but stopped. Of all the ponies that deserved her ire, Penfold was the last. He had been as much of a victim of what happened as she had, and even if he didn't remember what had happened, he at least deserved to know that she didn't hate him.

She glanced back at Soarin, seeing that he was still watching her, but ignored it and stepped over the edge. She spread her wings and let them carry her as she glided down to land near Penfold, walking the last few steps so as to not spook him.

"Hello Penfold." The stallion looked up at her for a second before returning his attention to the tree roots. "Do you remember me?" Thud, thud, thud, went his hoof against the roots. "We met once."

"Your wings ur purdy." Thud thud thud.

"Oh, uh, thank you Penfold." She stepped closer to Penfold to see what he was doing. "Are looking for beetles?" A small nod. "Why?"

"Smash the beetles!"

"I see." A rustle from above caused her to look up, seeing that Soarin was watching her from the rooftop. Once again she was thankful for him keeping his distance. "Why smash the beetles though? Don't you like beetles?" He shook his head. "Did they hurt you?" Another shake of his head. "Then why do it?"

"Ponies. Bad ponies."

"Bad ponies?" Summer tried to see his face, but he turned away from her. "So... you mean you pretend the beetles are ponies?" That he nodded to. "Why though?"

"Ponies mean to me. Say mean things. Make me do bad things."

"Like what?"

"Like make me hurt you!" he cried.

She paused, "You do remember then."

He nodded. "Wanted t' see pony with priddy wings, but then they m-made me hurt you!"

"Am- Am I the first pegasus you'd ever seen?"

"'es. I saw pony wid priddy wings, an'-an'-an' I di'nt want t' do it!" he wailed. Penfold sat and rocked himself as he blubbered, "I di'nt want to! I'm sorry! I'm sorr-ee-he-he!"

"Uh..." Summer wasn't sure what to do, but after watching Penfold sit there crying and blubbering apologies, she realised that she couldn't do nothing. She reaching up, hugging him around the neck and nuzzling him, shushing him until his sobs faded to little more than hiccups." Shh Penfold, it's okay, it's not your fault. I know you're a good pony. I know you didn't want to do it." The words almost didn't come out, and she had to fight part of herself that didn't want to let go, but after a few seconds she whispered the words "I forgive you," into his ear. She didn't know why it'd been so hard to say that to Penfold, but once she had she felt... better.

That wasn't to say she had any intention of forgiving anypony else though.

"'ou f'give me?"

"I do." Summer suddenly found herself at the centre of one of the tightest hugs she had ever been part of as Penfold wrapped his legs around her and squeezed. "Oof! Okay Penfold, you're squashing me!" The hug continued regardless.

She tickled him with her wings until he released her, unable to keep hold as fits of giggles overtook him. "Stop! Stop it!" he cried as she continued her relentless assault upon him. She stopped after a minute, her wings aching from the unusual motions, and to give him a chance to calm down. "Friend?"

Summer nodded slowly like she was really having to think about it. "Yeah, I think I'd like that. Friends." She was pulled into another bone-grinding hug, but it swiftly ended when a mare's voice screeched at them.

"Penfold! What are you doing with that- that- pegasus!" She spat the word like it pained her to say it. "Get away from her!"

"No! Friend!"

"Don't be ridiculous Penfold, you can't be friends with a pegasus. Now come along, your father has us all looking for you, and my dress is going to get ruined tromping around in this dirt."

"Smash the beetles! Smash 'em!"

"Yes yes, smash the beetles, I know," she said dismissively. "Honestly Penfold, I really wish you'd find something new to yammer on about. Now come along!"

"Smash the beetles!"

"Penfold!"

Summer stepped forward, "Maybe you could just-" Slap! Summer staggered sideways and held a hoof to the cheek the mare had backhoofed.

"Don't you dare speak to me!"

"Hey!" Soarin landed with a solid thud between Summer and the mare, and walked towards her with his wings spread threateningly. The mare backed off as he approached until she tripped over her dress. "She can talk to you if she damn well pleases to."

"Is that what you think?" said another voice. They all froze as a fifth pony joined them, a mare. She stepped out of the shadows behind them from where she'd been silently observing them, her black armour providing her with the perfect camouflage. She was also holding a crossbow in the crook of her leg which she pointed at Soarin, and had another slung over her back. "You know pegasi have been executed for far less."

