Shadow Me

Chapters

A Lonely Spot
Wrong Direction
The New Job
Slivers of Silence
Pilfered, pompous, and puffy
Fixing Fractures
Problems, Parenting, Peas, and Plump Peaches.
Catch the Wind
Fights, Flustered Fathers, and family.
Her Moon, his Evening Star (MATURE CONTENT)
A bat, A peach, And an offer, Fleur Away
Steps to Happiness
Model, Photo, and Shop till you Drop!

A Lonely Spot

"♫Hush now, hold thy tongue, thy night has yet to have begun/Caress thy wings with dapple snow, of midnight stars and moonlit glow/I wish, I pray, never for the light of day, when stars evade/And war doth fade...♫"

Sireen let her voice fall to a whisper as the melody carried off through the deep forest that encompassed her station. The park around her was still and quiet once more. She sighed and rolled her shoulders in an attempt to get more relaxed.

She failed to succeed.

Guarding the main Canterlot Park was one of the most relaxing and peaceful jobs she'd ever taken. Sadly, it was also one of the most boring jobs for a night guard to take up. Hardly anything ever happened! She closed her eyes, frowning and angling her spear up against her shoulder plate.

"What I would give for a good fight right about now..." Her gaze slanted to the nearby building she was 'guarding'. A small outpost building built in the center of the park, for any pony who got lost and needed to find a way out.

At three in the morning.

The only reason Sireen didn't feel like her current job was a waste of time was because she'd actually had to do her job on occasion. At times it was a lost drunkard trying to waltz their way home after a visit to one of the cities bars, in a few more mortifying occasions a couple of lovers that figured the park was the perfect place to...couple.

Those were the rare times she loathed having excellent hearing.

Scanning the surrounding pathways for signs of life and finding none, she opened a wing and slowly started to preen. Nibbling at the leather in between her bony limbs and creating a tingling sensation that made her back muscles ease up slowly. Her fangs were great for nipping at small clusters of the velvet fur and then using her tongue, she would lick it back into position.

A regular thing for her on these evenings, preening.

She finished the first wing and splayed it open to admire her work. Not bad, considering she had no products to make it look better. She purred and closed it, opening the other one.

As she preened, the night life around her continued on. Somewhere off in the city a firework went off, making her pause and flick her ears towards the loud noise. No doubt the guard was looking into that. It was the middle of spring, and fireworks weren't banned, but they were definitely restricted inside the city limits.

She cursed her luck. That, she mused, would be more fun than what I’m doing now, guarding a bunch of bushes and a couple of city pamphlets that nopony ever--

A noise caught her ears, drawing her from her thoughts.

Looking up, she spotted a pair of ponies trotting down the path towards her. She snapped her wing closed and stood at attention, hoping they hadn't spotted her blasé posture.

"But Daaaad, six won't be enough! I need like, fourteen to make it work!"

Sireen watched as the pair drew closer to her, still about fifty or so feet away. One was a foal, no older than five or six maybe, and the other was an adult. By the glow around the little ones horn, Sireen was able to make out that it was a unicorn, while the faint rustling of feathers from the adult, gave away that he was a pegasus.

Father and son. Sireen smiled at that. Families were a rare thing for bat ponies to have, as their visage struck fear into a large portion of the populace, even with Luna defending their reputations. Even so, very few of thestrals fellow tribes wanted a bat pony for a mate, and Sireen's smile diminished slightly as the thought hit her.

As the ponies drew closer to her, Sireen listened to their conversation with avid curiosity, eager for anything to break the monotony of her post. The dad held a rather calm tone, with slight hints at embarrassment as he looked down at the energetic foal.

"I know, I know, but fireflies aren't out this time of year, Crisp. You'll just have to wait and see if some appear later in the year, okay?"

The Colt sighed and mumbled something into the dark before looking ahead and spotting Sireen under the lamp light. Sireen inwardly cursed, hoping they wouldn't notice her so quickly, so she could hear more. She watched as the small colt came to a standstill and his eyes widened to the size of saucers. His dad had continued forward, only to notice his charge was no longer next to him. He halted and looked back to find his sons muzzle agape in surprise.

"What is it, Crisp? Is something wro--" He was cut off as the foal bolted past him and right up to Sireen, much to her surprise. The little bugger was fast! He stared up at her with an intensity in his eyes that made Sireen feel equal parts bemused and intimidated. Eyes not breaking with hers, the colt drew a breath…

"Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!"

Eyes widening, Sireen willed herself not to step back at the colt’s outburst. The Colt walked left and right looking her up and down before jumping and bucking the air twice excitedly and zipping back to his dad. The dad had been spun full circle by the rush of energy that his son had used, and was now being dragged along by his hoof over to her. He had the decency, the mare noted, to smile sheepishly at Sireen in an attempt to silently apologize.

"Dad, dad! Look! It’s a living, breathing, bat pony!" the colt exclaimed. Sireen raised a brow slowly at the foal, unsure of how to react.

'U-um...Is there any way I can be of service, citizens?" The dad chuckled and scooped his son up in his wings, much to the foal's chagrin.

"Hmm, I'm not sure. What do you think, Crisp? Is there anything she can help us with?"

If looks could kill, Sireen would have just lost her pulse at the kid's adorable face. His nose scrunched up in disgust and annoyance at his dad's coddling. He wriggled out of his father's grasp and huffed up at the grown up.

"Daaaad! You’re gonna make me look bad!"

Sireen had to stifle a giggle as the foal turned and promptly sat in front of her, trying to look big with a puffed out fluffy chest. The foal cleared his throat, and produced a piece of paper and a pen from thin air. He tried to look up at her but shied away every time.

It was adorable.

"T-there is something you could help me with, um... Well," He blushed and pushed the paper and pen forward quickly.

"Um..wouldyougivemeyourautographpleaseohpleaseohplease!?"

Both Sireen and the father blinked in unison. The bat pony opened her mouth to speak, but closed it just as quickly and leaned closer. The foal blushed, trotted nervously in place, and held back a happy giggle as the bat drew her head closer.

"Um, I couldn't quite understand that little one. Could you repeat that please?"

Sireen watched as the foal blushed harder and nodded, before taking several deep breaths while Sireen stood back to her full height and smiled to the dad.

"Is… umm, is this normal behavior when he sees one of us?" The dad chuckled and re-positioned his wings.

"Aye, pretty much, although he hasn't seen a bat pony up close for some time, so the energy levels are a lot higher than usual. Oh, excuse me, my name is Iron Crest, and this is my son Crisp Words, what is your name, Miss?" Sireen couldn't help but blush as Iron crest bowed lightly whilst speaking.

"I--it's—oh, forgive me. It's Sireen Wind. It's a pleasure to meet you both." Iron smiled and nodded, while Crisp jumped and hooted into the air.

"Yes! She likes me!" He danced around in a trot before noticing the two adults giggling at his antics and stopped.

"Hey, it's not funny!" Sireen couldn't help but chuckle.

"Well, I suppose not to you. Now, what was it you wanted, Crisp?" she asked as she smiled, flashing her fangs to him, which caused the colt to murmur in awe for a moment.

"I... um, I wanted... oh! I wanted to know if maybe I could get um, you know...Your autograph?" After asking, he floated the pen over to her and held the paper in his teeth, looking up at her with the biggest eyes she'd seen him have yet.

She smiled and thought back to her previous statement about her post's lack of excitement, as she leaned down and grasped the pen in her mouth.

Perhaps with little admirers like Crisp Words and his father around, maybe, just maybe, it wouldn't be so bad to guard the park.

Author's Note

A story idea I've had for a while now, did some art for, and decided I should just post it as an actual story. If there are errors( i'm sure there will be) please feel free to notify me about them and I will edit them asap.

This story will be rated Mature for later scenes of sex and possible gore. tags will be added when they arise.

the cover art and the images in the picture are my own.

Wrong Direction

Three weeks of pure boredom. Three weeks of pure bliss. Call it whatever it could be assumed. To Sireen, those were the best moments of her job. The first six hours of her post consisted of staring listlessly at the shrubbery surrounding her nearby faculty. That part was NOT fun. Quite a dull prospect, really. Not much goes on in nature. It's like a blade of grass. While a single blade, or even hundreds, can be presumed interesting or beautiful to the eye, if it doesn't DO anything for several hours, it becomes...tedious.

Yes, that was the right word for watching grass grow.

Sometimes she'd focus on the sounds the nearby bats made as they swooped in and out of range over head. She could hear them, occasionally, their songs but whispers to her. Little voices giving advice only her kin could hear, but this too was hard pressed to hold her attention.

The next six hours of her shift however, were the best part.

She heard them before they appeared. Always sound before sight. She smiled, listening to the rhythmic clip of hooves impacting on dirt as they came round the corner.

Iron Crest and Crisp Words. Father and son, and her first non-bat pony friends.

Iron Crest was a pony whose job ran him late into the night, working on government documents and legal wards for the courts in the castle district of Canterlot. Some seriously questioned why a pegasus would want a desk job, as most chose adventurous or outdoorsy stuff, but after seeing his skill speak for itself, questions were left to dwindle into naught but dust. He'd explained to Sireen that he had had some initial issues with performing his duties. After two years of trying to stay on the day shift, he'd given in and let the night become his life. He always wore his neck tie and glasses, saying it was a habitual part of his life since darker times had taken over. Sireen decided to not question this, and focused on their meetings.

Her eyes fell to Crisp Words... The little scamp.

He was an avid reader who would dive head first into a pile of library books far above his school level, and come out all the wiser for it a few hours later. He'd easily confused Sireen with his huge vocabulary, and she'd made a mental note to check up on some of the words he'd spouted. Some just seemed too ridiculous to be real.

He also was a huge fan of batponies.

Upon meeting her the first time, he'd pelted her with questions so hurriedly that his father had to put a primary feather over his mouth just to shush him and tell him to breathe. He'd pouted at that, why breathe when more questions could be asked?

Logical, this one was.

She had smiled as he'd asked her if he could "inspect her personage", and had giggled when he'd nuzzled her open wing between the joints. He'd asked how old she was(with a blanching look of embarrassment from his father), asked if she had siblings, knew any other bat ponies he could talk to, and finally if she had family of her own.

"Do you have any children, Miss Wind?" Both adults had paled in color at the question, Iron Crest much more so then Sireen, odd...

Sireen looked back to Crisp, and her smile wilted slightly.

"Um, no, I don't, sadly. It's... Hard to make a family when you are.... A guard." She decided to leave out that bat pony history caused a lot of problems and keep things simple, but the boy was too smart for his own good.

"Is it because you're a bat pony? Ponies think you're scary huh?" She had blinked and frowned.

"...I...Yeah, I guess so, but not every pony is afraid of us. Just look at you and your father. Neither of you seem bothered by me right?" He shook his head and smiled.

"Nope! You're awesome!" She chuckled and ruffled his mane with a hoof.

"Then that's good enough for me."

They had continued talking for a couple hours, each pony getting a word in while Crisp belted out curiosities left and right. As the night wound on, Sireen and Iron relaxed around each other a bit more, telling stories here and there about the horrors of the workplace or the barracks. Things continued apace swimmingly, until Crisp yawned, a sound his father's ears perked up at.

"Oh, shoot. Is it that late already? Some pony is getting sleepy eyes." Crisp had mumbled while his head tilted downwards.

"...M'not sleepy, Da..." As Iron swiped a wing under his son, Sireen smiled warmly as the father deftly and gently slid his son onto his back, before positioning him so he was facing the same way as the pegasus. Tilting his head back he snuffled his son's mane and kissed him just above the horn before looking back to the mare and tilted his head into a gentle pony's bow. Sireen would be lying if she said she hadn't blushed ever so faintly.

"M'lady, thank you for keeping us in such good company on this pleasant evening. My son has loved these little outings, and it makes him smile a lot more than normal." Sireen kept her soft smile present as she leaned on her spear.

"The thanks should be mine, actually. I enjoy these meetings just as much as Crisp does. They bring me a little something to look forward to before I go back to the castle. You would not believe how boring it is back there. I...I wasn't kidding when I said it's hard to make friends or family outside of duty. For each visit, I wanted to personally thank you, Iron Crest. It means a lot to me."

He smiled brightly for several seconds and then nodded.

"Well, you're very welcome. I'll take my leave then. Good night, Sireen."

"Good night, Iron Crest, and..." She leaned forward till she was closer to Crisp.

"Good night to you as well, ya little Scamp."

"...Mm g'night, Mum..."

She blinked in surprise, hardly expecting a reply. Next to her, Iron Crest visibly stiffened.

"..He... Um, w-why did he just call me Mom?"

For a moment she watched the foal slept peacefully in between his father's shoulders, before Iron Crest sighed loudly, jarring her from her position and back to an upright one, albeit slightly hesitant. For a moment, Iron looked at a loss for words, his mouth opening for a moment before it closed again. Turning around, Iron Crest walked a few steps away, before looking back halfway at her. Not directly at her, just at the ground next to him.

"...Because, he doesn't have one ...At least... Not anymore..."

************ *********** ************* ************** ************ ************* ***********

Iron and Crisp did not show up to the park for the next three days, and Sireen began to worry that she'd overstepped her bounds and upset them. When she looked into his living arrangements, she found that he lived in the higher end of the merchant plaza of Canterlot. But after making her way to their address, to her dismay, she found a destroyed empty lot where a house had once stood. It looked like her information had been old. She knew a house fire when she saw one. The surrounding buildings bore the signs of charred wood on their sides, despite their new paint. No grass grew in the front yard, and the blackened foundation was all that remained.

She'd made sure to look into that.

'House Fire Kills Canterlot Castle Servant, Arson Presumed Cause' she’d read that old headline and the underlying article over and over again, but never found much of anything else in the archives about it. History had swept over it like a leaf in the wind. It happened, and then it was like time had let go of the memory completely.

As she left the barracks the next evening, intent on finding out where Iron actually lived, she was held up by another night guard.

"Captain wants to see you, Sireen. Official business." She thanked him and trudged to the Captain's office. Her little investigation would have to wait.

As she entered, the Captain, Swift Bite, looked up and smiled. He'd never been overly harsh with his soldiers, but not soft, either. He was the kind of captain one wished they got when joining the ranks. The right amount of maturity, with just enough calm to take a joke or prank.

"Ah, Sireen Wind. Have a seat. I have something we need to discuss." Sireen nodded and sat down in front of the dark oak desk. To her right was a large stack of papers that the Captain was rifling through. Each one bore the seal of Princess Luna, their Sovereign.

Feeling worry drip down the back of her neck she sucked in her breath and breathed out slowly.

"Sir, what do we need to discuss? I have a shift I need to get to." He chuckled, and slid a paper in front of her.

"That you do, but not the one you've been at for the past month. Order's from up above came through, You're being reassigned to guard a lord and lady in the higher elite's district. They specifically asked for a bat pony mare and you are one of three under my command. We don't have as many as is so this was a blessing."

Sireen gulped. Reassignment? But why? If there were other mares that could do it, why her? She shuffled her wings hesitantly.

"Um, permission to speak sir?"

"Granted. What is on your mind, soldier?"

"...Why me?" Swift Bite snorted and arched his brow at her.

"Why you? You don't sound too elated by this news. Nevertheless, you have been at that particular post for quite some time, at least a month in fact, and it was noted that you'd voiced complaints in the past about not feeling very useful. When I approached the other two mares about this job, they stated they were pleased with their current installments, but you seemed less thrilled by your position. I figured you could use the change of pace, liven things up a bit." he leaned forward and tapped the desk with a hoof, smirking.

"And I made sure you'll be paid handsomely for it too, these lords and ladies are rich bastards that have to pay higher fees for personal guard services. If that doesn't put a smile on your face, I don't know what will."

No smile appeared on her face. In fact, she frowned, looking quite sad.

"I...See...Um, may I ask who will be filling in for me? I need to give them a note." Swift Bite blinked.

"A note? For who?"

"A friend." That made his eyes widen, and he leaned back, watching as the mare before him twitched an ear back. he sighed.

"...I see. Very well. No harm in keeping up to date with friends, though i'm quite surprised you made one at that post. I'll have the replacement come by and pick it up before he leaves. Dismissed."

For the first time since she was young, Sireen left with a large glimmer in her eyes, but that was all Swift Bite saw as she drooped her ears and exited his office.

He shrugged and went back to work.

Night guards didn't cry after all.

Author's Note

was going to add more to this one but it ended in a spot i felt was right.

The New Job

Sireen scowled down at the parchment that lay in front of her on the ground. A single hoof raised to block out the intense light that surrounded her. She was standing on a street corner In the upper elite Canterlot noble's housing district, and she couldn't be more annoyed. Using her wing claw, she flipped the paper over and squinted, hoping she'd missed something.

She hadn't, and the back of her contract was still blank.

Sighing gruffly she folded the paper back up and stuffed it back into the side of her armor. Around her stood several master crafted, two story homes that could probably house her entire barracks comfortably. All of them were designed with the luxurious side of life standing front and center. Large iron gates with artistic ponies welded into their frames, attached to brick walls two feet thick and eight to ten feet high. The tops of the walls looked like they'd sprouted hearts made of thorns on a few, a clear sign to any avian type being that they were not to sit on those walls. The side walks were cobbled with red and white stones neatly jammed tightly next to one another in diamond patterns that zig zagged down the road.

Every five or so feet a tall black iron lamp post stood over the heads over any pony, their lanterns filled with a brilliantly glowing white crystal that hummed with magical energy.

and blinded Sireen.

Another thing that had Sireen completely boggled were the house addresses. While most city streets and roads were orderly and organized, THIS part of town seemed to run the exact opposite! Houses apparently weren't in numerical order, and were instead marked by the houses last name or family crest, leaving Sireen with a big problem. After arriving on the proper street, she'd pulled out her contract to find that it omitted the house's number, last name, and street name, saving just the family crest.

A pair of swords slicing an apple tree in half down the middle, with a ribbon of parchment wrapped around the base that held the words:

"abbiamo prevalere con l'inganno"

Whatever it meant she had no clue, apparently it was Istallion.

The houses also had personal guards sometimes stationed at each gate, the job she would probably be doing no doubt. When she'd plucked up the drive to go and ask a few for assistance, she'd been met with silence and the refusal to even speak with her.

pretentious snobs, I'd leave em alone a lot faster if they'd help me out. she thought sourly. It was lucky though, as she'd left an hour early to make sure she made it on time, in an attempt to show she was diligent in her duty. However, with every minute ticking by rather quickly, Sireen needed to find that home, and there were no houses around that had any open gates.

She growled and picked up the pace, trotting down the side walk and around the corner, giving a mental tick to the street she was on and the time she had left. As she walked she thought back to Iron Crest and Crisp Words. The replacement guard was an earth pony from the non-bat pony night patrol. When she'd informed him of the situation he'd nodded curtly and told her that they would receive the message the moment he made contact with them.

She had frowned at that. Iron Crest and his son hadn't shown up that last few times, worrying her to no end. She felt rather bad for ending their last little gathering on such a dour note, and the research she'd planned to do was put on the back burner until she was off duty. The newspaper report had said a castle servant had died , unable to escape the flames in time. Could that have been Iron Crest's previous wife? The paper also said it was deemed arson, so did that mean he'd been the one to--

No! he's a good stallion, a good father and he would't do that. Sireen shook herself and stood still a moment, snorting hot air from her nostrils and closing her eyes to relax.

Don't let your mind wander to assumptions when you yourself don't know all the facts. the criminal could have been caught, it could have also been an accident, and there is no reason for me to think that Iron would do such a thing. Just focus on your job right now, you need to find that house!

She thought for a moment and then stamped a hoof in affirmation. She'd find a house with an open gate, and ask the locals. they would know where to find it. She began her search, keeping an eye open for any gates that were open, but to her dismay all down her path were closed. Some were even chained shut with heavy padlocks, the gardens looking like they hadn't seen years of work.

So some are vacant lots huh? Not surprising considering it must take a fortune and a half to own one of these opulent-- Her eyes barely caught sight of a gate slowly coming to a close up ahead as three ponies exited out onto the street.

Now was her chance!

leaping into a canter, she came within fifty feet of them before the trio noticed her. There were two stallions, and one mare. The first stallion was young, about mid thirties in age and was sporting a rather nice tuxedo with a monocle. His white and blue parted mane made him look rather sophisticated. The stallion to his right was also well dressed but much older, nearing his nineties at least, and wearing a simple black suit.

a butler perhaps?

The mare was a real surprise though. She was one of the tallest(minus the princess') mares Sireen had ever seen. Easily a foot taller than the bat pony, she was slender and fit, wearing only a set of earrings and a light blue scarf. Her pristine white coat and polished hooves made her look like a mare who knew she was important.

The odd thing was that they all seemed quite surprised by her appearance.

"My word, a bat pony? I dare say i haven't seen one of those since the nightmare night celebration. Hello there!" Sireen was so taken aback by the blue haired stallion's accent and relaxed nature that she merely blinked in shock. Next to him, the mare smiled at looked at her with...a look, before leaning in and whispering something in an equally intriguing accent.

and different language...was that prench I heard?

The stallion went red and shooed at her with a hoof and a disapproving glare. She giggled and blocked her grin with her bangs as he stepped forward.

"I said hello there, night guard, you seemed to be in a rush to catch up to us, what seems to be the problem hmm?" He was smiling and his posture was calm. Sireen gulped. these were important ponies and she did not want to ruin the Night guard reputation by sounding weak.

"...I need assistance, citizen."

"Alright well I can certainly try to help. What assistance do you require?" She watched as the mare leaned back and whispered something to the butler, who blushed and shook his head vigorously, making the mare giggle again.

"I...I need to find a house, but I have become lost and do not know where it is located. As this side of town is rather...unique with it's ordering system, i figured it'd be easier to ask a local resident. I mustn't be late. Here, this is the house crest i'm looking for."

She held the slip of paper out to the stallion, taking note that his smile only seemed to become more genuine the longer he held it. Both he and the mare looked very familiar, but she couldn't place where she'd seen them. The mare looked like she could be a model for magazines, while the stallion was....well rather gentlemen like and knew how to dress to impress.

the butler was a butler.

She looked back to find that the mare had sidled up to her husband who was now reading the paper intently. Sireen decided to take a chance. She smiled, showing off her fangs to the mare, who smiled back....curiously? She was watching Sireen with an odd expression. it was definitely more than curiosity.

"Um, If you two don't mind my asking, who are you? I know I've seen you around somewhere, but i can't currently place where."

The stallion tore his gaze from the paper, and scoffed.

"Ah, where are my manners this evening, my name is Fancy Pants, and this lovely gem is my wife, Fluer De Lis."

Sireen sucked in her breath. Yup, she knew em. well, more like knew of them and never guessed she'd be talking to them in her entire life. Fluer wasn't just a model, she was THE model. The top one in the industry to be exact. Fancy Pants was a business entrepreneur who'd built up his fortune from the ground up, and was well known by all the Canterlot elite as "The sexiest Colt Alive".

he'd probably win that title too... Sireen thought with a blush.

"I-I see, yes I have heard of you both, um its a pleasure to meet you." Fluer nodded and took a step forward while Fancy went back to reading.

"Ve would ask what you are doing in this district, but it appears you have guard business with an elite, no?"

Sireen merely nodded as Fluer took another step closer.

"Tell me, vat is it like?" Sireen flipped an ear back as Fluer looked her up and down with...that look.

"W-what is what like?"

"Being a bat pony." Instantly Fancy pants was glaring at Fluer, who shied away behind Sireen as if she was the protector, with an embarrassed giggle.

"Vat? I wanted to know so dat ven I had to work vith them on the floor, I could treat them normally. It's not everyday I get to talk with...well, a female bat pony about the subject..." Sireen felt her cheeks flush red as Fluer sidled up next to her, their sides barely touching, her voice a playful whisper.

"So, what is it like? I hear your species can hear, see, and smell far better then the normal pony, is zat true?" Sireen nodded, cocking a brow as the mare practically prowled around her.

"I uh, yes we can ma'am."

"Fluer stop patronizing our guest and come back over here, look at this."

Fluer giggled in that innocent yet totally not innocent way and walked back over to her husband, flicking her tail just inches from Sireen's snout.

was that intentional? Sireen wondered. She didn't have time for this, and needed to get going. Fancy pants was now frowning alongside his wife as they looked the paper over.

"Sireen, is it?"

At her nod he continued speaking.

"I noticed the occupant your going to be guarding....A word of caution if I may." He gave her back her document and then stood, taking his wife's arm in his own.

"Do not upset that mare. She has gotten more ponies in trouble for stupid reasons then I care to remember, I've even gotten a few out of trouble because she upsets me to no end. She's a braggart and a fool who thinks she is the next best thing after feathered pillows. Now, you're going to want to go down this road and to your left at the corner. From there look for the house with the golden topped walls. They will also have a set of iron spiked hearts atop their peaks. Dismal home really but a job is a job no?"

He walked past her and Fluer winked at her, magicking a small business card over to the flustered mare.

"If you need anything darling, just give this to our door pony, he'll get us in touch. Au revoir!"

"Uh yeah, au revoir...I think." Sireen blinked for a few seconds as the trio sauntered away, and then shook herself. She needed to get there and fast. Opening her wings wide, Sireen took off into the air and checked the route Fancy had laid out for her. From the sky it was almost too easy. There was a single house down one of the side streets that had the particular description given, and even as she flew closer, Fancy had been right about the home.

It looked...grim.

She landed a few feet away from the gate and readjusted her wings, looking around as she did. The surrounding street appeared to be just on the cusp of leaving the 'rich district', as a single merchant's shop and a set of warehouses sat almost right across the household. The ware houses were closed at this hour, as well as the merchant's shop. It looked like a bakery of some sort, with apartments up above. One of the upper windows was covered in colorful drawings that looked like a foal had drawn, but from her spot she couldn't tell what they were of.

Probably bright, happy things, compared to the haunted looking house across the street....she thought. She checked the house crest and was happy to note it was in fact the house she'd been looking for. She checked the position of the moon in the sky and murmured under her breath.

"It's still too early for me to arrive, I probably can see what the items on that bakery menu are while I--"

"PSSST!"

Sireen flicked her ears behind her and then turned around, looking through the gate to the yard beyond. The walk way was ornate and polished clean. Surrounded on both sides by hedge bushes that shimmered in the moonlight, they went all the way down the path to a large wooden door.

It was ajar.

"PSSST! hey you!"

Sireen watched as the door cracked open a moment and then an old earth pony poked his head out. He was male, with a rather frazzled mane and coat(from what she could see). His eyes had aged bags under them, and he looked tired and irritable, certainly not happy.

She leaned closer to the bars. The pony gave her one look, up and down before whispering so loud she was sure the sleeping occupants of the upstairs apartments across the street could hear him.

"Are you the personal bat pony guard m'lady requested?"

She slowly nodded, raising a brow, as the pony nodded back.

"I'm going to open the gate now, step inside the limit but no closer!-- I'm going to close it behind you, understand?"

Again she nodded, albeit with a sideways ear showing her skepticism. What was the deal with this geezer? The gates creaked and groaned as they opened, sounding like they hadn't been oiled in a very long time. Odd, the whole area was sterilized to perfection. The hedges were trimmed and shaped properly and not a single ground tile was out of place.

Yet the gates are dirty and old? odd, very odd. She frowned as she stepped quietly and quickly through them. The moment she was beyond the farthest point of the gates reach they stopped and started sliding shut. She went to watch them but the immediate clop of running hooves caught her attention and she looked back to see the door wide open and the pony she'd seen bolting...past her? Snapping herself around she watched as he dove through the now closing gates perfectly, and slid to a halt. A small brief case in his teeth. he was wearing what looked like a rather tattered and dirty butler's suit, with a discolored--no, stained-- scarf around his neck.

"Hey! what gives?" She barked at him.

The pony hissed, jamming a hoof up to his lips quickly with a scowl.

"Do you want the old crone to hear us? You're early, and I'm using that to my advantage. You'll ruin the whole thing if she finds me out here."

"Who?"

He blinked, dropping the brief case to his feet with a shocked face.

"Who? You mean, you don't know who you're guarding? Oh Alicorns above I feel sorry for you!" He chuckled and picked up his brief case, muffling his speech as he started to canter away.

"Haph fun wiph her royal pain, thith bulther ith outta here!" With that said, he bolted down the road faster than she presumed he could move.

Sireen watched his dust trail slowly depart, and then shook her head. That certainly was...interesting. Turning around and sighing, she went to take a step forward when she paused. She wasn't really supposed to be on the property grounds just yet, and the owner was probably going to come looking for whoever opened the gate soon. They usually had magical signals in the house for that sort of thing. Thinking quickly, she looked around and saw a peach tree inside the hedge square next to her.

an idea came to mind and she jumped over the hedge and up into the tree. Once on one of the lower hanging branches, she flipped upside down and hung from the tree with her tail coiled tightly around the wooden limb. Wrapping her wings around her tightly, she closed her eyes and stayed like that, intent on gaining some respect for whoever this 'royal pain' was. If Fancy pants and the previous butler didn't like her, then Sireen wanted to make sure she had some intimidation on the girl.

She didn't actually have to wait long. There was a rather loud crash of glass and a shriek of indignation from the house, followed by several hoof steps. They came down the hall and right out the door.

"Jerald! where are you you lame mule!" The voice was feminine but deep, like it was spoken from a mare three times the size of Sireen, and dripping with acid. Sireen seriously hoped she hadn't gotten in over her head with this job. The weight and power of each hoof step was a lot heavier too.

how strong is this mare---oh.....my...Sovereign....

The mare in question had come into view as she 'walked' toward the gate.

She wasn't large in the way Sireen had thought, no. This mare was certainly large, but not like a soldier.

more like a pudgy blob of bouncing sentient jello...she's so overwei--

"Jerald, you come out at once, you hear me! That guard will be arriving soon and I want look regal and befitting of my status as I inspect her!" The mare hissed, looking over the shrubs at either side of the path as she drew closer.

Yeah...'fat' chance of that, lady.

When she reached the gate and peered through it, the moonlight hit her back and lit her up for Sireen. She was a wide mare with an orange coat and a multi-hued mane of pink and pale peach color...in fact...She looked like an actual peach! Sireen sighed, this wasn't funny anymore. She was hoping the elite she'd be guarding would be more like Fancy Pants or Fluer.

To her dismay she'd gotten the short end of the stick. The park was now sounding more and more appealing to her.

"Oh this is just great! Jerald is acting like a fool again and that mare is going to be here any minute! Well if she's late I can always use that to my advantage..."

Sireen grinned from behind her wings as she watched the mare. So far the older mare hadn't even looked at the tree. She decided to act a littler tougher, given the mare's obvious attitude. She growled softly, but loud enough to send the snobby mare's neck hairs rising. The peach whipped around and latched her eyes on the dark, shadow shrouded form hanging in her tree. Sireen snapped her eyes open, letting the golden glow from her pupils light up her helmet armor.

"We of the night are never late, ma'am." The mare took a step back and flipped her ears down in fear.

"Y-you...you are..."

Sireen let her fangs show through her wings, in a relaxed grin. The mare shivered.

"We are the night guard, you requested, yes."

The mare visibly gulped and then shook herself. Once again standing assertively, she grimaced professionally at Sireen.

"T-then how long have you been...Hanging there like that?" Sireen let another low growl exit her mouth, as she flipped down to the ground very slowly. her flip seeming almost casual in motion, but very smooth.

"Since your ex-butler took off." At the mare's look of surprise Sireen walked to the edge of the tree's shadows, piercing the mare with a glower.

"Yes, he left, something must have spooked him, and I can assure you he never saw me, ma'am."

A few seconds went by and then the mare nodded, sucked air through her teeth and then shivered again.

"Er-yes, well don't just stand there all creepy like, come out here and let me see you!" Sireen did so, walking with each step carefully placed to muffle her movement. As she came closer to the mare, Sireen began to realize something very interesting about the two of them.

She was taller then the peach colored mare by almost a foot! That didn't bode very well for the smaller one as Sireen kept her dark grin going until they were a foot or two apart.

"Ma'am what is your name? The paperwork I was given failed to inform me of your...title." She clipped the last word rather sharply as she spoke it, making the mare jump.

"Ah-AH YES! I am Mrs. Fuzzdrought, but just keep calling me ma'am when we speak, it's much more...professional sounding."

Sireen inclined her head slightly at the name, but said nothing. Mrs. Fuzz slowly walked around Sireen, inspecting her on all sides before coming back to the front and frowning up at her.

"Your taller then I expected. Is this normal for female bat ponies?"

Sireen shook her head.

"No, it's rather rare." She watched as Mrs. Fuzz's eyes sparkled with that tidbit of knowledge and she huffed, walking past the armored guest with her snout held high.

"Well, don't go assuming I'll be making your job easier because you're special. If my contact's information on your...species is correct, you can endure a lot more then the average guards, and my contacts are hardly ever wrong.....Erm..." she stopped in her steps, allowing Sireen to catch up with a few less steps.

"What is your name?"

The armored mare grinned again, flashing her teeth.

"Sireen Wind, ma'am."

Mr.s Fuzz seemed to approve with a quick smile before they started walking back to the house.

"A rather nice name for one of your stature. I'll be sure to remember it, as the house of Fuzzdrought never forgets."

Sireen felt a frown slowly form, knowing that the inflected tone she'd been given in that sentence meant it could be both a boon, and a bane that they didn't forget.

Best watch my words around her then, I don't want to give her more ammo then she can get freely.

Author's Note

loved writing this one. I actually had to write it twice because my friend accidentally cut the power to our house while i was writing and well...I hadn't saved....but a lesson learned nevertheless!

again the art is my own.

Slivers of Silence

They were at it again.

Every night, they would do this, and every night Sireen would have to fight her primal urges to not bite their heads off. Of all the jobs Sireen had taken up until now, this one rose instantly to the top of her list as the least pleasant. Her job was fairly simple, guard the property, guard Mrs. Fuzzdrought, or guard her husband Mr. Longpea.

He was a stallion of average build, with lime green fur and a blue hued mane that seemed very out of place on his modest frame, but properly groomed at all times. When he'd met Sireen his demeanor had turned sour in an instant and he begrudgingly nodded to her with a simple but snide "Hello."

As it stood her job was very easy in the physical sense. Sometimes Mrs. Fuzzdrought would have her run an errand like delivering letters or small packages to a few nearby facilities. Other times she would ask for assistance reaching something on a higher shelf in the kitchens, but for the most part Sireen didn't actually have to do much but watch out for baddies and make sure Mr. Longpea didn't pilfer the pantry of all its sweets.

Mentally though....

Sireen could tell she was straining to keep her cool. Every night since she'd started the job, the husband and wife would lock themselves in the study room with her just off in the corner....and argue.

Argue, argue, and for a refreshing change, argue! That's all they did when in each other's company. One would seriously question why they were married at all if not for their titles and age. As Mrs. Fuzz put it, she and her husband were of an era where it was considered an honor to be married off to another in support of the family's financial security.

Love had nothing to do with their connection, as Sireen had learned when she’d been ordered to guard the hallway outside their separate bedrooms. That had been rather awkward for her. She had been under the impression that, given their circumstances, the two ponies might have a better love life than their business side.

She was wrong. They hated each other with unbridled passion.

And so another day had gone by with them at each other's throats, unable to come to terms with each other's presence. As Sireen watched Mr. Longpea slam the office door, and Mrs. Fuzzdrought sigh and rub her temples in frustration, she felt almost guilty for letting out a sigh of relief as silence took over the room.

"How do you do that?" Mrs. Fuzzdrought asked leaning back in her chair with a huff.

So much for silence...Sireen thought.

"Do what ma'am?" Sireen stood from her position by the curtain and began to slowly open her wings, letting the muscles lose their tension. At her desk, Mrs. Fuzzdrought flailed her hooves in annoyance.

"How do you stay like that for hours!? One spot, one pose, unmoving as the statues in my garden! And so silently too! I almost forgot you were even present in the room, except when you startled me when you sighed once or twice." The pudgy mare groaned and slouched deeper into her desk chair. Sireen closed her wings and began to bend low to the floor, stretching similarly to how a cat does.

"All night guard are taught the value of silence, and then the power of patience." Sireen stood and noticed she was half way into the shadows of the nearby window, and couldn't help but flash her teeth at Mrs. Fuzzdrought.

"Although I would be lying if I said these late night...discussions weren't wearing thin on my abilities to do so."

At that Mrs. Fuzzdrought grunted, neither frowning at Sireen nor smiling.

"Agreed. These chats have been grating on me ever since I married that oaf."

I don't know, you could do well to have a few more pounds grated in my opinion.....Sireen smirked, and immediately felt the eyes of her employer fall on her.

"What? What is so humorous?"

Sireen flicked an ear and walked up next to the desk to sit in the moonlight.

"I will refrain from answering that ma'am, but if I may, why did you marry him? You two seem to be at each other's throats day in and day out."

Silence.

"Ma'am?"

The orange mare sat up and slowly craned her neck, trying to pop it. After a moment or two she was rewarded with a heavy popping sound and a sigh escaped her lips.

"I will refrain from answering that, as the only pony's throat you should worry about are your enemies."

Sireen narrowed her eyes in annoyance and watched as Mrs. Fuzzdrought stood, stretched, then both mares exited the study and fell into a trot together down the long ornate hallways. Each room they passed was lavishly decorated with expensive furniture and beautiful paintings on the walls. When Sireen had first set foot in the house she was positive that her captain hadn't been joking when he'd mentioned a pay raise.

While it had only been three days since her job switch, Sireen had already gotten used to the decor and the layout of the house. She knew where all the doors led to, what windows were lockable and not, and even where two secret passages were, although it appeared that neither Mrs. Fuzzdrought nor her husband knew they existed. During one of her breaks she had checked them out, only to be disappointed when they led to an old empty four pony bunker, and an extra pantry with some extremely old canned vegetables on an old rickety wooden shelf. When she'd shown them to Mrs. Fuzzdrought, The mare had been overly pleased with the findings, but only because now she had a place to hide all her treats from her thieving husband.

Sireen sorely wished she hadn't brought it up. Still, getting to see the profound confusion that spread across Mr.Longpea's face as he beheld a pantry devoid of sweats and desserts the very next evening helped her accept her choice a little easier. Every night he would "sneakily" try to get past Sireen and into the kitchen to pilfer the pantry of its produce, only to be met with a veritable wall of healthy meals and canned food. In the end Mr. Longpea had started purchasing his own treats instead of resorting to petty theft.

As they walked down the hall Sireen watched as her charge groaned and rolled her neck in pain.

"Everything alrigh--"

"Yes, yes, I’m fine thank you!" Sireen fell silent after that, catching wind of the annoyance in the mare's voice. Mrs. Fuzzdrought chuckled dryly as the pair angled around a corner that led them to the living quarters.

"Honestly, you think I’m weak enough to let some sore muscles stop me? I would hardly let anything stop me from being the stronger pony in this household, you know, barring the military mare standing beside me of course." Sireen merely raised a brow at that and kept her frown present. Mrs. Fuzzdrought sneered.

"Oh please, don't give me that look, it's hardly befitting of a mare with your limited skills to be glaring at her employer like that."

The brow arched significantly higher at that, but Mrs. Fuzz paid it no mind as she trotted into her chambers.

"Now, it has been a harsh day and I'm sure you are just as tired as I if not more from your heavy work load, so be off with you. Guard the hall and check the gate every so often for Jerald. If that lanky lard of failure shows up I'll tan his hide for leaving, but I do owe him bits and he will want them, the lesser ponies always do. Good eve to you, Sireen."

As the door clicked shut in front of Sireen, the bat pony mare's face went through several emotions in the span of a few seconds. Anger, disgust, relief, but mostly exhaustion. Her night had only started a few hours prior and already it was enough to drive her into a screaming fit. She paused for a moment at the mare's door, thinking that it might not be a bad idea to screech right through the door and startle the old mare, but Sireen's urges dwindled the moment she remembered what elite ponies like Mrs. Fuzzdrought could do to her reputation and life.

All it took were a few bits in the right hoof and she'd be out of Luna's service. She had seen first hoof that these two weren't lacking in the wealth department.

As Sireen walked down the hall that led to the main foyer, she thought back to her fruitless search for Iron Crest's real home address, as well as the history behind the house fire that had plausibly claimed the life of his past wife and mate. While not guarding the elite ponies, she had spent a few morning hours searching through records at the local library. She couldn't search long because when the sun came up her body literally would start dozing off, and rather suddenly too. It was an affliction of her that was not to be taken lightly. All trainees in Luna's service were taught this the hard way: They were instructed to stay awake all through the night and then try to stay awake through the day for as long as they could manage.

At first some questioned why this was so important to be taught, but apparently some never learned and a few years back, a few went flying while the sun was up. Needless to say a few fatal accidents later and Luna made it a mandatory training regimen. Sireen knew her limits and had to work while she could before her body decided to revolt and send her off to dream land.

Dubbed "Sarosian Sleep Disorder", it was what caused bat ponies to simply vanish during the daytime. Any bat ponies found out during the morning hours would either rapidly fall asleep as the sun hit their pelts or they would immediately get drowsy and sluggish to the point of collapsing. Since her return from banishment, Princess Luna had tried to remove the curse that Nightmare Moon had imbued Sireen's ancestors with, but it appeared even she couldn't undo the change.

As such, it left Sireen with very limited time off to do research.

Sadly, for all three days of her work, she did not have much to show for progress. The records indicated that the fire was caused by an arsonist who had later confessed to the crime when they'd found out that someone had died because of it. Sireen had also learned about the deceased mare's name. Named Noble Crest, she was the deceased mother of Crisp Words, and the late wife of Iron Crest. She worked at the castle during the evenings and sometimes ended up home late. This both piqued Sireen's curiosity and her interest.

Iron Crest had also stated that his job made him work later into the night, but now it sounded like that wasn't the only reason he stayed up so late. As for where the father son duo lived now, Sireen had no idea. He hadn't updated his address forms since moving, and Sireen actually wondered if that was a violation or not. If it was, she could totally use it as a way to get a hold of him, but it would be a last resort.

Still, Sireen wasn't about to give up. She'd wait until her time at the current post would be up and then find out if she could transfer back to the forest position. With any luck Iron Crest and Crisp words would still be hanging around in hopes that she'd return.

Sireen exited out onto the walkway that lead to the large iron gate. Instead of opening the rusty heap of metal and potentially waking anyone in the apartments across the street, she flipped open her wings and silently flapped over them to land on the cobbled sidewalk that sat in front of the manor. This was by far her favorite part of the job so far. It was quiet, late at night, and she was on a street with barely any lamp light. The only seedy characters she'd seen hanging around the block when she'd arrived had taken one look at her and had immediately vacated their usual haunts.

So, in a sense, she had just what she wanted. Peace.

Opening her mouth, the mare let out a large hiss of air and flexed her wings.

"Aaaaah, I can finally breathe again..." She whispered to herself. The nearby lamp above her flickered. It bathed the cobblestones and Sireen with a warm but not overbearing orange light. Above her in the apartment windows, Sireen could make out the tell tale signs of paper drawings taped to the inside of a nearby window. She'd seen them on her first visit to the home he now protected but had never gotten a close up look. She also never saw the owners of the apartment, or any other, as most were either tucked away inside their homes or presumably out in town while she guarded the gate.

Her eyes fell to the drawings again, and she thought of Crisp Words. He'd never said anything about being an artist, but from what she could tell of foals his age, it was that all of them had at least one or two doodles lying about in their arsenal of toys and bedroom items. Some chose to show them off proudly, while others got very embarrassed about being put in the lime light. Sireen chuckled to herself and opened her wings, intent on sneaking a peek at the scribbles when she saw movement out of the corner of her left eye.

Instantly she stopped moving and slanted her gaze to the road on her left. The lamp lights were slowly flickering into darkness as the sun made it closer to rising. Their sporadic shut offs made it hard to spot where it had occurred, but she had most certainly seen something move. Folding her wings closed against her sides, Sireen stood and watched the road, and her eyes saw everything.

A whisper of smoke from the nearby sewer vent.

A piece of paper gently gliding off the top of a building to fall listless to the road below.

An aluminum can rolling gently back and forth under the light of a lamp farther down.

For a while nothing else moved. The paper met the slightly damp cobblestones and lay still. Here and there the lamps flickered on and off as power rerouted from their central units to elsewhere in the city, and the soda can started rolling forward, only to stop against the curbside. Swiveling her tufted ears in different directions, Sireen listened closely for anything odd or out of place, but after several moments of holding her breath, all she heard was the release of air from between her lips as she let go and relaxed.

"It must have been a sewer rat or something..." Sireen scratched her chin with the claw on her wing for a moment and then went back to staring forward at the bakery directly across the street from Mrs. Fuzzdrought's house. She could tell by the energy buildup in her body that she had hoped it was something more, that way she might be able to blow off some steam and frustration.

A few more minutes out on the cobblestones and Sireen felt like she should head back and check on her charges. It was clear that whatever the two elite were worried about was purely cause by tension and paranoia. Now that she thought about it more, neither the contract, nor Mrs. Fuzzdrought for that matter, had cared to mention what it was that had them so worried that they would hire a bat pony to guard them while they slept.

Feeling like there were some gaps in her contract, Sireen decided she'd have them filled in in the morning before she left for the barracks. As she opened her wings and ascended into the air she caught sight of the drawings once more. She smiled, and angled around to float near the window. At first she peered past the art into the room to make sure no one was awake or present. Her eyes first fell on the nearby bed, it sheets were made neatly and it looked like it hadn't been touched all night actually. Her sight traveled next to the doorway where the edges of a darkened opening and empty hallway came to meet her sight. Verifying that the room was indeed empty, Sireen let her eyes refocus on the closest objects of desire.

Two drawings hung before her. One was obviously put up hastily because the entire paper was almost sideways. The tape had been mashed against the window with a hoof print far smaller than hers surrounding the adhesive. Sireen gently lifted her hoof to the print, shadowing it with her own as her hoof gently tapped the window's surface. Perhaps she could still feel the warmth from the young one's print--

Cold glass met the underside of her hoof, and Sireen immediately sucked in her breath and withdrew her leg. Her eyes fell to the picture. Like any doodle, it left any other creature with artistic skills with a grimace, and something to be desired. Firstly and foremost, it was certainly lacking in anatomical accuracy. The second issue was the colors used on the figures present. While Sireen was certain that they were meant to convey the two regal sisters, Celestia and Luna, the bat pony mare was almost certain that her royal night Sovereign did not have grass green in her blue mane. She was also quite certain that the artist had made quite an interesting error when it came to the size of Celestia's wings as they were massive compared to the rest of the Alicorn.

...and her rump for that matter, Sireen thought with a wry smirk. Although maybe that part isn't inaccurate...

She then looked at the next image. This time being properly angled, the picture was of a pony standing on a tall grassy slope underneath a large shaded oak tree. They were facing away from the viewer, and had their eyes set on a nearby mountain range that was capped with snow. The big difference with this picture that Sireen noticed, was that whoever had drawn it was either a lot older, or had made sure to stay accurate with their lines and colors, to the best of their meager artistic abilities. Sireen hummed pleasantly at the image, it seemed nice and peaceful, and she wondered if it was of a place the artist had visited before.

A sound met Sireen's ears, pulling her from her musings and she looked out over the neighborhood, hoping to catch the sound again. A mere two seconds ticked by and the sound came again, making Sireen blink in confusion. That was the clock tower near the middle if the merchant's district, it usually struck its tones closer to twelve though. Sireen flipped her left ear back and looked into the bedroom window for a clock, finding one on the nearby wall she almost chirped in surprise.

Twelve fifteen? How long have I been out here?

Shaking her head in slight annoyance she flew over the gate and then glided to the doorway, opening it, she paused and glanced back at the window and its drawings once more before letting a smile crest her lips as she departed back into the silent halls of Mrs. Fuzzdrought's home.

As the door clicked shut behind her, a can rolled aimlessly down the side of the road, and a paper flipped about in a gentle breeze, content to allow silence to take over the streets once more.

…………………………..

"I don't give a flying can of beans what you think we should have done, those assets were set aside for specific reasons and once again you used them for your own selfish desires!"

"Why the nerve! You dare pin this mockery of financial error on my part!? Who was it who bought fifty pounds of canned sprouts last week? Certainly not me!"

"They were on sale! What was I supposed to do? Let a bargain slip by while you empty our pantry of its valuable vittles!?"

A harsh bark of laughter from one side of the desk broke Sireen from her intense staring contest with the ceiling beams. Nearby, two ponies were arguing about the latest discrepancy in their finances, and Sireen?

She couldn't care less.

"Oh so suddenly cake and candy are valuable? That is a rather unsurprising discovery coming from both ponies across from me--oh wait, that second one is your belly!"

A hoof stamping against the desk loudly, and Sireen blinked.

Dammit so close to winning....

"D-don't you DARE bring my weight into this matter you loafing oaf of a leech! Why, half those treats were scarfed by none other than the jolly green giant sitting in front of me, oops, that's my husband!"

Sireen refocused her eyes on the next ceiling beam.

Round two....fight!

She glared at it.

"Why you petulant mare, your mouth is getting too big for your muzzle! Why don't you do us all a favor and shut the dam of stupidity now before we all drown in wasted brain cells!"

A squeak of chair wheels rolling and a sudden hefty thump on the carpet made Sireen blink again, she twitched an ear and growled slightly, changing to the last wood beam above the trio.

Final round...fight!

"Oh well look who is talking! If anyone could shut the dam, it'd be you!" A slow sarcastic clopping of hooves.

"Finally a compliment from the river of hatred, at least some pony recognizes strength when they see it!"

Sireen was so close to winning, she could feel the wood above her balking under the pressure of her intimidating gaze.

"Strength, yes. You’re about as strong as a pig and almost as intelligent!"

A momentary mountain of mutual muttering.

Oooh, fatality.

Sireen finally stood and flared her wings rather flamboyantly, catching both ponies by their breaths and silencing the room for a brief moment. She took that sweet moment to yawn and stretch her front legs and jaw, taking care to slowly widen her mouth in an angle where both Mr. Longpea and Mrs. Fuzzdrought could get a rather nice showing of her canines and their close brothers and sisters, before snapping her teeth shut sharply and glaring at them.

"While this is rather nice and all, this bonding you two are doing, I have to use the restroom, otherwise my dam will break and I don't think either of you would appreciate my personal input on these matters."

With her standing made clear, Sireen exited out into the hallway and close the door with a gentle click. She managed to get four steps away before the bloodletting began anew. She sighed, groaned, and growled as she made her way into the filly's room. If she was lucky, one would get stuck with a staple (Mrs. Fuzzdrought's favored weapon of choice) in an unsavory place and Sireen would have several days of peace and quiet.

The sound of two bedroom doors slamming shut came back to her and she thumped her head into the nearby wall.

That worked too. With the two riotous rough-housers in their respectful rooms, it meant her night would be peaceful until dawn when she had to return to her barracks. Maybe she could plead her case to the captain about the utter insanity of this household and get an early saving grace from the hell that was this home. Sadly, if she knew anything about the captain, he'd sit her down, lecture her on proper patience and practicality, and then boot her out the door. He also did not have the power to switch her from her position immediately unless gaining direct approval from Princess Luna.

An unlikely occurrence, but one she was now seriously contemplating testing out.

As Sireen exited into the hall and wandered down to the gate, she thought of the previous morning and the rather interesting thing she'd discovered. She had just returned back home to find a letter on her bed from an unknown recipient. When she'd opened the letter, all that it said was:

"I WILL MEET YOU WHEN TIME IS IN THE MIDDLE. HOLD ON A LITTLE LONGER."
-- FD

Sireen flipped the letter over in hopes that whoever this "FD" was, they had left something else besides the weird note. Sadly her secret messenger remained a mystery all through the day and up till now. Sireen knew it wasn't Iron Crest or his son, as neither one of them had such exemplary writing skills, or matching initials but she was lost as to who could have sent it.

Firstly, after asking around to her fellow guard, none of them had actually seen when the note arrived. Secondly, those who were present said that it was like one second the letter wasn't there, and the next, it was.

So magic must have been involved, and high level magic no less.

