“Well... here we are.” Red Cross looked up at the royal castle.

The heart and hooves ball was specially reserved months in advance for this day. It was in celebration for the three loves, friendship, kinship and courtship. Because of the legend it had devolved into a holiday for couples but in actuality, hearts and hooves had always been a celebration long before then. It was a holy day in the truest sense of the word holiday, as it was founded in memory to the ideals of harmony.

How history easily forgets itself.

For a pony to make such a public celebration into such a private affair, the pony behind it all had to hold a lot of sway amongst the nobility. Perish the thought that the nobility themselves are all in collaboration for this miracle of miracles among political moves. But then again, this whole thing was about a whole city obsessed with a single filly. Given the circumstances given by that fact, it could very well be a plausible impossibility.

“Good evening sirs, madam can we see your invitation please.” Stewards were at the entrance, but Red Cross had no doubt that royal guards were nearby should any mishap occur.

Red suddenly felt his stomach lurched. Either Red was hungry or there were butterflies in his stomach. Perhaps being stopped here would be best.

“Errr... Yes I have it here. Ah here it is.” Lala gave the steward the invitation and aptly he inspected it with a practiced eye. He only took the smallest of glances at it. There was no doubt on his face to speak of. So the invitation Fleur gave was real after all.

“Excuse me Lady Petite but this invitation says to invite you and only... one chaperone.” Lala looked at Red with venom as if this were his fault. What could he do but shrug? Red Cross hazarded guessing the person who invited her expected Fancypants to be the one to accompany her. Was it Fleur?

“You’re going to have to pick which one of us to take with you.” Red said. Not sounding worried at all. Lala gave her a look of irritation. And her face made a brief flash of triumph.

He expects me to choose him.

“Know-it-all, come with me.” Nodding in acknowledgement the blue stallion followed behind Lala as the steward let them through. Lala made a point to stop a moment to pull a face on Red.

"Have fun you two." Red said with smile, that somehow said that he had won. Irritated for reasons she couldn't understand she merely redoubled her pace to get further inside. Know-it-all scuttled close behind her.

When he was sure they were gone Red Cross looked to the steward. He reaches into his coat pocket, producing an invite for himself. Vindictively he dropped it so the steward would be forced to pick it up. As he did so Red shoved, the worm aside and moved inside the premise.

He didn’t let the steward have time to read as he hurried through. The steward called out to him but there was nothing he could do.

The invite was authentic but he was in a hurry.

**

“Ah good evening Lady Fleur, Lord Fancypants.” The steward courteously greeted.

But when the pair tried to get through the steward barred them entry.

“Um... Do excuse me my nobles but I cannot let you pass without an invitation. This is a private event you see.”

Fancy and Fleur exchanged looks and feigned insult at this display. The steward felt such a terrifying dread. He knew exactly who he was insulting. One word from them and he wouldn’t work in Canterlot ever again. And yet, he had his job to do.

“Steward, let them through. I've been expecting them.” The steward turned around, almost disbelieving. But his ears did not deceive. Princess Celestia had commanded him.

“Y-yes your highness, at once. Please enjoy your night nobles, I do apologise for the mistake.”

“Rightly so.” Haughtily said Fleur.

“Quite alright lad, just make sure to never err... make the same mistake again, eh? There’s a good lad.” To the untrained eye Fancy was looking cordial, but there was a threat in those words.

“Good evening your majesty.”

Celestia waited for them to bow the royal court manner before speaking.

“You've done well Fleur. Feel free to enjoy the ball. I must speak privately with Fancypants on the matter you thought I should discuss with him.”

**

La Petite, Know-it-all and Red Cross stood around in the waiting room, moments away from revealing their arrival. If it hadn't been for Red Cross, Lala would have walked right into the ballroom and left them all completely unprepared. As it stood now however... they were preparing with no plan in mind to prepare for.

“Well we're here now and all the nobles involved in this are all in this room. What do we do now?” Lala asked directly to Red Cross. The only pony who seemed to know exactly what he was doing.

“I didn't really think that far... I thought you'd come up with something being so smart and all.” In truth, if push came to shove he would not hesitate joining a fight. He was even willing to kill if need be. But ideally, he'd want that to be avoided if at all possible.

“You idiots! These are nobles we're talking about. One wrong move and we're charged with high treason.” Lala grimly acknowledged with a worried nod while Red smirked as if he liked the idea.

“My my, Red Cross, Know-it-all, getting a bit familiar with my daughter aren't we?” Behind them Fleur appears from the entryway to the gardens. She was wearing a beautiful jewel encrusted dress, almost matching Lala’s like a set. While Lala modestly emphasised the beauty of her face and small form, Fleur wore her dress like a lover as it caressed her curves and form as if she was born to be worshipped. Where Lala was positively divine, Fleur was a goddess.

Fleur looked to both stallions and pushed them away from Lala.

“Such manners, a true gentlecolt keeps a respectable distance when courting a lady.”

