When Flash awoke the next morning, things felt more like a dream than anything else. He felt warm—hot even, and sticky. There was a mess between his legs that told him he might have had an… accident.

As the pegasus opened his eyes, he realized that something was fundamentally off. There was fabric sticking to the side of his muzzle. Fabric that was part of the pajamas somepony, or rather someone else was wearing. He blinked his eyes clear of sleep, noticing, for the first time that morning, that he was in fact not sleeping on a bed. Not directly anyway.

Vela… I’m sleeping on Vela, I had… What happened last night came back to him. We… we had… we had sex.

The mess, it wasn’t an accident. It’s…

Oh no… I came in her, did I get her pregnant‽

Is she going to hurt me?

How will I explain this?

I… I…

She wants me to be her coltfriend.

That last thought caused him to pause. Every single thought before that had been wracking his nerves, causing him to fret as if the world was coming to an end. The last one calmed him in a way he hadn’t expected. Almost like none of his other worries mattered once he remembered that bit.

He looked back down at her head. Vela was still sleeping, peacefully resting her head on the pillow. Her eyes were closed and a smile was upon her beak. She looked, in a word, cute.

I wonder if she’s dreaming about me.

Suddenly Taz and Nighttide made a lot more sense to the young stallion. This had been amazing; beyond amazing. It was no wonder those two were always fawning over each other. They had… they had this.

He seriously doubted that Vela would ever be like Nighttide though. Most likely we’ll have to play this low-key until Vela either feels ready to tell everypony or she goes back to the Griffin Empire.

Flash didn’t know why, but that thought kinda hurt.

It was strange to him. Vela was an abusive, egotistical bitch, who had no problems telling anypony exactly what she thought when she thought it. He had lost teeth when he stood up to protect others from her. And yet…

His thoughts were more than confusing. As such the stallion did the only thing that made any sense right now. He stopped thinking and just rested his head upon her chest.

I may not know what’s coming, but right this second, I just don’t want this moment to end.

There was just one small problem with his epic plan to go back to sleep upon his lover’s chest. A little thing he’d have normally taken care of last night after his orgasm, but didn’t as he had never actually pulled out of the girl, at least not until sometime in his sleep when he got soft and went back into his sheath.

I need to pee.

As his dad had taught him: identifying the problem is half the battle. Of course, as he lay there, afraid of waking her up—but knowing he’d be forced to one way or another—that little tidbit of information didn’t exactly help.

He knew, logically, he had to get to the restroom, and the sooner he did, the better it would be for the both of them. Flash weighed his options: I could try flying off her, but the noise alone would wake her up. I can stand up and scooch over to the side of the bed, and, if Luna’s with me, I can get off the bed to the floor without moving her. Then, if I’m lucky again, I can make it to the bathroom without tripping over my hooves and waking her up.

The first one was guaranteed to wake her, the second, only about eighty percent. He decided on the twenty percent odds. He moved his right front hoof first. Placing it on his side, hoof down on the bed so he might start transferring his weight off her.

It worked, being that he moved his hoof, and she didn’t wake up. Flash had no time to celebrate that little achievement. Now that he had his hoof in position, he raised his head next. This was the most dangerous part, for this was the part of him that somehow felt more… connected to her. He believed that by moving his head, he’d be cutting the bond they shared. That logic was… absurd. But somehow… he just believed it.

As his head pulled away, the bright-pink satin PJ top Vela wore stuck to his fur for a moment. He worked it clear and looked down at her, really looked this time. She’s... amazing. How… how have I never noticed before?

His bladder reminded him he was on the clock. Shaking his head free, Flash moved his other hoof to the bed and lifted himself up. This was the part that actually caused Vela to move, she squirmed—just a little—as his weight was lifted from her body.

She looked unhappy.

He kicked himself for this again, wishing he had more self-control then this, and didn’t absolutely have to pee.

It’s either in a toilet, or on the bed. One way or another, it’s coming out, and I seriously doubt you’d be happy with option B.

His hind hooves were easier. They allowed him to get to his hooves and start the long, arduous process of removing himself from the bed. A process that was slightly expedited as his biological needs forced him to speed up.

Flash only barely avoided falling off the bed. He saved himself by a last second correction with his wing.

Stupid blanket!

As he pulled the offending garment from off his body, he stood up and took one more look at Vela. The hippogriff was on her back, her head raised and to the left. Her beak had the cutest little smile on it. The pink pajama top was matted to her fur, ruffled from having been pulled away from his body.

His eyes trailed down her body to the mess that was between her legs. Her fur there was sticky and matted, a little leftover from their… fun.

