North Point luxuriates in the large bed. She opens her eyes to see the cranberry colored mane of Cayenne Pepper. She shakes her head softly, taking a moment to hug the other unicorn closer for a moment. That gets a sleepy moan and Cayenne snuggles closer to her. North sits there for a long moment, wanting to get up, but holding Cayenne is too snuggly. She mentally takes stock of her situation. She’s lying on her side, Cayenne in her hooves, and behind her is Citrus, who is holding her just as tightly. North huffs softly, how to get out of this? Magically, she’s the weakest of the three, she’s only been able to really master some telekinesis. She can’t teleport, though that ability would be really helpful at the moment.

After thinking for a moment, she starts to wiggle gently down the bed, after a few minutes of diligent work, she’s able to stand up. She glances back, seeing that Citrus has edged forward and is now holding Cayenne just how she had been holding her. That gets a grin from as she first lights her horn to bring her glasses to her. She places them gently and happily trots into the bathroom. A short time later, she emerges from the bathroom with a cloud of steam. She glances at the bed. Citrus and Cayenne are still sleeping peacefully. She giggles softly as she exits the bedroom and canters down the steps quickly. She stops for a moment at the foot of the stairs, watching Tim sleep. The human is on his back, snoring softly. Apparently in the night he had woken and put his covers over Silver. The pegasus stallion is cuddled up in the heavy blanket, snuggling against the man. Walking on her tiphooves, she places a soft kiss on the stallion’s forehead. She moves over and applies the same treatment to her lead stallion’s forehead, though that requires rearing up onto the back of the couch.

Breakfast is quickly started with brewing a pot of strong black coffee. She may not be technically strong when it comes to magic, but her telekinesis is finely honed. She focuses on the knife work before her while she also has two pans going on the stove. A quick glance opens the fridge, and eggs fly out in single file, cracking and depositing their contents into a bowl. She directs the empty shells into a compost bin as she brings milk and salt and pepper out. A quick splash and a few grinds of the pepper, along with a dash of the salt. She glances at the fridge, the boys do like their meats, so some sausage is added to one pan, along with bacon to another. Tim has always said that bacon here in Equestria is different than on his Earth, not like that has never stopped him from devouring it at every opportunity. She hasn’t tried every meat that the boys tend to like, but she’s tried a few. With Cayenne’s help and Tim’s recipes from home, North Point has found that she does have an appreciation for cooked meat. She glances over, the whisk has done its job splendidly. Into the biggest frying pan goes the chopped vegetables. She hums softly as she moves the veggies around on the pan.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning, Silver! Coffee?”

A mumbled response is all she gets. The stallion seems to live off of coffee. He’s even worse than Cayenne, actually. A glance back shows the silver stallion contemplating the oversize mug steaming before him. She helpfully floats the milk over to him, which he gratefully takes and pours a measured amount into the coffee. His dexterous wings bring the sugar bowl closer and he dumps the sugar in as well. Once he has it to a pleasing color for him, he takes a sip and sighs happily. North smiles. “Going to the gym?”

He nods. “The Gala is this evening; I’m possibly going to be fighting Shining Armor for my herd’s honor.”

North sighs softly as she scrapes out the cooked vegetables. She pours some cooking oil onto the hot metal and pours a thin layer of the beaten eggs. The sausage is ready, so is the bacon, so those pans are emptied and make it into the sink. She focuses on the prepared ingredients around her. Some bell pepper and onions along with the crumbled sausage and bacon. She glances back. “You know, it might end well without a fight.”

Silver snorts, “Fat chance of that.”

North slides the turner, flipping part of the now solidified egg over. She brings some cheese in and sprinkles it liberally over the omelet as it is forming. She finally flips the other side over. I don’t see Cadance or Twilight giving in. They really can’t. But they would have to submit to Princess Celestia or Princess Luna.” She punctuates by sliding the turner underneath the omelet and flipping it over.

“Why would Celestia stop this?”

“We haven’t had a formal challenge make it all the way to the princesses in either of our lifetimes. The princesses encourage the ponies to take care of such matters before they make it to them. I’ve heard Princess Luna is quite extreme in her conflict resolution.” She again slides the turner underneath the omelet and deposits it onto a plate. Her magic brings forth more cheese and some diced tomatoes, which are sprinkled over the completed plate. She sets the plate aside and the egg mixture is brought forth, starting a second omelet. “For example, the ponies that were fighting over a pet dog. Her proposal was to cut the dog in half and give each half to either pony.”

That gets a snort of a laugh from Silver, “So, they found a happy solution pretty quickly?”

North spreads the egg mixture around a bit, letting it start to harden. “Yeah.”

Silver lays his head on the table. “I see what you are saying, but this isn’t two ponies having an argument over property. This is a princess luring an established herd’s stallion astray. We may be back on our way to being happy, but that doesn’t remove your beef with the one behind it all.”

“Princess Mi Amore Cadenza,” she says as she folds the egg over the toppings.

“Yeah. You know, she could apologize at the gala. It doesn’t even have to be in public at the gala, she could bring Citrus aside as we go in, let her know that she wants to truly make amends and prevent a duel.”

Silver looks at North, “Do you honestly think that will happen?”

North flips the omelet, “No, I really don’t. It’s hard for the princesses to admit that they are ponies. That they can make mistakes, or even compound what would be a simple error in judgement and blow it up into something serious. The problem is that princesses are supposed to be above legal reproach, and they also have a policy of a united front. What’s she supposed to do? Apologize to us and chastise her fellow princess when she hasn’t technically done anything wrong? Cadance turning on Twilight to admonish would, however, even if partially her duty as a senior mare, would also be against that united front policy. So, we’re going to have to let our stallions battle it out to do with steel what we mares can’t say with words.”

