After getting ready for another great day of work, I went to the office and checked the calendar. Some special guests had reserved the restaurant for the day, and they were of very high standing in my book.

When I heard the front door open up, I went out and saw Gilda there. “Hey, you ready for our special guests today?” I happily asked her.

“You’re sure we don’t need to look fancy or decorate the place for them?”

“She insisted that we don’t change the way we do things. Normal uniforms, normal charges, normal everything. Aside from the fact that the restaurant’s been reserved and there are going to be very important guests talking about very important things making very important decisions, it’s normal.”

A small smirk crossed Gilda’s beak. “And what, pray tell, is normal about any of this?”

I couldn’t help but smile at the playful question. “Just go do what you do to get the place ready.”

At 3:15, the guests started coming in. The first one came over to me while the rest, all clearly wealthy, politely streamed in. “Hello, Yang.”

“Hi, Fancy. You got everyone you wanted here?”

“I did. After today, I’m afraid you’ll need to start doing some expansions to the business floor of your abode.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yang, I could spend the whole day extolling the vast majority of my esteemed guests and what they do in and for the places they live in across the world. However, neither of us have the time for that.”

Fleur was the last one to come in, and she came straight to me. “You did make it clear to all your employees that we are to be treated like normal customers, right?”

“Yes, Fleur,” I answered with a small exasperated sigh. “I did that and cleared up all presumptions of decor and alternate fancy dress with everyone. Why were you so insistent on that?”

“Almost everywhere a herd of wealthy ponies go, special treatment comes up. I do not want that for this event. If any of them don’t like the way you and your staff treat normal ponies, that is their problem.”

I glanced over the herd that was already sitting and talking, and I recognized none of them. “I see you excluded a certain group of ponies.”

“This is a meeting of humble, hardworking nobles. You will find that none of them simply throw bits and good words at a problem and do nothing else about it. No, these esteemed ponies put themselves out there. Honest Counsel probably does the least materialistic work, and his financial advice may be hard to handle at times, but he knows his stuff, and has helped many ponies out of difficult monetary positions.”

Fancy put a forehoof on his wife’s withers. “Calm down, Fleur. I know you’re excited, but we have work to do here.” As she left, he turned to me. “She is right, though. I suggest you spend some time out of the kitchen and mingle a bit with everypony here. Connections are valuable, even if you’ve got everything going well.”

“Duly noted. We’ll get the menus out shortly.” Soon, I was back in the comfortable confines of the kitchen, along with everyone else working there. Part of me wanted to tell them to get to work on something, but I didn’t because there really was nothing to do but wait for orders to come in. Sauces were ready, vegetables were cut, everything was clean, and there was meat getting smoked outside. “I’m so proud of these guys.”

After nearly half an hour of waiting, the orders finally started coming in, and we pounced on the chance to do something. Salads, steaks, sandwiches, spuds, all of it was being prepared. Most of the ordered meat was smoked, so the back door was propped open to make it easier to go back and forth.

As the orders were put up at the serving window, the wait staff took them to the appropriate tables, and they were both quick and accurate. None of the plates or orders came back for any reason, and until the last one was out, it was a steady stream of delicious food going out to hungry ponies, which really was just like a normal day.

I stayed in the kitchen to help with cleanup and the occasional extra order. Most of the new orders were small meat orders, though there were a few sampler platters here and there. The humble nobles seemed much more willing to try meat than the disgraced Canterlot group, not that it was difficult. Overall, things were good.

After things calmed down, and while we were cleaning the kitchen, Fancy took a spot behind the bar, with Aegir's permission, and started talking. "I would like to start by thanking each and every one of you for taking the time out of your schedule to join us here, and I am glad to see everypony mingling. Not just business to business, but pony to pony. Some of you, and you know who you are, are replacing the nobles that Princess Twilight had to remove from power."

"Humble, hardworking nobles with legislative power." I thought about the idea for a fraction of a second. "I like the sound of that."

"I know this doesn't necessarily look like a humble meeting, what with all of us wealthy nobles gathered in one place and renting out the whole restaurant for this meeting, but it truly is. It's heartwarming to see a 100% response rate to the invitations I sent out. That being said, there is one humble noble that I, sadly, was actually unable to invite."

