Twilight, Octavia and a slightly paler grey, post bath Trixie, were stood around the fire at Bric and Brac's camp, preparing to set off for Prance. Yesterday had not been anywhere near as productive as they had hoped and had cost them money in the end just to buy Trixie's stuff back, so they were feeling generally optimistic that things probably couldn't get worse.
First though, they had to say their farewells to Bric and Brac.

"Are you all ready to set off?" Bric asked casually, although Twilight thought she could detect a hitch in his voice.

"I think so, it's not like we have an awful lot of stuff to pack." Twilight sighed and smiled at the brothers, "I guess this is goodbye then. I honestly cannot thank you enough for helping us get to Prance. we'd have found it a lot harder otherwise."

Brac snorted in amusement, "All we did was walk, not exactly a huge challenge. We do wish we could talk you out of going to Prance though, although I feel that would actually be a challenge. From what we've been hearing Prance is not a nice place to be right now."

"Trixie is willing to excuse many things about Prance if there's a bed she can sleep in," Trixie said with a grimace. "I didn't know sleeping on the ground could leave one feeling so sore."

Twilight rolled her eyes but otherwise ignored her. "We need to get to Prance to find Fleur. If it’s as bad there as you think it is we may need to find her before she does something stupid."

"Like stealing off the wrong pony and ending up wearing a hemp collar as her last outfit?" Bric suggested with a sneer.

"Yeah..." Twilight dropped her gaze and pawed at the ground, "I'm still really sorry about the whole stealing off you thing. I wish I had brought it up with her sooner, maybe things would have turned out differently."

Brac waved her off dismissively, "Maybe, maybe not. No point dwelling on what ifs. Anyway, you're not going to find her hanging around here."

"Right, of course. Goodbye then, Bric, Brac. I hope we'll see each other again at some point in the future."

The two brothers looked sideways at each other. "Quite possible," they said. "So long and farewell. May the Lady protect you in your travels." The others said their goodbyes and they were about to set off when an orange hoof tapped Octavia on the shoulder. She turned around and was surprised when she was swept off her hooves and firmly kissed on the lips by Bric.

"No chance was I going to let you leave without doing that. Farewell my lady Octavia." He kissed her on the hoof and practically danced back to where his brother was smirking at him. Brac gave them one last wave and the two brothers trotted off leaving a slightly bemused Twilight, a highly amused Trixie, and Octavia, who appeared to be going cross-eyed looking at the end of her nose.

"Ooohhh!" Trixie teased, "Octavia and Bric, sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g!" Trixie frowned when Octavia didn't rise to her bait, and didn't in fact do anything except stare blankly. "Hey," she gave Octavia a nudge, "you okay?"

"He kissed me..."

"We noticed. It was rather hard to miss, what with the sweeping off the hooves thing and the full on, overblown kissing sounds."

"Well I don't remember giving him permission to do so."

"It’s supposed to be romantic Octavia. Sometimes a pony just has to be brave and spontaneous and go for what they want."

"Have I given any hint over the last few days that I was even slightly interested in him?"

"No but he's given you more than a few."

Octavia shuddered and took a swig from her canteen before spitting it back out. "Ugh, his breath is a taste I won't be forgetting in a hurry. Sweet Celestia I wish we had some mouthwash! Let's get going, I really don't want to think about this more than I already have."

"Trixie is not impressed. I thought this place would be bigger."

"We're still a few miles away Trixie." Twilight shook her head and went back to studying the city. Despite Trixie's misgivings, she was impressed. The city was built on a hill, its highest point being some kind of castle, while the rest of the city was spread out around the castle in a circle which was bordered by a tall wall. "How about we get closer before making our final impressions."

As they got closer even Trixie seemed to lose her dismissive attitude in the shadow of the city. The wall which surrounded the city turned out to be the height of at least fifteen ponies by Twilight's estimation. Following the road they were approaching a wide arch that was guarded on the outside by no less than four guards, two on the road and two on the top of the arch which were wielding crossbows that had been mounted on the wall.

They eyed the guards nervously as they entered, the guards doing nothing but staring ahead at the road, although Twilight was sure she could hearing one tutting after they passed.

"Okay, now Trixie is impressed, if slightly sickened." She was staring at the inside of the arch, upon which was carved murals depicting the earth ponies takeover of Mareitania after the exodus. On the right side were images of the earth ponies bringing the unicorns into line and the battle to take Unicornia, which Twilight thought very odd seeing as how the unicorns had apparently just given it to them.

The left side was worse though, depicting the earth ponies forcing the unicorns to tear down the city of Pegasopolis and the brutal subjugation of the pegasi that turned them into what they are today. At the end of both sides were images of earth ponies dressed in riches while on the ground between them, so that you were forced to walk over them, was a large image of unicorns and pegasi bowing in supplication, although it was heavily scored and pitted by years of being trod on.

"Whoever made this was twisted. A genius perhaps, but still horribly twisted." Trixie said as she walked over the frieze on the ground. "I'm no stranger to megalomania, but this? This is a bit much."

"You locked our mayor in a bird cage in the town square all through the perma-storm you conjured..."

"Exactly! Not a stranger to megalomania." Noticing Octavia's slightly alarmed look she explained, "I got hold of something called the Alicorn Amulet. Twilight beat me at magic some months before and I wanted revenge. I beat her in a magic duel and took over Ponyville where I literally went mad with power, as in completely cuckoo. Twilight tricked me into taking the amulet off, forgave me for my bizarre power trip and we've been firm friends ever since, right Twilight?"

"Right."

After they had passed through the arch Twilight looked back, noticing that at the top of the arch was carved a single word, 'TRIUMPH.' The squirmy feeling in her gut went into overtime, although she might just have been genuinely sickened by that twisted tableau. "Well, we're here..."

"Seems so."

"Indeed."

They looked around and really weren't expecting what they saw. There were guards everywhere, and heavily armed guards at that. Everywhere else ponies went about their business, many wearing guarded and nervous expressions. The tension around them was almost palpable.

"Why are there two types of guards?" Trixie asked as she pointed over to where a more plainly dressed guard was conversing with a well-armed and armoured guard. "I think I suddenly get what Bric and Brac were talking about."

Twilight studied the scene before her, but couldn't make heads or tails of what she was seeing. Stalliongrad had guards, but nothing even close to this level. "Octavia, could you ask one of these guards what's going on here?"

Octavia swallowed nervously, "S-sure..." She trotted over to the nearest guard, which happened to be one of the heavily armoured variety, and cleared her throat before giving him her most genuine smile. He in turn just looked at her disdainfully. "Excuse me sir, I've only just arrived in town and I was hoping you could tell me what's happening here? Why are there so many guards?"

The guard grunted and looked like he wasn't going to answer her at first. "This city has been placed under martial law."

"Martial law? Why? And why would you let us in during martial law?”

"Prance has become a hotbed of insurrectionism and is to remain under martial law until the General says so, and we may have let you in but we we've said nothing about letting you out. Now I suggest you get moving."

"So you've just decided to trap us in here?"

The guard growled, "Seems that way. Now get moving before I have you arrested for wasting my time."

Octavia hurried over to where Twilight and Trixie were waiting. "The city's under martial law! These aren't guards, they're soldiers!"

"Soldiers? I guess that explains the weapons and armour, but why is this place under martial law, and why let us into the city?"

"And why did it have to be while we're here?" Trixie added.

"He said that Prance has become a 'hotbed of insurrectionism' and that the city is to remain under martial until some General feels it’s been dealt with. He also said that the guards let us in but they probably wouldn't let us leave."

"Great, so we're stuck here. Fan-bloody-tabulous." Trixie muttered. "The bit about insurrectionists sounds promising. Sounds exactly like what we're looking for."

"What are you talking about Trixie? We're here to find Fleur, not get involved in this."

"Really? Isn't the whole point of us being in Mareitania to overthrow the government? An insurrection sounds like the perfect place to start if you ask me."

Twilight was about to argue but stopped, realising that perhaps Trixie wasn't talking total rubbish. "Maybe, but finding Fleur has to be our first priority. The punishments for breaking the law during martial law tend to be somewhat severe according to some books I've read. I'm hoping she's smart enough to not do something so risky but we can't count on that." She looked around quickly before making a decision, "We need to split up and find Fleur quickly." She pointed towards the city center, at the castle, "Octavia, you go that way. You're less likely to attract negative attention being an earth pony and all. Trixie, you go that way," she said, pointing to the left, "and I'll go this way," she finished, pointing to the right. “Meet back here at sunset."