“All because he couldn’t keep it in his pants.”

“Be nice, Silver.”

“I’ll be salty as I damn well please. Not your flesh on the line.”

“He didn’t know what this all meant. I mean if his teaching of our ways had included such lessons on dealing with mares in heat. Perhaps he would have been able to open up to us on his attraction to Princess Sparkle. Maybe he would have had Citrus’ blessing when the Princess offered herself to him in the depths of heat. Or better yet, upon finding out she was in heat, brought her home and all of us could have had fun together.”

That gets a pained sigh. “It’s pretty rare for a new member of the herd to be mounted by the lead stallion, and you know it was Tim she wanted. The day I mount her is the day I find I’m a goldfish.”

North slides a third omelet onto another plate. “You know as well as I do that exceptions can be made for a mare in heat. A mare in heat is to be protected and supported. They are what makes society continue. That’s why we have herds, to protect and support the ability to have foals.”

“I know, North, I know! We are trying, but how do we help Princess Twilight help teach all the ins and outs of a tens of thousands of years old society in a matter of a year, or ten years? What is second nature to you or I is something he has to be specifically taught. Add in we are learning of his societal mores at the same time. We can’t expect him to become a pony, that would be stupid. But we can help him adapt and learn what his actions mean to us. And we have to learn what his actions mean in his own context.” He lays his head on the table. “Can we teach him to fully function in our society? For all we know, something that is commonplace in his society would constitute a deadly challenge among ponies.”

North Point fixes Silver in a glare, one eyebrow rising. “What kind of offense among ponies would be worth killing over?”

Silver frowns. “Well, honor challenges among herds, which we are embroiled in at the moment. Though he thought it was simply being unfaithful and that the fallout would hit him and him alone.” He sighs. “Humans are so weird! What if there’s something we would think nothing of, and yet it would be a deadly insult among humans?”

“I sincerely doubt there’s much, just like with ponies.” She stops, her ears flicking back and forth, “Though from getting to know him, I wouldn’t mind getting to know other humans.” She focuses on Silver with a smile, “Remember, he’s different. For example, he didn’t initially understand you were trying to goad him into asserting dominance the other day.”

Silver huffs, “I’ve been trying to nudge him into some sort of dominance for months now. He just didn’t get it.” He stops, his eyes wide, “I’m just as guilty of this as everypony else!”

“We all are! Remember, Silver, what is obvious to you or I may not even be within his thoughts. He’s not dominant like most mares are, but he’s also not like most stallions either. Just some kind of mix of both, it’s hard to define by our terms. Hence, he’s an alien.” She glances over at a groan from the living room, her ears perking forward, “But I don’t think all humans are that way. He said he’s easygoing; I have no idea what that means.”

“Well, we can’t expect him to be like us. We have to deal with him as he is.” His ears flick back as Tim stands up. Noises from upstairs let them know that the others are up and moving around.

North Point brightens as Tim shuffles into the kitchen, her horn lighting and her magic floating a glass of orange juice towards Tim as he plops down on the stool. She slides his omelet in front of him. The human blinks slowly at the food, then glances at Silver, who’s chewing on his own meal.

“Ready for the Gala?”

Tim grunts, “Today?”

She nods. “Tonight.”

Tim glances at Silver, then starts to eat.

“Good morning!” Citrus sings, bouncing down the stairs, hopping into her seat. She grins happily at North as she takes a bite. “Cayenne will be down in a few. Happy New Year!”

Tim groans. “Our new year is just after Christmas.”

Citrus perks up, “Your Christmas is like Hearth’s warming, near the winter solstice?”

He nods. “This time of year it’s when fall is starting. We still got a couple of months until the new year.”

“You humans are weird,” North says. “The new year begins when we celebrate the bountiful harvests. Getting ready for a cold winter. The Gala is always held on the first of a new year.”

“Then you have Nightmare Night, then Hearth’s Warming?”

“Yeah.” North says with a nod. She watches as the coffee pot is encased in magic and floats over to where Cayenne usually sits, the mare controlling the coffee hops up on her chair as her mug floats over and is filled. The pot is returned as Cayenne takes a long sip. “Good morning, love.”

Cayenne smiles bleary eyed as she drinks more coffee. She glances at the plate of food slide before her, her horn lights again and a fork is stabbed into her omelet. “Food…” Cayenne mumbles softly. “Ssooooo not a morning ponnnny… I hardly slept a wink and I have to be up early… fuck me.”

North laughs softly as she starts to eat her own food, though hers is positively dripping in cheese.She watches as her family slowly wakes up as breakfast is eaten. After a few minutes of silence, North swallows her food, “So, Citrus, are you gonna do all our makeup today?”

Citrus nods. “Of course.”

“Silver’s and my outfits arrived?”

North answers, “They were delivered a couple of weeks ago while you were at work. You’ve got plenty of time before we have to start getting ready.”

“The boys have some time, but we need to start.” Citrus says as she gulps down the last of her omelet. “I want you two clean as boiled eggs before I start on your makeup.”

North ducks her head. “Already? It’s still morning.”

That gets Citrus to hop over to nuzzle North. “You are pretty already, but the right makeup can make you stunning.”

“But these glasses…” The mare looks down.

“Are cute. Don’t worry, North. I know what I’m doing.”

North glances at Cayenne for a long moment before nuzzling Citrus back. “I’ve never really done much makeup. This is my first Gala.”

