Brigade stood like a statue next to the chattering changeling, his golden armor reflecting the mid-day light. In the days since her rescue she had remained a secret in the castle. And he had remained her day light guardian. Her swelling had gone down and he could tell she didn't look like the other changelings, her features were closer to that of a ponies. Fewer holes, less spines, softer features, Thinner limbs, wider hips, and membrane that looked like a mane. She really didn't look like the other changelings. He watched as the covers went up and down with her breathing, constant and rhythmic. She hadn't stirred at all, even when the doctor came to examine her. His concern for the changeling was somewhat upsetting to him. But deep in himself all he wanted was this broken creature to wake up and smile at him. He could feel these emotions rise and fall away, like he was forgetting that he was having them. There was a knock at the door.

“Who goes there!?” Brigade barked raising his spear.

“It’s Acropolis.” He said as he entered the room. Deep bags under his eyes, clearly he hadn't slept at all in the past few days. “Just came by to see if she’s awake.”

“No change.” Brigade said flatly.

“I see,” Acropolis walked over and looked at her face. “Quite the looker for a changeling.”

“Sir?”

“Cut it out with the sir, Brigade.” Acropolis barked.

“Sorry, What do you mean, looker?” There was a long pause.

“She’s sort a pretty, now that the swellings gone down.” he looks over at Brigade standing there stoic as ever. “You've noticed.” She rolled over in the bed so she was now facing Brigade, a small smile on her face. “Has she done that before?”

“No, sir.” he said amazed that she moved at all.

“Ah, then she must be getting better.” Acropolis said as he moved to leave. “Brigade, try not to think of her as an enemy or as a invader. After all, from what we gathered she was captured well before the wedding invasion.”

“Hard not to Acro,” Brigade looked sadly at her, “I killed a lot of them that day,” She is kind a pretty, “It’s hard, I feel a disgust towards her or her kind rather, but at the same time, I want her well and happy.”

“Focus on the latter. Im sure she will get better in no time. Remember they feed off emotion.” And with that he left Brigade alone in the room.

“That explains a bit.” Brigade said to himself.

Rune threw her book across the room in frustration. The static in her ears was maddening. The other ponies in the Lunar library looked on, somewhat scared of their lieutenants anger. They knew the extent of her abilities and how efficient she was at using them.

“How do we know almost nothing about changelings!?” she nearly shouted. Her lack of sleep was getting to her. The violent visions of ripping Acropolis apart again and again while in the vault still haunted her somewhat, and the static. The fresh vision of the crushed stallion and the head spinning in the sewer hung on her like a wet blanket. She was delirious, her vision was going and she just wanted the ringing in her ears to stop. She looked up to see Acropolis standing there, was he wobbling too or was her vision that bad? Seeing him out of uniform she thought back on their first night here, falling asleep studying together. She treasured that memory. “We know nothing about changelings.” she said as she sat on the floor where she stood. “Nothing.” Resigning to her lack of knowledge, something she hated to do.

“Rune,” Acropolis helped her to her feet. “Come with me.” Acropolis puled her up with his wing and led her out of the library, up into the tower where their quarters were. She faded in and out of delirium as he slowly hauled her up the stairs. She could tell he was in just as bad a shape as her. Having to stop every couple steps to steady himself. He carried her into her room and she drew the shades with what little magic she could muster. The sun wasn't welcome in this room. He helped her into her bed. “Now, lieutenant I am giving you a direct order to get some sleep.” he wobbled as he gave his order in a soft voice.

“One, condition.” She mumbled through her pillow. She reached out and pushed the covers aside making room in her bed for another. She rolled to face the vacant spot and simply patted the space. Her eyes half closed, looking up at him. He wobbled a bit.

“If you insist.” He began to climb onto the bed but halfway up his knees decided to just flop in. They laid there in silence for a few moments before Rune snuggled up into Acropolis’s side. With her head rested on his shoulder she soon found herself drifting off into a deep sleep. He slowly closed his eyes, listening to her now steady breathing, and to succumbed to the comfort of this companionable slumber. Finally, some sleep.

“Luna.” Celestia called to her sister snapping her out of her daydreaming state.

“Y-yes sister?” Luna flustered. They sat at a small table over looking the gardens, having a spot of tea. The conversation had been about the resurgence of violent and sexual crimes being committed.

“I think it might be time to re-open Asyl.” Celestia said calmly.  

“Asyl, maybe you are right.” Luna looked out into the garden spying a very particular monument. “After all, this resurgence of violent crimes is somewhat my fault.”

“Come now Luna,” Celestia put down her tea, “No thoughts like that. This is our function, your influence hasn’t been felt in a century. Two sides of the same coin. Besides its not the citizens that concern me.”

