Trixie the Manifique.

In 17th century Victorian age Equestria, Noblemare Rarity's stewardess -Trixie- is charged with the awesome task of preparing a lavish three day banquet for Queen Celestia to gain her favor and therefore open the royal coffers to satiate Ponyville's debt. But falling for the Queen's mistress Twilight Sparkle might punch a very nasty hole in that plan.

***disclaimer***

I do not own My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic or Vatel the movie nor do I have any aphiliations with it, its producers, hasbro, or its benifactors. I make no money on this, this is a fanbased story written purely for entertainment purposes.

***disclaimer***

***************************slight warning***********************

Rated M for suggestive sexual themes and light gore.

Anthromorphic ponies.

Non-goddess Celestia and Luna(still alicorns)

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Based on true historical events.

Chapter One, Begin Anon

*April the tenth, 1761. Madame Rarity, her majesty gives me reason to believe that she will graciously accept your invitation to visit you in Ponyville.

The visit will last three days, the Queen instructs me to say, that she wants no fuss. Merely the simple pleasures of life in the country. In other words, if you value her majesty's favor, you will set no limit to the extravegence and inginuity of the festivities. I will present myself before hand to approve the arrangements.

Marqueese Hoity Toity.

In the service of her majesty Celestia Sunbeam the 14th of Equestria.*

Hoity Toity pressed a hot wax sealer onto the letter he'd finished writing in elegant print.

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*My dear master stewardess, Madame Trixie. Good news and bad news, Her majesty arrives on Thursday, I'm sure you can understand the importance of her visit, a dropped wine glass or uncomfortable cushion could spell disaster for our entire province.

The good news, is we may go to war with Griffonia.*

Lyra finished up her own letter.

XXXXX

Trixie washed her hands in a metalic bowl of watter and flicked the specks of liquid as a million ideas and plans raced through her mind, Hoity Toity was to arrive today to inspect the festivities that she had organized and she fully intended to impress.

Grabbing a few items, Trixie made her way around her clustered mess of a room and inspected all that she had currently set up. Her parrot idly pecked at the chain on its leg.

Trixie walked over to a window and looked out towards the beautiful landscape of Rarity's manor, twin gardens set back against several achres of rich lush green fields.

Trixie also noticed her own reflection staring lightly back at her from the window, she war a black velvet set of pants and overcoat with the collar and sleave endings of a linen white shirt underneath, her silver mane's single bang hanging elagantly along the side of her face.

Turning towards the door, she made her way towards the door of her room and sifted through the cluster of books ranging from recipees to artistry to theatrical design.

At last she exited the cracked blue door.

A vioin seemed to lightly play in the background as ponies husled and bustled around the manor to secure all the decorations, Trixie waded through the mass of bodies and servants as her keen eye inspected every little detail, "on that table" she ordered to a stallion carrying a fixture vase before walking into the next room and garnering multiple, "good morning madame"s to which she responded in kind with a rushed, "good morning" before hurrying into the next room, so much had to be done today! And everything must be perfect!

As Trixie exited into the high balcony of the central room of the manor which also adorned the squar stair way from the first floor to the second and third, Rarity made her way up the stairs with Hoity Toity next to her showcasing a rather bored expression.

Rarirty was dressed in an exquisitely beautiful dress that lacked the unnessessary corsets and constricting fashions of other maiden dresses but rather opted for more convienient black and red egyption cottan and silk with a red vest covered in a black over coat, long white stockings along her hooves and legs and her wrists and neck adorned with frilly endings of an undershirt, she also walked with a cane in her right hand that supported her movements which was heavilly needed thanks to the rather nasty gout that she'd developed.

"My husband Blueblood has placed the disposal of his apartments for the King and naturally I shall place mine for her majesty." Rarity stated as they reached the top of the stairs and passed down a hallway filled with lavish paintings encrusted with golden frames.

Meanwhile, several carriages were on their way towards Lady Rarity's manor carrying much of Celestia's court with them.

"and for the Queen and her chamer," she pointed at a luxurious large room with pleanty of space for activities, "we have the music room and hence to the apartment of the King." They proceeded into the next glorious room, "His majesty's bedroom. Drawing room, and the further bedroom beyond that for his majesty's lady in waiting."

"Lady in waiting?" Vinyl asked curiously.

"Madame Twilight." Hoity answered as he exited the room.

"ah..."

The group of ponies entered into the next room, "his majesty will be comfortable, and convenient." Rarity surmised.

"the Queen will neglegating his majesty's duty when going to bed most likely just as two days ago." Hoity said with a roll of his eyes, it was no secret that Celestia had made many visitations to various stallions and mares in the dead of night rather than to her husband.

"remarkably well informed you are..." Rarity commented.

Hoity gave a snide smile as he turned to his valet, "the Queen does often reffresh her husband every... what was what?"