Citrus saunters towards the stairs. “My sire has always been one to leverage having a daughter among the Canterlot elites. He’s ensured I’ve gotten tickets every year since I was sixteen. Always wanting me to go in with him.” She sighs, glancing over at Tim. “I think this year it’s because of you, Tim. I do plan on ignoring him the whole night.” She disappears up the stairs. North and Cayenne finish up quickly and follow the yellow mare upstairs in short order.

Silver drains the last of his coffee. “We have a couple of hours. I’m going to the gym.” The stallion stands up.

“I’ll go with you!” Tim says, tipping his cup back and finishing his juice. He grabs a hoodie and pulls it over his frame before opening the door for the pegasus stallion.

The path to the gym is not too long, but the weather is moderately chilly, albeit nothing so bad that it would require a coat. Tim can’t help but envy the ponies and their naturally warm fur. He shoves his own hands deep into his pockets, deep in thought.

When they get to the gym, Silver stands in front of a large wall mirror with his rapier, Tim looking at him. “Listen, Silver, you don’t need to fight for me. I can handle this myself. I’m not a kid.”

Silver just says, “For the last time, Tim, it’s not because we think you’re weak, it’s because we don’t want to have to put you in a coffin.”

“But you said that death duels are almost unheard of, and ponies rarely try to kill each other.”

“I did, but swordfighting is far more dangerous than you think. A lethal strike may happen before you even know it has been launched.”

“But still I want to fight.”

“It’s more than that. The whole point of the duel system is to prevent abuse of the weak by the strong. You aren’t supposed to stand for yourself. Imagine if a wicked pony who was a great fighter could simply duel anypony who took issue with his misdeeds. That would completely break the balance of power in our society, so we make it be herdmates standing for each other, stallions for stallions and mares for mares. The fact that you cannot duel for yourself reinforces the herd – not only does it mean that you must be backed by a member of your herd, but also it discourages transgression by making it that somepony you care deeply for may have to put their life on the line for your wrongdoings. A repeat violator could simply be denied backing in the inevitable challenge, forcing them to decline to their dishonor. And that somepony else in your herd must issue the challenge for you after repeat back and forths with the offender gives chances for cooler heads to prevail and makes it far harder for a devious pony to manipulate others into duels for personal gain or pettiness.

“Well where I come from, a man stands on his own two feet.”

Silver sighs, “Tell you what, my little human, grab a feder from over there.” He points to a collection of nearly straight wooden sabers. “If you can hit me once, I’ll…I don’t know, ask our lovelies about a lawyer, or a kusa, or something.”

“A kusa? What’s that?”

“You don’t have kusas where you’re from, Tim? I thought a people as horny as you would be crawling in them. Think of them as lovers and more for hire.”

Tim gasps, “An escort?”

“Not quite,” says Silver, “a kusa is like that but more – they’re mares and stallions who are professional practitioners of love and harmony. They are companions, counselors, negotiators, therapists, and even peacemakers. Escort, even to us, has some dirty connotations, but a kusa is a revered figure. They bring pleasure, ease pain, mend wounds, close rifts, provoke the mind, and stimulate the senses. They can be any tribe, and I’ve even heard of a few zebras and donkeys as kusa’s. I don’t know about griffons, though.”

“I don’t see how hiring a prostitute is going to fix our problems, though, Silver.”

“Not a prostitute, a kusa. We could use one as an emissary between us and the princesses in question, but…”

“I take it there’s some kind of drawback to this.”

Silver looks at him sideways. “What are you to take now? Oh, drawbacks, well, there are a few, Tim. Firstly, they’re expensive. Secondly, retracting our demand now without at least making some show of a challenge will be held against us by society for failure to value one of our own to stand together. Thirdly, I don’t know if we could find a lawyer or a kusa willing to take our case, especially considering the lawyers are sworn to uphold Royal Law, which hasn’t been broken, and the latter are sworn acolytes of the princess of love. Fourthly, all of us, Tim, want some satisfaction. Fifthly, if we just let this go, what’s to stop this from setting a precedent where they can just cuck a herd without consequences?”

“I see. I guess I’ll have to fight you first, though.”

“You bet. Now are we gonna do it, or are you gonna wait for the dandelions to turn white?”

Tim shakes his head at the odd saying from the stallion, but he runs off to return shortly thereafter with a slightly curved saber with a hook pommel and a simple short crossguard. “Let’s do this,” he says, steadying his breath. He holds the sword out in front of him.

Silver puts the scabbard back onto his rapier. “As you wish, chief.” He lays onto him like a whirlwind. Steel flashes, the weapon blurs, and before Tim even knows what’s going on, Silver has knocked his blade aside and jabbed the point to his chest.

“Again.”

Tim raises his sword once more. He tries to attack first, but the moment he pulls back his sword to swing like a baseball bat, Silver has anticipated his move and put his rapier in the way, even as he thrusts forward towards his throat this time. Tim parries, drawing Silver into a bind of crossed swords. But before he can do anything, Silver has leaned forwards and he can feel something touch his collar. “Gotcha again, Tim.”

“Shit.” The sheathed rapier has met his body at the clavicle. “Again. One more time.”

“Sure thing,” Silver agrees, assuming a position with his own blade parallel. Tim tries thrusting this time, only for Silver to deflect it to zoom past himself, then, before Tim can recover, has brought the edge of the rapier to his throat in the gap.”

“How are you doing this?”

“Simple, Tim. You’re thinking of the sword as a brute club; it’s really a precision engineered piece of technology with its mass, the point of balance, style of grip, and blade meant to guide you in its best use. And here you are bashing at me like a squirrel with a nut. Most criminally, you’re holding it in front of you with your body as broad to mine as possible.And while that guard you’re starting in offers great protection to the chest and head, you can’t attack from it, but it gives me all the room and leverage I need to knock your blade aside and kill you before you can even start to think about doing anything to me.”