"Okay, I'm curious." I went over to the serving window and listened to Fancy's speech.

"She's only recently met the qualifications of the Noble title, but she's worked hard, and continues to work hard. She treats her employees well, and is not afraid to be right there with them, doing what it takes to make sure that every day at work is both productive and satisfactory."

"She sounds like a nice pony. I wonder why she couldn't be invited?"

"One admirable trait I find in this new Noble is how she refuses to use her power to take the easy way out of things or get her way with something, an act I will admit to have done on occasion, even this year. No, she gets her way through hard earned respect, a respect that she has not stopped building up, through all the obstacles that have come her way."

A dark gray earth pony mare with a pink bowtie that matched her eyes raised a forehoof and spoke up. "Excuse me, but could you enlighten us on who this Noble is? It sounds like she would fit in with us quite well."

"Ah, my apologies, Miss Philharmonica. The Noble I speak of is none other than Yang Xiao Long herself."

I did not imagine the record needle scratch that accompanied the shock on my face. "Wait, what?" I leaned out of the window and looked at Fancy. "Since when did that happen?"

"Not long ago, to be honest," Fancy answered without missing a beat. "If you have anything you feel should be added to the description, or something needs to be corrected, do speak up."

I thought fast and said the first thing that came to mind. "Well, I'm usually in the kitchen because, well, it's warmer and more comfortable in here. I do everything I can to stay in here during winter because the cold is, at best, very uncomfortable for me. I was nearly hospitalized when my hot water got sabotaged and turned frigid while I was taking a shower."

"I remember reading about that!" Someone from the back said. "Do you know what became of the ponies who did it?"

"The ones who did it run a place in Canterlot called Grill 32. I tried it once, and while I can afford it, it's still fancy and expensive. The food's good, and they're good ponies. As for the one who gave the order to make my hot water a liquid blizzard, I think he was removed."

"Sir Safehouse has been stripped of his power and wealth, yes," Fancy helpfully informed.

"Thank you, Fancy. Anyways, back to my Noble status. Lady Xiao Long. That actually doesn't sound bad. I like it." At the sound of Aegir clearing his throat, I got back on topic. "I guess I don't want to see my new status as a defining part of me. Sure, I'm stinking rich, but I'm still earning an hourly pay rate. The vast profits my team and I have brought in for the Carne Den are actually set aside in a separate account, to be used for irregular expenses like repairs, upgrades, or making sure everyone gets paid in full during a slow stretch. I haven't had to do that last one yet." The sound of knocking of the front door caught everyone's attention, and I was thankful for the distraction since I was out of words to ad lib. "I'll get that."

When I opened the door, I saw a dark red unicorn mare wearing a simple, yet somewhat fancy bright red dress and tastefully chosen saddlebags standing there. "May I come in, Miss Xiao Long?"

I felt like I'd seen the mare somewhere before. "Maybe. Who are you? You look vaguely familiar."

"Bloody Marey. I'm. . . One of the Canterlot Nobles Twilight didn't. . . Well, you know. Denaro Insanguinato, my cousin, wasn't so lucky."

The non-malicious, even remorseful posture, expression, and tone threw me off for a bit. "The Carne Den's been reserved, sorry." I looked back inside and made a decision. "But you know what, come in anyways. Let's see what happens."

"Thank you."

As soon as everyone saw Bloody Marey (who would even give a foal a name like that?), tension finally appeared in the room, and I immediately started trying to bring some calm. "Relax, everyone. She's not going to do anything."

"Miss Xiao Long?"

"It's Lady Xiao Long, actually," Fleur corrected with just a bit of an edge in her voice.

"Yes, Marey?" I disregarded the mistaken title since it wasn't worth getting upset over.

"I want to go into business with you."

Any glares that were still sent at her changed to confused looks. "Okay then. Business with me. That's quite a change of heart."

"I'm sure you don't trust me-"

I interrupted her spiel and gently pushed her along to the small side of the bar. "Aegir, one of whatever drink you think she needs."

"If you say so." The minotaur I often forgot was a changeling set to work on his honed craft.