She fired, and Soarin quickly juked to the side to dodge the arrow, having been expecting it, but the mare behind him wasn't so fortunate and the arrow hit her in the throat. She tried to scream but could only manage a horrible rasping as she collapsed and clutched at the wound. Summer rushed forward to help, but it was clear to her even then that the mare wasn't going to make it.

"Well that wasn't what I wanted," the hunter said as she dropped the crossbow and swung the other into position, almost like she found killing the mare amusing. "Oh well."

The mare stopped struggling as she passed away, and Summer released her, backing away to stand between the hunter and Penfold. "What do you want?"

"Oh, many things. To kill you all, a nice house by the Mareissippi when I retire, my husband back. For now I'll settle for having you be my hostages. Now come along, I do believe my favourite niece will be most thrilled to see me." She twitched the crossbow towards the house, "Let's go."

They started walking, but stopped as Penfold resolutely refused to move. "Ugh," the hunter scoffed, "Please don't make me kill the retard. There's no sport in that."

"Come on Penfold." Summer gestured for him to move with a hoof, and after giving him a smile she managed to coax him into moving. "See Penfold, nothing to be afraid of." Summer ignored the snort of laughter from the armoured figure behind her.

More ponies had gathered up ahead, having been watching events nervously. The hunter ordered them to bring everypony back inside, on the condition that she would get shooty if they didn't, while she forced her hostages to lead the way in.

Soarin opened the doors into the manor and led them to the dining room. Most of the ponies were still outside searching for Penfold, but most of the ponies the hunter wanted to see were still there.

"Hello Fleur darling, I've missed you."

"No! No no no no... You can't be here! You can't!" Fleur crouched down and hunched up, backing away while repeatedly whimpering 'no.' Her rear hit the wall behind but she still kept trying to back away. Octavia imposed herself between the two ponies.

Hayfield stood and rested his forehooves on the table before him, "What is the meaning of this intrusion? You have no right to be here!"

"Oh really? I'll think you'll find that mine is the only right. Perhaps I should ask you what you're doing consorting with enemies of the state? You weren't thinking of betraying our noble leader were you?" She pointed her crossbow at Ivory, "As for you Ivory Spire, you'll be glad to know you're kill on sight now, so you'll never have to see your dear Viscount again. Lucky you."

Ivory raised her head defiantly, "Then why haven't you killed me yet?"

"Because I'm not here for you, although I will be reporting that everypony here is a traitor for consorting with your rebellion. I have quite a few things I need to do after this actually. Busy busy busy."

"They didn't know we'd be here Pearl, so you can hardly call them traitors for that."

"And yet they haven't left! Isn't that funny?" She moved the crossbow back to Soarin who was starting to move towards her slowly, "Don't even think about it."

"What do you want Pearl?" Ivory asked patiently.

"Oh, many things. I would like to know when my favourite niece will be joining me again. I have missed our little talks you know, especially since my husband is no longer around to talk to instead."

"I'd rather die than go back there!" Fleur screamed. Octavia stepped back to hold the hysterical and shivering mare.

"Don't be silly Fleur, you know I wouldn't give you a choice." The doors to the room opened again and the guests filed in, returning to their seats. Pearl studied them, a frown growing on her as she couldn't the two ponies she was looking for most. "This isn't everypony! Where are they!?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," said Ivory. "Everypony's here apart from Lord Hatchet's wife."

"Because she killed her," Soarin said out loud.

"What? You're the one that killed my wife!?" A table was smashed out of the way of the steel coloured pony that bore down on Pearl, "I'll see you hung for this treachery!"

Pearl was completely nonplussed, idly swinging her crossbow to point at Lord Hatchet before he was even halfway to her. "Unless you want your children to lose both their parents tonight, I suggest you stop." Hatchet stopped and backed up a few steps, but his fury was still evident in his stance.

"You will pay for this," he growled.

"Is that what you think? Strong words for a traitor." Pearl surveyed the other guests for a moment, "Enough of this. Somepony better tell me where they are, or somepony else is going to die!"