Twilight trotted through the streets, noticing more and more how dilapidated they became the further she went. She also noticed that the ponies around her were more commonly unicorns. A fact that was possibly behind why she was seeing a higher number of guards around here. It was only natural, in backward Mareitanian thinking, that they would hold the unicorns responsible for the insurrectionists.

She trotted on, keeping an eye out for guards as much as she was for Fleur, when she noticed a commotion further up the street in front of a tall multistory building. Two guards had backed four ponies into a corner; a pale green earth pony stallion, a white unicorn mare and two children, a light brown earth pony colt and a white unicorn filly.

"We know you're involved with them!" one of the soldiers shouted. "If you tell us where we can find them maybe your kids here will sleep in their beds tonight instead of a cell!"

"I don't know anything about any insurrection! Please!" the stallion pleaded as the mare held the children close. "If you have to arrest anypony, arrest me! Just leave my wife and children alone!"

The soldiers looked like they were going to do so, as one of them was pulling a set of manacles out. Without really thinking Twilight ran up to the guards, "What do you think you're doing?" she demanded.

"Piss off horn head!" one of the guards snarled at her. "This has nothing to do with you! Piss off before I arrest you too."

"But you can't do that! You haven't got any proof that he's a rebel! You're just arresting him because he married a unicorn!" She looked around at the other bystanders, many of whom now seemed to be taking an interest in events and started to gather around. "And you were going to arrest the foals too? That's just sick!" A murmur ran through the small crowd.

The guards noticed it too, and in a voice that tried to at least sound like it could be reasoned with, one of them said "We're not going to arrest the foals, just him. We're just going to take him in and question him a bit."

"About what? He's already denied being involved in any insurrection. Are you going to torture him? Force him to confess to something he hasn't even done?" An even angrier murmur rippled through the crowd, which due to Twilight's raised voice had grown even larger.

The guards looked fearful now, and were looking up and down the street looking for support off their fellows. Unfortunately for them, no such support was forthcoming. "I guess we were jumping to conclusions," one of them said from between gritted teeth. "If he's done nothing wrong then I guess they're free to go." On that, the two guards hastily retreated leaving a relieved Twilight and a grateful family of ponies.

"Thank you, thank you!" the stallion burst out. "I thought they were going to arrest us all!"

"It’s no problem, really. I'm just happy to help."

"We should get off the streets though, before the guards return in greater numbers. You should come with us since you've probably made yourself a target now."

The stallion opened the door to the building they were in front of and ushered his family inside, followed reluctantly by Twilight. He led them upstairs to a small, damp smelling apartment, furnished only by two beds, a dressing table, a chest of drawers and a small, black iron stove.

Looking both ways down the hallway before closing the door, the stallion went to his wife and held her and the children for a while before doing anything else. "Thank you stranger, for what you did, but it was very foolish of you to do that."

"Foolish? But I was trying to help you!"

"I know, I know, and I am eternally grateful. It is rare that somepony will speak out against the guards as you did, but now you have made yourself a target. You're a traveller from the looks of things; you should leave Prance as soon as you are able."

"No. I can't, the guards aren't letting ponies leave. Besides, I'm looking for somepony and I won't be leaving until I've found her."

"I am sorry to hear that, and I truly wish you luck in finding your friend, but I fear that remaining in this city will be your undoing. Since I doubt I can sway your mind into leaving, would you at least do me the honour of being our guest for dinner? It’s the least I could do to repay you."

Twilight was about to decline, taking note of their already meagre possessions, when the two foals came and sat down in front of her, the colt looking bright eyed and curious, and the filly hiding shyly behind a battered looking ragdoll. "What's your name?" the colt asked.

"Oh, uh, I'm Twilight, pleased to meet you. What's yours?"

"I'm Butterscotch and this is Lacy." The filly timidly waved a hoof at her. "What you did to those guards was awesome! I totally thought you were going to have to fight them off!"

"Goodness, I hope not."

"But they totally backed off! Which is kinda lame but the guards around here outnumber you and you probably can't fight them all."

"Uh, probably not no. I'm glad you think I'm awesome, but I was only doing what anypony down there should have done."

The colt snorted angrily. "Yeah, except they don't. They're all scared of the guards, but not you! Hey are you one of those insussectionids they were talking about?"

"Butterscotch!" his father yelled, "We don't ask ponies that sort of thing."

The colts ears drooped, "Sorry miss Twilight."

"No-no, it’s okay. No I'm not an insurrectionist, but if I were I bet I'd be an awesome one." She gave the colt a wink, the colt grinning in return.

"Are you gonna stay for dinner?" the filly asked, lifting her doll up for Twilight to see. "Miss Tilly wants you to stay."

"Uh..." Truthfully Twilight didn't want to stay. It didn't look like they had a lot to begin with and Twilight didn't want them to waste it on her. She should also be looking for Fleur and she was pretty sure Trixie was going to moan at her if she found out Twilight was having dinner in the warm somewhere. On the other hoof, Miss Tilly didn't look like somepony you could reason with. "Of course I will, I'd be delighted to," she said to the cheering of Butterscotch.

Twilight's stomach growled, now that she was sat in this apartment with little else to do except wait and smell dinner cooking, she had to admit she was pretty hungry.

In the time she had she did her best to get some answers about the city and what was happening here out of the stallion, whom she had learned was called Green Roots, shortened to Roots. So far all she had learned was that the guard had increased in number over a month ago, but it wasn't until roughly two weeks ago that martial law had been declared, and it got worse when the General arrived a few days ago. As for why this had happened he hadn't the slightest idea. Life in Prance had been peaceful until the guards numbers had increased, and had remained fairly peaceful until the soldiers had arrived.

After that it became clear that the soldiers had no intention of allowing the city's inhabitants to enjoy that peace. Even some ponies who had little reason to fear the soldier’s presence had quickly begun to chafe under the soldiers heavy hoofed methods. Now he feared that the city was becoming what the soldiers claimed it to be, because of the soldiers themselves.

Twilight had taken that information with a pinch of salt. Sure things might seem bad, but surely there was no way things could be as bad as Roots' seemed to think. Then she asked what precisely the soldiers were doing and immediately changed her mind.

"Like what you saw them doing to us outside, they intimidate ponies for no reason and they arrest anypony who shows even the slightest bit of resistance. And those they do arrest, not all come back. Those that do come back have terrible injuries, speaking of being beaten and tortured by the soldiers who want them to confess their crimes."

"But why though? This makes no sense! How does arresting random ponies and forcing them to admit to being an insurrectionist help them achieve anything? And what do you mean by those who come back? What happens to those that don't?"

The stallion shook his head slowly, "It doesn't make sense, but they do it anyway. Those that don't come back are executed. There's only been a few hangings yet, but I fear that number will only grow and grow the longer this goes on. Assuming something worse doesn't happen first..."

Twilight was about to ask him what he meant when she was interrupted by a bowl of vegetable soup suddenly floating in front of her face, carried by his wife Cross Stitch, "I know you only wish to answer her questions my love, but perhaps you could not talk about such dreadful things." She glanced back at where Butterscotch was playing with Lacy, “Especially not in front of the children."

"I know, I'm sorry. I only wish to convince her to leave as soon as she has found her friend."

"I'm sorry too," said Twilight. "I was only curious. I won't mention it again." She sniffed the bowl and smiled, "This smells great by the way, thank you," she said before digging in.

For a scant few minutes the only sounds were ponies slurping their soup as Twilight and the family ate, but the peace was soon shattered by a loud clattering from outside. Roots got up and looked out of the one window they had that overlooked the street; and quickly reeled back, a look of horror on his face. "The soldiers! They're back!"

Twilight shot up and peered through the window. The soldiers were indeed back, with greater numbers and had with them three carts with cages built into their backs, their purpose very clear. "We've got to do something! We've got to hide!"

"No, you've got to hide. They know we're here, if we're all hiding they will tear this place apart looking for us, which means they'll find you as well. If it's just you hiding you have a chance to get out of this." Roots pushed aside the drawers revealing a cubby hole, "Quick! Get in!"

"But shouldn't Butterscotch and Lacy hide in here?"