As he did his thing, Marey sat down on the stool. "Thanks, but-"

"On the house," I firmly interjected as I switched places with Fancy. "It sounds like you have a story, so let's hear it."

After the drink, a regular beer, was set down in front of the sorrowful Noble, she started talking. "It started after the trial ended, and I had just gotten home. . ."

Bloody Marey's hoof falls, for the first time in a long time, were slow as she entered her Canterlot mansion. The echo of one hoof had time to vanish before the next one landed, "What now?" she thought as she passed the valuable art in her home, though she wouldn't have noticed or cared if it had all been tilted. "Xiao Long's effectively protected by the Princesses, and that's a barrier we couldn't get past with all of us, let alone our culled numbers."

The head butler, a unicorn, approached her. "Lady Marey, do you. . . Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Alistair," the Lady answered with no energy in her voice. "I'll have a pot of my favorite tea."

"Of course. How much honey would you like?"

"None, Alistair. I don't feel like having anything sweet right now."

"To your chambers, I presume?"

"Yes." As the butler left, Bloody Marey turned to the stairs and started going up them. A maid going down passed her, sparing a worried expression for her employer. Marey didn't notice the motion, she was so occupied with her own thoughts. "Denaro. How could you have let this happen to you? Gold Leaf. Why did you spill so easily? Blueblood. What did you miss in your plans?" Names and questions for each played across her mind.

When Marey got to her chambers, she looked around at all the valuables and opulence with a tired, jaded glance. "I can't enact my revenge anymore. Revenge. . . For what? A piece of paper and ink that would make 10 proof alcohol legal at all ages? Was that what it was?" The mare let her legs give out, and she fell to the floor, tears welling up. "What was I going to do if I did get my revenge? Make Xiao Long into my new cake maid? Is Cheesecake still here?" The weight of everything she had possibly missed out on started weighing on her mind.

The door, still ajar, was pushed a bit further open by Alistair, "Lady Marey, your tea is. . . Oh dear."

She didn't notice him. Her tears were flowing, but not accompanied with the sounds of crying. "We've been obsessing over her. Every day, a plan to strike her down, get her locked up, or killed. Denaro's assassins failed. Gold Leaf's plan unraveled." She didn't react to being picked up by the butler's magic. "Was there even a plan for what we would do once she was gone?" She didn't react to being gingerly placed in her canopy bed. "What am I going to do with Denaro?" She didn't react to the luxurious blankets being put over her prone form. "What am I going to do with myself?" She couldn't stop the embrace of a dreamless sleep from claiming her.

Bloody Marey woke up exhausted in the middle of the night. "Why am I in bed?" A more pressing matter made itself known, and she got up to take care of it. Along the way, the fact that she was still wearing her dress registered, and she took it off with practiced ease, dropping it on the floor.

After spending some contemplative minutes in the attached bathroom, she left and found her dress, right where she left it. Still contemplative, she picked the finely crafted article up in her forehooves and looked over its craftsmareship. "What's the point of it all?" Tossing the dress aside, she found the pot of tea and a teacup. The pot was warm, a sign of a well crafted bit of magic to keep the tea from getting cold.

Forgoing the provided cup, Bloody Marey did a very unladylike and very unnoblelike thing: she took the lid off and started chugging the pricey drink. It was bitter, bit still tasted good, even without honey. “Have I been deluding myself? Was Xiao Long really that bad?” She started walking around her chambers aimlessly, losing herself in deeper and deeper thoughts, provoked only by simple questions she was asking herself.

After nearly an hour of walking and pacing, she collapsed back onto her bed, one question searing her consciousness as the dreamless sleep reclaimed her. "Have I been one of the monsters all along?"

A few days later, after a long confrontation with reality and the severity of what she had been doing for well over a year, Bloody Marey was finally out of her chambers and was wandering around her mansion. She noticed that the usual hustle and bustle that she had seen for years wasn't quite as present as it once was. Sure, there was a maid or butler here and there, but there weren't nearly as many.

One maid in particular caught the Noble's attention. "Cheesecake?"

The light cream colored mare turned at the mention of her name. "Yes, Lady Marey?" If years of training didn't get her to pay attention to her employer, the fact that said employer wasn't wearing anything for once certainly did.

