The warden reluctantly unlocked the door with a glow of his horn. The door swung open as a pegasus mare in a guard's uniform pushed it from the inside. She was pink in coat, and had a pale orange mane with streaks of deep purple.

She greeted the two of them with a bright smile and said, "The inmate's been awaiting your arrival."

She turned her smile onto Pound and began vigorously shaking one of his hooves, "You must be Pound Cake! Oh, she's so excited for your interview. She hasn't stopped raving about it all week!"

'She?' he asked himself with thoughts. 'Well, at least I have a gender to work with now.'

Pound gave the warden a confused glance, but smiled at the overly energetic guard nonetheless.

The warden gave a long sigh before introducing the guard. "Mr. Pound, this is Locket Down. She's the guard assigned to this wing. She's responsible for your safety during your visit."

Pound smiled once more at the pegasus before glancing over her shoulder at the open doorway. Beyond, he could see a long hall, lined with empty cells, and ending in a small doorway he couldn't quite see into. Nopony else was in the hallway.

"Why's she the only guard in this wing?" asked Pound as he made this observation.

Locket chuckled nervously as Cellblock answered his question.

"She's the only guard the inmate will allow to be in this wing."

"What do you mean?" asked Pound, raising an eyebrow. "Don't you control who guards what wing?"

"Yes," replied the warden. "Of course. It's just that..." he trailed off.

"Last time they tried to move me and station somepony else with her," Locket continued for him, "they ended up in the psych ward and had to go through therapy for months."

"What?" asked Pound as he felt his jaw drop. He looked at Cellblock and Locket in turn, and they nodded in unison to confirm that what the guard had said was the truth.

"What happens when you're out sick?" he asked Locket.

"Oh," she said matter-of-factly, "I can never get sick."

"Well," Cellblock said, obviously trying to change the subject as Pound began writing in his notepad again, "I'm afraid I have to handle things elsewhere. Locket, the protection of Mr. Pound and his sanity is your utmost priority. Don't let me down."

"You got it, sir," Locket responded with a small salute using her wing.

As the warden walked towards another section of the Breadbox, Locket turned her full attention towards Pound with a wide smile.

"Are you ready?" she asked.

Pound took another look over the pegasus' shoulder and gulped. Finding comfort in the guard's energetic personality, he was able to calm himself down enough to choke out a few words.

"Absolutely. Lead the way."

Author's Note

Locket Down's name and design are based on the G1 pony, Locket.