"Monday." Fancy Pants answered.

"ah yes, Monday."

Rarity's eyes looked wide and forward, "very well informed..."

They waloked down the stairs into yet another giant gold encrusted room, "this room is to serve as the councile chamber, and then there is the bedroom here... and a second here ofcourse for the Queen's hand maiden Cadence who I believe is close to her majesty."

Hoity took a look around the room... "... no... no... this room is room is for marquence Demonst." he said with dismissive finality.

Rarity gave a 'harumph' "Demonst? It is ever so hard to keep track when living in the country."

Some ponies came through asking where to put the court member's belongings, Hoity waved them off, "anywhere, put them in the attic." Hoity was dressed up in a typical Lord's fancy outfit of the day with dark greys in his outfit. "at the third, make sure my rooms are north facing, I don't like the sun coming in."

"Your roomS? Is it? I think you'll only be needing one room for three days wouldn't you say?" Rarity began as they made their way down to ground floor, "every cuppord and cuttony is spoken for, even so, to accomadate the court we'll have to use every farmhouse for MIES!" Rarity grunted as the gout in her hoof and ankle sent an explosion of pain through her system.

All ponies on the stair case paused.

Rarity turned and put her hand on Trixie's shoulder for support.

Trixie mulled everything over, "my room m'Lady." she offered.

Rarity furrowed her brows, "no, I won't have you disturbed Trixie." she said as she turned to reach the bottom of the stair case, "You haven't slept for a week as it is!"

The rest of the ponies followed behind her, Trixie observed the various chandeliers beling sent up the stairs and noticed some dust upon one of their crystaline forms, "have that cleaned." she said sharply before following her Lady.

Entering into a large but rather un impressive room that Trixie used for building small scale models of the festivities, she gave a small example of what they all could expect.

Grabbing some small cutout trees and moving over to a miniature wooden post with a pully system, she began anon, "The first day will center around nature, trees... Birds... she displayed the cutout trees being lifted into the air by the pully system and then unfolding out to display its leaves and branches. "butterflies, fruits... and flowers..." she gave a smile over to Hoity and Rarity.

"the scond day, on the lake," she continued while making her way to a large post construct of Rarity's lake side meadow area where a stage had been set up, "fireworks, the sun banishes the night!" she said with great enthusiasm as she pulled out a beautifully crafted glass lamp over cover, "the lamps are on their way now from Paris."

Then she moved over to a highly detailed construction of Neptune laying sideways with his tridant laying nonchalauntly by his side point up. "on the final day, a fish banquete will be presented on with a see of ice sculptures, Neptune's tribute to Helios.

Rarity gave an amused smile, "the Queen will catch a cold."

"no my Lady, the braziers will be lit one hour before the banquete." Trixie reassured.

Rarity chuckled, "then the ice will melt."

"I have forbidden it to melt my Lady." Trixie responded which earned a chuckle from Rarity.

"well, our fate; is in your hands."

Trixie smiled as she placed the cloth back over the miniature Neptune.

XXXXX

Ponies clambered their way towards the arriving roayal carriages.

*there's always a reason behind a royal visit, and the reason behind this one is Bricklebeak Orange, King of Griffonia who wants war. And if he gets it, Celestia is going to need the best general in Equestria. And many ponies think that is none other than the Nobelmare Lady Rarity, even with gout.*

Several high born ponies filed their way out of the carriages in the most high end luxurious outfits imaginable and headed up the stone stairs towards Rarity's manor as several servants greeted them, *compared to this visit from the Queen, war with the Griffons will seem like a picnic.*

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"woah woah woah there! Excuse me how can I help you?" Lyra cried as she held her hands up to stop a plethora of angry looking ponies making their way through the manor grounds into the various areas of preparation for the banquete, "please Madame, I want only to talk to the mare at the top." the seemingly leader of the mob said as he stepped forward.

"ah yes," Lyra gave a nervous chuckle, "I regret that my Lady is busy at the moment tending to the Que-"

"not them!" the stallion snapped, "the mare in charge! The master of pleasures and festivities, Trixie!"

Lyra frowned, "oh Trixie ah yes... that's slightly more difficult... ofcourse... I'll see what I can do, please follow!" the mint green mare led her into the gargantuan kitchens of the manor which contained practically a whole town of ponies struggling hard to get all of the food cooked for the banquete.

Trixie meandered through the kitchens inspecting that everypony was doing his or her job and and ensuring that all foods were fresh, she made her way through the greenery of the kitchen and gave a smile to her young apprentice Pipsqueek who smiled cheerilee at her.

Trixie idly picked a vegetable from a hanging bunch and tested its freshness, satisfied, she continued on through the mass of ponies bustling around and tending to food. She stopped over by an unloading crate, "how many of these?" "sixteen madame!" Trixie gave a satisfied nod.

