Night Guard Tales: Complicationsby Script WriteChaptersPrologueChapter One: ExpectationsChapter Two: LamentationsPrologueIt was a warm summer night in Canterlot, the night of the Summer Sun Celebration, if it weren’t three in the morning, ponies would surely be out enjoying it, partying and drinking like there’s no tomorrow. As this had already happened not three hours earlier, the only ponies still not in their beds at home fell into two categories: Drunkards, and bat ponies. Or, if you’re Reddling Rain, both. The red bat pony wandered down the street, accompanied by his work associate, Ether. The two’s skrees and giggles echoed through the dark-lit streets of Canterlot, their voices laced with drunken stupor. Classically, bat ponies lead a lonely life, never forming close enough relationships with others to be in love, or produce offspring out of anything but nessisity. For Reddling and Ether, this holds very true, but those with a need always seem to make it happen, in this city, and these two need kinship. Even if they don’t know it. The pair stumbled up to Reddling’s front door, his mouth fumbling with his keys as he tried to focus on the dark handle, his vision losing focus every now and then. “W-Wisthen, I’m jwust sayin’, if it were meh, I’d have punched the Tirek fweak right in the face!” He said, his voice impeded both by the key in his mouth and by the alcohol that just got them kicked out of a bar. “Y-You? Y-You can’t even open your front door!” Slurred the purple mare next to him as she took the key and effortlessly opened the door, causing Red to fall into the house, “Swee! I told you I was l-less dwunk!” She said, before breaking out in a fit of laughs and giggles with her friend, falling beside him. As they both calmed down, Red looked over at the mare, shakily getting to his hooves and helping her up. Somehow, despite their increasing levels of drunkenness, they both managed to stumble upstairs and into the master bedroom. They both collapsed onto the bed, looking into each other’s eyes with lust, “Y-You know, you’re pretty buckin’ hot when you’re not sh-shouting in a courtroom~” He said, his light blush from the drinks turning to one of embarrassment. “Y-You’re not too shabby yourself when I c-can actually see you out of your ugly armor~” She replied, forming her own blush. “H-Hey, that armor’s cool!~” “S-So under that dark brooding exterior you put up all the time, you’re s-still a typical stallion, huh?” She teased, pushing him onto his back with a hoof and climbing onto his chest, licking her lips as she stared down at him. “Shut up~” Red said, before wrapping his hooves around her neck and pulling her towards him passionately… Chapter One: ExpectationsNight Guard, royal security or scandalous orgy? Luna’s guards take ‘protect the night’ to the next level! Princess’ guards’ foal just another publicity stunt? Red dropped a small pile of magazines onto his pregnant co-workers desk, both of them staring idly at the cover stories. When he looked up to see Ether, she had intense anger written on her face.e’d only seen her like this once before, and man it did not end well. “ This is terrible! I’m going to have to take even more days off work for this!” She shouted, “Did you get an appointment with the doctors yet? We can’t have a foal, we need to get this all sorted out!” “Yes, you can.” A stern voice approached the pair, Princess Luna herself. Red turned and saluted, stiffening up instantly as he looked up at her. Ether bowed in turn, her look of rage turning to one of worry at her words. “P-Princess Luna! Y-You can’t be suggesting that we…” Ether started to say, trailing off before the Princess finished the sentence instead. “Keep the foal?” She finished for the lawyer, “I’m not suggesting, I’m ordering.” Her voice was ice as she turned to the still saluting guard, “At ease, we aren’t in the barracks here, there’s no need for such formality during such a… momentous occasion.” She told him as he put down his hoof, still standing stock still. “With all due respect, Princess,” Red said through his teeth as he tried to control his anger at Luna’s instruction, “We both did not plan this foal, and we accept that we made a mistake, however this punishment feels a little... ” He glanced down at Ether, “Inappropriate.” “Punishment? Did somepony mention punishment?” Luna says, breaking her guise of sternness, “My own bat ponies, having foals!” She said, a grin lighting up her face, “This is more than excellent!” She shouted, her excitement making her slip back into old habits of using her ‘Royal Canterlot Voice’. After the two bats recovered from the sound, they turned to her incredulously with their mouths open in surprise. “What?” They said in unison. “That’s