"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 ^^