"miss Trixie... Madame Trixie!" an annoyed voice called from behind the turquise mare, Trixie turned around to see a group of angry looking ponies.

"you are tresspassing here misoure, I suggest you leave." she said indignantly.

This only seemed to infuriate the mob leader further, "all of us are owed money!" "yes! "that's right!" several voices accompanied him. "We've come to tell you, from this moment, nothing on credit." "nothing!" "not a single cabbage leave, or a cracked coffee cup or a table napkin, NOTHING! Until our bills are paid!" "exactly!" "yes!"

Trixie gave a 'hmm' as she lightly ground her teeth. She walked up to the debt collector, "... come..." she turned and headed off into another section of the kitchens.

"we have businesses to run, and families to provide for!" the leader pleaded as Trixie sorted a few things on a table, "when will we get what we're owed?"

Trixie turned to him with a slightly angered expression, "what you are owed now is the truth, as things stand we cannot honor our debts!" she said with a flourish of her arms, "not even if a hundred years had gone by could we pay for these festivities." she made her way over to a boiling pot and pulled out a tied up bag, "we cannot pay you a single suit, nor will we ever, you have only one chance of getting your money: by giving me everythig I ask for." she placed the bag on the table and unwrapped it revealing an artechoach which she placed in a basked of greenery to accent the collors.

"instantly and of the very best quality, then more of the same!" she continued.

Lyra cringed slightly, Trixie had a hard time thinking before she spoke and often came across as rude to most ponies who didn't know her well.

"this visit is a reconciliation, if the Queen is pleased by the festivities, then the royal coffers will open. Lady Rarity is bankrupt, it's up to you." she finished as she walked aroung the table to the mob leader.

"... if we do give you credit... how will we know that we'll get our money back?"

Trixie made a fleeting gesture with her hand, "my Lady has said so." she said matter of factly, "Lady Rarity is a mare of honor. On that I stake my life. You will be paid!"

XXXXX

Trixie made her way through other parts of the kitchen checking things here and there while earning a few more "good morning" and "Madame Trixie" with nods as she walked through the bakery, various ponies rolling and kneeding dough while others flipped their own dough around in trough bins, Trixie entered into the next area of the kitchens.

XXXXX

A sobbing mare made her way through the grand rooms atop the second floor of the manner as she hurried through passing ponies trying her best to avoide any social contact.

As she made her way down the stairs however, she ran into Cadence and gave a quick curtsy.

Cadence responded in kind, "are you going down? I'm going up." The sobbing mare rushed down the stairs.

Cadence rolled her eyes and made her way to the second floor.

Down on the first flight of stairs, the sobbing mare came in contact with Celestia's husband the King, dressed completely in black he paused and so did the mare.

The weeping mare tried ot keep herself dignified but ultimately ended up running away. The King shook his head and dismissed it as he ascended the stairs with his servants close behind carrying his cocker spaniel on a lavish pillow, "where is Madame Twilight?" he inquired, "explain to her that we have a card game in waiting."

XXXXX

Twilight had found herself into a random room on one of the upper floors of the manor, it was a complete mess filled with littered books, pages, and a few parrots by the window chained to little foot holds for their claws.

Twilight was dressed in a typical high born mare's outfit, silky beautiful dress with intermingling colors of red, golden brown, and green, this all included the flowing doidle of a head dress that most nobel mares wore; Personally Twilight hated it, along with the corset that made it difficult to breath, but she managed.

She was currently holding her bird cage which sported a few canaries when the door suddenly flung open to reveal Trixie, the event was so sudden that it gave Twilight the start of her life and caused her to jump in the air and drop her bird cage upon the ground, scattering the bird feed.

Trixie blinked, then quickly rushed over, "forgive me Madame, let me." she gently brought the cage up and made a few kissy sounds to calm the birds as she set it on the table and looked around the room whilst chewing on her lip, "hmm... allow me," she walked over to her bouquete of flowers and picked out one that contained a particularly succulant sugar and wrapped its viney length around a coper rod which she then poked through the cage's holes; the canaries hopped up on the rod and began feeding from the flowers.

Twilight blinked in astonishment, that was pretty inginuitive as far as she was concerned.

"I hope your birds will be happy with it." Trixie said as she gently handed the cage over to Twilight.

Their eyes locked for a few akward seconds, Twilight was new to court and therefore not the most socially apt of ponies and Trixie's OCD autistic mind fared no better at conversations.

Luckilly they were both saved by the bell, a chiming from behind Trixie caused her to notice that one of her other clocks was quite off the proper time and thus she walked over to it and opened the protective glass so that she may remedy the situation.

In this time, a mare popped her head in to garner Twilight's attention, "Madame?" she gestured with her head that Twilight was needed elsewhere. The lavander Unicorn gave a slight glance back at Trixie before exiting the room.