right, this is indeed a fabulous turn of events!” She said, “But even if it was not so, you two would still be obligated to keep this life that now grows in the womb of Miss Ether.” Her tone suddenly became more firm, causing both ponies to glance at each other nervously, “Due to the evident media obsession with the two of you, the Night Guard is under even more scrutiny than ever, if it were to come out that you two had aborted this foal, whatever trust the nobleponies has will wane even further and the luxury of privacy we’ve had until now will disappear within days, and I will be put back into the politics of running a military division. I’m sure the two of you knows what this means you must do?” The two ponies sighed, defeat written on their faces. It seemed as if this was bigger than the two of them, meaning that there was no way out of the hole they’ve dug themselves into. The two bat ponies looked at each other worriedly, both kissing their normal lives goodbye. “Yes, Your Majesty.” Ether accepted with a nod. “To whose residence am I sending the moving ponies to, then?” “Wait, moving ponies?” Red piped up. “Yes, did you not understand what I meant? The two of you are to live together, as a family, with the foal!” Luna grinned at him. “Well, there’s no way my place could support a full family, it’s a tiny one bedroom apartment.” Ether said. “Then it’s settled. Reddling, I’ll allow you leave for the rest of the night to see that your home is presentable, and Ether, you best go oversee the move.” Luna instructed before turning and strutting out of the room, a giddy look on her face, as she walked past Ether’s window, she suddenly remembered one last thing. The night princess stuck her head back in the door, “And by the way, call me Aunt Lulu when we’re alone from now on, that’s an order~” She said, before bouncing away happily. “I’m never drinking again.” Reddling groaned, looking to his new… Marefriend? No, that's not how he'd describe it. Roommate, nothing more than a roommate. That's what he told himself anyways. “That’s a lie and you know it.” Ether replied, “Get out of here, we’ll sort this out later. For now there’s no way I’m disobeying the Princess’ direct order.” Red sighed once more, trotting out of the room, defeated once and for all by an unborn foal and a goddess playing matchmaker. He stepped outside and into the shadows of the night, spreading his leathery wings and taking to the sky. It looked like he had a lot to think about. Red touched down outside his apartment, unlocking the door and entering the apartment before being blasted with the scent of alcohol, ‘Home sweet home…’ He thought to himself as he glided over to the kitchen, which was a mess, as usual. For a moment, he forgot why he was home early, almost popping open a bottle of ‘Applejack Daniels’ and starting to drink the night away. He then remembered what his goal was, looking over the pigsty that was his apartment. “I best get started, then…” He said to no one in particular as he started to pick up the bottles strewn around the floor, some of them still had a little bit of liquid still in them, which Red emptied into his mouth with no regard for how long it’s been there, “I deserve at least some indulgence.” He told himself as he dumped his first load of bottles into the trash with a chorus of clinks and cracks. ‘Ugh! How could this happen!’ He thought as he threw a few more bottles into the trash, ‘I mean, I’ve wanted a foal but… Not like this! Not with her!’ “Well, maybe with her, she’s not the least attractive mare I know…” He continued thinking as he worked, distracting him from the tediousness of his cleaning. A few dozen more trips and multiple mew trash bags later Red finished clearing his floor of every last bottle he’d ‘forgotten’ to trash earlier. Somewhere along the line, he had cracked open a bottle or two of beer against his better judgement, not enough to stop him from finishing, but enough to give his face a slight glow and make his breath have a hint of alcohol still on it. It was only a few hours before the movers arrived with the first of many of Ether’s belongings. They knocked on the door, breaking Reddling from his thoughts. “Hello? Is this the Rain residence?” One of the movers asked. It occurred to Red that if he pretended not to be home, the movers may just go away, being that they probably have other jobs to do. “Reddling! Open up!” Another voice could be heard from the other side of the door, Ether’s. It looked like that plan wasn’t going to work out. The bat pony briskly trotted over to the door, opening it frustratedly to see a very frazzled purple mare and an entourage of burly earth pony stallions. Ether groaned, smelling Red’s breath and the still prevalent odour