The first thing that Sandbar noticed as he returned to the woken world wasn't the 11AM sunlight through the window, or the damp, sticky bedsheets.

It was the smell.

"Morning, Sandbar." Gallus greeted, waking up next to him, stretching his wings.

"Yeah, barely." Sandbar replied, glancing at the clock on the nightstand. The two of them rolled out of bed and immediately made their way to the bathroom. They started the shower head and immediately got in once the water had gotten to an acceptable temperature.

"Your front half is so scrawny when you're wet." Sandbar told Gallus, snickering as the griffon lathered up.

"Yeah? Well, your wet mane is enough for you to pass as a mare." Gallus shot back.

Only when they stepped out of the shower, dried off, and stepped out of the bathroom, did they realize what kind of a scent they had left lingering in the bedroom overnight.

"You know, unless you had something very pressing to attend to after waking up, I've got something in mind to start our day." Sandbar said, hanging his towel back on the rack before shutting off the bathroom light.

"Oh? Do tell." Gallus said, excitement climbing in his voice.

After a satisfying brunch in the dining room with her brother and sister-in-law, Twilight figured it would be a good idea to go check on her other guests that had no doubt stayed the night. The Princess of Friendship made her way down the east wing to the guest suite, walking up to the door and knocked. After waiting a few moments with no reply or noise whatsoever from the other side of the door, she tried the doorknob and found it unlocked. The guest room was empty, and curiously enough, the bedding was missing. The sheets, comforter, pillowcases... The queen-sized bed was nothing but plain white.

"Huh. Did Spike get started early today?"

"No, your highness. Your two guests from the school asked me for directions to the laundry room." Commander Thunderlane answered in passing, briefly startling the princess.

"Oh! Uh, thank you, Thunderlane. Really? They know laundry service is complimentary, right?" Twilight asked her third-in-command EUP officer.

"I informed them of that very thing, but they were quite insistent."

The princess nodded at the commander, and he was on his way, as Twilight shut the bedroom door and made her way further down the east wing to the laundry room. Indeed, the door was open and she could hear one of the washers going from several doors down. She trotted up to the open doorway and saw Sandbar, Gallus, and Spike sitting around one of the empty folding tables, their snouts in comic books.

"Good morning, barely," Twilight greeted, as the three of them looked up from their reading material.

"Morning, Headmare Twilight. I hope we aren't overstaying our welcome." Sandbar replied.

"Not at all. I just didn't expect to find you in here, of all places."

"Well, we decided that we wouldn't be good guests if we left the bedding in the condition that we... Uh, left it in." Gallus told her, tinting at the cheeks.

"I appreciate the sentiment, you two, and I certainly don't need any more details than that. As long as you had a good time, that's all I need to know."

"We absolutely did," Sandbar began. "We learned something new about ourselves, and each other."

"That's great. And if you're kind, loyal, generous, and honest with each other, then there's no limit to where your relationship can go."

"Thank you, Your Highness. Could you perhaps tell us what Princess Cadance's favorite flower is? We'd like to give her something in appreciation as well." Gallus added.

"Hm. I believe pink roses have always been a favorite of hers. With that, I'm afraid I have quite a few things to take care of today, so you three have fun!" Twilight said, bidding them farewell before leaving the laundry room.

"So what do you two think you're going to do when school's done? Do you think it's that strong, and will last that long?" Spike asked them as he returned to his comic book of choice. Sandbar and Gallus looked at each other.

"Well, Sandbar, if it's all the same to you, I don't see myself returning to Griffonstone." Gallus told his boyfriend.

"Really?"

"Yeah. I mean, I want to be around creatures who will be happy for us. I don't have anyone there, except maybe Grandpa Gruff, and I doubt he'd be thrilled for us. Despite Gilda's and Gabby's best efforts, it's the aspiration of any Griffonstone citizen to get out of the city, to say nothing of the rest of the Griffon lands. I'd rather stay with you in Ponyville. The best things in my life have happened here. You most recently."

"Well, if it's alright with you, I'd like to at least visit it sometime with you. I think we should at least give it a try. That's what you and I did this weekend, and look how it turned out." Sandbar encouraged.

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

To: Guidance Counselor Starlight Glimmer
From the desk of Headmare Twilight Sparkle

Starlight,

Just what did you think I meant when I said 'Please soundproof the East Wing guest suite'?

Because I've got four students pestering me about how many 'rounds' are in pony and griffon mating rituals.

Care to explain?

Sincerely,
Headmare Twilight Sparkle

Dear Twilight,

As you know, soundproofing spells can be somewhat complicated. I believe the spell I cast was effective to equine ears, but I can't say the same for dragons, yaks, hippogriffs, or changelings.

Perhaps you want to start pointing hooves at your E.U.P. night patrols?

For what it's worth, apologies for the misunderstanding.

Sincerely,
Guidance Counselor Starlight Glimmer

Dear Starlight,

Oh no need to apologize. I redirected their questions to you.

They'll be in your office first thing Monday morning.

Good luck.

Sincerely,
Twilight

To: Major Fizzlepop Berrytwist
From the desk of Princess Twilight Sparkle

Major Fizzlepop,

Do you care to explain how four of my students got past your night patrols to eavesdrop on what was supposed to be a private and isolated night for two other students?

I almost choked on my coffee this morning.

Sincerely,
Twilight Sparkle

Dear Princess Twilight,

I believe you told me to expect guests from your school and to show them to said guest suite in the east wing of the castle.

You didn't tell me how many guests.

Sincerely,
Major Fizzlepop Berrytwist

Author's Note

Disclaimer: Red Dead Redemption 2 assumes no responsibility for the delay of fan fiction chapters. Please consume responsibly.