By the time Trixie was finished, she was just able to catch Twilight leaving the room.

XXXXX

Back down in the kitchens, several of Luna's 'friends' which were really no more than foolish and obnoxious members of her Night Guard that joined the princess in many boarder line brigadine escapades walked around to a large half berral of water within a preserving section of the kitchens.

"AH YES! Here we are!" Nightwing called out, "put him in with the fruit!" another called. The bat winged Pegasi carried a stark naked Pipsqueak into the fruid rinsing berral and dipped him into the frigid waters. "my what a puny one!" a few giggles and laughes echoed between the bunch of hooligans.

It was now that Trixie entered into this particular domain and was witness to the bizaar sight of her apprentice being washed off like a dog in a fruit preserver-turned-bath tub.

A splash of water from a small bucket hit Pip's face causing him to cough a bit. Trixie's face turned sour as she shoved her way through the gang, laughter slowly died down.

Trixie gave a stern glare that demanded an explanation. Vinyl who was currently present quietly spoke up, "Madame, t-the Queen's sister wants him for her page..." she meekly let out.

Trixie's gaze turned then to her naked apprentice, "she chose me." he stated innocently and completely ignorant to what game of Luna's he'd been swept along into.

A roar of laughter souned between the Night Guards.

Trixie didn't seem amused in the slightest, she knew exactly what was going on here and she was going to put a stop to it before it even began, "get him dressed and put him to work." it wasn't a request.

Silence fell...

Nightwing walked up as he cleared his throat, "and... what would you have me tell... her highness, the Queen's sister hmm?" the stallion inquired condescendingly.

Trixie stood firm, she'd heard the many stories of Luna's more carnal interests and they certainly reached into particularly young colts and fillies on occasion; not on her life was she going to allow her apprentice to be subject to such perversion, "tell her I don't get my colts from her budoiur... and she won't get hers from my kitchen."

A few stallions giggled slightly in the background as they clearly did not take Trixie seriously, but Nightwing was smarter than that, he knew a rebel to the higher autorities when he saw one, and Trixie looked more than content on refusing to comply. "yes..." he began with a dark glare, all of his baffoonery suddenly dissappearing in favor of a true dark soldier of the night, "indeed I will." he finished curtly before turning to leave.

Trixie let out a breath that she hadn't realized she was hiding as she made her way over to one of the various fruit stands, she let out a series of controlled breaths, something about that nightguard's catslit pupils seemed to bore into her soul.

"it's not vary wise," Lyra began as she sat at a table helping the cooks to peel and fashion artistic crafts out of the oranges, "to upset the Queen's sister you know." she continued in the tone of one friend giving obvious advice to another, "it could go badly for us if she chooses." she finished.

"I'm a stewardess, not a pimp Lyra." Trixie responded sharply as she tended to various fruits.

"MADAME TRIXIE! MADAME TRIXIE!" Bon Bon cried as she dashed like chicken with its head cut off into the kitchen, then in a voice filled with pants she added, "Lord Blueblood... has been... bitten... by a monkey!"

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Out in the coutyards surrounded by a hedge maze, ponies of high caste and servants alike panicked and screemed as a monkey sprinted around the coutyard's confinds and hopped up on various backs before leaping to another, squeeking all the while.

Pandamonium spread as Trixie did her part in an attempt to subdue the creature but ultimately animal tamers were required to ensnare it, the whole while the King laughed his rump off and clapped as if watching a show.

Trixie made her way over to Blueblood, "master stewardess! You've filled my garden with savage beasts! And now I've been badly bitten," he whined in an immature voice while pointing to his arm which sported a nasty looking bite wound. "where were you?!" he cried over dramatically.

"busy my Lord, we had some unwelcome visitors." Trixie answered.

"Beggars." Blueblood ventured a guess with a femenine motion of his wrist up to his forhead.

Trixie leaned in, "creditors." she revealed in a hushed tone.

"creditors?!" he responded with panic.

Trixie made a 'shh' sound with her finger as if to say, 'all under control'.

Bon Bon finally made her way into the park and began fussing over Blueblood like tending to a young colt who had recieved a boo boo, "Bon Bon! look I've been badly bitten!"

"oh no!" Bon Bon responded with forced enthusiasm as she led Blueblood away from the party.

Trixie shook her head and chuckled before turning to enter into another part of the garden, along the way she passed a lavender Unicorn mare who asked, "what's your name?" Trixie turned to the mare, "Trixie Lulamoon, Madame." she gave a bow before exiting the area but then stopped as her mind processed the face, hadn't that been the mare she'd encountered earlier today with the canaries?

"hmm..." Trixie shrugged it off and reached a table filled with various foods and drink, she notted that the coffee pot was low and brought it over to a cilver urn filled with the heated drink, pulling the lid of, she grabbed a ladle just as the vary same Unicorn called out her name from accross the table, "Madame Trixie?" Twilight stood with a sunshade umbrella above her head.