Sireen had done some spell research after that, and had found that currently the guard barracks had a low level defense shield running through the walls, thus impeding teleportation spells and most heavy magic. She also found out, that to bypass this barrier, one had to either know the password, or be so strong that they could slip through unnoticed. The first option was far more likely to be true, as most unicorns did not have enough power to break through one of Princess Luna's shields, low level or not, and thus would instead try to obtain the password.

The problem lay in why they didn't wait for her to return it to deliver it personally. All mail carriers, when delivering important documents were ordered and regulated to meet the occupant in person, so that any discrepancies with the delivery were on a first hoof account. Without a pony present to give her the letter, Sireen fell back on the assumption that whoever had gotten through, either snuck in, or forced their way through.

Even so....

For starters, Sireen knew that with forty some odd bat ponies around, sleeping or otherwise, a ward breach spell would have woken them instantly with an ear piercing alarm. Also, even if the alarm was never triggered, bat ponies had extremely acute senses. They could hear, smell, taste, see, and feel things far better than normal soldiers and especially compared to the average citizen. Some of her surrounding guard even had cutie marks with skills that made their hearing or smell almost four times as good as a regular bat pony.

So either they cast a set of spells to hide their presence and break in....or they had clearance and no pony remembered who it was?

Sireen had gotten a head ache just thinking about it and had given up trying to deduce the answer to her mystery note.

After sitting in her usual spot by the gate, checking for any disagreeable variables near her, and verifying that she truly was alone, the bat pony mare slumped her shoulders and groaned, allowing her wings to droop to her feet and her head to hang low.

"Worse day so far...."

She half expected to get a reply from some unknown force but fate had other plans and her hopeful returned comment never came. For about three hours Sireen sat there, unable to really grasp at anything of interest to think about. Her mind fell into a loll and her eyes wandered around the empty streets. She did notice that the aluminum can she'd spotted earlier in the week was closer to her position. She chuckled, and stood. It seemed better than anything else she could do. Trotting over to it she lifted a foreleg and gave it a firm kick. Her eyes trailed after it as the silver object sailed up into the air and into the darkness of the alley way to her right.

Well crap, I made my only form of fun disappear into the--

There was a soft hum of magic from the shadows, and the can came flying out of the alley, bouncing, tottering, and slowly spinning to a stop in front of Sireen's hooves. Sireen had suddenly stopped breathing, her eyes locked on where she'd caught the magical glow, it was slightly off to the right of the alley, but even with her vision enhanced she couldn't see into the dark area...no, she should be able to see into the alley just fine, but she couldn't make out more than a few feet before blackness blotted out the rest.

"....Who is in there, come out of the shadows. NOW." Sireen made sure her voice was not jolly or gentle, it was firm. It held power, showing she wasn't playing around. For a moment or two, nothing happened. Sirene took a step forward and went to speak when magic sprouted to life in the alleyway. This time it was off in the left corner, and was barely visible. The can at Sireen's feet slowly lifted up, and wiggled in front of her snout, almost playfully for a moment before Sireen growled and smacked it back to the ground with her hoof.

"Answer me! Who are you?"

The magic stopped abruptly and the alley fell silent.

SIreen paused, waiting for something, a reply, some magic, anything!

She got no reply. Suckling in her breath Sireen marched forward into the shadows and looked around. The alley had a set of trash cans, and a large dumpster to her right. On her left was an iron door that led into one of the warehouses. When she tried the door it was locked tight. Sighing and looking once more, she verified that the alley was indeed empty now. Lifting her snout she closed her eyes and drew in the scents around her, quickly recognizing the tell tale scent of ozone as a spell was cast.

Darn....who was that?

As she exited out onto the street again, her eyes fell on the can, and to her surprise she noticed part of it was shimmering faintly. Her ears perked up at that and she used a wing to scoop the can up and turn it over. Scribbled right across a clean and bare part of the can in magical letters, were the initials "FD" and an address.

Sireen blinked in confusion, the address was....right across the street? Slowly, Sireen walked over to the brick wall that was attached to the bakery, and looked at the roster of apartment numbers. Sure enough, the address written on the can matched up with one of the apartment numbers in the above levels of the building.

"...Why would you give me an address that I have no use for?" Sireen murmured, looking down at the can. The faint magical glow had receded slightly but was still present, which meant whoever was casting it had to be nearby. To her surprise, as she spoke, the letters disappeared and were replaced with new ones. Sireen read them aloud.

"NEW HOME ADDRESS." Sireen flipped her ears back in annoyance.

"This is not where I live FD, I live at the barracks...do...do you live here?"

The can shimmered, and new words appeared.

"NOPE." A growl tore itself from Sireen's lips and she stamped a hoof I to the cobblestones, wincing as the sound bounced around in the night. Sireen subconsciously fell to a hushed whisper, sitting and holding the can with both hooves like it was something precious.

"Seriously? Stop being so vague and answer my question! Who lives here?"

Another shimmer. New words.

"CAN'T." Sireen growled deeper and almost threw the can down in frustration. She managed to quell her rage by focusing her energy into flapping her wings, allowing herself to hover next to the building.

"You will answer my question now or so help me I'll sniff you out and drag your scrawny ass into the street by the nape of your mane buster!"

The can hummed for a moment but then fell still, the words cleared and then reappeared.

"I CAN'T---Errrg! Why not!?"

The can hummed again and Sireen peered close to read the smaller then normal text.

"... Not... not enough space on can?" Sireen snarled and face hoofed before shaking the can like it was a personification of all her problems.

"Well why did you use a freaking soda can to chat with me!?" Sireen hadn't noticed but by now she had flown halfway up the height of the building and was rather close to a window, she caught sight of the pony sleeping within the apartment and backed up to distance herself from the home. She settled on the top of Mrs. Fuzzdrought's peach tree and glared at the can.

It hummed. Even smaller writing this time

"Hit horn with can, broke spell."

"Grrrrr, okay then just cancel your stupid spell and meet me in person! Trust me I don't bite....hard..."

Another hum.

"CAN'T, POSITION COMPROMISED!?" She couldn't believe what had happened tonight, she was sitting in a peach tree arguing with a soda can for Luna's sake! She poked the can and snarled.

"Alright you little punk, play your little games, but at least answer me this, WHO.LIVES.OVER.THERE? Do not answer with 'I can't'. Answer that and I will leave you and your magical little can of crap alone, okay?" She kept her glare up until the can hummed again. She looked down.

".......SORRY, I CAN'T, YOU KNOW WHO---OOOOH THAT IS IT!!" Sireen lobbed the can over the wall and snapped her wings closed with an angry growl.

"I have just about had it with you petty ponies and your preposterously pesky petulance! If you want to talk with me pony to pony that is fine, but we are not talking through some soda can like it's the Lunar Cold War era!"

For several moments Sireen sat there huffing with her forelegs crossed in indignation....before she suddenly blinked, realized what she had just done and groaned, burying her head in her hooves with drooped ears.

"Now I sound like Mrs. Fuzzbutt......great."

The can hummed.

Author's Note

X3 illove Sireen, really I do.

....she's just so cute when she gets flustered!

sorry it took so long to update, I work as a commission artist and bills com first over story stuff o.O I went back and edited the previous chapters of obviously horrible mistakes. however, if you see any glaring errors please feel free to point them out to me and I will fix them ^^ thanks, and enjoy!

Pilfered, pompous, and puffy

"Please?"

"We talked about this. I said no, and that’s that."

Small hooves drumming on the table. A loud, rather painful sigh floated through the air. It was like the air being slowly pushed out of a dying balloon that had been adrift at a carnival for far too long.

"B-but we aren't even doing anything tonight! A-And I heard they have a batpony guarding the party! It could be the one we met in the park!"

"Crisp, listen. I know you really want to see Sireen and that is totally understandable--"

"You want to see her, too!" Crisp said pointing an accusing hoof at his father from across the table. The pair were eating breakfast at about seven P.M. Considering Crisp was in night schooling, he didn't have to worry about being late.

"Yes, I do. Regardless, we were not invited to that party. You can't just waltz into a party without invitation." Iron fluffed his feathers and bit into his toast. In front of him was the evening paper. While most of the news was pretty boring, Iron had made it a habit to keep up with the times.

"Yeah huh! Mrs. Blotchquill across the hall said they are called...uh party crashers!" Crisp stomped a hoof against the table and then leaped down to the floor, sneaking around the table legs on his belly.

"We'd sneak in all quiet like, and no one would see us."

"Crisp..."

"And then, when the gates open, you'll flash out your monocle and top hat. I'll be wearing a suit!"

"I don't even have a--"

"From there, it's easy pickings! We just look fancy shmancy and no one will be the wiser!"

Another defeated gurgling sigh. Iron put down the paper and rubbed his eyes. It was too early to be arguing with his son over trivial things. He took another bite of his toast and yawned.

Then, scooping his son up in his wings, he hugged him and ruffled his mane gently before kissing him atop his head.

"Alright, enough of this. We can't go, that’s final. You however, mister, need to go shower up. You're taking magic tests at the school tonight and I don't want my son looking like some dirty delinquent among the other foals got it?"

"Yeah yeah, I got it."

Crisp wriggled out of his dad's grip and fell to the floor with a heavy 'oof' and jumped to his feet. He trotted to the hallway and disappeared from sight with a loud grunt of annoyance. Iron chuckled and returned to his paper. He was going to be watching his son do all of the magic tests. It was one of his finals. He smiled, remembering how the teachers had praised Crisp's aptitude with shadow magic and light magic. Apparently being a natural in both fields was rare. As Iron finished his breakfast, he heard the shower activate in the bathroom, and began cleaning up the meal, his mind wrapped around what Crisp had said almost a week prior.

...Mmmm g'night...mum.

Iron brought the dishes to the sink and began scrubbing them with a sponge. There was no way Crisp remembered having said that in his burnt-out state, but still, it struck a chord in Iron's chest every time. Crisp had no mother, and Iron failed to come to terms with that in a way that benefited his son's growth. Instead, he was a single father living in a rented apartment that barely met living standards for the duo.

He used to own a house. He used to have a cozy family....He used to have a wife.

Slowly, his grip on the dish slipped, and Iron gasped as the plate clattered loudly in the sink. Luckily, it didn't break. He rubbed his eyes once more, and turned off the faucet, exiting the kitchen. Entering the small living room, he found it in its usual state of disarray. Some of Crisp's toys were strewn about near the toy box in the far left corner. The table had a new set of crayons spilled haphazardly across its surface. Iron let a smile cross his lips, seeing a new drawing just off to the side where Crisp had been sitting the previous evening.

Crisp hadn't drawn much since his mother had died. He used to draw all the time, and would prance around the apartment hallway, showing his art to whomever had the interest to look. He had a lot of energy now, but nowhere near as much as when Noble Crest had been around. It was odd then, to Iron, that he would bring it up again so suddenly. Waltzing over to the table he peered closer to the picture, trying to discern what it was.

"NOOOO!"

He managed to see a glimpse of a head before Crisp came leaping over the couch suddenly, a damp towel wrapped around his head and a rubber duck in his magical grip. Before Iron knew what was happening, Crisp slammed into the wooden table, rolled off its top and onto the other side, his horn coming dangerously close to hitting the edge.

The foal landed on the other side on his feet in a surprisingly well placed defensive posture. He gripped the paper in his magic and had put the rubber duck between him and his dad. Iron looked perplexed and flipped an ear to the side.

"Wh-what? I was just curious what you were drawing, Crisp."

Crisp looked at the picture in his grip, then to his father's feet. he blushed lightly and murmured.

"N-Not this one, it's not finished."

Iron laughed lightly. "Alright then, mister ninja. Go put it in your room then and dry up, you're getting water on the carpet."

For a moment, Crisp looked down at his feet and then his eyes widened and he looked at the paper with terror. Iron noticed some water had seeped into the paper a little. Reflexively Iron snapped his ears back as Crisp gasped horrifically, reared up, and his mouth opened wide.

"SON OF A---"

Sireen groaned atop her moonlit perch and looked down at her current object of interest: the crumpled soda can. It wasn't talking to her anymore, not a single word had appeared after she'd picked it up from where she'd thrown it. Apparently, the spell being cast on it had been extremely fragile, and her throw had knocked the spell off the surface. She'd checked the alleyway twice now and had found no sign of whoever the mysterious FD was either. Her break was almost up, too, and she was sorely regretting returning to her post. Mrs. FuzzDrought was hosting an evening party tonight, and had made Sireen put posters up the previous night all over the streets of the elite living area.

That had been a delightful reprieve from the house of grouchy horrors, and whilst putting them up she'd read one over.

Apparently it was to celebrate some big financial breakthrough that the pair had made. As far as Sireen could tell from the inside discussions (arguments) that the two had shot across to each other in the past few days, they'd figured out who between them would be buying the sweets for next month and that was a big deal. The batpony mare sighed, fanning her wings out and cracking her neck before gripping the soda can and closing her wings around her chest protectively.

Luck had it in for her tonight, though, and she was pleasantly surprised when Mrs. Fuzz said she was NOT to appear at the party. Saying something along the lines of;

"It will ruin my image if I am seen with you."

Right, Sireen had thought, because your image could get worse from its already misshapen form. Heheh...

Sireen giggled and suddenly flipped upside down into the dense peach tree branches. Her tail coiled tightly around a thick branch closer attached to the trunk. THIS was her post for the night. She had specific orders to guard the peach tree from would-be thieves. When Sireen had asked why the peach tree was so important, Mrs. FuzzDrought had laughed.

"It's not. I just know that some of these guests I'm letting in have stolen from it before as a way to get back at me, and I want to make it clear that those peaches are MINE!" Mrs. Fuzz slapped her hoof so hard across the desk that her container of quills fell over.

"If you so much as see one guest try to take a peach, I want you to scare the living sun out of them!"

That was something Sireen had confidence she could do in spades. For the moment, though, no one had come near it. Then again, the party had barely started. The gates had only opened twice thus far, and one of them had been because of Mrs. FuzzDrought's previous butler had decided to show up. Sireen had never felt sorrier for a stallion. Mrs. Fuzz had screamed and ranted at him for over an hour about how horrible he was, and then proceeded to throw a bag of bits at him. To his credit he caught it dexterously in his teeth and scampered out with his tail tucked against his rump as he left. The other guest who had arrived was an elderly gentle creature Sireen had never seen before. The odd thing was that he was a griffon. Not many griffons had made Canterlot their home. A few with particular talents like cooking or construction had, but that was it. Sireen may have seen three in the entire time she'd lived in the capital. He was rather cordial with the owners, even giving Mrs. FuzzDrought a light hug, and Sireen immediately wondered if this griffon was more than a business partner, because Mr. Longpea seemed to instantly glare daggers at the avian.

The party itself would be held in the backyard. She'd seen it maybe twice, and had never really any inclination to venture into it, as it was more like a large patio with trees surrounding the walls. It could house perhaps fifty bodies safely, and had a beautiful view of the forests down the mountain, but Sireen felt like being close to the exit more so than anything else.

If anything, it means I can get home quickly.

That train of thought brought her back to the address that had been mentioned on the soda can. She found out something rather interesting too. The café that sat right in front of the house she was guarding was the only way to get into that building. All the apartments were owned by the café owner as well. If someone wanted to reach the ponies in the above place they had to do three things.

First, you had to make prior arrangements. Sireen did not want to set up a time and date if she didn't even know WHO lived there, or, if when she showed up, they would be there at that specific time.

Second, you either had to live there and have a key, or you had to be a paying customer at the open store hours. Spoiler alert, night guards never would be able to go in. Their hours made it so the shop closed just as they were waking up.

Third, even IF you were a paying customer, the first rule would block anyone who wanted to go up onto the higher levels unless they were authorized by the grace of a current resident.

All in all, it was too much trouble to try and get in.

This left Sireen hanging there in the peach with only two options: she could A. mail a letter to them, as the mail box was located outside and she'd memorized the address, or B. she could sneak in.

Granted neither option sounded like it would work to her advantage. If she mailed a letter to someone who didn't know her, they would probably just throw her letter away or send her mail back asking her to leave them alone. The second option was illegal. Plain and simple, Sireen was not a criminal.

She did have a third option, but it was her last ditch effort. She could try and stay up until the store opened, and then talk to the store owner. The problem with this option was that it wasn't safe. Granted, she'd heard of guards coming too close to making it back after sunrise, and collapsing in the street. What she had never heard, though, was if they had gotten in trouble or were put in harm’s way. Citizens would help out and notify the day guard, who would then intervene and help the straggler back. Sireen, however, did not want to be one of those guards. When a guard made a rookie mistake like that after having been in the guard for as long as her...it was remembered. For a long time. By everyone.

Somewhere off in the city, the bell tower struck ten o' clock and Sireen sighed, twiddling the can with her wing claws as she waited. The guests would be arriving soon. Her ear swiveled of its own accord to the sound of the front door opening and hooves clopping on tiles. Her boss came over and looked around the yard.

"Sireen? Where are you?"

"I'm guarding your fruit like you asked, Mrs. FuzzDrought."

Sireen waited a moment, listening as the pudgy mare waddled over and peered up at her in the tree with a calculating look.

"Hmm. You seem well hidden. I have to squint to see you."

That's cause your eyesight sucks, lady.

"Good. I want no one to see you, understood?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"And you'll do as I requested? I want you to memorize who does it, and then scare the damnable pony so badly they wet themselves. I'll then be able to properly taunt them once they return to the party."

"...As you wish."

There was a prolonged silence before the mare fidgeted and angled her eyes to the ground.

"Something the matter, Ma'am?"

Mrs. Fuzzdrought flicked and ear back and sighed.

"Sireen, have....This is strictly off the books, but...have you ever married before?"

The words made Sireen blink in surprise, and for several moments she stared wide-eyed at Mrs. Fuzz, until the pudgy mare looked away.

"I...never mind, forget it--"

"No." Sireen murmured, an eyebrow raised.

Fuzzdrought tilted her head to the side, making eye contact with Sireen. "Oh? So...you've never been in a relationship then?"

Sireen let her eyes close and she slowly loosened her tail from around the branch, letting herself slide down to level her gaze with the other mare. Mrs. Fuzz graciously took a step back to give her room.

"I didn't say that. I have had relationships with some, and they were neither good nor bad. Some ended positively, others...not so much. Why do you ask?"

Sireen watched, curiosity glowing in her eyes as her boss fidgeted on the spot and refused to meet her gaze.

"Well, I...you seem...wise, Sireen. I don't mean that as a compliment, so don't take it as one."

Siren smiled lightly nonetheless.

"You seem to be good at listening and seeing the...ah, other side of things, as it were. I merely thought you might be able to help me discern some emotions that came across my--"

"You like the griffon that hugged you, don't you?" Sireen failed to hide the mischievous grin that escaped onto her face as Mrs. FuzzDrought choked on her words, stuttered and fell back on her rump in shock.

"I...you...b-but..." She flailed her hooves at Sireen and puffed out her cheeks, before whispering in a hiss.

"How did you KNOW!?"

Sireen laughed lightly, closing her eyes and secretly rolling them in their sockets, before setting her gaze on the fence.

"Hmm...I could tell you now, but I don't think I should."

Mrs. Fuzz flipped her ears back and stamped her hooves into the grass in quick succession.

"OOHHH no! You tell me right now Sireen, how did you know I like Gustav!?" Sireen giggled lightly and pointed to the gate.

"In front of your guests who are nearing your house? Scandalous, ma'am."

Mrs. Fuzz gasped deeply and snapped her head around to stare at the gate with abject fear. She swung her head back around with a deep blush across her cheeks and a scowl.

"We are NOT done talking about this, but that comes later. Get back to hiding and...."

There was another moment of confusion that jumped across Mrs. Fuzz's face before she quirked a brow at Sireen.

"...And why are you hugging a crumpled soda can?"

It was Sireen's turn to blush and she slipped back up into the treetops without answering.

"......Snrk...S-sorry dad..."

"*sigh*...It's fine...You didn't mean to do it..."

"...Heheh......eheheheh... It doesn't look thaaat bad."

"Of course not, Crisp. I merely look like a walking giant red marshmallow pony now."

That broke the dam, and Crisp clutched his sides and fell over onto his back laughing. Next to him, Iron felt his cheeks redden with embarrassment as the pair stood outside the gate to the Canterlot School for Gifted Unicorns. A few ponies milling about stopped and smiled in humor as the foal laughed. Iron had been off to the side watching his son expertly ace test after test. Each one was supposed to be more difficult than the last, but true to his skill, Crisp aced every single one.

Until the electricity test.

Iron was unaware that static electricity liked him so much, or his fur for that matter. The goal of the test was for Crisp to generate enough electric magic that the metal globe sitting ten feet from the foal would start to be pulled toward him, as though he were a magnet. This had definitely happened, but with an unexpectedly powerful result. When Crisp started channeling electricity, the globe suddenly shot off the pedestal and flew at him with the speed of a cannon ball. Crisp, of course, had no idea what was happening, as his eyes were closed in concentration.

Like a good father, Iron Crest had leaped to his son's safety. He'd spread his wings and put himself instantly in between Crisp and the suddenly dangerous object and grabbed him. The teachers present screamed and gasped, and the two guards present leaped in to cease the orb's actions. They succeeded just as Crisp lost control over his energy and let it loose, right into his father's chest.

The resounding crackle of static that bounced around the room eventually zapped everyone in the room, minus the guards in their protective magical armor. Unicorns could dispel the energy almost subconsciously. Using their horns as a makeshift lightning rod to send the energy down though their hooves.

Pegasi could not.

Pegasi gathered lightning energy.

Iron was the only Pegasus present in the room, therefore, eighty percent of the energy present in that room hit him, making his fur and feathers explode outwards in an overly fluffy display of uber fluffiness. It brought shivers down Iron's spine remembering that when Pegasi courted mares they would do exactly this, in an attempt to woo the mate, though not nearly at such ridiculous levels.

Iron now stood outside the school with several other ponies and quite a few pegasi nearby. He blushed heatedly when a female pegasus whistled and hollered to him that she wanted to get in his floof.

Crisp had stopped laughing and turned his head to the side in confusion.

"What does she mean da--' a hoof covered the foal's mouth suddenly, and Crisp felt himself hoisted onto his dad's bed-like back.

"And we are moving on now, son, yes. Moving on. Going home. Now."

Crisp giggled and watched the whole way as his dad ignored the females that suddenly pomfed out their wings and advanced on him, their eyes alight with merriment. Some even openly moaned!

"Hey there hot fluff, you look like a cloud I could sleep on all day!"

"Wow it must be bedtime already, cause your body shouts cuddle time!"

"I want to build a nest in your fur!"

"Give me your babies you amazing hunk of fluffy...oh, you already have one!? He is SOOO CUTE!"

Crisp would later lie to anyone and everyone that he had not 'burrowed' into his dad's overly fluffy back fur, when all the attention was suddenly diverted to him. Mares were kinda scary when they got that parental look in their eye. Luckily his dad could still fly, and had beat a hasty retreat. It was several moments before his father huffed, landing a few blocks from the apartments. He would have simply flown all the way, but the wind had started to pick up and he did not want to drop his son. The wind at least helped his fur lessen in size.

"Never....again, Crisp...I forbid the use of electric spells in my home, got it, buster?" On his back, Crisp had fallen silent, enjoying the flight and the sudden silence. Pausing a moment to look back, Iron felt a warm smile reach his lips as he beheld his son. Nestled deeply in his overly fluffy fur, his head tucked between his father's shoulder blades.

"Heh. Someone sure was tired." Iron whispered.

Turning his head back, he gently kissed his son above his horn, and looking forward, went to continue his way through Canterlot, but something caught his eye. The foal, at some point in the trip, had pulled out that drawing he'd been working on earlier, and was hugging it tightly to his chest. Curiosity got the best of him, and reaching back with his muzzle Iron slowly and gently pulled the slip from his son's grasp with his teeth. He set the slip on the ground, and was going to use a hoof to hold it down when a gust of wind scooped it up and sent it careening down the walkway.

Iron cursed loudly. Jarring his son awake in an instant. Just his luck. Crisp sat up, looked around and then yawned. Iron felt it before he saw it coming. Crisp's hoof was shuffling about on his back, when it didn't find what Iron knew was supposed to be there, Crisp's eyes snapped open and he started to whimper.

"Oh no, no! No! No! No! Where is it? Where's my picture?!" He looked up, saw the worried, apologetic face of his dad, and a single slip of paper blowing in the wind ahead of them, down the road. Iron tried to smile and lift a hoof to comfort his son. He was going to apologize and tell him he could help make a another one, but all that was halted when Crisp screamed and launched off his dad's back, chasing after the paper as tears rolled down his cheeks.

"NOO! MOOOM!"

Sireen grumbled. She grouched. She sighed. She growled. She even ate a peach. All in an attempt to show her frustration.

She had hoped that the spell would reactivate when nighttime fell. She was wrong.

The soda can hadn't written anything at all that evening and she was beginning to think she'd had a prank played on her by some local weed munching hoodlum. She'd been in the tree ever since Mrs. FuzzDrought had left her there, the fat mare leaving to open the gate and allow the guests to enter and begin the party. She was present as each patron entered, gave their greetings and then moved into the house. Some of them actually seemed sincere about wanting to come, while others clearly were there for status reasons and nothing more. Sireen had watched as a few looked around the garden area, admired the tree from the other side of the hedge and even commented how they knew there was a guard hiding somewhere on the property.

Mrs. FuzzDrought frowned at that.

The only surprise Sireen had gotten so far was when Fancy Pants and Fleur had shown up. Mrs. FuzzDrought was ecstatic about their arrival because they weren't on the list. In fact, Sireen remembered specifically that Fancy pants did not like this mare. But NOPONY turns down these two apparently. As Fleur and Fancy passed passed by the tree, Sireen was silently startled when Fleur looked directly at her hiding spot in the tree, and winked.

How the hell did she....?

A mystery for another time, Sireen slid that to the back of her mind. She watched and analyzed each other entry guest and then the night fell silent on her side of the house. The wind had gently started to pick up but it was barely noticeable through the dense foliage of the peach tree's leaves. It was just her and her soda can and a bunch of peaches.

"Well this couldn't be any more boring." Sireen spoke in a whisper. Even though she was alone she took her job seriously and was going to make sure no peaches (except the one she took) would vanish on her watch. Still, a boring job was a boring job, and eventually Sireen relaxed and even took a moment to remove her helm. Setting it against the trunk, she began nibbling one of her velveteen wings. She hadn't properly preened that morning and it had been secretly bugging her. Preening was an important part of her routine, and she enjoyed taking the time to make her body feel clean.

Some thought it was weird, but to the recipient it was like a small massage being sent over one's body. Sireen used her tongue and slid it between the long bone like appendages and lapped at the fur that was nestled in the crook of each joint. Every few licks she would use her teeth and nibble at a tuft of fur that had clumped itself up while she slept. The feeling that preening brought was very soothing, too. With all the frustration Sireen had been dealing with, she'd neglected her moments of peace. Switching the can over to her other wing claw, she was about to start with the right wing, when the can vibrated, suddenly jarring Sireen from her stupor and almost making her drop it in reflex. She flipped the can over and saw new words slowly forming.

Hello there.

"H-hi. Where have you been?" Sireen whispered, using her wing claws to hold both ends of the can sideways.

Places. You preen nicely, by the way. Sireen scowled and flipped her wings closed suddenly, hissing in anger.

"That was private you pervert! Where the tartarus are you hiding?" She watched as the magic erased itself and began writing smaller print.

In plain sight. There is a party, correct? I am one of the guests. Sireen sucked in her breath and was silent for several seconds....Could it be?

"F-Fleur? Is that you?"

...Who? Sireen scowled and restrained her urge to crush the can and go confront the mare.

"I know its you, you cheeky mare! You winked at me from outside the tree tonight and I-"

I am a male....

Sireen fell silent at that. They were male? That....wasn't something Sireen had assumed, honestly. She knew that Fleur's initials were accurate with the description but she wasn't male. As she tried to wrack her brains as to who it could be, the can vibrated again.

Anyhow, yes, I am male and no I'm not Fleur.

"Okay, fine. I was wrong. What do you want from me now?"

Did you check the address?

Sireen growled. "You do know that I can't get in there, right? The café closes when I wake up, and that same café is the only way to get to the apartments above."

The can erased and refreshed.

I see. No matter then. Wait for them to come home, and meet them outside.

Sireen sighed and furrowed her brow. "Did you not hear me from where you're hiding? I am asleep when they are awake!"

No, they are awake right now and coming home." the can erased and refreshed once more. They will---you have company.

The can suddenly lost its magical glow as Sireen snapped her eyes to the door that led into the house. True to the can's words, not a few seconds later it creaked open and a purple unicorn mare peaked out of the doorway. She looked around before giggling and sneaking towards the tree.

Sireen felt her lip curl upward, and she looked at the can with a hushed word.

"One moment please."

As the mare approached the tree, Sireen visually took in her jewelry, her coat color, her cutie mark, and her mane style. She'd give the information to her boss after she had a moment of fun. As the mare plucked one of the fruits higher up on the tree and brought it to her mouth, Sireen grinned.

"Mmm, these are still stho sweet and juuithy...." There it was. The whispers of incrimination. She let her tail loosen suddenly, plummeting her head and half her chest out of the branches, right in front of the mare's face. She let forth a loud, primal snarl, baring her full mouth of sharp teeth and fangs. She even let a bit of drool fly out of her mouth. The mare's eyes narrowed to the size of pin pricks and she screamed harshly. She reared up and her magic let go of the fruit instantly.

Sireen then watched as the mare managed to get maybe three paces away before she moaned and fainted, collapsing to the tile beneath her feet in a very undignified posture.

Sireen waited a moment before she quietly lowered herself to the ground and set the can next to the tree. She then proceeded to trot inside, and over to a nearby desk. Pulling the drawer open she withdrew a camera and chuckled darkly.

"Okay, maybe this night was more fun then I hoped it would be." She retreated outside and made sure to take several shots of the mare before silently replacing the camera in the desk and re-inserting herself into her hiding place with her soda can in wing. The mare woke up several minutes later, blearily sitting up and then squeaked in embarrassment as she looked around wildly. She took one look at the tree and left. Disappearing back into the house not to be seen again. By the time all had been said and done, Sireen realized it was almost time for the sun to rise. She smirked. This shift had gone by rather quickly.

Sireen giggled and hugged the can to her chest.

"Heh. Okay, thanks for warning me ahead of time. That was helpful." The can vibrated after second or two.

My pleasure. You are rather alluring when you're mad.

Sireen felt her mirth diminish at that. "Don't push your luck, buddy. Now, you were saying something about the ponies of this apartment?"

The can vibrated again.

Ah, yes. They are nocturnal like yourself. They are on their way home now. The can erased and started anew once more. If you're lucky you'll catch them before they....you have company again.

Sireen cursed. "What now!?"

Lifting her head up and looking around, she waited. True to the can's word a second more went by and she heard something like a muffled yell. She flipped an ear in the way of the gate and saw a slip of paper fly through the gate listlessly. Then a loud scream pieced the night.

"NOOO! MOOM!"

Sireen was moving. Her wings snapped open and she flipped and flew out of the tree as fast as the tight maneuver could carry her. She ended up alighting on the edge of the wall in time to see a unicorn foal running down the road towards the gate, tears streaked down his....his...

Sireen gasped. She knew that foal!

Leaping from the wall to the ground below, she quickly trotted up to the foal. At her appearance the little colt had slowed to a stop mere feet from her. His face was contorted in a momentary look of fear, confusion, and incredulousness.

"S-Sireen?

Crisp shakily lifted a leg, his eyes darting up and down her form. When Sireen nodded, he suddenly choked out a sob and ran into her already opening forehooves. But he didn't stop there. To Sireen's surprise he clambered up her left foreleg, onto her back, and firmly nestled himself between her wings, atop her armor, burying his head into his forehooves and continued crying, albeit now with the biggest grin on his little face.

For a second, Sireen stood stock still, her maternal instincts overrode her will and made her not want to berate him for disregarding her personal space. It was Iron Crest that broke her out of the moment, as he came trotting up, panting slightly. He looked kind of irritated for some reason. Sireen turned her body to hide Crisp.

Gives him a few more seconds to enjoy the moment I suppose... She thought to herself.

"Well! Here I thought I'd have to keep searching the entire town for you, Mr. Crest. Turns out you found me." She smiled disarmingly as Iron blinked several times at her and then blushed, coughing into a hoof.

"I uh...h-hi Sireen. Wow, small world huh? W-what are you doing around these parts?" Iron internally cursed at his crappy line. Sireen smiled brighter. He looked around as well. "Also...have you seen Crisp? He ran this way I'm sure of it."

"Well, I am guarding Mrs. FuzzDrought's residence. I was about to go inside when I heard a 'little commotion' outside the gate, and decided to investigate." Sireen tilted her head back and lowered her wing. She watched as Iron inhaled sharply, seeing his son doing the exact same thing he had to him only moments ago. He looked slightly hurt for a moment.

"That little..."

"Scamp?" Sireen cut in. Iron sighed and smiled apologetically. He took a step forward trying to reach out to his son when Sireen took a step back. Iron looked hesitant.

"Uh, I can take him off your back if you stay still." She shook her head.

"I'm pretty sure he doesn't want to leave my back. The first thing he did was clamber up here and bury his head into my shoulders. Mind if I ask what had him all in a tizzy?" She cocked her head slightly to the side, raising an eyebrow playfully. Sadly, her attempts to make him smile only made Iron frown. This in turn only made her worry more.

"I...It's nothing, just some drawing he lost that--"

"That YOU lost!"

Both adults angled their eyes to the foal, who was glaring potent daggers at his father from between his hooves. Iron furrowed his brow.

"Crisp that is no reason to go running off like you did. It was just a drawing."

"IT WAS NOT!" Sireen and Iron flinched as the foal screamed, new tears rolling down his face as he burrowed his head into Sireen's nape, whimpering. Sireen felt her cheeks blush hotly as the foal nuzzled her. Iron, for the most part, was silent. His expression was that of a parent who was grappling with two choices and didn't know which one to choose. It was here Sireen chose to speak.

"Hey, Crisp?" The foal stopped nuzzling for a moment and Sireen looked back to see his eyes were red and puffy. He was tired and irritable, and the fact that he'd lost something clearly precious to him was making things worse. This had struck an idea in Sireen's head.

Kill two birds with one stone, they say.

"I don't mean to sound harsh, but there are ponies sleeping right now, so can we go to your house and talk about this?"

"Mmmm." It was hardly an answer, but Sireen nodded and looked at Iron. He was rubbing a foreleg and looking at the café with worry.

"I...I don't know. The house is a mess and I really should get to work on--" Sireen cut him off with a hoof in the air.

"Even when you've been outvoted two to one? I think you should reassess your standing here. You are clearly outmatched." This earned a giggle from Crisp and a flat look from Iron.

"Ha ha, Sireen. Give me my son."

Sireen looked to Crisp who both shook his head and buried his face into the mare's fur. She looked back to Iron with a conspicuous look.

"Hmmm, I don't knooow...Crisp's real father would never wake him while he was sleeping." Iron raised a brow.

"B-but he's not even--"

The sound of cute, forced, and totally exaggerated snoring suddenly rose from the crook of Sireen's wings, and as she smiled victoriously at Iron, he buckled.

"I--you but he's....Aaag, fine! I lose! The world is against me tonight! It is clear I was not going to win from the start, was I!?" Iron flailed his front hooves around and finally slumped to the ground in defeat, his ears flat against his head, and his mane slightly frazzled. Seeing the usually well-groomed in such a state, Sireen snickered behind a hoof. Even though he looked mad, Sireen caught the mirth in his eyes and the hidden smile he too covered with a hoof as he rubbed his face.

"Fine, my house is....waiiiit a second. Aren't you on duty, Sireen? You can't leave your post! HA!" He pointed a hoof at the batpony before trotting up to her side and leaning down to grab Crisp. He was stopped mid action by her wing, gently lifting and blocking his view of his son.

"Oh? Pray thee tell me, dost thou have the current time on hoof?" She said coyly. She watched as Iron's triumphant look slowly slid off his face and he glowered. Lifting a pocket watch from his collar, he frowned.

"It's eight in the morning. Why?"

Sireen leaned back and nuzzled Crisp's head who practically purred at the touch.

"Then, no, I am officially off duty." Iron frowned, a look of complete defeat on his face as he turned towards the café. His voice frail and nasally.

"Eerg, my house is this way......*sigh* Why can't I win any arguments against mares?" Sireen was going to retort when Crisp sat up suddenly.

"W-wait! Where is my drawing?"

Iron groaned, bonked his head into the now open café door, and pointed to the gate.

"Forget about the drawing, Crisp. It went into an area that neither you nor I can go, nor do I want to bother that old wind bag of a...uuuh...Sireen?" He had opened his eyes and found he was suddenly alone. There had been no notice of movement from the pair, merely his own voice. A few seconds ticked by and then to his relief he saw Sireen float gently back over the wall to land on the street. Crisp was both cuddling a now crumpled piece of paper protectively in his grasp, and looking at Sireen with awe.

As the mare joyfully trotted past him, Crisp looked at his dad and whispered.

"She is soooo coool...."

Iron only blushed and held the door to the café.

"Ye-yes... i suppose she is."

A pony can tell a lot about the way a home is run by the state of its rooms. For instance, if the living room is orderly and neat with no signs of debris, then it can be assumed that there is structure in the home. If the kitchen has dishes stacked up on, in, and around the sink, it can be assumed that the occupants are young, single, or lazy. If there are toys, there are foals. If there are magazines and cook books, they are older.

All of these were things one could immediately perceive as one entered the abode of another, so it was clear to Sireen that Iron's house could do with a mare's touch the moment she entered. There were signs that the house had been cleaned, or a goodhearted attempt had been made at least. Crisp obviously lived there, what with the state of the living room littered with toys. The kitchen was reasonably clean. Some dishes in the sink that had been at least scrubbed and some paperwork was on the table.

"You have a lovely home, Mr. Crest. Very...cozy." Sireen said as she looked around. Iron nodded and closed the door. Walking past her, he took off his collar, tie, and watch, setting the objects on a nearby hall table before turning and facing the living room.

"W-well it's a mess but uh...make yourself at home, I guess?" He chuckled nervously, rubbing his foreleg. "I uh, haven't had guests for some time."

Sireen removed her helm and shook out her mane. Noting that Iron watched this with rapt attention only made her smile widen. She set the helm by the door and began removing her armored shoes.

"It's no worry. If you've had one guest in this home then you already top me. I don't get guests at the barracks...You know, unless it’s higher ups or other guards wanting to play cards." Iron nodded. He went to speak when a loud yawn drifted up from Sireen's back. Both ponies looked back at the foal to find him actually drifting off. Iron smiled.

"He's finally crashing. Little guy was doing magic tests all night, passed every single one. Well, almost every single one. He failed the electrical transfer spell."

Sireen giggled and poked at his chest fur.

"Is that why your fluffy tonight? You look like a walking marsh--"

"A red marshmallow yes, Crisp...used similar words." Sireen held her laughter in as Iron frowned and pointed down the hall.

"Crisp's room is this way." She followed Iron down the hall, noting that several of the hanging picture frames were empty. A few held pictures of just Iron and Crisp, but not once did she see Noble Crest in any of them. Iron must have taken them all down after her passing. It was kind of dreary seeing most of the hall empty of life. It truly did feel like something was missing from the home, and Sireen felt that deep down inside Iron wasn't able to fill it.

This place really did need a mare's touch after all.

Iron pushed open a door that was located on the left side of the hall, beckoning her into...well...It was either a kid's room or a war zone. Toys were everywhere! Piles of them stacked in corners or surrounded by plushies of an assortment of sizes. Sireen even saw a batpony plush sitting on the bed, complete with fuzzy armor and sword. A dresser sat right next to the bed, one of its drawers open and to Sireen's surprise filled with photos. She was unable to look at any of them, though, because Iron quickly closed it with a hoof, blushing in embarrassment.

"Those are uh...personal to Crisp. You understand..." She nodded.

Iron watched as Sireen gently leaned back and gripped Crisp by the nape of his neck, the foal purring lightly as he slept. Taking a moment to rear up onto the bed with her front hooves. She let Iron pull the sheets back and then she placed Crisp into the folds of cloth and comforter, stealing another quick nuzzle before pulling back. Iron gave his son a kiss just above the horn and whispered something to him before they both exited into the hallway.

Sireen smiled and followed him down the hall into the living room. He sighed and hopped up onto the couch, laying down almost immediately and groaning. Sireen took a nearby reclining chair, making sure her wing tips didn't gouge a hole in the fabric. It was silent for a few moments before Sireen yawned and smiled.

"So, someone is slightly in trouble. Do you know how hard it was for me to locate this address of yours, buster?" Iron grunted a response and slowly lifted his head from his hooves. He too, yawned.

"I don't suppose we could continue to keep it a secret, could we?" Sireen cocked a brow at that.

"Why? Hiding something? Will I have to get a warrant to search your home?" Iron smiled weakly, his eyes trailing to the hall.

"Crisp's mother, Noble Crest. She has a lot of family here in Canterlot, and a lot of them really wanted me to move in with them, to quote unquote "give Crisp the right family”. Pah....bunch of stuck up..." He paused and shot a look to Sireen, who shrugged before continuing.

"Ah. Anyway, they wanted to make me move in with them and I never really felt safe around them. Noble always said they were friendly and supportive, but...Well, I got a bad vibe from them and decided to back off."

Sireen shuffled her wings.

"L-like a creepy vibe?"

Iron leveled a flat look at Sireen. "Like the feeling you get when you’re being judged, watched, and ridiculed for what you are and not who you are."

Sireen frowned, knowing that feeling all too well. Iron rested his head on his forehooves.

"Noble's side of the family are all unicorn elitists. So naturally when they found out Noble had married a Pegasus, things went south pretty quickly for me. Half of them didn't even show up to our wedding, and that was both a blessing and a curse."

"Oh? How so?" Iron closed his eyes.

"I...well, I never liked being around them. They were always singling me out and saying that Crisp wasn't half the pony he should have been because of his "unclean bloodline".

At Sireen's soft growl, Iron chuckled darkly.

"Y-yeah, I had quite a few colorful insults floating through my head when my 'father in law' said that right to Crisp. The only thing stopping me was my wife. She took care of him just fine."

Sireen looked curious, but Iron shook his head.

"I am not going to tell that story. It's, uh...well, she got in trouble for her actions; let’s put it that way. Anyhow, it was Noble that took it the worst. Imagine living your whole life thinking your family is so great and so supportive of you, and on your wedding day your parents don't even show up. Hell, none of her four siblings did, either....She had no best mare, and no close family to connect with. The ones who did show up came only because they said they would and couldn't go back on their words. Worst. Wedding. Ever."

Sireen felt her eyes watering. Picturing Noble's smile falling and then tears streaking down her face as she said "I do."....it just looked backwards and so wrong. Standing, she moved over to the couch and hopped up next to Iron, who moved to give her room. He was actually crying. Silently, but the tears were there. His voice was soft but full of pain.

"Heh, when we got home, Noble threw out a slew of curses that would make a diamond dog blush, told me she wanted nothing to do with her family ever again. I wholeheartedly agreed at the time, but it only got worse from there. Noble Crest started getting hate mail from her family, and while she tried to ignore it, she couldn't ignore them when she was at work. Celestia actually had one of them arrested for speaking so rudely to her on one occasion."

"And...That didn't help at all, did it?" Sireen asked. She knew the answer, but it seemed Iron really needed to get this off his chest.

"HA! No! They showed up one day at the café and demanded to be let in so they could harass my son and me. I've never seen so much soup fly before in my life. Old Mustang McCurry sent them packing with hot soup at their heels. He's the stallion that owns this building. I love that stallion like a brother, but he only stirred the pot more. Now, whenever we go to the school or into town during the daytime, they belittle us with insults across the street, or ignore us and act like we don't exist when we are in close proximity. That's....That's another reason I started working at night."

Sireen nodded, watching puzzle pieces fall into place as he spoke.

"Crisp had gone to school one day and two of Noble's relatives had foals in the same class with him. They beat him up, locked him in a closet and left him there. Crisp was stuck in there for hours before a janitor noticed his cries for help. The other foals got suspended, but again, every victory turned sour with time. I eventually pulled Crisp out, paid to have my address removed from the records, by approval of Princess Luna of course, and enrolled Crisp in night classes."

Sireen had lifted a hoof while he spoke and gently rubbed his back, attempting to comfort him.

"W-wooow...that is rough, Iron."

Iron chuckled, and lifted a hoof to wipe at his tears.

"Ehh, Crisp and I are better off now, anyways. He didn't smile or play a lot for a while, just did his studies adamantly and tried to stay out of my way while I worked...Heh, I remember the first time he saw a batpony though. We were just arriving at the school, and the guards at the gate were switching from day to night shifts. Crisp just about had a heart attack when he bumped into one. The guard had been pleasant, though and asked if Crisp had anything he needed help with. Crisp did this adorable little trot and...And he says to t-the guard--sniff--"

Iron paused and coughed into a hoof, tears running down his face as he tried to speak. Sireen finally hugged him and Iron broke, sobbing into her chest with the force of a river. He cried and he cried, his wings twitched and he willingly buried his head into her shoulder.

"I-I'm s-sorry Sir--Sireen I-I just..."

"Ssshhh, its fine, Iron. We are friends, right? Well, when I am in need of comfort, I go to my friends, and they support me...just...just let it out."

He did. Iron cried for a good ten minutes before he finally could speak again. Even so it was shaky.

"C-Crisp...he...He looks up at this guard, and with the t-the biggest glare he could m-muster, says 'I want you to help me b-become you!'. I...I laughed so hard, the guard did too, and h-he crouches down and says "S-so ya wanna be a guard, eh, kiddo?" A-and I'll never forget the look that came across Crisp's face. Imagine a bureaucrat's face when they've been told 'no' to their b-biggest goal in life. They get mad right? W-well Crisp stomps his little hoof down on the ground and shouts, 'NO DUMB-DUMB! I wanna be a batpony!"

Sireen laughed with Iron as he wiped his face with a hoof, chuckling.

"A-after that Crisp did all sort of studying into your race. He fell in love with Thestrals for reasons I don't even understand. He finally had energy again, and little by little he and I have been bouncing back to our old selves....and...and then you showed up, Sireen." He looked at her with a gentle and caring smile.

Sireen's cheeks flushed and she looked away, embarrassed.

"I--well, actually you guys came to me, but yeah..."

Iron put a hoof on hers and Sireen's heart thumped on the touch.

"No, I mean it. I was thinking about you this morning, Sireen. How the moment you came into our life, Crisp came back too! He's taken up drawing again, and has been playing with me. It's been so lively in this empty home, that I feel happy too...so...so, thank you. Thank you, Sireen for coming into my life and...for...um, Sireen?"

It was a beautiful moment, truly it was. Here was Iron Crest saying all the right words to her, and showing emotion (colts rarely did that, something about liquid pride) and trying to connect with her. And Sireen realized something horrible.

It was nine o clock in the morning.

The sun was up.

She was up, but not for long. Her eyes had started to close of their own accord, her wings lost their strength and dropped, and her head lolled to the side.

She heard Iron Crest shout her name as she fell off the couch and to the floor suddenly. Her world going darker and darker as her sleep cycle started.

Oddly...she heard a loud snapping noise, and pain blossomed in her left wing, before she drifted into slumber...

Author's Note

I hope you enjoyed this chapter ^^

Fixing Fractures

A door.

Sireen was standing in front of a door. This door was like any other. It was the common wood brown, and had a simple handle with no ornate symbols or carvings on it's surface.

She tried to look past the door, but it slid where ever her eyesight went. She would spin around, only to come face to face with it time and time again.

Why is it here? She wondered

She looked down, and was now standing on the door. She looked up, and the door was floating above her. She went cross eyed, but all it gave her was a headache.

Why am I here? Sireen hummed and sat down on her haunches, her wings flared out to their farthest span, then after a brief stretch, folded them back down against her. She sat there and pondered how she'd gotten here. She could be dreaming, or this could be an illusion. If it was a dream, it was very off kilter to the ones she normally had. Dreams about flying, or being surrounded by baskets of delicious bat-berry fruit. Dreams of home, Dreams of her family. Her mother, father, and her sky pack. Batpony groups that lived separate from the main branch family were called that. She used to find that so weird when she was a foal.

It could be an illusion too. Sireen hummed louder and nodded her approval. That had to be it. It couldn't be a dream because it wasn't like her to be random. The main question now, was how she got trapped in it. Was it a spell cast by an intruder to the barracks? She gasped.

Was it the mysterious FD? Had they done this?

Sireen shook her mane and sighed, noticing two things: the first that she had none of her armor on, and the second, that when she exhaled, no sound came out. She tried it a few times to be sure, and was rewarded with silence. That was very odd for an illusion. Illusions didn't block out sound unless they were specifically designed for that. Sireen stood, frowned at the door, and lifted a hoof. She knocked three times and then flicked her ears forward, hoping to hear something in return, but when nothing came back, she blinked in confusion and cocked her head.

How am I supposed to leave if I can't enter?

She took a few steps forward, watching as the door slid back the same distance. She'd figured this out a little while ago. She was close enough to open the door, but could come no closer than that. Any attempts to try made the door slide away at the same speed she advanced. This door was starting to irritate her. She couldn't look around and see any other forms of light or darkness. From this knowledge, she was unable to tell how much time had passed. If she tried looking in her peripherals, she would just see a blurry door instead of a clear one.

Again she knocked, this time in a different pattern. It was a guard code used for specific entry into areas deemed restricted even by equestrian soldiers. Withdrawing her hoof, she waited, but was once again given the silent treatment. After four different knocking codes, silence, and no other options left to her, Sireen looked to the handle.

She feared opening it the moment she saw it.

Something about the door and the fact that it was just sitting there so complacently made her uneasy. She had reached for the handle a few times prior to trying knocking, but ended up pulling back just before touching the handle. Now, without any other course of action to take, Sireen steeled herself and reached a hoof out. She was still hesitant, but she managed to touch the handle finally.

She gulped. Her throat was dry. All the fluids were now exiting through her pores for some reason, and she never was one to sweat so spontaneously. Her hoof moved down anyway. She had to open this door and see what was on the other side. With a flourish and a silent yell, she wrenched to door open and stared inside.

Her eyes widened.

"Y-you're......."

"Is she okay? Is the injury serious? I don't actually know her all that well, I mean we talked but from what I know she sleeps at the castle, is that normal? Maybe one of the other batponies knows her? If she needs a place to stay I can assure you she is safe with me and my son. Does she need a place to--"

"Mister Crest!"

Iron jolted into a sitting position and locked eyes with the doctor across from the desk he and his son were sitting at. Crisp was curled up in one of the comfortable couch like chairs, with a blanket draped over his body to keep him warm. The young colt had not been too happy about being improperly woken up during his nap and had been ready to fire off several unkind words at his father for such a rude action.

Until he'd Sireen and her injury.

The kid had gone full blown medical know-it-all in the three feet it took him from his father to the prone batpony mare's side. He'd even started crying until he'd been scooped up and placed on Iron's back. Iron thought it was very sweet of his son to be so worried about Sireen, and he'd made sure that no one had bothered the child since their arrival at the hospital. Iron had, to his equal parts chagrin and gratitude, had to borrow a nearby cart that the cafe owned to haul Sireen's limp form through the sky safely, and once he'd gotten her there, things had only gotten worse.

Initially the doctors thought Sireen had forcefully stayed out and had fallen asleep on the job. From there, they were about to fine him for removing an officer from their post without clearance, and then they were going to call the local guard to come pic Sireen up!

In the end, Iron had to use his professional diplomatic skills and with the poise and grace properly becoming of a member of the Diarchy’s court, got the doctors to listen to him.

A less charitable mind would have said he had screamed at the top of his lungs until they were all looking at him with slightly worried and/or irritated expressions.

He then calmly explained the situation as it had actually taken place. With a lot of heavy breathing, waving of forelegs, and hastily inserted apologies to his son for being so loud. Once the scenario had been declared an accident and not a military mishap, he'd been ushered into an office to do paperwork with the head doctor on the job at the time. An hour of running through legal red tape and four cups of coffee later; Iron was more than ready return back home and resign the whole situation to the dusty halls of memory.

