Aster's Point of View

Aster sighed as she entered the barracks. Today has been a long day with the Captain of the Guard. Mr. Shining Armor was furious with his training today and since she was only a private she was destined to her training until her older brother who could focus on the missin vial instead of the duties he had before hoof. Thankfully there weren't many mares in the Crystal Guard so the barracks weren't crowded when she entered. Aster took off her helm to shake out her shoulder length rose pink mane that fell straight down and then did big curls at the end. Her royal purple coat was almost matted from her sweat so a shower was in order before she could get some rest for tomorrow. She planned on going to the shops for Private Nightshade since he got laid up in the hospital, just something for his troubles. By the time Aster made it to her bunk she had already stripped off her armor and turned to go into the showers when a knock at the door compelled her to stop.

She groaned as she turned around as she was the only mare in the barracks at this time. Aster opened the door to find a sight before her that took her breath from her lungs, her brother stood before her with a defeated look on his face but when she went to open her mouth to ask what bothered him he simply shoved passed her as he began his rant about the prisoner Strawberry, with the guard's help, had recently caught,

"It's like he thinks he's funny. He doesn't care about what kind of stuff I throw his way and trust me when I say that I almost left hooked him a couple of times the way he talked about Strawberry, the nerve of that colt with how he thinks about the lifes of other ponies-"

"Charter wha-" she was cut off as he threw his helm down onto an empty cot while he began to pace in a circle around his sister,

"He won't even answer a single question about why he stole the vial or why he attacked Strawberry. The very fact that he almost killed the bat-pony only made him exciteded! And don't-"

"Brother stop!" she orders placing her hooves on his shoulders to keep him in place and to get him to stop his rant, "One thing at a time, please,"

Her brother took a deep breath in before he sighed. He looked down before he looked back at her,

"How could somepony be so careless," Charter said with low words.

Aster was confused. Why would Charter care so much for a prisoner. Thats when he clicked in her head, if he wasn't talking about the stallion in the dungeon than that means,

"Private Nightshade, you-you care about him don't you?" she asked after she took her arms from his shoulders.

Her green eyes locked onto her brother's orangish-yellow ones to but his fell to the floor again. He looked lost and she was beginning to understand why. The last time her brother thought he found someone was when they where younger, but it turns out the mare didn't feel for him like he did her. It broke her brother and she thought he turned off those feelings... she now guesses that she was wrong, by Celestia's sun does she wish she was. Aster swallowed a little lump in her throat while she waited for her brother to answer but he simply just turns his head away from her,

"Brother, it's-it's okay to say you care about somepony else. I don't think its a bad thing to care," she cooed at him but he simply just shook his head,

"He nearly got himself killed!" Charter finally roared, "How can I care about somepony so reckless!"

"Private Nightshade did his job, he followed a lead that got us one step closer to the medicine vial for Princess Cadance! I would hardly call him reckless! Besides You and Sergeant Crusher got to him just in time to play knights in shining armor!"

"That's not the point, Aster, what would've happened if Sergeant Crusher come get me when he found out there was trouble in that part of the Empire?" he shook his head again, "The colt doesn't think of himself when he puts himself out there! He isn't like us yet he put took off to find Sergeant Crusher in the daylight when he's nocturnal and should only be awake when Luna raises the moon. He scared me when I found him with the spear through his wing, I don't know why but it made my heart skip a beat!"

Aster could feel her cheeks heat up. Her brother was simply pent up and he was taking it out on her. She wasn't the root of his problems. She wasn't the pony he needed to have a conversation with. Aster puffed her cheeks while her brother once again went into a rant about how Strawberry was reckless and nearly got himself killed. She was keeping count about how many times Charter called the Private by his first name instead of by his title. Something he rarely did when it came to somepony other than herself. She was almost at her wits end with her brother's rant when her ears picked up something in her brother's words that forced her to take a step back. Aster couldn't believe it. Without actually tell her what he felt he told her what he had felt at the moment of the Private's distress and that was all she needed to know,

"Apples," she stated loud enough after she let lose a small chuckle.

Her brother stopped mid rant to look her at in confusion,

"W-what, apples? Why would you say apples at a time when I-"

"Brother, trust me. He's part bat part pony, get him some juicy apples from the market tomorrow. I'll help the Sergeant in the search for the vial," she says while she walks over to the bunk her brother threw the helm on, she picks it up before heading back over to him and before he could reply she puts it on his head so it covers his eyes on purpose,

"A-apples, but-"

"Trust me dear brother, get some fresh apples. Dress nicely and meet me by the fountain in the middle of town square tomorrow before I have to do my drills," was all she ordered of her brother before she opened the door for him to take his leave,

"I-I am confused, what kind of apples do I even get!" was his reply as he walked over to her before he stepped out the door.

Aster could only let out a snort before her chuckle this time. She loved how much this flustered her brother. The mare looked at her brother before she shook her head. If she was to play this just right, than maybe her brother will be singing a different tune by tomorrow night. Hopefully the cards were in her field. Aster took a breath into her lungs before she opened her mouth,

"Charter, I love you and I promise if you meet me tomorrow before drill I will have your answers... don't forget the apples," and with that she shut the door in her brother's face before he could even think of a response.

If everything falls into place then it won't just be her brother finally getting laid-which he needed no doubt about it he hasn't had any action since he was a young colt in school and even then the mare only used him before she threw him out to the curb. Aster had positive vibes towards Private Strawberry though. Something about the bat-pony told her that Charter picked the right one this time and hopefully he could help her with his friend. That white unicorn was deffintly doing something for her and she needed to know if she had a shot because if she did she was going to take it with a burning fire. She couldn't help herself. It's been awhile for both of the siblings. Granted she's never really dated anyone before and that she was slowly developing her crush as she went along her day but something inside her told her to at least try. That she needed to go for it or pass it up to chance.

Aster walked over to the restroom. She didn't want to give anyone else the option to knocking on her door. It's been along day and she wanted to shower before she hit the hay. It was late. The moon was full and she knew that Strawberry had an early morning as well. Turning on the showers she practically moaned when the hot water hit her body. She could feel her body begin to unknot itself while she hummed to herself, she wasn't the best singer in the world but she needed to do something while she showered. Once everything was washed she turned off the shower and began to dry herself off. Aster huffed as she left the towel drop next to her bed before she simply fell into it. Tomorrow was going to be a day for fun, they could use that after everything that's happened. Then she'll allow the boys to continue their mission, she sadly wasn't assigned to it so her duties called her away but that doesn't mean she can't help in other ways. The mare slowly closed her eyes at the thought of Sergeant Crusher and what he possibly looked outside of his armor.

Author's Note

Heyo how ya doin? Sorry for the wait but I figured I'd do a fluff chapter, or at least two for the hurt I'll be throwing down the line. Don't worry, they still get their happy ending but who? Dun dun duuuuuun. In all honesty though I do want to thank you guys for reading, adding to the track list or shelves it means so much to me that you love this as much as I do and this piece even got two more likes! Whoa! I love ya guys too!