Trixie acknowledged the mare as she began scooping liquid from the thermus into the coffee pot.

"you were at Manehatten ten years ago." she stated rather than asked.

"yes Madame." Trixie replied, "I was stewardess to Nickhoof Oklae, her majesty's master of finance." she gave Twilight a small smile before returning to her self appointed task.

Twilight made a display of a rueful chuckle, "you mean her majesty's prisoner for life in the fortress of Binyorald?" she quiped.

Trixie paused a bit, "... that is so." she admited before adding another scoop.

Twilight's eyes looked to the side as she curled her lip, "six thousand guests... to meet the Queen... " she chuckled again albiet disdainfully, "diamonds and saddle wyverns given away in foalish games..." once again she held a rueful smile as she met Trixie's eyes, "that was overduing it don't you think?"

Trixie pondered this for a bit, though she failed to see Twilight's point, "it showed how much Oklae had been stealing." Twilight finished matter of factly.

Trixie stood somewhat stunned but quickly recovered and finished filling up the coffee pot. When she looked up again, Twilight was already walking away, Trixie's eyes blinked as her mouth went slightly ajar; she'd always had problems with private conversations but had never been left speechless before...

XXXXX

Down in the kitchens, Trixie picked up one of the cups of custard and scooped up a bite, "Lyra, why has the Queen really come here?" she asked as she took a bite of custard.

"it's revenge if you ask me, the Queen will never forget the day Rarity fought against her in the civil war." Lyra pondered a fancy.

Trixie handed the cup to a random servant before walking around the table headed for another section of the kitchens, "that was a long time ago, the Queen was a filly" Trixie pointed out.

Lyra rose her brows with closed eyes in agreement, "that and if there's a war with the Griffons, the Queen will need Rarity."

Trixie attended to a few foods before turning and headed through a hallway.

"yes but she's..." Trixie trailed off.

"sick of war? so she is," Lyra began, "but she's equally sick of being in debt." she finished.

XXXXX

In one of the larger rooms of the manner adorned with a large table, a few servants here and there mosied around as Celestia sat behind a fold up dressing wall sitting on what essentially was a 17th century toilet furnished as a comfortable chair.

"Rarity." she called out as she did her business.

"Majesty?" Rarity stood up despite the slight pain from her gout.

"what exactly do you need so much money for?" the Queen asked.

Rarity shifted a bit in place, "for the... betterment of Equestria." she responded with a slight pause before sitting back down.

"well Rich, where are our envoys from Griffonia? Aren't they here yet?" Celestia called to her Tyrn with impatience.

Filthy Rich responded as such, "not yet your majesty."

"peace with the Griffons is good for nothing except tulips." Celestia finished her business and bent over a table as one of her servants whiped her plot. "how many tulips do we have in Canterlot?"

Rich gave a slight pause as he calculated, "two million your Sire."

"my gardener hates flowers... oh he would love a war with the Griffons hmhmhm..." Celestia imagined.

"indeed sire," Rich began, "but would you recale your highness that you have promised your daughter's hand in marriage to Bricklebeak Orange? An invasion... would not look well, would that not be true?" he asked.

Celestia rolled her eyes, one of which was covered by her long straight curtain of a pink mane, "my daughter can't even talk yet Rich" she snapped her fingers as she took a seat at the table that Rarity had excused herself from.

"four days ride from Equestria we have a country of protestants, republicans, and printers of saditious pamphlets..." she picked up a mirror, "no Queen is safe from free thinkers... especially if they are as rich as the Griffons." she finished curtly.

Filthy Rich watched as Celestia pondered her reflection for a few moments before setting the mirror down and contemplating the napkin infront of her, "... we have no better suitor as general then Rarity..." she put a few fingers to her temple as she tried to force the headache of her predicament away, "if there's war... We'll need her... but she's expensive... but if there's peace..." she turned to her Tyrn, "what do I say in the meantime?"

Rich smiled, "why say anythin? Your majesty was invided here to enjoy yourself, not for business."

XXXXX

The Queen and a few of her cout ponies walked through the frontmost stone coutyard of the manor as many ponies bowed to her.

Rarity limped with her cane as she searched around for her stewardess, spotting Trixie, she hurried over as best she could, "are the musicians ready?" she inquired.

"Yes my Lady." she responded.

Rarity groaned lightely in frustration, "the Queen said not a single civil word to me throughout concil and now wants to go muttling around wi-" "which one is the Queen?!" a peasant mare cried out in the middle of the courtyard, heads whipped around to see the peasant begine screeming in fury, "You killed my only son you bitch!" She roared as she made a mad dash for Celestia only to be denied her goal by Sun Guardians but she did not stop her rant.