Roots' shook his head sadly, "If the kids are missing they'll search this place and find you anyway. I'm afraid it's just you that gets to hide."

Downstairs there was a crunch of a door being forced open and the sound of a mare screaming that was suddenly cut off. "No! You can't just expect me to hide while you're all taken by the soldiers!"

"It’s too late Twilight. There's no escape for us but there might well be an escape for you. Now get in there before the soldiers come!"

Twilight scrambled backward into the hole, which was just big enough to accommodate her. Roots' shoved her bags in after her and was about to push the drawers back into place when Twilight quietly asked "Why are you saving me?"

"I'm just returning the favour, now shush." He pushed the drawers back into place and went to where his wife and children were sitting, Lacy whimpering in fear and Cross Stitch weeping quietly.

Twilight could hear him trying his best to comfort them as the minutes passed, the only other sounds being the shouts and screams of the buildings other inhabitants as the soldiers went about their grisly business. All too soon there was the sound of armoured hooves outside the door, followed by a crunch as it was battered open. "You're all under arrest!" a soldier shouted.

"Please," Twilight could hear Roots' say, "we'll come quietly."

"You better," the soldier growled. There was a clinking sound from what Twilight suspected were shackles, and slowly the ponies left, leaving Twilight in the most damning silence ever. She waited for a few minutes in case the soldiers returned, feeling cold and hollow as she lay there in the dark.

Slowly she lifted the drawers aside, keeping an ear out for any other sounds from within the building. Hearing nothing she exited the room and crept down to the door into the building, peeking out to see where the soldiers were loading ponies into the cages.

"Miss Tilly!" Twilight's ears perked at the sound of Lacy shouting for the doll she had dropped when the soldier practically threw her into the cage. She watched as Cross Stitch's horn glowed softly, picking Miss Tilly up and floating it towards Lacy's outstretched legs. But instead the soldier intercepted it and batted it aside, towards Twilight, before laughing.

Lacy's scream when he did that is a sound Twilight wouldn't forget in a good long time. Gently, she picked Miss Tilly up in her magic and stared into her recriminating button eyes as tears escaped her own. Twilight fell to her knees, weighed down by guilt and grief, Lacy's scream and the soldiers laugh echoing around her head. "This is my fault. This is all my fault."

She squeezed her eyes shut, a few more tears escaped before those tears that remained evaporated into wisps of steam. When she opened her eyes again they were bright white, glowing with a cold, hard fury. "No." She tore off her bags and cloak, her still invisible wings instinctively flaring in her aggression. "No!"

She ran out to where the soldiers had finished filling the wagons and screamed at them, "Let them go you bastards!" The soldiers reacted swiftly, bringing various arms to bear, but none of them attacked her, with many backing away from her almost demonic visage. A lone soldier stepped up and charged her, bringing a halberd swinging down towards her in an arc that would have cleaved her head in two had she let it.

She erected a shield, the oscillating energy of it designed to return and magnify any force that strikes it. The halberd struck the shield and instantly the shaft shattered into splinters as the head went flying into the air where it was quickly grabbed by Twilight's magic and buried in the street. She might have been enraged beyond belief but she wasn't about to let the weapon land on somepony.

The soldier backed away fearfully, dots of blood bubbling up on his face where the splinters had struck him. "What the fuck are you?" he demanded as Twilight slowly advanced towards him.

"Angry," was her curt reply. She stalked forward a few paces, the soldiers backing off a few paces in return. Clearly all their experience at fighting unicorns without spells had left them woefully unprepared for fighting an angry alicorn who could, and it showed.

A soldier at the back raised a whistle to his lips, seeking to secure backup, but Twilight snatched it from his lips before he even had the chance to draw a breath. He was clearly in two minds about events because afterward he stammered a "Charge!" in a voice that very much sounded like it wanted to scream 'Retreat!'

The soldiers surrounded Twilight with their weapons raised, all of them except the one who had already lost his, and attempted to strike her in unison. The simultaneous attack proved enough to break through her shield, but not before shattering most of their weapons. The one that did get through left her with nothing more than a deep scratch on her flank.

"My turn." Her horn suddenly flared brighter as she hefted all the soldiers into the air and held them there as she ripped the padlocks off the cages. Giving time for the cages current inhabitants to leave, she crammed the soldiers into them and proceeded to wrap any bits of metal around the bars where the cage doors opened, trapping the soldiers inside.

As a final touch she cast a spell on the soldiers that would eradicate the last two days from their memories. Not the spells' original purpose, but as a non-lethal means of stopping the soldiers from returning here it served her purposes quite adequately. The soldiers all yelled in fear before slumping over unconscious as she finished casting it.

She paused and tried to take some cleansing breaths as the glow slowly faded from her eyes and reality slowly reasserted itself. She floated Miss Tilly in front of her. She hadn't even realised she had been holding the doll throughout that, and looked around hoping to find Lacy. She spotted her cowering behind her mothers and fathers legs, and when she tried to approach them the entire family backed off fearfully.

"What are you?" Roots' asked her, a tremor of fear in his voice. "What did you do to those soldiers?"

"I-I-I'm just a- just a unicorn. I was only trying to help!" Twilight felt like crying again as the anger drained out of her and as they all stared at her fearfully, including the other ponies the soldiers had tried to take. "The soldiers are fine, I removed their memories from the last two days so they hopefully won't remember this and won't come back. Please, I only wanted to help..."

"B-but how?"

"The spell was designed by psychiatrists to help ponies by removing traumatic events from their past, but it fell out of use when the cure was worse... than... the..." At the ponies confused expressions she figured out that wasn't quite what he meant. "It’s just magic. A spell, that's all."

"But no unicorn knows that kind of magic!"

"Well... I do." She tried to approach them once more but again they backed away. Instead she levitated Miss Tilly towards them and placed her on the ground, where they stared at the toy like they expected it to explode. "I haven't done anything to her, she's still the same old Miss Tilly." She smiled at Lacy who was peeking at her from between her mother’s legs.

"Thank you for helping us again Twilight, but I think you should go."

Twilight was about to protest but didn't when she saw the expressions of fear on the faces of the other ponies around her. She nodded with her head hanging low, crushed by their fear and rejection of magic. She retrieved her belongings and was about to go when she had a thought and paused. "I really think you should try to leave Prance, it’s not safe here." Roots' gave her a stiff nod in return. She continued on her way, not even trying to hide her tears.

Standing on a street corner, very classy. Octavia looked around at the ponies passing her by as she tried to think about what to do. The direction Twilight had given her had led her straight to the castle, but the castle itself was closed off and guarded by soldiers and if Fleur was in the castle then quite frankly there was very little they could do about it right now.

Instead she had gone all around the castle in what she had come to think of as Little Canterlot. The houses were big and well appointed, while the ponies living in them were almost all earth ponies, and well-dressed ones at that, even if the styles were very much antiquated compared to Canterlot.

It hadn't taken her long to explore the district though and she was fairly sure that if Fleur had set hoof in here she had decided to set it back out again soon after. She was tempted to leave as well; the snobbery displayed by the ponies around here outdid Canterlot's nobility by a whole extra level, and some of the snippets of conversation she could overhear left her feeling sick.

A pony and her young filly passed by her, "Mother, can I take this bonnet off? It itches."

"Absolutely not! Do you want everypony to see your horn?"

"I don't mind if they do..."

"Maybe you don't, but I do. Now stop asking about it and come along."

They carried on and walked past a trio of stallions coming the other way. "I do so wish this silly little insurrection would end so that this martial law can be over and done with. This whole business has hurt my profits terribly!"

"Indeed, indeed! If this keeps going I'll have to lay some staff off somewhere."

"You mean you actually pay those scruffy ponies you employ? Hah! What a lark."

The stallions chortles tapered off, allowing Octavia to overhear the conversation between two mares at a café. "I warned her that if anything should happen to his grandmother's vase that there would be hell to pay. Of course the clumsy thing went and broke it this morning,"

"I really don't understand on why you would even think of employing a unicorn as a maid!"

"Times are hard and unicorns are cheap. Anyway when my husband found out he was absolutely livid and thrashed her severely! Cracked her horn too so now she's even more useless than she was before. Naturally I fired her, but that means I have to hire a new maid-"

Octavia ground her teeth and pointedly ignored that conversation just in time to overhear two other mares, an earth pony and a unicorn, both in matching uniforms. "I still can't believe the mistress could do such a thing! From what the butler told me the master's thinking of leaving her."