Tim sags. “I guess it’s hopeless.”

“Don’t be too down on yourself; your school didn’t subject you to six hours of sword lessons every single week for nine years.”

“I guess that’s true,” says Tim. “Silver, good luck tonight.”

Hoof shakes hand. “Thanks. I’m going to need it. I won’t let you down.” They both smile.

***

Tim steps out of the shower. Towels are for the most part pretty useless for ponies because of all their fur. Though the mares to tend to use them for their manes. Air dryers seem to be the norm here. He glances at himself in the mirror. The downstairs bathroom is a lot smaller than the one upstairs, but it’s still big by his standards from Earth. Hoofsteps get his attention and a blonde tail smacks his rear. He turns and watches as Silver closes the shower. Ever since their fight, Silver’s been solidly in his corner with nearly everything. The insults have dried up, though the stallion continues to be stubborn about sleeping on the floor. Tim shakes his head as he exits the bathroom and pads up the stairs. He taps gently on the bedroom door.

“What?” Comes Cayenne’s voice.

“I need to get dressed.”

The door opens and two bundles float out, as Tim grabs his and Silver’s outfits, the door is closed firmly in front of him. Tim shakes his head as he walks back down the stairs. He turns and heads into the library. The ponies love to read, several bookshelves built into the walls of the living room, and a small library, complete with comfortable seating and a nice large table. Silver has also appropriated a corner of the library as his workshop. All the tools the stallion uses when he works with silver is hung up or placed precisely on the small bench. Works in progress are set up in order, and hanging above where the stallion sits as he works are his various raw materials: silver, gold strips, and even a few trays of precious gems. Tim turns to the hooks on the wall and he hangs up Silver’s outfit and moves over to hang his own. The outfits are covered in soft vinyl, with a long zipper. Silver’s is marked with a pegasus wing, his is marked with a hand print. He smiles a bit as he pulls down the zipper. A brand new pair of boxers is thoughtfully included. That white mare at the Canterlot Boutique thought of everything. He pulls them on, and the trousers. So expertly tailored it doesn’t even include belt loops, yet it fits his waist perfectly. A snow-white shirt goes on next, with ruffles on the chest. The gold cummerbund is next, along with a metallic gold bow tie. He moves over to the mirror and ties the bow tie, grumbling softly as he works to get it tied correctly.

He stops and turns back, all that is left is the jacket, he reaches in and pulls out the jacket, it’s midnight blue, just like the pants, and he fingers the left breast with the same symbols he’s got on his shirts. His family coat of arms, along with Silver’s cutie mark in the middle, with the girls’ cutie marks arrayed around. He smiles and pulls on the jacket. It doesn’t fully close, exposing the ruffles of the shirt prominently, and the long tails of the jacket nearly brush the floor. He reaches into the bottom of the vinyl bag and pulls out the shoes. He feels the material of the shoes, that’s real leather? Really? The black leather has been polished to nearly a mirror shine. He slips them on and ties them up, they fit beautifully. He stops and wonders exactly how much this outfit actually cost, given the materials, and the obvious expertise when it comes to making them. Add in the fact that he’s the only human, so it was made exclusively for him.

“Oh, wow,” comes Silver’s voice. Tim looks over, Silver is standing there, his wings spread wide. “You look amazing in that.” The stallion takes a moment to fold his wings as he moves over to open his own outfit. Silver’s outfit isn’t nearly as body covering as Tim’s is. He pulls on a shirt as snow white and ruffled as Tim’s, though there are no pants. Instead of a cummerbund, he’s got a ceremonial belt that cinches around his barrel just ahead of his hips. It’s made of what seems to be woven gold. The stallion pulls out his own jacket and struggles a bit to get into it, fitting his wings through the holes designed for them. The tails of his jacket go along his back and hang over his rump. Though his jacket does button up, the buttons are on the side, allowing for the same symbols to be prominent on the stallion’s chest, though the shirt and its ruffles spill over the low top of the jacket. Silver finally gets the last button clasped, he turns and smiles at Tim. “Two stallions off to take on the world!” He flaps his wings a couple of times and shrugs his shoulders, getting everything sitting where it’s supposed to. His ears flick, “I think the girls are done. Let’s go see.”

Tim nods as the stallion waits by the door for him to exit first. He can hear something ahead of him as he heads into the kitchen. Then he stops, looking at the mare that’s made it down stairs first. A gold bodice flows to a nearly turquois dress that covers her rump and spills down to barely brush the floor. He glances at the gold cummerbund and then back at her, “Ah, so that’s why all the gold accents.”

Citrus giggles, “Yeah, to compliment the lead mare.” She twirls around, the dress flowing with her. “You like?”

Tim nods. “Beautiful.” He steps forward, looking at her makeup, eyeshadow the exact color of the dress decorates her eyelids, with her eyelashes nearly doubled in length. The rest of her face shows very little makeup, but he’s learned that the less it looks like there is makeup, the more makeup actually is there. Citrus smiles shyly at his inspection. “Did I do a good job?”

“Oh, most certainly!” Tim says, getting a girlish giggle from Citrus.

“I did a lot for North Point,” Citrus says, hanging her hooves around him. He leans forward and kisses her. She doesn’t pull away unlike last time outside his work, but she doesn’t press into him either. She lets him lead, reciprocating with a bit of tongue to his requests to explore her mouth. Her hoof rises to stroke slowly down his chest, and he holds it over his heart.

“Somepony’s feeling good.”

“It’s been so long,” Citrus giggles, jostling her legs a little bit as she leans into him for their first kiss in what feels like forever. Tim hears a sniff and pulls back. “Now look at me, I’ll have to redo my makeup all over again. I look like a crazy raccoon pony.”