I’m so bucked if she’s pregnant. Grandma, why didn’t mom let you teach us more?

Cadance had tried to teach the boys all about sex when she was still around. Sadly, their mother, Firestar, had a different perspective on what a ten-year-old should know than what Cadance did.

He really, really, really wished that Cadance had won that argument, that his mom hadn’t pulled the ‘mom’ card, and that his dad hadn’t simply let them fight it out without taking sides.

Sure, he knew the basics: dick goes in pussy, cumming, foals, masturbation, etc… But he didn’t know how to please Vela. What sort of things did girls like? How could he go the extra mile to make sure that she's happy?

And most importantly, why did the thought that she might be pregnant with his foal make him, somewhat… joyful?

His bladder reminded him once more that now was not the time for such questions, now was the time for peeing. Flash was left with the distinct impression that he’d not get another warning.

He—painfully—tore his eyes away from her sleeping form and to the restroom. The sun was already out, lighting the room just enough through the blinds to prevent the young stallion from stumbling over anything. He hurriedly made his way to the bathroom, taking extra care to make as little noise as possible so as to not wake up his sleeping princess. With a huge sigh of relief, he made it to the restroom and shut the door behind him.

Loudly.

Vela awoke with a start. Her sleep was interrupted by what sounded like the door to her room being slammed shut. She stretched her front claws over her head and yawned, feeling stiff, satisfied, and sticky.

Her mind quickly remembered what had happened last night. Her eye darted around the room, looking for her coltfriend.

Then her mind put two and two together. The noise, the slamming door, he… he left.

She expected to be angry even. She told herself to grab the spear and hunt him down, to skin the colt alive and drape his pelt over her doorway. But yet, oddly, all she felt like doing was crying.

Suddenly, last night didn’t seem so fun to her. She had felt… something different, very different when her and Flash had...

Vela pulled her hind legs up to her chest and buried her face in her claws.

Of course he’d leave, stupid! Who’d… who’d want to be with me...

The flush of a toilet caused her heart to jump into her throat. Her eyes went wide as her head shot up to see a white pegasus stallion walking out of the bathroom. A relieved look in his eyes, or at least it was in his eyes before he caught sight of Vela.

“You’re up?”

“YOU JERK!” Vela yelled as she started throwing things at him.

Flash took two pillows to the face before he started ducking. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you! I just had to use the restroom!”

Vela paused. She looked down at her claws, the bed, and then back up to the stallion himself.

Flash blinked three times as he heard the strangest noise: She was laughing. It started off as a chuckle, but quickly built up to full on laughter.

“Sorry,” Flash said again as—against his instincts—he moved to the bed and jumped on it. “I really didn’t mean to wake you.”

“Leave it to me to fall for the stupid ones.” Vela lamented.

“Wait, you fell for me?” Flash asked with a smile.

“What do you think, idiot, that I just have sex with anyone?”

Flash—wisely—said nothing. He’d heard more than his fair share of tales about Ataxia.

“Y-you did mean it, right?” Vela asked. Her tone was suddenly somber.

“What?” Flash asked.

“You want to be my coltfriend?”

Flash smiled at her. “Of course.”

She did something surprising. Vela moved her head and placed it on Flash’s chest. The pegasus held her in his hooves. He was enjoying the feeling of someone being close to him like this.

“You know you can’t say a word about this, any of this, right?” Vela asked as she practically purred into his chest.

“I’d never,” Flash said as he simply held her, “not until you’re ready.”

“Ready?” Vela asked.

“You know, to tell them, about us I mean.”

“Who said I wanted to tell them?”

Flash sat there, dumbstruck. “But… I mean, us?”

Vela glared at him; waiting until the confusion on his muzzle became a frown of reluctant acceptance before she smiled. “I’m just bucking with you. Of course we’ll tell them, one day.”

Flash chuckled. Of course she’d still mess with me, she’s still Vela after all.

“You think they’ll be mad? I mean, we’re related after all,” he asked

“Pft, we’re second cousins. Besides, Shimmering Night—after a foursome with her own sister—is pregnant with her brother-in-law’s foal, and Taz and Nighttide are fucking every chance they get; they can’t really say shit about us, now can they?”

“Speaking of pregnant. I mean…”

“Very doubtful. My parents tried for years to have foals, and they only had two. Three if you count the one they lost. They said it’s really hard for ponies and griffins to conceive. I doubt it’s that much easier for hippogriffs.”

“Oh, okay.”

Why does he sound disappointed?

Why do I sound disappointed?

“But, if I was?” Vela asked.

“I’d be a dad,” Flash said with a smile upon his face at the thought of it.

Vela felt her heart beat rapidly in her chest. She smiled and pressed herself tighter against his chest.