Ivory stomped a hoof, her patience fraying. "Tell you where who is!?"

"Twilight Sparkle and Trixie Lulamoon!" The room fell quiet, partly because a lot of the ponies in the room likely didn't really know the names and who they applied to.

The silence prevailed right up until the filly sniggered, "Is she for real?"

Ivory growled a sigh and lowered her head in aggravation, "They're not here Pearl."

"I can see that! Where. Are. They?"

"Far away from here! Back in Puddingarde if not somewhere else. You've wasted your time Pearl, they aren't here, and they never were." Pearl glanced about wildly, suddenly seeming a lot less sure about things, right up until she set her eyes back on Ivory.

"I won't say this was a total waste." She raised her crossbow at Ivory and fired, but Soarin had anticipated the move. He jumped, twisting himself lengthways to create a gust strong enough to blast the arrow upwards and off course so it landed well above Ivory's head. "You little bastard!"

She leapt at him and rolled over his back, grabbing his right wing and taking it with her. Soarin cried out in pain as his wing was pushed up against her armour, the leverage snapping his wing in several places. Pearl landed to his left and bucked as hard as she could, sending him tumbling away.

"Get her!" Several ponies, including Snowbright's guard ponies and Lord Hatchet charged her, and a short skirmish erupted. It ended quickly though as the severely outnumbered Pearl made her escape by leaping out of a window. The guard ponies leapt out after her, but the others weren't so keen.

Nervous chattering filled the room as most of the guests tried to cope with what had just happened, while Fleur, Octavia, and the filly hurried over to help Soarin who was lay in a heap by one of the tables.

"Is it- Is it bad? It feels bad." Soarin grit his teeth and hissed as Octavia gently pressed her hoof to his wing.

"It's definitely broken in multiple places I'm afraid. Maybe your ribs too."

"Dammit! I can't be grounded now! I can't!"

"Welcome to the no flight club," the filly joked weakly.

Soarin snorted a laugh despite his pain, "There's a club? I wish I'd known that the last dozen times." He tried to push himself up off the floor, but quickly gave up. "Is Ivory okay?"

"She seems a bit shocked, but she's fine," Fleur told him. She smiled and kissed him on the forehead, "You big hero."

"Does this mean-"

"No."

"You don't even know what I was going to ask!"

"I can guess, and the answer is no."

"Fine." Soarin grumbled to himself for a second, "How about you? You seemed to be... uh..."

"Terrified?"

"Yeah. Are you okay?"

Fleur shook her head, "Not really. My hooves are still shaking now, and if I wasn't worried more about you right now I'd probably be in a fetal position in the corner." Tears dripped from her eyes which she quickly wiped away. She jolted and almost screamed when Ivory set a hoof on her back.

"Sorry Fleur! Sorry, I didn't mean... I'm sure we'll all understand if you want to go somewhere quiet."

Fleur shook her head resolutely, shivering all the while. "N-no, I'm fine."

"If you're sure." Ivory let go of Fleur to offer a hoof to Soarin instead. He accepted it and let Ivory pull him into a sitting position. "I owe you my life Soarin, thank you."

"Aw, it's fine. Anypony else would've done the same."

Ivory was about to disagree, but was interrupted by the filly, "Is Summer hanging around with Penfold? Didn't he... y'know..."

They watched as Penfold's father, Lord Castor, approached the pair. "Excuse me? Young lady?"

"Um, yes?"

"Are you the pony that found my- My word... You're her, aren't you? That poor mare the Viscount kept on his boat. Y-you're not going to hurt my son, are you?"

Summer's eyes went wide and she shook her head rapidly, "No! No, I wouldn't do that!" She nudged Penfold and the stallion pulled her into a hug, "I forgive him. It was never really his fault anyway."

"You forgive him?"

"Mmhmm."

Penfold puffed his chest out proudly, "We friends dada."

"Friends?" He focused on Summer, "Is that true?" Summer nodded happily, "My word, Penfold finally has a friend!" He smushed himself into the hug, totally unaware of Summer's sudden discomfort. "You wonderful mare!"

"You don't mind that I'm a pegasus?"