"And I wouldn't blame him at all. To think of such a fine lady as the mistress conceiving such a thing!"

"I know! If I gave birth to a... to a...-" The earth pony held a hoof up to her mouth and whispered barely loud enough for Octavia to hear, "-pegasus, I would just die."

"I know, it'd be horrible! Hopefully the foal will be taken away soon and this whole nasty business can be forgotten about."

Octavia snarled inwardly and grit her teeth. The idea that even the downtrodden unicorns of Prance could hate pegasi really was depressing. She snorted and was about to leave to continue her search elsewhere when she was accosted by two earth pony mares dressed in fancy looking clothing, one a beige colour with a golden mane, the other pale blue with a dark brown mane that reminded her of her fellow quartet member Beauty Brass.

"Are you alright dear?" the beige pony asked her. "You've been sat here for an awfully long time and I was beginning to worry that something was wrong."

The blue one sniffed and wrinkled her nose, "I think something is wrong. When was the last time you took a bath? You smell awful!"

The beige pony gasped and batted at her companion, "Sapphire! Mind your manners! Terribly sorry about her," she said to Octavia, "she's a bit rude, although she does have a point. I wasn't going to say anything but you smell a little... odious."

Octavia sniffed herself gingerly and had to admit that perhaps she smelled a little. "I've been travelling and there isn't really much chance for bathing out in the wilds. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm trying to find somepony and I really must get back to it." She tried to walk off but the two ponies cut her off.

"Nonsense. There is no way I am going to let a lady like yourself walk around here smelling like a vagabonds armpit. I insist that you come with us back to our abode where we can see to getting you a bath, and perhaps your clothing cleaned too."

A vagabonds armpit? "While that is a very generous offer I'm afraid I'm going to have to decline." And why am I speaking like this? This is posh even for me! "It’s imperative I find my companion as soon as possible." She tried to walk off again but was cut off again by the blue pony.

"When Velvet offers you something, you don't decline. She's just trying to do you a favour." Octavia's eyes twitched from Sapphire to Velvet, a sinking sensation growing within her.

"While I do appreciate the offer I am rather busy. If I had the time I would gladly take you up on that bath, but not right now."

Velvet pushed Sapphire aside so that she stood almost nose to nose with Octavia, "If you don't come, I'll scream."

"What? Why would you do that? What would doing that even achieve?"

"The guards will come and I'll tell them you attacked me, and then you'll get arrested and go to jail."

Octavia backed off a few steps, "What reason would the guards have to believe I attacked you? You wouldn't be injured!" Octavia looked to Sapphire who wore a hard look similar to Velvet's , although Octavia was sure she could detect a hint of something else there as well.

"Wouldn't matter. Daddy's a judge and the guards all know him and his daughter. Daughters, I mean. They'll arrest you for anything if I ask them to."

By now the two ponies had backed Octavia into a corner. "Let me get this straight. If I don't come with you, you'll scream and summon the guards who will arrest me for whatever reason you invent. Because you think I need a bath."

"That's right. If you do come with us you'll get washed, your clothes will get washed and you'll be free to continue your search in a couple of hours. Sounds like a good deal right? It would be awfully hard to search for somepony from inside a prison cell."

Octavia looked around the street hoping that somepony was paying attention to this, but nopony was. Feeling that she didn't have a lot of options she relented. "Fine. I'll come."

Velvet clapped excitedly and Sapphire seemed strangely relieved. "Excellent! Now follow us and don't even think about running off because I'll have the guards hunt you down."

Octavia nodded reluctantly and followed after the two ponies, who had started whispering to each other, taking turns to look back at her. Octavia couldn't make out what they were saying, but there was the occasional mention of 'Daddy.' Next year I'm vacationing somewhere far from here.

The two ponies had led her to a large, terraced house not far from where they had found her, and had ordered her in, where she was relieved of her belongings by a nervous looking, peach coloured unicorn mare that was then ordered to run a bath for Octavia and clean her cloak up as much as she could.

As they waited she was left alone with Sapphire as Velvet disappeared on some mysterious errand. They sat there in silence, the only sound being a faint rustling as the saddened looking Sapphire rubbed one foreleg with the other over the sleeve of her dress. "Are you okay?" Octavia asked, feeling genuinely concerned for the miserable pony.

Sapphire's head shot up in surprise, like she hadn't been prepared for the idea that Octavia might have talked to her. "Uh...yes. Yes I'm fine, thank you." She lapsed back into silence for a moment, "I'm really sorry about this."

Octavia tried to ask what she meant but the blue pony remained silent, doing nothing more than rubbing her leg. The silence was broken when Velvet returned and announced that the bath was ready and that Octavia should follow her. She led them to a fancy looking bathroom decorated in white marble, complete with steaming bath and the unicorn maid from earlier wielding a scrubbing brush. "Peach Blossom, see that she is well scrubbed. When you're done bring her to the master bedroom."

"Yes mistress." Velvet and Sapphire departed, leaving Octavia with Peach Blossom, who waited patiently as Octavia climbed into the bath, before beginning the task of getting her clean.

"Peach Blossom, can I ask you a question?"

"Certainly miss. I can't say if I'll be able to answer it though."

"Do you have any idea why those two would threaten me with arrest just so they can bring me here for a bath?"

Peach Blossom suddenly looked awkward, "I couldn't say miss."

"Is that because you don't know, or because you aren't allowed to say?"

Peach Blossom visibly winced that time. "Please miss, it’s not my place to say." The maid looked like she wanted to cry, so Octavia stopped asking and let the unicorn work, leaving her to wonder just what the hay was going on.

Apparently ponies in Mareitania hadn't yet heard of hairdryers, and unicorns were limited to telekinesis, so drying Octavia's mane and tail, both quite long, had taken a really long time to dry with just a towel. Eventually though, the washed, dried, and rather more fragrant Octavia was led through a double door into the master bedroom where Velvet and Sapphire were waiting for her.

"Ah! There we are! Much better, don't you think Sapphire?"

"Yes Velvet. I still think she needs a little something though."

"Look, I've played your games long enough. I've had my bath and now I would appreciate it if you would return my belongings and let me go."

Velvet gave a pointed look at Peach Blossom, who lowered her eyes. "Is miss Octavia's cloak ready yet?"

"No mistress."

"No? Well that's too bad. If you could go and see to that, Peach." The maid curtsied and departed, but not before glancing at Octavia who could see the apology in her expression. "In the meantime, how about we do your mane up and do your makeup. You do want to look your best don't you?"

Look my best for what? "No, I don't. I want my belongings and I want to leave, please."

"But you can't, they aren't ready yet. Now stop being silly and lay down on the bed so we can pretty you up, not that it should take much, you're already very pretty."

Octavia did so, albeit warily. She was starting to think she would be better off taking a chance on the guards, and probably would have if they weren't holding her belongings hostage. She lay down between the two ponies, Sapphire picking up a hairbrush and starting on her tail, and Velvet opening a makeup kit she had with her. I wish Vinyl were here, she'd know what to do. Who am I kidding, I know what to do. I just can't quite bring myself to do it.

Since she had little else to do she looked around the room when she could and quickly deduced that this was definitely a stallions bedroom, judging by the colour scheme, the furnishings and the distinctly male clothing dotted around. The only thing that looked out of place was an instrument that made her heart ache when she saw it. Unfortunately that fact might have distracted her a little too much from important details, like being in a stallions bedroom.

"That cello, does it belong to one of you?"

Velvet shook her head, "No, it belonged to my mother."

"Your mother? Not Sapphires' as well?"

"No, we have different mothers, and different fathers as well. We don't want to talk about it."

"Fair enough. Sooo... does either of you play?"

"No, Daddy doesn't let anypony touch it. He says the only pony allowed to play it is mother, and she's no longer with us. Why do you ask?"

"I'm a professional cello player myself, and it’s been weeks since I've been able to play. Seeing a beautiful antique cello sitting there unused is horribly tempting. Seems a waste if nopony is allowed to use it; instruments are meant to be played."