Then the doctor had opened up a whole new can of worms and asked him where Sireen lived and where her nearest relatives were. He'd stupidly answered that he had no idea. That made things far harder and prolonged the conversation even longer. The doctor was currently rubbing his nose bridge with both hooves before he too took a hefty gulp of coffee. He looked down at his desk afterwards.

"I merely asked where Sireen lives. If you do not know the answer, that is fine. I'm sure when Sireen wakes up we can get her information personally. If not, I can contact her leading officer and get the information from him."

As Iron sighed and nodded, the doctor leaned back and sighed too.

"Still, It’s rare for a citizen to be so worried over a Thestral, and even rarer that you'd willingly house one. From what I've heard you babble about, you know her on a fairly intimate level. Do you mind me asking what you're relationship with her might be?"

Iron closed his eyes and nursed his cup in his hooves, and as he did he angled his eyes over to Crisp who was snoring cutely with his head burrowed into his hooves, his ears occasionally flicking in response to the two adult stallions voices.

"My son and I met her one evening when we were heading home from work and school. Crisp wanted to go to the park, and I figured it'd be a nice change up from our usual route. Crisp has had a fascination with the Thestral tribe ever since hard times fell on us, and so when he saw Sireen at her post near the park center, he just about exploded with happiness. I...It has been a long time since I’ve seen him so happy."

The doctor smiled and slanted his gaze to the young foal.

"I was a father too once, had a beautiful daughter named Black Water, she was a medical soldier for the guard for about nine years." The doctor's voice trailed off before Iron spoke up, his curiosity betraying him as his ears perked up.

"I...I didn't know that, is she doing well?"

The doctor snorted, and set his cup down.

"I hope so, haven't spoken with her in about twenty years."

Iron's ears drooped quickly and he dropped his gaze to the remaining coffee in his mug. The doctor frowned, and then looked at Iron with a somewhat worried gaze.

"Please understand, the reason I ask is because of what you said earlier in our questions. When we asked about your status with her, you merely said 'single'. I was hoping you might be able to elaborate a little bit on that?" He flipped his ears forward and after a moment, Iron warily nodded.

"W-well I’m single, you see. I was married once, but well...when my wife passed away, Crisp and I ended up moving to the nighttime. Made things easier for him and I honestly. I work for the courts and Crisp was being bullied in the daytime classes, the transition made things run a lot smoother home wise."

"Ah, that's what I was afraid of."

Iorn blinked and looked up.

"W-what?"

The doctor rolled his chair until it was facing a sideways position to the father and foal.

"It would seem you and I have similar histories Mr. Crest. My daughter hasn't spoken to me for almost twenty years because I broke up with my wife during her childhood. Her mother, Green Waves, always felt like Black Water should become a gardener and not put herself in the line of fire. I felt like she was doing us proud by becoming a guard. In the end, we split up for more reasons than that and I won custody of our foal. I always felt like Black water could be better off with me, but in the end it molded her differently than I expected and she ended up moving out as soon as she was old enough. She used to say that I was so harsh, and I always told her it was tough love. As I once said, 'I’m just getting you ready for the guard.' Filly never even notified me when she'd been accepted. She just left a note saying she'd entered the guard and that she hoped I'd 'forgive mom' one day. Pah! She didn't understand what I was trying to do. Still...she was right in the end."

Iron flexed his wings and then re-positioned them.

"Oh?" He murmured.

"Yup, in the end I realized that what Black Water needed was a mother figure in her life, and I took that away from her. Don't get me wrong, you're a great father, anypony can see that, but a word of advice?"

The doctor leaned forward and smiled warmly.

"Don't let the past hold you back, else the past will hold him back too." The stallion pointed a hoof to Crisp before suddenly standing and walking around his desk and to the door. Opening it, he looked back at Iron with a cheery smile.

"Well, I think we should be on our way, you look like the last thing you need is a lecture and more paperwork right now. May I give Sireen your address so she can find you?"

Iron was silent for a moment, his eyes locked on Crisp, before he shook himself and stood, and after picking up Crisp by his nape and setting the foal on his back, made his way to the doctor. As he exited the office and began walking, he spoke.

"I don't think that will be necessary, but thank you. Sireen was at our house when she collapsed, so I think she knows where we live...However..." Iron paused as an idea came to mind. The pegasus went over to a nearby help desk and nabbed a pen and paper. Jotting down something quickly, he gave it to the doctor and then forced a smile.

"I'm sure she'll like that information just as much."

As the doctor left and Iron exited the hospital and into the mid-day sunlight, his smile vanished rather quickly, replaced with a sad frown.

He was suddenly quite lonely without anyone walking next to him.

"You're......" Sireen felt the words die on her lips as a regal blue alicorn smiled at her from behind the desk she sat at. The other side of the doorway led to an office of sorts. If Sireen remembered correctly, it was Princess Luna's study. She had only been there a few times while in the company of a higher officer. A large dark wood desk stacked with paperwork and two comfy chairs sat almost right up against the far wall where her Highness currently sat. Behind her was a large balcony doorway that was closed and covered in deep navy blue curtains. Around the room were bookshelves with eons of knowledge filling their spaces, and at one end Luna was sitting in her own hoof crafted business chair behind a desk and was resting her head on her fore hooves while reading over a scroll. She looked up at the mare and smiled.

"Ah, hello Sireen Wind, We were expecting thee. Please come in, have a seat." The Princess gestured with a hoof to one of the two chairs nearest Sireen's side of the desk. The batpony gulped, and took a few steps into the office, expecting the door to slam shut suddenly. When it did not, she looked back at it curiously. She looked from it to the Princess with a ample amount of confusion on her face.

"Is...Is this a dream?" Sireen asked as she cautiously crawled into one of the chairs and sat down. Luna's eyes sparkled with mirth as she shrugged.

"Yes, and no. Right now you and I are both asleep and I figured it'd be a perfect time to talk to you. I merely accessed your dream world and made myself known to you. So you know, this really is me and if you need to verify that simply seek me out once you wake and ask what my favorite flavor of ice cream is. We'll say its strawberry sherbet. "

Sireen nodded very slowly, her eyes open wide, her expression one of scrutiny.

"Oookay, y-you do know that sherbet ISN'T ice cream right, Princess?" She watched as Luna hummed a merry little tune and shuffled through some paperwork on her desk.

"Oh yes, we find it humorous to to do things like that. Ask me what my favorite sport is and I'll say hoofball, but I'll actually mean soccer. Ask my my favorite color and I'll say black, even though black isn't a color, so on and so forth. Mine sister has a habit of trying to correct this, but she will never succeed."

Luna giggled and slid a few sheets of paperwork over to Sireen.

"Now, on to business. Recently you met with Iron Crest and Crisp Words, is this correct?" She tapped a picture that was attached to the files, and Sireen noticed it was the first time she'd been with them in the park. That was rather...unnerving. She was unaware that anyone else had been around. When Sireen nodded, Luna continued.

"I see, and you were with him earlier this previous night yes?"

"Up until morning came, yes."

Luna nodded, and lifted another sheet of paper, also with a picture attached to it.

"Aaand, is this why we got a letter this morning notifying me that you had collapsed?" Luna asked, raising a brow.

Sireen almost cursed as she remembered what had transpired that night.

"I...y-yes, I was at Iron Crest's house after my shift ended. I was chatting with him when I noticed what time it was. I was too late though....I sorta fell off the couch."

Luna nodded and pulled the documents back with a smile.

"Mm, that explains things much better than your captain did. He was notified by a Mrs. Fuzzdrought, that you'd disappeared from your post shortly before dawn, and did not come back."

Sireen winced, remembering she was supposed to meet back up with the mare before leaving.

"From there, we got word that you'd been hospitalized and was being brought in by a civilian....See where this is going?"

Sireen groaned and put her head in her hooves.

"Y-yes I do, Princess. Basically it looks like I ditched my post and went off on my own without telling anyone else in my squad what was going on. I was MIA."

"Correct. Now Judging by your track record, You've been spot on for most of your career with the guard, and this isn’t something to get in serious trouble for, so I'll be overriding the captain's decision and instead giving you a stern lecture when you wake up about the Thestral sleep disorder and how it's dangerous to stay up so late."

Sireen couldn't help but giggle as Luna smiled and waggled a hoof at her admonishingly.

"I promise I'll try to look guilty?"

At the Princess's approving nod she stood. The princess went back to her desk and started working on paperwork. A few minutes ticked by and then Sireen coughed, trying to get the Princess's attention. The alicorn didn't look up, but grunted.

"Mm?"

"U-um, Princess, how DO I wake up from this?" Sireen asked, cocking an ear back.

"Think of Iron Crest." Luna said whilst scribbling with a quill. She lifted the sheet of paper and squinted at it before grumbling and crumpling it up in her magic and tossing it into a waste bin by her desk side. Sireen blinked and flipped her ears forward as the sentence was spoken, unsure if she'd heard the Princess correctly.

"W-what?"

Luna started scribbling on the new parchment, and Sireen suddenly felt like this wasn't the Luna she'd been talking to moments ago. The whole room suddenly felt like it was't really there...Was she dreaming now?

"Uh...think of Iron Crest.......Think of--" She was abruptly tackled from behind and sent sprawling across the room by an unknown force. Instead of soft carpet meeting her cheek, she felt rough grass and dirt slam into her cheek. Clambering back up onto her feet she blinked and found she was suddenly on a training field with several ponies. All of them were wearing cadet gear and looked to be having a hard time trying to defeat their opponents.

"ON YOUR FEET CADET! I'll NOT HAVE ANY POSSIBLE SOLDIERS OF MY PLATOON SLEEPING ON THE JOB!"

Sireen looked across from her and found herself facing another batpony in royal night armor. He snorted and flared out his wings, hissing at her. Above them, the night sky was filled with white clouds that closely resembled foals playing together, and the castle was a rather ominously colored metal grey. Luna was sitting atop her balcony cheering them on with a box of popcorn in her hooves and a t-shirt that said "blame my sister" on its surface.

Ah....yeah. Sireen was dreaming again. She smiled wickedly and lunged at the guard, hissing back in glee.

She woke an unknown amount of time later, to the sound of quiet chatter and a throbbing pain in her left wing. The smell of cleaning materials and medicine washed over her nostrils as she blearily opened one eye, then immediately shut it as dark blue light above her pierced her vision. Grumbling, she tried to rollover, but the movement made her nauseous and she groaned.

"Oh hey she's waking up. Sireen?"

After a few seconds of allowing her eyes to adjust to the weird lighting, she found herself in a hospital bed. The lights in the room were turned down giving and enchanted with a blue glow that seemed rather pleasing if she didn't look directly at the bulb. She tilted her head to the left and found two other batponies standing near her bedside. One was female, the other male. They were two of the guards in her platoon. The mare was closest to Sireen and had her helmet off for the moment, Sireen found it sitting on the desk next to her bed.

Most batponies were of similar coloration. Grey pelts, bluish hair, and golden brown eyes that glowed faintly. However, their was a decidedly obvious dimorphism between the genders being that while mares had manes, stallions instead sported a blue or black dorsal fin that arched down their napes. These two weren't anything different from that, save that the mare's eyes were a light blue instead. It was due to a submissive gene if she remembered her sciences correctly.

They were probably the only two guards Sireen knew at more than a glance. The mare's name was Whisper Shot, her special talent being that she could fire projectiles with barely any sound. Very useful when one needed to fire a cannon and not be heard. No one was really sure how she did it either, but the proof was there when cannon fire rained down on the enemy without so much as a crackle or boom.

The male was named Crescent Mold. He was more or less really good with tactics and could make a bad situation into a really easy one rather quickly if given a moment to quietly think things out. Sireen had gone to basic training with them and had also been put in squads with them on several occasions. They had more or less bonded as a trio, save for the fact that they rarely ever hung out and barely talked to one another.

Which made it odd that these two would be at her bedside when she'd been injured. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate the concern, she just hadn't exactly expected it. Whisper smiled toothily and shook her mane out before looking at Sireen.

"Sup, Siren? Sleep well?"

Sireen groaned and gnashed her teeth. She hated that nickname. Whisper nodded at the motion.

"Uh huh, I figured as much. You hear that Crescent, she says you’re an idiot too." Sireen couldn't help but smirk as Crescent furrowed his brow at the mare.

"I'm standing right here next to you, she didn't say a word and your still gonna rib me?" he growled gently and smiled to Sireen.

"Good afternoon, Sireen. We were told to keep watch over you while you slept. Creepy right?" At Sireen's shrug he leaned against the bed.

"So from what I heard, you had a little chat with Princess Luna?"

Sireen tilted her head at Crescent. "How did you know that?"

He chuckled.

"Strawberry sherbet. About an hour after the doctors left, you started mumbling it like a mantra in your sleep. Only guards who are talking to her in the dream realm do that, so what did she say?"

Sireen frowned.

"I was talking in my sleep?" When the other two nodded, Sireen grabbed her pillow and covered her face with it. Whisper leaned over to Crescent and whispered in his ear.

"I told you it wasn't good news, she's probably on standby now."

"I doubt it, she was smiling while saying sherbet."

"And she was frowning and growling right after, that can't be good."

"Whisper, you growl in your sleep all the time."

"What? I do not! How the heck do you know that?!"

Sireen mumbled into the pillow before lifting it off and slowly sitting up. Whisper and Crescent stopped their chatter and looked to her.

"So......?" Crescent asked, leaning his head slightly past Whisper's chest, the mare decided to put her head on top of his, right between his ears. He frowned flatly up at her. Whisper purred and closed her eyes. Sireen looked out the window at the night sky. It was so odd. She wasn't in trouble, that much she knew, but she didn't know WHAT to say either.

"I was told I would be getting lectured for misplacing my time, and....that's it."

Both ponies looked at one other before blinking owlishly at her in tandem.

"That’s it?" They said together. Sireen nodded, looking back at her wing. It was in a cast and was wrapped against her barrel rather snugly too. She looked around and found what she was looking for. A clipboard was on the desk next to her and she started reading through the doctor's notes. While she did, the other two ponies present chatted between each other.

"Well I don't think the captain is aware that Luna changed his ruling, should we tell him?"

Sireen read over the paper, finding that she had a fractured wing bone did not sound pleasant, but it could have been worse.

"Well yeah! I mean what if Sireen thinks she's supposed to just go back to barracks and Captain yells at her for disobeying an order she didn't know about, wouldn't that be embarrassing?"

She flipped a page over and continued reading.

"Hmm, you're right. Which one of us should go tell him?"

Sireen frowned deeper when she saw that she would not be allowed to fly for a week at least, and she was going to be put on injury leave until her doctor allowed her back onto active duty.

"I say we decide this like soldiers, with hoof wrestling."

Sireen flipped to the last page where she found a prescription for some pain medications and a small note left by the doctor. She read it over and then looked up to her companions to find they had commandeered the other bed and were currently hoof wrestling over who would go tell the captain. She sighed and slowly crawled off the bed, wincing as her wing was jostled by the movement. Whisper appeared to be winning the fight so far but Crescent was stubborn and the two wouldn't end it until one had completely admitted defeat. Shaking her head, she walked to the door, looking back as she opened it with her good wing.

"I have to go see the doctor, and then I’m going back to the barracks. Will I see you two back there as well?"

Whisper grunted and stamped a back hoof, her snout crinkled as she concentrated.

"Nah, I got a patrol to go on, Crescent here has a captain to go chat with, and won’t that be fun, Moldy?" Crescent grunted back and flexed his foreleg muscles and grinning back at her.

"Oh no, y-you're going to chat with the captain, I'm going on that patrol hooves down!"

Sireen rolled her eyes and left the room with the door open. The hallway had a few pony nurses and doctors moving about. A single, middle aged unicorn was sitting up in a bed off to the side of the hall. In his magic was a long red string that he was moving and reshaping into different structures. His lower right hind leg was in a hastily made splint and he looked like he had fallen into a trash compactor. Pieces of rock and weeds were stuck in his hair and she could smell his stench from where she currently was. When Sireen passed by him he grinned with a grimy set of teeth that was missing several of its compatriots. He blushed and closed his eyes half way dreamily.

"H-hey thar... I-I must have died'n gone off ter heaven, cause yer'n angel b'fore ma eyes, erm I right pretty lady?"

Sireen paused in her stride and bared her her fangs with a snarling, making the older pony yelp and scoot back up against the wall.

"Perverted old geezer..." She mumbled as she went around the corner. The old pony waited till she was out of sight before putting a hoof to his chest and sighing. His ears pinned back and he looked down at his string with a furrowed brow.

"Huh, tha' weren't no angel....just' 'nother she demon."

Sireen heard him speak the words even from ten feet down the hall and she closed her eyes and sighed. She wanted to go back and show that old codger how much of a demon she could really be, but in the end her mother's words came rebounding back into her mind.

"Never let their words get to you, if you do, they really will be telling the truth and you won't win that fight, my little bat. You'll become the monster they fear you could be."

Sireen stopped short of the door to her specified doctor and was about to knock when she heard voices on the other side. Realizing she wasn't the only patient present, she stood by the door and stood attention, as if on duty. The voices were low and slightly off because of the door but Sireen could still hear the worried inflections of a female, and the assuring male doctor's voice from within. Whatever they were talking about, Sireen's mind went elsewhere.

Was she just that, a monster? No, but it still hurt that she was viewed as such. She watched as a nurse carted an empty bed passed, the mare forcing a smile at her, and disappeared around a corner. The mare was not adept at hiding her actions and the batpony noted how she rolled her eyes and frowned as she'd gone out of sight. Sireen grit her teeth, and flicked her tail in frustration. This was just like Iron Crest's situation with his wife's family. They judged him without knowing the positive side of him. They judged Sireen without knowing what she was capable of...

The door clicked and Sireen stood perfectly still as it opened.

"T-thank you doctor, I really do appreciate your concern for my daughter. She's going through so much--oh!" Sireen felt the air current next to her as the mare jumped.

"I-I was unaware you had guards!"

Sireen tilted her head to the mare, and found she was not alone. Hidden just behind the mare's front legs was a young filly that, upon first look, appeared to be pink in color, but when Sireen took a second look, she realized suddenly that the foal had no fur on her entire body. She was looking at the actual skin of the filly. The little foal was wearing a pink sweater over her barrel, a beanie over her head, and booties to help keep her feet warm. Sireen's heart skipped a beat when she noticed that the sweater said 'world’s best daughter' across its front.

The filly was looking up at Sireen with silent curiosity and awe. Sireen flipped her ears back and smiled gently down at her, causing the foal's eyes to widen and a small smile to creep across her face.

"What do you mean? I don't have guards stationed at my--oh! Sireen, good heavens you can scare ponies when you do that." The doctor was another middle aged unicorn with light brown fur and green eyes. His cutie mark was a heart resting against a pillow and wrapped in a blanket. Sireen frowned and looked to him.

"My apologies, but I saw you left me a note and I felt it pertinent to come see you about it. Besides, I don't think I scared this brave mother and her courageous daughter, now did I?" Sireen leaned down and winked at the foal, causing her to giggle and scamper behind her mother's rear legs. Sireen lifted her head back up to the mother and found her eyeing her foal curiously.

"Odd...she's not smiled like that in a long time...I...um, thank you for the compliment...miss?"

"Sireen Wind ma'am, and it's my pleasure. I have a bit of a soft spot for foals." Both females shared a smile before the mom ushered her child down the hall. Before they disappeared, Sireen caught the filly waving to her and she blushed as she waved back.

"Well, that was rather kind of you, Mrs. Downtrack has been having a lot of trouble with that filly. She has Hypotrichosis, and a rare form of it too. Please, come inside and we can talk more." Sireen flicked an ear sideways in confusion as the doctor closed the door behind her.

"Hypo...what?"

"Hypotrichosis, miss Wind. It is a disease that affects the hair follicles of ponies and other mammalian species, causing their hair to either fall out over time or never grow at birth. That filly has the rarest form of it where it affects the entire body. I'm afraid she'd going to be getting a lot of sweaters, scarfs, and blankets for her birthdays and holidays. Now, I do believe you came to see me about this. Mr. Crest left it here for me to give to you when you woke."

The stallion stood behind his desk and slid a small slip of paper to her. On it was an address for a business and an office number. Next to that was a small note that read:

"Meet me at work when you are healthy enough to do so, and we can talk more--Crest."

Sireen smirked and gripped the paper in her good wing claw. She watched as the doctor sat in his chair and pulled himself up to the desk. He put his hoof on the desk and smiled generously.

"Now, for treatment purposes. You have a wing fracture along your left radius bone, that's this one here." he used his magic to gently grip the proper area of her wing, using her good wing as an example. Sireen nodded and he continued.

"Apparently, you fell off a couch while going into post hibernation state, and landing on it with most of your body weight. Add to the fact that you were losing control of your motor functions, Mr Crest informed us that you didn't try to stop yourself from falling and he was too slow to catch you, such a pity, that. It would've been quite romantic."

Sireen blushed and went to interject but the doctor steamrolled right over her attempt at a comment and continued.

"As per the usual treatment, we have put a healing spell on the affected area and have put it in a hardened cast. You are not allowed to fly for at least a week, after which you are to come in and let us remove the cast and inspect the healing thus far at that time. Your captain said something about wanting to talk with you about some kind of misconduct but he has yet to return any invoices on that end of the ladder, so I wouldn't worry too much about it. Still, it's best that you check in with any superiors before going on medical leave, as they will probably want to fill you in with military stuff and what not. Other than that, you are free to go."

Sireen nodded and stood. She was about halfway to the door when she paused, and looked back.

"Doctor, I noticed that there wasn't a regular fill out form in my paperwork, why was that?"

The doctor looked up at Sireen from his desk and smiled, a glint in his eye.

"I was under the impression from Mr. Crest that we would not need to fill that form out, ma'am. That being because your only close relatives are Mr. Crest and Crisp words."

Sireen's mouth dropped open and she stared at him incredulously for several seconds before she quickly left. She found out from Whisper and Crescent that her armor had been shipped back to her bunk at the castle and that Mrs. Fuzzdrought was being notified about the current situation. That left only her talk with the captain and then she was going to find Iron Crest and they were going to have a chat.

Sireen growled and grinned wickedly as she exited the hospital and into the night.

"A nice little chat about how falsely filling out hospice paperwork is AGAINST THE LAW!"
She loathed that she had to walk to the castle.

Iron sighed and flipped another sheet of paperwork over. His eyes scanning the page for the targeted information. To his dismay, it was not on the back form either and he groaned. Flipping it back over to the front, he scribbled 'missing route number, section six-B' before slipping it into a rather large stack of papers with similar red markings.

"Third time is the charm Mrs. Andlewood, third time..." He mumbled.

His desk was cluttered with papers from all different sections of the castle departments. His main job? Check for errors in paperwork that was meant for higher courts to deal with at later dates. His job saved everyone else from falling apart, or at least that's how he saw it. The most recent form was one he'd seen repeatedly in the last few days, and it kept coming back with missing parts that were necessary to be filled out. The mare in question was wanting to have a court hearing with Princess Celestia over a land dispute between her and her neighbor, but the mare kept missing sections of the form in her frustration.

She practically glared a hole through my chest today when I spoke her. If looks could kill, I’d be a dead stallion. he thought.

If you were dead, who would take care of Crisp?

Iron paused and sighed, rubbing the side of his temple with a hoof before sliding the next sheet in front of him. This one was a new one at least.

"I need to lay off the fifth cup of coffee in the morning, starting to argue with myself." He chuckled nervously and looked over the form. All was well with this piece and he slipped it into a smaller stack on the right side of his desk. He took a moment to glance at each pile with a smirk.

"If these ponies would just slow down and go over their work first, my job would be a lot easier."

"Correct me if I'm wrong Iron, but you wouldn't have a job, if they did that."

A younger stallion's voice broke out from his open doorway. Iron looked up and looked the arrival over. He was a soot coated earth pony with darker socked forelegs and lighter back hind legs. A brick red and gold mane and tail covered his nape and rear, and Iron's eyes met with shimmering acid green ones as he locked gazes with the other male.

"Fissure Quill, I assure you, these nobles can't seem to spell their names right without my skills. If they suddenly started doing paperwork correctly, Celestia would wonder if a dark magic cult had arisen in the name of grammar."

Fissure laughed lightly and trotted in, hopping over the back of a chair and into it before slouching and sighing.

"Well, need any help? I got my stack done about ten minutes ago and there isn't anything better to do." Without waiting for an answer, the stallion grabbed the nearest stack and started leafing through it. Iron smiled, and nodded regardless.

Fissure had certainly been a better part of Iron's job, and the two were practically friends while at work. Off work was something else entirely, as Fissure had his family just over his shoulder. When Iron had asked if they could hang out one night, Fissure had informed him that he wouldn't want to because his family knew about Iron's....familial issues with some of Fissure's neighbors.

Apparently some of Noble's remaining relatives lived right across the street from Fissure. Fissure swore up and down that they had given up looking for Iron and Crisp, choosing instead to remove them from the lineage records and forget the whole ordeal, but Iron chose to remain on the defensive about it. He had to make sure Crisp was safe, and instead the two would hang out on their breaks or for a little while in the court cafeteria after their shifts were over.

Iron smirked and slipped the sheet of paper he was working on into the left pile.

"Oh come on, what happened to Iro? Isn’t he supposed to be here tonight?" Iron grabbed another sheet, while Fissure shook his head and gripped a nearby extra quill in his mouth. He mumbled past it.

"Nah, Iro is up west with the other dragons. Finally took some time off."

That made Iron stop, and the pegasus looked up in surprise.

"Really? That old lizard finally took some vacation time?"

When Fissure nodded, Iron leaned back in his chair and tossed his quill onto the desk with a wing tip. He chuckled and then looked down at his desk.

"Finally, that old codger has been working his tail off for the past what? Thirty years? Hell, I was just starting when he'd hit his twenty fifth year, right?"

Fissure slipped another sheet aside and flipped an ear sideways as he thought, before nodding as well and returning his ear to its standing position.

"I think so, I was so happy to see his desk empty this evening. When I contacted him, it said he'd gone tail hunting."

Both stallions laughed at that. Iro was a red dragon that had been in Celestia's court for several decades. He liked helping others, giving wholesome and deep advice to those who needed it, and he could make some damn good tea. Sometimes he'd get called to the kitchens when Celestia ordered a specific cup, because he was the only one who could brew it just right.

"Making good tea is always about patience and care, you must never rush through a brew. Otherwise it burns the mouth and leaves a horrible aftertaste only Discord would love." Fissure said, mocking the dragon's old voice rather closely.

The two quieted down for a bit, doing more paperwork and chatting here and there about their night to night lives.

"So how is Crisp doing lately? I heard he passed all his exams except one....quite shocking that."

Iron had beaned him over the head with a wing when he'd started poking fun at Iron for his floofy appearance.

"Ha ha, laugh it up colt-cuddler." Iron quipped back, watching as Fissure gripped his chest and gasped, laying over the side of the chair in mock drama.

"Oh egads! You’ve figured out my horrible secret, yes, it is true. I dream of you every day Iron, truly I do." Fissure held the pose a second or to longer before springing back to his sitting position. Iron sat there and glared at Fissure until the male waved his hooves defensively in front of him.

"Oh come it was a joke, Iron! Seriously, I don't really think of you like that, ever. No offense meant, but you aren't really my type, and I know you know that, so you can stop it with the glaring. No....No not that look either, stop it... Stop... STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT!" Fissure's voice raised as Iron's expression grew happier and happier until it was borderline creepy. After Fissure had pushed himself into the recesses of the chair he was in and started making hissing noises, Iron relented and chuckled, going back to his work.

"Ha, too easy. You shouldn't freak out so loudly, someone might think we are up to something."

Fissure grumbled and grabbed another piece of paper.

"Yeah, very funny old colt. I'll have you know that Spring Board and I are gong rather strongly as of late, and I don't feel that he's going to let go of me, just for a sky high rocket ride."

Iron frowned.

"Whoa...tone it down there bud."

Fissure blushed and nodded.

"Still, thank you for not telling the others about my... interests, Iron. It means a lot to me." Fissure said quietly as he finished another sheet. Iron paused and looked over the colt for a second, before shrugging and standing up.

"Why wouldn't I? You've been kind enough not to blab to those stuck up unicorns across your street about my situation, it's the least I could do."

Fissure rolled his eyes and stamped a hoof against the table.

"I told you they aren't interested in you any more, Iron. I personally asked about you and they literally raised their brows and went 'who ever are you yammering about?' I didn't tell them where you lived or anything just that I knew you were related to them and at that they asked me to leave and that they didn't want to hear my 'lies and slander' about their family. I hardly consider it fair that you would be helping me when I haven't helped you in the slightest!"

Iron was walking around the side of his desk and to the door when Fissure reached out and grasped his hoof, looking up at him with saddened eyes.

"I am thankful for what you've done though, Iron, and I wanted to make it up to you. A few nights from now, Springboard and I are going out for some fun in town. Clean fun, don't raise your brows at me, buster! Anyway, I wanted to know if you and Crisp wanted to come along."

Iron paused, letting Fissure lose his grip on Iron's leg before he sighed.

"Ah, I'd love to, but Crisp has school, and a friend of mine recently got stuck in the hospital this evening, in fact I should probably go check on her, I haven't--"

"Wait, a mare!?"

Iron felt Fissure yank him around, wrap his hooves around the stallions neck, and pulled him forward until they were almost touching foreheads, the colt's eyes were wide and filled with merriment. He knew that look too well.

"Soooo, Iron's found himself a girl eh?"

"No, NOOOO! Fissure, it's not like that, and she is not my mare friend, we are just friends and--"

A rather firm knock on the office door made both males snap their heads to the entrance with glares. Said glares turned into heated blushes as the two pulled apart and coughed in embarrassment. Standing in the doorway was Sireen. She was looking at the two with confusion and embarrassment, but it was masked by the armored helm she wore.

"Ah...Am I interrupting anything?" Before Fissure could retort, Iron shoved the colt out of the chair and quickly walked past Sireen into the hall. As Fissure got up, Iron closed the door on him. He looked up at Sireen and felt his cheeks heat up.

"I...ah...no, no you were not, my colleague was just being an ass." Iron mumbled.

"I heard that, Iron, and mine looks better than yours ever will!"

Iron blushed even more and briskly walked past Sireen.

"Ah shall we take this somewhere LESS obtrusive? Greeeeaat, I knew you'd understand, Sireen, right this way!" Sireen was suddenly set about face and marching the opposite direction with Iron at her side. The stallion was obviously flustered by the current events and Sireen felt it best to merely stay quiet until they were wherever it was Iron had planned on taking her.

Weirdest moment yet with him, that is for sure, she thought as they rounded a corner and promptly dodged a maid and her cart of cleaning supplies. After a few more feet was between them and his apparent office, Iron sighed and chuckled.

"Sorry about that back there, my colleague likes to ah....well he's good at making awkward moments." Iron's chuckled faded and he frowned at her.

"But, seriously, I do not like him like that, and no I am not a colt cuddler, Please do not think that about me!" Iron said, clicking his hooves together in a prayer pose. Sireen was silent for a moment before she smiled mischievously and nodded.

"I didn't think that for even the slightest moment."

Iron visibly relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief, lowering his head.

"Oh thank Celestia for--"

"Because I've seen how you look at my rear plating."

Iron gasped loudly and snapped his eyes up to her, a heavy blush radiating off his cheeks, and his mouth open like a fish. His wings snapped open at his sides and he immediately fought to push them down with his hooves while stuttering.

"I--I don't...I wasn't looking at..." a hoof poked his chest as she grinned.

"Believe me, colt cuddlers don't look at a mare like that." Sireen held her grin a moment longer before the expression Iron was giving her made her crack up laughing. Iron sat there looking like a puppy that had been drenched in water and put on display.

"Wow. I think I felt the breeze from how cold you're being right now...are you really the injured one here? I think I broke something...oh yeah, my pride." Iron mumbled as he kept walking. Sireen giggled and then winced as her wing twitched. She had been having it happen every time she shook her body too much. Iron noticed, and his eyes failed to hide the worry that danced across his face.

"You ah, doing alright?" He asked while closing his wings. Sireen felt her cheeks warm up as his head tilted and angled past her to spot her bandaged wing. She abruptly leaned her body to the side, forcing him to see her good wing.

"I'm fine, Iron, really. It's just a fracture, I'll be good as new in no time!" She grinned broadly and watched as Iron's brow lowered and he frowned at her. He continued to frown at her until the smile wilted and the silence became awkward. Sireen turned and parallel him, walking down the hall more.

"Aaanyway, how is Crisp? I heard you brought him with you but I didn't see him in your office."

"Does it hurt?" Iron asked, standing. He held his expression, even as Sireen faltered in her step and flipped her ears back slightly. From where he was standing, he could just make out the corner of her eyes, and she seemed...nervous.

"N-no, of course not. I'm a guard, Iron Crest, fractures don't even come across as painful to us. We are a lot tougher then--"

"How badly?" Sireen wasn't sure why, but when he spoke those next words, his voice had changed. It wasn't cruel or hurtful...just firm, father like, almost. He was cutting through the bullshit and diving right at the truth. Sireen felt like she was a batling in a corner and she'd been caught with her hoof in the fruit jar. She slowly lowered her ears as Iron came up next to her. Each clack of his hooves managed to make her lower them more, until they were pinned against her head.

Iron stood on her left, his eyes staring down at the mare who now held her head lower than his own. She dared a glance up at him. She found a frown, but it was glazed with concern. Iron spoke again, softly this time.

"How badly, Sireen?"

"It...It twinges when I walk too strongly, or if I laugh....shakes my shoulders...It's not bad, really! I'm a night guard, I’m---mmmm?!" Sireen felt her mouth close tight suddenly as Iron draped his head over her neck. His left fore hoof rose and wrapped around her chest plate as his cheek rubbed against the back of her ear near the base of her skull. Iron sighed, softer then a midnight breeze, and quieter than a floating cloud.

"...I'm sorry." Iron held the pose for a moment, and she felt him sit his weight as he went to nuzzle her cheek, but then he stopped. The leg lowered, and he stepped back from her. His eyes were on the distance hallway's end when she looked at him. She mumbled.

"W-whatever for?"

Iron looked from the hallway to his feet, before standing and walked again. This time Sireen made sure to follow along. Her ears perked forward and her blush fading. An apology wasn't what she had expected at all from that scenario!

Iron and Sireen went around the corner and entered a main lobby. There was no receptionist present and so Sireen watched silently as Iron checked himself out and they left. She contemplated telling him that he was still on shift, but with the way things had gone so far, she wasn’t even sure she'd reprimand him for the hospital stunt he'd pulled.

They walked for a spell, maneuvering out a pair of double doors and into a cultured garden entrance, and then through a fancy stone archway that had the words 'Canterlot Court House' engraved into its curve. It was here Iron took a right and started heading in the direction of home, or at least that was where Sireen assumed he was now headed. After a moment longer he spoke without making eye contact.

"I apologized because unlike a soldier, my reflexes are not the best, and I failed to catch you in time. You sustained an injury in my home, and now you are hurt and unable to work." He turned his head away. "So...I'm sorry."

Sireen frowned, lifted a hoof and punched iron right in his wing bicep. The stallion flinched, hissed, and wobbled a few steps away from her.

"...O-Oooooow.....W-what the hay was that for?!" Iron grit his teeth and paused for a moment while Sireen kept walking with her eyes closed. She stopped a few steps ahead and smiled back at him.

"What? Did you expect a simple 'I forgive you'?"

Iron rubbed his shoulder and looked confused.

"Y-yes? I mean, that is what ordinarily happens with these kinds of scenarios, right?"

Sireen frowned and flared her good wing open, sitting in front of him with her ears perked up and her eyes wide. With a street lamp just behind and above her, the mare was basking in a golden glow that shone through her wing's membrane. She almost smiled as Iron appeared captivated by her picturesque form. He certainly wasn't making eye contact.

"Do I look ordinary to you?" She asked, cocking her brow. Iron almost, almost nodded, his mind still staring at her form, and he blushed and shook his head quickly. Sireen pouted suddenly, her lower lip puckering and her eyes glistening in the stark lighting. She drooped her wing and pinned her ears back while her front legs lifted to her chest. She lowered her voice to a pitiful whimper.

"W-what!? Y-you m-m-m-mean I’m n-not normal enough f-f-for you?" She started to sniffle and whimper just enough for the sound to reach his ears.

Iron went from gibbering fish mouth to a locked jaw in a heartbeat. His wings didn't open from his sides so much as they exploded into a flight pose. His eyes bulged out for a second, then they rolled up into his head and he slumped backwards against the cobblestone with a very unhealthy

THUD.

Silence took over.

Sireen was now the confused one....was he playing with her? She couldn't tell. She held the cuteness for several second longer before she stopped and silently stood up. Tip toeing over to the male's prone form, she peered down at him, her snout coming within a few inches of his. Iron's face was scrunched up in mock pain, and his left brow was twitching something fierce.

Sireen growled. "What the heck was that?"

Iron groaned and doubled over onto his side, a hoof wiggling weakly.

"Can't....can't go on, nope. I just....died...too adorable...snrk!"

Iron started to giggle. He lifted a hoof to his mouth and tried to block the laughter out but failed. His ears caught the distinct sound of teeth gnashing, and he paused.

"I'm going to punch you now." Sireen said through gritted teeth. Her cheeks were red, her ears were pinned back and she was grinning down at him angrily. "I'm going to punch you until all the laughter comes out of that stupid belly of yours!"

Iron yelped as a hoof came down on his back, prompting him to roll away just as another landed where he had been. Iron leaped to his feet and took off down the road, with Sireen hot on his hooves. He laughed back at her.

"You'll have to catch me first, Wind!

Sireen growled and then winced, her wing twinging in protest as the stallion brazenly stayed just out range of her strikes.

"You are not being helpful to a mare that is injured you twit!" She snarled playfully. Iron sighed and leaned against a lamp pole dramatically, merely ten feet from her.

"Oh, woe is me, a poor, pitiful, defenseless, bat pony guard, I should just let a strong stallion protect me instead!" Iron jumped away from the pole excitedly as Sireen dove and swiped at him with her good wing. she missed and began chasing him again. The pain in her wing hardly noticeable as the two adult ponies played like foals. Iron suddenly took off into the air and flew farther ahead of her, and Sireen had to pause and watch. She furrowed her brow and slouched as he shot down the street.

Okay, now he's just playing unfairly. He knows I can’t fly.

Iron landed well within her view and stopped at a familiar building, he then pulled something out in front of him. Sireen watched as he fumbled with it while glancing at her nervously. he was grinning. It was here that she realized what he was trying to accomplish, and she took off running. He had his keys out and was trying to get into the apartments before she could reach him. When Iron saw she was moving again, he yelped and flung the door open as she neared the half way mark between them. He managed to grab his keys and bolt up the stairwell just as Sireen reached the now open doorway. She huffed but smiled viciously.

"Oohhoho.....someone is gonna get pummeled!" She growled.

Above her laughter came slipping down the stairwell to her ears, and she barely caught Iron's hushed words.

"Not if I lock you out...heh heheh..."

Sireen cursed and employed a night guard tactic for scaling stairs. Titled 'barkour' by the diamond dogs to the east of Equestria, it was a new tactic that the soldiers of Canterlot had been teaching new recruits. The goal was to get from point A to point B as fast as possible with the most direct route. With this in mind, Sireen jumped from one side of the stair's railing, to the next one above it, completely circumventing the stairs themselves. She did this all the way up to the floor where Iron Crest lived and then lunged down the hall.

Iron yelled in shock as he found the mare barreling at him down the hallway with a look of retribution on her fangs. she cackled as he flung the door open and dove in. Using the wall itself as a makeshift spring board, she dove through the doorway and into Iron Crest's chest, sending both ponies flying into the couch that was conveniently placed in range. Sireen landed atop Iron's chest and ended up straddling his hips. Her good wing had one of his pinned against the couch cushion, and her hooves were pushing his into the fabric above his head. She grinned as they panted heavily, her muzzle an inch from his, Iron chuckled and blushed, grinning up at her sheepishly.

"*pant*....G-guess you don't need me to catch you...heheh.....s-sorry..." He went to turn his head away but was suddenly blocked by Sireen's hoof catching his cheek. She pushed against his head until it was facing her again and then she locked lips with him.

It was the most blissful five seconds they had ever felt. Just by that touch alone, Sireen and Iron felt one another's hearts hammering in their respective chests. She could feel the shivers that ran down Iron's back, and he practically tasted the deep purr from Sireen's throat as it nuzzled its way into his throat. Hooves slid forward to lock around both necks, damp with sweat and warm from the chase. Iron's eyes fluttered shut and Sireen's glowed with passion as the two slowly flipped onto their sides. Sireen's bad wing on top of the impromptu cuddle.

Finally, they broke apart, a trail of saliva keeping them linked for but a second longer. Both ponies now were panting for entirely new reasons. Sireen opened her eyes and found Iron was already gazing at her, a mingling of emotions dazzling her view as he finally picked one among the batch.

Nervousness, but so much approval were shining in his orbs. He brushed his hoof into her chest fluff and Sireen let a gasp escape her lips.

"I...I'm so sorry...I..I don't know what--mmmph......mmmmm."

Sireen shut him up with another speech shattering kiss, this one only lasting a second, before she broke away and simply burrowed her neck under his chin for comfort.

He gladly allowed the contact, even wrapping his wing over hers and letting her nudge a knee between his thighs. As a final act of agreement, Sireen nibbled his shoulder and then firmly bit it, pinning her ears back and purring as she listened to Iron's hiss from his clenched teeth.

Just as the sun began to crest over the Canterlot mountains and into the living room the two bodies shared, Sireen nuzzled his chest and whispered....

"Apology accepted..."

Author's Note

*smiles while sniffling* I um...I-I totally didn't cry while writing this ending.... it's 4:04 in the morning here and I couldn't sleep...I HAD to write this out. It just came to me....I had about three fourths of it written for almost two weeks, and I knew I wanted it to end the way it did, but my muse was out. This hasn't been edited yet but I will get to that in the morning, along with the picture that goes with it. heh...*sniffs*....N-Now, it's four in the morning and I'm crying over a fanfiction, while cradling a cup of hot cocoa...it's even got those cute little marshmallows floating in it....

.....I'm...I'm happy. :heart:

Problems, Parenting, Peas, and Plump Peaches.

Sireen purred and shifted ever so slightly in her sleep. The amount of warmth that encompassed her was perfect. Moving any part of her body would send rivulets of pleasure through her body. She couldn't remember the last time that she had slept this well since moving into the barracks at Canterlot Castle. In fact, she had never slept very comfortably in her bed to begin with, so this was a gift from above.

Normally when one lives in a military structure, the sounds of other ponies nearby could become quite the sleep hindrance. Snoring, coughing, mumbling, and growling – all types of sounds made themselves heard when the time called for it. Sireen vaguely remembered her first few weeks at Canterlot castle, back when she had just passed her training and become fully fledged. She had never heard the night become so noisy when beds were filled and ponies stopped moving.
Sireen ignored the memory and nuzzled into her fluffy, furred pillow.

“Mmmm… best morning... ever...” she mumbled.

Her pillow shifted slightly.

“Mmm… you said it, honey....”
...
...
...
Sometimes a single sentence can just destroy the most peaceful of mornings.

Sireen's eyes snapped open at the same time that Iron Crest realized he had replied to a statement from a pony that, quite frankly, should not be in his bed to begin with. Both ponies tried to move at the same time and somehow ended up tangled even closer together. Sireen's snout was right up against Iron's, and his forelegs were over her shoulders and wrapped around her neck. The pillow Sireen thought she'd been snuggling had been in fact, Iron's chest, and the pillow Iron thought he was resting on, turned out to be the top of Sireen's head.

“I-Iron Crest!? What are you doing in the barracks!?” Sireen hissed with embarrassment, she flailed a bit harder and Iron tried to let go, but only succeeded in getting his hoof stuck between her good wing and her shoulder.

“Sireen! Wh-what are you doing in my bed?!” he squeaked.

“You both appear to be cuddling; I must say it is adorable to watch. Plus, you two seem to be trying to eat each other's snouts at the same time. It's kind of interesting to observe really.”

Sireen and Iron whipped their heads over to the nearby recliner to find Crisp laying on his belly with his little hooves tucked underneath him. He was levitating a crayon next to his cheek and tapping it against his chin in thought as he smiled down at a piece of parchment. Both adults blushed heatedly and tried to break apart even quicker. Such hasty action ended with the results of a head-butt, a knee to the stomach, two groans, and two winged ponies flailing wildly off a couch and to the floor. Add Crisp's chuckling to the mix and it left a dense level of embarrassment in the room.

To his credit, Iron had enough alertness present to make sure Sireen landed on him instead of the other way around. He had already hurt her once by not paying attention; a second time would spell disaster for him.

Crisp's chuckling ceased, and he jumped to his feet. He flicked his ears down in frustration and pointed at the pair quickly. “You guys! I was trying to capture the moment! Now what am I gonna draw?” The colt mumbled and levitated a half-done picture up to his snout and began scrutinizing it.

Sireen finally managed to pull apart from Iron, and the two ponies quickly stood and backed a few feet away from each other. Iron spoke first, rubbing a foreleg with his other hoof and looking away with his cheeks cherry red.

“S-sireen… uh… I... that was....well....”

Sireen was no closer to forming single sentences herself. She flushed red, pinned her ears back against her neck, and looked down at her hooves. Her tail flipped around and covered them just as briskly. “Iron, I...I don't know what came over me last night. I was... I was just really happy to see you.... We uh... we had our energy up and... it was... er....” The mare closed her mouth and bit her lip, wondering how the heck she had managed to get caught in such a predicament in only two days.

Iron took several seconds to look between his son and Sireen. His face said he was flustered and nervous, and his body movements only seemed to verify that he was feeling those exact emotions. He took a deep breath and then held it for several seconds.

Sireen dared a glance up and found Crisp was still mumbling about his picture, while Iron was clenching his eyes shut and had his cheeks puffed out. She would have found the expression more humorous if not for the awkward situation she had woken up to. ‘His chest is so soft too...’ She flicked an ear at the random thought.

Iron let the breath out a few seconds into it and sighed afterwards. “O-okay... um… recap. We got back to my place, ended up falling asleep on the couch–”

“Together,” Crisp interrupted.

Iron frowned at his son and nodded. “Er, yes, together.... That... it wasn't what we were planning on doing, was it, Sireen?” When he looked at Sireen with a firm expression, she nodded quickly with a false smile.

“Oh, uh, yes! We were just very tired last morning, Crisp. Um… and then–”

“And then you and Dad lied to a foal about your obvious feelings for each other to pass the awkwardness off as nothing unusual for this household,” Crisp broke into the conversation again. The colt looked at both adults with the flattest look a foal could give.

Iron dropped his jaw in horror, his cheeks turning crimson as he slowly turned his head and stared wide-eyed at Crisp like his son had sprouted a beak and two wings suddenly.

Sireen blinked, sat down rather suddenly and simply blushed. “Y-you actually have feelings for me?” she whispered nervously. Her chest fur puffed up against her hopes it would not, and her tail started swishing happily behind her. ‘Darnit! Stop wagging your tail ,mare! You’re gonna give it away!’ Sireen forced all her willpower into keeping eye contact with Iron while she physically put a hoof on her tail.

Iron was gaping like a fish out of water, looking from Crisp to the floor and back to Sireen. His ear tips burned with embarrassment as he growled at his son. “Okay, Crisp. Go to your room. Now!”

He pinned his ears back and tried to nudge Crisp off the chair, but Crisp leaped off the chair and ran for the kitchen door, and stopping short in front of it spun around. Glancing back with his hind hooves he kicked it open and grinned when the scent of freshly baked food wafted into the living room and assaulted the older ponies’ noses. Sireen's eyes widened as she smelled the different scents mingling around her. She clutched her stomach with a hoof as it growled pitifully.

Crisp puckered his lip out and made his eyes the size of dinner plates. “B-but I made breakfast for you guys and everything! Y-you're not gonna hurt my feelings by saying no to breakfast made by a foal, r-right?” Crisp mentally high fived himself when his father groaned and started bonking his head into the chair cushion while grumbling and clutching his stomach as well.

Sireen stood and slowly crept up to the kitchen doorway, trying to sneak a peek inside. What she saw made her mouth salivate. The kitchen had been cleaned and scrubbed spotlessly, and the dishes put away. On the table was a set of plates stacked with pancakes, warm and fluffy as if they had been brought directly out of the oven not a few minutes ago. The breaded bounty was slathered in syrup, butter, and several assortments of fruits and nuts that Sireen couldn't quite pick out from the wall of aromas. To the left of the plethora of pancakes was a glass container of orange juice, pulp free too. Three placemats were set at the sitting area.

“Oh, you sly little scamp,” Sireen mumbled and kept slowly walking into the kitchen.

Crisp proudly trotted past her with his tail held high. He quickly used his magic to pull a chair out for the mare.

‘He is just buttering you up for the killing blow, girl.’ Sireen giggled and nodded to Crisp. ‘Ooh, but I think I could die today.’ “Such a little gentlepony. Thank you, sir.”

Crisp scuffed a hoof on the floor and smiled. “T-thanks.”

Sireen sat down and let Crisp scoot her chair in before he scampered over to... the other side? She looked at the chair on her right and she smirked. The chair was at the end of the table. “Right, now I get it. You want Iron to sit between us, huh?”

She watched as Crisp scrabbled his way up onto the chair, and then he stood on his hind hooves and put his front ones on the table next to his plate. He nodded and looked back to the door for a second before leaning in and whispering to her.

“Daddy has a really big crush on you, by the way.”

Sireen giggled when the little foal winked overly so. “Ya don't say?” She grinned and watched Iron enter the kitchen.

He had been trying to hold a firm expression as he came into view, probably intent on reprimanding Crisp. His expression shattered when he looked at the food. Sireen giggled more when he opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He closed it, looked to Sireen with a hoof raised in question, but when she shrugged and pointed to Crisp, he just stared, slowly walked up to the table and then sat slowly. After a moment he spoke up, frowning at the food.

“Okay, I admit it. Breakfast looks very good Crisp. However, don't try to butter me up. You were very rude back there, mister. I expect an apology.” He looked to Crisp who looked like he'd been slapped.

The colt went from shocked to frowning very quickly. “I don't need to apologize for anything! I said the truth, and you taught me to always tell the truth!” Again Crisp lived up to his name and silenced the table. He slowly ran a hoof in circles across his plate while puffing out his cheeks.

“Besides, grown-ups are terrible at saying how they feel. Figured I'd save you the trouble, Dad.”

Sireen gulped and looked to Iron.

Iron stared at his son with both confusion and a bit of frustration. He rubbed his hoof into his temples and sighed. “Crisp, that’s not the point. It is not okay to–”

“C-can you deny it?” Sireen whispered.

Iron looked at her with a large helping of fear and Crisp smiled faintly. Sireen ignored him for the moment and locked eyes with Iron.

“Wh-what?” Iron's voice choked out the word. His ears waggled nervously from side to side, and she worried that her combined efforts with Crisp might push him too far into a corner. She'd have to take this road gently.

Sireen swallowed and reached out to the plate of pancakes. She slid two off the stack and onto his plate. He watched, hypnotized. Sireen then slid two more pieces onto Crisp's plate and smiled gently to him. Crisp smiled back, and began attacking his food with a fork and magic.

“C-can you deny that you have feelings for me, Iron? Honestly?” When he merely blushed and slanted his gaze to his plate, she continued quietly. “I mean... we did… um… kiss last night.” She ignored the gagging sound Crisp made, and waved a hoof playfully at the colt. Iron seemed unable to answer, so she smiled and placed her hoof on one of his. The little intake of breath he made sent flutters of warmth through her heart. “M-maybe it was rushed. Maybe we went too fast...but...but even if you don't, I know that I–”

“W-what if I do?” Iron asked. His voice was quiet, and it was fragile, but she felt the shiver that went through his hoof and across to hers. He was scared. When she looked up, she actually found Iron wasn't looking at her. His eyes were locked on his son. Copious amounts of worry and fear were present in those orbs, and Sireen realized the question wasn't directed at her. Next to him, Crisp had stopped poking at his food and was slowly chewing his last bite cautiously. He'd been so vocal a second or two ago but the moment he got the spotlight, he seemed so small.