of alcohol that rushed out of the apartment. “You could have at least sprayed some deodorant.” She said flatly, prompting only a shrug from Red. “Part of the charm,” He shot back, stepping out of the way and holding the door open, “Come on in.” He said to the movers, who started to unload their moving cart silently. As the movers continued to move Ether’s belongings, Red started to notice a trend in the specific items that were being stacked in his living room. Books. Stacks and stacks of books of various genres and topics, but there was certainly a favourite, law books. “A little light reading?” The stallion asked, raising an eyebrow at the mare next to him. “Trust me, I don’t want these any more than you do.” She deadpanned, “We’re going to need somewhere to put them, please tell me you at least have a bookshelf?” “At least? Of course I have a bookshelf!” Red said, “It’s upstairs, in the corridor next to my room.” He tells her, “Please tell me you at least remember where that is?” He teases, adding a little wink to the end of his sentence. Ether blushed lightly, “Shut up.” She says, making her way up the stairs to the corridor. It took a few moments before Reddling remembered what he was using his bookshelf for. It only took a few more for Ether to realise. “Are you serious!?” She shouts down the stairs, rolling her eyes at the sight before her. A large bookshelf, lined from top to bottom with bottles of alcohol. “Sorry, I guess I didn’t expect to have a mare move in with only half a night’s notice!” He shouts back. Reddling grabbed a half full bag of discarded bottles and made his way up the stairs, helping Ether to drop them into the bag and slowly clearing the bookshelf. By this point, the movers downstairs had dropped off all of Ether’s books, leaving the house silent aside from the clinking of bottles as the pair of bat ponies cleaned the bookshelf and the rest of the upstairs section of the apartment. After they finally finished cleaning, Red spoke up, “I suppose we should bring the books up now?” He asked. Ether turned to him, “I’ll do it, you probably don’t have any idea the order they go in anyways.” She said coldly. “You know if we’re going to be living together then you could at least try not to treat me like just another convict.” “Not until you apologise.” “What for? You’re the one who didn’t use an infertility scroll when you went into heat!” “I was drunk off my ass, Red, the possibility of a foal was the last thing on my mind!” Ether shouted at him, “You’re the one who took advantage of me, and now I’m saddled with your bucking foal and terrible habits!” She finished, tears welling up in her eyes as she raised a hoof and slapped him across the face before galloping down the stairs, leaving Red to soak in her words. Chapter Two: LamentationsEther’s slap didn’t hurt, Reddling’s battle-hardened resistance to pain made sure of that. So why did it feel so… Wrong. After letting Ether’s words register completely in his mind, he slowly trotted down the stairs and into the living room, where Ether sat surrounded by her books. He glanced at her, opening his mouth to say something, before noticing her look. She wasn’t going to like anything he had to say. The stallion closed his mouth, saying nothing as he walked out the door. Shutting it behind him, he made his way out onto the street and took off into the night to get some air and do something thinking. ‘What the hell? I should have said what I wanted?’ He thought as he flew towards his second home, the night guard barracks, ‘So why couldn’t I say it!’ Landing in the courtyard, Reddling set off in no direction in particular. As he walked, he passed a wave of new recruits, just entering the guard and getting used to the idea of living together in the dorms. It was only a few months ago, but it felt like decades since Reddling joined the guard with the intention of killing the Princesses. He shook his head, walking away and deeper into the castle, which normally housed scores of attendants and political emissaries, but in the dead of night, it was a perfect space to just think about things going on in one’s life. Like the fact that in the space of a night, his co-worker announced that she was pregnant, was forced to move in with him, and then effectively kicked him out of his own home. “Fucking Equestrians…” He muttered to himself, not noticing the pony walking behind him. “I thought I gave you leave for the night?” Luna’s voice came from behind him, causing the stallion to jump, turning quickly with his wings outstretched defensively. “Oh, it’s just you, Princess Lu--” He started to say, his wings folding in slowly as his surprise faded away, only to be interrupted by the Princess. “That’s Aunt Lulu to you, Reddling.” She