“So, I want to ask, about us?” Flash asked.

“What now?”

“Well, does this change things between us? I mean, not in private?”

Vela raised her head and kissed him. She let her tongue reach into his mouth and find his own before pulling back with a smile, her claw having found its goal while she had him distracted. “What do you think?”

Flash cringed as he felt Vela squeeze his balls in her claw, not enough to cause him real pain, but more than enough to make her point. “Noted.”

Vela ran her other claw over his muzzle in a tender touch before lightly slapping him upside the muzzle in a playful manner.

Flash rubbed his muzzle.

Luna this girl is crazy. What did I get myself in t—

“We need a shower before we head out. We both smell like sex,” Vela stated.

“Yeah, you’re probably right.”

Vela jumped down from off the bed and made her way to the bathroom; halfway there, she stopped and turned around to wink at him. “You coming? I could use someone to wash my back.”

Flash nodded and jumped down to follow her.

I think I could get used to it.

He had no idea just how deep the rabbit hole went, but now that he started, there was no turning back.

Ana put a hoof to her face in frustration at her sister’s pacing back and forth in their room. “Ugh, how long are you going to do that?”

Starlight looked over to her. “Oh, you’re awake?”

“Duh, you’ve been pacing since sunrise.”

“Actually, about an hour before that.”

The glare Ana gave her could shatter glass. “Are you still going on about that bat-pony from last night?”

“She came by again, this morning. Woke me up to apologize.”

“So then what’s the problem? She apologized, let it go.”

“That’s what I’m trying to do!”

“Based on the groves in the floor, you’re not,” Anna said.

“I just don't know what to think about that mare!”

Ana snorted. “She's just a bat pony, there’s nothing to think about.”

“I know the stories,” Starlight snapped. “She's just so different in her own way. Something is interesting about her but I just can't figure out what!”

“Oh please not you too!”

“What‽”

“That look. I know it from that mare and from mom. Don't tell me you fell for a bat-pony.”

“What‽” Starlight’s eyes raised in shock. “That’s ridiculous!”

“Oh please, let me guess, you can’t stop thinking about her. You can’t get the mental image of her out of your head, you feel like somepony completely different when you’re with her?”

“I’ve only seen her twice.”

Ana rolled over, a smile crossing her face. “My sister, the smitten pony.”

“You’re the one with the silly crushes, not me!” Starlight protested.

“Yet you’re the one pacing here, thinking about that mare,” Ana teased.

“She’s in the Night Guard, she’s at least eighteen!”

“Age isn’t nothing but a number,” Ana replied.

“You say that out of knowledge from Nighttide?” Starlight asked.

Ana scowled at that, pissed. Starlight took a step back, knowing she took it too far. “Sorry.”

The dark-blue unicorn stared at her sister. “Look, you want some help or not?”

“Help with what? I don’t have feelings for her, if that’s what you’re implying.”

“Oh sweet Luna,” Ana said, rubbing her temples. “Assuming you don’t, why can’t you stop thinking about her?”

“She’s… I… but…”

“Yeah, enough said. Look, you can’t get her out of your head, right?”

Starlight nodded, that statement she could—would agree with.

“So figure out why.”

“That’s what I’m trying to do!”

“No, you’re not. Spend time with her, figure out why she’s running around your head nonstop.”

“What, like on a date?”

“You said it.”

It was Starlight’s turn to scowl. “That's not helpful at all!”

“Nopony said it had to be a date-date. Just take her out to eat as a way of saying thanks for the hard work she did on the armor.”

“But bat-ponies eat… meat.”

“And?”

“And I…”

“Look, you’re going to drive yourself crazy with this, trust me I know. But the one place you won’t figure this out is in your own head. I know this is weird for you, but the answer you’re looking for is not in your brain or books. It’s out there.”

Starlight sat down and wrapped her tail around her hind legs. “But, would she even want to? I mean, I’m only thirteen.”

Ana sat up. “Honestly? I have no idea. But I think you’re pretty cool to be around, so she’d have to be blind to see otherwise.”

Starlight blushed at her sister’s complement. This was the Ana she missed, the Ana she had been before this all started. “Will you be my wingmare?”

“You want your sister to go with you while you ask a mare out?” Ana asked, a smile upon her face.

“We’re not goi—”

“I’m just screwing with you,” Ana said with a chuckle. “I’ll do it. But on one condition.”

“Name it.”

“We go right now.”

“What?”

“Yep. I’ll go with you, provided we go right this second. Together, the two of us, before she’s asleep.”

