Memory Clash stood there as the messenger went on and on about how that in Foalis Foalba the earth ponies are resisting the introduction of unicorns to the city. They not only defied the captain's orders as well as the queen's law but tried to assassinate him while he slept. When they failed that, they started to break out with rioting. Now the captain is requesting her to send the royal guard to restore order. Memory had only seen the queen in her current condition only once before, when she had to make the decision to assault Canterlot. Chrysalis had her head down flat on the desk under her forehooves, she is completely still.

When the messenger finally finished, she stayed like that for a few more minutes. She finally lifted her head and dismissed the messenger. After he left, she looked at the map Memory's team made. She scanned it before pointing at a place by Mt. Kaisash.

"What's this here?" she asked.

"That? That's something we couldn't get close enough due to bandits. We suspect that it's a deposit of iron."

"It's only forty five miles out from Trot. If the reports are correct..." she traced her hoof down from Foalis Foalba, along the river, to Trot.

"The army should end up here." She then levitated her ink soaked quill and began to write down a note. "You may go now Memory."

"Thank you my queen." Memory bowed and left.

He informed the team. They each gave their own reactions, mostly of excitement for the probable upcoming adventure. Some weren't so keen, but they didn't object. After that, everypony went home.

Memory trotted down a street. He can't but help to look upon the library as it's certainly a place of changeling pride. He then looked around at the colony. All around, he sees changeling families. All of the sights he has seen, they were nothing like this. Changeling families were once such a rare sight, now they're everywhere. Changeling grubs wrapped in carriers by their mother's sides. Some of the older ones walked with their parents. Nopony seemed to really be going anywhere, they just seemed to be going for walks. Looking at this, Memory feels a little more depressed that he must be off in two weeks. He wanted to finally rest and settle down to start his own family. He'll just have to rest and hope the travel won't be too long. Memory had his brother, Sight Clash, to look over his house while he was gone. Memory was a little surprised to find that he was now a uncle to two twin colts and a filly. He comes into his empty home and sits on a wooden chair that his brother must have put in. Something Memory noticed when he returned was the changeling craftsmanship, things that they never had before. The holes in the wall that was for looking out was now covered with glass to make a proper window. The edges of the window was also smoothed to make it properly rounded. A lot of things are smoothed like the floor, the walls, and the ceiling. Memory looks at the smooth wall and he fills with a desire to decorate it. Perhaps he will bring some things back from his adventures. He then begins to settle into the dark wood chair and shut his eyes. A knocking then came at his door. He gets up and answers the door to find Smooth Talker.

"Smooth, what are you doing here?"

"Well, I heard that you live here alone and I would still be at my parents. So I thought that I'd keep you company. Mind if I come in?"

"Um, I guess not. Come on in."

Smooth trotted in and looked around, "I see you haven't have decorated yet."

"What a observation Smooth."

"Ya, I was just making small talk."

Smooth pulled a chair up to a window and sat in it, Memory did the same. They looked out towards the library and the still unbuilt temple.

"It's astounding, isn't it?" Smooth started.

"Indeed. Have you been to the library yet?"

"No, not yet."

"Do you want to go tomorrow?"

"You know, that would be wonderful."

"So it's a date then, isn't it?"

"Ya, I gess it is. But anyways, on another topic, how has your family been?"

"Well, brother made me an uncle and so did sister. Mother is happy as buck to see me again. Father is still in the silver mines, he won't be back in time to see us off."

"My, it seems that you have a more standard family than I do. My folks are all over the place. Mom is going into maintenance and all across the colony. My dad and brother are both going into the royal guard. My two sisters are now wanting to be the first wave of migrants to go to Sindhoof for whatever reason."

"Your joking, who in their right mind would want to distance themselves from the colony?"

"Strange I know, but they want to do so and there's no stopping them."

"I guess you do have a rather strange family."

"Oh Memory, you don't know the half of it. Let me tell you the time when my aunt and uncle were living with us, and they decided to use their shapeshifting to roleplay..."

They sat and talked for a few hours. The sun set and the moon began to rise.

"It's getting kinda late, but brother only put one bed in. You can sleep on the couch just fine right?"

"Oh, well, ya, I guess." Smooth started to stare down at the floor.

"Is there something wrong?"

"N-no, it's just that it's... a break in tradition."

"Excuse me?"

"It's just, uh, strange to send the mare to the couch."

"What in Equestria are you on about?"

"Oh, you know, the ponies have their way of sending their stallions to the couch. I sometimes found enjoyment in abusing that."

"Well, I can say that I never experienced that. I just guess I was just a good stallion."

"I can believe that."

"Well, tradition or not, it's time to sleep and it's my house. I'm sure you can mange."

Memory then trotted up stairs and went in the door that he supposed to be the room his brother said he set up. It was the correct room. It was mildly furnished, it was ten by twelve feet and had a night stand, a bed stand, and the bed was simply stuffed with straw. He rested on the mattress, got the cloth blanket over him, and began to drift off to sleep. However, one thought stood in his mind. He only knew Smooth for as long as the scouting mission was, and he never took her to be like what she acted back there in the living room. She seemed disappointed by something and for her being on the couch was a little strange. He tried to think about earlier, what is it that she really wants?
Smooth was intent on saying he saved her back at Ranedh, but what does that mean? Hero, that's what she called him. Why did she come over? Better question, why did he enjoy all of it? Was it that she wasn't upset about not being in this bed, but rather, she was upset she wasn't in this bed with him?