reminded him. “R-Right, Princess Luna,” He said, the night princess shooting him a look before her continued, “Was there something you needed of me?” “No, you simply appeared rather troubled despite the excitement of the night,” She explained, “Is something the matter?” “Yeah, about that…” He trailed off, looking up at her, “I really don’t think this arrangement with Ether is going to work out as you hope it will…” “Is your place of residence too small to support your family?” Luna asked, “I’m sure we could host you here until you find a new location!” “No, it’s not the apartment, it’s Ether herself…” Reddling explained, “She’s not in the best mood.” “Why do you think that is?” Luna inquired. “I dunno, Something about blaming me for the foal, when she’s the one who needs to take responsibility for her heat cycle!” “Are you suggesting that you had no part in it’s conception?” “No, I just think she’s blowing this whole thing out of proportion!” “Maybe so, but that does not excuse you of your responsibility.” “What responsibility?” “As a father, you have to be a good role model to your foal, no matter what the situation is.” Luna explains, “It’s a lot of work, and it’s going to be hard to persevere at times.” Redding falls backwards, the thought of having to be presentable at all times weighing on his mind as he stares at the ceiling. “I don’t know if I’m ready for all this…” Reddling says. “Well, you have eleven whole months to prepare,” Luna replied, “And you can start by apologising to Ether.” “But it’s not entirely my fault!” Reddling said, sitting back up. Luna giggles, rising to her hooves and setting off back down the hallway, “Before a lawyer, or an assassin, Ether is a mare much like myself.” She says over her shoulder, before disappearing back into the shadows of the moonlit hall. “What do you mean?” Reddling called out, to no response. Realising that Luna was gone, he set off towards the open courtyard once more and took to the twinkling skies with a flap of his powerful wings, there were a few hours left in the night, hopefully he could get this whole situation under control by daybreak. On the flight back home, Reddling tried to think of what exactly he should say to Ether. Apologising was never his strong suit, after all. Why did he even care so much again? It’s not like he HAD to get along with her, so long as the foal was taken care of… “Am I… In love with Ether?” He asked out loud to nopony in particular, “No, of course not, why would I be? She’s just a burden, an attractive, strong burden with a very similar outlook on life to myself and currently bears my only offspring, but a burden.” Anypony who actually overheard the stallion would have told him exactly what his rant meant, but alas, nopony did, and so his feelings went unrealised. Landing outside his home, Reddling quickly unlocked it and stepped inside, closing the door behind him quietly in case Ether was asleep. He wasn’t going to apologise if he could help it. He crept past the living room, not looking in as to spend as little time as possible getting to the kitchen, he desperately needed to eat something after a long night such as this. “Are you sure you’re really an assassin? You can’t even sneak through your own house.” Ether’s voice came from behind him, it seemed as if he’d been caught. Reddling stood, turning to face her with a slight anger in his eyes. It look like he was going to have to say sorry to her after all. “Listen I-” They both opened their mouths at the same time, only to stop and pause awkwardly for a moment. “You first.” Ether said, blushing slightly. Reddling nodded, taking a breath before starting his apology, “I-I’m sorry.” He begins. And then stops. “That’s it?” Ether’s eyebrow raised in surprise, “All that, and you walk in here with ‘I’m sorry’?” Reddling just stands there, trying to muster the courage to say something, anything. His mouth hangs open, no sound emerging as his mind runs on overdrive. “Well, I suppose when you’ve never said sorry to anypony in your entire life, this is a pretty good start.” Ether said, “Well, in that case, I suppose I’ll have to make up for it.” She says, before suddenly pulling him into a tight hug. Reddling’s eyes widened, he wanted to struggle free, nopony was allowed to touch him without permission, let alone hug him! Yet still, she was warm, and it felt nice to have her hold him like that, for whatever reason that may have been. He raised his own front hooves, hesitating for a moment before awkwardly wrapping them around Ether. Suddenly, his emotions didn’t feel so wrong. This hug was oddly comfortable, and made him feel like he was wanted, needed even. Ether moved her face up to Reddling’s ear, her mouth opening so he could feel her hot breath pulsating on his soft ear tuft. “I’m sorry.”