"he died working the machinees in Canterlot so that the Queen could have her luxuries!" the guards yanked her to the ground as she began weeping and flailing about.

"get your hands off me!" she cried as the guards dragged her away.

Celestia seemed to have an almost amused expression on her face.

Rarity stuck her face in Trixie's "have you no control over your own ponies?!" she snaped.

A servant snuck his way into the conversation, "her majesty wants the madmare flogged and at once." he informed.

Rarity gave Trixie a stern look, "see to it at once master stewardess." she said with finality in her voice before walking off.

Trixie caught up to her, "I'm not your master of flogging mares." she replied with her own stubborness, that was one thing the two Unicorns had both in common and abundance, stubborn as a mule and twice as enduring.

Rarity flared her nostrils and looked to another servant nearby, "hundred lashes." the servant bowed before heading off.

Rarity then turned back to Trixie with a glare, "you know what's at stake! do not weaken!" and with that, she turned and left.

Trixie turned back to gaze upon the mare being dragged away as she flailed her limbs about, "MURDERER! ASSASSSIN! MY SON!"

Trixie's line of sight was then diverted by a now familliar face in the third floor window of the manor, up there she saw Twilight glancing down at the coutyard below before walking off and out of view.

Taking a few controled breaths, Trixie walked to the ceiling covered section of the courtyard underneath the edges of the manor where she then came in contact with Luna and Nightwing along with a few other of the Night Guard.

"Madame Trixie." Luna called.

Trixie gave a bow.

Luna was outfited in a ridiculous attire of what in short might be considered a dominatrix outfit, the sheer fact that she could walk around like that would make most ponies drop their jaws, but those who'd been at court long enough knew to just roll their eyes and mark it off as another one of Luna's antics; matter of fact, her Nightguard were not dressed in proper military attire, rather they were adorned with leathers befitting of a mideavil thief or assassin, some were even dressed as pirates and another was dressed as a knight in silver platemail.

To keep a straight face (whether from avoiding laughter or a gawk) was difficult to say the least. But in a way the black tight leathers swaddling in a seductive yet intimidating fashion seemed to suit the stunted mare, Luna was only five hooves tall on the mark which made her shorter than even most mares, her turquise mane was windswept in suave wavy strands like a dashing rogue. Her outfit was perhaps completed with a metal studded chocke collar around her neck and a sheathed cutlass which she used as an improvisional walking cane.

"I'm short a page in Canterlot... you have a colt who might due apparantly." she said in a tone that was hard to place as either serious or playful, "send him to my appartment; and I'll have a look at him." and with that, she pranced on past Trixie followed by a few of her giggling Night Guard, "come Nightwing, we have been promised music." she finished in mock haughtiness meant to comedically immitate her sister.

"music is my weakness." she added as the ponies left the vacinity accompanied by a few "la la la la la la" here and there voiced by her 'friends'.

Trixie glared at the back of Luna's head.

XXXXX

An opera singer commenced her song in an auditorium of sorts within the manor. Present within the audience was Celestia, Luna, Hoity Toity, Filthy Rich, the King, Rarity, and a few other minor nobles.

Rarity leaned over slightly to the Queen who fed some of the orderves to her cocker spaniel, "the uh... madmare has been flogged your majesty, I ask your pardon."

"madmare? don't concern yourself Rarity, I recall no madmare." Celestia replied.

Rarity gave a slight nod that came accross as a bow.

The Queen then looked over towards Twilight who then noticed her gaze and looked back before giving a slight tilt of her head.

A few of Celestia's hand maidens shared a glance.

Most of the servants continued to listen in to the opera. The King noticed the shifting of eyes from noteable ponies in the room, his mood slowly souring.

Most would not have even noiced it, to some it might have appeared as something that would be worthy of brushing off. But to members of court, they recognized the silent conversation all to well.

XXXXX

Vinyl grunted in frustration as she marched over to Trixie, "there's no sign of them! How long are they going to be?" she rushed over to the table full of delicious assortments of food to which Trixie was attending out near the lake, "you can't rush time." Trixie replied absently.

"well we can't slow down the sunset!" Vinyl retorted.

Trixie took in a breath and let it out in a slow huff as she looked around the beautiful meadow and contemplated what to do...

XXXXX

back in the auditorium, Hoity Toity made his way over to Twilight, the action was not unnoticed by Lyra.

Hoity stood next to Twilight for a bit, "Madame..."

Twilight turned to look at him with a cocked brow, "misioure Hoity?" she responded.

Hoity did a bit of a tilting head dance before seating himself next to Twilight and leaned his head in towards her, "the Queen sends you her compliments... and she begs a favor of taking a cup of chocolate with you in your room... at midnight..." he leaned his head a way and looked onto the opera.

"with me?..." Twilight asked with slight sarcasm in her voice but not once did she tear her eyes away from the performance.