'No, no Memory, you're thinking too deep about this.' he thought to himself.
Memory lost the thought and drifted off to sleep.

The next day, Memory got out of bed. He headed to where he thought the bathroom was. He used a brush that was made of boar hair to clean off his teeth and fangs. With a towel, he wiped off the morning crust off his face. Memory then headed downstairs, Smooth was still asleep on the couch. He nudged her head with his hoof.

"Smooth, wake up."

"Mhmm, Memory, you want to go again?"

"SMOOTH!!!"

"Wh-what, Memory, sorry. I was just dreaming."

"You want to freshen up? We'll go to the library afterwards."

"Oh, ya right um, you didn't hear anything, did you?"

"What should have I heard?"

"Oh, nothing."

After that, they left and went to the library. On the way, they past by many changeling families. Memory noted that Smooth looked at them in much the same way he did yesterday.

"Smooth."

"Hmm?"

"Is there something on your mind?"

"Umm, no Memory, not really."

"Smooth, don't lie to me. I can tell something is up."

"Trust me, it's nothing."

"Smooth, you can tell me anything, we're friends after all."

Friends, she winced at that, "I know Memory. Thanks for looking out for me, but I'm fine."

Memory didn't buy that, but he dropped it and moved on.

The library was more impressive on the inside. The rooms were grouped in fours. These groups are made like columns and go right up to the ceiling. Between the groups are empty spaces and stairs. The stairs seem to be for the possibility of non-fliers to make their way around. Suspended walkways allow them to move to another group. The open spaces are for flying. The stairs show the eventual plan to integrate ponies into the colony. Memory and Smooth go into the only room that has any books. The room is packed with changelings and few books were available. Memory scanned the shelves for something to read. One caught his eye, "To see, what can't be seen". At closer inspection, it's a mystery novel written by A.K. Yearling. It's apparently a side project from her popular Darring Do series, for between publications.
Memory took the book and went to find a place to sit. The tables make a circle around the column like sections. The nine sections act like shelfs and the support beams to the room, they're made of the same material as the rest of the building. The tables are made of the same wood as the chairs in his house.

Memory looked for a empty seat. He finally found one and saw another across from it. He settled in it and Smooth went to the other with her book. Memory only had a glance at her book. It was titled "The Fiery Passion." He didn't know at all what it meant, but he began to read his book. It was a interesting read, it's about an art theft that somehow can not be seen by anypony. After what felt like hours, Memory and Smooth put their books up and left the library.

"So what was your book about Smooth?" Memory asked.

"Oh well, it was just a romance novel."

"So can you say anything about it?"

"There's not to much to say, but you say yours was a mystery right?"

"Yes, why?"

"Can you figure it out before you finish? You're so good at figuring out things, I bet you have."

"Well that's kind and all, but it's a little too flattering."

"Oh come on, don't shoot a complement down."

"I just saying that you seem to be trying too hard."

"Maybe I am, I think you would be smart enough to know."

"Okay, what's up with you? You have been acting strange since we got back. Why did you come over to my house?"

"Just wanted to get to know you better."

"You are gonna be with me for who knows how long in a few weeks. Why aren't you with your family?"

"I just wanted to know you out of our work environment. Besides, my family is all over the colony."

"Why not divide your time amongst them? They are your family after all. I'm going to spend more time with mine tomorrow."

"I just can't Memory. It's a little more complicated than that. Besides, I've enjoyed our time together."

"What's so complicated? What aren't you telling me?"

"I-it's nothing."

"It doesn't feel like it Smooth."

"I just feel, happier, with you. I can't enjoy my family while they are all over. My dad and brother are never home because they're in the royal guard. My sisters are always with their husbands, planning their move to Sindhoof. I never know where mom is, so I just thought I could be with you. You say you're seeing your family tomorrow?"

"Yes, but I don't think you should come."

"Why ever not?"

"Come on. Me, bringing a girl over. They would get the wrong idea."

"And what's so wrong with that."

"Mother would just freak out over it. She would go on and on about how her baby has grown up and now she has no one to care for anymore, et cetera, et cetera. Trust me, brother and sister got the same speech."

"Well, we are colleges, so since I'm gonna be exploring with you, I feel that I should be able to meet your family."

"Only if I get to meet yours too."

Smooth's eyes went wide and she froze in place. Memory stopped trotting and turned to face her.

"Smooth?" he said, waving his hoof in front of her face. "Smooth, what's wrong?"

She blinked, shook her head, and said, "Uh, Memory. I think it would be better if I could get you to see them all at once."

"I could see them one at a time."

"No, I think seeing them at once is better. It's gonna be a while before dad and my brother go on leave." She began to trot to Memory's place.

Memory didn't get it. Why is she acting like this? Why does she want to be with him so much? Sure he enjoyed her company and all, but she should be with her family. She wants to meet his family, but not let him see hers, why? It almost seems that she is trying to flatter him. Maybe he is reading too much into it. Ya, that's it... right?