Bloody Marey didn't say anything. Instead, she just pulled the cake maid into a hug and began crying. "I'm so sorry for how I've been acting!"

Cheesecake, not expecting the move and not knowing what to do, slowly reached up and returned the hug. "There, there. . ." Marey calmed down just a bit from the motion, and when Cheesecake started rocking side to side, she calmed down some more, though she was still distraught with grief.

After some minutes of this and the odd glances from the other maids and Alistair, Cheesecake broke the hug. "Is there something you'd like to talk about?"

Marey took a few seconds to collect herself before answering. "Cheesecake, can you be honest with me? I have some questions."

"O-of course, Lady Marey."

"Where is everypony?"

"Welllllll, a little over half of the staff has left during the past year."

"Why did they leave?"

"They all said something along the lines of how you started getting a scary look on your face more often than not, your anger making them feel like they were walking on eggshells all the time, and-" Cheesecake trailed off a bit.

Bloody Marey didn't care that the answer was incomplete. The growing look of fear on her cake maid's face told her everything. "I really did become a monster, didn't I?"

"Maybe just a bit?"

"Don't sugarcoat it, Cheesecake. I've been obsessing over something so petty for so long, and now. . . Now I don't know what to do. Cheesecake, what do I do?"

Cheesecake, now fearing less for her safety and job, gave a bold answer. "How about you go talk with Yang Xiao Long?"

"How did you know it was about her?"

"You and your friends were being as subtle as your coat in a snowdrift."

Marey glanced at her fur for a moment. "I suppose so. Have you. . . Heard the news?"

"You mean Princess Twilight tearing into almost half of the Nobles and stripping them of everything, including your cousin?"

"You have, then. Do you think Yang hates me?"

Cheesecake shrugged. "I don't know. You didn't do anything to her, right?" Bloody Marey shook her head No. "Then she'll probably be willing to hear you out."

"But what do I say?" The Noble Lady's stomach decided to voice itself right there, and loudly.

"Let's start with some cake."

After a meal made of healthy cake and followed up with a slice of cheesecake, Marey decided to look around her mansion. So often, she and her fellow Nobles had gone to the same rooms, she'd forgotten about the rest of the place.

A game room, doors open and staff inside, chatting and enjoying themselves. She would not disturb them this day, even if they were on the clock.

An art hall, with paintings and artifacts that were hundreds of years old. All of them had display placards telling a story about the piece in question.

A trophy room full of trophies, and Marey had no clue about the history behind any of them. If nothing else, they were all shiny and looked great.

A gym for those who felt inclined to exercise or work out some stress. There was a lot of dust on everything there.

A bar. Marey found herself drawn further into the dim, cozy, and elegant room. The cushions built into every booth were soft, comfortable, and had worn gracefully over the years. Every table was polished to where they were shining, even in the low light atmosphere.

Her exploration came to an end behind the fully and freshly stocked bar. Either her arrival was predicted, or the bar saw regular use, and she was much more inclined to believe the latter. It didn't take long for her to start going through old motions that she hadn't used in ages. Tomato juice and vodka went together in what she knew was an ideal ratio. A bit of a sauce she never could pronounce, followed by a bit of a mild hot sauce. A few drops of lime juice, and a few more of lemon. Salt, pepper, perfectly cut celery, three olives on a toothpick, and a couple more ingredients to round it all off.

As soon as she set the completed drink on the bar, she heard a single pair of clapping hooves. "Excellent show, my Lady," Alistair said from the doorway. "I don't know how long it's been since I've seen you move so. . . Naturally. Certainly well over a year."

"Yes, it has been a while, hasn't it?" Marey picked up the drink she had made and gently swirled it around. "I feel. . . Free. Unencumbered. Lighter."

"A heavy weight off your back?"

"Yes, that! I want to make things simple again. I want to put all my hatred behind me and move on. I just don't know how to do it."

Alistair sat down at the bar across from his employer of many years. His horn lit up and a container floated from behind the bar and onto the countertop. The hollow sound it made indicated it was empty. “You could start with this.”