“I think you look just fine, Citrus.”

She rests her chin on his shoulder. “Do you remember what I said to you last time we kissed outside your work?”

“Yeah.”

“You’ve done it. I can trust myself with you again.” And with that, she lunges onto him, kissing him fully, vigorously on the lips. A familiar smell wafts into the edges of Tim’s awareness. “Sorry,” she says with a blush. It’s been so long. She grinds again him. “I can tell you agree, don’t you?”

“Absolutely.” Tim grins, reaching one hand down to his mare’s hindquarters. His hand grabs her all with a smack and wanders over towards her marehood.

“Tim, stop,” Citrus laughs, “if we start now, we’ll never get to the Gala -- just a few more hours, we’ll be back here again with that stupid custom out of the way. You know what that means…”

“Just a few more hours until justice is ours. And then afterwards…” Citrus purrs, kissing his neck. as more hooves sound from the stairs. She suddenly looks sad.

“Citrus, what’s wrong?”

She says, “I’m sorry about all this. I should have listened to you better. I should have been less of an insecure bitch of a filly when you asked to include Twilight. I should have not taken out my anger at Twilight on you. You’ve been too good for us these past weeks.”

The human holds the pony close, not lasciviously but tenderly. “Thank you, Citrus. It means a lot to me. You’re not still mad at me, are you?”

“Just a little,” she admits sheepishly, “but I feel like I really can trust you again. North Point had a serious talk with Cayenne and I. She opened our eyes and made us realize what stupid cunts we’ve been. Her talking to us from your point of view, telling us that you got into a fight with Silver… I… I never wanted to hurt you, none of us did, but we have. I just wanted to say I’m sorry and I love you.”

“I love you too, Citrus. We’ll talk about this later.”

“Count on it, love.”

Tim gets off her and then turns to look as North Point emerges. She flourishes a bit with the lavender dress covering her, gold stars prominent all throughout the dress, though the bodice has gold and lavender diagonal stripes, and pinned into her mane is small hat with a golden crown at its top, and lace flowing down the side of her face. Her makeup is restrained, and yet ads quite a bit of maturity to her face. She looks more mature rather than her usual teeny bopper look, her beauty enhanced also by the big smile on her face.

“You are beautiful.” Tim says softly.

“I feel beautiful,” North murmurs as she twirls around.

“And let’s not forget Cayenne.”

The mare in question slowly walks down the stairs, her dress shimmers in the light. “You like the Princess Dress?” Tim nods as Cayenne turns to show off the small wings set on the back, she looks back at him. “This night will be one to remember, won’t it?”

Tim nods again as Silver stomps his hooves appreciatively. Citrus starts, “Oh, almost forgot.” Her horn lights and some more objects emerge, encased in her magic. “Can’t go without everything, can we?”

Tim catches his bundle. He carefully unwraps and looks at it. “Wow,” he says softly. He slowly puts on the top hat, and runs his fingers along ornamental cane, he places the tip on the floor, and puts both hands on the head of the cane. “How do I look?”

That gets appreciative stomping from the girls as he looks over at Silver, who is wearing his own top hat, and is in the process of hooking a gold encrusted scabbard to his belt. He looks up at Tim with a big smile. The chime of magic gets his attention as he watches Silver’s sword float from its plain scabbard and slides easily into the one on him. As the sharp blade is fully inserted, Silver adjusts its weight. Getting it where it can flow with his body as he walks without digging his sides with the rapier’s hilt sweepings. He looks back at Citrus. “It’s beautiful.”

“How are you feeling, dear?” Cayenne asks him.

“Pretty good.”

“Scared?” Cayenne approaches and stands by him, nuzzling her favorite pegasus.

“Yeah, Cayenne, I guess I’m scared. It’s not every day you know you’re getting into a fight with the deadliest son of a bitch in Equestria. But you know what else, Cayenne? I’m feeling pretty good about this. I’m just excited for this all to be over. After all this, I don’t care. It’s my herd and my choice to fight for them. I’ll take on anypony.”

“That’s the spirit,” Cayenne cheers with a smile, “and I’d bet money your sword won’t be the only blade you wet tonight.” She kisses him hungrily. Tim can smell that aroma, and Silver’s own parts are doubtlessly responding. He can’t blame the stallion; he can barely wait.

Citrus looks around, breaking her stare from the almost orgy before them. “Who’s hungry?”

That gets murmurs of assent, and a confused look from Tim. “Aren’t we going to eat at the Gala?”

She shakes her head. “No, only light snacks and plenty of booze at the Gala itself. It’s better to have a meal before.”

Cayenne walks towards the door. “And I’ve got that covered.”

***

It’s been months since Tim’s been in the Canterlot castle. Ponies from all over Equestria are converging on the castle this beautiful night. The chill weather doesn’t seem to bother them all that much. Every mare he can see is dressed to the nines. And most of the stallions as well. Tim walks with his herd. Everyone is resplendent in their various gown and other outfits. Though one thing that gets him, the Royal Guard is in full display here. Not just the contingent he’s seen around the Princesses. Heavy bodied, tall stallions. But a lot of mares are present as well, they aren’t as heavy as the stallions. But the guards lining the walkways into the castle have a dangerous look about them. They don’t have the color changing magic of their armor, so the ponies are of every hue. Some with weapons, some without. The crackle and bang of fireworks reaches his ears and he looks up. The Wonderbolts are flying around the castle. Small cannisters on their rear legs are leaving smoke trails as they fly among the explosions.

“That can’t be very safe…” Tim murmurs.

Citrus looks up. “Oh, they do that every year.” She points, “There’s the new one, that’s Twilight Sparkle’s friend.”

