Midnight

"I really do appreciate you inviting Starla to stay over with you and Midnight while I'm away on this trip, John," Teddy repeats as he and I lug a pair of suitcases into the garage. "It's a major load off my mind that I try not to let Starla know about."

"Aw hell, you really gotta stop thanking me," I laugh. "Midnight would have probably eviscerated me if I said no to the sleepover. Not that I was opposed to it anyway."

In the meantime, Starla and Midnight trot toward each other, rearing up on their hind legs and meeting each others' front hooves with a loud *clack* that echoes through the shop.

Are you as excited as I am for the next few days?!" Starla exclaims, returning to all fours with a gleeful, giddy expression.

"Hell yes I am! This is gonna be awesome!" Midnight affirms, every bit as energetic as Starla.

I have to stop and stare at the scene for a moment before resuming my trek toward the upstairs. "Goddamn, they're just adorable, aren't they?" I quietly murmur to Teddy, who has matched my reactions and movements during this time.

"Yeah, they sure are. I couldn't tell you the last time I saw Starla with this kind of childlike innocence," Teddy says, a tinge of emotion impinging on his voice. "She's been ecstatic about this sleepover since we arranged it."

"I think it goes without saying I know I've never seen Midnight like this."

"She really has dulled her edge a bit, hasn't she?" Teddy questions.

"Yeah, I think she's got a reasonably palatable attitude now," I agree, nodding my head. "When she wants to be approachable and open, anyway."

"What the hell are you two mumbling about over there?" Midnight calls out, bringing the private conversation to a close as she gazes at us with wary eyes.

"We were just talking about how seeing you too all excited like a couple of young fillies is just so darn cute," Teddy answers her, plastering on a big smile to drive the comment home.

Midnight rolls her eyes, detesting the response that she's received. However, Starla gets a good laugh out of it – though it may be a combination of the comment and Midnight's reaction. Rather than stoke the fire, I motion to Teddy with a nod of my head to follow me up the stairs. We'll leave the two mares to continue their excited discussion in peace for now.

"So where exactly are you off to, Teddy?" I ask once we reach the door at the top of the stairs. I drop my suitcase to open the door and allow him to enter before following through.

"Alabama," he answers with a stronger emphasis on his Southern drawl. "Quite the road trip this time around, but fair is fair – I only had to trek to Texas the last time we had this little meetup."

"Is it as high stakes as Midnight makes it out to be, or am I getting the exaggerated version of the trip?"

"She make it sound like I'm on a top-secret spy mission?" Teddy suggests. He looks around the living room in front of me, unsure of where to put the suitcase he's carrying.

"Ah, just set it wherever. The couch is fine," I assure him, heaving the second piece of luggage onto the grey leather sofa. "But yeah, 'spy mission' is a good descriptor for what I was fed."

"It may be a bit of a stretch – but I probably am more cautious than I need to be," Teddy admits, setting his bag next to its mate on the couch. "I get paranoid about being tracked, so I take a lot of extra steps to shake off any trails I might otherwise leave if someone started looking at me just a bit deeper. I'm sure the company knows I have Starla by now – I'm not quite naive enough to think she's lost to time for everyone other than me. But still, the lower profile I keep for me and Star, the better off we are in the end."

"Why risk it though?" I blurt, unable to resist asking the obvious question that comes to mind. "Who are you even meeting with that concerns you that much, and what's the point?"

"I'm meeting up with some old friends from Georgia – got their start under me at the lab where I worked, and most of em still work there, as far as I know," he replies, calm and understanding toward my pressing questions. "They see things the way I do, but being younger than me, and the money still being good... I can't really be mad at them. They aren't creating them like I did."

Teddy still appears to bristle at the idea of money over ethics continuing to win out to this day, but gathers himself back up, albeit with a frown. "As much as it pains me to say it, Starla is, in layman's terms, a prototype. Long-term prospects on general wellness and possible issues down the line were and still are an unknown with ponies like her. So having some folks on my side still in the fold – I can get a better idea of what to look out for, if anything. As well as the state of affairs in the whole game."