"Right! I think you're all done!" Velvet shouted out suddenly, sounding slightly panicked. Octavia looked at herself in the mirror across the room. What on earth? She's made me up like some sort of harlot! Octavia thought as she looked herself over in the mirror. There was way too much purple eye shadow and a veritable explosion of blusher on her cheeks. No need to even mention the ruby red lipstick.

"Now how about a little dress up? Personally I think you would look absolutely stunning in these." Velvet said before picking up some white, silky objects. "I've always found the right hosiery can do wonders for a mares' confidence."

"Hosiery?" Octavia studied what Velvet was holding. "Stockings? Why the hay do you want me to put those on? What is going on here!? Do you think I'm some kind of prostitute or something? Because you're vastly mistaken!"

Velvet's expression hardened but she still managed to smile sweetly as she said "Put them on or I'll have Peach Blossom burn your belongings."

"Why are you doing this?” Octavia pleaded, hoping that the miserable looking Sapphire would step up and end this. She didn't though, instead she just sat there hanging her head. "Sapphire, please. Make her stop..."

Sapphire looked up, allowing Octavia to see her tears; "I can't, I'm sorry." She got up and practically fled the room.

"Now look what you've done!" Velvet screeched, throwing the stockings at Octavia. "Put these on right now! And don't cry or you'll ruin your makeup." Octavia sniffed and nodded, pulling on the stockings with hooves that were shaking as her mind flooded with dark thoughts. "Now wait here and don't leave this room, and don't take those off!"

Velvet stormed out, leaving Octavia alone, shaking as fear took hold of her mind. They're going to rape me. I'm going to be raped by two mares and then they're probably going to kill me. Those thoughts ran through her mind, blocking out everything else so that she didn't notice when somepony entered and closed the doors, locking them as they did.

"My my, don't you look lovely." Octavia jumped in surprise and raised her head to see who had just addressed her. It was a stallion. A grey and obscenely fat one, wearing a black dinner jacket that barely contained his girth.

"Wh-who are you? What are you doing here?"

"Who I am isn't important, at least not to you, but for all intents and purposes you can call me... mmm... daddy. As for what I'm doing here, let’s just say that I'm here so that you and I can get to know each other a little more intimately." He reached under the bed and pulled out a box, taking from the box some hoof cuffs, a gag and a string of beads.

Octavia almost gagged in disgust when she saw what he was holding, "Y-you mean those two brought me here and did all this for you!?"

"Mmhmm, they are such good little girls aren't they, and they have such a fine a taste in mares to find me a beauty like you." The stallion climbed onto the bed and Octavia slowly backed off, climbing down the opposite side, keeping a wary eye on the stallion as he lay on his side and revealed his... stringbean? It’s tiny! "Now how about you come back on up here and give daddy a kiss."

Octavia's stomach lurched, "I'd rather not. In fact, if anypony is going to be kissing anything it’s going to be you kissing my flank goodbye because I am leaving." She trotted to the door and tried to open it, but failed since it was locked.

"Looking for something?" the stallion said smarmily, as he held the key flat on his hoof, before tucking it in his jacket pocket. "I get the feeling you don't know the rules here. Let me enlighten you. I don't open that door and you don't get to leave until you have performed your... services and I am satisfied. Now cease this silliness and come here." The stallion dragged himself off the bed and approached Octavia, who in turn backed away from him, going around the room until her rear brushed up against something that twanged lightly as she did so.

She waited as the stallion got nearer to her, "I really am sorry about this."

"It’s quite alright my dear, now how about you-" He was cut off, when in a sudden smooth motion, Octavia span around, grabbed the cello by its neck and continued her spin, bringing the cello in a sideways arc until it met the side of his head, knocking him out cold with a crunch and sproing as some of the strings snapped.

"I wasn't talking to you..." She brushed the side of the cello that had made contact, inspecting the large splintered dent it now bore, a strange calm coming over her. "Such a pity, it really is a beautiful instrument." She placed it back in its stand with gentle reverence, before checking the stallion for a pulse, which fortunately, or unfortunately, he still had.

She dug the key out of his pocket, unlocked the doors and stumbled out, feeling a bit numb and starting to shake as the adrenaline started to wear off. She closed the doors behind her and locked them before stepping sideways and giving a solid buck side on to the key so it snapped off in the lock. Then for good measure she located a chair, tipped it over and snapped a leg off, which she then jammed through the door handles.

"Daddy? Is everything ok? I heard banging. I mean actual banging, not the... other kind... Oh." She went quiet as she observed a heavily panting Octavia staring at the door like it had offended her. Velvet didn't move as Octavia slowly turned to face her.

"You! Give me one good reason why I shouldn't beat the living hell out of you!" Octavia stomped over to Velvet and roughly shoved her over onto her back before pinning her down.

"You'll ruin your outfit?" Velvet suggested with a weak grin. She cringed as Octavia pulled a hoof back, only opening her eyes again as the expected punch failed to land, because Sapphire was there holding back Octavia's leg.

"Please! It’s not her fault."

"Is that so?" Octavia said with frightening coolness. "Frankly when ponies abduct me to be raped I at least expect somepony to be at fault."

"Please, she was only doing it to protect me!"

"Protect you? From what?"

"Him."

Octavia's eyes widened as realization dawned on her. "You mean, your father does that to you?"

"He is not my father!" Sapphire snarled back. "My father died years ago and that bastard doesn't deserve to take that title from him!"

"But he's your step father, and he... I mean h-how could he... I don't..." Octavia fell silent, unable to think of what to say as her anger suddenly drained out of her. She backed off, her legs shaking again, and sat down, allowing Sapphire to pull Velvet to her hooves, Velvet giving her a kiss on the cheek in return. "Wait... are you two an item? Isn't that, well, incest?"

Sapphire shook her head, "Not with step siblings." Octavia rubbed her head. As explanations went, she'd rather have got one that didn't confuse her as much as it horrified her.

"It still is with step fathers isn't it? I mean I'm pretty sure it is."

Sapphire nodded in confirmation and hugged herself, "That's kind of a moot point compared to what he does to me though."

"Oh, yes. Right. Is that why you brought me here? So he'd attack me and not you?" The two ponies nodded. "Is forcing ponies into your home really the best solution you could come up with? Why didn't you just leave?"

"We want to," Velvet answered her, "but he won't let us and we don't really know how to survive out there. We've always been taken care of. So to stop him hurting Sapphire we started encouraging ponies to come here after all the earth pony maids refused to work here. Daddy won't touch unicorns for some reason and after that he started attacking Sapphire. We found that if we could get other earth ponies here, he'd leave Sapphire alone. That's why we targeted you, as you're clearly a traveller with no ties here. If he attacked you, nopony around here would really care.

I care! "Wait, you mean he used to attack the maids too? Or at least the earth pony ones? Why isn't he in prison?"

"Because he's a judge. Nopony would dare accuse him."

Octavia felt sick to her stomach, stuff like this was unheard-of in Equestria. "What about your mother, Sapphire? Can't you go to her?"

Sapphire shook her head and hugged herself a little tighter. "She died a couple years ago. He said it was consumption, but personally I think he poisoned her because he wanted me all along. The bastard. Besides, even if she were still alive she'd be living here too."

How can one pony handle this much pain? Even Octavia wanted to give her a hug at this point. "I honestly don't know how to deal with this. This is... beyond anything I've ever come across. I really think you ought to leave; nothing is worth you staying here with that monster."

Sapphire nodded, "Yeah, I think so too. After whatever you've done to him he's only going to get worse. Now I really think you should be going, we've wasted enough of your time." She got up and left, leaving Octavia alone with Velvet.

"I really am sorry Octavia," Velvet burst out. "I just didn't know what else to do. I love her, and knowing what he was doing to her... it just makes me so... angry! I had to do something to stop him."

"How is she so calm about this? If I were in her shoes I'd probably be a nervous wreck."

"She's not always this calm. Its- I-" Velvet sighed heavily. "She's not the pony she was before this started, before daddy... did those things. What did you do to him by the way?"

"I committed an act of blasphemy." At Velvet's puzzled expression she elaborated, "I hit him around the head with your mothers cello. He's unconscious, but he should be fine. I have to ask though, why do you call him daddy? It's pretty obvious you really don't like him."

Velvet shrugged noncommittally, "I don't know, I've always called him that, and he is still my daddy despite everything he's done."

