The party was the height of social power in Equestria. Thanks to her ties with Twilight Sparkle, and— through a few degrees of separation— Rainbow Dash, Twilight Velvet was invited on a contingency. But, she couldn’t help but feel out of place.

The Yearling Manor was arguably the biggest and most impressive mansion in Equestria. A towering gothic monolith that was more like a castle than a cozy cabin.

And Twilight Velvet was here, awkwardly drinking punch in the corner.

AK Yearling was there, as was her staff, a few ponies Twilight Velvet really did not care about, and Rainbow Dash, who was keen to talk to her favorite author.

Twilight Velvet had dressed for the occasion, golden bracelets shining with opalescent radiance, paired with a Romance-era dress, essentially the fanciest she could look without a cushion of bits to rest a throne upon.

Twilight Velvet haphazardly discarded her plastic cup, and started to walk up to Rainbow Dash. She at least knew the brazen blue pegasus, and could hold a conversation.

“And then Daring Doo went woosh, ‘You will not pass me’, and all that! I loved that part!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, currently fangirling something fierce.

“Hello there Twilight Velvet,” AK Yearling mentioned in an almost emoteless cadence, dressed the same way she always was. “Are you enjoying the party?”

“It’s certainly… something,” Twilight Velvet muttered with a light giggle.

“Oh yes, yes, I thought I’d invite the mother of one of my best fan’s favorite friends…” AK Yearling mentioned, holding a hoof to her face as if that was a perfectly understandable sentence to follow.

“And I appreciate it, I really do,” Twilight Velvet said, a little painfully. “But I’m not familiar with anybody here except for your fan over there.”

Rainbow Dash waved to Twilight Velvet, making sure to take as much of the spotlight as possible.

“Oh, yes, I should probably introduce the team… shouldn’t I?”

Twilight Velvet gave a sheepish nod, and AK Yearling lithely departed into the crowd.

“So… any idea why we’re here?” Twilight Velvet asked Rainbow Dash.

“Oh I just got an invite in the mail and I thought, ‘wow I get to hang out with Dar— AK Yearling! Awesome!’ So, I came.” Rainbow Dash looked down at the ground. “I don’t trust her team, they seem… sketchy.”

As if on cue, AK Yearling returned, four ponies in tow.

“This is my team here…” AK Yearling started.

She gestured to the leftmost pony, a stern unicorn with a stiff upper lip. A monocle in one eye and a permanent squint in the other. In his magic, he carried a serving tray, albeit one without any food.

“This is my butler, Randolph.”

Randolph gave a polite bow, “Charmed to meet you.”

“You may go.”

Next AK Yearling stepped over, pointing towards an earth pony in a tall chef’s hat, plump and prim, bubbling over with joy.

“This is my cook, Honey Mustard… everyone calls her ‘Honey’ because she’s sweeter than cake.”

“Hii!” Honey exclaimed, with a voice that sounded like it was punctuated with a heart.

“Anyways you may go.” AK Yearling declared, and waved her off.

“Next we have my publisher, Giant Penguin.”

The name was certainly fitting. Giant Penguin stood a head taller than almost any other pony at the party. He was built like a brick wall and chiseled like a statue. He wore a tight three-piece suit, the tie an outrageous red. He looked down at every pony who passed by. After his introduction, he merely stared.

“Alright, that’s enough, please go do whatever.”

Giant Penguin, like the rest, returned to his position.

“Last, but not least, Fine Print?”

A jittery pegasus with bags under her eyes jolted up, flapping her wings and darting her eyes all around the mansion. Her wings flapped in a frightened, frighteningly consistent pattern. Her glasses constantly fell down her face, and were constantly readjusted in ever-more crooked ways.

“What? What?” She called, seemingly shocked from a stupor.

“I was just introducing this fine mare to my team,” AK Yearling said. She turned back to Twilight Velvet. “She’s my editor, she’s strung like laundry, but she’s good… most of the time. Anyways, Fine Print you can head back to your spot.”

Fine Print didn’t appear to want to move. But Twilight Velvet reckoned that it probably wasn’t her problem. She felt a little better knowing the ponies now, but she was still way over her head. She’d just have to enjoy the party with the few ponies she knew.

“Hey, Rainbow?” Twilight Velvet asked… “Read any good books lately?”

The two walked off discussing Daring Do.

About thirty minutes later, Twilight Velvet was back to her unimpressive little corner. She sipped punch, and stared at the guests of high honor. They talked about… who knew what rich ponies talked about? Equestrian taxes?

As if Celestia herself had heard Twilight Velvet’s boredom, a loud and sudden crash came from behind. A crash which Twilight Velvet immediately jumped at.

Twilight Velvet turned to face the raucous ruiner of the party, and saw what appeared to be three ponies in ski masks. In their hooves they held a burlap bag, which appeared to be stuffed to the brim with bits and bobs, but mostly bits.

Almost enticed by what felt like a trainwreck, she watched. The entire party seemed to gasp in utter horror. As the ponies skidded and barreled directly towards an enticed Twilight Velvet.

In one fell swoop, one of the ponies tore off their ski mask, and tossed it at Twilight Velvet right as the burlap bag came barreling towards her. On reflex, she caught it. She blinked rapidly, trying to figure out what exactly these ponies wanted her to do. She didn’t figure out who’d tossed the ski mask at her either.

Before she could even ponder what happened, a bright light beamed directly into her eyes, which she shielded, only to be faced with the chief of police, and the father of the victim of the recent poisoning case, Sargent Sentry. Father of Flash Sentry, and held in very high regard among the Canterlotite PD.

“Twilight Velvet, huh? Should’ve known. You’re coming with us. With the amount of cases you’ve been tied to…” Sargent Sentry clicked his tongue in disapproval.

Twilight Velvet could merely look blankly into the night as the light click of handcuffs reached her ears.

As she was being toted away, a curious AK Yearling looked at the entire scene before her.

“I need a zebra that will prove her innocence…” She mused. “Like Zed… she’s done it before…”

Author's Note

Message given to The Sleepless Beholder for Chapter 4:
The butler didn’t do it, Zed is Zecora, and Twilight Velvet is tied to a prior case involving the poisoning of Flash Sentry. AK will pay

EileenSaysHi during the live Discord Reading:

I NEED A ZEBRA
I'M HOLDING OUT FOR A ZEBRA TILL THE END OF THE NIGHT
SHE'S GOTTA BE STRONG
AND SHE'S GOTTA BE FAST AND SHE'S GOTTA BE FRESHLY RE-STRIPED