"Is... are you worried something may be wrong?" I feel a bit rude for asking such a thing, but Teddy appears to anticipate and expect such a question – he doesn't bat an eye.

"No, I don't have any active concerns with Star. I'd just like to get a heads up on any developments for the future – Starla wasn't the first or the oldest pony we had at our facility," he explains. "Mind you, I have a vet around here on the down low that does a regular checkup on Starla, but mares like her and Midnight – well, those checks only do so much. There's a ton of unknowns."

Midnight's name being brought into the fray sends a jolt through my whole body. Until now, I hadn't given much thought to Middie's long-term health – what if she does have some sort of medical problem down the road? Who do I turn to for something like that?

I've suddenly gotten a better understanding of Teddy's endeavor he will be undertaking – and I have a new anxiety troubling my head and my heart.

But a hand on my shoulder brings me back to reality – with Teddy offering a heartfelt smile as I glance at his face. "Don't sweat it – my underground doc is yours," he says. "It's been slipping my mind with everything going on and with Midnight... well, not exactly welcoming. But I've been meaning to suggest that we go to get her a baseline checkup from my guy."

"I'm sure she'll be thrilled with that idea," I joke with a touch of sarcasm. But you're right, that sounds like a good idea."

"And I think Midnight will understand – after some time to consider it."

"Yeah, I guarantee I'm getting snark when I bring it up with her."

"Ah, but it's like you've told me – that part of her charm," he responds, chuckling and shaking his head lightly.

"I can't argue with that. Any idea how long you plan to be on this trip? I'm not worried, but I haven't heard a proper timetable on it all."

"Well, I'm not too sure about that myself," Teddy admits, rubbing the back of his head. "It depends on how long these guys have away from their work – and if everything still seems okay between us. I'm not here thinking the world is out to get me – but I know people can change. I don't wear blinders for anybody."

The strong conviction in Teddy's voice catches me off-guard, and I still don't have a succinct response to my question. But to hell with it – I'm just looking forward to the hijinks that will inevitably ensue with Starla and Midnight together under one roof for a while.

"I'm gonna drive part of the way there, and take a short flight – just to keep things mixed up for anyone paying attention," he adds. "But I'll keep in touch – I feel relieved Starla is staying with someone, but I'm still gonna miss her something awful."

"Awww..."

Both Teddy and I turn to the door and find Starla standing at the opening, smiling with a wistful, emotional expression and sparkle in her eyes.

"You act like that's such a surprise to hear," Teddy comments as Starla struts through the kitchen and into the living room.

"It's still so sweet to hear you say it," Starla counters. She stands up straight, meeting Teddy with a nuzzle as he leans down a tad before both of them share a quick kiss. "You should probably get going soon if you want to stay on schedule, dear."

"Yeah, you're probably right – I didn't plan on coming up here to chat but..." Teddy trails off, preferring to shrug. "I got three hours of driving ahead of me this evening. Remember what you need to do if you need to get in touch with me?"

Starla laughs even as she rolls her eyes. "Of course I do. Call and let it ring until voice mail, then hang up. When you call back, let it ring twice, followed by a minute or two, then pick it up when it starts ringing again."

"Atta girl," he gushes, running a hand down her mane. "Love you Star."

"Love you too, Teddy Bear," Starla replies, suddenly raising a hoof up. "Now, you better get going or I'm gonna have to swat you."

Teddy shies away from Starla as she snickers, taking a slow, lazy swipe at him. "I better listen to the lady – she means business," he says, feigning a pang of fright in his voice.

But Starla saunters up to him again as he tries to circle around, rearing up and giving him an embrace and one more kiss, to which Teddy matches both. "Be careful, Teddy," she instructs.

He gives Starla a salute as she drops back to the floor. "You take care as well Star – and more importantly, have fun."

Starla nods her head in agreement and a big smile as Teddy returns his focus to me. "John, I can't say it enough, I—"

"I'm gonna hit you myself if you keep thanking me," I joke, raising my hand and clenching it into a fist. "We're gonna be fine – though I'm sure I'll be busy with two giddy gals gallivanting around the shop. Still, wouldn't have it any other way."