Octavia nodded listlessly, unable to say anything further. In Equestria, she would be able to think of a dozen different ways to help, but here? Here she had nothing. She looked up when Sapphire returned with Peach Blossom, who was carrying Octavia's belongings.

"Peach Blossom, once you've shown miss Octavia out, could you come up here and help Velvet and I pack some things? We're leaving."

The maid grinned widely, "Begging your pardon mistress, but it’s about damn time." She helped Octavia put her cloak on and placed her saddle bags over it. "Follow me miss," she said before leading Octavia to the way out. "I do hope you're not angry with them miss, they're good ponies, just hurt and... confused."

"No, I can't be now, not after hearing all that.” She rubbed her head. The sudden change in the situation as well as Sapphires revelations had left her feeling like she had emotional whiplash. “You'll make sure they get out okay right? I can stay if you need me to?"

"No need miss, I've been waiting for this day for months, and I really think you ought to be elsewhere when the master recovers." She opened the door for Octavia who was about to exit when Peach stopped her. "You might want to take those off," Peach Blossom said, pointing at the stockings Octavia was still wearing.

"Oh, right." She blushed lightly and pulled the stockings off, quietly tucking them into a bag. "What?" she said defensively when she noticed Peach Blossom's bemused expression. "They might come in useful for bandages."

"Of course miss, I didn't wish to imply otherwise. Goodbye," she said, finishing with a curtsey. Octavia returned the farewell and departed, looking back after a few meters to see Sapphire and Velvet looking down at her from a window. She paused, wanting to turn around and go help them but didn’t. Swallowing, she waved and continued on her way. good luck girls, you deserve it. And Bric? Consider that kiss forgiven.

Trixie breathed in deeply, sampling the many aromas the marketplace offered her, from spices, to perfumes, to freshly baked bread. The market in Prance made the market in Stalliongrad look like a slightly overblown swap-meet and there was something about it that called to her.

She wandered around, quite forgetting that she was meant to be looking for Fleur, and took in the sights. There were tumblers, a freak show featuring a bearded mare that she was sure was just a highly effeminate stallion, and a pretty yet scantily clad pink unicorn standing on the corner.

"Hey there cute, grey and sexy," she said with a wink, "you looking for a good time?"

"No thank you, I don't want to buy any drugs." Trixie replied without even stopping.

"But I wasn't trying to sell you... oh whatever."

"Honestly, what kind of pony wears fishnets like that during the day?" Trixie said to herself as she continued her meanderings. "So tacky." She carried on through the food section, swiping an orange as she went and stopped when she spotted a small yellow filly dressed in a scruffy brown cape lurking by an apple vendor. She narrowed her eyes and charged over, snatching the filly up by the scruff of her neck using her magic. "You!"

"Oh hey miss Trixie! I see you got your stuff back. Good for you! I'd give you a high hoof, but it’s kinda awkward when you’re hanging by your neck."

"You! Why would you do that to me!?"

"Well y'see, the thing is that I am but a poor lonely orphan out here in the big wide world, and I have to do what I can to survive." Her eyes went big and dewy, "You do want me to survive don't you?"

"If you try it with those crocodile tears again I'm finding a water barrel and giving you an impromptu bath. That'll wash those tears right off."

"Wow Miss Trixie, you're learning! I'd totally try that high hoof again but it's still awkward, what with the whole hanging by the neck thing. Which really kinda hurts I feel I should mention."

"You are going to give me those ten marcs back right now!"

"Okay, okay, sheesh." The filly reached into her cloak, "There's just one problem."

"And what might that be?"

"Apple."

"Apple?"

"Apple." The brought her hoof out of her cloak and expertly launched an apple at Trixie that impaled itself on Trixie's horn, disrupting her magic and making her drop the filly who ran off as fast as she could.

"Get back here!" Trixie yelled as she scrambled after the filly, pulling the apple off with her magic as she ran and throwing it at the filly, although she didn't even come close to hitting her. She was at a disadvantage here, in that Petal knew where she was going, was small enough to nimbly dodge round ponies legs and could run under stalls, whereas all Trixie had going for her was longer legs, and a burning need to catch the little shit.

"Come on Trixie! Are you even trying?" Petal yelled back at her as she dodged round a pony carrying a stack of large empty baskets. Trixie wasn't so lucky, ramming into the pony and sending her and her wares flying. Whether through skill or by being powered by sheer indignation, Trixie pushed through without stopping and grabbed a basket as she went.

Petal clambered up a stack of crates and jumped onto the roof of a stall, skilfully running along the narrow beam that supported the canvas down the middle, jumping from one stall to the next. "Run run fast as you can, you can't catch me, I'm the pony that stole your stuff! Har har!"

"That doesn't even rhyme!" Trixie yelled after her as she kept pace on the ground. She looked ahead to where the row of stalls ended, seeing an opportunity to catch Petal. She put on a burst of speed and floated the basket out ahead of her, hoping to catch Petal in it when she jumped down. She almost succeeded but Petal jumped off the edge of the basket without even disturbing it, using it as a step down.

"Thanks Trixie!" she shouted as Trixie snarled behind her. Petal took a hard right, which led to a passageway out of the market. Feeling like she was losing her chance to catch the filly, Trixie threw the basket, and beyond anypony's, and even her own expectations, the basket landed perfectly on the filly, causing her to trip up, sending both her and the basket flying. Trixie grabbed the basket and slammed it down over the filly before she could recover, and jumped up and stood on it.

"Got you, you little beast!"

There was a small grunt of pain from inside the basket. "Agh, nice one Trixie. I'll bet you twenty marcs you couldn't do that again."

"Quiet you!" Trixie shouted, pretty sure that she couldn't repeat that throw even with time to practice. "You’re going to slide the ten marcs out from under the basket, then, and only then, will I let you go."

"No."

"No? What do you mean no? The Great and Powerful Trixie has you at her mercy! You will do as I command!"

"Great and Powerful Trixie? Really? Anyway I can't do it because I don't have the money, at least not all of it."

"Then give me what you got! Right now!"

"Trixie, what are you doing with that filly?" said a voice from the shadows.

"Not now Fleur, I'm busy." Trixie was about to demand the money again when her brain caught up with her. "Oh hey Fleur! We've been looking for you. You done throwing your epic tantrum?"

"It wasn't an epic tantrum!"

"It soooo was! I mean they only wanted you to not steal so much because we don't need it and because all this theft might draw unwanted attention, and you were all like 'fuck y'all, I do what I want' before storming off in a big strop. Epic. Tantrum."

"Knock it off Trixie. You didn’t have a problem with it back at the camp. Besides, your last epic tantrum resulted in you taking over a town using dark magic."

"Hmm, okay... touché, I suppose."

"Taking over a town using dark magic?" said a small voice from under the basket.

"Now what are you doing with that filly?"

"This filly," Trixie pulled Petal out from under the basket and floated her in front of Fleur, "is evil incarnate! Just look at her."

"Flower? What are you doing with her? Wait..." Fleur snorted a laugh and grinned. "She totally got you didn't she? Hah! I'd expect Twilight or Octavia to fall for it, but you? I'm almost embarrassed for you."

"Shut up! It’s not my fault I have a soft spot for helping fillies. Besides, her name's Petal."

"Oh that's just one of many names I use. Last week I was Chrysanthemum. You'd be surprised how many ponies have trouble saying that, I mean chry-san-the-mum, it’s not hard."

"I think you better tell us your real name, right now!" Trixie demanded, giving the pony in her grasp a shake.

"Dalia."

"Oh ha ha. Tell us your real name, fiend."

"Ooh, so Trixie can be a clever pony, colour me impressed. If you must know I don't really have a name, other ponies call me things like 'Oi you!' 'Hey!' and my personal favourite, 'Get back here!' Before you ask I do the flower thing because it’s such a delightfully earth ponyish thing to do."

"Let her go Trixie."

"Let her go? Do you have any idea what this filly has put me through?"

"No, but unless you're going to beat up a filly for whatever money she has then you're not really going to get very far are you." Trixie growled but dropped the filly, who backed off to stand by Fleur before sticking her tongue out at Trixie.

"Don't s'pose I can ask what you meant by taking over a town with dark magic? Pretty sure I would have heard of something like that." Fleur and Trixie both suddenly felt very awkward.

"It was a, uh... You tell her Fleur."

"Right. Okay, it... it was a game, a uh..."