Marey picked the container up with her magic and turned it around so she could see the label. It was something she had completely forgotten about: a powder she had come up with so many years ago for the drink that was her namesake. Mix with vodka, add garnishes, and serve. She knew it was empty, but she opened it up anyways. The inside was coated with a red, spicy tomato smelling powder. “How long has this been empty?”

“That container’s been empty for over six months. It’s the last one we had.”

“Why isn’t there more?”

“We lost the most important pony in its production. But it looks like she’s back.”

An idea started forming in Bloody Marey’s mind. It was one of diplomacy, starting with a peace offering, and hopefully, a good business venture. Work had been found, along with a spark of hope.

I thought through Bloody Marey's story a few times after she finished. It was a heartwarming story, one of inflection and realization. "So basically, you did some soul searching and found it mixing up a drink behind a bar?"

She flipped and slammed a forehoof on the counter. "I didn't come all this way to tell you that story just so you could make a lame pun out of it!" One relaxing breath later, she added, "Even if it is a good description of what happened."

“Sorry, sorry. Still, that was a very nice story.”

“I suppose it is. I want to make an offer to you, right here and right now, in front of everypony."

"You did mention a business thing earlier."

Bloody Marey's horn lit up and a few containers floated out of her saddlebags before landing on the counter. "This is the mix from the story. Scoop some out, mix it with vodka, add the garnishes, and you have a quick and easy Bloody Marey. As the next step of my. . . Recovery, I've decided to give you a two month trial of this for free, with only one caveat."

"And what would that be?"

"Don't tell your customers that I'm the one providing the mix."

I quirked an eyebrow at her. "And what's the reason behind that?"

"I want the drink to stand on its own merits, and not to be associated with me. Not until I'm ready to let that fact out."

"But your name-"

"I know my name is the same as the drink! Just, don't tell anypony, okay?"

I turned to the bartender. "Aegir?"

"I can keep that tidbit quiet, but I can't stop anyone from drawing their own conclusions," Aegir said as he picked up the container and started reading the directions printed on the back.

"I'll let Fuzz and Doodle know about this development," I said before turning back to the reforming Noble. "You have yourself a deal." As we shook hand and hoof, I asked a question. "So how much will it be per container once the trial period's over?"

"That's. . . I was so focused on the offer that I didn't think about that," Bloody Marey admitted, earning a few chuckles from the rest of the crowd.

"You've got a couple months to think about it." I let go of her hoof and started to leave before another thought crossed my mind. "Of course, if it turns out to be really popular, I will ask for that rate a bit earlier. I don't want a provider to go out of business because of a free trial, after all. That wouldn't do me much good either, you know?"

"O-of course, Miss Xiao Long."

"Lady Xiao Long," Fleur corrected.

"Hush, you," I said with just enough force to make it clear that I didn't care whether the proper title was used or not. Once Fleur was sitting back down, I turned to the rest of the audience. "So, does anyone else have any business proposals for me?"

I wound up getting a few offers from some of the humble Nobles on construction and expansion of the Carne Den, including the idea of a balcony for the second floor, with adequate soundproofing so that merely walking up there wouldn't be heard in the dining area. It soon turned into a minor argument, which I was able to quell by suggesting they collaborate and share their ideas.

There were also some offers on seasoning and spices, some that I'd never heard of before, and similar free trials were offered. I only took a few of the offers and turned down others. I already had local providers for some of the offered items, and I stuck with them.

As I continued mingling, I kept an eye on Bloody Marey. She seemed to be doing well, earning some respect here and there from what I could see. "Even these humble Nobles can have some stinginess, it seems. At least they're willing to listen and talk."

Eventually, something happened. I noticed it when I was walking past the bar and saw Marey there, her mug of beer down only a bit and a medium steak in front of her with a side of fries. “This is more fascinating than it has any right to be.” Slowly, she cut into the steak, looking at it very warily. The expression wasn’t an uncommon one, from what I’d seen and what the wait staff had told me about.

I was definitely probably the only one feeling any kind of suspense as I watched her take a bite of the steak and chew it. I knew it wouldn’t affect the deal I’d cut with her at all, but it felt like she could revoke it if she didn’t like the steak.