Teddy slaps me on the back in appreciation, caresses Starla's mane one last time, and heads for the door. "I'll be back sometime this next week – we'll have to do another get-together sometime afterw— Good God, you'll give a man a heart attack!" His sudden shout and jolt backward come just as he passes the doorframe.

"Am I really that scary, or are you exaggerating?" I hear Midnight ask from the other side of the wall, sounding genuinely surprised. "Starla told me to wait, so..."

"Well, I didn't expect you to actually wait by the door!" Starla exclaims, bursting into a fit of laughter as Midnight pops her head around the corner to look in. "I figured you were going.to head back downstairs to wait."

Midnight's face contorts, finding the suggestion rather bizarre. "I already came halfway up the stairs with you before you asked me to wait, so..."

"So you decided eavesdropping on private conversations was the better alternative?" I ask her, butting into this silly debate.

"Didn't ask you – no one did," Midnight belts back to me.

"You're fine, Midnight," Teddy chuckles. "We weren't actually discussing anything private or sensitive. Have fun this week – and be good," he adds in a teasing, light-hearted tone.

Midnight rolls her eyes at the suggestion – even as her muzzle breaks into a grin. "It's John you should be worrying about with that last bit – not me," she says, motioning toward me with a bob of her head.

"Oh, shut up," I shoot back at her.

"Take care, everyone, I'm off," Teddy announces. He sends a final farewell wave to us before descending the steps and out of sight.

With Teddy's departure, Midnight now properly enters our living space, shuffling over to join Starla and I who remain in the living room. As she passes the kitchen island, her eyes flick to Starla's bags that lie on the couch. "What's with the luggage, anyway? It's not like you wear clothes..." she comments in curiosity.

"Uh— well, I actually did bring a bit of attire – but nothing fancy by any means," Starla replies. "I just brought some odds and ends from home I might need. Figure I'm better with too much than frustrated not having something I needed – particularly when it comes to cooking."

"Well, our home is your home for the next few days, so make yourself comfortable, " I assure her. "You can have our bed if you wa—"

"Oh no – the couch looks perfectly suitable," she gasps as her head flicks to me, eyes momentarily wide with shock. "I'm really not that fussy – I'm just excited to be here. When do we go out and work in the junkyard?"

"That's already done for the day, Starla," Midnight says. "Be glad – it was a hot one out there today."

"Aww, but I was looking forward to seeing how you two work," Starla pouts, plodding over to the couch and giving a cushion a test with her hoof. "Ooh, this feels really nice."

"It's actually only a couple of weeks old – coincidentally, our old couch decided to give up, so we had to replace it," I explain, chuckling a bit as I consider her eagerness to see our daily life. "But trust me, you will get your fair share of seeing what we do firsthand."

"For better or for worse," Midnight tacks on. She puts on an expression that oozes smugness, just for me.

That won't do – she's already getting too comfortable with this arrangement. With that in mind, I dart my hand forward toward her nose, preparing to boop her – only to be parried by a dark feathered wing that snaps open in time.

"Oh no you don't," Midnight sasses, taking pride in her block.

"You fucker."

"Language, John," Midnight scolds me, her face twisting into an exaggerated simile of deep disapproval. "We have a guest, and you're using that kind of profanity?"

"Oh, I forgot you don't swear at all," I scoff, slapping my forehead.

"Midnight actually swears a fair bit during our video chats," Starla pipes up. At first, I consider she may not understand my sarcasm – but there's the slightest inkling of a smirk on Starla's muzzle...

"What the hell? You're supposed to be on my side," Midnight whines, turning her head to focus on Starla.

"Haha, you got called out by your own kind," I taunt her. As a result of this little bout of shenanigans, I'm convinced Midnight may be just distracted enough—

As Midnight turns her head to glare at me, I poke her right in the nose with a readied finger. "Boop!" I exclaim.

"Augh, goddammit!" Midnight growls, stomping a hoof. Off to the side, Starla giggles at the sight.

Oh yes. Let the madness begin.