The heat was immense, her form of sleeping rolled up tightly in every blanket she found, made waking up leaving her sweating and drooling. But it was the best way to fall asleep, and always woke up recharged. The cause of this awakening was what Mud focused on, shifting around while keeping the rope toy in her mouth, she eyed the door.

There was another knock, followed by a voice.

“Bonjour madame!”

It was a pony for sure, a cheerful mare, with a strange tone. The words caught Mud off guard and the kelpie waited again for something familiar.

“Un poney est reveille?”

More weird words, and the door opened. Hoof steps by the bed made Mud glance to that side. The steps slowed as they came up beside the bed, and the smell of perfume filled the room.

“Hyou’re auake?” The mare whispered in her strange voice, at least slightly clearer.

Mud groaned, realizing she’ll must get up now. With rope toy in her teeth, she slowly stood up. The mare stepped back as the kelpie slid off of the bed to the floor, and stared in surprise as Mud raised to tower over her.

“Ouah.” The unicorn breathed out, seeing the full-sized kelpie.

She wasn’t used to seeing a kelpie, but Mud was too tired to care. She just stared down at this pony, seeing she was dressed like a few of the other mares she passed on the way here. The mare shook the feeling off and stood at attention.

“Madame Mud, I presume.” The mare dipped her head in a proper greeting.

Mud’s nose stung from the perfume and other scents, so she turned her head to avoid sneezing on her guest. The rope toy and a good-sized spray of drool expelled from her teeth.

“Vous benisse madame.” The pony looked on as Mud was left dazed by the sneeze.
“Je am Brilliant Preciouex.” She went on, “Sa Princesse Twilight instructed I see you ready for this evening.”

Twi said she’d send someone, Mud wanted to lean in and catch Brilliant’s scent, but the perfume was impenetrable.

Brillant marched around the room, looking up and down inspecting every inch.
“J’apprecie you not destroy the room.” She smiled, and went over to the light switch and flipped it on with a hoof.

Mud’s wretched appearance was fully visible now, and just realizing the stench of kelpie sweat, Brillant set a hoof to cover her own muzzle.

“Je vais vous preparer un bain madame.” Brilliant stepped outside the room and to the side, “Vite, vite!” She urged, waving a hoof.

Mud didn’t understand the words, but knew what she implied. So, the dirty kelpie, ears drooping, dragged her hooves in following the maid pony Brilliant to the bath room.

Starlight would always have to keep an eye on Mud while the kelpie was in the bath, so Mud wasn’t a stranger to having somepony else in the bathroom. But Brilliant instead took greater efficiency in her task, pointing out spots Mud had missed, and even aiding in scrubbing places that were missed. Once the kelpie was cleaned, Brilliant dried her with her magic, and went to brush Mud’s long brown mane.

Once the kelpie was cleaned, Brilliant brought her back to the guest room.

“I believe you have your propre tenue?” The mare walked to the travel case Mud came with.
Opening it she found the sky-blue dress folded neatly, levitating it out to view it fully. She set it against the kelpie’s side, imagining how it would look on Mud.

“Oh la la,” She mused, “Never let it be said a beast can’t be beautiful too.”
She stood aside and gestured for the kelpie to step over, into a more spacious part of the room.

“Voyons mieux.”

Mud stepped over, ears hot at the compliment, and held still as the pony fitted the dress over her.

Once dressed, it was around time for Twilight’s dinner meeting. Brilliant looked back at the clock, noticing the time.

“Tres bien, now you can’t be late, viens!” The unicorn rushed to the door, and Mud followed.

Brilliant followed the kelpie closely until they met Twilight outside the dining hall. Twilight’s eyes sparkled when she saw Mud, only having seen the photo Starlight sent a while ago.

“Well, aren’t you the grown-up kelpie.” She mewed.

“Have you been a good kelpie for Bree?” The princess set bother hooves on Mud’s cheeks, squishing them in circles.

Brilliant dipped her head, addressing Twilight. “Non problem whatsoever.”

“Good, and right on time too.” Twilight finished giving attention to her kelpie, turning to walk into the dining room.

A guard on the other side announced the Princess’ arrival.

“Her majesty Princess Twilight Sparkle!”

Twi leaned in and whispered to him, as Mud entered the room beside her.

“And mistress Mud, the Kelpie!”

Mud heard her name, and looked out at the apparent audience. Her ears went flat as she saw several ponies sitting around the table, all eyes on her. The kelpie froze up, leaving Brilliant to give her a hardy shove to get moving.

Mud glanced back as the unicorn kissed a hoof and waved, “Au revior!”
She whispered loudly before slipping out of sight.