"Don't be silly my dear, if you're friends with Penfold, then you're definitely okay in my book." They all winced as a booming shout echoed around the room as a stallion bellowed into Hayfield's face.

"You planned this, didn't you! You planned to have us all branded as traitors so we'd help these damned rebels!" Several other ponies jeered in agreement.

"I can assure you that I did not plan any of this! If that mare is who I think she is, then she arrived on the same coach as Lord Hatchet, and I very much doubt he planned on having his wife killed!"

"You don't know that for definite!"

"Then why don't we ask him?" Hayfield led the way over to where Hatchet was weeping over the body of his wife that had been laid on a table after somepony had brought the body in. "I'm sorry to disturb you Hatchet, but I need to ask you about that cloaked pony that arrived with you. Did you bring her here on purpose?"

"We found her on the side of the road with her baggage," he said listlessly. "She said she was coming here, and she seemed like a pleasant enough mare so we gave her a lift since we had plenty of room on the coach." He raised his head to look at Hayfield with bloodshot eyes, "Why? What are you saying? Are you accusing me of orchestrating this?"

Hayfield shook his head, "Not at all. But I'm afraid that mare you brought here may have been the mare that did this. I'm sorry Hatchet." Hatchet grasped his wife's hoof in his own and pressed it to his cheek. Hayfield hesitated for a moment, unused to seeing the usually stoic stallion being so vulnerable. "If there's anything we can do to help, anything at all, just ask."

"I want to join you, and the rebels."

"What!?" the pony behind Hayfield yelled. "You cannot be serious! Your wife is dead because of all this!"

"I know that perfectly well Lord Wheeler," Hatchet said coldly, "and don't mistake this for thinking that I give even a single whit about this damned rebellion. But if there's a chance that they can bring justice for what happened to my wife, then I will take that chance!"

"But-"

"No buts! If you wish to continue supporting the Duke, so be it! But do not think for one moment, Lord Wheeler, that you can convince me to do the same." The fiery outburst ended, and he tightened his grip on his wife's hoof, "Now if you'll excuse me, I wish to be alone with my wife."

They let him be. Ivory made her way over to Hayfield, "I'm sorry about this."

"It's not your fault. How the hell do you even prepare for the idea of something like this happening? How could the Duke have caught wind of this?"

"I don't think he did."

"Excuse me?"

"Hunters like them always work in at least pairs," she explained, "and in an operation like this would have back-up. I get the feeling she was doing this without the Duke's knowledge. She might've been spying on us at Puddingarde, and followed our coach here."

"Perhaps. Look, it doesn't matter right now. I suggest you get your friends to the music room and hide there until I get this mess under some semblance of control."

The bow in Octavia's right hoof ran over the strings of the cello held firmly in her left, a slow, melancholic melody filling the music room. Soarin was laying on a cushion, his wing roughly splinted, while in the far corner of the room Fleur lay curled up on another cushion with her back to them, gentle sobs joining the music despite the filly's best attempts to comfort her.

In the other corner Summer was playing a game with Penfold, at his fathers insistence, as the stallion wanted his son as far away from the drama occurring in the dining room.

Ivory sighed and pulled herself from the window, through which she had spent most of the time watching the moon. "This is ridiculous. Of all the things that we thought could've gone wrong, this? We get attacked by a lone hunter on a personal vendetta?"

Octavia's music scratched to a halt, "Nopony expects the Mareitanian inquisition." Ivory squinted at her blankly, "Sorry, it's a... Never mind, bad joke." She leant the cello against the piano and fell back to all four hooves, "What I want to know is what she wanted with Twilight and Trixie? Was she planning on killing them?"

"I wouldn't be surprised after they killed her husband." Ivory sighed and turned back to the window to watch the moon again, "She probably won't quit until they, or herself, are dead."

"But if they could kill her husband in that armour, what makes her think she stands a better chance?"

Ivory pointed sideways at the curled up form of Fleur, "Look at what she did to Fleur, then tell me that was the actions of a totally sane pony." Octavia didn't want to even if she could. "Until this war the hunters have barely lost any ponies in a long time, and now they're up against ponies that can kill them. I don't think they know what to do."

