A Special Invitation (Patreon)

 The late afternoon sun poured through the gaps in the curtains and cast long shadows across the polished wood floor in my Equestria dreamscape. From somewhere within the depths of the house a clock chimed 4.  

 
  There was a soft click and the front door swung open from the magical will of its wielder. A unicorn mare stepped over the threshold and into the foyer. Closing the door behind her she made her way back into the depths of the two story Georgian house. Pausing at the base of the main curved staircase, she checked the house staff status board. The maids had finished their afternoon chores and were currently assisting the cook who had gone into town for last minutes items for tonight's dinner. It looked like mushrooms in puffed pastry were the main course. The butler would be returning soon from the attorney's office with the title paperwork, and the weekly laundry had been completed. 

  The mare silently nodded her head and proceeded further into the house until she stopped in front of a pair a large walnut doors. Her horn glowed as a series of wards and locks disengaged. With a soft groan the doors swung open. Before entering the room she retrieved the daily mail that had been left for her on a small table by the doors. 

  
  Entering the room she closed and locked the doors behind her as she sauntered toward the far wall which was dominated by a formidable mountain of black walnut which was her desk. This room was the one place in the house that was off limits to the staff without her permission. She removed the curiosity from her head and hung it on a hat rack behind the desk. Rearing up on her hind legs she removed the short, snug jacket of crushed deep violet velour. However she left the lighter violet silk vest, and white short sleeve cotton shirt with black cravat on. 

  
  Pausing for a brief moment before a large mirror she checked to confirm that the afternoon commute crowd on the train ride home had not seriously disturbed her mane and tail. A short, straight, brushed forward mane of dark, warm grey along with bangs cut at a slight angle framed her face of pale dove grey. Eyes of deep violet were kept company by long, luxurious eyelashes that were accented by Caput Mortuum Violet eyeliner. Her neutral expression was an almost sleepy, bored look.  

 
  She once again turned her attention to the daily mail. Quickly she sorted the contents into piles based on their importance, urgency, or in need of payment.   
  The Royal Equestria Medical Society had finally sent the documents she had requested a couple of weeks ago. The letter from her stock broker in Manehattan was the usually mixture of good and bad, but overall her portfolio was moving in the right direction. The bulk of the remaining mail was bills which she'd have the butler deal with.  

 
  There was one remaining letter that made her giggle softly. It originated in Fort Trotterdale and the sender referred to themselves as The Mistress of Mischief. The mare smiled and levitated an old medical scalpel over from her desk and opened the letter. Two sheets of paper fell out of the envelope. One was covered with tight, scratchy, writing with several words and lines scratched out. The other was printed hand bill showing various steam ship departures and arrivals from Baltimare. Keeping the letter and hand bill levitated the mare slowly started slowly strolling around the room. As she read it her horn flared and the gas lamps in the dimly lit room sprung to life one by one dispelling shadows to the darkest recesses of the room.

 
  Bookcases from the floor to the ceiling 15ft above covered one end of the room. Treatises on modern medical procedure kept company with ancient tomes of arcane magic and alchemy. Mingled amongst them were manuscripts about mineralogy, books on pony folklore, and volumes devoted to ancient and modern sculpture.  

 
  Extensive filing cabinets kept the bookcases company as did a lab desk a few feet away which had numerous beakers, burners and flasks sitting upon it.      

       As she read the letter the smile grew bigger and bigger on her face. She shook her head and chuckled as words took hold in her mind.   

  Greetings and salutations my most esteemed Marble Vein! As you have most likely noticed from the return address I have acquired myself a new base of operation where I am beginning preparation for my next tour! While there is much work to be done before the tour can start you know I abide by the philosophy that if one is going to work hard, one should party just as hard!  

  I was hoping you'd be able to extract yourself from your research to come down and spend a month or so at my latest residence Silver Mirror Estates. A charming subtropical location situated on a hill overlooking Ft. Trotterdale. It's on 68 acre lot so we won't have to worry about annoying the neighbors or having them nosing around while we enjoy ourselves to our fullest potential!   

  Like previous times, I'll be inviting the usual suspects to join me along with some new individuals to keep things interesting. I know how you love to mingle and share ideas with ponies who are not so constrained in their views of the world, and I guarantee you that you'll once again find yourself at home at Silver Mirror!   

  If you can join me please send me a telegraph soon, so I may make arrangements for your transportation. As typical I insist on paying for your passage here and back. To make things go as smoothly as possible my main offices in Manehattan will coordinate your rail and steamship passage, and send you all the necessary tickets, tokens, passes and any other miscellaneous paperwork required for your travels. 

  
  My household is still getting settled in so I was hoping you could come down at the beginning of May? I'll be starting a limited tour in mid July, and besides by August Ft. Trotterdale is apparently a furnace, so I'll be heading north toward cooler venues. Please tell me you'll come!  

 
 Your good friend, crazy associate, and close confidant.
 Scratch. 

  
        Marble Vein strolled over to her desk and levitated her calendar and monthly planner into view. A quick survey confirmed she had no meetings, symposiums, or appointments that would interfere or couldn't be rescheduled to an earlier or later date.     

      Setting the planner back on the desk she magically unlocked a drawer in her desk and retrieved a slim, black medical binder. She flipped it open as she slowly wandered toward a low divan that sat in the middle of the room next the one large remaining object in the room. Upon a plinth about 3 feet high stood a white marble statue of an earth pony mare. It was standing proudly with its right front leg raised. The statue was amazingly life-like and you could almost imagine it might trot off the plinth at any moment. 

  
  She laid down on the divan and reviewed various charts and notes; then she closed the binder and looked up at the statue. Then in a soft, smoky voice she spoke.  

 
  "Yes I should be able to go out of town for awhile. By mid-May my latest project will be over."

 
 To be continued.