Crisp swallowed and dropped his silverware onto his plate. He hopped down from the table, and then clambered up into his dad's lap. Iron sighed and the two of them hugged. Sireen felt her chest fur rise with pride as Crisp sniffled and nuzzled into his dad's chest. The little colt was happy.

“J-just promise m-me one thing, okay, dad?” He leaned back and stamped a hoof against Iron's chest firmly.

Iron smiled down at his son and nodded. He snuffled his son's mane and chuckled softly. “I'll try, Crisp. What is it?”

Crisp paused. His hoof lifted off and his eyes lowered for a moment before he looked at Sireen. He was smiling, yes, but he was apprehensive. It was clear to her that Crisp was struggling to speak, and that was rare. She took a moment to scarf down some food, taking an extra healthy bite of the doughy goodness.

Crisp sucked in his breath and hugged his dad around the neck. “Just... Just promise me that this mommy won't leave us like the last two, did.”

Sireen choked on her pancakes.

‘THE LAST TWO?!’

#

Sireen paced back and forth in the living room while Iron and Crisp cleaned up the breakfast. It turned out that Crisp had not been the one to make the meal, and had instead begged their next door neighbors for help. The two older ponies were more than happy to help, and had snuck in while Iron and Sireen dozed comfortably on the couch together.

‘His chest was really soft too.’ Sireen growled and took a moment to shake herself. She winced as her wing twanged. She couldn't wait to be back on duty. ‘Idle minds tend to wander, and I don't need to wander.’ She flicked an ear irritably and looked at the kitchen doors. Behind them, she could hear Iron Crest chatting with his son. It didn't sound negative, more like he was trying to ease the awkwardness out of the situation. It wouldn't help though; Crisp Words had brought up something far more awkward than dating. He'd brought up other mares. Sireen was not used to the feeling she now held in her chest. She used to think she was above such feelings and base emotions. Sadly, Crisp had proven her wrong, and Sireen was jealous, she was angry, and she was confused. Why hadn't Iron told her that there was an ex-marefriend?!

‘Well, that is obvious if you think about it. He didn't want to scare you off!’

Sireen flipped around and paced in the opposite direction, heading up the stairs on a new path. “That is stupid; I wouldn't be scared of another mare. I'm a bat-pony, after all!” she murmured.

Her inner voice however was bent on making her see reason. ‘Ah, but no mare likes hearing that a stallion failed another mare. He might fail you too!’

She snarled and flexed her good wing out, gnashing her teeth into the velvet fur, she began to preen in an attempt to relax. “I don't know that he failed the previous mare. He might have found something about her that he didn't agree with, is all!” She almost bit through her wing and winced, drawing back.

‘Go ask him then. Why are you up here alone when you could be finding out the truth, hmm?’

That made her pause. Sireen lowered her rear to the floor and sat there, in the middle of the hallway, honestly nervous about doing so. She lowered her wing claw and nibbled on it. There were a million reasons that could be why he broke up with the previous mare. She could have been crazy, she could have tried to hurt Crisp! Sireen felt her lips curl into a grimace as she thought about that, and for a moment she contemplated storming into the kitchen and demanding where she'd hurt the little foal. The reality of the situation brought her back down from her anger once more though, and she sighed.

“I don't have all the pieces, and I need more to truly see what is going on in this little family,” she mumbled. Standing up, she turned and slowly walked down the steps and back into the living room.

She had just gotten comfortable on the couch when Iron Crest peered around the now-open door and gave her a look. His ears drooped slightly. “You… um… you alright, Sireen?”

Sireen frowned and didn't look at him. She kept her eyes on the coffee table in front of her and flipped her ears back as an answer. She heard Iron's footsteps as he came up and sat next to the couch. His hooves shuffled nervously in the carpet.

“I… um... I'm sorry you had to hear that; it really made breakfast awkward.” Iron chuckled nervously but it faded away as Sireen kept up her frown. Somewhere in the kitchen, Crisp was moving around with dishes. “Sireen, really I'm sorry about all this. This wasn't how I wanted you to find out, and I understand if–”

“What happened?” Sireen lifted her gaze to the wall in front of her.

Iron visibly flinched at her tone. “Ah. Well, um… we broke up, you see. It was after she... well....”

“After she what?” Sireen slanted her eyes to meet his, and they were firm and unyielding. Sireen watched as the stallion rubbed a foreleg and looked down.

“I... She was... she wasn't right for Crisp. You need to understand that first, Sireen. I met her at a... a pub. We hit it off really–” Iron flinched back when Sireen growled.

“You met this mare at a bar!?” Sireen stood and began pacing back and forth near the window, turning her back to Iron. Her inner voice was now on haywire.

‘A pub!? So he pulled a hooker from the streets and just had some fun?‘

‘Oh no, that is too simple. She must have been a spy from another country, bent on kidnapping Crisp and–

Nah, she was a druggy; clearly a seedy type hell-bent on stealing the fortune!’

Sireen shook her head. Her thoughts were getting bent out of shape and it wasn't healthy. She looked back at Iron to find he had started bonking his head into the couch cushion and grumbling to himself.

“Iron.”

Said stallion looked up. Sireen kept her frown up and turned to face him. Her voice was calmer now, but it still held an edge of sharpness to it.

“What happened? Did she hurt Crisp?”

Iron Crest's eyes widened and he shook his head rapidly. “NO! Heavens above no! Crashing Bottle was just too rowdy. She'd stay up late and throw parties when I was at work. Crisp and I would come home and find the place torn apart by ponies we didn't even know. Another problem was that she wanted us to switch back to being day ponies and even said she'd confront Noble's family about it. I didn't want any trouble so I broke it off with her.”

Sireen waited a moment to let him breath and then she spoke. “Did it go smoothly?” She raised a brow when Iron chuckled.

“With a name like Crashing Bottle, how well do you think it went? Sure, I didn't have to get the Guard involved, but she didn’t have to wake up the neighbors with her yelling and tantrum. You are waaay more mellow then she ever could hope to be–” Iron paused and then realized what he'd said when Sireen flipped her ears back.

“Excuse me? What was that last part?” Sireen began walking slowly towards Iron, inwardly laughing as the stallion's wings flared and he waved his hoofs in front of him.

“I-I meant to say that you… um...you are... that is....”

“Yes?” Sireen came within hoofs reach of him and she grinned. Iron gulped.

“Um... You're prettier than her?”

“You're digging the hole deeper, Iron.” Sireen frowned.

The sound of a page flipping caught their attention.

“Rule number one of dating a mare. Never judge her based off a mare you dated previously. It will only incite anger, jealously, and random bouts of primal rage... especially if they are in season?”

Sireen and Iron looked back and found Crisp Words had slipped into the conversation again and was reading from a book he'd pulled from somewhere. Sireen blushed hotly and Iron dashed forward and snatched the book from his son quickly.

“Crisp! Where on earth did you get this book!?”

Crisp shrugged. “It was in the library under Romance. I figured if I'm gonna be a better smooth talker than my dad, I need to be more prepared.”

Ah, Crisp, the destroyer of pride. Any retort Iron may have had, died in his throat as Crisp trotted past him and walked up to Sireen. While Iron blubbered near the kitchen door, Sireen watched as Crisp nervously came up to her. He stopped a few feet from her and looked down to his feet, looking up at her every few seconds with a blush.

“U-Um... Sireen...?” he mumbled.

Sireen was unsure of what was happening now, but she could feel her belly warming up as the little foal made himself small in front of her. She felt an odd sensation in her chest as he lowered his ears and looked... scared? Sireen cocked her head to the side slightly. ‘Why would he be afraid?’

“Yes? What is it, Crisp?” Why did her voice sound funny? She never sounded like this! It was like her pitch and volume had vanished and she could only sound like a... like....

A mother...

Crisp inched forward on his belly, keeping his head low and his eyes on hers. “Could… um... c-could you answer Dad? Please?”

Sireen felt herself lowering to the floor to lay on her belly. Her head felt funny too. Not bad, just... warm, content. Happy? Yes. Her head felt happy. “What did I not answer, Crisp?” There it was again. Her voice was gentle, kind, it even had a purr to it! She was purring now.

‘WHY AM I PURRING!?’ Her thoughts screamed. regardless of her body acting up, she couldn't deny that it felt right. She watched as Crisp inched to her side and nosed along her wing. Reflexively, she lifted it and he wormed his way to her belly.

“I... I want a momma again.” Crisp whimpered. It was barely audible. His eyelids lowered and he nickered cutely, nuzzling into her belly fur in that way that only foals can, using the whole of his cheek to brush along her fur. Without warning, Crisp nibbled the crook of her thigh and nickered softly again. Sireen gasped as he did so. It was not a loud gasp, nor a silent one. More of a sound made to show she was startled. Her leg even jerked out suddenly. She had not told her leg to do that!

Yet it had done so.

Peering cautiously under her wing, she found Crisp was curled into a tight sleeping position, with his head resting atop her thigh. Light little sounds escaped his mouth and his eyes were closed. His left ear began flicking every few seconds, and Sireen's fur stood up as she realized what he'd done.
The weird movements, the cautious approach, the nervous nickering... The nuzzling. Sireen knew what this feeling in her chest was, and she was okay with it now. Her wing lowered over the foal and she gently nuzzled his rump.

“Little scamp,” she whispered before brushing aside his mane and kissing him just above his horn. When she turned around, she found Iron had been watching the whole scene with awe blanketed across his face. He sat there with his wings puffed out on both sides and his cheeks flushed red. His chest fur stood at full attention, and his tail was wagging slowly back and forth. He was crying too, with tears streaking down his cheeks silently as he forced back a sob. Sireen would never tell a soul. Iron stood and crossed the space between them on wobbly knees and twitching wings. His arms nervously stretched out around Sireen's neck and he pulled her head to his chest.

‘So...soft,’ she thought. Iron held her held there for several moments before lowering his head and gently cupping her chin. She knew what was coming and she felt her good wing slowly rising, while her injured one tugged at the bandages.

‘This is it... here is where it begins,’ she thought as her heart hammered in her chest. Iron's hoof paused and he gazed at her for a moment, before they both closed their eyes. Just before their lips met, Iron whispered, “Thank you.” Then...they kissed.

#

All moments in life, whether they be good or bad, must end. If they do not, they will feel false and fake. Crisp didn't care, Sireen didn't care, and neither did Iron. The trio lay there in the living room for well over an hour before Iron gasped and stomped a hoof.

“Sweet Cheese and Crackers!” Without saying anything else, he removed himself from the pony pile and stood. Sireen blinked and lifted her head, watching in confusion as he walked around her and lowered his head to her wing. When he nuzzled it, Sireen surprised all of them when she snarled loudly. It was a feral, protective noise, guttural and deep. She'd never snarled like that before! Reflexively her ears snapped back and her leg cocked inwards, guarding the foal underneath.

Iron did what any sensible stallion would do. He squeaked and shot back a good foot or so, landing on the chair like a coiled up cat. He stared at her in shock, his eyes at their largest. “Sireen, what the—? Did you just snarl at me?” he asked in a whisper.

Sireen felt that weird feeling surge through her chest again, and she had to fight to not snarl again. Motherly instincts, as she had decided to title them, were weird emotions. She knew Iron was a safe pony, she knew he wasn't going to harm Crisp, and yet she had just nearly kicked his teeth in for no good reason. It was even more fearful that these reactions seemed primal. She had no control over them, they just activated!

‘Protecting a foal is a very good reason to kick a stallion's—’ Sireen clamped a lid over her emotions and thoughts, and lifted her wing to reveal a sleeping Crisp. She purred immediately when the little scamp murmured and nuzzled deeper into her side. ‘Any deeper and he'll be between my... not going to finish that thought. Nope. Not happening. Thinking Iron now, yup.’ Sireen lowered her ears and looked as guilty as possible. “S-sorry. My instincts kicked in and I... um… overreacted?”

Iron chuckled nervously and pawed the chair. “Er, right. I'll just remember to warn you when I need my son from now on. Um… speaking of which, can you wake him up for me please?” Iron asked meekly. He watched as Sireen looked from Crisp, to Iron, then back, and then back to Iron.

Sireen giggled with a hoof to her lips. “You can come over here, ya know? I won't bite.”

Iron adamantly shook his head. “Oh no, that is quite alright. Besides I’m not so sure your maternal side would honor that statement of no biting the colt friend.”

Sireen raised a brow. “Colt friend, huh? If memory serves, I never said yes or no to dating you.” She smirked when Iron's chest deflated slightly.

He took a moment to think of a counter argument before pointing a hoof at her. “W-well you let me kiss you, so that counts as a legally binding agreement between two ponies! Therefore we are already colt friend and mare friend!” he said triumphantly.

Sireen grinned widely. “Is your mother still alive, Iron?” she asked sweetly.

Iron faltered, thought for a moment and then shivered. “Ew! No! Stop that train of thought right now. I am not paired with my mother because she gives me kisses of affection and I accept them.”

Sireen let her laughter come out unbridled and she rolled onto her side, jarring Crisp from his sleeping position and making the foal face plant into the carpet. Sireen was instantly sitting up and nuzzling him. “Sorry! Sorry! I was just...We were… um....” She looked to Iron but found no support as the pegasus was now dealing with his own peals of laughter. Sireen looked down at Crisp who was rubbing his eyes with a hoof. “Oops.” Sireen said bluntly.

Crisp mumbled something about noisy ponies and tried to curl up into her side again, but she stood up and halted the action. Crisp then did something that tugged on her heartstrings violently. Curled up in that foal-like pose, warm and cute with his ears splayed back, he yawned. Because of this minute action, a little sound came out of his mouth. It was the closest sound he had ever made that came close to a bat pony foal’s chirp. Iron watched in stunned silence as Sireen's maternal instincts instantly kicked in. She practically chittered and squeaked. She pranced in place for a few seconds, then her head shot down and she began nuzzling him all over, purring madly and nibbling along his neck. For the most part Crisp leaned into the affections, enjoying the attention, until she opened her mouth and her fangs touched his neck.

Any foal that is ever picked up by their scruff does one thing when this happens: they go still. Be it a griffon chick, a foal, or a dragon hatchling, they all go stock still. Crisp did the same as Sireen elevated him by the scruff and pranced over to Iron. For the most part, Iron had reined in his mirth and was now overcome with fatherly pride as the batmare came towards him with his child. It felt good to see, felt good to know Sireen was part of their family, and it felt good to finally feel that emptiness in his chest vanish. He'd needed that feeling to go away for some time now.

Sireen deposited Crisp on the couch next to his father and smiled at him.

He shook his head a few times and then looked up at her with a lopsided smile. “Mom?”

Sireen felt her breath catch for a moment, before she let it out and nuzzled him. “Yes, little one?”

Crisp giggled and leaned against his dad, who looped a foreleg around the foal and gave him a gentle noogie.

“N-Nothing, Just wanted to know I could call you that without causing the conversation to die.”

They all chuckled at that before Iron gasped again and nudged his son. “I forgot! Again! Crisp, you have school today and you are late by almost an hour and a half!” Iron scooped his son up onto his back and trotted to the door.

Sireen followed, unsure of what to do in said sudden situation. “Will he get in trouble?” she asked.

Iron shook his head and unlocked the door before heading down the hall with her by his side. On his back, Crisp had magically buckled himself in. Two magical strands ran around his dad's chest and up both sides before looping their way around Crisp's body. The foal waved happily at Sireen while they walked and she smirked.

Iron spoke up as they reached the stairs and descended them. “Not technically, no, but they will be slightly worried I imagine. Crisp has never been late before,” Iron said with a hint of pride etched into his voice.

Sireen nodded, allowing him to take the lead. “I see. Well, we best not have a repeat of this then. I wouldn't want to ruin your perfect schedule now, would I?” She spoke it to Crisp who nodded and then Iron spoke again.

“On the other side of this scenario, I am late for work, something I also have never done before.”
At Sireen's worried look he draped a wing over her back and pulled her close. She purred and leaned against him. “It shouldn't be a problem. I'll explain what happened and things will sort themselves out, don't worry.” He slipped into the cafe area and unlocked the front door, letting Sireen out first and then locking it behind himself. “As for you, Sireen, I would recommend getting your bandages refitted and renewed at the infirmary. They are a little... messy.”

Iron said it with as much tact as he could in that moment, so Sireen gave his neck a gentle nibbling in response. “Nnngh... nnyaaa... S-Sireen no... not nngh no!” A bubble of laughter escaped his mouth and Iron pulled away and flapped his wings, elevating himself a few feet or so above her.

She stopped walking and tried to snap at his hooves, but he went higher. She harrumphed up at him. “No fair!”

“Says the mare who tickled me while I'm in a hurry.” Iron grinned.

Sireen grinned back. “Says the stallion who is trying to leave without giving me a goodbye kiss!”

Iron actually paused at that, tapping his chin whilst going higher. “One kiss a night should be good enough. Bye!”

As he took off into the distance, Sireen snarled playfully, stamping her front hooves into the ground twice.

“You are so dead when you get home!”

#

Sireen grumbled and thumped her head into the wall for a third time. She had wandered out of the ritzy district, taking care to dodge away from Fancy Pants and Fleur’s home in case the mare felt playful again. Her trot had taken her uptown and closer to the castle, where she needed to go. Once there, she found herself corralled by two unicorn doctors who then ushered her into a medical bay where she had apparently been requested for check-ups almost three hours prior to her arrival.

Considering no one knew where Iron Crest lived save Luna and a select few, it made sense that she had fell off the radar. Regardless of her disappearance, the doctors refitted her with new bandages, a bone-mending solution that tasted like liquid chalk, and a slip of paper that detailed exercises she should start doing to keep the muscles in good condition.

After escaping the clutches of medical ponies that insisted she stay at the castle, Sireen visited her captain and checked up with him. While he was pleased to hear she was not majorly harmed, he was upset with her disregard for protocol and had reprimanded her firmly on doing so again. Once that had been taken care of, she had gone back to Iron's house and found out a problem. He had locked her out of the cafe, and she had no spare key just yet. Sireen had been planning to move her stuff (however small the amount) to Iron's home before he got back from work. Without being able to access the structure left her high and dry for anything to do for the next couple of hours.

“Why” *thump* “did it have to” *thump* “be a wing that I broke?” *thump* Sireen sniped in frustration. She paused in another attempt to hit her head and frowned, rubbing her face with a hoof. Hurting other parts of herself certainly was not going to help her any more. For a few seconds she contemplated sitting guard at the cafe door like normal, but then she threw that out. Guards could not work when on medical leave and could actually get fined for doing so. Celestia had made such a rule when her guards began showing signs of ‘no outside life’ and as per the usual, when Luna returned, her guards were given the same rule to follow. Sireen stood and walked across the street to Mrs. Fuzzdrought's gate and peered through its gaps.

“Stupid rule really. Now where is that soda can?” she mumbled.

When it failed to come into view, she frowned and lifted a hoof to the buzzer that was set in the wall to her right. It clicked and static came to her ears for a moment before Mrs. Fuzzdrought's voice scratched over.

“Yes, who is it?” Her tone was dry, bored beyond comprehension. The words had been drawn out raggedly and with no energy. That made Sireen smile lightly.

“Sireen Wind, ma'am,” she said clearly. There was a clatter of noise on the receiving end and Sireen smirked when a few curses came across the line before the plump mare's voice popped out again.

“Sireen? What are you doing at my gate?”

Accusatory tone, right. Sireen pushed the button and spoke. “I came to pick up something I forgot while over here previously. May I come in?”

“...”

Sireen blinked slowly and leaned forward a smidgen, waiting for a reply.

“Are you alone?”

Sireen smiled and clicked the button once more. “Are you, ma'am?”

“Don't play coy with me! I am hardly in the mood for your usual antics, Sireen. Are. You. Alone?”

Sireen rolled her eyes and replied, “Yeah, I am most definitely by myself out here, ma'am.”

“Come inside, I need to talk with you.”

The line went dead and Sireen leaned back up to her full height as the gate's lock mechanism disengaged and the bars slowly opened for her. After slipping through and watching them close firmly, Sireen waltzed over to the tree and found to her dismay that the soda can had been removed. She sighed and walked to the door. She entered and closed it behind her, taking care to lock the door behind her. She traversed the few hallways to Mrs. Fuzzdrought's office and then when she reached it, she knocked three times.

After several seconds and no reply, Sireen knocked again, louder this time. When after ten seconds of no sound from the room before her, Sireen left and wandered down to her bedroom. The door was slightly ajar and Sireen had to dodge a few random scraps of food packaging as she reached the threshold.

‘Great! She's on one of her emotional binges again. Why did I come here agai–” Sireen pawed at the ground.

“Enter, Sireen, I know you're there.” Without a speaker between the two mares, Sireen could tell she'd gotten the pattern of speech completely wrong. Pushing the door open, Sireen laid eyes on the mare she'd come to recognize as her boss. Mrs. Fuzzdrought was nestled under blankets on her side at the left edge of the bed. Her eyes looking out the window that looked over her backyard area, her ears splayed back and her expression one of dejection. Her mane and tail were frazzled with several strands of fur pointing out in random directions. Her cheeks were red and puffy, yet it looked like she had shed all her tears already and was beyond that stage. Several wads of used tissue paper and empty food packages littered the floor, almost as if the pudgy mare had waged war on her pantry. Sireen felt like she'd just entered a whole new battlefield, and this one couldn't be won with a sword or shield, nor with quick wits or agility. This kind of struggle was won with feelings.

As gently as possible, Sireen entered the room and sat at the foot of the bed facing Mrs. Fuzz. She waited till the mare sighed and turned to her. Her eyes were... conflicted, and her voice betrayed her nervousness and apprehension.

“A-as an elite pony, we are taught to hide our f-feelings and emotions... f-from the populace. We...we must show no cracks in our mask, and we must n-n-not fail in our endeavors and goals, for if we do we will be devoured by the masses. This is something I assume a guard like yourself c-can understand, yes?”

Her sniffles started to resurface and Sireen felt her maternal instincts from before rise up, albeit small in quantity and a lot less firmly. She nodded slowly. Mrs. Fuzz continued, her eyes drifted to the bed sheets and then to the window again.

“I... I am at a c-crossroad r-right now, Sireen... I... I don't like my options.” Her voice fell to a whisper as she reached the end of her sentence, and then she looked back at Sireen. “What do you do in situations like that?”

The question was not directed at Sireen, but she cocked her head slightly to the side, as if in thought, to show she was listening. It seemed to help, because Mrs. Fuzz sighed and let her head fall to her pillow with a dull FWUMP. The orange mare wiped at her nose with a sniffle, and then frowned at her own matted fur.

“I don't know if I should take the high road and weather the storm that lies above it, or take the low road as I have been, and deal with the treacherous footing beneath my hooves.”

The room fell silent as Sireen flipped her ears back in confusion. This was very uncommon for Mrs. Fuzzdrought, her emotions were haywire and it was putting Sireen in an awkward position. She decided to take the proverbial leap and test the waters of her actions. “Is this about Gustav by any chance?”

The reaction was... lackluster. Mrs. Fuzzdrought coughed harshly and sniffled weakly into her pillow. Sireen stood and tentatively walked around the bed so she ended up right next to the mare's side.

She looked at Sireen with a mirthless smile. “W-was it that obvious?”

Sireen shrugged, pushing a wad of tissue off the edge of the bed with a hoof.

Mrs. Fuzz nuzzled her pillow. “I... I want him, Sireen. I want Gustav to wrap me up in those powerful wings and take me away to Candyland with him.”

The only thing that made Sireen not lose her composure was the level of sadness in the mare's voice as she spoke. Ah, two choices then. Now Sireen understood. “You're unhappy with your marriage, aren't –” Sireen flinched backwards slightly when Mrs. Fuzzdrought's head snapped up and her eyes blazed with fire.

“I HATE IT!” she snarled. “It's a waste of my heart to try and love what is left of that pile of miserable pony!”

Sireen watched as Mrs. Fuzzdrought buried her muzzle into the pillow and sobbed anew. She watched as the mare beat her hooves into the bedding beside her and thrashed around in the blankets. She soon came to a stop, pitifully covered in half of the blankets she had been trying to hide under. A scrap or two of food particles in her mane, and tears going down her face, she frowned and let her lower lip pucker slightly.

“I-I j-just w-w-want what y-you have, Sireen!” she squeaked.

Sireen blinked owlishly, and nodded slowly. “You want love.”

“Y-yeah.... I-is that s-so much to ask for? A little love?” Mrs. Fuzzdrought sniffled loudly and coughed again, before laying her head into the pillow. “I... I want to feel like I am useful to somepony. Not just some slobbering sack of fat–” Sireen cringed. “Overweight, rude, snobby, bitchy, ill-tempered, barren-bellied–” Sireen's brow only furrowed more as the slew of words continued. “Pitiful, whiny, sorry excuse for a mare that Mister SHORT PEA-NIS thinks I am!”

Mrs. Fuzzdrought took several seconds to simply huff and breath, before she looked at Sireen and smiled weakly, splaying her ears back. “S-Sorry...I s-shouldn't have subjected y-you t-to that. You c-can leave I-if you–”

“You are wrong,” Sireen growled.

Mrs. Fuzzdrought blinked in surprise and then frowned. “O-oh? Please tell me then, that when I greeted you, I was kind, considerate, cordial, friendly, and above all else, elite.”

Sireen frowned too, and then put her hoof up. “O-okay, no. You're not wrong there. You were... sharp, which is true.”

Mrs. Fuzzdrought only buried her face deeper in resignation.

“But you are not right either.”

Mrs. Fuzzdrought's ears flicked up and angled in Sireen's direction, betraying the mare's attention. Sireen crawled up onto the bed and slowly pulled the blanket back over the mare's body. She felt Mrs. Fuzzdrought shift and let her watch the new addition to her bed as she tidied it up a bit, before laying down next to mare.

“You're not right either. Do you know what I see when I guard you and Mr. Long Pea?” Sireen asked. When Mrs. Fuzzdrought shrugged, Sireen draped her good wing over the mare's back and squeezed a little bit for comfort. It seemed to help, and she spoke up. “I see you fighting every cutthroat, scoundrel, and thief that a guard like myself can't deal with. My battles are purely physical ones, but if you put me in front of paperwork, I am like a pegasus with one wing. I am crippled. No pun intended, of course.”

Mrs. Fuzzdrought chuckled lightly and looked at her bandages. “That was in t-terrible taste, Sireen.”

Sireen nodded with a smile and a stamp of her hoof into the sheets.

“I couldn't agree more. Regardless, when you get put in front of those papers, it's like Princess Luna herself stepped in front of an army. You use your quill like her magic, and you sweep over the enemy that is bureaucracy and lay waste to its intricacies. Like Luna's hooves, your stamps of approval bring the judgment of thousands of wrongdoings in the financial corps.”

Mrs. Fuzzdrought's smile slowly increased the more Sireen spoke to her, and soon she wasn't sniffling or coughing. She was relaxing and listening.

Sireen finished her speech with a small hug. “In simple terms, I haven't worked with you or Mr. Long Pea for a long time, but I have felt your influence, and I don't see a weak and pitiful mare. I see one who will not back down on her goals and aspirations, even if they are on the wayside for the time being. I see somepony who will fight for every bit she is owed and won't give up on herself so easily... will you?”

When Mrs. Fuzzdrought hugged her back, Sireen purred lightly. She may not have liked Mrs. Fuzzdrought during her work hours, but there was far more depth to the peach-shaped mare than Sireen had previously presumed.

“T-thank you, Sireen. It... it means a lot to me that you feel that way for me.”

Sireen smiled and they sat there in amicable silence for a few moments, before Mrs. Fuzzdrought coughed into her hoof and blushed.

“Sireen, I should… um… probably get back to work now. I've moped long enough.” When the mare went to remove herself from under Sireen's wing, she gripped tighter. Mrs. Fuzzdrought blushed deeper and looked at the batpony with confusion.

Sireen grinned mischievously. “Oh ho ho, NO! You are not going to dodge this arrow so easily. I know for a fact that we have more to talk about, and work can wait a little longer. You spoke with Gustav, didn't you?”

Mrs. Fuzzdrought squeaked weakly and her cheeks stayed flushed. “I-I do not know what you are implying, Mrs. Wind, but you are in my bed and I feel uncomfortable with this train of–”

“Did he say anything nice?” Sireen countered, a cute and curious smile donning her lips.

Mrs. Fuzzdrought flattened her ears back and looked away, rubbing her foreleg. “W-well that is hardly important right–”

Sireen slapped a hoof over her mouth with an exaggerated gasp. “He did, didn't he?”

The orange mare could now be confused for an apple were it not for her horn atop her head. She bit her inner cheek and groaned, face-planting into the pillow. “I...oh fine! You win, cheeky mare.”

Sireen giggled and patted her shoulder comfortingly. “There, there! Not all victories are from behind a desk. Now spill the details. What did Gustav say to you?”
...
...
...

“He... he said he likes my plump, perky, pair of peaches...”

Sireen leaned forward. “Was he staring at your tree when he said this, or…?”

Mrs. Fuzzdrought whimpered into the pillow and shook her head.

“You-you mean he complimented your...?”

A nod.

“The two between your...?”

Another nod.

“Oh... oh my. Wait, why was he behind you?”

Mrs. Fuzz mumbled. “H-he... he said all artists are able t-to discern beauty from an angle, alright!”

Sireen was fanning herself and Mrs. Fuzzdrought with her good wing. “W-well then! Smooth-talking griffon. Got it. Moving on then. What happened? How did this...conversation come about?” Sireen inquired.

Mrs. Fuzzdrought lifted her head above the pillow and sighed wistfully. “I may have been... secretly sending him letters, every now and then, proclaiming my love for him and his... eclairs.”

Mrs. Fuzzdrought spoke the last word with heavy lust in her voice. So much in fact, that she shivered.

Sireen blinked and flicked an ear back with warmth in her cheeks. “His desserts...or…?”

Mrs. Fuzzdrought leveled her with a flat look. “The desserts, Sireen.”

“Just checking! Okay, so these letters – did he ever reply to them?” she asked, scooting closer.

Mrs. Fuzzdrought tapped her hooves into the bedsheets rapidly while squealing and nodded. “YES! YES! YES! I never put my name in them or any information about myself, other than that my job was lackluster, my husband even more so, and that upon first sight of him, I fell horn over tail for him and his robust chest, those powerful primaries, and that buffed beak! OOOH! That beak....” Here, Mrs. Fuzzdrought's mouth hung open slightly and her eyes glazed over.

Sireen sighed wryly, clacked her teeth together sharply and brought the mare out of her day dreaming. “Focus, Casanova.”

“O-oh right. Well, I sent him four or five each month, and he'd reply whenever he could. Being the master chef of his shop, he is very busy you see. I told him of my predicament with my spouse and he is adamant that should things turn seriously sour, he is there for me. I told him I was... reserved on my options, but that I would take the offer in a heartbeat, should it come to that.”

Sireen nodded approvingly. It was good to see that Gustav respected that a relationship was in the way of their joining, and that he was not trying to forcefully tear it open. It spoke volumes of his character, and if he didn't have enough, Sireen was sure Mrs. Fuzzdrought would make up for any lack of volume.

“What? What is so funny, Sireen?” Mrs. Fuzzdrought poked her with a hoof until Sireen stopped giggling and waved her away with a hoof.

“N-nothing, er… just thinking about something else shortly. Anyway, so what will you do? Will you divorce? Wait! Before you answer that, does Gustav know it's you sending the letters?”

There was an impregnable pause there, and Sireen almost feared the worst for a moment, before Mrs. Fuzzdrought sighed and put a hoof to her lips, gently.

“He does. He...he kissed me, Sireen.”

Sireen gasped. “He did?!”

“He did!”

Sireen grinned wide. “HE DID!?”

“HE DID! AHAHAHA!” Mrs. Fuzzdrought nickered in joy and rolled over, kicking her legs into the air. “Ah, it was beautiful Sireen! There I was lounging at the garden party, right? I see him behind me, he sees me, and I bat my eye lashes his way.”

Sireen cooed. She was actually enjoying her time with the mare now. “Ooh, what did the bird do?”

Mrs. Fuzzdrought giggled more and scooted closer to the batpony, conspiratorially whispering.
“Well, He grins and saunters over proudly, that long whip-like tail lashing behind him, and he looks down at me and says to me in the most sultry voice ever, and I quote: ‘Ma'dam, Zet me jus' say, you 'ave ze most plump and perky pair of peaches I 'ave ever laid my eagle eyes upon.’ ”

More wing fanning was involved. “Ooh... that is risky. He said that at your garden party? In front of everypony?”

Mrs. Fuzzdrought blushed. “A-ah yes, but he said it very quietly, I doubt anypony heard him over the music.”

Sireen nodded. “Alright, so he compliments your...peaches, and then what?”

“Well he asks me if I could show him my office, as apparently he is in a bit of a bind legally with some pony or another over a food competition scandal. Something about ninjas and moose, but that is irrelevant. I realize what he is implying and I totally accepted the offer. The moment we are alone, he walks over to my desk and picks up the nearest parchment and starts reading it.”

Sireen blinked in confusion. “Why?”

“He was checking my handwriting, Sireen. Griffons can see the minute details that ponies add to their fonts when they write, and within a few seconds he set the paper down and turned to me. Gosh, I was so scared,” Mrs. Fuzzdrought whispered. She shook herself. “I had never seen a griffon get...that look on his face before.”

Sireen leaned forward. “What look?”

Again Mrs. Fuzzdrought whispered, “Passion. Pure unbridled passion. He...he walked up to me, he took my cheeks in his talons and he crooned softly to me. Sireen, I have never fallen so hard in love at a simple sound, but he stole my heart right then and there... and... and then he kissed me.”

Mrs. Fuzzdrought gently touched her lips with her fetlocks and sighed again, a smile gracing her lips for a moment before she frowned. “Which...which is why I am stuck. I know that Mr. Long Pea does have some feelings for me, I am his wife after all.... But....”

Sireen frowned too and she looked to the open bedroom door. “But?”

New tears broke across Mrs. Fuzzdrought's face and she buried her face into Sireen's chest. “I-I can't hurt him! I can't hurt the pony I've lived with for so long. It would make me feel so terrible! S-sure I-I know h-he doesn't want me the way G-Gustav does, but… I've lived with M-Mr. Long Pea for... for so long.”

“But have you loved him for that long, Mrs. Fuzz?” Again, Sireen's eyes locked on the open doorway and her frown only deepened by who she could see standing beyond the threshold.

Mrs. Fuzzdrought paused for a moment, and truly thought on that. Sireen watched the mare's expression rapidly flip from confusion to anger and then to sadness. “No, I haven't. I... I thought I did, and I thought that he did....b-but we just were tolerating each other. All this time we never really loved each other.” Mrs. Fuzzdrought looked up to Sireen for confirmation and instead followed her gaze to the door way. She lost her breath.

Sireen sighed and watched the stallion slowly walk out of the shadow of the hallway, a sad frown on his face, and his eyes just as red and puffy as his wife's.

“Hello Mr. Long Pea.”

Author's Note

Art to come soon ^^

UPDATED!

GOLDFUR was kind enough to edit my story for me, the saint. I hope you enjoy!

Catch the Wind

The room had gained a depth of despair as Mr. Longpea stood in the doorway. Sireen could tell by his appearance that he too had not been able to sleep. His mane was disheveled and had knots in it. His eyes were puffy from crying and sleep deprivation, and his lips looked rather dry.

He lowered his gaze to the floor. "So...that's it then, is it? You never loved me." His voice cracked and he sniffed loudly, his nostrils flared wide before he sat down resolutely and flipped his ears back. "I suppose it was kind of obvious..."

Sireen winced as his words tinged with a hint of spite.

"You were always eyeing him, even before we married, that Gustaf." Longpea swiped his foreleg across his snout and looked at the matted fur with disdain for a moment before he looked at Fuzzdrought. "...W-well, I might as well make another obvious confession while we are at it. I...I never loved you either..."

Fuzzdrought sucked in her breath. Her brow furrowed for a moment and her eyes widened, as if she'd seen something hideous. "I- w-well..." She tried to speak but all that came out was a defeated sigh. A long and over drawn, haggard sigh. Her eyes, filled with regret and sorrow, lowered to the blankets. "Right...I know."

Sireen Decided this was not one of the conversations she should be apart of, and slipped off the bed and stretched. This drew the attention of both ponies. Longpea stood up too, using a hoof to paw at the carpet.

"Perhaps we should talk in private. Miss Wind?"

She cracked an eye open as she stretched out a hind leg. "Yes sir?"

"Can you make some tea and bring it to us please?" He paused, seeing her injured wing. "Oh wait, sorry. You are off duty are you not? I suppose I can--" He made to turn around and exit, intent on making it himself, when Sireen halted him with a raised hoof.

"Wait, it's totally fine, sir. It is well within my capabilities to make a pot of tea in my current condition. You stay, talk to your...to Mrs. Fuzzdrought. This is important."

Longpea definitely hesitated at the thresh hold of the bedroom for a second or two, while Sireen slipped past him and into the hall. She made it about four or five steps before the sound of the door gently clicking shut met her ears. She smiled, knowing that while the two were cutthroat with each other during business hours, they could be fairly cordial and proper to one another in personal relations. Did they love each other? No. That much was obvious, but it didn't mean they were naturally mean spirited. Heck, if Sireen could guess, their previous interactions with her were probably fake half the time.

Sireen entered the kitchen and walked over to the stove, and using her good wing claw, she hooked the handle of the tea kettle and brought it to the sink. As the water began to fill the contents of the pot, Sireen drifted back to her incident at Iron Crest's house that morning.

We slept together....in the same bed....well, couch really, but placement is irreverent. She smiled.
He likes me. He really really likes me! Sireen couldn't help but giggle and drum her hooves gently across the sink's edge as she worked. While Crisp's statement that she was not the first female to have been courted by his dad, Sireen was confident that Iron would open up to her as they grew closer. That was just how relationships worked, usually.

In her current predicament, Sireen realized it was quite the opposite.

"I go home and make a bond, I come to work and I find a bond breaking...huh." She bent her head down and rubbed her cheek against her foreleg, a small itch tickling her fur. After setting the tea to boil, Sireen sat at the window and admired the moonlight as it trickled through the room. The lighting tinged surfaces and objects in a pale blue and made her feel safe and comforted.

SSSSSSSRRREEEEEEEEEE!!

Sireen flipped her ears forward at the noise, and lifted the tea pot off the burner. Teakettles were the only thing she'd ever run across that could almost imitate a batpony's screech. It was not uncommon for it to actually succeed and a couple batponies would pause in their actions, confusion marring their faces as the sound caught them off guard. The kettle never really made words with its screech, but different types of pitches meant different things to a bat's ears. This sometimes left a soldier streaking across the sky in search of an injured partner, only to burst into a tea shop and find themselves at the receiving end of a couple glares.

Quite embarrassing.

Pouring two cups and setting them on a tray, she picked it up in her teeth and carefully walked back to the bedroom. Knocking a couple times produced no response, so Sireen set the tray down before opening the door gently and peering in.

She smiled and almost purred when she laid eyes on the pair. Mrs. Fuzzdrought and Mr. Longpea were nestled in the same bed together, for the first time since she'd begun working there. Mrs. Fuzzdrought had her head nuzzled up underneath the stallion's chin. Her flushed cheeks belying her comfortable sleep. Mr. Longpea was breathing in and out in relaxed motions. His head buried in the pillow as drool made its escape from his mouth. His fore-hooves were wrapped around the mare's sides, pulling her close to his body in a snug embrace.

So much for talking. They're so tired, they just fell asleep!

Leaving the tea tray on a nearby table in the hallway, Sireen quickly located some parchment. After she scrawled out a note and set it by the drinks, she slipped out through the front entrance as quietly as possible.

Sleep well, and for once, may your dreams be in unity – Sireen thought.

As the moon slowly made its way across the sky, Crisp Words nibbled on the tip of his pencil with a slight frown. His eyes darted from the paper he was looking at, to the two guards standing at attention near the school gates. He was nervous. Tonight had been rather dull after his father had dropped him off. He'd gone to his morning classes and had been told by his teacher that being late meant a pony's mind was too idle, and that they needed to have more focus in life, but because it was his first time, the older mare wasn't too firm with him.

He could not say the same thing about his father and the lecture she'd given him in the hallway.

After a hearty lunch in the school dining hall with his friends, he'd trotted off to his usual spot underneath an old oak tree that sat in front of the school building, having in the past found the gnarled roots and rough bark gave him inspiration for art pieces and story ideas. It was also a good shadow to hide in when he didn't want to be noticed.

Like right now.

He looked down to the page again, and did another scan over it for anything he might have messed up on, but finding no signs of error, he sighed and stood. Puffing his chest out to its fluffiest, he walked to the edge of the tree's shadow, and then paused. He almost whimpered.

He didn't want to bother the two guards during their shifts, but he had to! It was the only way to get this information to them.

You can do it, Crisp. Just act like they are brothers to your mom! Sireen probably has lots of those!

He took a few deep breaths, and then let them out. He was going to do this, no matter what! Slowly, he stepped out into the moonlight and onto the cobbled school pathway that led to and from the front doors to the gate. His hooves made gentle clopping noises as he moved, and as Crisp drew closer, he tried to muffle the sounds his hooves made, but it was no use.

As he drew within ten feet of the guards, one of their ears flicked in his direction. The rest of their bodies didn't move, but the ear remained cocked and perceptive to all his actions. He frowned.

Still not sneaky enough. More training is required, it seems, He thought to himself as he stepped up to one of them. One was mare, and had a similar coat and mane color pallet as Sireen, though it was imperceptible to most bystanders, female batponies did in fact have different shades to their coats and manes. The stallions were the same, albeit with darker color schemes and frills running over their heads and down their necks instead of manes.

The only exact thing they all shared were their eyes. Every batpony sported a beautiful set of golden, cat like eyes that shone in the night like beacons. Crisp nervously pawed at the ground with a hoof, his nervousness giving him away as the stallion tilted his gaze down to the foal.

"I...I um...h-hello, sir..." he whispered.

The male, whose name eluded Crisp, fully turned his head and looked down at the colt. For a second he scrunched his brow in thought, before his eyes widened and he smiled. "Hello there, Crisp. It's been a while huh?" His deep, masculine voice was a wall of verbal stone that moved like a river. It held power over Crisp and he found his tail wagging happily as he heard it.

"Y-yes sir."

The stallion blinked. "You don't have to call me sir, ya know that right?" He pointed over to his partner, who was resolutely scanning the perimeter and sky for potential threats while he spoke. "Only she does!"

The mare scoffed and grinned wryly, looking up into the stars. "Yeah, maybe when you reach an actual rank, but you’re the same standing as I am, so you can shove it."

Crisp chuckled as the bat pony male's ears drooped slightly and he lowered his hoof. "Er--Well that's technically true, but when I do, you'll have to, so there!" His partner's only response was to sigh and look away. The stallion smiled nervously and then crouched down to Crisp's level.

"My name is Starry Warp, and my oh-so-jovial partner over there is Ms. grumps-a-lot Moony." He snickered until a rock dinged against his helmet and both males looked to the mare. She was squinting at one of her hooves like it needed inspection.

Starry frowned. "Now, that is no way to treat your partner, throwing rocks. Honestly, maybe I'll take Crisp here as a partner instead and give him your armor!" He scooped up Crisp in his front hooves and hugged him to his breast plate, making Crisp squeal in playful delight. Now that got the mare's attention, and she snapped her head in the male's direction, her ears pinned back.

"Starry! Put him down, you're going to scare him!"

Both of them stopped, and Starry blinked at the mare in confusion. "Why in Equestria would I scare Crisp by picking him up?"

Crisp wriggled out of his grasp and landed on his hooves quite nimbly, before turning to the mare with a determined grin. "I'm not afraid of bat ponies, ma'am, I like em!" To his confusion, Moony frowned, one of her ears flipping up and the other to the side.

"Y-you do?"

Before Crisp could reply, Starry scooped him up again, this time with his wings. Crisp squealed again as he was thrown into the air lightly and then caught. "Oh come on, Moon Beam, Don't be like that. This little rascal here wants to BE a bat pony, don't cha, Crisp?" At Crisp's vigorous nod, Moon Beam merely blinked in confusion and looked back out around them for a moment. Her tail swished on the ground, covering her hooves.

"Why? I mean, you are a unicorn, why would you want to become one of us? We can't cast magic."

Starry sighed and set Crisp down. The little colt watched as Starry lifted his hoof up and waved it in a weird motion at his partner. To Crisp's amazement, Moony's neck hairs suddenly stood up on end and she shivered throughout her whole body. She then snarled and stood up quickly. Leveling a parental worthy glare at her now chuckling partner, she shivered again, and then again a third time.

Starry smiled coyly. "Oh yeah, then what do you call that?"

Crisp watched as she tried to sit down and then frowned, and her fur rippled once more.

"Aaarg! You’ve distorted the space where I sit! Fix it!" She stamped her hoof and then pointed it at her position. Crisp, being ever so curious, trotted over to the spot. He squinted and found nothing out of place. He walked forward.

"I don't understand, it doesn't look like heeeeaaaaghh!" Crisp had set his hoof into a particular spot and it felt like his entire hoof had stepped into a pool of cold slime or jello. The sensation washed up his leg and across his body, slowly covering him and making his fur stand up as well. His back arched like a cat and he shot away from the space, diving behind Starry and peeking out only when he heard the grown-ups laughing.

Moony smirked and tried to hold in her laughter. "Eheheheh...N-nothing wrong eh, kid?" Across from her, Starry was leaning over and laughing hard. He swiped a tear from his cheek and stood back at attention before looking down at Crisp.

"Oh...oh that was great, that never gets old....s-sorry, Crisp."

Starry attempted to show he meant the apology by patting Crisp's shoulder, but the colt dodged the touch and furrowed his brow at Starry.

"What did you do to the ground?" He asked, pointing his hoof at the stones. Starry smirked and lifted his hoof again, waving it at the stones in that same weird gesture, before nodding to Moony. The mare harrumphed and sat down, but only after she tapped the ground in a couple places. Starry Warp then looked at crisp and lowered his hoof so the colt could see it closer.

"My special ability is that I can warp small spaces around me. What I did to those stones was make them have the consistency of jello." Starry lowered his hoof and rolled the joint a few times. "I can make solids soft, and vice versa when I need to. It's very helpful at times."

"Hindering at others." Moony mumbled. Starry shot her a miffed glare but then let it go with a smile.

Crisp quirked his brow and swiveled an ear sideways. "How is it useful?"

Starry grinned and flipped his body around, so he was facing the wall of the school. His expression hardened into a determined one. "Okay, so imagine you are a soldier right, and the path before you is barricaded. Are ya with me?"

When Crisp nodded, Starry lifted his hoof to the wall and started rotating it and swiveling it in random directions while talking. "You can't break the barricade, you can't fly over it, and you can't dig underneath. At the same time, you know you HAVE to get through to the other side."

Crips lifted a hoof to pause him. "How come you couldn't do any of those other things?"

Moony answered while looking around the courtyard lifting a hoof and tapping it onto the ground quietly with each part of her reply.

"Takes too much time, you become a target while in the air, the noise from breaking through the barricade will attract reinforcements, etcetera, etcetera. Many reasons cause those options to suddenly become a problem instead of a solution."

Crisp hummed in thought and then nodded. "Okay, that makes sense, but what can Starry's ability do that improves your chances of success?"

At this, Starry grinned and removed his hoof from the wall. "Crisp, my ability is special because in a situation like that, I don't have to worry about a barricade at all," He put his forehead against the cool stone, and suddenly Crisp watched as the bat pony went through the stone wall like it was jello.

"Because I can go right through it." Starry's voice stated from the other side. He shifted through the wall completely and poked his head out into view with a sly grin and a hoof pointed at Crisp. "How was that for magic?"

Crisp's mouth hung open and his eyebrows raided to their highest level. "Whoooa..."

Moony nodded appreciatively of the reaction and shook her mane out of her helmet before shifting it back into proper place. "It certainly is helpful on missions that require stealth and infiltration, but not so much when you get lost and phase through the wrong wall, Starry." Crisp came out of his awe as Starry blushed a deep red. The stallion grit his teeth and flicked his tail.

"T-that was an accident, I told you that, Moon Beam!"

Moony rolled her eyes, and waggled her ears playfully. "Uh-huh, and you just happened to have forgotten that the 'captains room' was on the other side of the castle, right?"

Starry gabbed at the mare like a fish out of water, his voice was a whisper. "I...yes! I did! I was trying to reach the captain's room to fill out paperwork for the next morning, and I thought I could take a shortcut! It's not my fault I got lost and ended up in the mare's--mmggrrph!"

Crisp grew even more confused by the two soldier's antics as Moony shoved her hoof practically into Starry's mouth and glared at him.

"Not. Believing. It. And be more careful around kids, Crisp doesn't need to know how much of a perv you are!" She hissed. Starry flipped his ears down and pulled away from her.

"Fine, fine. jeez, I give em the truth and they don't believe it, what's a colt to do..." He mumbled while taking up his post again and facing forward. It was here that Both bats noticed Crisp hadn't left.

"Um, so, was there something you needed, Crisp?" Starry asked. Crisp, who had been trying to wrap around his mind the scenario he'd been a part of, refocused his mind back onto the original reason he'd faced down his nervousness.

"Oh! I made something for you two." He said cheerfully.

Both bats looked at one another in surprise, and then leaned forward curiously. They watched as Crisp scooped up his fallen paper from the ground and magically held it out to Moon Beam. She gently took the sheet of paper and scanned over it, while Starry tried to lean from his position to see on the paper.

"A-aaw, that’s really, sweet. Thank you, Crisp." Moon Beam spoke with a gentle purr from her chest. Starry almost fell over from his weird positioned slant, and Moony rolled her eyes again and held it out to him. The stallion looked over the paper and then chuckled.

"Okay, this is nice, and really well drawn, but my wings are NOT that big." Starry said, tapping the page. He didn't notice Crisp's look of dejection.

"You wish they were." Moony mumbled.

Crisp watched yet again as Starry gasped and flipped his ears back and glared at her. "I do not have a wing complex!"

Moon Beam smirked and leaned down to Crisp, who was frowning at Starry. "He means well, boys just get caught up in bravado and their own self-image, but you won't grow up like that right, Crisp?" She winked to him and he felt his happiness return full force.

Crisp shook his head. "Mm-mmm! Daddy says it doesn't matter what size my horn is, as long as I am loved for who I am, then that is all that matters." Crisp stood, snatched the image from Starry's hooves and handed the photo to Moony, "Here, you keep it safe okay?" When Moony nodded happily, Crisp took his leave, catching the end of the two guard’s conversation.

"Bravado and self-image? Wow you really like to make yourself look oh so much better, don't ya. Moon Beam?"

"I try, you on the other hand fail spectacularly."

"Why you...if we weren't on break I’d--"

"You'd what?" She growled.

"....."

"Thought so, go back to perimeter checks, captain doofus."

Crisp giggled into a hoof as Starry gave an exasperated growl and took off into the sky. The little foal then trotted off to the school building, his next class was to be starting soon, and he refused to ever be late again.

Sireen was not sure how long it had been since she'd last checked, but the wait was slowly killing her. Were guards supposed to be patient? Yes. Were they supposed to sit still for hours on end and never move unless allowed? Yes. Was she a guard that had been taught these lessons? Yes. The thing with being taught something new or complicated, is that one's mind must be able to retain and hold the knowledge it is gaining, otherwise the lesson is nothing but hot air. Sireen had never retained the full extent of her training, and thus was fidgeting and flailing helplessly on the living room couch.

She was waiting for Crisp to get out of school.

So far, she'd swept, mopped, and cleaned the kitchen. From there she had vacuumed the upstairs hallway and Crisp's room. She'd been tempted to access Iron Crest's bedroom, but her conscience told her it was best to stay out of there for now. She would earn entry into that room, and that would show she respected Iron’s space. From there, the mare had taken a relaxing hot shower. Bathing was always a pleasant experience, but to have a shower to herself for once was far more enjoyable than the shared showers at the castle barracks. She could have her personal space too, and she was even able to listen to some nice music from the gramophone downstairs.