My worry melted away as I saw her eat more of the steak, and I approached at that moment. “So, what do you think of the steak?”

“I’m still wrapping my mind around the differences between Equestrian and Griffonian cattle, but regardless of that, it’s pretty good,” Bloody Marey said after she tried a fry. “Is this something commoners have here? Steak, fries, and beer?”

“I have no idea how many times that combination’s been had here,” I answered as I sat down next to her. “It sounds like you’re fascinated by it, though.”

“It’s just so. . . Simple. There’s no decor, nothing artistic, no flair at all in the presentation. It’s just there.”

“We just make good food here. Sure, we have sauces, condiments, and other things you can put on your food, but the best garnish you can have with any meal, and this is true anywhere, is a friend to share the meal with.”

Marey gave me a flat look. “That has to be one of the corniest, cheesiest things I’ve ever heard about food. At least you said it in a tasteful manner.” At my growing grin, the flat look was replaced with a facehoof. “You’ve infected me with your puns!” I couldn’t help but laugh at her exasperation.

It took me a minute to recover and catch my breath. “Sorry, sorry. Oh, that was just-” I was going to say something intelligent, then Aegir put a small bowl of cheesy corn in front of Marey. I was able to hold in the laughter for almost five seconds before it escaped and I fell backwards. Even if I didn’t have my aura, the fall wouldn’t have stopped the laughter that was cascading out of me.

“She’s infected you, hasn’t she?” Marey asked Aegir.

“Work around her long enough, and it happens,” Aegir said. “Really, the puntential was just too great to pass up.”

“Why you!”

The gathering lasted well past sundown, more puns were made at Marey’s expense, and there was lots of laughter. At some point, the kitchen staff leaked out and started mingling with everyone there, all thoughts of food forgotten amidst full bellies and stories from those who had come from around the world to work for me. Asada even found her way into the crowd, and after the staff showed how friendly she was, she was soon receiving all kinds of affection.

I found myself with Fancy and Fleur next to the door to my office, watching everything happen. “So, did it go as you’d hoped, you two?” I asked the ponies.

“Not quite as I’d expected it to,” Fleur said. “But all things considered, I don’t think we could have asked for anything better.”

“We certainly weren’t expecting Bloody Marey to show up,” Fancy added. “But with her story, and everything she’s done here, I’m almost willing to say she’s reformed herself for the better.”

“Almost?” I asked.

“She’s still on the council, just as we are. How she acts there will help paint a more complete picture, and I’m looking forward to it, good or bad. What’s really impressive is that she’s done this almost entirely on her own. I’m sure she had some help amongst her servants. She certainly did in her story.”

I nodded in agreement and looked back over the crowd, finding the Noble in question. She seemed to be enjoying the company of her fellow Nobles, and didn't seem like the snob she used to be, even with very little for me to look back on. "I wonder how the disgraced ones are doing?"

Gold Leaf, frowning as she had been for quite a while, worked over a stove, preparing part of a large meal at the new Baltimare Orphanage, built on the same spot as the one she had burned down before. She was not happy about her new job, taking care of the orphans day in and day out.

She did not like foals, and the very idea of having one or more of her own sickened her. They were loud, messy, and took too much time out of her life. She wanted to be somewhere else, somewhere nicer. She wanted to wear one of her fancy dresses, but they had all been sold, bought by a white unicorn from Ponyville, at discount.

Of course, she would have gone somewhere else, but Celestia had decided to intervene very quickly and put her at the orphanage by royal decree. The staff worked with her, but it was clear she was at the bottom of the pecking order. Most of the foals didn't like her either. Only one of them, the Yang fanfilly, the one who should have had the biggest grudge and the most reason to hate her, showed her any respect, a fact that drove Gold Leaf mad. It. Made. No. Sense.

"Hey, move it, ya slowpoke!" the construction manager told his newest, and most stubborn employee. "That lumber isn't going to move itself to the second floor!"

The employee in question, Safehouse, sighed. "Yes, sir." The unicorn lifted a third of the stack of wood with his magic and started the trek from the delivery site to the worksite, under the Appleloosa sun. Every day was a long one, from both the work and the heat. "Why can't we build at night?"