“Fleur I...” Lala looked like she was about to cry. Poor thing was probably about to break out in panic.

“Lala darling, a lady doesn't make such an unbecoming expression.” Fleur opened her purse and took out a napkin to wipe the tears away from the crying child.

“There, that’s better. Now give your mother a kiss.”

Lala moved to kiss Fleur on the lips, deftly Fleur turned her head so she'd kiss her cheek.

“ Don't drink anything.” Fleur whispered into Lala’s ear. In surprise Lala backed away, Fleur only winked in response.

“Now boys, I want you two to take good care of her tonight. I’m going in first and prepare you a grand entrance.”

**

Celestia had taken me to her chambers and had tea prepared. To my surprise it was the tea only I knew to prepare. The combination of herbs and spices, the process of preparing the water and even the special preparation needed for the pot. What was inside the unassuming teapot was a brew only I knew how to do.

“I see... this is quite serious.” Celestia took a small sip, savouring every tiny drop as it tickled her taste buds. It was a long story to take in. Perverse nobles, an underground society and even the sexual enslavement of a foal and possible murder of a mother, a noble mother no less.

“What should I do?” I had only taken a sip. My stomach was not in the best temperament to be ingesting anything. This whole situation made me too ill. I would have everypony I knew and befriended ruined for the rest of their lives. Plus the potential scandal could be potential for a social uprising. From Celestia’s perspective, what I should do was the least of her problems. She had a whole government to reform, and with all her power do so without involving violence into the equation.

“Little Lala was taken from the streets and was given shelter and fed...” I didn't like how she was telling it but I could concede that it could be interpreted like that.

“... She was given a special talent as proven by her cutie mark and was made to use it.” I really didn't like the attitude she was giving here. But considering this was princess Celestia, what could I possibly do? Resisting the urge to grind my teeth in frustration, I bitterly listened.

“The answer is simple Fancypants. You give her back to me.” I took a moment to process those words. But no matter how my memory heard it, it rang true to what I thought I heard. At first I suspected that Celestia was aware of the situation and was merely willing to turn a blind eye, but to actually be instrumental in all of it!?

“Or rather...” Celestia paused to smirk and giggle, a disgusting giggle brimming with maliciousness.

“ I'm feeling generous. I’m willing to buy her back from you.” This was a sadistic game she was playing. Knowing fully that she was easily within her power to take away my assets, my lands as well as my daughter, she instead is willing to exert her power by making her power clear, that I, in fact, had no choice but to comply with this settlement. I would lose my beloved daughter, but I could at least compromise Fleur’s safety.

“Just name the price and it is yours.” This had to be a trick as well. If this were correct I’d be within my rights to demand the royal treasury... that's it! She intends to give me the money and blame me for theft from the royal family’s vaults. I’d be executed for high treason! I'm the wild card in this conspiracy I had stumbled upon. Unlike the nobles, I couldn't be seduced into submission with addiction to the beauty of my own daughter.

“How much do you think your own daughter is worth?” I was at her mercy and she was loving it.

“How... how could you ask a parent of that? I can't, I simply can’t, she is my daughter. She mine, flesh and blood.” Celestia raises an eyebrow in intrigue. Nodding in acknowledgement she contemplates the defiance she had just heard. Flesh and blood, by Equestrian law a noble's child held with absolute custody by the father unless given away. Traditionally by marriage, though not expressly said to only be in this form.

The old, never unwritten, rules of war. I was within my rights to refuse sale of my child. This was why she was asking to buy her. It was her folly to not reform those laws. Too busy trying to take over the world first, before thinking about the stability of her own domain.

But then again, this is assuming she would play by her own rules.

“Little Lala is worth exactly one life.” Celestia began, preparing a new trap for me. Apparently she did have a sense of honesty.

For a tyrant.

“If no material can buy her from you then perhaps a trade.” So she knows I was aware of her trap. Now she’s using a trump card.

“Give yourself to me heart and all and I assure you she will live free.” For a moment I thought she was going to tell me La Mere was alive and that I'd have to pick between the two. But that was impossible. This was a trade after all, it would have to be something I myself could offer. And that was me.

“Why do you need me your highness? I am merely a shamed ambassador’s son.”

“Well... I’m in need of a new ambassador of Cheval, the ones I’ve been sending have amounted to nothing.” So this is her game. If I become the new ambassador, my knowledge of Cheval’s court would result in far more efficient diplomacy with the region than another Canterlot fop. But Celestia is cleverer than this. She knows that La Petite is La Mere’s daughter. She has direct claim to the Chevalier Dukedom of Seingalt. Celestia needs her to control the region.

I see her game. I would become ambassador and then sent off to Cheval. If I left Fleur and/or Lala in Canterlot, Celestia would have a means of twisting my arm to her whim. And if I took Lala with me to Cheval and (so that she couldn't be used for blackmail) Fleur as well. I would incite civil war on the region, leaving Canterlot the right to mobilise her military and take Cheval under Equestrian martial law, which puts the whole region in Canterlot control because it is Equestria’s central government.