Her ears picked up the subtle tones of a violin as she lathered up under the rain of warm water. It was soothing in such a quiet household, and Sireen relaxed her injured wing in the tub, her eyes closed as water pattered down onto them from the above spout. Each stroke of the violin, she would brush her wing velvet with an actual brush, imitating the movements of the instrument across her wing gently as she listened. Her body would sway and tilt to the song as it played, making her seem like she was in a trance. As the song ended, so too did her bathing.

She'd then fought an epic battle with the hallway closet and its current horde of towels and bedding as they tried to bury her under an avalanche of cloth. She'd shifted around for a bit, finding the nest-like feeling extremely comfortable and then to her dismay had fallen asleep inside said pile. Her ears had eventually picked up on the sound of a vinyl record scratching repeatedly from downstairs, and she'd reluctantly extricated herself from the cozy towel nest.

After moving downstairs and turning off the musical device, she'd replaced the record into its sleeve and put that away as well. From there, she had laid on the couch and waited for Crisp to get out of school.

She grumbled as the clock said she still had an hour to go. Her training had failed her in her time of need. She tried to stand guard at the door, and then the stairwell, and then even the kitchen window, watching for ruffians and would be trespassers from inside had seemed like a good idea, but to her annoyance, not a soul dared test her skills that evening and she'd trodden back to the couch with anxiety in her belly.

She wanted to have Crisp home, at least then there would be something to do! Looking to the clock once more, and finding only a couple minutes had passed, made her grumble. She found herself gravitating toward the door, regardless of the large space between the time she needed to leave and the time she needed to arrive. She didn't think the little scamp would mind if she arrived early, In fact he'd probably love it.

After grabbing a spare key for the door, the mare locked up and left, exiting through the cafe entrance and then meandering past Mrs. Fuzzdrought's iron gate. Sireen hadn't seen hide nor hair of the two after her late night meeting with them, but she hoped everything had gone smoothly. She'd hate to have guards break up a physical fight between the two, but she doubted it would come to that.

As she wandered down the road, her mind fell to a blank slate, and here eyes gazed all around her, mostly due to curiosity. If she had time to heal, she had time to check out the neighborhood properly. She took roads she would not normally travel down and went directions almost at random, almost as if she wanted to get lost.

Sometimes getting lost was the best part of adventures. You could find stuff hidden away in little nooks and crannies, or see things unexpected. Sometimes these situations were pleasant, while sometimes they were displeasing or worrisome. If she ran into ruffians, she'd have to stand her ground due to her injured wing.

The first thing she found was a little curio shop, nestled away in the corners of an alley. The sign was made of a thick chunk of wood, probably oak or birch, for it looked strong. Two heavy, iron wrought chains held it in place on an old iron bar that had been set into the brick and mortar of the ancient building.

The sign had the stores named burned into it in equestrian: "Calamity's Curio House."

Sireen raised a brow at the name, wondering how eccentric a pony had to be to name their child after a disaster. When she went to check the times they were open, she was surprised to find that no hours were posted anywhere in the display window, which currently housed a large old barrel and several well used looking farm tools and equipment.

To her pleasure, there was an open sign on the door. Since she had time, she pushed the door open and wandered inside. The building itself was made of old bricks, that probably verified it as one of the more historic sites of Canterlot, but unless she read up on her history, Sireen wouldn't be able to verify that claim. The place had tall shelves made from wood that looked like it had been rescued from a fire, the charred rustic wood fit the decor that filled most of the room. The walls themselves were lined with shelves or book cases that held all manner of baubles, trinkets, or in some cases, in a novel use of what one would label as book shelves, were covered in books. All of that was to her left. To her right was a small wall section with photos and frames holding images of a family of three. The pictures appeared to be vintage, for all of them had no color and were in gray scale tones. Some also appeared to be singed or burned, one even was missing half the portrait do the burns the photo had endured.

Still, Sireen felt her heart lift at seeing the trio together. A earth pony stallion of thin build and intelligent eyes smiled back energetically with a mane that looked like it had been hit by a lightning bolt. In his forelegs was a swaddle of cloth that held a small unicorn foal. The only time Sireen had seen a father more proud, was when she was in the company of Iron Crest and Crisp Words.

Then her eyes fell to the mare sitting to his left. She was a unicorn, with a clean coat and a styled mane that fit the era of the older times. In each picture she held a gentle, motherly smile that belied her kindness and showed her love for the two at her right. She was beautiful for certain, but her eyes... Sireen blinked and looked closer. Sure enough, the mare's eyes had no pupils! They were completely devoid of them. She looked from one picture to the next. In each that the mare was present in, her eyes were empty.

That was disconcerting, to be sure. Maybe the mare had a deformity? Perhaps a medical ailment that made her blind, or was she born without them?

Sireen was brought out of her musings by a voice filled with excitement to her left.

"Hello there, dear customer! I don't believe I've had the chance to see you in our little shop before."

Sireen turned and found herself staring at a young, brown coated, fiery maned earth pony stallion that had a smile that made her feel genuinely welcome. But something seemed off. Sireen looked from the old photos, and then back to him. There was no doubt in her mind, that what she saw wasn't a trick, but it had to be!

They were the same stallion! She blinked and opened her mouth to speak but found no words came forth. Her hoof pointing at the photo, and then to the now bemused stallion at the counter.

The clerk chuckled at her apparent confusion and reared up. He folded his forelegs across the counter top, and smiled wistfully. "Yes, that is me, it’s a little joke I like to play on new customers. They come in, barely ever paying attention to the pictures and instead they wander around at our wares. When they meet me, I tell them a story about this building. I like to give folks the idea that this place was the center point for a massive fire that took the lives of the three in those photos. Hence why the shelves look burned and old, and the brick seems charred. After regaling them with my tale, I help them find what they need, and then usually tell them in a dead serious voice to wave goodbye at the pictures before they leave. Then, before they notice, I slip into my office and watch as they stare from the pictures to the now vacant counter in shock!"

Sireen couldn't help but giggle at the absurdity of it all. "Doesn't that pull ponies away from your shop, sir?" She asked.

He sighed with a gentle smile. "My wife said something similar. They will not come back, you know, and will tell all of Canterlot that this place is haunted, it’s bad for business! Bah! She was wrong though, ponies love this shop!" Here the stallion paused and drummed his hooves across the counter with a furrowed brow. "Er, that is, once they find it." He looked up at her and pointed toward the street. "We didn't exactly get a good location, so we aren't that well known, regardless of this…"

At the word this, the stallion reared up on his hind legs and waved his hooves at the wares. "Welcome to Calamity's curio house! Have a look around, and if you need my help I'll be here at the counter." He landed on the floor with all four hooves and smiled. Sireen held back her amusement at his energy and looked back at the photos.

"May I ask a question, mister..." she rotated her hoof in his direction and he blinked in surprise.

"Oh! My apologies, miss. My name is Earthen Dowel. My wife is the owner, Mrs. Sudden Calamity." He smiled proudly and Sireen nodded.

"I see, would you mind sating my curiosity on a couple things?" When he nodded enthusiastically, she popped her first question. "Well, I didn't see any hours posted for your shop, and that is problematic for me. I wanted to bring my..."

Sireen paused, she had almost called Crisp Words her son, but that wasn't accurate.

"Um, my friend and his son here, I think they would get a kick out of this place."

Earthen smiled warmly and nodded his approval. "Mm, well that is a good thing to hear, as for our hours, we are open twenty four seven!" He winked at her. "For those customers that prefer Princess Luna's quieter nights to do their shopping."

Sireen smiled and bowed her head to him. "Thank you, I'm sure Her Majesty appreciates your willingness to adhere your hours to those more aligned with the night, than the day." Sireen then felt her eyes travel to the shelves and the items they held. She clopped down the first isle, taking a couple baubles off the shelves, and admiring whatever uniqueness they had, all the while aware of Earthen's eyes following her silently. If it were not part of her nature to be curious, she'd find his watchfulness a little creepy.

As she entered the second isle, she heard the front door crack open and a pair of hooves wander across the floor. Grumbling could be heard, drawing Sireen's sight to the end of the isle. She almost gasped as the same unicorn with ghost like eyes waltzed by and promptly dropped her head onto the counter with a dull 'thunk'. She was a mare with a cream colored coat, and a lavender colored mane style that held sophistication in its design.

The mare's ears pinned back and her teeth bared as she sat down. "I hate it, Earthen, I hate it so much!" She mumbled. Sireen calmly walked to the front of the isle and watched quietly as Earthen reached out and rubbed small circles in the space between her withers with his hoof. It drew a coo of pleasure from the mare and she leaned into the touch.

Earthen smiled gently and nuzzled the top of her mane. "I know it can be a pain, but at least it’s over for the month, right?" His hoof was pushed away as she stood with a scowl, but it held a hint of mirth.

"Right, right, keep positive, I know, love. Still, it'd be nice to have some more customers to offset the bill." Her eyes, devoid though they may be, seemed to lose some brightness to them. Earthen looked up and locked eyes with Sireen, and she saw his hopeful expression.

"Well, we do have one more, love." When she looked up at him with confusion, he pointed to the bat pony mare, who smiled gently and bowed her head. Calamity blinked a couple times and then her smile broadened.

"W-well hello there! I am so sorry I didn't see you!" The unicorn turned fully to Sireen and held out a hoof, which Sireen cautiously took. Her nervousness seemed to travel across to Calamity, who winced and chuckled. "I may look um, a little odd but it's nothing to worry about, ma'am. Merely my genetics at play."

Sireen tilted her head as her hoof lowered back to the floor. "Genetics, Mrs. Calamity?"

The mare nodded and sat down once more. Her tail swished back and forth, letting her happiness show. "Oh yes, I am the daughter of a unicorn and a changeling."

Sireen felt her eyes widen in surprise. She'd never heard of such a pairing! "Is...I assume that is quite rare, yes?"

Calamity nodded. "My father, Sterling Signature, met my mother while he was building his business in San Palomino. He was attempting to connect two corporations together, and when they landed in a situation where neither side would accept the terms, my mother, disguised as another unicorn, helped them find a compromise. "

She paused and looked back at her husband, who smiled and gave her a motion with his hooves, as if wanting her to continue. She stood and ran a hoof along one of the shelves, a comforted look making its way onto her face.

"It was the first of many scenarios where the two ended up working together. In the end, my mother asked him out to dinner after a rather successful business merge, and he accepted."

Calamity's grin widened into a cheerful one and she swished her tail merrily. "A little while later they began dating and well...they got together."

Here she gained a wistful look, as if the past had caught up to her memory. "I remember as a filly, they used to get such odd looks when they were in public. Changelings have to enter pony cities undisguised unless they have a unity passport or verification papers showing they are a citizen of Equestria."

Sireen nodded in understanding. She'd dealt with a couple changelings in her time as a guard, but not to any major lengths. Mostly they would arrive at the castle to get their passports or citizenship. Most seemed to be wanting passports though. A unity passport allowed the changeling to keep their ties to their hive and work in Equestria. She had seen Princess Luna work out a few transfers in night court though, for changelings that wanted to live with the ponies fully. These changelings usually were of the type that had been exiled, or were leaving the hive for less than positive reasons. Sometimes bad blood between hive mates would cause a group to disband from the hive and seek more enjoyable places to live, like Equestria.

"Correct me if I am wrong," Sireen interjected. "But passports and citizenship is pretty hard to get, even today. It must have been hard for your mother, I imagine."

Calamity's smile diminished only a little as she replied. "Oh, yes. The system was pretty new back then. Princess Twilight was petitioning for the system back then, and many ponies disagreed with her views. My mother had to visit my father in secret. Of course, he was under the impression that she just had a job that took her out of the country on a regular basis, he didn't know she was a changeling until her arrest."

Sireen's ears perked up at that. "Your mother got arrested?"

Earthen spoke up for Calamity, who frowned and pawed at the floor.

"Calamity's mother got into a fight with a guard one day, after he asked for her papers at the border. The guard was suspicious of her for a while, and decided one day to look her up in the system. When he found her disguise matched a deceased unicorn mare from a couple years back, he barred her entry."

Earthen removed himself from around the counter and came to his wife's side, half hugging her. She leaned into the touch with a sigh. Earthen continued.

"When he demanded she prove her credentials, she turned and tried to leave the border but was stopped by the other guards present. You're a guard, miss, have you ever seen a cornered changeling before?"

Sireen frowned. She hadn't been part of any altercations with the race as of yet, but the stories she'd heard from her higher ups were not ones that sounded pleasant. "She panicked, didn't she?" Sireen looked at Earthen and saw his curt nod.

"She did more than that, she took down four Equestrian Royal Border Patrol agents and injured a citizen in her attempt to flee the border."

Sireen cringed and lowered her ears in dismay. "Thats baaaad...What happened after they captured her?"

Calamity chuckled. "Once three guards had her pinned down, her energy stores were dangerously low. She lost consciousness and her disguise dropped. Apparently she scared the badges right of those guards when that happened. She was detained in a holding cell until Princess Celestia could hear her case. When she finally got to Canterlot though...that's when things got pretty hectic."

Earthen smiled at Sireen and hugged his wife, she purred and nuzzled his neck affectionately. "When they got off the train, they walked her through town, under a different disguise. Sterling Signature was exiting Celestia's throne room after some business just as she was arriving in it. When he saw her, he expressed his outrage at seeing his potential lover in chains, they asked how he knew her, and he said she was his best friend."

Sireen blinked and flipped an ear sideways in thought. "But you said she didn't look the same, how did he recognize her?"

Calamity sighed and nuzzled stronger into Earthen's chest fur, nipping his collar and getting a gentle hiss of pleasure out of him. He blushed and nibbled the mare's ear tip, eliciting a mewl of happiness from her. The stallion chuckled and continued.

"He practically laughed at the guard who asked him, and with Celestia as his witness, he said "You idiot, a disguise is only good if it can hide your true feelings, and this changeling is terrible at hiding hers."

Sireen gasped and held a hoof to her mouth. "He...he knew already?" When The couple nodded together she felt her heart flutter. "Thats amazing, how did he find out?"

Calamity chuckled and her blush increased tenfold. "W-well between us mares, my mother didn't make the normal sounds a mare does when a stallion, um, decides to mount--"

Sireen held up a hoof amidst trying to stop her giggling. "Oh my gosh, stop. You're kidding!"

When Calamity shook her head, Sireen lost it. She laughed, "W-what did she do?! Did she buzz when he--"

"She chittered!"

Sireen gasped. "No way! Oh my gosh, that is sooo cute!"

"I know right? Dad said she was so lost in pleasure that when he asked if she was alright, she just said something to him in her native tongue, and then started moaning so loud the neighbors--mmmpph!"

Earthen put a hoof in his wife's mouth suddenly, a red hot blush across his cheeks that could rival a dragon's fire. "OKAY! We are moving on now, new subject, and thank you very much!"

His wife scowled, pinned her ears back and clamped her teeth down on his hoof, in retaliation. Earthen yelped and withdrew his hoof. "OUCH! T-that was my hoof!"

"And said hoof should stay outta my mouth and let us mares enjoy our chit chat!" Calamity said, crossing her forelegs and sticking her tongue out at him. Earthen pouted and harrumphed.

"At least I tried to keep it PG, there is a foal present you know!"

Sireen blinked and looked around, but no foal was to be seen. "Um, there is?"

Calamity sighed with a roll of her eyes and a smile, "Oh yes, she likes to get into mischief all the time. Quiet Eyes! We know you're in here, come out my little loveling!"

A couple seconds went by, and then Sireen's ears swiveled behind her and her guard instincts kicked in. She whirled around and her eyes caught the end of an amber colored tail as it disappeared inside a nearby chest that sat on the bottom shelf. She grinned and crouched, sneaking towards the chest as quiet as silence itself.

When she reached it, her ears picked up giggling from within. She looked back to her mother and father who were looking up at the top shelves of all places. After waving a hoof to get Calamity's attention, she pointed to the chest. Calamity caught on and started walking towards her.

"Oh I wonder where my little hatchling has gotten to this time!" Calamity said with heavy exaggeration. The box giggled more as calamity reached Sireen and the batpony scooted aside to let the mother near. The mare stood there loudly tapping her hoof on the floor. "Oh where did she hide this time?" a hint of mock exasperation in her tone.

Almost at the same time, the foal flung the chest open and dove at her mother, intent on surprising the adult with her expertly crafted sneak attack, only to see two sets of predatory, motherly smiles aimed at her. Her victory cry turned into a squeal of surprise.

"Surprise! I got ya--Aaaaahhh!"

The filly looked like a normal unicorn foal, with a white coat and a two toned purple and red mane. Her eyes were a bright green color, and seemed to fill with glee as her mother reached out with her forelegs and caught her child.

"No, I got you!" Calamity thrust her snout into her child's belly fur and nibbled with little growls, making Quiet Eyes peals of laughter echo around the store.

"N-nooooo ahahah! Mamma! Let me g-go!" The foal tried to squirm out of her mother’s grasp but only succeeded in exposing her back, which mamma exploited to its fullest. Another loud raspberry assaulted Sireen's ears as the two played. She felt warm and happy inside, watching the mother and her daughter, and she wondered if it would be like that with Crisp Words.

I hope so, she mused.

The foal finally escaped her mother's clutches and leaped to the floor, racing right into Sireen's forelegs, and pushing her back against the bat pony's chest fur. "Night guard! Protect me! The evil mother of tickles tried to kidnap me!"

Calamity put a hoof to her chest in mock horror. "Evil?! You dare call your own mother evil?"

Sireen smirked and looked down at the filly. "I don't know little one, I saw a filly who was breaking and entering."

Quiet Eye's ears lowered and she tilted her head up to look at Sireen in confusion and a hint of worry. "H-huh?"

The grin Sireen gave the foal was less than supportive. And Quiet Eyes suddenly felt like her apparent ally was a ruse.

"Oh yes, Quiet, I saw you sneaking into a chest full of treasures that your mother was protecting!" she said with a playful growl reaching her lips. Quiet Eyes gasped and flailed in Sireen's grasp.

"N-No! You're not an ally! Traitor!" Sireen laughed and let her go a second or two later, the little scamp flopped onto the floor and bolted into a standing position. She stuck her tongue out at both mares.

They both shared a look and nodded. Quiet Eyes watched as they both crouched and growled from both ends of the isle.

Her bravery faltered instantly. "I...um....EEP!" taking off like a shot from a cannon, the filly ran past Sireen and out of view, with a loud playful laugh. "Daaaad! Save me daddy!"

The two mares broke into a fit of laughter. Children were a joy that every mother craved experiencing. Calamity sighed and leaned against the shelving unit softly. A loving smile gracing her face as they heard a shout of surprise and then laughter from Earthen. "She is one of the best things that has happened to me, and I can't imagine life without my little loveling, now."

Sireen smiled back and shuffled her wings. “I can only imagine what that's like, but it must be nice."

Calamity's smile fell to a flat line and her brow raised. "Oh? I was under the impression you ARE a mother...Was I wrong?"

When Sireen's ears lowered slightly and her gaze fell to the floor, "um, no. I....no, I’m not."

Calamity frowned. "Oh...I...I'm sorry, I shouldn't have assumed anything, dear." Calamity came over and nuzzled her neck, and Sireen leaned into the physical touch, a small comfort. "That's odd, you're very attractive, I know several stallions or mares who'd love to meet you!"

The thestral blushed warmly and shook a hoof, "O-oh, well that's very kind of you to say, b-but I recently found someone that has his eye on me, so..." Sireen paused and felt her smile return slowly. Iron Crest certainly had shown interest, but did he love her?

Only time will tell, I guess. She was quiet for a moment and then she fully smiled and looked to Calamity.

"I think I'm spoken for."

Calamity smirked, "You think so, or you know so?"

"W-well, Iron Crest and I haven't actually--"

Calamity gasped and looked like she'd eaten something sour. Sireen paused. "Is something wrong?"

The unicorn mare frowned, and looked to the side, making sure they weren't being spied on before leaning in. "You mean that yellow pegasus that works for the courts right?"

When Sireen nodded nervously, Calamity's ears pinned back. "I...well that is, good I guess...You be careful, though, okay?"

Sireen felt her nervousness switch over to confusion and caution as she tilted her head and squinted her eyelids. "Whyyy?"

Calamity shuffled closer so the two were practically in a huddle. "Have you heard about his ex-wife's family?"

Sireen nodded. "I was told by Iron himself that they are less than pleased with him for marrying her."

Calamity shook her head adamantly, "That's like saying fire is kind of warm! They HATE him. Iron Crest has been on their shit list--please excuse my language-- for ever now! I would know!"

Sireen felt her lip twitch into an attempt at a snarl. "Okay, how do you know this?"

Calamity leaned back and furrowed her brow while flicking her snout toward the front door. "One of them is a regular customer here."

Sireen growled at that, her eyes flashing as she fought to keep her wings from popping open.

Calamity, seeing this display, didn't flinch away, but seemed emboldened by the reaction. "Oh yes! One of the daughters comes here at the beginning of every week to see our new shipments. She likes our store, but when I broached the subject of Iron Crest, the mare look like I’d stabbed her! She stormed out of our shop and I didn't see her for three or four weeks after. "

Calamity paused and watched Sireen as the mare tried to calm her anger down. When the batpony's anger had dissipated, she continued.

"When she returned, I tried to apologize for the incident, but she shrugged it off and said, it’s no problem of ours, the issue will resolve itself with time. Whatever that means, I decided I would warn Iron Crest, and any pony who got close to him."

Calamity chuckled, "I guess its good luck You decided to check out our store. I might not have been able to warn you, that family is up to something and I get the feeling they don't give up easily. Be careful."

When Sireen nodded, Calamity smiled genuinely and stood. "Good, that's all a mare can hope for, please take care of him and Crisp for us, okay? They need all the attention they can get."

Sireen nodded proudly and stood at attention. "I'll be sure to do so, ma'am."

Calamity chuckled and wandered down the aisle, "Well then, feel free to browse around and if you have any questions, I'll be at the front counter."

After Calamity left, the batpony paused to process all the information she'd been given. The words of that other mare seemed to hold a hidden threat, but maybe Sireen was just overly cautious. If that family wanted to do something, they could have done something already, and yet nothing foul had taken place.

Then Sireen remembered something from training. The words playing over and over in her head as she said her good byes and left the shop. Her legs went from a walk, to a trot, and then to a full sprint towards Crisp Word's school.

Caution is thrown to the wind, so a thestral can catch it.

If that family was being cautious, it meant they were planning something.

She'd be there to catch it.

Author's Note

Merry christmas ^^

Fights, Flustered Fathers, and family.

Pushing his chair back into its place, Iron Crest groaned and arched his back, hissing as a loud set of pops went down his spine. His desk was finally clear of paperwork from the last few days and it was something he planned on celebrating in full. Across from him, his co-worker Fissure Quill was making a tower of cards with the only deck he could get his hooves on. The younger stallion had finished his chunk of the paperwork and had asked Iron if he wanted help, but with everything that had gone on recently in his life, he'd politely declined.

The monotonous work had eased his mind into an organized pile of thoughts and emotions by the time he finished. From this stack of thoughts, he'd mentally pulled out the most important pieces of his personal conundrum.

Number one in his list was his son Crisp Words. The little colt had been far happier and lively ever since Sireen had shown up. While the doctor had said it would be good to give Crisp a mother figure in his life, Iron felt like the colt was so desperate for one that he'd just latched on to Sireen, and Iron wasn't sure if Sireen herself was ready for such a change.

Sure, she showed great promise as a mother, as her instincts had kicked in rather quickly. In terms of experience though, it showed that she'd not spent much time around foals. Her unwillingness to let him retrieve his son from her side that morning had been a quick but accurate judgment of how she handled her maternal reactions. Simply put, she barely had a cap on them.

On the flip-side, She was a kind and considerate mare who held a rather strong job, and was capable of protecting Crisp should anything happen. Iron liked her, and Crisp did as well, so as far as appeal went she was a winner in his book.

The second piece of his issues though, was himself.

Am i ready for another mare? I haven't been able to keep any around for longer then a couple weeks.

He rubbed his temples with his feather tips, letting out a sigh as the pressure eased a little. In the past, the few mares he'd been with said he was still attached to his deceased wife, that he spoke of her in his sleep, and that they felt like a side project in his heart. Iron knew this hadn't been true, but it hurt nevertheless. Each mare he'd approached because he had an actual interest in them, even the mare he'd met at the bar had seemed like she could be a good option! If anything a fun one...

He'd been wrong on all of them in one manner or another, but neither was he willing to give up on the idea of love. There was no such thing as a perfect pony. He kept having to tell himself that. Even his first wife had some temper issues. She'd get really frustrated over simple tasks that didn't work out.

This train of thought brought him to his final problem. Sireen herself. While the mare was nocturnal, had her own job, and could take care of herself, Iron wasn't sure how to proceed. He'd already told her he'd give it a chance, but the stallion felt like he'd stepped into the deep end with no life raft, and if he wasn't careful, he'd drown again and lose sight of what was important.

His family ties.

As Iron sat there staring at the wood grains in his desk, he came to understand that yes, he did in fact like Sireen, and he did want to know more about her, but he couldn't let himself or Crisp get too attached just yet. If down the road Sireen lost interest in him, then that was okay, but Iron couldn't stand to see his son crying at dawn again when his 'mother" didn't come home.

"Yo! Luna to Iron Crest, do you copy?"

Iron was brought out of his thoughts by a hoof tapping his desk firmly. Looking up he found Fissure Quill standing at his desk with a slightly humored but worried expression. The stallion smiled lightly.

"You okay there, Iron? I asked if you wanted to head home for the night and you just kept glaring at your desk like it had insulted you or something."

iron put up a quick smile and folded his wings to his sides. "It's alright, Fissure, I was just lost in thought is all. I have... a lot on my plate right now."

Fissure hummed, one of his eyebrows rose up a little and he sat in one of the chairs across from the older stallion's desk.

"Is that so? It have anything to do with this mare you're seeing?"

Iron clenched his teeth and groaned. "If I told you no, would you drop it?" when Fissure shook his head, Iron sighed. "It's that obvious?"

Fissure chuckled softly and waved his hoof around the room, "Dude, the only time I see you like this is when you have a new possible mare-pony, or you want to punch one of the aristocrats here at the castle in unsavory places." Fissure leaned across the desk with a smug smile, "So yeah, considering we haven't had to deal with the higher ups in a while, knock on wood--" both stallions wrapped their hooves on the table simultaneously-- "Then my only other option was to guess you have a mare problem."

Iron smirked and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes and craning his chin up so it looked like he was glaring at the ceiling. "Ugh, fine Sherlock Pones, you've got me! I am having trouble in paradise...again."

"So, whats the deal?" Fissure flopped back into the chair, choosing to sit sideways with his fore legs around the back of his head and his hind legs flopped over the arm rest. "Is it that thestral mare that came in the other day? Cause she's nice."

Iron whined and slouched even further down into his chair as a response. His ears and mane were the only thing Fissure could see above the edge of the desk. "Y-yes."

Fissure smirked, pointing a hood at Iron's ears. "Thought so, I haven't seen you get that flustered since I tried to hit on you."

A growl sounded from the other side of the desk. "I thought we said we would never speak of that again."

"We aren't, we are talking about your crush on this pretty little songbird you've got your eye on. So what is the problem, come on, talk to me."

After a couple seconds of moping under his desk, Iron sat up properly and pinned his ears back, his eyes wandering across the empty desk. "Fiiine, I like Sireen, yes that's her name, and she likes me."

Fissure nodded, listening.

Iron stood and pushed his chair back, content to pace back and froth in front of his desk, eyes to the floor. "But that's a good thing! The bad thing is that I don't want to screw it up like the last few times, on top of this, Crisp has basically cemented it in his head that Sireen is already his mother, and...well, I'm not sure Sireen likes that. It makes me look like a desperate dad who will take in any mare as long as she holds that title for my son, ya know?"

He looked over at Fissure to see that the stallion had re-positioned his body into the proper sitting arrangement that chairs were meant for. To Iron it was a nice thing to see, because Fissure only did that when he was being serious. "Alright, you want things to go smoothly, and you don't want Crisp getting too attached in case this mare decides to turn tail and run like the rest?"

iron winced, "I...well, I wouldn't say they ran awaaaay, just...left quickly?" When Fissure leveled a "seriously?" look at him, Iron smacked his forehead into the desk and grumbled. "Okay fine, you know what I mean! I want to give Sireen the respect and space she needs to feel out this situation. Right now I feel like i'm sabotaging it before it can go anywhere solid."

Fissure flipped an ear sideways, "How so?"

Iron blinked and looked from Fissure to his desk. "I don't know, I just feel like I'm doing too much and not enough at the same time! I met her three days ago and it feels like we are already married, but the only mare I felt that with was Noble Crest."

Fissure smiled and reached across the desk with his hoof, and before Iron could really react, the younger stallion bopped him hard on the forehead. Iron recoiled and swatted Fissure's leg away. "Ow! What the hay was that for?!"

Fissure chuckled and sat back in the chair. "You're stuck running in a circle around the past, that was to put it behind you."

Iron grumbled and looked confused. "What? What do you mean?"

Fissure reared up and planted his front hooves on the desk, towering over Iron, who looked even more perplexed. "Look, Iron, you've been running from the past ever since you lost your wife. That same past has you stuck, and the only way to deal with the past is to face it!"

Iron rubbed his forehead, "Yeah, well I still don't see how hurting me has anything to do with the past."

Fissure sighed, "Because the past hurts, doesn't it? With how you feel and what you're dealing with now, it hurts inside, so the way I see it, you can either keep running from that pain, or--" Fissure swiped his hoof at Iron's head again, only to have the stallion duck away from his hoof. "Or, you can learn from it, and move on with your life."

Iron went to retort but blinked, and realized that Fissure had a good point. The past was holding him back because he didn't want to be hurt anymore, but the only way to get past that pain, was to keep trying and hoping that one day he'd find a mare that made the pain stop.

"Huh...I...I guess you're right, Fissure." iron said quietly.

Fissure hopped off the desk and walked to the door, "I would hope so, I might have to file for over time if it doesn't work, these after hour therapy sessions are cutting into my snuggle time with MY mate back home."

Iron looked up at the clock and was surprised to see that he could have left a few minutes ago. After locking up his desk and following Fissure out the door, he nudged the younger stallion with his wing. "Well maybe Princess Luna will give you a free coffee as compensation fro a couple minutes of therapy."

Fissure shrugged, "Hey, it'd probably be the best darn cup of Joe I've ever had if it came from on high. Any who, you go get your mare, and make sure Crisp gets a good mother, ya hear?"

Iron nodded and trotted down the main hall of the castle, until he was outside. The night sky greeted him with thousands of stars that twinkled and gleamed in the inky blackness of outer space, and right then, Iron felt like he could actually catch one if he tried.

But right now he needed to pick up his son from school, and have a chat with Sireen.

***

Sireen ran like tarterus itself was hot on here fetlocks, ducking and weaving around obstacles like her training had taught her without so much as making a sound. She was a silent shadow that couldn't be seen, heard, or stopped. Her injured wing made her wince every so often, but she grit her teeth and bore through the pain. It would heal in time, the medicine she'd been given was working wonders already.

As she came around a right angled corner her eyes caught sight of the school grounds, the large white marbled walls of the castle loomed in the distance. The school itself was not inside the walls of the castle, but a couple blocks down the street from the main draw bridge that gave ponies access to it's inner zones. Even as Sireen slowed to a trot, her nostrils flaring and drawing in large amounts of air, she became aware that the two night guard at the front gates to the school had heard her and were watching her approach.

When she came within twenty feet, she simply sat down and caught her breath. her fellow guard eyed her up and down before Moon beam spoke up. "Sireen Wind? I thought you were on medical leave. What are you doing here of all places?"

Sireen took a couple more breaths to steady herself, and then she took a similar guard stance as her brethren, albeit with no armor or current rank. She smiled at Moon Beam, "I'm merely here for when Crisp words gets out of school, I wanted to make sure he got home safe."

Starry Warp and Moon Beam both shared a glance, before Starry pointed at her. "You know Crisp Words? How'd that happen?"

Sireen smiled warmly at Starry, "Yup, the little scamp and his father, Iron Crest, met me at my previous post. I've kind of grown close to them since then." She blushed and subconsciously shuffled her wings, wincing as her injured one twinged in protest.

Moon beam smirked slyly "Ah, so that's who has you moonstruck eh?" When Sireen growled and pinned her ears back, Moon Beam merely shrugged her wings, "Hey, don't shoot the messenger but it went around the barracks that a certain mare in our platoon was dancing in the moonlight with a non-thestral."

Sireen frowned, as did Starry, who spoke up. "There isn't anything wrong with that, Moony, Iron Crest is a good stallion and a great father, let it go."

Moony lost her smile and looked affronted. "I wasn't trying to sound rude, Starry, I meant it as a joke! I know there isn't anything wrong with it. I just thought I'd warn Sireen that a little ribbing was going to probably take place is all, you understand right, Sireen?"

Sireen sighed and preened her good wing for a couple seconds before nodding. "I'm aware, Moon Beam, but it doesn't mean I like it. I really do like Iron Crest, he's the first stallion who actually has piqued my interests, and his son is adorable!"

Starry chuckled and pulled out a piece of paper, and beckoned her over to see it. "Oh, we know, Crisp gave us this picture tonight as a sign of his thanks for doing our jobs."

Sireen gently took the sheet of paper and examined the drawing, it was done rather well in her opinion, and it was in Crisps style too. Sireen smirked and handed it back. "That's very sweet of him, did he know you have a wing complex, Starry?"

Starry growled and flailed his front hooves between the two mares "I--you--She! Are you two serious?! I do not have a wing complex!" The two mares giggled together as the stallion was left floundering in his cracked pride. All three of them heard the sound of wing beats and their guard instincts kicked as Iron Crest came into view down the road.

Starry, grasping at his last chance for victory, struck a hoof out to the approaching stallion, "Iron Crest! Thank the heavens you're here, help a stallion out will ya, these mares think I have a wing complex!"

For the most part, Iron Crest kept a straight face, but Sireen noticed the little twitch in his lips as he tried not to laugh. Instead he just shook his head and landed a couple feet away from them. "Starry, if a mare says you've got a wing complex, then i'm sad to say you do. Sorry bud, but i...S-Sireen?"

The Stallion's eyes had traveled to the two mares as he'd come up to them and he was surprised to see her here. "Wha...What are you doing here?" He balked as her wings drooped a little and she blushed, "Err, not that that is a bad thing! I just wasn't expecting it!" He walked up and gently reached a hoof out to touch her shoulder. "Y-You should be resting that wing of yours."

The shiver that shot up Sireen's spine when Iron's hoof touched her was noticed by everyone, and Moon Beam smirked and rolled her eyes "Moonstruck indeed."

Sireen growled at Moon Beam and then looked at Iron. "I just wanted to make sure Crisp got home safe, I admit I didn't think of asking you when you took him to school tonight."

Iron nodded and she watched as his cheeks gained a light red tinge to them, "I see, well that is very kind of you to do so, I appreciate it. Sh-shall we collect him together?"

Sireen nodded and scooted closer to Iron, intent on walking with him to the school, but she was yet again surprised when his right wing draped across her back and gently hugged her close. She let out a little chirp of joy and her tail swished happily at the touch. Iron noticed and blushed harder as they walked through the gates, Moon Beam leaned back and whispered to Sireen,

"Totally Moonstruck, Windy!"

Sireen glared at her and hissed, making the other thestral mare titter and go back to her post. When they were out of ear shot, Iron looked down to find Sireen was smiling warmly and had leaned her cheek into his shoulder, nuzzling the fur lightly. He chuckled nervously, "S-sorry about that, you looked cold."

Sireen opened her eyes half way and stared at him with her bright golden irises, a deep purr escaping her throat, "hmm, ya know, I think I was cold, but you can keep me warm tonight right?" her voice was almost a whisper.

Iron felt like his heart had jumped out of his chest and was doing a tap dance on his skull. He felt his chest fluff out instinctively and his wings shot into the air reflexively. "I...I...." He was at a lost for words, and Sireen giggled at his expression. She'd never managed to make a stallion do that before, and as she nuzzled back under his lowering wing, she smiled deeply.

She liked it.

After his wings had relaxed and his head didn't feel like it was going to explode with blood pressure, Iron crest smoothed out his chest fluff and spoke as they reached the school steps. "I um, well! yes, thank you for, um, for coming to pick up Crisp, I usually do so after work, but it'll be nice for him to also be picked up by you as well, I think he'll get a kick out of that."

Sireen nodded and purred lightly when he opened the door for her, "After you m'lady." She bit her lip, her cheeks kept their rosy hue, and her heart started beating a little faster, as she walked inside. The halls of the school were currently quiet but given a few more minutes Sireen guessed it'd be a wall of noisy foals diving for the exit. One of those foals she'd be giving a lot of attention to pretty soon.

"Sireen, I wanted to say something before Crisp could interfere." Iron said beside her. She noted how his wing tightened on her side a little more. Was he afraid?

"Look, I thought about what you said at breakfast this morning, and...the thing is..."

Sireen felt a shiver go through her for an entirely different reason, was he about to tell her it wouldn't work out?

"I know Crisp and I both like you, Me more so then him in completely different ways, but I feel like we are going waaaay to fast, does that make sense?"

Sireen felt her heart stop it's incremental climb of fear and slowly ebb back down. She breathed a sigh of relief and noted how Iron tensed at that. "Actually, I did and I didn't, Iron. The few relationships I've been in were quick, and not exactly wholesome or worthwhile, so I failed to recognize if we were going to fast or too slow." She gently nosed his shoulder, with a submissive shrug. "Up until now I haven't had any real relationships, you're the first, so...so if you say we are going to fast, then lets slow down."

The release of air that Iron exhaled meant he'd been holding his breath and Sireen smiled humorously as he got his breathing back to normal. "I must say Sireen that is, well I am glad to hear that. I was worried all day that you might think I wasn't interested in you, which I am, very much so!...er interested, i mean, I'm interested, in y--"

Sireen leaned up and kissed his cheek, her fangs brushing into his cheek fur and sending shivers down his spine, effectively ceasing his words. She nestled close to his side and purred happily. "Well I'm glad to hear you are interested in me, cause i'm interested in you too."

Sireen sighed in content and then firmly burrowed her snout into his chest fluff as it expanded out. It was so soft and comforting, that she subconsciously nibbled a little bit. Her ears perked up as she heard him gasp at the nibbles and she pulled back. "S-Sorry, too much?"

Iron's face was about as red as it could get and it had an expression of clenched focus, like he was trying not to think specific things. "U-um, j-just don't do thaaaat." He quickly let a violent shiver go through him, which had the negative affect of making him look even fluffier and Sireen purred loudly in appeal.

Gods above he's like a giant fluffy pillow! She bit her lip as her female instincts said to snuggle into him right there in the hallway. I might not be ABLE to take things slowly!

Iron shook himself and clenched his eyes shut. "I...well, pegasi are extremely sensitive in the fluffy areas of our bodies, especially our chest fluff, s-so while the attention is not unwanted, you were very close to...ah, well to piquing my interest elsewhere on my body..." Iron emphasized this by sitting down and closing his wings around himself and effectively hiding his lower body from view.

Sireen gasped and then blushed rather fiercely herself and hid her expression with her good wing. "Oh...oh my, I'm sorry."

Iron Crest, for the most part squeaked out a "It's okay." He was shuffling around behind his wings and Sireen wasn't too sure she wanted to see what he was doing, but he seemed to be wincing every couple of seconds, which drove her curiosity.

"Okay, forgive me for intruding...but what are you doing, Iron?" She said peering at him. He winced once more and grinned sheepishly.

"Hurting myself."

Sireen grimaced in shock, "W-what why?!"

Iron looked at her with a deadpan expression, "Why do you think? In a couple minutes there will be foals surrounding us and I have no intentions of letting them see all of me."

Yet again Sireen blushed and looked away. She didn't think she'd made him react that fast. she lifted a hoof and looked around the hallway, trying to admire the school decor as her hoof ran down her mane. "You uh...you've not had much intimacy recently, have you, Iron?"

When he stood and sighed, she dared look back to him, making sure her eyes stayed front and center and most of all, above the chest. "Ya good now?" she asked. Iron nodded, and shuffled his wings back into a more comfortable place.

Just in time too, for not a second later the bell rang throughout the school halls, making Sireen pin her ears against her head as every door in the hall flung wide open and a wall of foals a foot high came surging into existence. She found herself laughing as they completely ignored her and Iron and ran all around and even under them. Sireen had to duck and weave a few times as the little rascals scurried right under her and out the space between her hind legs. Iron was having the same issue, and Sireen now realized why he was so desperate to hide his proof of gender away. All it would have taken was one foal to shoot under him and they'd have had a rather awkward situation on their hooves.

"Is it always like this, Iron?" Sireen spoke over the noisy swarm of foals.

Iron looked over to her and nodded. "Mostly, for the first five or so minutes, and then they trickle outside and wait for their parents to arrive."

Sireen nodded and noted how the diversity in the foals was just as varied in the daytime groups. Unicorns, pegasi, earth ponies, and even a thestral or two were mingling together in the crowd. Sireen even spotted one griffon hatchling working on the combination to her locker as the crowd surged around them.

As the foals gathered their supplies, Sireen found herself searching for Crisp, but with so many colors and movement taking up the forefront of her vision, she could barely tell where one foal ended and another began. She laughed more at that, it was like they were one giant conglomeration of life.

Scooting closer to Iron, Sireen watched as a couple teachers emerged from their classrooms and helped direct the foals to their designated lockers, and one opened the doors to allow them out to parents who Sireen could see were beginning to arrive.

Soon enough Sireen and Iron had room to move without trampling any of the little ones around them. Iron looked around with Sireen for Crisp, but to their mutual confusion, they couldn't find him. Iron tapped his hoof a few times and waited a little longer but when the hall emptied out and Crisp made no sign of showing up, he frowned.

"That's odd. He usually is right on time, I wonder what might have held him up." Without waiting for a reply from Sireen, he wandered down the hall to a nearby open doorway and peered in, Sireen did the same and found the classroom empty save for the teacher.

She was a thin but healthy unicorn mare of cherry coat and lime green mane and tail. she was wiping the chalk boards down, when her eyes fell on Iron Crest as the doorway and she smiled.

"Oh, hello there, Iron Crest, are you looking for little Crisp?" When Iron nodded, the mare set her eraser down on the desk and sighed, "Well you won't find him here, he got in trouble I'm afraid, the little colt got into an argument with an older student and they got into a bit of a tussle."

Iron looked taken aback, "Crisp got in a fight? He's never done that! What happened?" The teacher, apparently a Mrs. Cross Words, from her name tag, frowned and looked past Iron at Sireen.

"Well, he apparently got into an argument about his um, new mother." When Iron and Sireen shared a wince and a glance, Mrs. Cross quickly added, "B-but no foal was hurt too badly, just a couple bruises and a few nips, we settled it pretty quickly, but Crisp is in the detention hall with the other foal."

Iron thanked her and closed the door, his face marred with a frown.

"This is exactly what I was afraid of, Crisp thinks every mare I meet is instantly his mother and he gets really defensive when the other foals get confused over his real parents." Iron sighed and rubbed his brow with a primary wingtip. Sireen was silent, on one end the situation, she felt so proud that Crisp thought of her that way, but on the other hoof he had certainly latched on too quickly. It posed a weird issue for the both of them. If Crisp was to get better at handling this, then Sireen needed to stay with him so he'd have a solid mother figure, but if she did, then she'd all but be cementing her relationship with Iron.

But is that a bad thing?

Sireen bit her lip and followed Iron to the detention hall, which happened to be the lunch room as well. The tables and chairs had been put up save for one table and three chairs. A well muscled pegasus stallion with a whistle around his neck and a sports hat atop his head sat at the table with two foals on either side of him, and he appeared to be talking with them, although neither one seemed to be listening. Both foals had their backs turned away from each other in an obvious action of contempt for one another.

Sireen and Iron crept up to the group, stopping just close enough to hear what was being said. The pegasus teacher was speaking. His gruff voice holding a hint of irritation as the two foals ignored him.

"Look kids, you guys are here because you got in a scuffle over something trivial. I'm sure your parents are wondering why you aren't outside as well, what are ya gonna tell them when they come in here?"

The other foal, a earth pony filly with a silver curly mane and tail, a pale pink coat, and a couple dimples on the top of her snout, glowered back at Crisp, her left eye black and bruised. "My parents would say I'm right! Crisp's mom isn't real, she's imaginary, Just like all the other ones!"

Crisp's nape fur stood on end and he snapped his head around to glare visual daggers at the filly. "You're on to talk, when does your daddy come home, oh yeah, NEVER! At least mine is real and stays around for me!"

The filly growled and stood up, slamming her small hooves onto the top of the table. "You take that back, horn head!"

Crisp shot his nose high into the air and folded his arms, "No! besides, if my parents were here, they'd say that I was right!" The little scamp paused and cracked an eye open at the filly, "Plus you'd see my awesome mom ISN'T fake! If anyone should be taking words back it should be you!"

"Alright that is enough outta you two!" The teacher stood and growled, tossing his hat onto the table between them. Crisp wilted and looked genuinely apologetic, but the filly just harrumphed and turned away again.

The teacher sighed and picked his hat back up, taking the crumpled accessory and squishing it back against his mane. "Honestly you two are like oil and water, so from now on I'm assigning you two to separate recesses. Ivy Burn, you're getting recess early in the morning, so you two don't meet up again. Crisp, you'll be getting the later hour recess--"

Crisp balked at that, and his ears lowered "But--"

"And no buts! You swung first in that fight, and while I understand that words hurt, hooves will always hurt more, you need to practice self restraint."

"Yeah, show some self--eep!" The filly was silenced as the teacher locked his glare on her, effectively shutting her down and making her curl inwards.

"And you, I don't know where you get it from but the attitude and bullying has gotta stop, now. I know your father isn't home but your mother will be hearing about this."

Ivy whimpered and for a moment Sireen wondered if maybe something more was going on with the filly's family situation. It was here that Iron interrupted with a cough into his hoof. "Um, Mr. High Jump?"

The teacher flinched and looked behind him at the two. "What? Oh! Mr. Crest, I didn't hear you enter," He gave Sireen a polite smile, "Or your friend here, although given what I've heard about you from Crisp here, ma'am, that's not surprising."

Crisp jumped off his seat at their appearance, and began trotting towards them, but High Jump opened his wing out and blocked the foal with a hoof raised. "Ah, ah, ah, you sit right back down, buster. You're in detention, remember?"

Crisp lowered his head and shuffled back to his seat at the table. Iron frowned and looked to the teacher, watching as he stood, closed his wings and approached the two. Tipping his hat to Sireen he smiled apologetically. "Sorry for the situation, but I gotta keep these two here for another ten minutes. My name is High Jump, the school P.E teacher and track coach."

Sireen outstretched her hoof and he shook it lightly. "Sireen Wind, local night guard and mare friend of Iron Crest." She glanced past the teacher at Crisp, who had his head rested against the table and was scuffling a horse shoe across it's surface gently. "Do you mind informing us what happened?"

When High jump looked to Iron crest, he found the stallion nodding and sitting down. "Well, alright, the basics are this; Crisp and Ivy over there were playing out on the playground out back and I was supervising. Ivy approached Crisp and started bullying him about his...er, lack of a mother, no offense meant there Iron."

Iron shrugged, a frown marring his muzzle as he looked at Crisp. "Up until a few days ago it would have been true sadly, I understand."

High Jump nodded and rubbed his neck with a hoof sheepishly. "Riiight, so Crisp tells her he has a new mom, and Ivy retorts that it's all in his head. I didn't hear all of it but from their combined stories, I got it that Ivy taunted him by saying he was imagining fake parents. Crisp punched her in the eye and she jumped on him. I think she managed to bite his ear so one of you might want to check that, but I couldn't be sure, the moment they made full contact, I dove in and separated them."

He looked back between the two foals, and then sighed. "Honestly I can see why the fight broke out though. Ivy's dad is off on a long patrol to the griffon border for the next three months. Every time he comes back, he spares as much time with Ivy and his wife as he can, but it's just not enough time, a week at most. Crisp has no mother, er, didn't, and now that he does he feels he should defend his own family."

Sireen and Iron both sighed at the same time. Sireen looked to Ivy and a thought popped into her head. "Mr. High Jump, may I know the name of the father?" When High Jump quirked a brow at her she put a hoof to her chest. "I'm a fellow guard, I might be able to send a letter to him, see if his CO will give him extended leave."

High Jump shrugged, "I suppose, his name is Flame Current. If you do manage to get a letter to him, tell him about this kay? Even when he's around, I don't think he knows how his daughter's school life is going. Don't get me wrong, the stallion isn't abusive or anything, quite the opposite in fact, but I feel like he's not giving Ivy the attention she needs."

Sireen hummed and glanced at the filly, who was currently glancing at her and Iron every time it looked like they weren't paying attention. "What about the--"

"IVY BURN!"

"Mother..." Sireen grimaced, pinning her ears back against her head as the lunch hall door slammed open harshly. A tall earth pony mare with a russet mane and tail, and a grey coat burst into the room. Her tan business suit was very disheveled and the tie was flopping around aimlessly as the mare darted into the room and came to the right side of Iron Crest, completely ignoring him and Sireen.

"Where is she, High Jump, Where is my baby?" The mare asked, poking a hoof into the chest of the teacher. He grimaced at the touch, and tilted his head back. "Ivy is behind me--" He immediately shot a wing out and blocked the mare from advancing. "In detention, so no, you cannot take her home, Mrs. Call."

Mrs. Call, glaring at his wing as if it had struck her across the muzzle, puffed out her chest and stamped her hoof. "Oh the nerve of you! My daughter is clearly in distress and needs me! You can't just block me from my own blood! Get out of my way!"

When she tried to advance, Jump merely sidestepped into her path. "Yes, I can, and yes, I am. Every time your daughter causes a problem, and she does that a lot, you jump in and coddle her. You say she isn't the problem, and try to blame the teachers or another parent's foal. Well this time you can't do that because she was the problem. She harassed another foal until they got into a fight and I watched the whole situation." Here, High Jump's wing bent and he poked her back in the chest with two primary feathers. "You can't talk your way out of this one, ma'am."

Mrs. Call growled and harrumphed, pointing her nose in the air. "Well, I think the principle will hear about this! Your rudeness towards me will not go unnoticed, Mr. High Jump." Then SIreen watched as her frown turned into a cruel smile, and the mare leaned into High Jump, making him grimace and lean back. "Hmm, now that I think about it, haven't you had this job for only a couple months? Yes, I do recall you having a hard time moving up into the higher end school districts." Mrs. Call only grinned more when High Jump pinned his ears back and flashed his clenched teeth at her. She continued, "Why, with your status being so new...you wouldn't want to lose your job would you? In fact, how good is your job security?"

"How good is yours, ma'am?" Sireen asked curtly, her fangs flashing sharply. The mare jumped, implying that she wasn't aware of her and Iron's presence. Sireen noted the shiver that went down her back as she whirled around to face them. Standing tall, Sireen glared eye to eye with the mare. "Because I assure you, as a night guard of Princess Luna, I am obligated to report any forms of black mail or under hoofed dealings, and you just met the requirements of the first."

Mrs. Call looked Sireen up and down slowly, pausing on her injured wing, and then scoffed, turning around and flicking her tail. "Oh please, you couldn't touch me if you had both of your wings intact, soldier. I work in the courts, a higher level of understanding and work ethic that some paltry infantry mare couldn't even hope to comprehend. You probably don't even know what paperwork you need to fill out to do such a thing!"

Sireen's growl increased tenfold and she went to step forward, only to be stopped by Iron's voice, it was cold and rather terse.

"Well thank the gods above that i'm here then, because I know all about how to write you up." Iron said with a rather predatory smile. He stepped up to stand beside Sireen who almost ceased her growl just to purr as his wing fell across her back. Almost.

Mrs. Call blinked and then she furrowed her brow in recognition of the stallion before her. "Iron Crest, of course you're here, how wonderful. Alas, even if you knew what to do, I have a higher station than you in the courts, so you might want to watch what you say."