PrologueIt was a warm summer night in Canterlot, the night of the Summer Sun Celebration, if it weren’t three in the morning, ponies would surely be out enjoying it, partying and drinking like there’s no tomorrow. As this had already happened not three hours earlier, the only ponies still not in their beds at home fell into two categories: Drunkards, and bat ponies. Or, if you’re Reddling Rain, both. The red bat pony wandered down the street, accompanied by his work associate, Ether. The two’s skrees and giggles echoed through the dark-lit streets of Canterlot, their voices laced with drunken stupor. Classically, bat ponies lead a lonely life, never forming close enough relationships with others to be in love, or produce offspring out of anything but nessisity. For Reddling and Ether, this holds very true, but those with a need always seem to make it happen, in this city, and these two need kinship. Even if they don’t know it. The pair stumbled up to Reddling’s front door, his mouth fumbling with his keys as he tried to focus on the dark handle, his vision losing focus every now and then. “W-Wisthen, I’m jwust sayin’, if it were meh, I’d have punched the Tirek fweak right in the face!” He said, his voice impeded both by the key in his mouth and by the alcohol that just got them kicked out of a bar. “Y-You? Y-You can’t even open your front door!” Slurred the purple mare next to him as she took the key and effortlessly opened the door, causing Red to fall into the house, “Swee! I told you I was l-less dwunk!” She said, before breaking out in a fit of laughs and giggles with her friend, falling beside him. As they both calmed down, Red looked over at the mare, shakily getting to his hooves and helping her up. Somehow, despite their increasing levels of drunkenness, they both managed to stumble upstairs and into the master bedroom. They both collapsed onto the bed, looking into each other’s eyes with lust, “Y-You know, you’re pretty buckin’ hot when you’re not sh-shouting in a courtroom~” He said, his light blush from the drinks turning to one of embarrassment. “Y-You’re not too shabby yourself when I c-can actually see you out of your ugly armor~” She replied, forming her own blush. “H-Hey, that armor’s cool!~” “S-So under that dark brooding exterior you put up all the time, you’re s-still a typical stallion, huh?” She teased, pushing him onto his back with a hoof and climbing onto his chest, licking her lips as she stared down at him. “Shut up~” Red said, before wrapping his hooves around her neck and pulling her towards him passionately…
Chapter One: ExpectationsNight Guard, royal security or scandalous orgy? Luna’s guards take ‘protect the night’ to the next level! Princess’ guards’ foal just another publicity stunt? Red dropped a small pile of magazines onto his pregnant co-workers desk, both of them staring idly at the cover stories. When he looked up to see Ether, she had intense anger written on her face.e’d only seen her like this once before, and man it did not end well. “ This is terrible! I’m going to have to take even more days off work for this!” She shouted, “Did you get an appointment with the doctors yet? We can’t have a foal, we need to get this all sorted out!” “Yes, you can.” A stern voice approached the pair, Princess Luna herself. Red turned and saluted, stiffening up instantly as he looked up at her. Ether bowed in turn, her look of rage turning to one of worry at her words. “P-Princess Luna! Y-You can’t be suggesting that we…” Ether started to say, trailing off before the Princess finished the sentence instead. “Keep the foal?” She finished for the lawyer, “I’m not suggesting, I’m ordering.” Her voice was ice as she turned to the still saluting guard, “At ease, we aren’t in the barracks here, there’s no need for such formality during such a… momentous occasion.” She told him as he put down his hoof, still standing stock still. “With all due respect, Princess,” Red said through his teeth as he tried to control his anger at Luna’s instruction, “We both did not plan this foal, and we accept that we made a mistake, however this punishment feels a little... ” He glanced down at Ether, “Inappropriate.” “Punishment? Did somepony mention punishment?” Luna says, breaking her guise of sternness, “My own bat ponies, having foals!” She said, a grin lighting up her face, “This is more than excellent!” She shouted, her excitement making her slip back into old habits of using her ‘Royal Canterlot Voice’. After the two bats recovered from the sound, they turned to her incredulously with their mouths open in surprise. “What?” They said in unison. “That’s right, this is indeed a fabulous turn of events!” She said, “But