Luster couldn't but look in aw at the metropolis that lay before them. Scarletsville. The final stop in Luster's ill-fated attempt to reunite Equestria under a common flag. Just 20 years prior it had been little more than a couple of shacks and several tents out in an open field. Now, it was a town to rival Ponyville in size, but it only had a single kind of inhabitant: Earth Ponies.
The outfits that Luster had made were convincing enough from far enough away, but she worried that if anypony got close their cover would be blown at the slightest glance of fashion-forward ponies. So far, Iato's faux-Prench accent and words of generosity had been selling the the whole getup to the ever-growing crowd around them. Sooner or later, guards should show up, whether because they heard from somepony that there was a royal escort in the walls or just by noticing the large crowd did not matter. They just needed to get the Mayors attention.
"Hear ye, hear ye. Her Royal Highness, Jaquine of Arc requests an audience with your mayor. Hear ye, hear ye..."
Luster Dawn was pleased with Iato's performance. She was a natural! But even so, listening to her say the same lines over and over again got pretty annoying after awhile. She instead focused on the roads, alleys, and exits around the city, just in case they had to escape. It appeared as though the town was recovering from one of the raids she had heard so much about. There were carts overturned while beggars scrounged up what little was left of their ruined homes. It was a sight that made Luster sad, but she had other things to worry about at the moment, like the detachment of heavily armed guard ponies running straight at them.
"...Jaquine of-" Iato cut herself of so she could rush back towards Luster to assess the situation without being to far away from somepony she knew.
Luster leaned over "Remember, be non-specific." Iato just answered with a nod, turning to meet the detachment head-on.
Iato opened with a loud but steady bellow "Her Royal Highness, Jaquine of Arc requests an audience with the mayor of this fine town."
The gaurds looked at the three ponies dressed up in their shoddy-at-best costumes and conversed among themselves, peeking their heads out every couple of seconds to make sure the odd looking trio were still there.
Luster could only hope Lyron wasn't blowing it. She couldn't look behind her to check, so he really was on his own for the time being. The farther away he was from the guards watchful eyes, the better.
Eventually, one of the guards, what Luster assumed to be the head of the small group, trotted up to Iato in a cocky manner. "Heeeey, little lady, what are you doing tonight?"
Luster could almost feel the heat coming from Iato's body as she answered, calmly, "We, the Royal Escort for Her Royal Highness, Jaquine of Arc, humbly request a meeting between your mayor and Her Roy-"
"Yeah yeah, her royal highness. Hey, look cutie, me and the boys are going to be alone at the barracks tonight, if you want to come, that is." The guard stuck his tongue in his cheek and started to bob his head like a jackass while his 'boys' cheered him on in the background. Luster was surprised Iato didn't take out her sword and make the rude stallion a mute. Instead, she calmly replied "I would sooner spend a night trapped in a cage full of timberwolves without a light than bed with you or any of your..." Iato looked around the guard to peer at the other guards "...'boys'."
Luster knew from the get-go that Iato was a well spoken mare of culture, but DAMN did she know how to act well. If she didn't know any better, she'd think Iato really was a servant of royalty.
The guards started wailing like a bunch of school children at the insult, while the main guard shrunk back into the blob that was their very unprofessional formation. One of the group called out after them before they ran off "Hey, like, the mayor dude said to come to his castle or whatever."
Castle? What did a mayor need a castle for? Luster thought to herself before the trio continued their march towards where the guard ponies went, hoping it would lead to this castle. After some bumbling around, they eventually made it to what looked enough like a castle laying near the northern border of the town. It was what would normally be called a fort, rather than a full-blown castle, but with the way things were, she was surprised by its scale none the less. It had cobblestone bases for it's decorated marble walls emblazoned with a gaudy gold trim. Luster was disgusted by the display of wealth, as just outside of those same walls were half burnt down houses that lay in ruin.
As the trio reformed, Lyron on Luster's right with Iato on her left, Luster felt one of her legs being held back. The trio all look behind to see what it was. It was a small little colt, no older than most 2nd graders, kneeling at their hooves.
"Please missus Jaquine, do you have any food to spare? My families house got destroyed and I am the only one left." said the little colt with a sad look.
Iato was halfway to kicking the small thing away when Luster motioned for her to stop. Alright, now Iato is being too accurate. "What is your name, whelp?" Luster asked in as much a demeaning tone she could muster at such a pitiful sight.
"Uh, it's
[SERIES PUT ON HIATUS]