There was a small crash and some giggling as Penfold knocked over the tower of blocks he was building with Summer. Octavia watched them owlishly for a few seconds as she tried to think of an answer to that. "They're not the only ones," she finished lamely.

She picked the cello back up and had started into the first few lines of a piece when the door opened to let Hayfield in. They paused and watched each other, neither moving until Hayfield smiled at her. "Please, continue. Some music might do me good." Octavia obliged, and Hayfield closed his eyes for a few moments as he listened.

"How is it Hayfield?" Ivory asked after a short while.

"About as good as could be expected. Some have pledged their support to your cause, and others haven't. I'm afraid the balance didn't work in your favour though as those that still support the Duke outnumber those pledging their support to you, and are determined to prove that they aren't traitors should that mare accuse them of such."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning I think you should leave while you still can. I can take care of things well enough, and organise your new supporters so that their support gets to you."

"Won't the others interfere?"

"They can try, but right now the south of this country is held by the group with the biggest stick, and while I don't think your stick is bigger than the Duke's, you wield yours a lot better. They might work against you by supporting the Duke, but I doubt they'd be so foolish as to outright attack you or your new allies."

"I see..." Ivory sat back, her mind trying to think of possibilities of how to deal with the ponies here that didn't support them. She doubted that Twilight would support having them assassinated.

"What about you?" Octavia asked Hayfield while Ivory was thinking, "Won't they try to stop you too?"

"Possibly. I'd like to see what they might hope to achieve if they do. Especially since I remember a certain pony promising to help us if that happened."

Ivory half smiled at him, "I haven't forgotten. If you need help just send a message to us by pegasus, and we'll help you if you need it. Of course that also means you'll have to remove those collars from your pegasi, fake or not."

"Don't worry, I'll have them removed tomorrow."

"Good." Ivory stood and stretched the stiffness out of her legs from sitting so long. "I guess we better be on our way then."

"I've already told your guards to bring your coach around to the side of the house so you can quietly slip away."

"What if that hunter's still out there?" asked Soarin.

"She won't be," Ivory answered smoothly. "She has nothing to gain by sticking around here." Ivory walked over to Fleur, the filly watching her as she drew closer, "Fleur, we need to-"

"Go, I know. I'm not deaf." She pushed herself up and rubbed her eyes, "I swear I'm never leaving Puddingarde again until that bitch is dead."

They made their way to the side of the manor where the coach was waiting for them along with Penfold's father. "Are you sure you wouldn't like to come and live with us instead?" he asked Summer. "I know Penfold would like that."

Summer smiled apologetically, "Sorry, but I'm sticking with my family. I'll try and visit sometime if I can though."

"Of course! You'd be more than welcome to, all of you." Summer gave Penfold one last hug before clambering aboard the carriage, picking a window seat so she could wave at him.

"Family hmm?" Octavia smirked knowingly at the suddenly blushing pegasus.

"Well, yeah. Is that wrong?"

"Not at all Summer, not at all." Octavia made herself comfortable and turned an ear to the conversation between Ivory and Hayfield.

"Again, I'm really sorry about all of this. It was rather a lot to ask of you before what happened, happened."

"Don't trouble yourself over it. Do me a favour though and actually win this thing? I'm going to be in a lot of trouble if you don't."

Ivory laughed and hugged the stallion, "I'll make sure that we certainly do our best. Goodbye Hayfield."

"Goodbye Ivory. Goodbye all of you. No offense, but after tonight I hope I don't have reason to see all of you too soon." Ivory climbed into the carriage and shut the door behind her as the stallions pulling it stepped into motion. Summer hung out of the window, waving alternately at Penfold and the three daughters.

"I'm going to miss this place," she said wistfully as the darkness quickly put them out of sight.

"I'm not," Fleur said bitterly. "Whose idea was this anyway?"

"That'd be me," Ivory told her.

"This was a terrible idea."

"I wouldn't say that," said Octavia. "More of a good idea-"

"Terribly executed?" the filly suggested.

"I'll stick to fighting next time," said Soarin. "Politics is way too dangerous for my tastes."

Author's Notes:

Spent too long thinking this chapter over and might've confused myself a bit. Believe it or not it was even longer, but the extra was mostly boring, unimportant crap. Hopefully it's not too bad now.