even if it was not so, you two would still be obligated to keep this life that now grows in the womb of Miss Ether.” Her tone suddenly became more firm, causing both ponies to glance at each other nervously, “Due to the evident media obsession with the two of you, the Night Guard is under even more scrutiny than ever, if it were to come out that you two had aborted this foal, whatever trust the nobleponies has will wane even further and the luxury of privacy we’ve had until now will disappear within days, and I will be put back into the politics of running a military division. I’m sure the two of you knows what this means you must do?” The two ponies sighed, defeat written on their faces. It seemed as if this was bigger than the two of them, meaning that there was no way out of the hole they’ve dug themselves into. The two bat ponies looked at each other worriedly, both kissing their normal lives goodbye. “Yes, Your Majesty.” Ether accepted with a nod. “To whose residence am I sending the moving ponies to, then?” “Wait, moving ponies?” Red piped up. “Yes, did you not understand what I meant? The two of you are to live together, as a family, with the foal!” Luna grinned at him. “Well, there’s no way my place could support a full family, it’s a tiny one bedroom apartment.” Ether said. “Then it’s settled. Reddling, I’ll allow you leave for the rest of the night to see that your home is presentable, and Ether, you best go oversee the move.” Luna instructed before turning and strutting out of the room, a giddy look on her face, as she walked past Ether’s window, she suddenly remembered one last thing. The night princess stuck her head back in the door, “And by the way, call me Aunt Lulu when we’re alone from now on, that’s an order~” She said, before bouncing away happily. “I’m never drinking again.” Reddling groaned, looking to his new… Marefriend? No, that's not how he'd describe it. Roommate, nothing more than a roommate. That's what he told himself anyways. “That’s a lie and you know it.” Ether replied, “Get out of here, we’ll sort this out later. For now there’s no way I’m disobeying the Princess’ direct order.” Red sighed once more, trotting out of the room, defeated once and for all by an unborn foal and a goddess playing matchmaker. He stepped outside and into the shadows of the night, spreading his leathery wings and taking to the sky. It looked like he had a lot to think about. Red touched down outside his apartment, unlocking the door and entering the apartment before being blasted with the scent of alcohol, ‘Home sweet home…’ He thought to himself as he glided over to the kitchen, which was a mess, as usual. For a moment, he forgot why he was home early, almost popping open a bottle of ‘Applejack Daniels’ and starting to drink the night away. He then remembered what his goal was, looking over the pigsty that was his apartment. “I best get started, then…” He said to no one in particular as he started to pick up the bottles strewn around the floor, some of them still had a little bit of liquid still in them, which Red emptied into his mouth with no regard for how long it’s been there, “I deserve at least some indulgence.” He told himself as he dumped his first load of bottles into the trash with a chorus of clinks and cracks. ‘Ugh! How could this happen!’ He thought as he threw a few more bottles into the trash, ‘I mean, I’ve wanted a foal but… Not like this! Not with her!’ “Well, maybe with her, she’s not the least attractive mare I know…” He continued thinking as he worked, distracting him from the tediousness of his cleaning. A few dozen more trips and multiple mew trash bags later Red finished clearing his floor of every last bottle he’d ‘forgotten’ to trash earlier. Somewhere along the line, he had cracked open a bottle or two of beer against his better judgement, not enough to stop him from finishing, but enough to give his face a slight glow and make his breath have a hint of alcohol still on it. It was only a few hours before the movers arrived with the first of many of Ether’s belongings. They knocked on the door, breaking Reddling from his thoughts. “Hello? Is this the Rain residence?” One of the movers asked. It occurred to Red that if he pretended not to be home, the movers may just go away, being that they probably have other jobs to do. “Reddling! Open up!” Another voice could be heard from the other side of the door, Ether’s. It looked like that plan wasn’t going to work out. The bat pony briskly trotted over to the door, opening it frustratedly to see a very frazzled purple mare and an entourage of burly earth pony stallions. Ether groaned, smelling Red’s breath and the still prevalent odour of alcohol that rushed out of the apartment. “You could