Iron grinned even more. "So should you, Mrs. Call, I have direct connections to Princess Luna, can you say the same?"

When she faltered, a hoof raised defensively, Iron smirked, widening and rolling his eyes to the side in an exaggerated way. "Oh, that's riiiiight, you lost your main court privileges a week ago, didn't you? Something about false claims? Fake documentation, I think?"

Sireen took internal pleasure in seeing the mare bristle at his reply. Mrs. Call stamped her hoof, glaring down her snout at Iron, only to have Sireen's golden eyes blocking her view. "T-that was never verified!" she squeaked.

Iron gently pushed Sireen back with a hoof and shuffled his wing around on her back to calm her down. Then he glared right back at Mrs. Call. "That may be true, but when I see that paperwork daily and its my job to check things like that, I do my job, and I do it exceptionally well. The court council might not want to verify it as false, but when I see counterfeit paperwork on my desk, I report it straight to the heads of state, in person. That means Princess Luna and Princess Celestia, sometimes even Princess Cadance or Twilight see it first and foremost."

Before Mrs. Call could retort, the bell in the lunch hall rang loudly, forcing Sireen to pin her ears back as High Jump looked back at the foals. "Alright, foals, you can go." He tilted his hat to Crest and Sireen as a goodbye and then exited out the door.

The moment he was gone, Ivy Burn shot shot over to her mother's side and immediately regretted it as her mother whimpered and started fussing over her child. She shot a glare at both of them before exiting the hall and out of sight. Sireen almost felt bad for the filly, until Crisp appeared in her vision. He looked defeated. His head was lowered, his tail was tucked between his legs and his mane was hanging loosely down the side of his neck. He came to stand right in front of Iron, who now stood tall and imposing, the parental glare on his face.

"Lets go home Crisp, we have much we need to talk about."

Crisp nodded, murmuring a "Yes, dad," as Iron picked him up by his nape and deposited the foal on his back. Crisp immediately curled up and hid his face in the space between his dad's shoulders. Sireen had to force herself to remain stoic as the urge to coo and nuzzle the little fluff ball shot to the forefront of her mind. Together they exited out the school and onto the main road. Sireen thought once they'd left the grounds behind, Iron would start talking, but when the silence remained, she wondered what was up. A glance at Iron gave her an idea. Iron was putting up the fatherly front, trying to act disappointed even though deep down he was proud of his son.

Not for hitting Ivy, or for starting a fight, but for standing up for his family. Both bat ponies and pegasi shared that trait in spades. They didn't consider it a negative trait to get rough when words didn't work, and both species took it personally when their families were targeted. If anything, Iron was having a hard time not saying anything positive until they got home. Every few feet he'd lift a hoof and smooth out his chest fluff, which kept trying to pop out into view around his tie.

Sireen quietly chuckled, Crisp would still get a talking to about what he did, but Iron had the foal's best intentions in mind. Sireen felt she would need to emulate his actions, or vice versa, when they got closer together as parents.

She blinked as the thought crossed her mind. She was now considered Crisp Word's mother. The feelings that bubbled up within her were conflicted at first. She wasn't actually his mother, her instincts told her.

He's not your blood, not a thestral.

He isn't related, he isn't yours.

Sireen shook her head firmly, tossing her mane wildly, and listened instead to the other side of her mind, the motherly side.

He is a foal with no mother, he needs one.

I'm his mother now, so I will be there to protect him.

She looked at Iron Crest, who had seen her movement and was looking at her with a little curiosity and confusion. She smiled.

They both need me, so I will be there for them.

***

Setting a plate down on the table, and sliding one of the forks over to its correct placement, Sireen backed up and looked over her work. She'd set the table for dinner, so when Iron came down from upstairs, he wouldn't have to. Her ears flicked back in the direction of the stairs, hoping to hear what was being said, but Iron had closed the door so any sound was blocked.

She sat down and opened her good wing, preening it for a couple minutes and enjoying the sensations of her fangs dragging across her velvet fur. After making sure her wing fur felt right and not out of place she looked to her other wing.

"Time to take my medicine I suppose." She mumbled as she started up the stairs. She paused half way though when she realized that it might look bad if she was directly across the hallway while Iron was talking with Crisp.

They might think I was eavesdropping, er, I better wait till Iron comes down. Trotting back down the stairs and into the living room, Sireen hopped up onto the couch and lay down on her belly. She looked around the room and got a feel for it once more. Crisp's toys were all neatly tucked away in his toy chest, and his art supplies were in their tote container. The surfaces had all been cleaned and dusted, and the carpet had been vacuumed. Sireen frowned when she realized that her cleaning earlier that morning had been very thorough.

Too thorough...I don't have anything to do but sit and wait. Sireen snorted and sat up. She was a night guard of Princess Luna, she needed to stop slouching and lazing about! Hopping down, Sireen started stretching out her legs, she started with her front limbs, arching her back and raising her rump high into the air, she groaned in pleasure as a couple vertebrae in her spine popped and readjusted. After counting to ten, Sireen leaned forward and stretched out her back legs, lifting one sideways at mid height to her hip, she remembered how her drill sergeants back in basic training had called this stretch the territorial dog pose. She smirked, counted to ten, and then did the same with the other leg.

Once this was done, Sireen used the couch to stretch her midsection, and neck. Rearing up so her fore hooves were
based on the couch cushion, She pushed her hips forward into a slow thrust and craned her head back, stretching her stomach muscles, spine, and neck. The pleasure of her muscles releasing tension forced a low moan out of her mouth, and her tail reflexively arched up as her body's endorphins flowed through her body and sent tingles up and down her spine.

"Ooooh yes...." She whispered.

POMF!

Sireen heard the sound of feathered wings snapping open suddenly. Jarring her out of her stretches, she quickly closed her wing, covered her rump with her tail, and hopped off the couch. composing her self, she looked behind her at the stairs, where Iron was midway between two steps down the stairs, a foreleg half raised. His bulging eyes locked on Sireen as his wings twitched and flexed at full extension on his back. The stallion's face was slowly turning a bright shade of red as he mumbled something under his breath that Sireen barely caught with her hearing.

"H-holy damn..."

She cupped her hooves over her mouth and tried to stop her laugh from escaping but it was to no avail. She laughed, and leaned against the couch as Iron came out of his dazed state and gasped. Recognizing he'd been caught staring, Iron covered his eyes with a hoof.

"Oh my gosh! Sireen! S-sorry I was just...err...I didn't think you'd be...um..."

Sireen could only laugh harder as he reached back and tried to close his wings, but the stiff appendages refused to drop without a fight. While he fought with his wings, Sireen slunk over to the stairs and slowly climbed them, closing her eyes halfway and swaying her hips. Iron, seeing this through his peripherals, blushed harder and groaned as his wings stiffened even more. "Errg, get down you stupid feathers!" By the time she reached him, Iron had managed to close only one wing, albeit using a hoof to hold it in against his side. As he turned around to face her, their noses brushed together and he gulped, his vision swallowed up by the golden irises of Sireen.

She purrred, sending vibrations through his chin and down his neck, he gulped. Sireen fully booped noses with him and growled playfully. "I like a stallion that shows off, Iron..." She whispered seductively." Then without so much as a blink, she turned her head sideways and locked muzzles with him in a deep and firm kiss.

Iron's wing exploded out from under his faltering hoof and stood at attention. Iron moaned loudly into her muzzle, lost in the kiss, he closed his eyes, reached his hoof out and wrapped it around her neck, pulling her closer with a grunt of approval. They held the kiss for almost ten seconds before breaking apart. Iron was panting, his chest fur had expanded out to it's fluffiest and his wings were stiff as steel. Sireen caught his scent and with out even looking down, she could tell she'd piqued his entire interest.

Stepping forward, she nestled her head under his chin, and purring loudly in appreciation when his wings enclosed around her sides protectively. The stallion leaned his head to the side and nibbled at her neck, sending shivers down her spine and making her chirp and hum in agreement. A nip to her ear send excitement rocketing down to the base of her tail, her fore hooves trembled as she wrapped them around his neck and reciprocated the touches. "Mmm Iron, I don't think going slow is an option..." She whispered.

"Nnngh...S-Sireen...I want you..." He groaned. Sireen was about to speak when he pulled back against her hold. She growled lightly and tried to pull him back, but he stayed firm and grasped her hooves in his. When their eyes met, She could tell he was very conflicted. "Sireen, I want you, I really want you, and I want to love you, I want to hold you, and I want us to be together...but," He paused and looked back at Crisp's closed bedroom door for a moment, before he turned back to her. "But for his, sake, we need to take it slow, I feel like if we don't, we won't be the only ones hurt if it goes south, is, is that okay?"

Sireen almost whimpered as he let go of her, but she could see the logic behind what he was saying. "I, I think I understand Iron. I agree, I don't like it--" Here she leaned in and nipped his shoulder, making him hiss but it was with a smile on his lips as she did so. "--But I understand, and you're right. We do need to do this properly. I don't think we've even gone on a date yet. Gosh, now that I think about it we only met maybe two weeks ago, didn't we?"

Iron slowly let out a breath of air, and touched noses with her, "I think so, but in all seriousness, I do want to date you Sireen, I want to court you, properly...if you'll have me?"

Sireen giggled and lightly kissed him, a chaste kiss. "I find this agreeable, but under one condition." When he flipped an ear to the side and tilted his head in the same direction in curiosity she giggled louder. "You have to cook dinner while I meet with Crisp."

Iron chuckled and rolled his eyes, "If that is the only caveat to us dating, I think I'll survive--"

"Oh, and you'll need to sheath your sword before Crisp sees it." Sireen said as she passed him by, her tail flicking under neath him to lightly brush his growing arousal. She laughed as he gasped, snapped his wings down to hide his underbelly, stuttered incomprehensible gibberish, an apology or two, and rushed down stairs and out of view. She sighed, her heart bubbly and full of happiness.

Walking to Crisp's door, she gently knocked and waited. When no reply came, she leaned an ear against the door. She could hear shuffling of paper and the scratching of a pencil. "Crisp? It's Sireen, may I come in?" She asked gently.

The sound of a chair scooting back met her ears, and then the door opened to show Crisp. He didn't say anything, his down turned expression said all it needed to as he walked back to his chair and hopped up into it. Sireen cautiously entered and closed the door behind her with a back hoof. "You okay there, scamp?" She asked, walking up and looking at what he was drawing.

"Do I look okay?" Crisp griped sourly. Despite his tone, Sireen saw his remorseful face as he doodled. She frowned and looked at what he was drawing, only to furrow her brow. "Crisp, what are you drawing?" She asked.

Crisp leaned back and let her see with a slouch to his posture. He took a big gulp of air, and then spoke. "I'm venting my frustration via the action of portraying it through the medium of graphite values and harsh black and white tones that only paper and pencil can illustrate, thus implying I have a deep seated anger and fury directed at the filly, Ivy Burn. That is why I drew a picture of her falling off of the Canterlot cliffs while tied up and screaming for help all while inside a pickle jar!"

When he looked back up at Sireen and saw her widened eyes and partially open mouth, he grumbled, grabbed the paper, crumpled it into his hooves and tossed it into the waste bin. "I know, it's a lot to take in. The gist of it is that I don't like what she said today and Dad says I should find alternative ways to release my anger, instead of just punching her."

Crisp paused and hopped down from his chair to stare at the floor. "The problem with that is that I liked punching her, that filly is a big mean bully and she got what she had coming to--" His words were silence by Sireen stepping up and pushing his head into her chest fur with a hoof. Crisp froze, literally, unsure of what to do. At first, he merely sucked in his breath and waited, but when Sireen merely pet his neck and purred, he slowly began to crack. His frustrated nature at the situation dropped away and he sniffled, nosing into her fur and whimpering. Sireen leaned down and scooped him up in a hug, before gently climbing into his bed and laying down.

Her mother instincts had kicked in and she was not going to stop them this time. She nosed and nibbled Crisp, watching as he snuggled close to her and buried his face into the under side of her good wing, his crying increasing as he did so.

"S-She's a bully, she treats every o-one around her like dirt! I d-don't wanna be like her, she's mean and likes to upset the other kids, b-but the only way to get her to stop is t-t-to be mean back!" Crisp cried, his cheeks puffed out and already tears ran down them. "I don't like her, m-mom, I don't!" He hiccupped and Sireen purred louder, she leaned in and nosed his cheek, licking gently at his tears and removing them, even as more appeared. Crisp practically shoved his head under her chin, being mindful of his little horn and hugged her around her neck.

"Y-you're not not fake, you're real, i-i-if I can hug you, then you have to be!" he whimpered and hid his face into the muscles of her chest. Sireen purred loudly and firmly, hoping the vibrations would help.

"Ssssh, there there, I know, bullies are hard to deal with, huh?" She whispered, wrapping her good wing around the little guy. He nodded, and she nosed his ear. "I had to deal with them too in school, you know?"

Crisp shook his head, rubbing his nose into her fluff in an adorable attempt to hide from the world. Sireen smiled and slowly preened his mane and neck, her body naturally curling around him.

"Y-you did?" Crisp whispered, his words muffled by her fur. She nodded and kissed his forehead.

"Mhmm, I was always harassed for not being strong enough, something about myself that the other fillies in my group knew I hated. They would always rile me up into a fight but I'd lose because I was too weak."

Crisp looked up at her and hugged her tighter, "B-but you're not weak! You're very strong!"

She chuckled and nuzzled his mane, "I am now, but when I was your age I was frail. I had a hard time flying, and I couldn't lift the average weight that most fillies and colts could. So you know what I did to combat this?"

Crisp perked his ears up and he leaned back. "What?"

She booped noses with him and smiled when he giggled. "As hard as it was to do so, I accepted it. However, I worked hard to change it. When those bullies came around and told me I was weak, I agreed and told them I was, but that soon I wouldn't be."

Crisp quirked his brow and cocked his head to the side cutely. "B-but how did that stop them?"

Sireen shook her head and hugged him, setting her head atop his. "It's not about stopping them, it's about moving past them, Crisp. We can't force ponies to act how we want them to, the only thing we can do is believe in ourselves, and not be like they are. I kept myself strong by not giving up, and thus I became stronger then those bullies." She kissed the top of his head once more. "No matter what Ivy does or says, believe in yourself, and you'll get through it. I'm not saying it will be pleasant or easy, but you'll survive, and that which doesn't defeat you, makes you stronger, scamp."

Crisp squealed as she suddenly flipped him over and blew a loud raspberry into his stomach fur. The foal gasped and tried to escape. Sireen grinned. "Now, the real question remains, are you going to let me defeat you, Crisp?" she growled playfully as he flailed and tried to get out of her grasp.

"Noooo! Dad! Dad! help, mom is gonna get me--ack!" Sireen nipped his tail, held him there a second and then let him go, following as he managed to squirm out of her grasp and hopped off the bed. As he giggled and flung the bedroom door open, with her hot on his heels, Sireen felt her heart flutter once more. While she knew they both needed her, she realized that talking with Iron, and consoling Crisp, it had filled a little bit of the emptiness in her heart.

As Sireen watched Crisp disappear down the stairs, shouting for dad, she smiled and touched a hoof to her heart.

I need them too.

Her Moon, his Evening Star (MATURE CONTENT)

Author's Note

WARNING: this chapter contains explicit content not suited for young viewers. IF you are under age, DO NOT READ.

Her Moon, his Evening Star (MATURE CONTENT)

For Sireen Wind, change was useful. It allowed one to look back on what they had, and appreciate the lessons learned, the friendships made, and the bonds created. It let a pony know where they were, and what they had to do to improve their way of life.

For Iron Crest, change was kind of scary. It never let one truly settle into a comfortable state. Never allowing them to feel like their life was finally in control. Change warned a pony that they should stay vigilant and always keep their eyes on the goal ahead, to keep those they cherished close.

For Crisp Words, change was something you could use to buy candy. Candy was good, tasty, and let you know you were probably going to have to brush your teeth soon or else suffer the consequences. Change allowed a foal to enjoy life with little to no effort, all wrapped up into a tiny package of concentrated joy.

And right now, that candy was being withheld from him.

"But Daaaaaaad, you said I could have it after dinner, and it is officially six minutes past supper!" Crisp whined, frantically running around his dad's legs, weaving in and out of them as Iron held the pieces of candy out of his reach with two primary feathers.

"You are correct, I did say that, but unlike little foals, parents have the power of choice and change, and I'm using both to change my statement from earlier to 'At bed time after your bathe, you may have your candy.'"

Playful whining echoed from the living room to Sireen who giggled and dipped another dish into the hot soapy water with her hooves. Dinner had been wonderful. Iron Crest had whipped up some roasted broccoli with lemon and parmesan, and some seared codfish fillet for her. For Crisp, he'd made some freshly tossed Caesar salad with mandarin oranges thrown in for zest. For himself, he made some roasted mushroom and potato mash, with seasoned gravy atop it.

Sireen rubbed a hoof gently against her belly and sighed happily. Iron was one heck of a cook!

I might have to forgo meals with these two every once in a while, just to keep in shape. she thought while placing dishes in the drying rack. After the meal was over, Iron took Crisp upstairs for his bath, while Sireen ended up waiting downstairs politely. Her need to do something however, made it difficult to just sit and wait. So it hadn't lasted long before the mare found herself cleaning the dishes and wiping down the table.

Force of habit really, I can't seem to sit still when work could be done. She paused in her cleaning to lean back and nibble at her bandages. The damaged wing's slow healing process brought new annoyances like itchiness with it. She couldn't wait for it to be healed. The sky would be hers again, and she could do so much more.

"I could go flying with Iron...I bet he'd like that." she mumbled.

"I could like what?"

Sireen gasped, her healthy wing popped open and her tail shot skyward. She nearly dropped a plate back into the soapy water too. Spinning around with her good wing over her chest protectively, she glared at the stallion, who stood in the doorway to the kitchen with a smug grin on his face. "I-Iron Crest, you scared the moonlight out of me!"

He smirked. smirked! "Oh? I thought bat ponies didn't get scared...hmm, it would appear my information is slightly off." Wings proudly flared and his chest fluff out at its maximum, he practically strutted into the kitchen, right up to her, stopping a foot or so in front of the mare. "Or did you accidentally imply that you were scared?"

Sireen felt her cheeks flush cherry red. Dammit Iron, one moment you're cautious, and then next you're like this...so confidant. Sireen felt her good wing attempting to stiffen as her body naturally reacted to his courting. "I maaaay have used the wrong term for that. Yes you...caught me off guard!" she smirked back up at him, their noses inches away.

To her surprise he simply leaned past her nose and stepped close, whispering in her ear coyly, "I see, well you certainly caught me off guard when you showed me the treasures beneath your tail a second ago."

Sireen screeped and instinctively turned away, her face now crimson. Son of a fruit bat I hiked my tail up! "Iron! Your not supposed to--"

Her words were silenced as she tried to pass by him. A sensation burst across her spine, running up and down her back as his teeth dominantly clamped over her left ear. "Ah!...aaahhn...I-iron...t-that's m-my...oohhh..." Sireen's world faded away for a few seconds and was replaced with pleasure as his teeth gently rolled across her sensitive tuft and his tongue licked at the soft fuzz of her inner ear.

"Mmm, I think your gonna have to sheath your weapon this time, Sireen." Iron chuckled as Sireen's tail lifted and her leg started thumping on the kitchen floor tiles. He let go of her ear and walked around her slowly, brushing his sides against her rear, tail, and along her opposite side. Sireen thought she'd have a second to recuperate, maybe catch her breath, but then he laid siege to her right ear as well, sending a pitiful mewling sound from her mouth, and quite nearly making her hind legs give out beneath her.

"I...aaahn...I-Iron...st-stop...I m-might..."

He let go and bit her nape firmly, his flat teeth digging into her neck muscles and massaging them in a back and forth pattern. A hoof raised up and wrapped around her front leg, slowly rubbing up and down the forelimb. Sireen purred loudly and pushed her shoulder into him, nipping back at his shoulder, winning a hiss from the stallion.

"You might what? Enjoy it?" He said backing off from the slightly panting mare. He grinned like a fool and folded his wings. "That's kind of the point, love."

"N-no." Sireen whispered, turning to face him. Iron blinked when he saw her eyes. they were predatory...greedy...lust filled. It lasted only a second or two, before she snapped out of it and her tail clamped down around her rump tightly. A wet clap sounded off as she did so. She looked ashamed, pinning her ears back and whining. "I might go too far..." She whispered.

Confusion found its way onto his face, Iron, unsure of what to say to that, simply shifted his eyes left and right rapidly. "Um, oookay, what do you mean?"

If it weren't for the enormous amounts of pleasure running through her body at the moment, Sireen would have giggled at how his head cocked to the side and one of his ears flopped sideways.

"l-last I checked...didn't you want to take our relationship slowly, Iron?" She said while shakily getting back to her feet. She caught the subtle action his nose did when he caught her scent, and loved how his eyes widened in realization.

"O-oh...Oh did I make you...?" He spared a glance at her rump, and then blushed, looking away, fighting his wings as they tried to open.

She smiled, panting slightly. Her rump muscles clenching firmly to keep the urges down. "You came very close. Our ears are super sensitive areas, more so than the average pony. Plus, I haven't had that kind of attention in quite a while."

Iron chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck with a hoof, his face as red as hers. "S-sorry...I got carried away there...I was really um, enjoying...you."

Sireen bit her lips as an interesting though came to mind. "W-well I need to go...get rid of the tension...I was going to take a shower. W-would you like to join me?" she gently flipped her ears back against her neck and shuffled her hooves across the floor nervously.

Iron took one look at her, his wings exploded out from his back and he stared open mouthed at her. "l-like, like a mutual bathing...o-or something more?"

Sireen's response was to walk away and lift her tail back at him, making his eyes travel down her back and then gasp. "I figured you'd want to do more than mutual bathing, Iron..." She growled huskily. She waited until he stood and followed her up the stairs, hissing as he began nipping at her rump and snuck in a couple nuzzles to her rear.

When his snout shot under her tail and he attacked her sensitive parts with a long lick, she gasp whispered. "AH! I'll take that as a yes then!"

He stamped his hoof a few times and snorted in response.

They reached Crisp's bathroom where they could hear him splashing around in the tub and talking to imaginary ponies. Sireen leaned against the door. "Crisp, honey? You okay in there?"

"Yes, mom, I'm destroying the western war front of battleships the griffon empire sent our way!" This was followed up by a childish explosion noise, an "Aaaagh we're all drowning, the ponies are too strong, darn their friendship cannons!" and a couple playful giggles.

Sireen smirked, maybe they could get a couple friendship cannons at the castle. "O-okay sweetie, well your father and I are gonna go spend some time--"

"Yeah yeah, go do your dirty adult stuff, I don't need to know!"

SIreen and Iron gasped collectively. Sireen stamping her hoof. "C-Crisp Words we were not about to--"

"Were you about to lie and say you weren't going to go do things a kid my age shouldn't see? Cause that's what it sounds like!"

Sireen opened her mouth, flabbergasted, her ear tufts were practically on fire. "Crisp, you--"

There was suddenly a lot of splashing from the other side of the door, and then it suddenly swung open enough to allow Crisp to peek his head out and look up at her. Iron slammed his wings down in front of himself to hide his son's eyes from traumatic things.

Crisp smirked like a foal and whispered loudly. "Just wear out dad, I think he needs some special mommy time too. I'lltuckmyselfintonightgoodnightmomgoodnightdadmakesureit'sasister!"

The door slammed shut and locked, leaving them both slack jawed. Sireen blinked once, looked back at Iron, who had refolded his wings, and was sighing, rubbing a hoof against his temple. Both of them were beyond blushing.

"Crisp Words, such an aptly named foal...." Iron mumbled, before walking further down the hall. when Sireen followed, he draped a wing over her shoulder and started nipping her nape gently, murmuring. "Forget it, Sireen. Crisp is oddly wise for his age. How about we just enjoy tonight, okay?"

Sireen nodded, leaning into the nips. "Mmm I think I already am..."

They entered the bedroom and Iron gently kicked the door shut before locking it with a primary feather, never ceasing in his nipping or nuzzling. The moment the door was shut, Sireen spun around and wrapped her hooves around his neck, locking him in a passionate kiss that shoved his rump back up against the door. the two lovers used their hooves to hold one another, feeling, shifting, and touching each other on their shared backs, shoulders, and necks. Iron used his wings to tickle her sides and gently pet her belly and legs. when his wing tip slipped lower and stroked between her teats softly, she gasped.

Sireen pulled away first, leaning back and growling, she bared her teeth at him. Iron blushed, gave her the bedroom eyes, and licked his lips. "Mmm, You look positively divine..." He whispered. This threw Sireen off slightly, and she made a curious chirping noise. Iron laughed and cupped her cheek with a hoof, watching as she purred, leaning into the touch.

A moment of silence fell between them, neither oppressive or awkward. Standing, they moved around each other, touching, kissing, nipping, and in Sireen's case, full on biting his scruff. Iron hissed at that, snorting and stamping his hoof into the floor, as she let go, watching the mare as she licked at the small teeth marks.

"Mine..." She whispered. He smiled and bit her ear in retaliation. Sireen gasped, and chirped loudly, baring her teeth and moaning as he suckled the appendage in his mouth for a few seconds. "Mine..." he whispered back.

They entered the bathroom and Iron closed and locked that too. When Sireen tilted her head in confusion, he smirked and said "Just in case..." He chuckled. "Now...let me see you..."

Sireen screeched happily and turned slowly for him, purring and flaring her good wing out. As her rump turned to face him, and his eyes naturally traveled downwards, she spread her legs wide and slid her tail to the side, hiking the tail up as far as it would go to her right side.

Iron growled back as best he could. When his eyes fell on her rather damp and shimmering vulva, he whistled lightly.
"O-oh my...you are rather close, aren't you." Leaning in, he snorted and then sucked in air, let her scent fill his nostrils, curling his lip as he did so. Sireen growled and wiggled her rump at him, watching as his erection gained strength. his shaft head slapping the under side of his belly as he stepped forward and drew a long firm lick across her folds, parting the flesh with his tongue.

"Ahhh...I-Iron....." Bowing onto her knees, Sireen felt her legs shake violently as he did it again, this time stronger, lashing his tongue against her vulva and making her moan louder, winking several times. Fluid ran down her inner thigh and he shot his head down to lick it back up, his nose brushing her teats and nipping at one of them.

Instinctively she growled and lifted a hind leg defensively, and Iron backed off. "Those are for Crisp..." She hissed playfully. The stallion grinned, his cock slapping his belly in a meaty primal sound. "Well I guess I'll have to claim them as mine too."

Walking next to her, the two ponies nuzzled one another and kissed firmly for a few seconds, before Iron reached over to the walk in shower and opened the sliding glass door with his wing. Iron Crest nibbled along her nape before kissing her cheek and gesturing to the inside with a foreleg. "Shall we, my love?"

Sireen chirped her agreement and brushed past him, flicking his snout with her tail. Iron nipped at her rump as she did so and closed it behind them.

It was here Sireen noticed a problem, the shower was smaller than the two of them. With iron right behind her, her nose was inches from the front wall, and his rump was the same distance from the back one. "Iron, this walk in shower barely fits both of us, how are we going to--"

Her words died in her throat as he suddenly threw his head back and whinnied loudly, reared up behind her, effectively mounted her and gripped her hips. Sireen gasped as his flared tip pushed against her vulva a few times before Iron got his footing and paused, leaning forward to bite her nape. "I guess we'll have to make room then, huh?" He growled dominantly through her mane. She could see the smug grin on his muzzle without even looking at him.

Instinct took over and Sireen felt her tail shoot to the side and her stance widen. She lowered her head to thump against the wall gently. Screw going slowly! She was ready for him, to have him inside her...and he...he was...washing her mane?!

Sireen did not feel him penetrate, did not feel him start thrusting as she expected. Instead, she felt his hoofs as they began rubbing soap onto her back and slowly working into her fur. "I-iron what are you doing?!" She whimpered, pushing back against him. his cock slid up and down her folds but did not penetrate, frustrating her.

Iron chuckled and nipped her ear, stopping her from moving. "Hush, love, I'm doing what I said I would." He whispered while lathering her coat, which to Sireen did feel very good, his hooves were massaging her muscles.

"Oh, and what would that be?" she growled, trying to hump backwards into him. Again, his cock slipped away from her vaginal grasp, and she sighed.

"Simple. I'm taking it slow. Just think about it for a moment, why would I say that Sireen?" As she thought about it, he peppered her neck with nuzzles and nips, while using his wings to slowly uncoil her wing bandage. Dropping it to the floor, He reached out and turned on the water, letting the warm liquid seep into their coats. Sireen moaned as the water cascaded across them, warming her all over.

"I...I don't know, Iron, why?" She whispered, loving the things he was doing to her. The feeling of his grip on her hips, the touch of his wings on hers, the subtle thumping and grinding of his shaft against her rear, and the nips and kisses across her back were sending rivulets of pleasure wracking through her. Iron purred, taking one of her ears into his lips and nibbling. Sireen gasped and arched her back higher in response. mewling as he lowered his cock so it was between her legs, and slowly started thrusting, making Sireen moan as it slipped between her teats and ground against her body.

"Because i'm *thrust* pretty sure *thrust* you*thrust* don't want*thrust* a foal, *thrust*"

He panted with her, as the pleasure increased. Through the haze of sexual arousal and pleasure, logic came rushing in for a moment to the mare.

"Ah! I--ahhn! No, no I don't--AH! But, Oh GODS ABOVE, IRON I DON'T WANT YOU TO STOP!" Sireen screeched, loving how every time he'd thrust she'd get pushed up against the wall. "Thrust! Hump me! I'm...I'm your mare! ah...ahh...aaaaAAAAHH!!!"

Sireen practically screeched as her orgasm came washing over her. Her hind legs gave out and with a heavy splash they crashed to the shower floor, Iron panting atop her and groaning. Sireen was a mess, tongue out, eyes rolled up, and her body shivering all over. Her wing was at full mast, her ears were flat against her skull, and her lower region was twitching and shuddering repeatedly.

Iron groaned and chuckled and nipped her ear, making her shiver more.

"Ah...I-iron...I...whoa...holy...mother...of Celestia..." She looked back to him, expecting to see a happy grin, and instead found him wincing and clenching his teeth.

"Iron? A-are you okay?" She asked worriedly.

Iron groaned more. "Y-yeah, no problem, w-well sort of...it's just you're laying on my dick...." He whimpered.

Sireen "eeped" and lifted her rump, only to slip on the now lubed flooring and collapsed back down. Iron groaned louder.
"Ooow..."

"Oh my gosh i'm so sorry Iron! Um, I, uh, one sec!" Thinking quickly, Sireen slowly but carefully flipped over onto her back, watching out for her wing, and his limbs. Successfully flipped over, she was now cradling his cock between her legs and her teats. He was now straddling her missionary pose, and as he sighed from the alleviated pressure, he immediately looked down and his wings exploded out again, spraying the walls with water. Laying beneath him, Sireen was soaking wet, her mane ran down the side of her neck, and her glistening breasts were aptly placed on either side of his cock, the stallion was aroused more then ever now.

He caught Sireen blushing and flipping her ears back cutely. Gods above she looks so sexy like that... he thought.

Sireen blinked and perked her ears up. "I...I do?"

Iron clapped his mouth shut with a hoof, realizing he'd said it out loud. flustered, he tried to say something, anything to ease the awkwardness of his statement. He never got the chance. Hooves gripped his forelegs and pushed them against Sireen's thighs, a wing reached up and stroked his chest floof. He watched as Sireen used her good wing to pull his head close, and they locked in a kiss that lasted several seconds, long enough for Iron to need air. When he pulled back, she held him there for a moment, nose to nose. She licked his snout and purred huskily. "Iron...Why don't I help you now. Hump me, hump me until you climax..." She whispered before leaning back and clenching her thigh's around his cock. Her warm teats pressed against both sides if the hard shaft.

Iron lost himself in the pleasure of her body. "Okay, Sireen...love." Getting into a perfect position, Iron began thrusting, his flared head making wet popping noises every time it pushed out past her legs, and driving him to thrust more and more. He grit his teeth and growled, flapping his wings every time he did. "You are my mare!"

Sireen kept gasping and making "ah's" and "ohs" as he thrust, leaning up to pepper his neck with nips and kisses, "Yes, I am..."

"And you*thrust*are*thrust*my*thrust*mate!" with one final shove, he snarled, teeth fully bared, his cock head bulging to the maximum as he reached his limit. "MINE!" he roared, clamping his teeth down on her shoulder and making her shout his name. He flapped his wings hard enough to lift him off her for a second as he hilted his hips against hers. His testicles slapped against her vulva with a loud clap of water. His cum exploded out of his cock, splashing against her chest, muzzle and neck in droves. Sireen moaned and gasped as he came onto her. She purred loudly and lapped at her muzzle, enjoying the scents and tastes as they dances around her senses.

Panting above her, Iron looked down on her with heavy eyes. "M-Mine...my mare..." He whispered, leaning down to lock her in a kiss before flopping atop her gently and purring with her.

The purring intensified as he started kissing her more, running his hooves up and down her body as they flipped over on to their sides. Iron draped a wing over her back and nuzzled close to her, and she did the same. The two ponies resting as the hot water landed all around them in a subtle shower of warmth.

"I love you Sireen...I love you so much." Iron whispered, his head on her shoulder as the mare licked and lapped at his muzzle, purring and chirping in happiness.

"And I love you Iron. You're a good stallion."

He hummed and peeked an eye open at her. "Oh? how so?"

She chuckled and kissed his cheek, "You respect me, you had the kindness to not give me a burden I couldn't bare in my current living situation." Here she took one of his hooves and gently placed it on her tummy. Iron's blinked slowly and then his eyes widened as he understood.

"Oh, yeah." He murmured. After a though he blushed and gently lifted up her hind leg, and kissed her belly in a few places, before he dared lick at one of her teats. Sireen chuckled and raised her leg higher, allowing the stallion access. he smiled and nuzzled her teats, before taking one in his mouth and nursing.

Sireen sighed in pleasure, a different kind of pleasure. Nursing brought about feelings she rarely felt. Ones of being a mother, and she found herself licking and preening at him as he did so. "It looks like you are still a foal who needs his milk." She whispered.

Iron merely hummed and kept suckling, moving from one teat to the other. After a time he pulled away and let her lower her leg. He rest his foreleg across her midsection and nuzzled into her mane. "My um, my ex-wife used to let me nurse her, She liked it...do...do you?"

The thestral chuckled and flicked an ear, "I think I'll be fine with it, just leave some room for Crisp...."

He smiled and lay his head across her withers, closing his eyes. Sireen rest her head on the shower floor, enjoying his company and touch. For her, Celestia had come and taken her to the golden fields beyond life itself. She was happier than she'd been in a long time, and nothing could take that away from her.

"Mom? Dad?"

Sireen flicked an ear, what was that?

"Mom! Dad!"

Iron lifted his head and sighed with a smile. "It's Crisp. He probably needs some help getting ready for bed."

After they both verified they were clean, Iron shut off the water and they toweled off as quickly as possible. Iron giving Sireen her space while she did her business and then she did so for him. When Iron opened the door to the bedroom however, they found Crisp standing there with a frustrated expression.

"Jeez, I thought you two went to bed or something, there is someone at the door." He then sniffed and cocked his head to the side "what's that smell? Wait...did you two actually do the nasty!? Do I have a little sister on the w--" IRON clapped his son over the mouth with a wing and ushered the little guy down the hall to his room. "DOKAY! Bedtime, sport, yup! Time to go sleepy bye now, Sireen would you be a dear and get the door for me?"

By the time she had a chance to respond, Iron had pushed his son into the child's bedroom and closed the door. She laughed, gently, and walked past, her sensitiveness ears picking up part of the conversation.

"Dad I know what you two did, I learned about it in sex ed! You two--"

"Yes us two, not you too, the foal who shouldn't know what us two did too. now get into bed ya little scamp."

"Is it a boy or a girl, cause I want a sister!"

"Crisp! Bed. Now."

"That's not a no...perhaps a hard maybe?"

"Good night Crisp!"

Sireen giggled and walked to the door. Opening it, she found an elderly mare standing there. She was wearing a blue dress with a little yellow flower on her shoulder, and had a small hand bag. Her mane was up in a bun, curly, and mostly orange. Her light tan coat was mostly hidden by the dress but she looked nice. Sireen smiled, "Hi there, can I help you?"

The elderly mare smiled and waved her hoof at Sireen, "Oh no, deary, but perhaps I can help you. I thought I'd politely inform you that the next door apartment--my apartment-- does not need to hear of your sexual escapades through the walls..."

Sireen gasped, her ears pinned down against her neck, and she blushed crimson, remembering how she'd screeched and shouted during their shower time. Sireen put a hoof to her lips. "I...Oh my gosh ma'am I am so sorry I didn't know we were--"

The old mare cackled and waved her hoof emphatically at Sireen again, smiling sweetly. "Oh deary, it's no worries, I was your age too once, I know how the youngsters get these days. I merely wanted to inform you that you might want to keep things down next time. Did Iron at least pay you for your time, Sweetie?"

...

"Did he what?!" Sireen barked. "Excuse me miss, but I must have heard you incorrectly, did you just imply that I'm a--"

The old crone laughed and started walking away down the hall. "Oh don't get your halter in a bunch deary, I was joking! I know you're no harlot, gossip gets around the apartments pretty quickly though, so expect a couple gifts and jokes thrown your way." The old mare paused and looked back, "All I ask is that you keep em in good shape and stay with those for as long as your heart wills itself to. Those boys have been through a whirlwind of trouble. It'll do em good to have a mare in the house again, especially one that stays..."

By the time the old crone had waltzed off Iron had come downstairs and was tapping her shoulder. "Sireen, are you okay? who was it?"

Sireen slowly blinked, closed the door with a subtle click, and turned to him, with a flat expression. "Your neighbor. She jokingly called me a harlot."

Iron Gasped and looked to the door "Mrs. Blotchquill said that? T-that...actually sounds like her. I'm so sorry Sireen I--"

The bat mare firmly poked him in his chest feathers with a hoof, furrowing her brow and growling lightly. "How many mares have you had over, Iron? I even heard about stuff like this from Crisp!"

Iron quickly flailed his hooves in front of himself defensively. "Sireen wait, I need to explain this! It's not what you think!"

She raised a brow and sat in front of the door. "Oh it isn't? Alright, I'm listening." She flicked her good wing out and hovered her wingtip inches from his snout. "You better have a good explanation."

Iron sighed and nodded. He walked around the couch and lay down, his hooves underneath him, his eyes downcast. "Losing Noble Crest, hurt. It hurt a lot. She was my first true love, Sireen." He lifted a wing and waved it around the room. "Coming home the first month with no one to greet you, but a foal who was still asking why his mother hadn't come home...it was heartbreaking."

Sireen slowly came around the couch and hopped up to sit next to him, listening intently now. "Iron..."

He continued, a forced chuckle escaping his mouth and a cracked smile. "Heh, I had no idea what I was going to do. The school teachers said I should mourn but move on, the councilor said I should give myself time to adjust, and my boss flat out said I should take a vacation, without Crisp, said I should leave him with family."

He looked to Sireen, the tears in his eyes barely contained as he whispered. "B-but he doesn't have any!"

Sireen scooted closer and draped her good wing over his shoulder, pulling him close and silently nuzzling him as he fought to keep his composure.

"I'm all he's got, all he's got... M-my mother and father live too far away to safely send him off on his own. He's got an aunt that lives near the griffon border, but she's crazy. Grade A crazy. I wouldn't trust that mare with a plastic spoon, let alone a foal."

Sireen nodded gently, nuzzling up under his chin, a light purr reaching out to Iron in an attempt to soothe him. "You're not alone any more, Iron."

Iron nuzzled her back firmly, his wing spread out and draped over top hers. "I know, and that's what scares me..." When Sireen looked at him with a confused expression he smiled. "Please don't mis-understand. I am more happy right now than I have been in a long time. You've brought light back into our home, and warmth..."

He leaned in and touched noses with her for a few minutes, and she purred back, enjoying his touch. "Such warmth...isn't something I want to lose, Sireen." She opened her eyes to see him looking down her snout to stare back at her.

"I love you Sireen, I actually, honestly, truly, feel in love again. For a time though, I was broken, lonely, and desperate for control and order." He removed himself from the couch and started pacing, Something she noted seemed to be a coping method for the stallion, and for crisp. Like father like son, she thought.

"I started talking with other mares, carelessly and with out thought for what it might mean for Crisp. I brought them home, thinking it would bring back a semblance of order to his life and mine. In the end though it created a massive problem."

He paused and looked to her, his wings twitching. "You saw today how he got in a fight over you, that's never been an issue before, but he has gotten into numerous arguments over who his new mother is, with the foals at school." Iron sighed. "I started to notice how every time a new mare would come over, he would latch on tighter and tighter, until even the mares felt uncomfortable."

Sireen flicked her ears back, "W-were all of these mares...harlots?"

Iron smiled, "No, some were close friends I've had, others were attempts at creating real relationships. Sadly a lot of the mares I courted were...less than applicable to being a mother to Crisp." He paced back and forth a few times. "And then...there's me. A first time father and one who has some issues of his own."

Sireen chuckled. "Like what? Last time I checked being super floofy wasn't a crime in Equestria." She covered her lips with a hoof to hide the giggles. To her relief Iron took it in stride and smiled back.

"No, that is true, thankfully. No I have...a very high libido." He turned to her a blush on his cheeks, rubbing the back of his neck with a hoof and looking at the floor. "Not tooting my own horn here, but I could probably go twenty rounds with a mare and still want to do more, Sireen. The average stallion can only do five or six times, maybe before they collapse."

Sireen made a noise that Iron was sure was a mixture of a purr and a gasp. He cocked his head to the side at her. "I..am not sure what that sound means, but it sounds nice?"

The mare giggled louder, and then nodded. "Well you won't get any complaints from me on that note, Iron. I have been rather...dry in the courting game, so if you can actually back that claim up, I'll be a very happy mare indeed."

Iron looked pleased and crossed the space between the coffee table and the couch, touching noses with her dominantly.

"I can do more then back it up, I can prove it, girl." He growled playfully. Sireen giggled more and wrapped her hooves around his neck, growling back. "I'm sure you can. But tell me, why is that an issue?"

She nuzzled his chest while he sighed. "Sireen, not every mare I was with liked that aspect of me. a couple of them thought it was all I wanted. Saying I only wanted them for their bodies. This isn't true though, it's just another part of me, I didn't want you to be startled if I...well, if I tried to do things a lot more often than what I thought you'd expect from me."

He shook his head and nuzzled her back. "I'm over complicating things aren't I?" When she nodded he kissed the top of her head. "Well then I'll let you tell me when I overstep my bounds, okay?"

Sireen leaned up and kissed his cheek, before hopping off the couch and heading to the stairs. "Well right now you haven't over stepped any boundaries with me, and honestly I want to give you all the time you need to adjust to my presence as well." She paused and put a hoof to her chest. "Guards have tough jobs, half the time we just stand around and guard key locations around the city, but sometimes our separate skills are required for missions."

She waited till he came up to her side. "Iron, there might be a day I go on one of these missions, and am gone for weeks on end. I need to know two things right now. If I leave for that time, will you lose interest me for another mare?"

He frowned instantly, pinning his ears back. "Alicorns above no. Listen, Sireen. Even when I was with other mares, trying to date them or gain physical relief, that pony was my center, my core. Right now, for as long as you will allow, you are my center. I don't care how fake that may sound, because it's true. When I have a partner, they are my purpose, my sky."

He leaned down and locked her in a kiss that was equal measures of passion and power. Sireen felt her good wing slowly lifting to the reaction, and she purred into it. When he pulled away his hoof caressed her cheek gently.

"I cannot fly without you, my sky." He whispered sweetly.

She purred louder and they went up stairs together. Sireen brushed up against his side. "Good, because bat ponies are extremely territorial with their mates. I would hate to see another mare here, cause i'd probably need you to dig a grave or two in the garden, if I did."

He stopped and frowned, "Firstly, we don't have a garden plot, secondly...why more than one grave?" In response Sireen bite his shoulder assertively, making him hiss through clenched teeth.

"Because you'd be joining her."

He gulped. "R-right then...territorial. Got it."

As they entered the bedroom, Sireen turned to the bed and pointed up above it. "Also, I need a Bat Bar placed above the bed."

Iron blinked and cocked his head to the side, looking from her to the wall above the bed. "A what?"

Sireen crawled up onto the bed and burrowed underneath the warm sheets, purring loud enough that Iron felt his wings twitch in agreement with the noise. "Bat ponies sleep upside down, it's a thing we kind of have to do. We can sleep on the ground but we don't like it. It's instinctual, a primal urge of ours. Let me get one from the guard barracks and I'll show you."

Iron came up and watched the lump of fabric shift and move around, and then a hoof poked out of the sheets and pointed to the wall. "A bat bar allows us to dangle properly, now don't interrupt me."

The squirming increased rather suddenly and Iron felt his confusion increase. "Sireen, what are you doing under the sheets?" He lifted a bit of the fabric with a couple primary feathers and peered under, only to see the cutest thing he'd ever witnessed. "Oh my goddess, Sireen...what are you doing?"

Beneath the sheets, Sireen was rolling back and forth like a cat, firmly rubbing her cheeks, forehead, and mane into the fabric vigorously. When she flipped over, she turned into a bat like cat loaf, her glowing blue eyes wide as saucers as she purred heavily.

"Claiming my roost." Was the only words she mumbled/purred before iron saw her hoof snap closed around the cloth, blocking his view of her actions.

Iron felt his wings pomf out to their fullest, and he blushed hotly. She was so freaking adorable like that! His chest fluff puffed out and he groaned.

"Oooh that is not fair."

As the sun descended past the horizon, and the day inhabitants drifted indoors, a subtle quiet fell over the apartment district that Sireen now called home. She sat outside atop the roof, watching the reds and purples of the day bleed away to blues and blacks. Her eyes filtered out the excessive light remaining and she was able to see all the way across Canterlot.

It had been two weeks since she'd officially moved in, the process of doing so was a lot easier than Iron had expected. She'd collected her armor, her extra military gear, and a couple items she'd collected over the years. These items included a photo of her parents, a yo-yo she'd found while on duty, a gemstone she'd collected from her first official mission for Luna, and a medal given to her during the changeling invasion, given for exemplary combat skills and protecting a key location during an attack. Princess Luna didn't have many medals back then, but it barely mattered to Sireen. Guarding Luna and her citizens was an honor any thestral would leap at the chance to get.

Her moving in hadn't gone unnoticed by the apartment complex's other occupants as well. Iron and her had found several gifts at her door, congratulating the pair on their relationship. Mostly some cards with well wishes on the inside, and a gift basket with fruits and vegetable in it, and a note that said to keep in shape, from her platoon leader.

The weirdest gift of them all though, was what currently had Sireen sitting on the roof in contemplation. She'd just gotten back from the platoon medic's office, and was told she could start work in a week or so, which was a relief because her being grounded was driving the mare up a wall. Iron had come in the bedroom a couple times and found her hanging upside down in the bathroom, by the shower rod, staring out the window and muttering nothings at the birds as they slept in the trees outside.

They'd installed her Bat Bar over the bed that very day to help ease her tension. Plus giving kisses to each other was rather exotic now.

He'd been a perfect partner so far, but he cemented that by taking her on a flight over town that night, to help ease her stress. When she'd mentioned how awkward it would be to have him carry her, he simply shrugged and said he could hold her marriage style if she liked, to which she pounced on him and they got into a snuggle fight.

She won of course.

The flight had been wonderful though and Sireen felt her stress levels plummet as Iron deftly did dips and dives through the air with her on his back. She'd screeched and whooped as they did so, catching the pleased looks of a couple of her guard friends. After this, Iron had landed in the park where they'd met and the pair walked together, nuzzling and purring to one another in mutual silence. It was a night she wouldn't hopefully ever forget.

They'd returned to the apartment to find an envelope just inside the door, with the initials 'FD' written in wonderful script. Sireen had growled and scooped it up before Iron could ask and had ripped it open viciously.

The contents were oddly specific.

Sireen, Iron Crest, Crisp Words,

I congratulate you on your courtship, and wish to meet up to talk with you in person, as well as offer Sireen a job. I cordially invite you to dinner/breakfast at nine pm tomorrow night, at the Golden Rod Restaurant. Wear whatever you wish, or come naturally. Present this letter at arrival and you will be allowed in and taken to my booth.

Please do not inform others of this letter, or my contacting you.

I am a friend.

--FD

Iron had pestered her with questions about who FD was and she'd told him all she knew. He'd given her weird looks when she explained the soda can incident, as well as how this character apparently helped her find their address. He got really worried and at first adamantly refused to go, but Sireen assured him she could handle things. The Golden Rod Restaurant was out in the open, and well known as an exclusive vip members only restaurant. If you weren't part of the club or had an invitation from some one inside, you didn't go inside.

Sireen had heard it was where Luna and Celestia had private meetings with their lovers, but it was unconfirmed, and assumed gossip created by the elite ponies of the court.

But if one asked Luna directly, she would pointedly look away and change the subject. Celestia would too, albeit more subtly. Sireen didn't mind, they were ponies too, and deserved love just as much as her.

She was thankful she didn't need a step ladder for her stallion though.

Now sitting on the top of the building, Sireen let her mind calm down. Whoever this FD was, they had helped her find Iron and Crisp again, and they hadn't done anything underhanded except hide who they were. If they were a noble, then it actually made sense that they would do so. Nobles hated being outed as supportive.

Sireen's ear swiveled to the sound of footsteps behind her and she turned to see Iron coming out of the stair well, Crisp words on his back with all his school supplies in his backpack. The foal yawned cutely atop his dad. His eyes droopy but his tail wagging happily.

Sireen hopped off the wall and approached, taking a moment to nuzzle Iron and then she leaned down and licked at Crisp Words cheek and face, mothering over him for a few minutes, even as he whined and half-heartedly tried to push her affections away.

"Good night to you my evening star." Iron whispered into her ear, nibbling it gently.

She purred louder, "Mmm good night my midnight moon." She looked down at Crisp and rubbed noses with him gently making him giggle, "And my little scamp."

Crisp sat up and put his hooves on her shoulder, looking over the building to the city beyond, eagerness in his eyes. "So are you going to go back to work soon, mom?"

"Yup! Your mum is gonna make sure the night stays safe and quiet once more!" Sireen struck a proud pose and chirped out into the night, confidant that she'd get a reply. She did, a nearby post sent back a chirp, making her smile.

"What about the job offer from FD, love? Are you sure it's a good idea--mmmph!" Iron's worrying was shut down as she kissed him. Crisp gagged and stuck his tongue out. Sireen pulled back and smiled at him.

"If anything happened I'd be there to protect you both. Besides, I showed the letter to one of my superiors and they assured me they know who it is and that they are safe." Sireen grumbled under her breath though, pinning her ears back. "I just wish they could have told me who it was but they are not allowed to."

Iron nodded, but Sireen could see the subtle signs of anxiety in his posture and his expression. She knew no matter what that until he knew who FD was, he'd be flustered and worried. She changed subject, shifting to Crisp. "Now, I wanna hear you got into no fights, and did all your work as best you could, kay scamp?"

Crisp saluted her cutely and puffed out his chest fur. "Yes, ma'am, mom, sir!" She giggled and licked him a couple times before backing up and watching Iron spread his wings. He turned back to her with a smile. "Stay safe, and keep to the shadows, love."

She smiled in return. "Ill be waiting in the darkness for you."

He knickered confidently and leaped off the building with Crisp squealing childishly. Sireen watched them leave before exiting back inside the building. As she traversed the halls she saw barely any pony at all. The rooms were semi quiet, the only sound she heard from one of them was classical music. She'd discovered in the first week that the apartments were mostly owned by older ponies, retired or too weak to really leave. She'd run into a couple younger ponies who did hospice care for them. Most were nice, but a couple were grumps. She could tell who enjoyed their jobs vs who didn't.

As she unlocked the apartment, She was caught by surprise by another note on the floor. At first her frustration came back, but it sapped away when she saw it wasn't from FD, but instead had the signature of Mrs. Fuzzdrought. Closing the door behind her and locking it, she opened the letter and laid it out in front of her while she started doing push ups.