Hoity leaned his head on Twilight's shoulder, "may I offer you my congradulations..." he whispered out, "although," he returned to a normal seating position, "as you can imagine, this came as a great blow to me. After tonight I cannot hope for deliverance from the pain of my own," he sighed, "desires, so! May I suggest... my rooms at, ten?" he offered.

Twilight inwardly cringed, Hoity had constantly been passing flirtations and inuendos towards her since the first day of court and he most certainly was not the type to give up the hunt for something he prized.

The mare turned towards Hoity, "alas misiour, at ten o'clock I have an even more attractive offer, the Queen has asked me to de-louse her spaniel." she said with a sly smile.

Hoity curled lip for a bit before bringing his lips to Twilight's ear and whispering, "Madame." and then returned to his original seat.

XXXXX

Trixie pondered her wind up watch with some distress, with a slight grunt, she turned and made her way to the outoor kitchen area by the lake where two large lines of ponies sat on either side of a row of tables and prepared several salads and sliced meats.

Trixie inspected them all as she made her way down, stopping once to add a spice here and there as well as pausing by the stallion turning a duck on a spit above a coal powered stove of coppe and poked her finger into the sauce being poured over the duck, tasting it, she gave a satisfied nod before continuing on.

Trixie was still highly concerned about when the court would finish up at the auditorium and arrive by the lake, all of the provisions were ready and the sun was at its highest, if they wasted too much time; the spectacle would be ruined.

"SHE'S COMING! Thank the gods she's coming!" Vinyl cried as she rushed towards Trixie.

Trixie let out a breath of relief, "alright!" she shooed everypony off to their proper places on the wooden stage built out along the meadow beside the lake, the entire set up was several hundred hooves long and wide with various folding walls and props.

"hurry, places!"

Trixie made a mad dash through the gaggle of ponies until she found her ladder support which gave her access to the various mirrors placed high above the stage allowing her to see every corner of the show both infront and backstage. She held her hand up as she lookd towards the Recorder players holding the block flute-like instruments in their hands. Trixie counted in her head as she looked to the incoming ponies, "and... now." she mouthed out silently whilst pointing to the musicians who than began playing a gentle but happy tune reminiscen of a ballet.

Out on the stage, the Queen was guided through an archway into the center of the stage where she stood a blood red regal dress with a walking cane adorning the rising sun atop it. Upon reaching the center of the stage, she struck the ground with the bottom of the cane which then was follewed thereby several young fillies and colt accrobats who began an elegant and symetrical dance as if by two mirrors placed next to eachother on either side of the central stage.

More dancers to the left waited for their que and then knelt on the ground as stage prop feathers flared to life in front of them, one hand stretched out to the left as a false wall folded down followed by the outstretched right hand signaling that wall to come down as well.

The same process repeated on the right side of the stage as props were brought to life all around, giant paper machee trees unfurled as they were hoisted into the air and violins entered into the pleasant tune of music; a young colt dressed as an angel was strapped up to a stage wire that lifted him into the air as he held a Qubid bow.

Celestia looked around at the spectacle and was honestly impressed, and that was not an easy feat to achieve for her picky tastes. The whole set was completed with a large silver sun lowered into just the right spot to catch the light of the true celestial body overhead which then lit the silver prop to life and sent a radiant glow of beauty over the entire stage as the actors bowed to it.

The court member ponies clapped in aplause as they rose from their seats, Celestia wore a small amused smile on her face. It was then that the cooks brought the food and drink to the guests, "in the name of the Queen, eat and drink, and enjoy yourselves!"

Trixie smiled approvingly as she witnessed all of her work come together perfectly, she then lowered from the later and prepared to joing the crowd herself, mentally preparing for social interaction with several haughty high born ponies as he took a deep breath and exhaled; she scampered through the crowd of stage hands and cooks while ushering other young actors and actresses onto the stage as their parts came up, "go, go, go! Go!"

The Queen and her subjects watched the open stage play as they ate, Trixie sat in the crowd of lesser lords and ladies as she held a spyglass to her eyes and peered over to the various actors making sure that every movement was to her coriagraphy looking over to Rarity, she noticed the Unicorn's discomfort.

Trixie turned to the servants as she broke away from the crowd, "the Lady's gout is bad, tell Bon Bon immediately and have the cook please send me a napkin at once." the mare inspected the various plates being brought past her towards the guests.

Back over by the table filled with members of court, Celestia sat with Rarity to her right and Cadence to Rarity's right. The pink Alicorn leaned in her head in Celestia's direction as the Queen ate, "isn't it to your taste your majesty?" she asked.

Celestia felt like rolling her eyes at Cadence's stupid question after stupid pointless question, or at least that's how she chose to view them; quite frankly she was growing tired of the mare even despite her ravishing beauty. Celestia leaned towards her left and gestured with her fingers for Hoity to come near.

