Your mind is full of things to do. It was a pity there was only one of you, and so many options of things to do... "For now... bed."

"That's me being kicked out." She fired finger funs at Bright Spark. "You take it easy, dragon friend."

"You got me!" He hadn't actually been shot, but he died anyway, with all the drama the fake death didn't deserve. "And I thought... we were becoming friends." He flopped, tongue hanging free.

You wished Moon a safe trip back to her own home. "I'll pass the word on." And with that, the day was over. You and Nick stay in seperate rooms. You are a 'thing', but haven't settled just yet on doing couple things, like sleeping in the same bed, or sleepy cuddles.

Part of you is up for that idea! Part of you is against it. It's not easy being of two minds with that, but at least Nick is a good person about it and raises no fusses. It's his fault anyway!

The next day, you head in with Nick for work. On the way, you spring one of many things bouncing in your head. "So... up to telling me about loyalty?"

"Already?" He switches lanes smoothly, the one driving at the moment. "You just learned laughter."

"I won't go for more right away, promise... It's an odd feeling, but you two are people I trust. Like a purpose? Destiny? Just me being stupid?"

"I'll go with the first. You aren't stupid." But he gets quiet, just driving. "Loyalty isn't complicated, really. You were talking about first thoughts last night. First thought of loyalty: Are they alright? How can I protect them? Seeing someone in a bad spot, especially someone you care about, awful."

"Relatively straight forward." They each had a compassionate angle. How can I help them? How can I make them feel better? How can I protect them from being hurt in the first place? Each related, but different... "Ever get a good feeling?"

"Remember the vampire?" You nod. Hard to forget that one! "Fighting it off, keeping it from hurting you and the others? That was a decent good hit. Probably medium, from the way you were going on about it. Mild is more day to day, when you stop someone from hurting themselves or something from messing with them. Waking you up when you were going to be late? Little good."

"I wasn't going to be late!" you defend a bit more hotly than needed. "Sorry."

"Got the good anyway." As if that defeated any amount of logic against it. "Major? Never felt it, no idea. Is that enough? You going to try being that, and laughter, and kindness, all at the same time?"

"So long as I don't let it get to me, there's no harm, right?" You shrug at the idea. Why not? "If I can get a handle on it... Look, not trying to be boastful. I don't think I'm the solution to the world, but... just... what if?"

"What if... what?"

"What if I get friendship going?"

Nick is quiet as he drives. What feels like forever passes with the quiet hum of the vehicle. "You know... That will paint a huge target on your back. It won't be safe."

"You say that like I'm safe right now."

His grip on the wheel tightens. "I don't like hearing that... I want you to be safe."

"But... I'm not." Was there a way to pretend you were? "I'd have to quit and hide in a very deep hole, I think... And I'm not doing that. You dragged me into this."

"Shit." Well, darn, now he's looking upset. You called him out, and it stuck. He had dragged you into the strange side of the world and put you in danger. As a person, and a loyalty especially, he felt bad.

"Don't feel bad." Did saying that ever work?! "Look, I was bored and coasting before. Happy enough, but coasting, waiting to die, almost..." You tap at the dashboard. "Now I'm waiting to decide if I want to start taking having a boyfriend seriously, and how to juggle being a three colored magical horse... Which is crazy... But I don't want to give that up."

He snorts, amused at your words, bad mood punctured, a little. Laughter go! "I'm... glad to hear that... Still, I'd rather you weren't in danger."

"I was before." You nudge against him. "Would that vampire have not showed up if I stayed ignorant? Man, that would have been a hell of a visit..."

"Explaining that..." He shook his head and turned the car into the parking lot. "I'm glad we skipped that. You ready for work?"

"Yep." You both walk in and seperate. He goes for the front counter to start his day. You head into the back, falling into the colorful realm of their castle, and hitting the ground on all fours.

"I heard that." The viscountess strolls out, looking far less agitated. "Already back? That mean you learn something? You... Look better, but I can't say exactly how. Tell me."

She still has that look of tension. She's working hard, for the freehold and all the people in it. "Allow me to ask, how are you? I mean that."

She came up short, staring at you in a new way. "You really are just... asking that. You have no idea..." She put a hand to her head. "How long it's been since someone asked that just to ask it, without sounding like they're hoping for something, or trying to distract me from something else." She casually grabs you by the head, directing you by the horn along down a hallway. "I knew there was a reason I liked you, besides being a fuzzy healing source."

"I'm serious." You move to her side, though her hand remains on your head, your horn between two fingers. "How are you? Not in the 'I'm fine' way, but, seriously... You alright?"