“But we’ve got so much to do! Twilight and everyone’s leaving today, we can’t just—”

“That’s the condition,” Ana stated, her voice recalcitrant. “Take it or leave it.”

“Why now?”

“Because I know you, this is a problem you will not let go of. You’re going to spend every second of every minute of every hour thinking about it. And then you’ll make a hundred excuses on why not to do it and drag your hooves about it for weeks, if not months. So no, we’re not going through all of that. We do it now, or you’re doing it alone.”

“I hate you.”

“Is that a yes or a no?” Ana said, already knowing she had won.

“Yes,” Starlight mumbled.

“What was that? Sorry, couldn’t hear you. I think we might have a mouse in here.”

“Yes.”

“That’s better,” Ana replied with a chuckle. “Now let’s do something about your mane before we go and try to woo the fair maiden's heart.”

“I DON'T LIKE HER THAT WAY!”

“Sure, whatever you say, sis.” Ana chuckled as she got up and grabbed her supplies. Reluctantly, Starlight parked herself in front of a full length mirror.

If I don’t like her that way, why is my heart beating a mile-a-minute at the thought of her?

Echoside lay back in her bed, her headphones turned all the way up as she enjoyed the latest beats by Dr. Hooves. She frowned, regardless of how loud she turned the sound up on her headphones, they wouldn’t drown out her thoughts.

She hugged you.

She turned the volume up even louder

You called her cute.

She maxed out the volume.

She’s an annoying, stick-in-her-ass, princess. Like we don’t have enough of them already.

It still wasn't enough.

You can't forget her, you’re interested in her.

“NO, I’M NOT!”

Echoside blushed when she realized that she had shouted that last bit. Looking up she saw every bat-pony staring at her, wondering what had crawled up her flank and died. She took off her headphones and sighed. “Sorry.”

“Freaking rookies,” one mumbled before turning away.

“Care to say that to my face‽”

The pony that had spoke turned back around. Echoside took stock of him. He was a big-beefy pony, a Linebreaker if she had to guess. The strongest, toughest units one could be in. His jet-black mane seemed to suck in light as he walked up to her, easily twice her size.

Echoside didn’t even bat an eye.

He glared at her as one might a piece of excrement on the sidewalk. “You’re lucky your grandmothers are famous, otherwise I’d wipe that smirk of your face.”

“Too big a pussy to take on little old me? I see how you are.”

“The Night Guard has gone soft letting blowhards like you in. All talk, no bite.”

She growled, baring her fangs. “You want to see my bite? I’ll be happy to show you.”

“Echoside!”

With venom, she turned to the speaker. “WHAT‽”

“You have visitors,” the bat-pony on guard stated.

Echoside’s eyes went wide as she saw the source of her frustration this last night standing at the door. She shook her head clear and retracted her fangs. “Princess, what are you doing here?”

“Hanging out with the namby-pamby princesses now? I knew you were soft,” the large pony chuckled and turned away to his bunk.

Echoside spun around and bucked him in the balls as hard as she could. The bat-pony collapsed like a house of cards. The mare smiled before bolting in the direction of the princess. She almost paused when she saw that the unicorn wasn’t alone. “C’mon, get moving! He’s going to be pissed!”

“And you’re wondering about that?” Ana asked her sister.

Starlight gave her a look before smiling and running after Echoside. Ana shrugged and did likewise. She could hear the big bat-pony cussing and cursing behind them as he tried to stand and failed several times over. From the stories she had heard, the others wouldn’t help him, but they wouldn’t hinder him either.

Bat-ponies were all about personal honor.

Echoside led them out the barracks and around to the edge of the palace walls. She took so many twists and turns that Ana was completely lost. Starlight fared better, until they reached several places that weren’t on the blueprints. Then her mental map simply did not line up with the physical world anymore.

Only when Echoside was satisfied he wouldn’t be able to follow them did she come to a stop. Starlight and Ana were close on her tail, but they were both completely out of breath. “That’s what I call a morning workout!” Echoside said with a smile as she turned back to her two charges, the mare wasn’t even winded.

“W-what… was… that… about?” Starlight grunted.

“Somepony just getting too big for his own good. I had to knock him down a peg, or two in this case.” Echoside giggled. “What were you doing here anyway, princess?”

“The name’s Starlight.”

“What makes you think I care what your name is, princess?”

Starlight ignored that comment. “And this is my sister, Ana.”

“So you’re princess seven, or eight? I’ve lost count.”

Ana glared at her, then turned to her sister and asked, “This is the mare you’ve been pining over?”

Echoside paused, then gasped. “What?”

Starlight blushed at that. “I’m not pining over anyone, Ana. I just… I mean… I—”

“Been pacing back and forth in our room for the last three hours unable to get her out of your head. Yes, I know. I was there, remember?”