He watches as a Wonderbolt with a rainbow mane and tail does aileron rolls through the puff of smoke from a large fire work. “Wow.”

“Yeah, you’ll see her inside, though the Wonderbolts have recently started wearing Gala dresses when they mingle with the Canterlot ponies, so she’ll have to be given some time to get ready. It’s always a big fanfare when the Wonderbolts make it in.” They’ve finally made it to the doors into the grand hall. Standing there at the top of the stairs are the four alicorns of Equestria. Lining the walls are the Royal Guard.

Tim looks around at the heading to be greeted by the Princesses, then down at Citrus. “There’s quite a few wearing weapons.”

Citrus giggles, “I doubt more than one or two of those swords have ever been out of the scabbard, except to see if they are sharp. Likely most of them aren’t.”

Tim shakes his head as the line snakes slowly forward. “Live weapons around your leaders. That would never happen at home.”

Cayenne hip checks him gently. “Your leaders aren’t fantastically powerful alicorns, in fact, the security here is actually very tight. I doubt anypony could actually hurt them, even if they tried. If a thousand years on the moon didn’t bother Luna, I don’t think getting hacked at with a sword could harm a pony like her or Celestia.”

Silver leans closer. “There are detectors in the doors, telling the mages the strength of any magic user stepping through. And look behind the Princesses.”

Tim bobs his head a bit. A half dozen unicorns are in a different kind of armor. It’s almost hard to look at;not the black and dark blue of the lunar guard that is interspersed with the solar guard, but the armor seems almost more dangerous. Over that armor, they have cloaks that seem to be all shifting colors, not staying one hue for any length of time. Almost as though they could blend into the bright hallway, or into a dark forest, at the same time. Tim nods. Silver murmurs softly, “Those are the elite mages. I’m not even certain of the name of their force. They are scary, and know some of the most dangerous magic. They rumored to be strong enough together to take on Discord.”

“Discord?”

“Spirit of chaos and disharmony, trolling incarnate. Ah, speak of the devil,” Silver says, glancing back. A bright white light has resolved into a tall form. Though what kind of form he couldn’t say. He’s taller than Tim, skinny in a serpentine way. He’s wearing what seems to be a black body suit that even covers parts of his head, leaving his vaguely equine face uncovered. Over his shoulders is a long red robe. A long golden chain hanging around his neck. He walks gracefully past the line of ponies.

“That looks familiar,” Tim says softly.

Citrus explains, “It’s Discord; you never know what he’s gonna do.” Citrus leans closer, “A couple of years ago, he brought a creature with him, called Lord Smooze. Long story short, Smooze ate the royal jewels and became huge, leaving his slime everywhere. He even opened a portal to another…” she trails off, her eyes wide.

“Citrus, what is it?”

“I don’t want to say.” She says softly, ducking her head away.

Tim thinks for a long moment. “A portal, and you are afraid. He sent somepony to another dimension?”

Citrus draws in on herself. “He threatened to.”

Tim looks up as the being bows grandly before Princess Celestia before sauntering past her into the ballroom. He looks back at her. “Citrus, I’m not planning on going home. I’m happy with you all here. But I don’t see me asking that creature for help any time soon.”

She forces her head under his hand, wanting the physical closeness. “Really?”

Tim kneels down, “Citrus, I’m not leaving you. I’m not going back unless I know either you can come with me, or if I could return.”

Her horn lights and a small white square of fabric emerges from under her bodice, she dabs at her eyes for a moment before tucking the kerchief back, “I can’t cry, it’ll ruin my makeup.” She sniffs.

He runs a finger along her ear. “No worries, love.”

Finally, they make their way up to the quartet of alicorns. Tim and Silver bow while Citrus and the rest of the mares curtsey before Princes Celestia and Luna, though Cadance is given an icy glare as they walk into the ballroom. As they get through, Citrus rears up and puts a hoof on his shoulder. “You are a diplomat, decreed so by Princess Celestia. The nobles here should know that by now. If you stay with us, you’ll be seen as unsociable. You need to mingle with the ponies here. Understood?”

“I’d prefer to stay with you,” Tim says softly.

Citrus looks up at him with pleading eyes. “Trust me on this, Tim. The nobles here aren’t stupid, they won’t occupy all your time, but you need to be seen talking to them. Go talk to the element bearers, go talk to some of the Canterlot nobles here. This isn’t just you, three quarters of the mares here buy makeup from me, and over half have been in Cayenne’s restaurant. Like it or not, the Gala is important for a lot of reasons. Just mingle, talk to some ponies, then we can spend most of the night at a table quietly. We are going to give Princess Cadance an opportunity to come and talk to us. If she doesn’t, then I will have to stand before the diarchs and present my challenge to her.”

Tim sighs as he turns away from his mares. The other ponies seem to notice him, but don’t seem too keen on talking to a tall bipedal creature at the moment. The alcohol seems to be flowing, so maybe they’ll loosen up. He makes his way around the ponies that are dancing as he heads towards the raised stage. Four ponies are there, though one really captures his attention, a gray mare with midnight black mane and tail. She’s standing on two hooves, a bow in a forehoof and she’s supporting herself with a cello. She nods to the pony at the piano and draws the bow across the strings. The music that emerges gets him swaying softly as he listens.

“Her name is Octavia,” comes a male voice. Tim looks over, a white stallion is standing there. He has a two tone blue mane along with a moustache the same color. He smiles. “I’m Fancy Pants.”

“Tim.”