A server pony led the princess to her seat, which was at the head of the table right beside a much larger chair. The server pony used his magic to pull the chairs out, letting Twi and Mud sit. But pushing in the chairs, he only struggled with Mud’s, despite using magic.

Mud was already feeling out of place now, and having to look slightly down at the ponies closer to her made it worse. The looks she got were some of caution, others tried to avoid eye contact, and others were deeply vested. Mud just about got used to ponies staring due to her size, teeth, and just growling at every response. But her situation now, wearing a dress in front of all these ponies was something new.

Twilight noticed, reaching out a hoof and touching the kelpie’s arm.
“Hey, don’t look so scared, they’re here to see you.”

Mud looked to see her giving a comforting gaze, it helped some. And she watched Twilight look behind herself, waving a hoof at something, gesturing for it to proceed. Mud leaned in her chair to peer back, seeing a bunch of dressed ponies filing out into the room. Most were unicorns, and a few earthponies. They went around the table, setting covered plated in front of each guest and pouring red drinks from bottles.

Mud’s food had not arrived yet, and she glanced for any server moving in her direction. Twi noticed her squirming again, and glanced back at the room entrance.
“Here it comes girl.” She whispered excitedly.

Mud leaned over and looked back, seeing a massive polished dome set over two carts. Two ponies pushed it up beside the kelpie, and slid the wide bowl onto the table in front of her. Mud’s nose filled with the delicious familiar smell of her favorite dinner.

Mud was immediately impatient, feeling the urge to lick the warm metal and get to the food underneath. Once all the ponies were served, and every cup filled, the chef stallion bowed his head as the extra carts were pushed out of the hall.

“Bon appetit!” And he left as well.

And the covers were lifted off every plate, revealing the small portioned meals. Mud’s eyes widened, and drool began dripping from her jaws. Her bowl was as big as her head, and filled with spaghetti noodles piled up, covered with sauce, mushrooms, veggies, and cheese. She looked bewildered at her kelpie sitter, who smiled back amused.

“I knew you’d like it.” She chuckled.

Mud gave a wide fang filled grin, and turned to her food. Ponies up and down the table eyed her as she buried her muzzle up to her cheeks in the pasta, taking big gulps of it. Twilight, being well used to her kelpie’s table manners, continued to eat her own cooked veggies. Though she noticed many of her guests hadn’t touched theirs yet, and looked over at the few ponies ready to play music. She gestured her hoof, offering them to begin, and they did. The sound of cello and violins snapped the ponies out of their trance, and they stiffly went to eating.

After the first course, and server ponies giving wine refills to the more nervous colleagues, the second course was brought out. Mud finished her bowl as quickly as it came, face and chest covered in sauce. The empty bowl was replaced with a similarly wide platter, but there were huge hey burgers stacked on it. These ones were different though, more fancifully made. The patties were made with various vegetables, making them flavorful and hardy. The stacks were filled with butter cheese and sliced veggies, held together with a spear of carrot.

As the kelpie devoured the massive burgers, two bites per, Twilight saw the ponies were distracted by it again. The music having no effect, the princess slid her empty plate forward to rest her elbows on the table.

She eyed her assistant director, “I’m thinking for some of the evaluations, we can use the equipment outside, And the controlled experiments in the ballroom.”

No response from the stallion, Twilight chimed his name. “What that work? Doctor Diligenter.”

The brown unicorn closest to Twilight blinked, “Um, yes, when shall we start?”

Twilight glances at Mud, who was beginning to look sleepy from the hot food. “I’m thinking around ten, it’ll give us time to set everything up.”

Dr. Diligenter nods, “And the routine, you said you have one?”

Twilight smiled, levitating out an envelope. “Right here.”

Mud hardly paid attention. While the ponies began discussing work, she finished another massive plate of pies for dessert. After that she was ready for sleep, and Twilight excused her.

“It’s okay, we’ll be here a bit longer.” She waves a hoof for one of the serves to fetch Brilliant. “You go get some sleep.”

With a ‘good night’, Mud was led out of the dining hall by the small pink unicorn. After a quick bath, and Bree grimacing at the sauce, cheese, and berries all over the dress, the maid tossed a blanket over the kelpie.

“Big day tomorrow, sumnum stricta mea.” She patted a hoof on Mud’s shoulder, and turned off the light as she closed the door behind her.

Head half submerged in the pile of pillows; Mud smiled as sleep set in.

This is going to be a great week.

Author's Note

new pony new pony new pony new pony
i dont speak French, so i apologize if any of it is incorrect.

I just really like her as a character, and i hope i can write her properly.

and don't worry, anytime she does speak Prench, it's intentionally not to be understood, hence the lack of translations. Just like when Mud only spoke Kelpish.
So if you have a hard time with it, it's what Mud feels. :3