"Roleplaying game, where you play different ponies in a story, and... um."

"That's what we were referring to. The game. That we were playing. The other night."

"Yep."

"Oh, okay. Sounds lame. Well, it’s been great seeing you again Trixie but I think it's time I went, sooo... see ya!" She ran off and Trixie checked her bags as she went, just to make sure. "Hey! I had an orange!"

"Forget it Trixie. So what's the news? Other than you got robbed by a filly."

Trixie stared after the filly as she ran off before turning back to Fleur and mockingly scratching her head. "Hmm, let's see... There's martial law in Prance, the price of tomatoes is down and, uh... oh yes! We're all here looking for our companion who threw a wobbly and ran away."

"All right! All right! I admit it! I over reacted! For some reason that just got to me. I'm sure you wouldn't have been any different if they said something like that to you."

"Fleur," Trixie said sweetly, "what's my natural coat colour?"

"It’s blue-" She paused as if in thought. "Well don't I just feel like a bit of an idiot right now."

"Mmhmm. So does this mean you're going to stop acting like a foal and come back with me?"

"No, or at least, not yet. I realised pretty soon after leaving that there was no way I could abandon the mission, so while I've been here I've done a bit of snooping and found some things out that might be helpful."

Trixie paused before lowering her head and growling, "You're going to make me into a glorified messenger pony aren't you?"

"Yep." Fleur looked around surreptitiously for a moment before leaning down to whisper in Trixie's ear.

"But why would they be afraid of you because of magic? I mean, you helped them! They should be ecstatic!" Twilight and Octavia were sat near the arch they had come through to enter the city as they waited for Trixie to return. As they waited they were discussing their adventures through the day and neither of them was particularly cheerful as they did.

"I know. If it was just the earth ponies that were scared of it then I could probably accept it. Some earth ponies in Equestria seem surprised about what a skilled unicorn can do, but the unicorns here as well? That... hurt." She shook her head rapidly as if trying to dispel her sadness. "How about you? Do you think you should have stayed and helped those two?"

"Erm... yes and no. They made it clear that they didn't want me hanging around, and part of me still wanted to run a mile. I don't know. I'm sure they'll be fine."

"I know what you mean,” Twilight said with a nod. “I wanted to stay and help, but they wanted me to go and the way they were all looking at me... I don't think I could've stayed."

The two ponies hung their heads in silence, as if unsure how to comfort the other without ignoring their own problems. "Still better than Stalliongrad though," Octavia said with a grin. Twilight gave a short chuckle but said nothing back.

They were disturbed out of their reverie by the sound of approaching hooves. "Hey Twilight, hey Octavi-woah... What happened to you? Accident at a makeup factory or something?"

"Not quite. It’s a long story, I'll tell you later."

"Oookay... What about you Twilight? You look like a puppy that's been kicked."

Twilight snorted with mirth, "You could say that. It's a long story too, so it’s going to have to wait as well."

"Oh good, more secrets." Trixie said with a huff. "I'm almost disinclined to tell you what happened to me."

"Does it involve finding Fleur?" Twilight asked hopefully.

"As a matter of fact it does. I know, I know, aren't I marvellous."

Twilight looked around eagerly, "Well, where is she?"

"Hmm?" Trixie looked up from buffing a hoof on her chest. "Oh, she's not here. She's not going to rejoin us yet, but she did give me a few messages to pass on."

"She's still mad isn't she?" Twilight said as she scuffed a hoof on the ground.

"Maybe. I don't know. She was willing to concede that she may have overreacted a teensy bit when faced with the fact that I took a forced coat dyeing with better grace than she did. Anyway, do you want these messages or not." Twilight and Octavia nodded. "Okay then, first she wants me to say you Twilight, are a dingus."

"She really said that?"

"Well no, not entirely. I may have adlibbed a little bit, but I'm sure that's what she meant in essence."

"Of course she did," Twilight said flatly. "Anything else?"

"She also said that she's not seen any wanted posters or heard anything about me being a wanted mare so I'm probably safe."

"That's good." Twilight said, smiling. "I guess that means we can get rid of that coat dye now."

"But I thought it had to wash out?" Trixie watched as Twilight fished around in her bags until she found the pouch of powder Grammaw had given her, holding it up triumphantly in front of Trixie.

"Grammaw gave me this saying it would help wash the dye out. She also said to not tell you until we knew it was safe for you to be your true blue self." She tossed the pouch over to Trixie who caught it and looked inside. "Anything else Trixie?"

Trixie tucked the pouch into her own bags and pouted at Twilight, "I can't believe you've had this the entire time, and before you say it was necessary, yeah, I know. Anyway, Fleur said there's a curfew from nine in the evening 'til six in the morning so we need to either get good at avoiding guards or find somewhere to stay. She said there's somewhere in the lower city that's not too bad and affordable. Then there's the big news."

"Big news? Just how much has she been up to? She hasn't been here that long."

"I know right! The things a pony can do when we're not bickering like fillies. She said that she knows a pony who works in some high class bakery thing. There was also some stuff about her childhood but I'm not going to delve too deep into it. Now, she said that this bakery has received a special catering order for a big cake and some other stuff for a party for the Duke's son..." Trixie paused, looking between Twilight and Octavia.

"Okay, and you're saying that because?" Octavia asked.

There was a clop as Trixie facehoofed, "Oh for goodness sake. I would've thought that you of all ponies, Octavia, would appreciate dramatic tension. Now, as I was going to say, this order is for the Duke's son's birthday party which is taking place on a luxury river boat in less than a week so we have a couple of days to finish up whatever we're doing here before heading off-"

"Woah woah woah." Twilight held up a hoof to ward off Trixie's complaint about being interrupted. "How does this help us exactly?"

"Big party for the Duke's son? Lots of important ponies there, drinking an awful lot of champagne? Sounds like a great way to find out stuff that might help us with our mission. You know, that thing which so happens to be the reason we're in this miserable country in the first place?"

"Oh. Yeah. But what are we meant to do until then? And what about Fleur? We can't leave without her, especially now she's the only one of us with an actual plan!"

Trixie shrugged, "She didn't say. All she said was 'I'll find you.' I know right? Cryptic much?"

Twilight sighed with frustration and looked around, taking note of the dwindling number of ponies around. "First things first, let’s find some shelter. Last thing we need is to be caught out after curfew."

"Uh-huh, then you two can tell me what you've been up to and why Octavia's face looks like it’s been attacked by a drunk beautician. Once I've had a bath of course.

Twilight unlocked the door into the room they had rented for the night and was immediately pushed aside by Trixie who ran in and jumped on the bed. "Mine!"

"You don't get the whole bed Trixie. There's three of us and only one bed," Twilight said as she removed her bags and cloak.

"It’s not my fault we're too poor to afford two rooms. I mean the look the bar pony gave us we said we wanted one room. I thought he was going to ask if he could join us."

"Please don't say things like that," Octavia said with a shudder. She poked her head through a door in the room, "Oh hey! An en-suite, with actual plumbing! I wasn't expecting that. I call first dibs!" She said quickly before Trixie even had a chance to open her mouth.

"Oh come on! I need to wash this dye off! So unfair."

"Oh shush Trixie, I'm only going to wash my face. It'll only take a minute. I'll start a bath running for you, although I don't know how much you'll want it."

"You have no idea how much I want it but I'll humour you by asking what you mean."

"There's no hot water. I mean, at all. It's freezing."

Trixie groaned and kicked her rear legs out. "Worst hotel in the worst country ever!"

"Hardly," Twilight said as she opened the curtains, giving her a spectacular view of the neighbouring buildings side. "At least it does have an actual bath which is more than you expect from some cheap rooms above a bar. Besides I can heat the water for you."

"You can? Excellent! I knew there was a reason we brought you!"

"Yeah, about the only one so far..." Twilight muttered under her breath. She looked down on the windowsill and noticed a small figurine. It was carved out of wood, depicting a tall alicorn like Celestia, rearing up with its wings spread, but with its forelegs held close to its body and its head lowered as if in sadness. It also had a straight cut mane and tail not dissimilar to her own. She had a look to see if there was a cutie mark but the pony who made it had neglected to include one. "Hey, look at this," she said, holding it up in her magic so the others could see. "Do you think this is meant to be the Lady?"