have at least sprayed some deodorant.” She said flatly, prompting only a shrug from Red. “Part of the charm,” He shot back, stepping out of the way and holding the door open, “Come on in.” He said to the movers, who started to unload their moving cart silently. As the movers continued to move Ether’s belongings, Red started to notice a trend in the specific items that were being stacked in his living room. Books. Stacks and stacks of books of various genres and topics, but there was certainly a favourite, law books. “A little light reading?” The stallion asked, raising an eyebrow at the mare next to him. “Trust me, I don’t want these any more than you do.” She deadpanned, “We’re going to need somewhere to put them, please tell me you at least have a bookshelf?” “At least? Of course I have a bookshelf!” Red said, “It’s upstairs, in the corridor next to my room.” He tells her, “Please tell me you at least remember where that is?” He teases, adding a little wink to the end of his sentence. Ether blushed lightly, “Shut up.” She says, making her way up the stairs to the corridor. It took a few moments before Reddling remembered what he was using his bookshelf for. It only took a few more for Ether to realise. “Are you serious!?” She shouts down the stairs, rolling her eyes at the sight before her. A large bookshelf, lined from top to bottom with bottles of alcohol. “Sorry, I guess I didn’t expect to have a mare move in with only half a night’s notice!” He shouts back. Reddling grabbed a half full bag of discarded bottles and made his way up the stairs, helping Ether to drop them into the bag and slowly clearing the bookshelf. By this point, the movers downstairs had dropped off all of Ether’s books, leaving the house silent aside from the clinking of bottles as the pair of bat ponies cleaned the bookshelf and the rest of the upstairs section of the apartment. After they finally finished cleaning, Red spoke up, “I suppose we should bring the books up now?” He asked. Ether turned to him, “I’ll do it, you probably don’t have any idea the order they go in anyways.” She said coldly. “You know if we’re going to be living together then you could at least try not to treat me like just another convict.” “Not until you apologise.” “What for? You’re the one who didn’t use an infertility scroll when you went into heat!” “I was drunk off my ass, Red, the possibility of a foal was the last thing on my mind!” Ether shouted at him, “You’re the one who took advantage of me, and now I’m saddled with your bucking foal and terrible habits!” She finished, tears welling up in her eyes as she raised a hoof and slapped him across the face before galloping down the stairs, leaving Red to soak in her words.
Chapter Two: LamentationsEther’s slap didn’t hurt, Reddling’s battle-hardened resistance to pain made sure of that. So why did it feel so… Wrong. After letting Ether’s words register completely in his mind, he slowly trotted down the stairs and into the living room, where Ether sat surrounded by her books. He glanced at her, opening his mouth to say something, before noticing her look. She wasn’t going to like anything he had to say. The stallion closed his mouth, saying nothing as he walked out the door. Shutting it behind him, he made his way out onto the street and took off into the night to get some air and do something thinking. ‘What the hell? I should have said what I wanted?’ He thought as he flew towards his second home, the night guard barracks, ‘So why couldn’t I say it!’ Landing in the courtyard, Reddling set off in no direction in particular. As he walked, he passed a wave of new recruits, just entering the guard and getting used to the idea of living together in the dorms. It was only a few months ago, but it felt like decades since Reddling joined the guard with the intention of killing the Princesses. He shook his head, walking away and deeper into the castle, which normally housed scores of attendants and political emissaries, but in the dead of night, it was a perfect space to just think about things going on in one’s life. Like the fact that in the space of a night, his co-worker announced that she was pregnant, was forced to move in with him, and then effectively kicked him out of his own home. “Fucking Equestrians…” He muttered to himself, not noticing the pony walking behind him. “I thought I gave you leave for the night?” Luna’s voice came from behind him, causing the stallion to jump, turning quickly with his wings outstretched defensively. “Oh, it’s just you, Princess Lu--” He started to say, his wings folding in slowly as his surprise faded away, only to be interrupted by the Princess. “That’s Aunt Lulu to you, Reddling.” She reminded him. “R-Right, Princess Luna,” He said, the