To Sireen Wind,

It is great to hear you are going to be back on duty soon, I have so much to tell you! Truth be told, I think you are one of the only mares I can talk to safely about this without it being a total travesty. Elite ponies like myself can't simply have conversations about our day to day lives you know.

I have divorced with Longpea, our relationship wasn't something we could keep going on with if we wish to see our later years. The stress was too much. We both agreed to be friends though, both in the business field and in every day to day. I also wish to congratulate you in person on your new partnership with Mr. Crest. I only got tid bits of his going ons, but they sounded dreadful, so it will be good to see his life improve with a real mare in the household.

If you can, could you come over at your soonest availability? I'll leave the back door unlocked for you. I would like you to meet my new partner as well.

best wishes,

Mrs. Fuzzdrought

Sireen smiled and continued doing her work out. She figured it couldn't hurt to check up on the mare. Her schedule was empty for the most part. She did her morning exercises, which involved push ups, sit ups, running in place four an hour, and then a cold shower to wash off the sweat. Normally it involved wing ups as well and a flying sprint, but she couldn't do those yet. Instead she spent time gently flexing her wings. Slowly letting the muscles stretch to their limits and then releasing them.

Then after that was taken care of she would clean the house. Dishes, sweeping, dusting, mopping, picking up Crisp's toys that usually lay scattered across the house. It depended on what his current adventure he was on. If he was on a coastal quest, all the toys were in the bathroom, but if he was on a world tour they would be everywhere. She once found some of them in the top cupboard of the dishes in the kitchen!

He said they'd been climbing the griffon alps and got stuck.

Then there were the moments Iron had spent with her at home on his days off. The stallion was insatiable! She'd be working on the dishes and he'd just sneak up behind her and mount her, growling and attacking her sensitive ears playfully before saying he was 'helping her with the dishes'. Sometimes it would be more intimate and he would nurse from her while they relaxed on the couch or in bed. Other times she would give him pleasure, exploring, tasting, learning about her mate. When things got too heated, he never penetrated, staying true to his word that if they chose to go there it would be by both their agreement.

She didn't mind it actually, it felt nice to be wanted in that way. Plus, when it inadvertently caused another mess, she'd delegate him to to cleaning duty. He hadn't liked that part for sure!

Still it felt good to be loved. Sireen found herself humming and dancing when she was cleaning up or just meandering around the house aimlessly. She'd seen that Crisp had dove back into his art, making multiple portraits of her and Iron, with Crisp in the middle. A happy family and a real home. She'd showered the foal in affections and let him nurse from her several times. her body seemed to react to the touches, and she'd started producing milk for the first time in her life.

Both Crisp and Iron said it tasted good, she figured she'd take their words for it.

It felt wonderful being a mother, and Sireen wouldn't trade it for the world. She loved them both to the ends of the earth, and would make sure they were safe, no matter what.

A bat, A peach, And an offer, Fleur Away

Locking the door behind her, Sireen smiled at the letter she'd received from Mrs. Fuzzdrought and deposited it in her side saddlebag. Trotting down the hallway, she exited into the stairwell and traversed the several stories to the ground floor. As she exited, she ran into the cafe owner, a short old stallion by the name of Hot Soup.

The stallion always wore a clean apron with a ladle hooked to it's side pocket. His cutie mark was of an old style cauldron with some kind of liquid spilling out the side. He was gray in coat and had an almost military styled mane and tail, cut short and trimmed neatly. He was gruff and quiet to most, only talking when he wanted to or when a customer ordered something. When Sireen had seen him, he'd looked her up and down and snorted, holding the door open for her.

She'd raised a brow and promptly gotten out of his way. She half expected him to say something negative, but once he was back inside he'd merely waved to her and then closed up shop. She'd waved back, after a second or two, not even sure if he had seen the return gesture.

Crossing the street and slipping through the gate with her private key, Sireen made her way over to the door and checked the knob. Sure enough, Fuzzdrought had left it open for her. Slipping inside and closing the door behind her, Sireen called out to the house.

"Hello? Mrs. Fuzzdrought?"

A few moments later and the sound of hooves on carpet came from down the hallway. Mrs. Fuzzdrought appeared from the dimly lit hallway, her eyes lighting up as she saw Sireen.

"Oh! Alicorns above, it's you, Sireen. When I heard a voice I worried it might be someone else." The mare blushed and put a hoof to her chest. "Lately things here have been, well wonderful. Come to my office, we'll chat there."

With that, the excited mare spun on her heels and practically hopped away, even humming as she did so! Sireen giggled and nodded. Following behind her at a more sedate pace. Once inside the main office space, Fuzzdrought locked the door behind her and gave off a long sigh, a big smile on her cheeks.

"Sireen these past few days have been like a dream come true." She sighed again and leaned into the nearby bookshelf, her hoof stroked the firm wood that made up the side of the shelf.

"Sounds like you're absolutely smitten for this griffon, Mrs. Drought." Sireen remarked, waggling her wing at the older mare. Fuzzdrought laughed, a genuine laugh and then giggled back.

"Smitten for the bird and the kitten, the peach shall fall from her cherished tree, and in golden talons grasping high, I shall catch her and set her free." Fuzzdrought sang as she hopped up to Sireen, grasping the surprised mare's front hoofs in her own. Sireen firmly tried to stop the happy giggle that was escaping her muzzle, but it refused to be defeated.

" Heheh, wow, Mrs. Drought, did you come up with that on your own just now or--"

"Nope! He wrote it for me." She practically fell into Sireen's arms, swooning. Sireen laughed, and grit her teeth as the mare's extra weight nearly dragged her to the floor.

"Woah! W-well is this same "he" the griffon you previously were all over?" Sireen had to push back firmly to get the other mare into a standing position. Fuzzdrought didn't seem to notice, lost in her own little world.

"He reads and writes poetry in his spare time, and for several of his best works, he professed that I was the inspiration behind them! Oh it's magical I tell you!" Proving her size wasn't an issue, Fuzzdrought leaped up onto her desk in a single jump, again surprising Sireen once more.

"We've been doing all sorts of things too! He has taken me dancing, and out on dates. He is a very gentle griffon. I used to think they were rather brutish but he's shown me they have a softer, more caring side." Here, she sat and curled her tail around to rest in her hooves, petting the fibers with her fore-hooves. A heavy blush on her cheeks as she looked away sheepishly.

"And he's so strong...we went flying once, did you know?"

Sireen shook her head, smiling and blushing happily with the mare as she regaled her with the romantic tale.

Mrs. Fuzzdrought slowly clambered down from her desk to the floor, sitting in front of Sireen . "Oh you should have been there, Sireen. I just about died when he asked me to fly with him. I thought he was joking! Honestly..." She looked away with a smile. "Me flying? Are you kidding, mares would have their children running inside thinking a bomb was being dropped on Canterlot! HAH!"

She giggled and Sireen found herself picturing it and smirking too. It wouldn't be that far from the truth I imagine.

"Oh it was glorious. I brought to his attention my corpulent form and he laughed, hoisted me up onto his back, and told me right to my muzzle, "I'll be the tree trunk then and you be the peach. I will hold you up so we may fall together through the sky."

She swung her hoof rapidly across her front with a noise from her mouth, "And then WHOOSH! Without so much as a warning he leaps into the sky, we were flying through the air!"

Sireen was taken aback when Fuzzdrought gripped her good wing and gently opened it. "I...I have no way to describe it...like freedom itself? I've heard some pegasi use that to explain, but even then that falls short of what i felt, in here." She tapped her heart. Sireen blinked and slowly she arced her wing out and looked at the individual joints, the membrane, and the little fur atop the back.

She smiled and refolded it. "That is a good way of putting it, I guess." She murmured.

"What is it like for you, Sireen?" Fuzzdrought lowered her hoof and scooted closer to the younger mare, her face awash with genuine curiosity.

Sireen immediately thought back to her recent flight with Iron crest, and her own hoof lifted to her heart. She was silent for a time. Fuzzdrought tilted her head and let an ear go askew, "Is...Is that too personal? Should I not have--."

"Love." Sireen whispered.

Fuzzdrought blinked, perking her ears up and leaning in. "Pardon?"

Sireen looked up past the desk to the window, where outside she could see the moon appearing through some faded milky white clouds. "It's like love, Mrs. Fuzzdrought. Love holds you, and lets you feel like everything is alright. Nothing in the world can tear that feeling from you once you've felt it. Love is nebulous and without borders. It has no laws, and is ruled by no one...so is the sky. There are no boundaries, save those we make ourselves. Flying is the same, I feel."

Fuzzdrought nodded, smiling warmly. "I suppose I can agree, very eloquently put, Sireen."

The two mares fell silent, the ambient ticking of the clock filling the room.

"So, he's a good partner then yes? This Gustov Griffon?" SIreen asked, shuffling her hooves into the carpet. Fuzzdrought laughed.

"So far he's wonderful, I love every minute of our time together."

The thestral nodded, her eyes darting left and right around the room, "Uh huh, so where is he now?" She almost pinned her ears back when the mare across from her winced. Fuzzdrought rubbed a hoof into her chest nervously.

"He is um...he is sleeping."

Sireen blinked in realization as a crucial piece fell into place.

Fuzzdrought wrung her hooves together in anxiety. "That may be the only bump in our relationship we've hit so far. You see, he's not adjusting well to the um, nightly side of my life, as it were. Gustov has lived his whole life as a diurnal creature, where as I've lived most of mine as a nocturnal."

Sireen opened her mouth and mimed the "oh" sound with it, while looking away.

Fuzzdrought began pacing. "So far he's tried everything there is, caffeine doesn't do a thing to him, pills to help his sleep cycle adjust don't have any positive effects, we've even tried magic." Fuzzdrought sighed and bonked her head into the desk gently. "On top of this, most of his customers are diurnal, so he can't just switch over. It's gotten to the point that I may have to switch my schedule for him instead."

She looked to Sireen, worry on her face. "But then I run into a similar problem. I'd lose you and several of my business partners who are nocturnal. I'm stuck between love and business and it...Well quite frankly it sucks."

Sireen smiled coyly. "Oh, you've tried magic have you?"

Fuzzdrought lifted her head from the desk an inch or two and squinted at Sireen, "Yes...why are you smiling at this?"

Sireen stepped forward, leaning in and draping a wing over Fuzzdrought's back conspiratorially. She whispered, "Have you tried Princess Luna's magic?"

Fuzzdrought opened and closed her mouth several times. "...N-no? I heard she is...still rather abrasive to the nobles of canterlot. Why? Are you saying she can help?"

Sireen smirked and started marching out the office, with Fuzzdrought in tow under her wing.

"W-wait, Sireen! Where are we going?"

"We are going to see Princess Luna, you are getting yourself an amulet of the night."

Luna grimaced, her stare locked downward at the board near her feet. Her king was literally cornered. "I cannot believe I fell for that."

Across from her, her opponent grinned proudly. "It isn't everyday I use such tactics, but in this case, I figured the element of surprise was best suited to gain me a victory."

The Alicorn of the night frowned up at her enemy, and then magically lifted the chess pieces off the board, replacing them to their original spots. "True, and here it played me right into a corner, but do not be so proud. We Alicorns learn from our mistakes and such under-hoofed tactics will not be successful again."

Across from her, a young griffon in newly minted night guard armor chuckled and waved a talon through the air as if shooing away a fly. "Oh I beg to differ, that was only one of my many cards I can utilize against you, and my deck is far from empty."

Luna feigned intrigue, resting her chin on her hooves and smiling sweetly. "Oh really? was there perchance a reason you didn't use any of those options when I beat you the last twenty times this evening?"

When her guard blanched, his puffed out feathers flattening, Luna laughed lightly. "I imagine you would like some time to reanalyze your "deck of options" before we begin new game?"

Her guard growled and nodded. "Yes. I would."

Luna left him to his thoughts and looked out the nearby window, its light tinging the floor a crystal blue as the moonlight fell on the marble floor. Outside the world was at peace, white clouds danced across her sky, sometimes obscuring her moon from view, only for it to playfully pop back into the open, like a foal playing peek-a-boo with the mother. Luna hummed in happiness.

Tonight the court room was yet again empty save for her two door guards and her new sergeant, Dawnclaw. The griffon had been appointed several moons ago by her, when he'd outranked his current platoon leader but couldn't be placed elsewhere. Luna had appointed him to be her house sergeant and things had gone along seemingly fine from there.

Until she'd hit a snag. Her eyes fell to his tawny colored chest plumage, where a small bead of iron hung from his neck. Being a griffon, Dawnclaw was diurnal, and kept falling asleep during his shift, no matter how hard he tried to stay awake. She'd fixed that rather quickly with a night amulet. They weren't very hard to make, but each one was custom attuned to the user, and thus required her specific talents to create one. This way if it was stolen, the amulet would be nothing more than a chunk of iron around a creatures neck.

Luna was brought out of her musings by one of her door guards. "Princess, we have a petitioner who wishes to see you."

She blinked, her mind not catching up with the words until the doors at the end of the hall began opening. Quickly teleporting the chessboard away, Luna stood and almost fell when her legs protested the sudden movement. She should have stretched first, but lacked the time to do so, as the citizens were already entering the room.

Resetting her rump onto the flat surface her sister dared call a throne, Luna made herself look graceful and relaxed. She must look the part for her night court, so that slowly over time, the room would have more ponies filling the space. Sergeant Dawnclaw seated himself lower down the Dias, on her right, resetting his bat winged helm atop his head.

She immediately recognized both ponies as they stepped forward and bowed. Sireen wind had been a bit of a celebrity among her guard recently, having successfully snagged herself a mate. Luna was proud of the mare for striking out on a branch and going for a better life. Many of her guards were a bit too zealous in their devotion to their jobs, and thus whenever new recruits came into her guard, the veterans tried to make it seem like guarding her was their sole purpose in life.

The other mare made Luna blink in surprise. Mrs. Fuzzdrought was a name she knew only by two things. she was ruthless in her business dealings, and apparently wasn't very trusting of others. The few guards she'd requested over the last few months had said she was a pain in the flank to work with.

So it came with no normal amount of surprise to see the two together, and happy no less. Sireen bowed, as did Fuzzdrought. Luna calmly waited a moment as decorum demanded she do, and then smiled.

"Arise, my subjects, and and fellow night guardian, what brings you here tonight?"

Both mares stood, albeit Sireen did so slowly, making Luna smile. "Your highness, we come to request the use of your magical talents to help with a potential courtship issue." Sireen tilted her head to Mrs. Fuzzdrought, who was nervously looking at Luna and her griffon guard with both anxiety and excitement.

Well this wasn't expected. Luna thought. "A potential courtship issue, Guard?"

Sireen nodded and nudged the peach colored mare at her side, "Go on, she won't bite." Luna heard Sireen whisper. She inwardly laughed, many nobles like Mrs. Fuzzdrought thought Luna's bite was worse then her bark, and Luna liked to believe they weren't inaccurate.

"My guard is correct, if all is well, Miss Fuzzdrought, then please step forward and make your request. I am here to listen, and if possible, help my little ponies."

Mrs. Fuzzdrought chuckled nervously and looked at her side, "I um, I am hardly little, b-but thank you, Your Majesty. I came here tonight to ask for an amulet of the night?" she seemed unsure of the item she spoke, because she looked back at Sireen for conformation. When the mare nodded with a smile, Fuzzdrought looked back at Luna, "Yes I came to request one for my partner."

Luna looked down her nose at the mare, "And what do you need it for? Mrs. Fuzzdrought."

Retelling her tale to the Princess of the night seemed a lot harder than it had been with Sireen, but she eventually got to the end and wrung her hooves, nervously looking at the floor. "I don't want him to lose customers because of our relationship, but at the same time I can't lose mine either, it would deeply affect both our schedules and business heavily."

Luna nodded but frowned. "I think, while your request is a reasonable one, and one I would normally grant rather quickly, there is a slight problem with this arrangement."

Sireen quirked her brow, and Fuzzdrought looked up at her in worry.

Luna gently took Dawnclaw's amulet and lifted it off his head, he warbled nervously as it left him, and then to Sireen and Fuzzdrought's surprise, he instantly flopped to the floor, deep purring could be heard from his beak as his sides slowly rose up and down. Luna floated the amulet over to herself and gently ran a hoof over the polished iron.

"Each amulet I create allows the user to stay awake during the night, but it ceases to work the moment they remove it." Fuzzdrought went to speak but Luna stayed her reply with a raised hoof. "Further more, if the user wears it for too long, it can be dangerous. My Sergeant here is also a diurnal griffon, Mrs. Fuzzdrought, and he can only wear this for four hours of the night. if he takes it off, his body instantly recognizes that it should be sleeping and well..." they all looked to the sleeping griffon who had curled up like a cat, with his tail curled around his paws and his beak under a wing. little chirping snores escaped his mouth as he slept.

Luna held it back out with her magic. "That however, isn't the main problem I see with this strategy. Even if I gave you one of these, Your partner, Gustov, or you should you wear it, will be cutting several hours from your day, and you must take at least a week and a half to become acclimated to my magic. It seeps into your wellspring and forcefully fights your sleep cycle, flipping it on it's head."

Luna floated it over to the griffon and clipped it back around his neck. The mares leaned forward to see if he would wake up but when he didn't and they looked perplexed, Luna spoke once more. "Another downside is that the moment you take off the amulet, you fall into a deep sleep to regain the lost hours you held back with the amulet. you cannot be woken from this, and are vulnerable until you wake. A user who doesn't take it off at regular intervals will have this happen to them, and the consequences can be dire."

Mrs. Fuzzdrought frowned and put her hoof to her lips in thought. Luna continued.

"I see that you care about this partner, but even if both of you were to wear one, you'd be asleep during the day to make up for the time lost at night."

Fuzzdrought sighed, looking to the side at the floor tiles. "So then, what would you recommend we do, your highness? I'm at the end of my rope."

"A business merge."

Fuzzdrought's eyes widened. "I...I had thought of this, b-but his business and mine are--"

"Both in the food industry, if my memories serve me correctly." Luna interjected. "Chances are, Mrs. Drought, you and he share at least a few benefactors, customers, and suppliers, yes?"

Fuzzdrought nodded slowly. "T-that's true...I suppose we could try it..." She then looked up to Princess Luna and bowed her head. "Thank you, your highness. I'll speak with him about this when he wakes up."

Luna nodded and smiled. "Good, now If I may inquire, why is my injured guard, who is supposed to be off duty, still working? Last I checked, Sireen, you are on medical leave."

Sireen and Fuzzdrought frantically looked to one another and then shook their heads. Sireen spoke up first. "I'm not guarding her, your Grace, I am..."

She paused, realizing something important at her core.

"I'm...with my friend, Princess Luna. She invited me over to chat, ya know..."Sireen looked to Fuzzdrought and felt a warm smile breach her lips. "Girl talk, and stuff."

Luna's eyes squinted between the two mares, and she found their expressions true. They genuinely had a connection. "I see, never mind my inquiry then. Carry on citizens, and get well soon, Sireen. The night sky misses her wardens."

Fuzzdrought blinked at that, confusion on her face. Sireen chirped happily and bowed. "I will do my best to heal properly and quickly, your Majesty! We shall take our leave now."

Luna watched them go, a motherly smile gracing her face. "Hmm, friends huh? Seems Twilight's influence reaches ever farther as time marches on."

She looked around the empty throne room and then went to summon the chess board once more, when she realized what she'd done and looked to her sleeping guard. His tail flicking and his foot kicking every so often as he dreamt. She frowned.

"Ah ponyfeathers...Now who will duel me?"

***

The Golden Rod Restaurant was special in many ways. Besides being a VIP only club, it catered to every species. One could enter the establishment and suddenly be mingling with yaks, griffons, the occasional Alicorn, should the Princess be present, or even a couple of cat folk or hippogriffs. This meant that upon entering the dining hall, scents and sounds of every nature could be taken in. The diversity allowed for open minded thinking and good natured conversation.

The facility both served foods and was set up for large group meetings. It wasn't common to find the place vacant. Getting a slot in the busy guest schedule was hard. Even harder, was being invited to the place from an outside source. Sireen and Iron Crest had never been inside or even remotely close to it.

Crisp had only wanted to know if they served fancy ice cream or not.

"Their all nobles, so the food has to be too! That means fancy ice cream!" Crisp said while sitting atop his father's back. The foal waved his front hooves around energetically. His little bow tie wiggling around his neck as he began a lengthy explanation of how food became fancy. It had to do with how the fancy ponies talked, a sort of word magic that seeped into the food and made it change from normal to fancy". Iron had rolled his eyes and Sireen had giggled and told him that he could ask for it.

Sireen and Iron were dressed in nice outfits. Nothing too posh, but just enough that the pair wouldn't seem out if place in the crowd. Sireen was wearing a simple merlot red dress, with a shimmering see through star patterned shawl around her shoulders. Mrs. Fuzzdrought had loaned it to her, saying it would help 'accentuate her neck line'.

Her eyes drifted to Iron crest. He looked rather fetching in his grey and white business vest and tie. He hadn't had any fancier clothes and chose to wear it because he knew it fell in place with the financial side of the noble lifestyle. She'd kissed him and said he looked like a million bits.

Still, she spotted the nervous biting of his cheek as he walked, the twitch of his wings as he tried to hide his anxiety. Iron had told her more times than she could remember that he didn't like it when nobles knew about them. His fears were fair, considering how his last encounter with them had been.

She frowned slightly and leaned over to nuzzle him as the restaurant came closer. He fell out of his thoughts and looked to her. A light blush danced across his cheeks before he look forward again. "S-sorry, can't help it."

She hummed and looked back to Crisp who had stood up and leaned against his father's neck to see the building as it loomed closer. "Is that where we are meeting the spy?" He asked.

Sireen chuckled and nodded. "Not a spy, but yes. Now, be on your best behavior okay, Crisp?" She leaned over and nuzzled his mane gently. He nodded, nuzzling back. "Okay mom." He said it a smile that warmed her heart and she caught the gentle sigh escape Irons lips as he heard it too.

It was quiet as they reached the doors. The sounds of conversation were completely blocked out by a couple enchantments warding the building. In front of the black double doors to the building was a podium and a younger unicorn mare in a dark grey dress uniform. She looked them up and down and Sireen caught the ever present frown that graced her lips for but a moment before she cracked a fake smile and greeted them.

"Welcome, do you have an invitation or a VIP card, sir?"

Iron didn't smile back. He frowned at her and reached into his vest pocket with his wing and withdrew the letter. Handing it over to her, he refolded his wing. "We were told to present this to you."

She took the and furrowed her brow as she unfolded it. "A letter, sir? I'm not sure I..." Her eyes flowed back and forth across the letter as she read and then her eyes widened. "Oh, ehhrrm, sorry." She hoofed the letter back and started magically flipping through the book in front of her. "I don't recognize those initials. One moment please."

Iron shared a glance with Sireen who shrugged. "Eh, worse case scenario we take it to Luna." She rolled her good wing and noted how the mare winced as she brought up the princess. "If it is a fake, and some one is fooling with us then their in big trouble."

A few moments went by, and the mare turned a couple more pages before she blinked in confusion. She lifted a hoof, went to speak and then thought better of it and looked up. Her magic clapped the book shut and she smiled a little more genuinely this time.

"Sorry about the wait, I had to verify your patron. Please," She opened the doors with her magic and music drifted out. "Follow me."

They fell into line behind her and entered the building. The inside of the restaurant was both opulent and not. Certain key features, such as a central water fountain made from bronze and shaped to look like a sea pony breaching the surface of a wave, and a triple pair of ornate crystal and silver laced chandeliers that floated chainlessly above them, made the place feel royal. Then simple things like the generic black carpet that blanketed the floor, or the basic fabric used to cover the booths where patrons at and mingled, felt like it was out of place.

Yet, it felt right. Like the owner of the establishment was trying to mix the two to make things feel real while adding a hint of flourish to it all. To be fair, it worked. Sireen both felt out of place and at home. Around them, booths could be seen with closed russet red currents blocking the patrons from view, while others had them open. The few that were, Sireen could see families dining together. She saw a group of crystal ponies and their foals seated a few spots away, and when she caught the stallion glancing her way, she smiled gently and nodded. He did the same and went back to his meal. Another pair was seated nearby and Sireen watched as the two zebra seemed to be chuckling at something together. She smiled. the place felt good.

The mare ahead of them brought them to the far back of the restaurant to a door labeled 'private' and unlocked it. She smiled as they entered into another entirely separate part of the building. This side was completely different. The booths were curved around the half circle room, white phaux leather with gold studded caps pulling the seams tight and made the cushions seem almost bouncy. The seats could easily fit two yaks or Alicorns comfortably and the tables between the seats were cherry finished solid wood. The windows beyond showcased a well kept garden filled with multiple types of flowers and shrubbery. The floor was solid marble tiling of black and white, with gold flecks speckled throughout each tile. Above them, another crystal chandelier twice the size of the previous three hovered not twenty feet above the patrons. It's crystals shimmered, sending prismatic rainbows around the room as the amber light danced through them.

To her right side, curving in a half moon counter top that connected on both ends to the wall, a private bar with dark finished wood chairs and top, and a wall of different drinks, both alcoholic and non, were flush against the backdrop. The bottles rose all the way to the ceiling as two unicorn mares worked the selections. Sometimes a bottle would come floating down and one of them would either pour it into a glass, or check its contents before marking down a note on the clip board.

She looked around the room and found no one else present. The mare lead them to an empty booth and once they were all seated she popped out a note pad and a quill. "Your guest shall be arriving in but a moment, for the time being, can I get you any drinks? We have non alcoholic beverages as well." Here she smiled at Crisp who was still ogling the space.

Sireen looked over at the bar and grimaced. "I don't suppose you have portocaliu sângeriu in a non alcoholic form would you?"

The mare blinked and glanced over her shoulder at the bar maids. When one of them nodded, she did as well. "Very well, one portocaliu, no alcohol. For you sir?"

Iron crest was staring at Sireen in confusion, but he shook himself and grinned. "I'll have one of whatever she's having."

Sireen sucked in her teeth. "Um, Iron, are you sure about th--"

The mare cut her off and scribbled it down. "Got it, and for the little one?"

Before any of them could reply, Crisp leveled the most serious expression he could possibly have at the mare and said in a deadpan voice "I'll have a short trip to hell."

The mare's eyes bulged in shock and she very nearly dropped the quill and pad. Sireen and Iron stared at Crisp open mouthed aghast. Behind them, the two bar maids burst out laughing. One of them pointed a hoof at the kid and smirked

"Kids got balls."

"E-ELOQUENCE!" The waiter whipped around and stared daggers at the bar maid who shrugged and kept smirking. She turned back around and found Crisp giggling. She smiled firmly. "Would you like anything on the kids side of the menu?"

Crisp giggled and nodded. "Sure, I'll have some apple juice."

When the mare had jotted it down and trotted away, Crisp sighed and smiled. "Ahh adults are fun." He looked up and found Both his parents looking at him with a mixture of emotions. Iron leaned in and nudged his son with a hoof. "Where did you learn that drink name?"

Sireen nodded emphatically. "Yes, you little scamp, where did you learn that. that beverage is...very potent. Almost as potent as what we are about to drink." She leveled a glare at her partner and Iron flinched, chuckling nervously.

"What? I didn't know what they had so I figured whatever you ordered would be safe!" He put his hooves up defensively and Sireen huffed with a short smile.

"Well, in any case the non alcoholic version should just be the mixing ingredients with some fruit juice. Now back to this "short trip to hell drink." She looked back at Crisp expectantly. He shrugged and crossed his hooves over each other.

"I learned it from the two guards at the gate to the school, apparently it's a strong beverage that has a real kick." He smiled confidently and puffed out his chest fluff. "I snuck up on em while they were chatting and overheard it was a drink the stallion liked to have on his days off but I didn't know it would be that interesting."

Sireen sighed and rolled her eyes before noticing the doors opened on the same side they'd entered. A very recognizable mare and stallion entered the room. Fancy Pants and Fleur de lise walked across the room to stand at their table.

Fleur leveled a sultry gaze on Sireen and the mare blushed and felt her ear tips heat up. "Oh, hello again, Mademoiselle Wind, what a pleasure to see you again." Her heavy Prench accent floated off her tongue perfectly and Sireen felt her chest tighten. This mare...

Beside her, Her husband Fancy Pants chuckled and took off his monocle with a genuine smile. "Good to see you again Sireen, and you as well, Iron Crest."

Iron Crest tilted his head in acknowledgement. "Fancy, Fleur. I wasn't aware you came here."

Fancy and Fleur gave each other a look and then Fancy nodded. "You'd be correct. We don't. At least not under our actual names."

Before any one could reply to that, Fleur lifted a familiar dented soda can in her magic and set it down in front of Sireen. "Does this look familiar to you, Mademoiselle?"

Sireen stared between them and the can. "You can't be serious. You are FD? But I asked you if you were!!!! you said no!"

Fleur chuckled and sat down in the booth with Sireen and Crisp on her right with the foal in the middle. The colt smiled up at her and then he sniffed and sneezed. "Wow, you smell funny, miss." Iron Crest blanched and Sireen sighed.

She giggled into her hoof and then waved it at him playfully. "Zat is called perfume, little one, it makes us more..." Her eyes danced to Sireen for a moment and she licked her lips slowly, "More approachable to possible partners." Sireen gulped and looked away.

Fancy gently swatted his wife. "Oh alright, stop teasing the mare, Fleur, we came to talk not flirt." He looked at Iron and gestured to the seat. "May I?" When Iron Crest moved over, he seated himself next to the pegasus and sighed. It was mares and foal on one side, and stallions on the other. Iron looked pointedly at Sireen and then to Fleur as if asking, and Sireen shook her head and mouthed 'later'. He shrugged in return.

Before Fancy could speak, the waitress came by and collected their drinks, while depositing the previous order in front of their current owners. Fancy ordered a smoking bishop, and fluer ordered a simple glass of red merlot wine. When the waiter disappeared once more, Sireen leaned forward to Fleur.

"You lied to me."

Fleur giggled again and rolled her eyes. "Non, I do not lie. I told you ze accurate answer to your question. you asked if it was me who was FD, and zat is incorrect." She gestured between her husband and herself. "Ze correct answer, is we are FD."

Sireen stared at the two ponies, and nodded. "Uh huh...and...why are you both FD?"

Fancy spread his hooves out. "Why because if our name were to be used for everything we did, there would be a trail of sorts, and we don't exactly like how the newspapers seem to twist everything we do. Even now, in this circumstance it has value. We arrived here via private teleportation, so the photographers outside our home still believe we are there. The restaurants workers are paid to keep quiet about who they see enter it's doors. So perchance if the mood struck me and I wanted to invite friends to a little get together, the news ponies would be none the wiser."

Force of habit made the stallion pull his monocle from it's side pocket to be cleaned yet again, even though it's surface was polished to a shine. "Say I wanted to take my lovely wife here on a date without tomorrow's paper scandalizing it by commenting on every little thing we did, this way allows them not to snoop too deeply. If they do come here and ask to see the registry, which they can, all they will find are the initials FD."

he smiled at Sireen and Iron, "Further more, if I wished to buy something and not have my name attached to it I can use this as my alias."

"So it allows you freedom of movement without the backlash of society spitting in your face every time you do anything not considered 'noble like'." Crisp said aloud and the adults all looked to him once more. The two nobles seemed more shocked that the foal had contributed to the conversation. The foal was staring at the table with his glass of juice in his magic, sipping it lightly. "I guess that is smart, but it's not full proof."

Fancy opened his mouth to speak and no words came out. Fleur giggled into her hoof and nudged Fancy, whispering something in full Prench into his ear. He then smirked and leaned over the table, mirth and curiosity in his eyes. "Oh? Alright then. Do tell us, lad, how could this tactic be better?"

Crisp set the glass down and reared up his front hooves onto the table, giving Fancy Pants his full attention. Sireen thought Crisp's serious face was adorable. "For one, it was too easy to figure out. You used the first initial of your name, Fancy. Then you took your wife's last name De lise and put them together. Any pony with a brain could attach the two if they caught on to where you were or had been. So change the letters. It would have been far more confusing to an outsider if the initials were 'AG' or 'ZH'."

He sat back down. "For another, the staff here are only bound by their word and the promise of keeping their jobs. If someone were to give them a better incentive, well I imagine the staff of any establishment are kind of like mercenaries really. If you pay them more, their loyalty shifts and changes."

When Crisp picked his juice back up and continued drinking, with that foalish expression of joy, Fancy sat back down. The wind seemed to have gone out of him. "I...well I suppose that is fair. Hmm, I seem to have been derailed by a devilishly clever colt. Ha!"

He laughed, and it felt good. Sireen relaxed a little bit. Crisp seemed to have helped break the ice between them. She leaned over to tussle Crisp's mane playfully. He giggled and pulled away, careful not to spill his drink. "We call him the scamp."

Iron smiled and nodded. "My ex-wife named him too well." He whispered.

And just like that the mood fell backwards. Fleur splayed her ears back with a worried gaze. Sireen lowered her gaze to her drink, still untouched. Fancy grimaced, and he put a hoof on Iron's shoulder. "She was a good mare, Iron, the few times I was able to meet her, she had a good heart." He listed his gaze over to Sireen. "But, so does Sireen, Wouldn't you agree?"

Sireen felt Iron and Crisp's gazes latch on to her and she felt the need to stand taller, hold herself more gracefully. Iron nodded firmly. "I do. Sireen is a wonderful partner, and I see so much good in her."

Crisp scooted over and hugged her side, nuzzling his little snoot into her belly. She stroked his mane as he spoke. "She's my mom and no one can take that from me."

Sireen noticed how Fleur winced and looked away for a moment. Was that envy in her eyes? She dared to ask.

"Do you two have any um, plans like this for the future?" She pointed at Crisp and found the mood fell a little more. Fleur shrank back and rubbed her arm with her hoof. Fancy seemed disturbed, a subtle tightness came into his eyes and a tensing of his jaw line gave it away. He reached over and hugged Fleur gently. She smiled weakly and nuzzled her stallion just under his chin for comfort.

"Not for lack of trying..." Fancy said quietly. Fleur touched her stomach for a moment and Sireen felt horrible.

"O-oh...I'm so sorry, I wasn't meaning to be rude." She lowered her gaze to the table. Crisp looked between the two mares and seemed confused. He was wise enough to say nothing though. Iron, awkwardly shuffled his wings, and then decided to pick up his drink. He went to take a large gulp, seemingly lost for words, but Sireen blanched.

"Wait! Iron don't gulp--"

Iron's eyes bulged as the liquid poured down his throat and he began coughing really hard. It was like liquid fire had been dipped into his mouth. His tongue caught the gentle fragrance of oranges, mulled spices, and maybe a hint of strawberry. From there though it quickly devolved into fire. Fire, fire ,fire was all he tasted.

Fancy started smacking him across the back with a hoof, and Fleur waved for the bar maids who brought over a pitcher of water. Iron gasped and pounded his chest with a hoof as his eyes watered until a few leaked and fell down his cheek. He coughed for several seconds more before a glass of water was given and he downed it. Sireen watched as Fleur picked up his drink and sniffed tentatively. To her surprise, the mare barely flinched, in fact she looked intrigued and took a sip.

Sireen watched the myriad of expressions jump across Fleur's face before she settled on a soured puckered face. "W-well, zat is certainly...something." She coughed once into a napkin and looked at Sireen with a quirked brow and pointed at the beverage. "You batfolk dare to drink zis?" Her face, so prim and proper a second ago, looked like it had been smooshed into a lemon.

She couldn't help it. Sireen laughed. She laughed and chirped and Fancy ended up laughing with her when he looked over and saw Fleurs face. Crisp looked confused, Iron looked like he was ill, and Fleur looked close to it. Iron pushed the drink away and waggled a primary feather at Sireen, his eyes still watery but he was smiling.

"That is the last time I order from your side of the bar!" The group began laughing together. The negative mood was forgotten and the smiles around were genuine.

"Hey! If its that funny, I wanna try it!" Crisp said, suddenly enveloping the drink in his magic.

All three adults, the two bar maids, and the waitress all frantically shouted "NO!"

The drink was promptly removed.

The conversation settled back down shortly thereafter. Fleur and Fancy mingled with Iron Crest and Sireen for about a hour or two, catching up on how they had been. Fleur and Fancy were very good conversationalists, steering the topic from business, to work, to politics, and even throwing in some chit chat for crisp to jump in on. Sireen could tell the foal enjoyed being connected to the adult talk.

Sireen was fascinated to learn more about the modeling trade from Fleur, and even had to gently turn her down when the mare said the thestral should try out at the Canterlot model agency. Even with Fleur backing her as support, Sireen wasn't sure it was something she wanted. It was one thing to have a positive body image, and another to see it on a billboard in your own home city. Iron and Fancy talked politics and work related stuff mostly. The two stallions laughed at a personal memory between their agencies, and an apparent debacle with mixed up paperwork. Apparently the dislike of Canterlot nobility fell inside their group as well, as Sireen heard the two males grumble their agreed dispassion at a certain blonde maned prince and his terrible hoof work.

Crisp asked questions where he could, showing insight and wisdom beyond his years every so often, before the group finally ordered food. The gourmet chefs whipped up a wonderful banquet of mixed dishes. Sireen was surprised to find that Fleur had a palate for fish and the two swapped recipes they'd heard of and tried while eating similar seafood dishes. Fancy seemed surprised when his wife showed her knowledge and she replied while spearing a chunk of sauce covered cod on a fork. She'd ordered a seafood platter of some kind, and then offered to share it with Sireen.

"I wanted to know more about Sireen and her culture, so I studied where I could. Fruit is not ze only thing ze eat." She'd said coyly, licking her fork while looking at Sireen like she was the main dish. Sireen had blushed furiously and Fancy had swatted her shoulder.

Crisp had ordered "Whatever was the closest thing to mac and cheese but fancy." What he got was the most extravagant looking dish of macaroni and cheese that Sireen had ever seen. The bowl it sat in was probably worth more than her entire monthly pay. Gold inlays on the side made leaves and vines spiral around the object. The little garnish on the side was shimmering, like it had just been dipped in crystal. It had been quite the sight to see Crisp ooh and ahh at his food before proclaiming it perfectly fancy, and devouring it. She'd never seen golden cheese before.

Iron crest had ordered the house salad and was not displeased with the proportions or tastes. It was a Mediterranean dish, with lots of fruit and some spices she was unsure of off the top of her head, mixed in. Fancy had ordered some kind of vegetable linguini topped with a light vinaigrette. Together they ate in silence before Fleur suddenly grimaced, gripping her stomach and politely stepped out of the booth.

"Pardon me, I need to use the restroom, I'll be but a moment." She stood and Crisp leapt to his feet too.

"I gotta go too!" Iron went to protest but the foal had already shimmied down under the table, and exploded out from the cloth a second later. They watched as he scampered up to the bar maids and they pointed to two doors off to the right, clearly visible. The foal seemed falter for a sec before sheepishly disappearing inside the colts room. Fleur giggled before leaving the table, glancing back, she licked her lips again at Sireen. The taller mare sashayed her hips as she walked and Sireen blushed and quickly looked away.

Fancy noticed and sighed as his wife vanished behind the mare's door. Sireen noted he seem bothered. "Please forgive my wife, she is...very playful. She was raised within a herd style family with three mothers, two fathers, and several foals in between them. She believes she has an opportunity with you Sireen, or rather through you."

Sireen smirked and took a sip of her drink, the powerful liquid warming her throat and she breathed a sigh "Haaa...I hadn't noticed." She said sarcastically. "She seems very bent on getting me alone..."

Fancy shook his head. "No, I think you misunderstand. She doesn't see you as a plaything or a one off of sorts...My wife is barren, Sireen." His tone dropped and he looked saddened to say it. There was still hope in his eyes though but it had dwindled.

She frowned. Next to her, Iron sighed lightly. "We are sorry to hear that, that can't be easy on you. Fleur keeps watching Crisp, and I had wondered... but how does she believe Sireen can help?"

Fancy finished his drink, and blushed. For a few seconds, he didn't speak, simply looking at his empty glass with a contemplative expression before setting it down. He took a moment to smooth down a crease in the table, his apprehension growing. "Fleur, has always had a high interest in the exotics, griffons, thestrals, changelings, you name it, She probably has a list of...activities she wishes to try with each of them. However, there is something she has always wanted, and that is a child...but with her condition, it's simply not possible. So, she believes you Sireen, could sire a foal for us..."

Iron growled suddenly and Fancy pinned his ears back, as a look passed between stallions, and Sireen felt the tension spike suddenly as her stallion stood taller, placing a hoof on the table. She watched as Iron slowly opened his wings defensively. Fancy Pants seemed to flinch slightly and he scooted away from Iron when the stallion bared his teeth.

"She's mine, Fancy Pants." He almost snarled it.

Fancy was quick to reply, his hooves shot up and he shook his head, breaking gazes with Iron. This seemed to make Iron lean forward a little, his teeth flashed once more under his lip from Sireen's angle. Fancy's ears splayed back submissively.

"I'm not contesting that, Iron, and I acknowledge the claim. She is your mare. You are her stallion. I will always respect that."

Fancy gave a few seconds of silence before he looked back up. Iron had cooled off but his wings remained up. She felt this odd sensation in her chest. It was weirdly exhilarating. These two stallions were...were fighting over her? Was that what was happening? She was pretty sure that was what was taking place. Iron was asserting himself in Sireen's herd, and letting Fancy Pants know it. A knicker of approval escaped her lips before she could stop it and the two stallions seemed to take that sound as a universal good thing. Iron sat back down, and removed his hoof from the table.

Fancy breathed deeply and relaxed slightly, picking up his glass once more and waving the bar maid over. She filled his glass and Sireen declined a refill of hers.

When she left, Fancy spoke up once more. "I am merely letting you know that Fleur may ask Sireen. It is a very high possibility, and stallion to stallion I didn't want you in the dark about it."

Sireen huffed. "I would have told him about it anyways, if any one wants to join our...thing, they have to go through both of us."

Both of them shared a glance and Iron reached a hoof over the table to rub her shoulder. "It's not that I wouldn't trust you to do so, but this...is a stallion thing, love. It's primal for us...kind of more about respecting each other's authority."

Sireen thought about it for a moment and then looked over at Fancy Pants. "So this is all new to me, I've not been in a real relationship before...if Iron said no to you now...hypothetically what happens if I say yes to Fleur?"

Both Iron and Fancy grimaced and again Fancy took the submissive action and leaned away. Iron spoke up first. "Mares always have the final decision in those events. We are a matriarchal society after all. If you wanted to sire his foal, I'd accept that, but then we would be...sharing mares..." He grit the words between clenched teeth.

Fancy spoke up, swiveling his drink gently and watching the olive inside it bob around. "We would be a temporary herd. I would have access to you, for the purpose of siring a foal that Fleur would then raise, legally the foal would be ours. Biologically you and I would be the parents. Likewise Iron would have access to Fleur, and could pair up with her while we are bonded. Usually when this happens we live together for a time, and we share beds and partners, almost casually."

She blushed far hotter than she liked to admit, picturing Fancy and Iron doing...things to her and Fleur. For several seconds her mind was entertained by the possibilities, and none of them spoke. Before any of them could voice their opinion, Crisp words exited the bathroom and came over. Fancy whispered quickly. "A chat for far later but I thought you should at least be aware."

He nodded to Iron who in turn seemed conflicted. They stared at one another before Crisp scrambled under the table and hopped back up into his seat. He went to grab his drink and then caught the stallion's expressions. He looked between the adults for a moment before he sighed.

"Mom is blushing, dad's glaring daggers at the fancy pony and the room is quiet when the foal returns. Gee I don't know," he threw his hooves up in the air. "I bet some one told a really rude joke or I missed something adult again." He mumbled folding his arms.

All of them chuckled quietly. Sireen kept blushing. "Y-yeah, something like that."

Fleur came back out and shook her mane free of droplets of water. She smiled at Sireen, but when the mare turned away, She looked confused. Then her gaze fell on Fancy Pants who also looked away. She looked between all three of them. Her eyes grew worried. " Oh no...Fancy, did...did you tell them?"

He softly nodded and she put a hoof to her lips. "Fancy!" She genuinely punched his shoulder and growled. "I told you ze weren't ready!" She pinned her ears back, huffing at him. For several seconds she stood there unsure of what to do. Eventually she slowly sat down next to Crisp. Sireen instinctively pulled him closer and noted how Fleur looked more upset by that. She looked to him a for a few seconds before sighing and lowering her head to look at her hooves.

"I am...unable to have foals, Sireen. I have tried and tried. Fancy is the best stallion I know, and I love him dearly, but we cannot have an heir without help. The nobles around us are not trustworthy, nor are they bloodlines we wish to continue." She slowly, and very cautiously reached out and touched Sireen's hoof and when the mare didn't flinch away, she held it. Sireen felt her weakly squeeze her fetlock.

"I have always found your race to be beautiful, graceful, and you are very attractive. Your bloodline would be something I would gladly wish to help grow."

"Why not adopt?" Crisp asked bluntly. Sireen quickly wrapped her good wing around the foal and told him to hush. Crisp went to speak but the gentle shake of her head shushed him and he sat quietly an listened. Fleur smiled softly at Crisp.

"Non, zat is a fair question, but Fancy and I we...we want it to be from at least one of us. That way one of our bloodlines continues and we have an heir. We also want it to be from some one we trust. Sireen you've earned that with us. You are kind, and a good mother to Crisp. He adores you, and I want to feel ze same thing, as closely as I can for the foal..." Her gaze locked on Iron who was still tense. "Still, it was too early to ask this of you or Iron. I wasn't planning on bringing it up tonight or even after inviting you guys out for more events...I am sorry the topic was broached."

Iron sighed heavily and nodded. "No, I understand why it was brought up. It's even considerate of you to offer, but for me personally it hits way too close to home." He glared at Fancy Pants for a moment but then his gaze softened. "Crisp was born out of this same situation, not the same exactly, but close enough to be...uncomfortable. I wouldn't want that for your family, Fancy, Fleur."

Fancy sat up and nodded solemnly. "Well, I see your point, and I accept that I overstepped my place. For that I'm sorry. For me...seeing Fleur so hurt by this situation, every time we tried and the results were the same... it made me jump the cannon persay, I had hopes, and they were a bit too high. I'll try to be more considerate about it in the future."

Fleur let go of Sireen's hoof and smiled gently. "Just, please consider it? We wouldn't be bothered if you said no, but it would leave us with alternatives we do not wish to take if we have to."

The room lapsed into silence before Crisp poked his head out from under her wing and slowly he shuffled over to Fleur. Sireen felt her defensive nature rise up and she noted how Fleurs eyes darted between her and Crisp.

The foal looked up at the taller mare for several seconds. He tilted his head, waggled an ear, and then in a very foal like action, reared up and gently wrapped his hooves around her midsection. He squeezed as firmly as he could, gently rubbing his cheek into her side fur.

"Well I think you'll make a great mom." Crisp murmured. Fleur's cheeks flushed warmly and for a second or two she didn't move, clearly afraid of what Sireen would do. Sireen for her part, felt her mind go to the protective side, but only for a moment. Fleur was a safe mare, she wouldn't hurt him. She looked up to Fleur and nodded gently urging the mare on. without a second glance Fleur curled around Crisp and held him close, hugging and nuzzling him. Warmth flushed through Sireen and she watched them. Fluer would be a good mother figure. She just wasn't sure if it was a good idea to sire Fancy's foal...

For now, simply watching as Fluer fussed over Crisp, and the foal in return played with her was...nice. It lasted about twenty minutes, where in Fancy and Iron both went and chatted at the bar, drinks in wing and magic. Their territorial spat forgotten for the moment. Sireen snagged another morsel of cod off the platter, intent on finishing her share before Crisp sat up in surprise, startling Fluer.

"Oh! I almost forgot!"

The adults all looked expectantly at the foal who raised his hoof high and waved the waiter over.

She eyed him curiously. "Yes, little one?"

"I would like to formally request a bowl of some fancy Ice cream, please?"

The adults burst into laughter. The waiter just twitched.

Author's Note

We get into the thicker side of the lives of our characters, and Sireen is given an off she may not refuse.

due to my job I barely have any time to write, so I'm doing what I can. I have editor so if you spot any errors please point them out ^^ and I'll fix em when I get the chance.

Steps to Happiness

Sireen yawned and licked her lips, gently running her tongue over her fangs, making sure they were still semi-sharp. When they passed her expectations, she stretched out her wings and hooves. The last dredges of sleep slowly left her as she blinked and chirped in content. She was hanging upside down on her bat bar, that hung over Iron Crest's bed. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness and she eyed her stallion.

Iron lay sleeping right below her, her mane hung a couple inches short of brushing his forehead, she smiled as she watched him. He snuffled his pillow, breathing deeply and snorting. A single leg kicked gently, and then another. He was dreaming of something pleasant judging by the smile that brimmed on his lips. Almost immediately after the leg twitches started so too did his wings begin their own movements. The appendages slid and shifted on his back as he murmured and rolled over.

She kept her wings open and then dropped into a flip. the air caught her membranes and she glided over the top of him ever so carefully, her tail being the only thing that touched the bed, and it hit the comforter and not Iron. Her hooves tapped onto the carpeted floor silently, her metal shod shoes muffled by the carpet. She turned and walked up to the side of the bed. Iron kept sleeping peacefully, a couple more hours and he'd be awake though.

She leaned in and gently kissed his cheek, adding in a soft nuzzle before backing away. Her mind picking up speed and her excitement increasing as she walked away.

For Sireen, it was her first day back at work and she couldn't be more happy. Her wing had healed up and she could do things like basic gliding again. Nothing crazy yet, physical therapy was required first for a week or so, but then she could go flying with Iron again. Physical therapy was the reason she'd woken up earlier than she normally did too. She had extra stretches and exercises to do. Entering into the bathroom, she gently closed the door and then shook her self vigorously. her mane slapped back and forth, and her mouth let escape a subtle chirp and growl of pleasure as her fur settled. Her teeth chattered and clicked as she started preening her wings. She had to look her best today, that meant a full scrub down, wing preen, and combing of her mess she dared call a mane and tail.

Actual shower time was short but concise and efficient. In the military, one had maybe 3 minutes if they were lucky, so she got used to being quick. Iron had gotten her more used to longer, more intimate, higher temperature showers, but she couldn't help falling back on her regime. It also was a lot more pleasant to have her own stuff now. She'd managed to bring all her hygiene products to his house, and her stuff from the barracks had been easy to move over. Her wing claws gripped the brush and she began tugging the knots out of her mane, thinking back to the gifts Iron had showered her with.

She'd come home to find the bat bar installed, a bookshelf on her side of the bed for anything she wanted to place on it, half his closet was cleared out so if she had any clothes, she now had a place to hang them up. At the moment the red dress she'd worn recently and the shawl, along with a military dress suit were the only things hung up in there. As she removed a rather ornery knot, she vowed to go shopping for more.

Maybe with fleur, she probably had a great sense of style, and I can try and get to know her better.

The brushing paused as the memories of the dinner date came to mind. Sireen hummed and went to work on her tail. Fleur and Fancy wanted her to sire a foal for them. While it wasn't immediately something she would jump at, it wasn't bothering her either. Fleur and Fancy pants were nice ponies, and after the dinner they asked for more time to spend with the trio.

"It's rather hard making, becoming, and keeping friends, planning time to hang out with them, and be a political elite, sadly." Fancy Pants had said as they departed. "But we want to try, with Princess Twilight Sparkle advocating for friendship among peers, we want to be first in line to show our support and genuinely mean it."

Fleur had hugged and doted on Crisp as much as she could without smothering the foal, and said they'd visit when they could, and she'd bring Crisp more "fancy ice cream" as long as he behaved. He seemed to find this arrangement acceptable, and had started a list in his bedroom of all the "fancy foods" he wanted to try.

Where he would get fancy cottage cheese, she had no idea. She just knew he wasn't going to give up on it either.

Setting the brush down after a thorough attack on her tail, and her reflection in the mirror nodded her approval. She looked ready for anything!