"One spilled lantern, and the whole thing goes up in flames. We also can't afford to hire unicorns to just stand around with light spells, and this is a quiet town at night. I will do everything I can to make sure it stays that way so we can sell this more easily. Got it?"

"Yes, sir."

Primrose smiled at the plants she finished watering and feeding. She'd found a flower shop with its own greenhouse, and was quickly proving to be a valuable asset to the place. The place, Greeny's Garden, located in Los Pegasus, was on a downward trajectory when she arrived. It was still going down, but Primrose's efforts had slowed the slide somewhat, which would give Greeny a bit more time, time she could use to continue working on the plants.

The former Noble wasn't making a single bit off of her efforts, thanks to a deal she'd made with Greeny for room and board. Still, the vegetables were starting out healthy, and the flowers were becoming more vivid, so more were selling and that made her feel good.

"How's your project doing?" Greeny, the earth pony mare who made the place, asked her employee.

"It's coming along nicely," Primrose reported. "I'll see if I can find something to make a sign out of before we try selling the vegetables."

"I hope your idea works. Otherwise, we're both going down. Got it?"

"Y-yes, ma'am." Primrose wouldn't admit it, but when Greeny got serious, she looked downright scary.

At least it was easy enough to bring back the relaxed smile. "I'm glad to hear that. You know, it really looks like you're getting back to your roots with how easily you've taken to this."

". . . Was that a pun?"

Greeny put on an innocent expression. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Vinyl Scratch opened the front door of what used to be her marefriend's father's mansion in Canterlot. Octavia had gotten it, everything in it, and the staff that worked there after talking with Luna.

On the front porch was a stallion, one she recognized from pictures and stories. "Mr. Tune," she flatly greeted.

"Miss Scratch," Classical Tune responded in kind. "Do you know where Octavia is?"

"She got invited to a thing in Ponyville. Why are you here?"

"I found a job, and she's going to let me stay here now."

Vinyl lowered her shades and gave the stallion a scrutinizing stare. "I don't remember her saying anything about this, and I really don't trust you, but I'll let you in and she can straighten this out. Make yourself comfortable, do whatever, but don't go to our room."

Classical Tune entered and voiced a question he suspected he already knew the answer to. "Which room is yours?"

"It used to be yours," Vinyl answered as she closed the door. "But trust me, you're better off not seeing what we've done to the place."

The smirk he saw on the white unicorn's face filled him with dread. The thought of his daughter doing. . . Intimate things with the rough cut and wild mare in front of him were disgusting. Visions of them doing the thing with each other, rolling around, and making a huge disgusting mess out of the room swam through his mind.

Vinyl, instead of explaining anything, just left him to stew in his own thoughts, whatever they may have been. She would not tell him about the small orchestra pit, where ponies would play classical music until he fell asleep, being replaced with a Neighponese style hot tub, complete with proper decorative vegetation and landscaping, at least in a form that was more suitable to an indoor version. The rich reds that dominated the room were being replaced with calmer, more soothing blues, broken up here and there with a curvy spot of soft pink and a bright bolt of neon blue. There were many other changes going on as well.

The two construction ponies they hired were good, but since they were only available to work in the mornings, progress had been slow and the room was a mess, so the mares were sleeping in another room, but Classical Tune didn't need to know any of that. Vinyl wanted it to be done already so she could have a cuddlebath (and no further than cuddles. At first) with Octavia, but was happy she was able to mess with her marefriend's father.

Blueblood had moved back in with his parents since he didn’t have anything he could do, causing most of his pride to go on strike and leave. Humiliation and defeat were quick to take the void, especially considering how his mother was acting. It wasn’t like the stories he’d heard his father tell about how happy she was after he was born, thankfully. No, it was more like she was putting him back through his late teens again.

It didn’t take long for him to remember why he’d left for the Canterlot Castle at such an age, and why he didn’t talk about his family. “Bluey, your SuperColt comic’s here~”

“No thank you, mother!” Needless to say, Blueblood was not a happy stallion.

“We could find out if you’d like,” Fancy offered.