Trixie took the figurine in her own magic and inspected it closely. "Huh, it’s kind of like a cross between you and Celestia. Weird."

"I wonder what it’s doing here?" Octavia asked as she studied it herself. "If worshipping her is banned then surely leaving this in a public place is a bit inflammatory."

“Maybe somepony left it here by accident?” Trixie suggested. “You’d be surprised at the amount of stuff I’ve left in hotels over the years. Admittedly not as much stuff as I’ve taken from hotels, but still.”

Twilight shook her head and shrugged, “It doesn’t matter.” She tucked the figurine into her saddlebags, figuring that since it probably wasn’t meant to be there then she might as well keep it, although she wasn’t sure why she thought that. Rummaging through her bags she located the speaker stone and lifted it out. “I’m going to find somewhere private to have a talk with Celestia.”

“Wait!” Trixie shouted. “Bath water first!” Twilight rolled her eyes but went into the en-suite. She turned the faucet off and dipped the tip of her horn into the water where she cast a spell for a few seconds which was enough to make the water steam. “There, enjoy.”

She tucked the stone under a wing where it thankfully became invisible as well and walked out of the room, smiling slightly as there was a splash and yelp from Trixie. “Hot hot hot!” She walked down the hall, gingerly testing every door she passed until she found one that opened and gently pushed it open. Finding the room empty she entered and moved the bed against the door ensuring nopony came in while she was there. She lay on the bed, activated the stone and waited for a reply.

“Hello? Twilight? Is that you?” There was a brief pause, where Twilight was sure she could hear a sound like a coconut hitting a rock. “My apologies Twilight, Of course it’s you.”

“Hi Luna. Guess I forgot the time when I did this.”

“Quite alright Twilight. Would you like me to get my sister? She is only bathing right now.”

“No, no need,” Twilight said, not wanting Luna to feel slightly rejected for wanting Celestia over her. “You might be the better pony to speak to about this.”

“Of course Twilight, how may I assist?” Twilight breathed out slowly through her nose, unsure of what she wanted to say. Luna must have picked up on it, asking “Twilight? Is something amiss?”

“I guess I better give you the news first. We’re in Prance. Not without some problems along the way but we are all here. We might have a new problem though. The city is under martial law and has been since before we arrived.”

“Martial law? Why would the city be under martial law? Did something happen there?”

“We don’t really know. Octavia asked one of the guards and he said they were looking for insurrectionists, but the thing is we haven’t seen the slightest evidence of such a thing.”

“There is rarely smoke without fire Twilight. There must be a reason of some sort?”

“If there is we don’t know it. All we know is that there’s a general here of some description and he’s not leaving until he’s decided that the insurrectionists have been pacified.” Twilight’s chest grew tight as her emotions threatened to escape her control. “It’s awful here Luna. In just the last six or so hours we’ve been here I’ve seen how bad it is, and how the general intends to stop them.”

“Twilight? You sound upset. If something is the matter you can tell me.”

“I was looking around the lower city and saw some soldiers harassing a family, a mare, stallion and two foals. They were going to arrest them all if the stallion didn’t come quietly and I couldn’t just stand there and let it happen. I managed to get enough attention on the soldiers so that they became worried and left but they came back later with reinforcements.”

“What did they do?”

“They arrested everypony Luna! Even the children! The stallion told me to hide since the soldiers didn’t know I was there, so when they cleared the building I snuck out to where they were loading the ponies into cages. The filly from the family dropped her stuffed toy when a soldier threw her into the cage and when her mother tried to retrieve it the soldier kicked it away.”

“The fiend!” Luna said, sounding shocked.

“It landed by me and when I picked it up I- I- I just lost it! I was so angry and I wanted to hurt them like they were hurting these ponies!”

“Did you… kill somepony? Is that why you are upset?”

Twilight shook her head before remembering that Luna couldn’t see her. “No, I didn’t kill anypony Luna! I could never do that! No, they attacked me first and I defended myself. Then once I had unarmed them I locked them in their own cages and wiped their memories of the last two days, hoping they might never come back.”

“You would know such a spell? Isn’t such a thing outlawed?”

“No, psychiatrists used to use them but only in the most extreme of cases, but no, they’re not illegal. Anyway after I did that I went to give the filly back her toy but nopony would come near me! They were terrified of me because of the magic I did! I was only trying to help them!” Her voice cracked and she gave a little sob, “I don’t get why they were afraid of me Luna. I helped them!”

“Oh Twilight, I understand what you’re going through all too well.”

“You do?” Twilight said, rubbing her eyes after her outburst.

“Of course I do, you remember how ponies treated me after I returned and was cleansed by the elements. Even though I was no longer evil I was still treated as a threat, ponies would look at me and all they would see was another Nightmare Moon waiting to happen. The ponies of Mareitania haven’t seen magic like yours since before the exodus and have been told for centuries that magic users are evil. You may have helped them Twilight, but I’m afraid all they saw was you attacking ponies with something they think is evil, which by an unfair extension makes you evil as well.”

“I know that,” Twilight said quietly. “I just never thought that being rejected in such a way would hurt so much.”

“It does,” Luna said, equally quiet, “but it doesn’t stop them from doing it. Find strength in your companions Twilight, with them at your side it won’t seem so hard. Work towards a future in Mareitania where such displays of magic would only garner you praise rather than fear.”

Twilight snorted slightly and smiled. Luna was speaking the truth but to hear said in such a way was strange. “Thanks Luna.”

“You are welcome Twilight. I realise that perhaps Celestia might have been more comforting for you, but I hope you realise I am always here for you as well. After all, you were my first friend after my return and I would do anything to help you.”

“Don’t worry Luna, you did.”

“I’m glad, now, is there anything else you wish to tell me?”

“Uh, not much. We might have a lead on where we should go from here, but Fleur knows a lot more about it than I do and she isn’t… here right now.” Twilight thought maybe Luna and Celestia didn’t need to know about the Princess of Friendship’s failure at friendship. “I’ll tell you more once I know more.”

“I see. I hope it’s something good then. If there is nothing more I shall have to take my leave. Night court begins soon and I do not wish to be tardy, unless of course there is something else you wish to discuss?”

“No, that’s it. Thanks for this Luna, I should probably get back to the others. Bye.”

“Farewell Twilight, and remember not to let the fears of these ponies bring you down.”

“I will.” Twilight cut the spell and froze when she realised that in her blubbering she had neglected to tell Luna more important things like what was happening with the martial law, like the random arrests and the brutal treatment ponies were receiving. She was about to make contact again when she remembered that Luna was about to go to night court. “Ugh, I am such an idiot.”

She roughly shoved the bed back into its former position and teleported to her room, rather than walking. She emerged in a flash in the centre of the room and was immediately set upon by Trixie who was still in the bath. “Twilight! Is that you? You said this stuff would wash the dye out! It’s just powdered soap!” Twilight frowned for a moment before snorting into a giggle. “What? What’s so funny?”

“I’m sorry Trixie, I didn't mean to laugh. it’s just that Grammaw said that it would wash the dye out and technically she wasn’t wrong even though it’s just soap powder. I guess she made it sound like a miracle fix for the dye to stop me from moping around so much, feeling guilty for what I did to you.”

“Twilight, you are going to come in here and help me because if I come out a blotchy, half blue, half grey freak there will be hell to pay and I won’t be leaving this room until its fixed! Surely you must know a spell of some sort that can remove the dye?”

Twilight rubbed her chin as she thought and couldn’t help but grin as a solution formed in her mind. “No, I’m afraid I don’t know any dye removal spells, but I do know hair growth spells. We could shave you and then use the spell to grow your coat back in is proper colour.” Twilight and Octavia grinned at each other as they cocked an ear towards the bathroom, waiting for a reply.

“No chance. Instead I have a better idea; you are going to come in here and help me scrub until Trixie is either blue or bleeding! Preferably blue.” Twilight walked into the bathroom where Trixie immediately flicked water into her face, “You got that?”

Twilight giggled and picked up a scrubbing brush, “Fair enough, but I’m telling you now that washing your flank is your own business.”

“As if I would even let you.”

Author's Notes:

I'm not sure how this turned out to be such a monster of a chapter but there you go. I'm sure its really badly edited since I have work in 3 hours and I'm something something... *yawn*

Slight edit to the last few paragraphs based on what HaoKyruss said (assuming that's the bit he/she meant).