She hadn't reformed the rules of war because she needed those laws. Celestia was expecting a war on the horizon.

“Well Fancy? Can I have an answer?” Celestia was smiling. Clearly amused that all my cleverness amounted to is the realisation of how complete my demise was.

“Excuse Celestia... I-I need to think on this. I will give you my answer as soon as I am able.” The princess laughed heartily and waved me away, giving me permission to leave with my head intact. But this too, had to be a trap of sorts as well. After all she may no longer have any power to take La Petite, but she was within her rights to capture me and then do as she wished upon me. Including torturing me into agreeing with her traps.

"I hope to hear your answer soon."

The answer is obvious. There’s nothing to think about. Lala and Fleur need to escape, we all do, away from this evil city, away from this life of decadence and sin.

Somewhere Celestia will never find them.

**

It was a chore to get to talk in private but somehow Fleur had managed to guile her way into having a small moment with her daughter.

“When I give the signal Lala. I want you to escape with me and run for your life. Tell no pony understand?”

“I understand.”

She didn’t really, but if Lala wanted to live happily with Fleur, along with daddy, the daughter would need to begin trusting her mother.

Fleur looked around as the nobles sense that the brief mother to daughter moment had passed. Slowly almost inconspicuously they were chatting and dancing their way towards La Petite. Drifting as natural as an oncoming wave on a beach.

“Ah Know-it-all, Red Cross. I feel so fortunate that my darling daughter has been in good hooves such as yours. Could I be hearing wedding bells in the future?” Both stallions blushed at the proclamation and the nobles stopped dead at hearing it. After all, a marriage meant that Lala would no longer be public property.

And with that fact that a pair of noponies were the eligible fiance instead of themselves. Well that could only bring all their attention drawn towards the pair of upstart stallions.

“That is a possibility...” Red Cross said evenly. Though his cool demeanour was betrayed by the rougue pallette on his cheeks.

“I would very much like that!” Know-it-all with uncomfortable zeal.to Fleur's ears.

Fleur looked to the surrounding nobles that were just beginning to build to an uproar.

Red scoffed at Know-it-all's apparent chances.

"You? You'd fit better as the family servant than her Stallion."

"Yeah? Well you're a jerk."

The rage in the surrounding nobles waned, instead pleased at the development of animosity between the two rivals. Quietly they wanted to watch them like sport, silently egging them on to destroy each other.

“Oh come now, colts. Someday my daughter will marry. But she can only marry one of you.”

Know-it-all and Red Cross exchanged a look. There was animosity that fumed between them, but was held back by their shaky camaraderie. Fighting each other was exactly what the nobles wanted of them and they both, above all else, did not want them having her.

“A toast to you both.” Fleur handed them both a drink of punch and they willingly took it. Their eyes were focused hard on each other, their wills agreeing on a delicate temporary truce.

“To love and to rivalry.” Fleur said as she raised her glass.

The pair exchanged glares as they raised their own glasses. Neither daring to take their eyes off the other.

“To love and to rivalry.” They both took quick swig and smashed the glasses on the floor. The stares they held were intense. There was an aggression in their midst as they cautiously circled each other.

A heartbeat past. Another. A third.

In an instant they were upon each other, ripping at each other’s clothes, wrestling, biting... kissing.

The surrounding nobles saw such sport in the pair watching as they laid into each other like two dogs in heat and blood lust.

“What did you do?” Lala looked on confused, though she was relieved because of it, as the distraction served to give her breathing space.

“I just put some love poison in their drinks. Everypony has been drinking it all night in smaller doses. But pretty soon everypony here will soon drink the effective dose.”

Lala was amazed at the effects of the potion. She could just imagine its effects in the bedroom.

“Lala darling, don't mind them. There are better stallions in the world than those two buffoons. Now ready yourself” Lala couldn't help but agree.

Fleur cantered over to the center of the room where all eyes could be on her. To the sound of her glass ringing to a spoon ponies turned to hear the speech she was about to present.

“I would like to thank you all for coming tonight. I would like to propose a toast for our guest of honour, the gem of Canterlot La Petite.”

“To the gem of Canterlot everypony!” Fleur raised her glass high and drank deep from her glass (of water).

“To the gem of Canterlot!” The crowd mirrored her actions to every detail and drank deep.

“Now!” Fleur shouted out and suddenly everything was a series of flashing lights.

When vision returned Lala could see several ponies with cameras at the ready for a fresh volley.

Fleur took Lala by the hoof and ran. They never looked back as the second volley of camera flashes assaulted every noble in the room intoxicated with the love poison. What they had was years of blackmail material in the making as no doubt ponies were all over each other, just getting warmed up for a binge in depravity that would shame the houses Canterlot for generation. It was the scoop of the century that no newspaper in Equestria could refuse.

Author's Note

pretty much an end to a major arc.

I might add an epilogue. or might leave you guys to determine the ending yourselves