"No." She pulls you by the head and horn to face her as she lashes a foot to close the door, sealing the two of you in that small room that could have just been a closet. "I'm not, since you keep asking. There's a lot to be not alright about, and it's my job to make it alright, somehow." She throws up her hands, freeing your head, for a moment. "Being royalty means you can't talk to your subjects. You, turns out, aren't technically one of those, so I can rant at you if I feel like it, and I wouldn't have, but you had to ask that. This is your fault, to be clear."

Loyalty led you to ask, risking her anger... But laughter was what was needed, you decided. No amount of hugs or healing would banish what ailed her. "You know... They really like you."

"They have little choice, little pony." She tickles you under your chin. "I am their ruler, after all."

"Yes... Yes, but... More than that. Geraldo, he speaks his mind, and he's admitted it before. He likes you. The only thing he doesn't like is that you don't like him back as much, but you're busy and I get that."

"Glad you do." She pinked your horn. "No time for romances, especially not his. They tend to be short and chaotic. It's like he prefers the sad stories to tell afterwards. No offense, but typical satyr... Now, stop teasing. Drop the ball. What do you want?"

To see her smile? Saying that felt like a dead end. "Do you ever get a day off?"

"I wish. Nobody else is going to do my job while I take one. Why? How does that help you?" She squints at you with obvious doubts.

"I... want to know my boss, past the mask she forces herself to wear all day every day." You swish your tail as an idea comes to you. "I'm just a pony. What you tell me, stays with me, and doesn't even count."

She grabs you by the cheeks. Alas, horses have big cheeks, and this includes ponies. She has a lot to squish and hold firmly. "Send your friend away."

Friend? Oh. There's Bright, trying to not be noticed. "I'll be out soon, go on."

"You sure?" He looks between the two of you, swallows, but flees without further complaint.

"Great." She releases you. "When did you become such... a shrink?" She hikes a brow and leans back against a wall. "I hate that I don't hate it, like I do around most... You don't put out judgy vibes. You really just want to know?" You nod quickly. "It isn't that special..."

So, she goes ahead and spills out the details of her life. She was born a human, as most changelings do. As most ponies did too, but you didn't bring that up. She talks about her childhood, about how she crashed into her changeling state as a young adult, and had to adapt to that quickly. "This whole place was basically on fire..."

But she got a grip on it and wrestled it into shape. "But it's a constant task, never ending. This is not a friendly world. You realize that, I think." She pats you like a good little dog, or pony. "You almost got chewed up by it... twice, I've heard. Once on our turf, and once off of it. How you got mixed up in that... Nevermind." She shoves you away a few inches. "There, my story. Happy?"

"Are you happy? Thank you for sharing. You've led an interesting life."

She squints just faintly. "And you haven't?"

"I was just an old ma... perso--"

"Spill it," she ordered. "I told you everything, return the favor."

Shoot... "I was an old man." You reach into a pocket and dig out your ID in your wallet, still with your old face and show it to her.

"You're kidding..." She takes the wallet and gapes at the old you. "And you're alright with that?"

"I'm alright." You swish your new tail with a smile. "An easier change than what you went through from the sound of it."

"Yeah... In some ways, can't argue that." She drops into a crouch, face even with yours. "Now, seriously. I get it. You're a nice pony, but you aren't that nice. What do you want?"

Oh! Right! "Since you keep asking... A friend of mine, also a pony, who can see how I see, wants to join the freehold, and get paid."

"I'm inclined to agree to another adorable thing, but what can they do, and are they a guy pony or a girl pony? Call me shameless if you want, but I have my preferences."

"Girl pony." That she said it like that, a bit uncomfortable. "Not that it should matter?"

"Look at you, being progressive." She taps you at the end of your quivering nose. "Cute. What can she do?"

You're annoyed a moment, but something occurs to you. She's not looking quite as mired in things as she had before. You had broken through, just one little chip. "She's a laughter pony, and a unicorn. She can do magic, and she'll try to brighten things up."

"A healer too?" She perked at the idea, clearly hoping.

"Sorry... Laughter. She brightens things up, knows which way up things go, and has a good attitude. Also, good at mind magic." You paw at the ground with a hoof. "Sound useful?"

She taps the side of her face with a lone finger. "Mmm... Not as obvious as a healer... How talented are we talking about? Rip the secrets out of someone? Mind control from the start?"

That was going to dark places! "I'm not 100% sure. I didn't ask her for a rundown of war crimes."

"Too cute." She ruffles the top of your head. "You said she could step back here if she wanted to, on her own hooves?"

"Yes. Should I call her?"

"You should! I won't know until I interview her. Does she have any idea what you're signing her up for?" She went for the door, cracking it open to the outside. "This isn't the retail job your boy got."

"I hinted." You follow after her. "But that'd be good to go over in the interview."

Author's Note

Laughter is the best medicine, they say. Let's learn to laugh and help others smile.

Three down, sorta? Practice is needed... She seems open to the idea of maybe hiring on Moon, but that sure isn't a sealed deal.

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