“I guess that is true.” She paused, “After all what is sanity without madness?”

“No shadows without the light.” The sisters smiled and resumed their afternoon tea.

“Chhhickkshhskk.” The nymph changeling murmured. That was the most life Brigade had seen out of her. He leaned down to get a better look at her face. Acropolis was right, she was pretty, in a kind of creepy and exotic way. As he stared at her, her eyes slowly fluttered open. They were big and blue. Eyes you could get lost in. The small slits for pupils dilated as she focused on the stallion leaning over her. “Shhsichshk?” She said softly.

“Brigade.” He touched his chest, understanding her question. “You speak equestrian?”

“Yes.” Her voice was soft and not harsh or as clicky as he would have thought. “Where?”

“Canterlot Medical. Acropolis rescued you in the sewer. Remember?” Brigade knelt down so he was eye level with her.

“Sewer, they hurt me,” she paused, “Everywhere.” She was on the verge of tears.

“Hey, hey, now.” Brigade placed a hoof on her shoulder. “Your safe now, those ponies wont ever hurt you again.”

“I know.” She smiled and fell asleep again.

"What am I doing?" Brigade was getting into the habit of talking to himself.

Acropolis awoke to find himself in Runes bed with the sleeping mare wrapped around him. Her nose nestled under his chin, he could feel her breath on his neck and her horn pressed gently against his cheek. Her heartbeat pulsing against his side and rhythmic breathing calling him back to her embrace. He laid there looking up at the ceiling rested, for once. His mind turns to the still sleeping mare next to him and what he intends to do about this situation. He likes her, yeah, but, Acropolis doesn’t have a good track record with the mares. Better off friends. Who share a bed? Naw, this was a one off thing. He looks down at her peaceful face, nearly angelic in her calmness. One off. He bends down and kisses her gently on the nose. One time only. Against every fiber in his being telling him other wise he rises from the bed and goes to the window. The sun is setting. They got a good days sleep at last. Together. One time thing. With her. Buck.

“Ruuuune.” Acropolis’s voice cooed, “RuuuuUUuuune.”

“Nah.” She said as she grappled for her companion only find her bed empty. The smell of coffee greeted her nose as she begins to rise. “Ac-Acro?” she yawns, “What? When did?”

“Shush,” he places a hot coffee on her bedside, “Coffee time, talky time later.” He got up and left the room, presumably to get into uniform. She gathered up her coffee and sat on the edge of her bed. She looked back and thought of falling asleep with him.

“Acropolis.” The indent from his wings still visible in her mattress. His warmth, the pulse of his heart. No, he is a co-worker and my boss. Why didn’t that calm me down? She shakes her head. She never had much luck dating, as in she never had. No time. And there certainly wasn’t time for a relationship with her boss. This was a one time thing. She touched the indent in her mattress. It’ll never happen again. The spot is still warm. Oh, Luna, what am I to do?

“Luna, your blushing, everything alright?” Celestia asked a bright red Luna. They were going through some legal documents before the night shift.

“Yes, im fine, there are just some very strong emotions coming over the link is all.” She fanned herself with a folder. “Ill have to remind them to take off their amulets in their sleep.”

A few Days Later

The sounds of grunts and clashing steel filled the barracks. Acropolis and Rune stood watch over their newest recruits practicing with a variety of weaponry. Acropolis seemed alert and attentive, clearly he had been getting his sleep. Rune too had been in better spirits lately. Her formations and research had made great strides. However her study into changeling anatomy was snatched away by Doc. Along with the nymph changeling much to Brigades surprise.

“Still no luck.” Rune said looking up from her documents.

“Well, I only saw shadows and didn’t hear his voice. That fourth stallion is lucky he vanished when he did.” Or he would have ended up dead too. Acropolis cracked a menacing grin, he could hear the static. The three ponies they killed in the sewer were identified as know sexual assaulters and all had history of violence. No family, no friends, some didn’t even have a home. Sad really. “We will find him. Eventually. Like we'll find Hannibal.”

“Oh this was on the desk.” She handed him an envelope bearing Luna’s personal insignia. Acropolis opens the letter, it was short and read.

Acropolis, Rune Shift.

Gardens, south side, near the mad mare statue.

Now.

Luna

“Well then, I guess we shouldn't keep her waiting?” And with that they left for the gardens.

Luna stood before the mad mare statue in the gardens. It was a strange statue, it was a mare holding her disembodied head with one hoof and reaching to the sky with the other. The strangest part was the base of the statue, it was huge. The base itself was big enough for a small shed.

“Luna, why are we out here?” Acropolis asked. He tried the link but didn’t get much from Luna, just a feedback ping of static.