The stallion excused himself from his spot and walked over to the Queen before leaning in.

Celestia spoke with a drawling bored expression, "change Cadence's spot for Twilight."

Hoity nodded before walking over to Cadence and whispering in her ear.

The King two Celestia's left smirked at his small victory, he always enjoyed it whenever Celestia cast one of her mistresses aside for a new one and left the old in the dust, it served as a slight bit of revenge for the King .

Cadence's face looked slightly shocked as she blinked in place a few times. She begrudgingly stood up with tence muscles and a scowl printed firmly on her face but she forced a twitching smile as she gave a curtsy to Celestia and switched spots with Twilight.

Celestia continued to eat and enjoy the show, "you look pale Rarity, are you ill?" she asked absent mindedly without so much as a glance to the Unicorn.

"Your majesty is most gracious to inquire..." she replied.

"yes indeed." Celestia quiped as she tore at some meat.

Trixie stood behind the stage looking through her spyglass, she didn't know why she was focusing on a particular pony rather than the actors but for whatever force had possessed her, the spyglass she held was facing Twilight as she made her way over to Cadence's seat.

Trixie continued to stare at Twilight through her spyglass until the lavender's eyes found her.

Trixie pulled away from the spyglass, both Unicorns even from such a distance seemed to meet eachother's eyes.

This connection did not go unnoticed by Hoity however.

XXXXX

Trixie was infront of a candy stand alongside another section of the meadows and dipping various fruits inside of heated liquid caramel before hanging them upon a long string that hung from two posts several hooves in the air.

Hoity Toity then saunteered over, when Trixie noticed she had a guest, she gave a slight bow and returened to basting the fruits in the sugary substance.

Hoity took a breath and exhaled, "I see we share the same taste." he stated.

Trixie did a very minor double take, "taste?" she inquired.

Hoity met Trixie's eyes, "in mares." he revealed plainly.

Trixie blinked... then returned to glazing the fruits.

Hoity continued his speech regardless, "there is a Lady... who has been rejecting my advances in a way which I find quite stimulating..." he informed.

Trixie showed him a cocked brow.

"her world is about to change," hoity furthered, "the Queen has asked for her tonight and I suggest we mark the event... I want you to make a master piece, spot sugar and paste, fruit and flowers. I'll leave it to you." he finished.

"I'm not a paticére." Trixie replied bluntly.

Hoity frowned, "you were apprenticed to Ebonheart." he stated almost rudely.

Trixie's eye twitched slightly at the mention of her rather disreputable past, "I'll be too busy." she said as she turned away, "ask somepony else Marquee."

Hoity narrowed his eyes, "fruit and flowers, in the color of flesh and blood." he stated, completely brushing aside Trixie's rejection, "flesh... and blood."

Trixie stared at the stallion.

"I'll send my valet in the morning." Hoity said with finality before walking away.

XXXXX

Night fell around the manor as a nightly opera was shocased to the guests.

But over in a far corner of the courtyard, a young colt and his sister were swinging clubs at the decorations and smashing multiple bulbs of the recently forged glass.

Trixie's eyes widened in alarm as she sprinted towards the mischevious duo, "now young sir, I must ask you to behave yourself!"

"don't you know who I am?!" the colt snapped indignantly.

"I do not have the honor." Trixie replied and she tried her utmost to keep the sarcasm out of her voice.

"I'm Via Vonlouse, and when I grow up, I'll be the Duke Adom Vélice." the ruffian revealed as he pranced along the stone walkway only to bump into Twilight.

"in that case," the Unicorn began as she grabbed the colt's chin, "it is not too soon to learn how to act like Duke Adom Vélice."

The young ones gave her a quick bow and hurried inside the manor while giggling to themselves.

Trixie walked to stand alongside Twilight who turned to the silver maned mare, "in truth, the Duke Adom Vélice behaves like a pig." she chuckled and gave Trixie a smile.

"thank you Madame," Trixie replied, "the Frulábé of Santiel picked that glass just for this banquet. To make the trees pretty for her majesty and those too are on credit." the mare informed.

Twilight rose an eye brow an amused smile, "but the poor are happy to be the Queen's creditors... Its an honor they never dreamed of." she stated.

"ofcourse," Trixie began, "both my parents were so honored, they died of it." she said with a vengefull sharpness to her tongue.

Twilight's head reared slightly at the aggressive response, she blinked before turning to quickly leave.

Trixie stood quietly and alone in the middle of the walkway thinking that perhaps she'd once again been quite rude for seemingly no reason to somepony who didn't deserve it.

XXXXX

Twilight joined the rest of the nobels in watching the nightly play and took her seat a small distance away from the Queen.

Hoity stared longingly at the Unicorn.

END OF CHAPTER ONE!