Exiting out into the hallway, she slipped passed Crisp's room, her ear tufts flicked lightly atop her head as the foal's snoring loudly through the door made her chuckle. He could rival his dad occasionally. She felt a light twinge in her teats as she walked thanks to him. The energetic foal had started nursing from her intermittently. He seemed to randomly get a foal-like urge, and followed it. She'd been washing dishes once and he just shuffled up to her side and started.

She'd nearly dropped a pot on him from surprise. After wards she'd taken care to escort the little scamp to the couch, where she would preen and nuzzle him as he suckled. The sensations were...almost indescribable. They simply felt right, and she would relax into a dazed state that Iron found cute. Apparently her happy, motherly, dopey faces were something he found endearing.

Her movement brought her to the downstairs and she looked around, the living room was clean from the previous night, and the dishes in the kitchen were already done. She set into the kitchen and began the process of making herself some food. Oatmeal with a dash of butter and cinnamon, and a glass of orange juice were in order. As the food cooked, Sireen went through her stretches, her legs were first, each limb pulled in different directions to work specific muscle groups, and then her wings got worked. First the good wing, and then the newly healed one.

Sireen noted that the muscles connecting to the joints at the elbow seemed rather stiff, and she worked those more. From there she broke away to stir the food a moment, and then her neck, shoulders, and thighs got their stretches in. She took her time, knowing a good work out routine meant pacing one's self. The satisfying pops and cracks in her bones felt good to work out, and Sireen purred in delight.

Breakfast was short, quick, and delicious, then out the door the mare went. Sireen took the stairs two at a time and made it outside faster then normal. A sharp intake of air as the mare exited excited her further, the evening temperatures just beginning to cool off for the night made her body tingle. She started trotting down the road, slowly increasing her speed until she was in a full run. She past by Calamity's Curios and saw the owner stallion. He waved to her and she whinnied back. Iron and Crisp needed to visit still. Sireen knew Crisp would get a kick out of the ambiance of the store.

Crisscrossing through the city streets, her path premade the day before after looking at a map. Iron's house placement and the distance to the castle had several main roads she could take, and several side passages and alleyways that cut the time down if she needed it. For now she just followed the main roads, dodging around late evening ponies and tourists. A couple of them watched her with curiosity, and a pair of royal guards waved to her as she passed them by.

By the time she made it to the castle, she'd worked up a good sweat, her coat had a light shine to it. Sireen saluted the two gate guards and then entered into the main courtyard. A couple elite ponies and bureaucrats were talking in a group by the stairs that led inside the castle, but they ignored her as she entered. The main hall of the castle was lit by blue torches, showing that Princess Luna was now presiding over the castle's nightly occupants and dealings. The normally red carpet that took up the middle of the hall, was now a dark purple, and the tapestries that hung from the ceiling held Luna's cutie mark of the moon.

She smiled as the magic in the air swept over her, bringing forth a chitter of excitement. She was back and ready for more work. Her job with Mrs. Fuzzdrought had sadly ended due to their schedule changes, but she made sure to let the mare and her new griffon partner know she'd be keeping in touch. They had still yet to work out the kinks in their businesses, but they weren't giving up.

The night guard barracks were on the opposite hall of the royal guards, and deeper in the castle's underground structure. The deeper she went, the more thestrals she came across. Some were clearly just woken, and were preparing their evening routines. Some were in full armor, and seemed to be either just getting off shift, or in the middle of one. She by passed the main barracks, and headed for the armory. It was a typical armory room, the older, more grizzled stallion behind the barred off counter saw her approach and nodded.

"Good to see you back, the usual set up, Miss Wind. Standard issue night guard armor, battle spear, and multi purpose utility kit. Schedule says you've got wall duty in the secondary battlements of the castle."

Sireen nodded sharply, "Yes sir. Ready to receive."

He went into the back to retrieve her gear. She stood there waiting for a moment before he came back and gave her the supplied items. The stallion saluted her. "Have a fellow guard return these if ya get injured again, okay?"

She saluted back. "Understood, though, I don't plan to do that again so hopefully these will be in my care for some time."

He grunted and shrugged noncommittally. "Just keep it in good condition, makes my job easier."

She left him to his work, and then entered into the main barracks to suit up. Around her, several thestral guards like her were doing either the same, or they were stripping down. She found an empty bed and set out her gear. She took her time checking over each piece and making sure it was properly sized, and in working order.

She worked this way for a couple minutes and then noticed another guard was standing nearby staring a her. When she made eye contact he swallowed and saluted her.

"Um, excuse me, are you Sireen Wind?"

She slowly dropped her helm over her ears, taking care to clasp the straps under chin tight enough so the head piece didn't wobble.

"Yup, I'm back on duty." She looked him over, realizing she didn't recognize him from her usual group. He must be new. His armor was overly polished, a little too tight on his form too, like he'd over tightened the straps.

"Who're you? Can't say I've seen you around before." She slipped into her armored shin guards, checking the blade activation slots, pleased to see someone had oiled them so they didn't make a sound upon sliding into the ready position.

The stallion kept saluting.

"I came in with the most recent group of newly minted recruits, ma'am. My name is Graceful Fall."

Sireen nodded and smiled, saluting him back. "Oh, well congratulations on your arrival and joining. Glad to have you."

She shook herself to settle any pieces of armor that might be off, and then looked him over. He was a young thestral stallion, maybe just into his early twenties. A standard dark grey pelt and blue mane and tail adorned his rump and neck. He had the natural golden amber eyes of most of their species. His ear tufts were clean and orderly, and he held himself in good form. He too was carrying the standard issue gear and spear for wall duty and it clicked in Sireen's head why he was slightly nervous.

She picked up her spear and locked it into it's mobile state on her back. "Gonna go out on a wing here, and take it you are my wall partner for the night?"

He nodded quickly. "Yes, ma'am. The captain wanted me with an experienced guard, and said you came highly recommended." He bowed. "I'll do my best to listen, learn, and be an efficient partner for the night."

Sireen chuckled. "Well, don't be so formal for one thing, we are all family here, okay?" She fell in step and waited for him to form up next to her, and they marched out into the main hall together. Graceful still had the recruit stiffness to his marching that brought back memories Sireen fondly acknowledged. His eyes were scanning, his ears were swiveling and his tail was twitching as he over analyzed everything they passed by.

He nodded sharply, "Sorry, ma'am, it's sort of a habit I built up in basic." She nodded with a closed eye smile and then without prompting, punched him in the shoulder. Graceful flinched and rubbed his armor plating, even though she hadn't hit him hard enough to feel it underneath. "Wh-what? Did I do something wrong?"

She chuckled. "Stop calling me ma'am, Graceful, call me Sireen. If we are gonna be partners for the time being, you need to learn how to loosen up juuuust enough for it to be normal." She patted the shoulder she punched and then kept walking. He followed after a moment. She calmly scanned the area as they went up some stairs and deeper into the castle.

"The only time we really need to be aware of our etiquette is when a superior enters our area, talks directly to us, or we come across the Royals. Any other time, just be mindful of your surroundings, stay alert, but not stiff, kay?"

He nodded, still a little too sharply and she bit the inside of her cheek. The captain was giving her a newbie as a playful punishment for being gone so long, she just knew it. They exited out onto an open air walk way that Sireen knew was the first wall of Canterlot castle. She could see that there were a few new faces out here as well, and it made her realize she wasn't being targeted. They'd had a whole new batch of recruits graduate and join their ranks. Most if not all her former fellow recruits, were now walking with a new partner.

"Seems we aren't alone in this set up, I think the Captain did this on purpose to help meld the inexperienced with the experienced."

Graceful nodded, looking around at what could only be his fellow cadets, "Seems that way, um, Sireen."

She smiled. "Well, lets get up to our post then. If you have any questions, feel free to ask, okay? I might be your senior officer, but only by experience."

He saluted. "Understood, ma'am."

She grimaced.

"I'm gonna punch you every time you call me ma'am." She snipped. Graceful flinched, dropped his gaze and pinned his ears back.

"Er, sorry, force of habit."

She sighed and chuckled, "Well that we can work on with time. Come on, I'll start by asking a few questions for our own partner synergy. Step one, lay out and mapping of the grounds. Have you been up here before?"

"No, ma'am, I was--" she socked him firmly in the shoulder plate and he winced. "Ow! --t-told to wait for you at the armory and barracks area. I did not leave that area until you arrived!"

Sireen sighed and her ears drooped a little. "Oooof course. Right then, time for a tour."

She pointed to her left "On our left we have the main wall battlements, there are two wall set ups, the inner and the outer. We are on the inner, or the secondary wall as it's called. Any of this ringing a bell?"

He owlishly blinked at her. "W-we have two walls?"

It was gonna be a long night.

Iron felt really out of place. He was standing in the elite district, a place he didn't frequent often or ever if he could help it, not since his ex-wife's death. He always worried that he'd come across her side of the family and that wouldn't be fun for anyone involved. Yet he'd let the carriage pick him up, and he'd let it take him here.

Here was Fancy and Fleur's mansion.

He stood just outside the door, a couple steps back from it, with his wing pits slowly gaining an edge over the half assed attempt he'd done to deodorize. He was fidgeting, he didn't want to go inside, but he kind of had agreed to meet with Fancy today. They'd talked about doing so at the dinner meet up. Fancy had invited him over for a get together between him and a couple of colleagues from work. A way to better get to know him, and to make friends.

He checked his tie once more, was it on right?

It was. He'd already smoothed it over on the way here multiple times. He sighed, he couldn't just flake out now, it would be even more awkward! He knew why he didn't want to go in, and he wanted to avoid the topic at all costs.

Fancy and Fleur wanted to sire a foal with his partner. This concept sat uneasily in his thoughts. He was raised in a non-herd style home. He had one mom, one dad, and no brothers or sisters in between any extras. He liked it that way. It was what he felt was normal. Besides, what stallion thought it was a good idea to try and live with multiple mares?

One was hard enough to keep happy!

He groaned rolling his head in a circle until the joints popped. "Okay, just...if Fancy brings it up, I tell him to drop it. He's a good stallion, he'll understand..."

He reached up and went to knock but the door swung open rather suddenly and an older aged earth pony butler startled him. The stallion bowed, his voice measured and calm. "Hello, Mister Crest. You seemed to need a moment to compose yourself on the porch, so glad to see you've decided to join us."

Iron blinked. "I...uh, yes, yes I did?"

The butler said nothing and merely allowed him to enter the house at his own pace. "Master Pants is in the billiards room with the other guests, I can escort you there once you are ready." He closed the door behind Iron once he'd fully entered and then stood off to the side.

Iron looked around him. The main foyer was well lit with natural sunlight streaming through several large windows on either side of the door frame. Off to his left was a set of stairs that must curve up and around the building to the upper levels. Down the hall from the stairs were two doors, currently closed, and then an arch way that led off to other parts of the house. To his right was another hall, that had multiple doors on the left side wall. One of those rooms must be where the guests were located.

He nodded to the butler, who silently began walking down the hall, Iron read the door plaques as they went further in. One room was labeled "Art and Creativity", he guessed that Fancy or Fleur might have some artistic hobbies if they had a whole room dedicated to it. That made sense though, he doubted Fancy spent all his time in court. Maybe Fleur painted in her off time from modeling?

I'll have to ask when I get the chance.

The very next room had no plaque, no fancy add-ons, and nothing really marking it as special. He tilted his head and walked closer, the mystery and interest in this plaque-less door rising. When he looked from it to the butler in question, the older stallion shrugged. "All houses have broom closets, sir."

Iron pivoted an ear back. "I suppose they ah, do. Yes."

Well now I just feel dumb, of course the would need a room for the cleaning supplies, this place is huge!

They moved on to the final door, the hallway ending at a wall with a massive painting of Fancy and Fleur hung to cover the space. The pair were dressed in their finest attire at the time, seated next to each other and both were smiling. Iron analyzed the painting while the butler opened the final door.

Whoever had painted the pair had done a fantastic job. The likeness and realism captured their emotions and status quite well. Iron leaned back, and even found himself rearing up on two legs to try and grasp the magnitude of the painting. His hoof tips couldn't even touch both sides at the same time. He grimaced, feeling slightly small.

"Ah, I see you've been caught up in the mural made for my wife and I." Fancy's voice broke Iron out of his trance and it wasn't until he'd fallen back down onto all his hooves that he realized his wings had fully opened in an attempt to make himself look bigger. He groaned in embarrassment, putting a hoof on the back of his neck.

Stupid primal traits. He inwardly grumbled.

He looked over and found Fancy standing in the open doorway to the billiards room, a martini glass complete with a little umbrella floated in his magic next to him. Fancy chuckled. "You aren't the only pegasus I've seen do that when they lay eyes on it, something ingrained in them I suppose. Got to feel larger than life eh?"

Iron chuckled quietly, and dropped his hoof. "I ah, yes. Sorry about that. I really like it, very life like."

Fancy's eyes twinkled lightly as he looked up at the painting. "It was a gift to us from Celestia, she had the royal painter come out to our house and everything. She gave us quite the surprise, I'll tell you that. Not even a letter or notice that it was happening. We were thrown rather off kilter by the sudden gift. Mare wouldn't even tell us how much it cost!"

He laughed shortly and then waved it off. "Ah but I forget my manners, you didn't come over just for me to show my connections, you came to hang out!" He swung his leg into the room behind him. "Come in come in!"

Iron entered the room and inspected it. The room had floor-to-ceiling bookshelves on the left and right walls, filled to the brim too. The far back wall of the room had three paintings, in low lighting, so he couldn't clearly see what was in their frames. The foreground center of the room closest to the door was taken up by a double set of billiards tables, each one seemingly special in their own ways. one was dark wood, with silver trims and a light blue cover for the top, the pockets were a nice black mesh that imitated leather.

The back table was a lighter wood, oak or pine possibly, and had a red top cover with darker brown mesh pockets. The space beyond the tables was dropped down into the floor by two or three stair steps, and a white pseudo leather sectional couch wrapped around the space, facing the wall with the paintings. A black semi see through glass coffee table sat in front of this with multiple little foot rests circling it to allow for reclining.

The room was lit with three small iron chandeliers, enchanted candles glowing about four to five feet above their heads. The second billiards table was currently being used by three other stallions. Iron only knew one of them personally, and he was so thankful they were present.

"Fissure Quill? What are you doing here?" Iron asked, as the younger buck looked up at him.

"Iron! You made it!" He set his pool que down and went over to give Iron a hoof bump. "I was hoping to see your ugly mug!"

Iron snorted. "Har Har, kiddo, you'll look like this after you grow up some more."

Fissure stuck his tongue out and gagged. "Euugh, no! No I wont!" He spun on his heels and practically pranced back, tail high and proud. "I will be sexy, prim and proper for all of eternity. When aliens from beyond the stars find our world and they dig up my tomb, they'll be stunned by my sheer untouched beauty."

Next to him, Fancy chuckled. "And why ever would they do such a ghastly thing?"

One of the other stallions, a light grey coated unicorn buck closer to Iron's age rolled his eyes. "They probably wouldn't, Fissure here just hopes that they'll probe him." He grinned over at the younger stallion who blushed and scuffed a hoof on the floor.

"W-well I mean...maybe if the probe was soft..."

The last stallion, a orange coated and black maned pegasus groaned and bonked Fissure on the nape and then hit the other stallion too for good measure, with his pool stick. "Can we please play the game without you two making crass sexual humor?"

Fissure chuckled and rubbed his neck, blushing sheepishly "Y-yeah, sorry."

Iron felt his lips try to smile, but his anxiety was rather high. Fancy seemed to notice and touched his side gently. "Hey, you okay, Iron?"

Iron nodded after a breath or two, "Y-yeah, just...nervous I guess? I don't usually do this um...sort of thing. Being a single dad kind of takes up a lot of my time."

Fissure took his turn at the table, attempting to knock the seven ball in the corner pocket, it missed and ricocheted off the corner piece and smacked into three other balls along its path before settling right behind the eight ball.

Fissure swore and the other two stallions laughed at his bad luck. Fancy stepped up beside Iron and nodded slowly. "Well why don't we get some introductions out of the way? That usually helps break the ice a little."

He spoke loud enough that the three other bucks heard him and they paused. The orange pegasus went first while the unicorn took his turn. Twirling his que stick like a staff, he then set it down and leaned on it, wrapping a wing around the wood.

"Name's Firm Spirit, I work down in the iron works with the royal smiths, Met fancy pants about a year ago when they needed some custom work done on a carriage, but the smiths were all booked. My master in my trade said I was old enough and skilled enough to do it so they put me on the job, and then I sorta befriended the pearl standing next to ya."

When Iron looked perplexed by the title Firm had given the unicorn next to him, Fancy chuckled and swirled his drink. "We have nicknames too. I found it in a book on social skills at the library, apparently it helps build comradery."

The unicorn behind the table, having successfully knocked the fifteen into the side pocket, continued focusing on his targets as he spoke. His voice was gruff, firm and almost had a militaristic feel to it. But he smiled as he spoke, showing he wasn't so hard.

"My name is South Wales. I run a river boat shipping company, Wale's Wharf, ya heard of it?"

When Iron shook his head, South shrugged. "Ah, that's okay, it's down lower in the valley anyway, not many Canterlot folk know it. The actual location of my work is closer to Ponyville but also near the river system. I manage multiple shipments and help other companies get their products where they need to go on time and every time."

He knocked another ball into a pocket and Fissure cursed again. "As for how I met Fancy Pants, I was taking one of my boats down the river and saw him and his lovely lady mare on the docks I was gonna offload to. The person picking up the shipment seemed energetically pleased to see his order an hour earlier then scheduled, and Fancy overheard the buck complimenting my services. He and I chatted for a while and then we hit things off from there. Aft that I started running shipments for a couple of Fancy's companies."

South grinned as a third ball disappeared into a corner pocket. Next to him, Fissure growled.

"How the fluff are you so good, River?"

South, elbowed the younger stallion. "lotta practice is all." He looked to Iron.

"So who're you? You seem to know Softy here," He nudged Fissure as the colt went to shoot his ball and the stallion flailed to save the que stick before it moved the que ball. He bared his teeth at the unicorn and bat him away with his hooves.

"I swear to Celestia if you make me miss my shot, Ocean I will stick the eight ball up your arse!"

South backed off while chuckling. Firm just grimaced and rolled his eyes. South then watched as Fissure leaned over the table and focused. He turned back to Iron. "So you know Fissure, which means you probably work in his area right? You a paper pusher?"

Iron nodded. "Yeah, I guess I am. I don't own any private business or anything grand, so you guys have me beat there. I go through the legal documents that get sent down for authentication and editing, and I make sure they are properly processed." He ran his hoof through a swath of his mane, "lotta errors the elite ponies don't take the time to notice."

Fancy smirked. "Have you ever received any paperwork from Fleur or myself with errors?"

Iron put his primary feather to his chin and thought it over. He shrugged after a moment. "Not that I know of, but it is possible."

Nearby Fissure swore again and bonked his head on the edge of the table as the seven ball missed its target and the eight ball rolled right into a side pocket.

"Son of a...aaahg, I'm not on top of my game today."

South took his que stick and pushed the younger stallion to the side so he could shoot. "Yeah you need something on top of you to have any--"

Firm coughed loudly and raised an eyebrow at South, who rolled his eyes. "Oh come off it, Ghost, you know you like some of the crass humor that happens in this room!"

Firm shook his head. "While I may find some of your back and forth bantering humorous, I still find the content vulgar. Just because I work with ponies who like to be verbally gross all day, doesn't mean I have to put up with it on my days off, nor do I want to. You don't need to bring it here as well." He watched as South missed his pocket and then he took his turn. "We can be civilized as stallions when mares aren't around too, can we not?"

He emphasized his shot by absolutely blasting his final ball into the left corner pocket, and then blowing his que stick off like it was a smoking gun. "Another victory in my pocket, say, Iron, you any good?" He pointed a primary at Iron, and the stallion shrugged.

"I've never played."

All four other stallions gasped. "YOU HAVEN'T PLAYED?!"

Iron felt his heart lighten a little as Fancy pants started pushing him towards the table, grumbling about the horror of not knowing how to play billiards, and even laughed the other three stallions argued amongst themselves who was "going to teach this plebian a true gentle-stallions sport".

It wasn't so bad after all. He learned a little from all of them, Firm helped him figure out what pose he liked best for shooting, Fissure told him the different types of games they could play, and South taught him how angle the stick and hit the que ball so the other balls would go the directions he wanted them to.

He didn't win any games, but he came close in a one on one against Fissure. More times than he could count they would all laugh when some one lost the que ball to a scratch, or a ball went bouncing off the table from too harsh a strike. Fancy pants ended up telling them a grand story of a party where one stallion had the que ball land in his drink, and he got into a fight with the two other stallions playing.

The butler had apparently broken it up by hitting all three of them with a really gross feather duster he'd found in the closet next door. They'd gone from fighting to frightened when he started chasing them out of the party with the degusting dirt covered duster, fearing for their expensive clothing.

The hang out only lasted a couple hours into the morning, before Fancy had to call it quits, but the three were allowed to stay until they wished to go home so long as they kept it down. Iron ended up enjoying himself thoroughly until the end.

He might just want to do it again too...

Sireen groaned and simply leaned against the door to the cafe below her new home.

so...many...stairs... She slipped inside and very nearly flopped to the floor right there. Her legs were sore, her back was sore, she was sore, hersore was sore.

The wall guard position had gotten a lot more active due to the cadets following them around. They were told to repeatedly show the newbies the routine, the routes, the rules, the regulations, and where they were supposed to sit vs stand. All of these depending on the situation, where they physically were located AND they had to make sure they were equidistance from the other patrols!

So in short, Sireen had gotten her ten thousands steps in that night...She knew in her heart though, it was definitely more. Graceful had be kind enough to stop calling her ma'am after the fifth punch to his shoulder, and maybe a kick to his leg when a superior was talking to them. However, he was slow. glacially slow. He asked her the same question multiple times before understanding it and actually meaning he did. If a concept or bit of information was too broad he got all discombobulated and lost his sense of up and down, leaving Sireen to go over it again, and again.

She later found out he'd BARELY made it into the night guard, lowest scores, all across the board. She wasn't gonna let it deter her, but she got all the chuckles and laughs from her fellow guards for having the bottom of the barrel. Graceful seemed to know what was up and really tried his best to do his best, but...it usually ended in he reteaching him something.

The end result had been that she'd taught him a lot and been a good teacher, but in doing so also learned how many stairs there were between the barracks, the throne room, the royal state rooms, the war room, the bath houses, her wall post, the gardens, the kitchens, the maids quarters, and the palace gate....all in one night.

"Seven-thousand and forty-two steps...Goddess above why were there so many? I feel like no one gave him a tour of the grounds, on purpose!" She hissed as she literally crawled up the stairs to home. "Stupid captain, stupid guard rules, stupid stairs!" She growled and smacked one of them. "Why do we have to live on the fourth floor!?"

Twenty grouchy angry growly minutes later, and she was in the home stretch. Her belly fur dragged across the carpet of the outside hall as she kept crawling her way to the door, she prayed to Luna that no one heard her or chose to venture outside in that current moment.

She would die of embarrassment for sure. No doubts. the funeral would happen the next day!

She dryly laughed. "My epitaph would read "She stairedherself to death, but her spirit always rose up to the challenge."

She griped, hissed, and groaned as she opened the door and collapsed just inside. No effort was even made to kick the door closed. The mare wriggled, inch-wormed, dragged, and scooted her way to the couch, and with herculean effort, hoisted herself onto it and collapsed into the cushions. She was thankful she had to leave her armor at the barracks. Sleeping in it would not have been comfortable. Her face found a pillow and disappeared into it's soft squishiness.

A moment later she snarled into the pillow. Then she did it again, and again...

Her mind sort of shut down after that, and she fell asleep. For how long she wasn't sure. She didn't dream, so tired was her body and mind that when Luna came to check in on her dream realm that morning, she simply found a "do not disturb at all costs" tag hanging on her dream door.

What she did know is that at some point, Crisp had come back home, poked her a bit, talked to her, and then when he received no response, curled up with her on the couch, to which he promptly regretted/loved as he was consumed in her arms and wings and snuggled into submission by her subconscious motherly instincts. From there Iron came by, spoke to her a moment, and then put a blanket over the both of them. A softer pillow some how made its way under her head, and then the lights had all been dimmed, the blinds lowered and the black out curtains pulled close.

She was then snuggled herself by Iron, who basically spooned her tightly in his arms, wrapped his wings around her, and rest his head atop hers. He nibbled her neck for a bit, and she did enjoy it, but to be fair she was so conked out, that all of it was like a dream.

Sireen woke up the next evening in a mass of warm fuzzy bodies, feathers, and Iron's muzzle nestled right in the crook of her chin and neck. Some of her mane was in his teeth, having been nibbled. Crisp had burrowed under her hind leg and she could feel his little snout nestled deep between her teats, his little feet twitching as he dreamed. To be perfectly fair, she didn't give a damn that she might have overslept.

This... She nuzzled Iron's cheek and licked him a few times.

This is what I want...what I need. She purred and rest her head back down on the pillow and continued purring.

A happy mother, a happy father, a happy son...

A real family.

Sireen could have laid there for several more hours, perfectly content, sadly, the call of nature demanded she move. First she woke up Iron, nipping and biting him seemed to work, and he only groused at her for a moment, before mashing their lips together in a kiss. He murmured a "Love you", and then crawled off her.

She then gently and carefully extracted her foal from her legs and lay him between her shoulder blades. Crisp whimpered and shivered at the loss of warm but then curled up tighter and went still on her back. Together, Iron and Sireen climbed the stairs, Sireen groaning and growling at the stupid things the whole way.

Iron noticed and nuzzled her to show his support. "Rough first night, love?" He whispered.

She growled more.

"Ah, sorry to hear that." He kissed her forehead as she entered Crisps room. As she attempted to slid the foal off, she ended up losing her balance, and very nearly dumped the kid onto the bed unceremoniously. Iron had noticed her swaying and caught her with a wing just in time. She thanked him with a grunt, and then tucked Crisp into bed. She licked his mane and cheek a few times, her instincts making sure he was safe in her own way, before she exited with Iron.

Together they simply stood in the hallway for a moment, basking in the sleepiness.

Iron had the audacity in that moment to let off a large yawn and then Sireen followed suit a moment later. They then wordlessly slipped into the bedroom. Iron waited until Sireen exited the bathroom, and then the two collapsed into bed together. Iron didn't ask why she didn't use her bar, mostly because she quickly and firmly latched onto his side, chittered in pleasure as she rubbed her cheek into his fur a couple times, and pulled both his left wing and the blanket over herself and then growled, hugging him tight.

"I hate stairs." She mumbled, pushing her cheek and nose against his neck and chest.

Iron merely leaned down and kissed her head a few times, letting her grouse and bury her face into his chest fur.

"Luna should ban them, stupid stairs...I'm sooo sore..."

He nuzzled her nape, nibbling the mane gently. "Do you have to work tonight too?"

She groaned and pushed her snout deeper into his chest fluff.

"I'll take that as a yes."

They fell quiet for a moment before Iron yawned again and shook his mane. "Well, how about I run you a really hot bath? I can add some oils to it, both help with sore muscles."

Sireen responded by growling. "Any fairth?" Her question was muffled by his fur.

He grinned and shook his head. "Nope, no stairs in sight."

Slowly extricating her right hoof from the wings and blankets, Sireen patted his face in random places, not being able aim.

"Yer a gooth stallion..." She mumbled into his chest. "I loff you..."

He laughed gently and nuzzled her mane, before she lifted her head, pushed her snout against his and purred into the kiss. They held it for a moment before she pulled back. Here half lidded eyes drew him in, even if she wasn't trying to seduce him, he was caught.

"Join me?" she asked quietly.

He nodded. "Certainly, I can even give you a massage while you relax."

She kissed him again firmly, growling into his mouth, before pulling back and flopping her head onto the pillow. Her eyes closed from sleepiness, and she nuzzled the pillow. "I take it back. you're not a good stallion...you're my fantastic stallion."

He slipped out of bed, and flared his wings, strutting to the bathroom proudly as she rested. "Well I'll not disagree there, but then that means you are my amazing mare. It's only fair to return the compliment."

He looked back and hoped for a reply, but Sireen was too tired to do so. He chuckled and entered the bathroom. He turned on the water and let it start heating up while grabbing several oils he'd been given as a gift from Fissure once for a birthday. The oils had barely been used in the past. Mostly Iron used them to ease his shoulder and wing joint pain from sitting at a desk all night.

"Lets hope tonight isn't so rough on you, my love." He whispered. "You really deserve to come home in one piece."

Sireen didn't hear him, she'd already drifted off to sleep once more.

Author's Note

Sundays are now my writing days, so chapters should come out for all my stories more regularly. It doesn't mean a chapter every Sunday but it does mean more words sooner.

Model, Photo, and Shop till you Drop!

"T-this is ridiculous."

Fleur giggled into her fetlock. "It cannot be as bad as you think, ma dear. Come come, let us zee our work!" She waved her hoof for flair but Sireen couldn't see it behind the curtain.

"No. I'm not coming out."

Fleur rolled her eyes. "Fine, you have left me no choice!"

Her horn flared up and the curtain was yanked to the side. Sireen 'eeped' and made a mad grasp for the bench in the dressing booth but failed as she was fully encompassed in Fleur's magic field and slid out into the open.

"F-Fleur!" She hissed at the mare. Fleur was reclining on a chaise lounge, sipping a light juice beverage. Next to her were a few trays of light snacks. Crackers, grapes, and veggies all assorted in fancy shapes that the mares could pick apart in their leisure. Right now Sireen felt like a tray of food laid bare before a hungry mare!

Fleur's eyes were traveling up and down Sireen's form with excitement. She was clothed in a dark burgundy, single shoulder dress that faded lightly into a clear, almost see through cloth that helped accentuate her hips, legs, and tail. Her head had a small orange burnt brass circlet and a set of fall orange leaf style earrings. Her front legs had a set of three dark brown glimmering bracelets that interlocked at an angle to each other.

The ensemble looked stunning, but the closed off, defensive posture of the mare wearing it, and her nervous expression as she looked around, failed to pull it all in. Fleur clucked her tongue, set the drink down, hopped off the couch and began walking around Sireen.

"Hmm, vee believe you have ze perfect shape for zat dress, and ze colors don't clash to harshly... but you are lacking somzing... not ze right confidence!"

Sireen watched as Fleur stood next to the smaller mare and gently started nudging her form into a better pose. Magic touching her wings felt so weird! Sireen shuddered and tried to pull away but Fleur gently nipped her shoulder.

"Non no! Try zis, Imagine you are on guard duty, oui? You stand before Princess Luna, full armor, polished and prepared, and you vish to show her you are confident, oui?"

Sireen sighed and looked up at Fleur. "That isn't the same, Fleur, it's my job, I have standards to uphold!"

Fleur giggled again and ran her hoof down Sireen's back, smoothing out the dress. "Is it not ze job of a mare to show her stallion why zey should work hard to please us? A mare should keep high standards as well for her love life! Now, do you want to dazzle your stallion?"

Sireen blushed and thought of Iron. His reaction would be so priceless... but she'd never done this before! Dressing up to show off for her lover? It sounded... well inappropriate! At the same time... She could tell part of her was loving the idea, that part of her wanted to.

A breath sucked its way into her mouth and then was held, before she released it. She took the guard pose, rigid legs, back straight, head up, eyes forward, firm expression.

Fleur immediately clapped her hooves and nodded. "Oui oui! Much better! Already she looks more like she 'az ze confidence!"

Fleur then shuffled around Sireen, adjusting her posture gently. A back leg subtly moved out from under the dress, to show off the side, a wing draped down opposite the leg and in front of her chest, to give mystery, her eyes slowly lidded and fluttered for eye draw, and the head tilted off to the side to show the barest hint of disinterest, and Sireen was a new mare.

Apparently she was a new mare. Sireen simply felt ridiculous.

Several flashes of a camera, a couple sultry poses, giving off more views of her wings, the curves of her form, and maybe two or three very private photos, and Sireen was left rubbing at her eyes after fighting not to blink during the process.

"Why did we need photos again, Fleur?" Carefully, Sireen began dressing down as Fleur reset the camera for the next outfit. They had already done four sets. A winter ballgown, summer Sunday best, spring adventure/travel, and now her fall formal outfit.

Each set had been around ten photos, with the last four always being erotic in nature.

The white mare rolled her hoof as she walked over to a wardrobe rack and shuffled through it. "For ze memory book, oui? Zis will be a good zing to show your stallion, and it vill be a wonderful zing to look back on when vee are older wrinkled mares!" The two were in a large modeling warehouse on the east side of Canterlot, mostly alone. Two or three technician ponies were there as well, milling about in other sections. They let the mares do their thing, save for one time when Fleur grabbed a nearby pony and asked for the camera to be set up. It was an impromptu photo shoot after all and Sireen had not been fully prepared for the onslaught of information dumping that Fleur gave her over the first hour.

Fleur really couldn't blame her for the confusion though. The original plan had been to go clothes shopping in town, not modeling. When Sireen had expressed her interest in increasing her nonexistent wardrobe, Fleur had gotten some hair-brained idea to bring her to the studio for a secret gift she could give Iron Crest. Things had gone rather side ways after that, but in a mostly fun way.

Stallions apparently loved it when a mare dressed up for them, Sireen had heard from many guards in the day platoons that a mare or stallion in shiny armor was just as fun to see in the bedroom as it was outside. She blushed as errant thoughts jumped around in her mind. Would Iron like to see her lying on the bed, slowly removing her armor for him? She wasn't sure but it sent a flutter of excitement through her body.

Fleur approached and gently removed the earrings and circlet, placing the items in a trunk meant for clothing that needed washing, and then handed Sireen one more. This ensemble was a solid white dress, with small green crystals and a soft golden threading that ran throughout the whole thing. The train of the dress made Sireen think of wedding dresses, but then to her surprise, Fleur unclipped it and added a different train, using buttons that were deftly hidden in the fabric.

The new fabric went from flowing snow white, to a deep crimson red. Fleur then levitated over a pair of socks for her front legs that had the same gradient of colors.

... And a set of silver armor?

Sireen looked over the collection of items, and tilted her head in curiosity as Fleur guided her to the changing room. "What is this one called?"

Fleur hummed with a smile as the bat pony disappeared once more behind the curtain. The shifting of fabric and the clink of armor blended together as Fleur paced outside, biting her lip with a blush. She was really liking the outfits on her friend, but she kept trying to keep things fun and not get...frisky.

"It iz called robe de guerrier. Originally we sought to find a griffoness who could wear it, as it iz from their cultural history, but ze griffons are hard to come by, at least in ze modeling world." She scuffed her hoof and frowned at a mark on the floor. "Such a pity too, griffon hens have the natural beauty of felines, and the confidence of predators, ze walk very smoothly for the camera." She shook her mane as a shiver of excitement raced up her neck. "it iz like water in a solid form, to see them strut across a runway."

Sireen huffed behind the curtain and Fleur heard her shake and grumble at something. "S-so why not hire a changeling? Can't they imitate the pose and personality of a griffon?"

Fleur frowned more, bobbing her head left and right. "Erm, yeees, but ze changelings are not exactly on great terms with ze griffons, they 'ave not had as much exposure between cultures. Finding a changeling zat has experience as a griffon for prolonged periods of time iz... a tall order."

Sireen drew the curtain back and stepped out with a muttering of frustration. Fleur turned to look and had to fight back a giggle.

"Well I think you'll need to find a griffoness, cause I don't think I am the proper size for this ensemble, Fleur."

The dress drooped excessively over her body in loose folds that made her look like white pudding flopped over itself in folds. You couldn't even see her legs, there was just too much extra fabric! The armor was far too slack and definitely too big. The chest piece was meant to contain a lot of feathers and thick fur, things the bat pony mare certainly lacked. Then the extra arm guards were clanking on the ground around her hooves, while the socks were just scrunched up and bunched against the leg pieces.

Sireen started giggling and Fleur did too. The two mares laughed as Sireen started stepping out of the over sized outfit. "I think I might have grabbed ze wrong size zat time, my friend!" Fleur chuckled and quietly collected the pieces of the outfit as Sireen removed them.

The items were folded and placed in the trunk and then Fleur lay down on the chaise lounge again while Sireen stretched.

"Oof, trying on multiple pieces of clothing is actually rather taxing, I never figured it would be a mental slog." The batpony sat down on the ground slightly off to Fleur's right, and flexed her wings. "You do this on a constant basis?"

Fleur nodded, stealing some grapes and crackers from the tray. "Ze life of a model is ever changing." She said with a wink.

Sireen rolled her eyes at the pun. "Okay, I deserved that one. Still, I would think that constantly donning outfits and taking pose after pose for the camera would deter you from doing it for fun, doesn't it get boring?" She reached over and stole a couple bites of food as well.

Fleur rest her head on her hooves and her ears wilted a little, her eyes drifted to the side. "I suppose it does a little, at times. I have hobbies though that I do as well, It helps curb ze boredom ven it strikes. In a way I guess it iz similar to your job. Can you not say zat guard duty gets repetitive?"

Sireen nodded. "Yeah, I mean, all jobs are gonna have dull moments, but I meant that you are on your day off, and we were originally going to go shopping, not modeling. So... why bring me to your job?"

Fleur watched her quietly for a moment and then smiled. "I'm seeking to show you zat I am like you. I want to relate to my friends."

Sireen blinked, tilting her head while nibbling on a cracker. "Oh?"

Fleur stood and hopped off the couch, and sat with Sireen. She swung her hoof between the two of them. "You and I are rather similar. We hope for bonds zat are... more then just fleeting. Vee vant them to last, to grow, and not fade vith time. I read in Princess Twilight's book of friendship, that to do this, vee must become relatable to one another."

Fleur brought her hoof up and waved it at the studio set up and the area around them. "To do zis, I shared my job vith you. I vanted you to see me as I am in this scenario, because as a guard you do similar actions. You dress up in ze proper attire, you take specific poses for certain situations, and you have dull moments. Now you and I can relate to one another's job life." She blushed and looked to the side, "I was also able to help you vith a fun gift for your partner, who I know you love deeply."

Sireen shared in the blush and rubbed her foreleg. "He is a wonderful partner so far, I do love him."

Fleur looked at Sireen and seemed to want to speak but then halted and stayed silent, choosing to fill the silence with a sip of her drink. Sireen noticed and wiggled her hoof at the mare. "Fleur, I appreciate that you did this with me, and I had a lot of fun, but I also have noticed this entire time that you are holding back from saying more."

Fleur frowned, lowering her glass and her gaze. "Ever ze perceptive guard, I suppose I wasn't as subtle as I 'ad hoped. Please understand though, I did not vish to make things uncomfortable on our first hang out. Fancy told me to 'tone it down', for your sake."

Sireen frowned and swiveled her ears to the side, "Tone what down? The flirting? Really it doesn't bother me that much, you just surprised me is all." She shuffled her wings and gently punched Fleur's shoulder. "Honestly I can't really say I've had a mare try to flirt with me until now, especially one of your caliber, so it's new is all."

Fleur smiled gently and nudged a piece of fabric along the rack with her magic. "I appreciate zat, Sireen. It is a little more than zat though. I am a mare who 'as attraction to both mares and stallions, and you, you are very attractive to me. Fancy didn't vant me to push you away because I want...
things."

Sireen frowned lightly, "I know you want a foal..."

Fleur bit her lip and blushed. "Not... just zat." Standing, she slid the rack of hung clothing to the side, before shaking her mane and tail out briskly. "Vell! I could use a good walk, would you like to do some shopping next?"

She didn't give Sireen a chance to answer, as she walked over to one of the technicians and began coordinating the clean up of the set. Sireen kept frowning. Fleur was very attracted to her then, but was afraid to try anything.

She's probably been holding back this entire time. That attraction could complicate things with Iron Crest, but she wasn't willing to give up on the attempt made by the mare and her husband for friendship. They had a sound reason, and she kind of liked the idea of helping in that way. She also knew Iron had enjoyed his time over at Fancy Pant's house.

If he could get out and spend more time with his fellow stallions, he might feel more comfortable in the future to such ideas. The stallion had regaled her with his horrible first attempts at pool, some of the stories he'd heard, and even was attempting to go back a second time later in the week. All of this, he'd done with a genuine, excited smile.

Yes, maybe she needed to give it time, focus on the close to home things first, and then revive the topic, but definitely not now. Iron had a lot to work on internally and that was important. She smiled at Fleur and gently closed the lid on the used clothing trunk. With a confident stomp of her hoof, she chirped as Fleur returned.

"Yes! I need to extend my wardrobe, so lets do some shopping!"

Fleur whinnied in excitement and reared up, bicycling her hooves. "Yes! Vee shall storm ze boardwalk like soldiers to war, and vee shall do it in style!" She then startled Sireen by grabbing her in her magic and pulling her along in a surge of energy.

"F-FLEUR!?"

"VEE GO!"

For all her time knowing of Fleur De Lis, Sireen Wind felt the mare exuded an air of calm, poise, and grace. She was always cool headed, perceptive, and fluid in her motions. She had to be, no model worth their salt could act differently! Even as her understanding of the super model deepened because they were now friends, Fleur still felt like a mare with a solid foundation under her hooves, both physically and mentally.

She was in a word, safe.

This was SO NOT TRUE when shopping was involved. Fleur was the most dangerous mare Sireen had ever laid eyes on. Clothing got utterly destroyed under her critical gaze, the seams of poorly made clothing practically unraveling as she examined each piece. Other shoppers were merely removable obstacles to nab a good sale, making Sireen seriously question what was considered legal application of magic in public areas when unicorns were involved, and prices were reduced to paltry amounts just by her waltzing into an establishment.

Her status alone drove the store owners to simply give Sireen the same treatment as they smashed through store after store, devouring price reduced items, snagging sales right before they closed, and in one case, completely emptying an outside cart of assorted hoof made kitchen products that a neighponese crafts Kirin had created from wood he'd imported from his homeland.

The poor stallion was still staring slack jawed at the massive bag of bits Fleur had bluntly dropped into his hooves- probably more bits than he ever thought he'd hold- when they passed him and his now barren cart by twenty minutes later. He seemed to be thoroughly confused by the series of events that had led to his cart being sucked dry. Fleur had also shown her talent in magical spell work that day, and several times. In the case of the Kirin's products, she'd bought all of them, and then rapidly one by one sent them through a small portal that after inquiring, Sireen had been informed led straight to her foyer at their house. Apparently Fleur had done a few months at the School for Gifted Unicorns and the spell had been her masterpiece.

Their butler constantly checked the foyer to put away any items that appeared. Likewise, anything Sireen purchased was sent through the little portal hole, so that they didn't have to carry the stuff around. It was something Sireen thought was very nice to have at her beck and call. All in all they had tackled twenty-four stores in under two hours, and nearly cleaned out seven establishments of their best products, before Fleur showed any signs of slowing down.

When this did eventually happen, a little nudging towards a cute little café worked. The place, called the True Brew Café, ran by a kind stallion named Frothy Brew and his family, was perfect for their break, and Fleur loved it. A cup of cappuccino in her hooves, a plate of biscuits to nibble on, and some peace and quiet really helped her shopping nerves settle. Sireen had giggled as the almost frazzled mare had obliterated four biscuits and two cups of coffee, before a sigh of content had escaped her lips.

The pair of mares fell into a shared state of relaxed peace there after. Quiet little sips and crunchy nibbles of biscuits as their only conversation.

Sireen took to watching the patrons of the shop wander in and out of the space, noting how the diversity in the store was far more noticeable than in other parts of the city. Changelings for one, seemed quite comfortable here. several were in booths, grouped together in chitter chatter only they could understand. A few of them were even Royal Guards, their shiny gold armor helping accentuate their vibrant coats. She also spotted a couple young griffon hens, one large lion eagle female with purple coloration in her three head feathers, and the other a darker blueish coated smaller female with a Griffonstone mail carrier back slung around her hip. The two of them were nestled away in a corner booth, holding claws and softly giggling as they attempted to share a biscotti stick at both ends, Sireen blushed and averted her gaze as their beaks interlocked at the end in a kiss.

She looked back to her friend and found a gentle smile gracing Fleur's lips as she watched the city outside their window. "It iz wonderful, non? To live in a city where vee are able to be ourselves, to openly show zat vee care for one another?" Fleur whispered. Sireen wasn't so sure Fleur had been speaking to her, the words were murmured at the loudest. She watched the model sip her drink, the steam wafting up around her muzzle to make Fleurs eyes shimmer lightly.

"I vish for this to never change." Sireen looked to where Fleur was looking, not surprised to see she was watching a zebra mother across the street, shopping bags on her back expertly balanced, even as two little striped colts ran around and through her legs with child like glee as they chased one another. The mother grinned mischievously and nipped the ear of one of the colts, making him stop in his tracks, and thusly, his brother ran smack dab into his back end and the two toppled end over end.

The mother laughed, and the kids flailed apart and ran around anew. Sireen shared Fleur's smile. "Yeah, it really is."

The biscuits were finished in short order, and Fleur stretched her front legs out across the table, intentionally it seemed, for she rested them on Sireen's. Sireen lowered her cup of coffee to stare at Fleur's hooves for a second, and then she looked to Fleur with a brow raised. Fleur merely kept smiling.

"It iz also wonderful to have a close friend for once." Fleur hummed. She withdrew her hooves and made gentle circles on the table top with one. "The model world iz one of competition, vile some of the other models have tried to make friends vith me, I have not successfully kept them close." She looked a little sad at the admission, but also bolstered by it. "I seek to change this, I vant to keep our friendship strong. So any time vee hang out, let's try to do things ze other likes as well, oui?"

Before Sireen could reply, Fleur set her cup down and put her hoof down on Sireen's again. "So, after vee finish up here, vat do you vant to do, Sireen? Money is not a problem!"

For a few moments Sireen had no reply. She tried to think of something, but just came up blank. It wasn't because she had nothing to offer, she was merely so content in the moment, that her mind had completely relaxed. There was no stress. No obligations to rush to, no dire thing in need of fixing.

Sireen had time to herself for once and it wasn't while on duty... "Um," she rubbed the back of her neck, running her hoof through her mane as she tried to think of something that would be fun for both of them.

Then her hoof stopped in her mane, the hard keratin of her hoof meeting the softness of her mane hairs. That was an idea.

"Um, I've never been to a spa before, and done the whole package thing. Hoof care, mane n tail, I hear the massages are pretty good, do you want to maybe—"

Sireen's words died on her tongue as she beheld the shaking and super happy-hooves squishing her face-mare across from her. The amount of squealing Fleur emitted after that sent shivers down Sireen's spine.

"EEEEEE YES! Yes! Let us go to ze spa! I know just zee place!" Fleur dropped her cup to the table with a rather painful clank of porcelain, and dove for the exit.

Magic once more wrapped around Sireen's form and she flailed helplessly out of the booth for her coffee cup.

"F-FLEUR WAIT!"

"NO TIME! VEE GO!"

Sireen thought Heaven was some rare, briefly grasped moment in life that left a pony changed and for the better. She would be mostly right if she were religious, but she wasn't.

Spas were the closest she'd ever come to, to questioning if Heaven and Tartarus were real. Because as the spa ponies worked the kinks and aches out of her body, Sireen was having doubts about her faith, and her ability to form coherent sentences under their touch.

"Is it all feeling okay, ma'am?" A voice whispered on the wind to her ears.

"Mmguffaaaaa." She mumbled as the mare above her worked her wing primaries into the space between her shoulders. She was limp as a wet noodle and happier then a clam.

How can a clam be happy anyway? Are they able to even articulate emotions? How can we as ponies contemplate such nonsense when massages are all we need to be truly happy.

"I'll take that as a yes then, though I must admit, ma'am, I've worked on several soldiers in the Royal Guard, and you are among the tightest muscled I've dealt with in a while, do you not come here often?"

"Neffa ben." She mumbled into the pillow. Consciousness was trying so hard to run away. "Gon com bec..." She garbled.

A nasty kink in her back was loosened and Sireen growled in pleasure as relief shot up her spine, her wings spasmed in agreement. "Oohhgafffa..."

Next to her on another table, laying on her side, Fleur laughed and shared in the bliss as a young stallion contorted her hind leg into a strange position and small gentle pops arose from her joints. "Ooooh oui oui, I come 'ere every Saturday, so if you vant a day to relax, vee can do zis together from now on, yes?"

"Oahgawyas!" Sireen moaned loudly as the mare worked her wing tips and hooves farther down Sireen's back and took care of several aches and pains the stairs had caused her days prior. Finally she fell silent as the mare stopped. Several muffled moans and whimpers of pleasure came from the batpony, and the massage mare frowned. She leaned under the table and grimaced at Sireen before looking over at her fellow masseuse.

"Can you pass me a towel? She's drooling."

Fleur burst into giggles.

The walk back to Fleur's house thankfully was assisted by the tall white mare hailing a carriage to take them back. Sireen was certain she would have tarnished hers, Fleur's, and the Night Guard's reputation if she'd tried to walk all the way home.

Kissing the cobblestones with one's face repeatedly and sticking one's rump in the air with a flagged tail and flared wings due to over exposure to pure bliss, while understandable, is a really bad visual image to present to the public. Thankfully she had a wing mare to rescue them both from such a disaster.

Fleur had giggled the whole way to her house, poking fun at Sireen for the hilarious sounds she'd made and the apparent proposition to come home with her, that she'd given the pegasus mare who'd worked on her. Sireen hadn't cared. She'd barely had enough consciousness to keep her head up on the ride home. Fleur had then allowed her to lean against her side as the pair went inside the big mansion, dodging around the bajillion bags and shopping items the butler still was going through.

Sireen had been deposited in a guest bed, covered in blankets, and given time to work off her state of bliss. While Sireen would have loved to later tell others how she valiantly fought off the sensations and pleasure of the massage in a heroic effort to show her strength as a guard, things went south the moment her head hit the pillow, and dreams found her without much effort at all.

Several hours later she slowly woke to an amber glow lit room around her, and in front of her, sitting on the bedding, Crisp Words of all ponies. He was staring at her, his big childish eyes inches from her face in scrutiny. He poked her nose with a hoof gently.

"Are you dead? You better not be dead, I have it in your crayon hoof writing that you signed a contract of 'not allowed to die' while you're my mom, and a contract from me is a permanent—EEP!—"

Sireen unceremoniously grabbed him around his midsection and snuggled him into submission in her arms and wings. "Come here ya scamp." She purred and pushed her snout into the mane atop his head, preening and nibbling the tussled hairs back into order as the foal in her arms closed his eyes and hummed in happiness.

"Mmm, hi mom." He murmured. "Did you sleep well?"

Sireen paused in her preening and simply kept her snout buried in his mane, sniffing her son's scent. Screw bloodlines, he was hers. "Mmm I did, scamp. Where is Fleur?"

She blinked in realization and then slowly and lazily looked around the room. "For that matter how are you here? Where is your father?" He certainly wasn't in bed with her, and that was a tragedy in and of itself!

Crisp wriggled around so he was facing her and nuzzled up under her chin, making her purr more. Crisp nipped and nibbled her neck for a moment before closing his eyes and sighing in content as her wings closed around him. He liked feeling safe in her wings.

"Mm, he picked me up from school and the butler pony was sent to find us. Fleur said you were sleeping and Fancy invited him over for another hang out with his work buddies."

She hummed. "Ah... good then, I can nap some more." Crisp seemed to agree.

"I wanna stay here too. I tried to join dad, but the butler sent me up here instead, said I shouldn't disturb the adults while they play with their balls downstairs."

Sireen nodded, half awake. "Mm, thats ni—"

She sat bolt up in bed, flinging him onto the comforter. "HE'S DOING WHAT!?"

Crisp shook himself and looked up at his sleep addled, slightly disoriented mom in confusion as she flailed out of the bed sheets and clumsily tore towards the door. He tilted his head as she vanished down the hallway, and then curled up in the warmest spot where his mom had been, it was still toasty and smelled like home with a hint of 'fancy'. Pulling the blankets over himself, he nuzzled the pillow and mumbled.

"Adults are weird."

Author's Note

Yes crisp they are weird, and I hope you never become one!

On a side note, happy holidays all you pones, griffs, bugs, n others!