“Nice to meet you, young Tim. Are you the human that Princess Celestia has talked about?” Tim nods, glancing at the pony playing the cello. “It’s alright, I don’t bite. I’ve heard you have been granted diplomatic status, correct?” Tim sighs, and to his surprise, the stallion snorts, “Oh, don’t worry. I’m not like some of the lesser nobles around here. I’m guessing you’ve been instructed to mingle with the ponies here.”

Tim nods. “I don’t know how to mingle.”

That gets a full laugh from the tall stallion. “Oh, don’t worry, my dear boy. It’s easy, see. You are doing so right now.” Tim looks at him sideways, “Oh no worries, young man. I’ve heard about your herd. I like Citrus Blush, and Fleur absolutely loves her makeup.”

“Nice to hear how word gets around.”

That gets a big smile from the stallion. “Does it now? Come with me, there are some ponies who would die to meet you.”

***

Cayenne is out on the dance floor with Silver. Tmusic is rather energetic, so it’s time to bounce around a little while dancing. Silver is tense, almost unable to move. “Having fun?”

He snorts as he finally looks at her, then up at the dais, where the Royal alicorns are standing and watching. “Loving the dangling sword of Damoclops.”

“Citrus is making her presence known to the Princesses. Cadance can do something.”

“You and I both know that isn’t going to happen.”Cayenne grabs a glass of champagne off a passing server pony and levitates it over to Silver. He drains it like a shot. “Thanks, Anne. Say, you got a mind to try to have some mandated fun?”

Cayenne looks around, the amount of money represented here boggles her mind. She glances over at Tim, who is walking with Fancy Pants, who is introducing the human to several ponies. Good, Fancy Pants is a smart stallion, he knows how to grease the wheels of power. It being public knowledge that Tim is an ambassador will allow more ponies to talk to him and maybe get rid of the lingering fear a lot of ponies have had towards Tim. She glances over. “Wanna talk to Rainbow Dash?”

Silver looks in the same direction. “The Wonderbolts have come in?”

She nods, getting a smile. “I’ve always wanted to meet them.”

“Your dancing could use a lot of improvement, so let’s mingle as well and spare the spectators.” She walks off, swaying her tail. The stallion follows, his eyes glued to the roped off area. The mare in question is standing at her ease, with the other Wonderbolts. Cayenne nods at the pony guarding the area, whose horn lights and lifts the velvet rope for them. At Silver’s questioning look, she winks back at him. “He’s a regular at the restaurant.” She moves up. “Rainbow Dash?”

The rainbow maned pegasus turns to look curiously, “Hello?”

Silver bounces forward. “Oh, Rainbow Dash, I’m so happy to meet you! I’m such a fan.”

Rainbow smiles gently. “You want an autograph?”

Silver shakes his head. “Just the honor of meeting you, ma’am.”

“Aren’t you sweet.” Rainbow looks over Silver’s head. “He finally made it!” She looks at Silver and Cayenne, “Hold on a moment.” She flicks into the air and flies over Silver’s head. He turns around to see her land on the shoulder of an enormous creature. Even taller than Tim, and likely more than double his weight, with a bull’s head on a vaguely human shaped body on top and bull’s hooves on the bottom, the rainbow maned pegasus wraps her forelegs fiercely around his neck, nuzzling his cheek. After a moment, she directs the minotaur to walk towards Cayenne and Silver. “I’d like you to meet my coltfriend, Bucephalus.”

“Pleased to meet you,” the minotaur says in a mellifluous voice, offering a hand. Silver offers his hoof, which is shaken gently by the mountain of muscle. Bucephalus glances over at Cayenne. “Am I a bit big for your taste?”

Cayenne laughs, “No, of course not, we are herding with the only human in Equestria.” She points at Tim, who is now talking with Pinkie Pie.

His eyebrows rise. “Really?” He nuzzles Rainbow Dash, who seems to have taken permanent residence on his broad shoulder, “Love, I’d like to meet this human. Shall we?” At her enthusiastic nod, he smiles politely at Silver and Cayenne.

“Tim will shit himself on meeting that one.”

Cayenne rolls her eyes. “Be nice, Silver.”

“Aw come on, let me have a little bit of fun.” Silver’s smile died on his face when he saw the next pony coming their way. “There, look, the herdwrecker.”

Sure enough, there is Princess Twilight Sparkle looking radiant in imperial gold and purple. Silver’s wings ruffle and pomf just the slightest bit. It’s not the fluffy pomf of a happy cantering or the wooshing pomf of arousal, but a gusty pomf using enough wingpower to make a display for the sake of intimidation. “Now, Silver, be nice, we can’t alienate her. She’s sorry already.”

“I know; can’t help but be mad at her.”

“We both are, but I’ve actually talked to her. She isn’t a bad pony, and like it or not, unless Tim suddenly becomes a total master of our language and customs, we’re going to have to deal with her.”

“Heat visitations?”

“Perhaps.”

“Breeding rights?”

“If it comes to that.”

“Full membership in the herd?”

“That is up to Citrus, but I don’t see it happening.”

The princess stops for a long moment, her face conflicted. Finally, she finishes closing the gap and speaks first. “Cayenne Pepper, pleased to see you again.”

“The pleasure is all mine, Princess,” Cayenne responds.

Then Twilight’s head turns its attention over to Silver Wing. “And who might this stallion be?” Twilight asks.

“You could ask him,” jokes Cayenne.

Twilight blushes. “Oh, sorry. What is your name? I’m Twilight Sparkle, princess of friendship.” She leans forward to offer an ear.

“Silver Wing. I know, Princess.” He says, stiff as a bollard.

She puts on one of her legendarily bad feigned smiles.“And you are her friend?”

“Herdmate, Princess” he says back to her. “Cayenne’s and Tim’s herdmate.”

Twilight winces. “I uuhhhh seee... Are you enjoying the gala?”

