//------------------------------//
// 51 - Rebuttal 
// Story: Fading Suns: A New World 
// by David Silver 
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Lyra and Bon Bon shared a glance before turning as one to face Mayor Mare. The crowd quieted, anticipation building before the mayor broke it. "If you're ready." She approached them in an even trot, her eyes on what they had to offer. "Hmm, wherever did you get this?"

Her eyes were on the main attraction of the meal. It was a steak, a large one, still sweating with juices both of its own and added in a dark glaze. She could see flecks of some kind in the sauce, nuts perhaps? Working around the plate were green, purple, and orange garnishes, supporting the primary  part instead of leaving it to hang out alone. It was a bonanza that spoke to an omnivore with a preference for meat.

Bon Bon gestured grandly at the plate. "I have researched into their eating preferences. Though they can subsist on almost anything, if need be, a properly tended slice of meat is considered to be an especially fine meal. That isn't to say that they should eat only this. That is why Lyra has prepared supporting dishes to round out the experience and ensure the health of our stallion." She dipped her head. "If you would do us the honor?"

Lyra was quiet for the moment, grinning with nervousness as she watched the both of them, eyes darting back and forth. It was all she could do but to, barely, hold back her giggles.

Mayor Mare sniffed gently. "I confess, my experience with... this is more limited. This does not appear to be fish." She licked her lips, some nervousness showing. "The... donor of this bounty wasn't... sapient... were they?"

Lyra broke, bursting into a high-pitched laugh. "N-no! That would be ridiculous, Mayor."

Bon Bon gestured at the plate with a single hoof. "You gave us the theme a week in advance. We had time to prepare, which included sourcing this fine treat. Please, enjoy yourself."

Mayor Mare nodded softly as she sat before the meal. She raised her forehooves and slipped them into a horseshoe apiece, one with a knife, the other, a fork. "Let us delay no longer. It would be a crime to let such delightful food wait." She carved out a slice, fresh juices flowing free. The interior became pink not far from the surface, but she had no problem slicing the meat.

An array of flashes washed over them. Ponies with large cameras were capturing the moment in a sudden onslaught of photographic evidence. Their mayor, cutting into a steak; how could anyone miss it?

She speared the smaller cut with a fork and dipped it into the sauces decorating the plate. Though she had never tried a steak before, she could not deny the aroma. "Whatever you seasoned this with, it smells... Mmm..." She touched the meat to her tongue, prompting another wave of flashes and astonished murmurs from the crowd.

It vanished into her mouth. Her expression was hard to read, even if one discounted the continued flashes that recorded the event. She chewed softly as the murmurs grew in volume. How could she judge what she had never tasted before? It was strange and new and... She guessed it was good, but what did bad taste like? She didn't know. She shook her head as she swallowed. "I give top marks for presentation, but I must confess I am sorely unqualified to quantify what exactly I am tasting."

She turned to Bon Bon. "What you have prepared tastes wonderful, and new. That is precisely the issue. I have almost nothing to compare this to. It's prepared well, melts on the tongue, and the sauce, mmm, perfection. This will have to rely on his view. Please, take this to your potential stallion." She backed up a step from the plate.

Bon Bon quickly pulled the plate towards herself and had it balanced on her back. "Right away." She trotted towards Laud with the stiff formality of an artist about to be judged; which was exactly what was happening.

Paul eyed the oncoming steak and the vegetables surrounding it. "It's enough to make a man jealous, if she makes those out of habit, but I doubt that's an everyday dish. Do they have cows that wouldn't object to you wanting dinner?"

Laud's eyes rested on the same plate. "We can't say for certain it is a cow." It looked like a steak, but it was heavily sauced and worked, meaning whatever color it may have had was long lost, denying that method of attempting to identify what animal it came from. "Hello, Bon Bon."

Bon Bon dipped her head at Laud. "Hello, Laud, potential stallion. I have prepared a treat for you." She turned to the side, acting as his table, the plate balanced easily on her back. "Sourced from Zebrica, recommended by griffons; I am certain this will be a treat for your senses." She noticed a tic in his face. "It's not zebra," she assured. "They are entirely sapient; which this meat was not."

Laud reached to the side where a napkin was folded around a fork and a knife. Easily he drew his weapons for the battle ahead. Without embellishing the act, he cut a piece and delivered it quickly to his mouth. He was ready to give a bland and utilitarian report, but that failed as soon as he actually tasted what he had eaten. It was like no meat he had tried before. Not in an alien way, just... It was good. It was good in a way he hadn't imagined a pony could achieve.

He gave it the highest compliment he could think of, taking a second slice.

Bon Bon turned to Mayor Mare, the plate rotating but remaining in Laud's reach. "As you can see, the stallion approves."

Mayor Mare nodded softly. "Laud," she called out to him. "If you would, may I have a decision on this versus the burger?"

Laud surrendered his implements to Paul, who was not slow in taking a chance to sample some of that steak. "I will withhold that judgment until I've had the rest of the meal."