“Asyl.” Luna said flatly.

“As in the house of madness?” Rune asked.

“Madness? Oh boy.” Acropolis rubbed the back of his helmet.

“Asyl, was more of a prison than anything.” She produced a key, “To keep those that were effected away from the general populace.”

“Effected? By what?” Rune was becoming more concerned.

“This world functions on a positive and negative, Celestia and Me. With me locked away, madness, murder, deviants, insanity, waned away. Now with my return, the world is trying to make for lost time. And over compensating.” Luna explains.

“So, what you generate the worlds nut jobs?” Acropolis’s question was one of dismay, he couldn’t believe that the princess of the night, surveyor of dreams, was the source of madness. The static spiked as he asked the question.

“Yes, why do you think they are called Lunatics?” Luna turned towards that statue. They hadn’t thought of that. She unlocks that statue and pushes open the false bottom revealing a cage elevator. “Everypony in.” The trio crowded into the cage and begin their decent into the Asyl.

“BRIGADE!” Shining Armor was yelling at him now.

“SIR!” He barked back. Shining had caught him dazed off again and this time during drills with the whole unit.

“Whats wrong with you?” Shining asked quietly.

“Not sure sir. Ive just been a little, distracted. I guess.” Brigade knew what was bothering him. Doc had moved her to his lab while he was off duty, and being celestial guard he wasn’t allowed in the Lunar wings basement.

“I cant have you distracted Brigade. It shines poorly on the rest of the men.” Shining gets closer. “Mare troubles?”

“Sort of, sir.”

“Colt troubles?”

“No, sir. I guess I’m just wrestling myself in my head.”

“Talk to me after drills, and keep your head, cant afford you getting hurt.” Shining walks away to finish the drills.

After drills most of the guard had left for post or gone home. Brigade sat on the community couch they had set up the barracks. Out of uniform he felt so naked.

“Brigade.” Shining, also out of uniform, sits down and hands him a hard cider. “So, since I cant have my best not at their best, whats wrong?” Shining takes a swig of his cider.

“You know of the changeling nymph?” Shining nodded as Brigade spoke, “Well I watched her for a few days, and I don’t know  I, guess I feel guilty because I killed a bunch of changelings in the invasion. But then I helped this one recover.”

“How’d you help her?”

“They feed of emotion, apparently I wanted her to get better and my compassion or something helped her heal. So now I feel sort of, responsible for her.” Brigade took a swig.

“And now what?" Shining could see something else was eating away at him, "What do you want?”

“I just wanted to see her up and about.”

“And?” Shining could see more was there.

“And to see her happy.”

“Why?”

“Why?” Brigade replied.

“Yeah, why do you want to see her happy?”

“Because,” Why did I want her happy? “She had been through so much, Acropolis saved her. If he and Rune hadn’t found her they probably would have left her there to drown next time the sewer flooded. And he left her to my care while he was away.”

“And?” Shining smiled.

“I, I never,” He paused and took a large swig of his cider, “Didn’t get to say goodbye.”

“Isnt it funny, how the one relationship we never had is usually the one that stings the most?” Shining mused popping the cap off another cider. “Just telling you she’s safe and healthy wont appease you will it?” Brigade shook his head. “Nope didn’t think so, you are by far the most honorable and stubborn colt ive ever met.” He shotguns the second cider. “And you finish what you start. Ill talk to Luna, and see about getting a visit or something.”

“Thank you sir.” Brigade was honestly surprised by Shining's offer.

“Brigade,” Shining leaned in, “Promise me that regardless of what you see in that basement, IF you get in, you will leave there only with what you came in with.” Shinings tone was very serious.

“Sir?”

“Luna’s labs have always been a place of questionable study, now promise me.” brigade began to speak. “Do you know Pinkie Pie?”

“Umm, actually yes I do sir. But what does-” Brigade got cut off.

“Pinkie Promise me that you will leave that lab only with what you brought in.” Shining Placed a hoof over his eye. Brigade couldn’t back out now. He knew that if he broke this promise Pinkie would somehow know of it and all hell would break loose. He hesitantly placed a hoof over his eye.

“I Pinkie Promise, sir.” Brigade said with confidence. Shaking Shining’s hoof at the same time. Oh sweet Celestia what have I done?

“What is it Pinkie?” Mrs. Cake asks as Pinkie suddenly stares out the window blankly whilst placing frosting on cupcakes.

“Oh nothing Mrs. Cake, Just somepony making a promise.” Pinkie smiled and went back to her cupcakes.  

"Acchhoooo!" Discord gave a mighty sneeze. Blinking his eyes a few times he regains his composure.

“Well that’s different.” He says and goes back to his work.