“We’re fine, Princess,” interrupts Cayenne.

“And uh, how’s the herd?”

Twilight immediately regrets asking that question. Cayenne gives a truly pained grimace while Silver both fixes her with his best silent glare. They answer in unison, “Been better.”

“Oh, sorry…” Twilight is looking around frantically for any excuse to end the conversation. She spies something off in the distance. In seconds, a frazzled server pony is floating over them in her purple aura as more than four glasses of red wine are telepathically proffered. “Oh, look drinks, let’s toast, bye!” Twilight bolts, dropping the server and the tray. Silver catches the server and Cayenne’s levitation saves the drinks.

The two look at each other. Suddenly, they burst out laughing. “The look on her face, Cayenne!”

“I know! That moment when somepony realizes they’re in a world of shit.”

“I bet she won’t forget this!”

“Well duh,” Cayenne agrees, “I’ll drink to that,” she says, taking a gulp of her wine, clinking her glass to Silver’s glasses, and downing half of her volume. “So, what did you think of her royal highness?”

Silver teases, “I can definitely see now why Tim did it...”

Cayenne opens her mouth, but stops herself from shouting. Instead she just asks bluntly, “Silver, how much have you had to drink?”

“A few.”

“How many is that?”

“About three. Five when these are finished.”

She fixes a hard look at him. “You know you can’t afford to have anything impacting you later, right?” She glances around, “I’ll find you some coffee, but lay off the wine, okay?”

“Yeah, I know, I’m just scared as hell.”

Cayenne motions for them to go over to some convenient nearby tables. They sit down. She holds his hoof. “Finish your fourth. Citrus hasn’t come looking for us yet and the night’s young.” She is being purposefully soothing. The stallion finishes the last of his booze. He smiles at her. She responds with a boop on his snoot. “Say, did I ever tell you about the time I got my horn stuck in the chalkboard at school?”

“No,” replies Silver with an amused grin.

“Well, it all started with an argument over a frog…”

***

North Point wanders the gardens. Big parties, loud parties, wild parties, simply are not here idea of a good time. Unlike Citrus Blush, she has no business interests, personal or economic, to pursue. And unlike Cayenne Pepper, keeping up Silver’s spirits leading up to a waltz with weapons on top of the aforementioned business interests, are not on the agenda. And unlike Tim, she is not a kind of minor celebrity, therefore freeing her to do as she wishes with her time at the Gala.

She could not help but swish her hips slightly from side to side with a kind of anticipation. Tonight, she is getting laid and it was going to be great! As much as she has appreciated her time with Tim, she realizes that her loins hold a hunger for horsecock she can only keep in check for so long. Celestia help her if this mess were to somehow spill over into heat season.

She walks around the small pond in the middle of the gardens, just looking up at the sky and enjoying the quiet peace here, the fracas of the Grand Galloping Gala reduced to a dim, roaring clamor off in the distance, thankfully muffled. The mare whistled.

To her surprise, she hears a whistle back. It is a graceful, chirpy thing.

She whistles in response, going low then high.

The bird’s whistle answers hers. It goes low high low low low, before then finishing on a triple staccato high note.

North Point modulates her next whistles from short chirps to long tweets.

Something red, yellow, and orange flies in front of her, singing an appreciative flourish. North Point approaches the firebrand bird. She can only describe it as the most stunning, beautiful bird she has ever seen in her life. “Hello, friend, what’s your name?”

“I see you like Philomena. It’s even more remarkable that Philomena likes you.”

Wheeling around, North Point almost has a heart attack. “P-Princess Celestia! I didn’t kn-know you were here! Is he your bird?”

Celestia chuckles kindly, “My little pony, Philomena is a she, and not merely a bird, but a phoenix.”

“Like in the stories?”

“Yes, exactly like in the old tales. Come, walk with me.”

“Are you enjoying the Gala?”

“Yes, Princess,” North answers with her best respectful enthusiasm. “I was just here getting some fresh air. Big parties aren’t really my thing.”

Celestia leans in, smiling serenely. “Me too,” she whispers conspiratorially as if sharing a sinister secret. Philomena loops in the air before alighting on the white princess’s back, looking at the unicorn. “It’s good to have some sanctuary, don’t you think?”

They are now under a weeping willow tree. “Yes, princess.”

“If it is not too much to ask, how is your herd? You are in a herd with the human Tim and his ponies, are you not?”

North blushes. “I am, princess.”

“What kind of stallion is he, North Point?”

“He’s really kind. He’s actually kinda sorta like a mare; apparently things are a bit opposite on Earth.”

“And how are you treating him?”

North Point freezes. “We’ve uh had some um trouble, but uh, it’s getting better.”

Princess Celestia gives her a knowing smile. “The course of true love ne’er did run smooth.”

“Are he and your lead mare getting along?” North realizes she has a choice here, an opportunity to make things happen.

“Better than they were, princess. The problem isn’t with, the problem isn’t well, it’s not really between the herd, or it was, but it’s more like…”

“Some other pony?”

North nods wordlessly, blushing fit to rival Philomena’s plumage. “If you want to talk about it, Princess, please forgive me, but it’s not my place…”

“I understand, my little pony. I will make note to seek Citrus Blush. Thank you for letting me know, North Point. Well, Philomena and I best be off. Enjoy the Grand Galloping Gala.”

“You too, princess,” replies North, waving at Celestia’s retreating form. In her gut, she knows that the dominos she’s just kicked off aren’t going to stop from this moment forth until all is said and done. She follows Celestia, keeping an eye out for one of the roving servers with wine.

Next Chapter: Chapter 22. Estimated time remaining: 11 Hours, 30 Minutes