"Very well." Mayor Mare turned to Lyra. "It's your turn. Now let's see..." She looked over the second plate. "Mashed potatoes, drizzled with butter..." She sniffed softly. "I smell vegetables inside?"

"It's a pie," explained Lyra. "A mashed potato pie. I made dessert too." She gestured over a pineapple that had been cut and arrayed with strawberries, cherries, and other fruits decorating it like an exotic flower that was parting in the sun. "I'm sure both will please him."

The mayor sampled both quickly, murmuring softly her judgments under her breath before she nodded. "You chose well your ingredients in the pie and arranged them well. Every squishy bite of the potato strikes a crunchy interior of delicious, and nutritious, vegetable. The spices are impossible to ignore, but not overwhelming. Let's have the stallion sample it."

She reached for the plate, but Lyra's magic wrapped around the plate and lifted it away. "Wait! Please... may I present it?"

Mayor Mare hesitated a moment, startled. "I... well, I see no harm in that." She raised a hoof beside her face. "Bon Bon, if you would return please?"

Bon Bon dipped her head and leaned just a little, letting the plate slide off onto the bench beside the two humans. She trotted back towards their side of the arena as Lyra came trotting forward, her plate hovering beside her. As Bon Bon reached the mayor, she smiled, speaking confidently, "Magic's all well and good, but nothing replaces effort when it comes to this."

Her words drew some murmurs of agreement from the human witnesses, but they were not the judges.

Lyra stood before Laud, shaking faintly even as she smiled brightly at him. "H-hey Laud... been a while, huh?"

"It has," agreed Laud a little flatly.

Lyra's eyes darted about, looking at Paul, the crowd, then back at Laud. "Look, um... I'm sorry. This is all my fault." She floated the plate towards him. "This is all because... I was acting like a filly. All I was good for was running. I ran away from being nobility. I ran away from you. I just kept... doing that... I'm... done with that." She gestured at the floating plate. "I made this for you, my stallion, as Countess Lyra Heartstrings. I welcome you to my family, and your family to our world." 

She dipped her head, ears folding off to the sides. "If you will have me." A glint of light caught Laud's eyes. A tear had spilled from her face in her impassioned admission of her feelings.

Laud sat up in place, slowly nodding. "Very well, Countess. I accept your bid for my hand." It was no time to offer support. He would do what he came to do. He sampled the shepherd's pie. Was it pony magic that let them keep the vegetables surprisingly firm and crunchy, despite being cooked? It worked well, measuring his bites of the intense flavors. The fruit were a perfect cooling finale to the meal, sweet and simple. There were no tricks there, just a sweet end of an excellent offering. "I approve."

Mayor Mare nodded properly. "Very good, are you ready to render your judgment on the meat dish?"

All eyes were on him, though that was not the first time he'd stood in front of an audience by far. He had to make a decision. Ultimately... "Both were excellent dishes, crafted with skill, but the meat dish was both a step beyond, and created by direct effort, not magic. This may not be 'fair', but it is my judgment to make. I have to err on the side of skill and effort before magic in this case."

The crowd roared in applause. Hooves stamped on the bleacher benches as hands clapped and voices rose in approval or denial of the vote.

Mayor Mare turned to face the competitors as Lyra returned without her plate. "The first round, nine points to Lyra and Bon Bon. Eight to Princess Twilight Sparkle."

Twilight tried to control her disappointment, her eyebrow twitching softly as she forced a smile. "W-well done..."

Lyra dipped her front down low. "You had me very scared, Your Highness. We will not back down, even if you are a princess."

Mayor Mare softly coughed into a hoof. "A cooked meal is only one part of how one provides for their stallion. Your stallion is a warrior. Trained in hoof to hoof and swordsponyship, he stands ready to defend his people. He will not be pleased having a passive mare. The next segment will be a display of talents. Extra points will be rendered if they are harmonious with his and can support and be supported by his duties."

Twilight smiled, tension fleeing her. "He will surely want a statespony at his side, to help him in his management of trade and the byzantine laws of both of our people. What use will a musician and a candy maker be?"

Bon Bon scowled at Twilight. "That's unfair and you know it, Princess. I have... other qualifications that you are entirely aware of that I am not at liberty to go into."

Lyra pointed at Bon Bon. "Who do you think arranged that steak?! Bon Bon knows how to trade and deal with all kinds of crea--"

Mayor Mare raised a hoof for silence and both sides quieted instantly. "This will not be a shouting contest. You will each have a chance to present your case and display your abilities. You will not speak of the other side. This is a chance to demonstrate yourself, not vilify or demean the competition." She cleared her throat softly. "Are both sides ready to present themselves?"

Twilight nodded firmly, as did Bon Bon. Lyra gave more of a rapid bobbing of her head.

"Very good. We will begin with Lyra Heartstrings, then it will be Twilight Sparkle, and lastly Bon Bon. When you are ready to begin..."