night princess shooting him a look before her continued, “Was there something you needed of me?” “No, you simply appeared rather troubled despite the excitement of the night,” She explained, “Is something the matter?” “Yeah, about that…” He trailed off, looking up at her, “I really don’t think this arrangement with Ether is going to work out as you hope it will…” “Is your place of residence too small to support your family?” Luna asked, “I’m sure we could host you here until you find a new location!” “No, it’s not the apartment, it’s Ether herself…” Reddling explained, “She’s not in the best mood.” “Why do you think that is?” Luna inquired. “I dunno, Something about blaming me for the foal, when she’s the one who needs to take responsibility for her heat cycle!” “Are you suggesting that you had no part in it’s conception?” “No, I just think she’s blowing this whole thing out of proportion!” “Maybe so, but that does not excuse you of your responsibility.” “What responsibility?” “As a father, you have to be a good role model to your foal, no matter what the situation is.” Luna explains, “It’s a lot of work, and it’s going to be hard to persevere at times.” Redding falls backwards, the thought of having to be presentable at all times weighing on his mind as he stares at the ceiling. “I don’t know if I’m ready for all this…” Reddling says. “Well, you have eleven whole months to prepare,” Luna replied, “And you can start by apologising to Ether.” “But it’s not entirely my fault!” Reddling said, sitting back up. Luna giggles, rising to her hooves and setting off back down the hallway, “Before a lawyer, or an assassin, Ether is a mare much like myself.” She says over her shoulder, before disappearing back into the shadows of the moonlit hall. “What do you mean?” Reddling called out, to no response. Realising that Luna was gone, he set off towards the open courtyard once more and took to the twinkling skies with a flap of his powerful wings, there were a few hours left in the night, hopefully he could get this whole situation under control by daybreak. On the flight back home, Reddling tried to think of what exactly he should say to Ether. Apologising was never his strong suit, after all. Why did he even care so much again? It’s not like he HAD to get along with her, so long as the foal was taken care of… “Am I… In love with Ether?” He asked out loud to nopony in particular, “No, of course not, why would I be? She’s just a burden, an attractive, strong burden with a very similar outlook on life to myself and currently bears my only offspring, but a burden.” Anypony who actually overheard the stallion would have told him exactly what his rant meant, but alas, nopony did, and so his feelings went unrealised. Landing outside his home, Reddling quickly unlocked it and stepped inside, closing the door behind him quietly in case Ether was asleep. He wasn’t going to apologise if he could help it. He crept past the living room, not looking in as to spend as little time as possible getting to the kitchen, he desperately needed to eat something after a long night such as this. “Are you sure you’re really an assassin? You can’t even sneak through your own house.” Ether’s voice came from behind him, it seemed as if he’d been caught. Reddling stood, turning to face her with a slight anger in his eyes. It look like he was going to have to say sorry to her after all. “Listen I-” They both opened their mouths at the same time, only to stop and pause awkwardly for a moment. “You first.” Ether said, blushing slightly. Reddling nodded, taking a breath before starting his apology, “I-I’m sorry.” He begins. And then stops. “That’s it?” Ether’s eyebrow raised in surprise, “All that, and you walk in here with ‘I’m sorry’?” Reddling just stands there, trying to muster the courage to say something, anything. His mouth hangs open, no sound emerging as his mind runs on overdrive. “Well, I suppose when you’ve never said sorry to anypony in your entire life, this is a pretty good start.” Ether said, “Well, in that case, I suppose I’ll have to make up for it.” She says, before suddenly pulling him into a tight hug. Reddling’s eyes widened, he wanted to struggle free, nopony was allowed to touch him without permission, let alone hug him! Yet still, she was warm, and it felt nice to have her hold him like that, for whatever reason that may have been. He raised his own front hooves, hesitating for a moment before awkwardly wrapping them around Ether. Suddenly, his emotions didn’t feel so wrong. This hug was oddly comfortable, and made him feel like he was wanted, needed even. Ether moved her face up to Reddling’s ear, her mouth opening so he could feel her hot breath pulsating on his soft ear tuft. “I’m sorry.”
