While Marble Vein traveled to Trottingham  
in my Equestria dreamscape other ponies were making travel plans themselves. The unicorn mare looked up from the paperwork on her desk as one of her subordinates came trotting into her office. The pegasus mare opened her locked panniers and removed a thick, black leather portfolio and deposited it on the desk. “Here is the titles from the realtor like you asked Ms. Beach, and here’s the certificates for the stocks that Ms. Scratch purchased as part of that buy out last month.” Said the mare. Morning Sun had potential in Beach’s eyes. She was hard-driving, smart, methodical, and had a gift for seeing patterns. No wonder she’d placed top of her class in school. That’s why Beach had hired her. Scratch’s ever growing financial empire could only thrive if it had sharp ponies managing it. Especially since Scratch was a high stakes player who wasn’t scared by big bets. She wasn’t a rash or stupid player, but it was not a world for the faint of heart. Ms. Beach took the documents and confirmed that they were all there. Then she signed Morning Sun’s ledger confirming she was now in custody of them. She thanked the mare and then dismissed her. As the mare left Ms. Beach went about the process of dropping the wards and unlocking the floor safe. She was so focused on getting the paperwork into the right folder that she don’t look up when she heard hoof steps entering her office. “Yes. How may I help you?” She said this as she placed a document in the appropriate folder. “Heya Sex! Do you have contracts for last year’s performance in Baltimare in your office? The boys over in planning and scheduling are positive they’re trying to screw us over this time for the new tour!” Beach winced a little and looked up to see her boss standing in the doorway with her signature rose colored goggles and Cheshire cat grin on her face. Her boss was the only one who could get away with addressing her by the first part of her name. It was true that parents in Equestria often named the foals after some aspect or event that they felt define them. Unfortunately for Ms. Beach her parents had decided to name her after the place where she was conceived. So her full legal name was Sex on the Beach. To make matters worse her body and mane colors match the colors in the drink. “No Scratch I don’t have those contracts.” She pulled a ledger from a bookcase and flipped through it until she found the right page. Taking a second to adjust her horn-rimmed glasses she scanned down the page. After a moment she found what she was looking for. “I gave them back to Chorus Line in planning on 23rd of November last year. I’d inquiry with her about them.” Scratch nodded her head with made her rather wild-looking mane bounce. Unlike Ms. Beach who wore her mane in a severe bun. “Right I’ll ask her.” Scratch turned to leave but then stopped. “By the way what’s the status on arranging transportation for my guests to Ft. Trotterdale?” Ms. Beach retrieved a folder from a drawer in her desk. “On my end everyone who Top Billing has informed me of needing arrangements made has been taken care of. Including the party of three from Ponyville.” Scratch perked up at this comment. “You mean they’re going to come! Awesome! Oh why didn’t Top Billing tell me this?” Ms. Beach returned the folder to its home in the drawer and closed it. “Probably because she received word while you were out of town, and she herself left town on business before you returned. She’ll undoubtedly brief you when she comes back next week.” Scratch’s mane once again bobbed as she nodded her head. “Okay. Soooo will you be joining us in Ft. Trotterdale? Silver Mirror is quite a place. I think you’d like it, and besides Manehattan is boring in the summer!” Ms. Beach raised arched an eyebrow at her employer. “Some us like boring Manehattan in the summer, but I fear I must join you if for no other reason than to spare my staff from trying to make sense of the mountain of unorganized receipts that will return with you. Although I’m uncertain how much work I will be able to accomplish in the middle of all the mayhem you’re scheduling?” Scratch laughed at her comment. “Yeah it can get a little wild at one of these pre-tour gatherings, but I’ve taken that into account. You see on the grounds of Silver Mirror there are several guest houses and there’s one that would make an excellent branch office for you and a couple of your staff. It’s even located some distance from the main house, and if that’s not enough we can arrange to have some sound reduction wards erected so our partying won’t keep you up at night. So what do you say to that?” “Welllll. Ft. Trotterdale does have some fascinating architecture and local history to it, so if I can make certain that the office is in order before I depart then yes I could join you. Especially if I can be guaranteed a good night’s rest.” Scratch did a little happy prancing in place dance. “Great! I’ll make go make the arrangements!” Then entertainer happily trotted out of the office. Ms. Beach watched her leave then went back to the next thing on her agenda. To be continued.
 
I hope you like what you see. Please help make more art like this possible by supporting me at Patreon