“Nah. As nice as it would be, it’s not worth the effort or the bits.” I looked at the clock and saw that it was already past eight. “I think we’ll be closing early tonight, once everyone’s gone. No pressure at all, you’re all welcome to stay as long as you want. As for me-” I looked towards the stairs and up a bit. “I think I’ll dress up a bit and let my staff take over. They’ve proven their ability to work without me while I was stuck in Appleloosa, so this will be a cakewalk for them.”

“I want to see your selection,” Fleur said as she followed me. “I’m sure it’s all one of a kind.”

“Well, you’re not wrong. . .” As the only human on the whole planet, and being in possession of clothing, it went without saying that my collection was unique. “I wonder if Rarity would make a second Flamebow with white on the right and black on the left? Maybe frame my figure in fire? No, that would defeat the name. . .”

“You’ve named your dresses and ensembles?” Fleur asked after I showed her the collection of clothes I had, and demonstrated the buckle with Path of Blossoms.

“Not all of them. It makes it easier for me to keep track of them. It’s like how an artist names their works, like that fountain on my desk. It’s called Pierce the Heavens, and I like it.” The spiralling water, no matter how many times I saw it, was fascinating.

“I think naming your dresses is silly, but it’s not my place to tell you not to do it. Then again, it does have a certain appeal. There’s one dress I had, back when Fancy and I were dating. It was a small black one with a curvy white stripe along each side, designed to match my figure. Kind of a. . . reverse outline, I suppose? The first name that comes to mind is ‘Classic’, considering my history with it.” I quickly wrote down the description that Fleur gave me. I wanted a dress like that and I was sure that Rarity wouldn’t turn down such an offer, especially since it would be the first one I ordered as a Noble. “Is everything alright, Yang?”

I looked up from my quick sketch. “Oh, yeah. Couldn’t be better.”

“You seem a bit. . . obsessed with the dress.”

“Wha~at? Nah, no way. Why would you think that?” My paper was soon in her magic and floating next to her. “Umm. . .”

“I hate sounding like a stallion, but how many of these named dresses and ensembles have you actually worn?”

“All of them, and the unnamed ones too.”

“For more than five minutes each?”

“Yes.”

“An hour?”

“At the least.”

“In town?”

“Not often. I mostly wear Burning Time if I feel like wearing a dress in town.”

“I see.” Fleur seemed to consider the conversation for a moment before giving a different topic. “Don’t you think Spring colors are a bit out of season?”

I looked at Path of Blossoms and considered her point. “I’ll have to get Rarity to make one of these for each season.”

“Yang, I think you have an unhealthy obsession with dresses, and this is coming from a trendsetting model who’s spent years cultivating the look you see before you. Why do you think you might have such an interest?”

I considered Fleur’s words for a bit, looking between her and the array of dresses and other feminine clothes. “Can you keep a secret?”

“Of course.”

I took a breath and calmed my nerves before revealing my past as a male. My scrawniness, physical weakness, how the girls always came to my rescue, how I gravitated towards them, and the cycle that started from that. Then there was my nervousness and discomfort when I wore Victory to the Entrepreneur Award ceremony, and the time I spent in Appleloosa, where I didn’t have much of a choice in what to wear, likely where the fascination started from.

“Well, that’s interesting. I will, of course, keep your secret safe.”

“Thanks, Fleur.”

“Now, I’m not a psychologist, but I am pretty smart, and think what’s happening is that you are indulging in what you’ve long considered to be taboo, something you cannot and should not do. That is, of course, if my presumption of your clothing norms is similar to ours.”

“Nobody goes around without clothes where I’m from, but for the most part, you’re right.” I sighed and looked at the collection again. “I’m not going to give any of those up.”

“And that’s fine. On the bright side, you know what’s going on now. Now switch to a nicer dress and let’s go back downstairs.”

“If you say so.” I used the buckle to switch to Victory before following Fleur back downstairs to talk with the humble Nobles and end the day.

Author's Notes:

I've forgotten who it was that suggested Bloody Marey to me, but you know who you are, and I can only hope I did well.

On a related note, I think her tale brings up a good question: if you spend a long time trying to get revenge over a percieved slight, and you get it, what comes next? If Yang was successfully taken out of the picture, what would they have done next?