“You too?” Echoside blurted out before coughing, “Uh, I mean… Buck!”

Ana glanced at the bat-pony; this being her first good look at her, she could… kinda see it. The mare was grey, had a black mane that was about twenty-five percent purple, and piercing lavender cat-like eyes. When she was off-hooved like this, she was actually kind of cute.

“The reason we're here is because my sister had something she wanted to ask you. Don’t you, Starlight?”

Starlight suddenly felt butterflies in her stomach. She opened her mouth, wishing more than anything she had something to drink; her blue coat felt itchy, her eyes watery, especially when Echoside locked eyes with her. “I-I I mean, I wanted to… I… Um…”

“Oh for buck's sake,” Ana groaned. “She wanted to know if you’d go out to eat with her, on a date.”

“It’s not a date!” Starlight protested, suddenly finding her voice.

Ana sighed. “Don’t mind her. She’s just in denial.”

Echoside looked from Starlight to Ana, Starlight to Ana, Starlight to Ana, and then she started to laugh at what was going on. “Oh my, Luna, it’s like school all over again!”

“Is that a yes or no?” Ana asked. “We kinda need an answer.”

“If I say yes is her interpreter coming too?” Echoside asked.

Starlight blushed. “No, just us two eating something, alone.”

“Fine, whatever. But you’re paying. As I can’t exactly return to my bunk for a while I could use a free meal. You can take me out to eat tonight, but I’m picking the place!”

“Please pick something that has salads as well,” Starlight said quietly.

“Ignore her, whatever you pick is fine,” Ana stated. “You can pick her up from her room at six, that good?”

“Ehh, whatever,” Echoside replied.

“See you at six,” Ana stated as she walked over and started to bump Starlight out of the hole in the wall they were in. “I’ll make sure she’s ready to go by then.”

“S-see ya then,” Starlight mumbled as she looked back once. Echoside sat facing away from them, but the mare did look over her shoulders at the departing princesses once. Before realizing she had been busted and quickly looking away.

Ana chuckled as she did her best to lead them back. “Hey, Starlight?”

“Yeah?” Starlight asked nervously.

“Is there a spell or something that can give you the ability to speak, if not that’s going to be one awkward date.”

“It's just a dinner and not a date!” Starlight snapped. “Why can’t you get that through your head?”

“Whatever you say, sis, whatever you say,” Ana said with a chuckle.

Starlight growled, “C’mon, I’m sure they’re waiting for us. We should get back.”

“And then get ready for your date,” Ana said under her breath.

“What was that‽”

“Nothing, like you said, we need to get back.”

Starlight’s words proved prophetic; the two sisters were indeed the last to arrive. They found everyone waiting in the courtyard. Twilight, Rainbow, Dayspring Gleam, Ataxia, and Radiant had packed their bags, ready to go. Aurora was the only adult that didn’t; she was watching the kids roughhousing. Next to them were three opened crates of armor. Blaze, Flash, and Taz were already in their armor. Starlight couldn’t help but see Nighttide admiring her prince in the purple armor of the Night Guard. However, when Ana looked around, she could’ve sworn she saw the same look Nighttide had on her muzzle on Vela’s. But she lost sight of it too quickly to see whom it was directed to.

“You two finally get up?” Radiant asked.

“About time, let's go!” Ataxia said.

“Damn, you’re in a hurry aren't you,” Dayspring Gleam commented.

“It’s mom, she’s always in a hurry,” Ana said with a smile; one that disappeared when, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Nighttide kissing Taz.

“Alright, you all know why we're leaving. We’re leaving to finally get ahead of the Red situation and hopefully put an end to this once and for all. I don’t know how long we’re going to be gone, but with the lunar solstice in three days’ time, I expect that we won't be back until this is over. While we’re gone, you are ALL to listen to Aurora. She’s in charge, okay?”

Most of the ponies present said okay; however, there was some mumbling of disagreement from Nighttide.

“Nighttide, is that understood?”

“I’m older than her!”

“That may be, but you’re not a princess.”

Nighttide glared at Taz when Twilight made that comment. The colt just shrunk at that comment. He had considered marrying her a few times already, in truth he didn’t know why he hadn’t yet.

“I shouldn't give a buck about the title. I could be her… Well, I'm more than six times her age!” Nighttide scowled.

“The guard’s only answer to a princess or prince of Equestria, until that’s officially your title, you cannot be left in charge,” Twilight answered matter-of-factly.

Nighttide grumbled, but stopped when Taz nuzzled her coat. “Relax,” he whispered, “if we’re not in charge, that means we have more time to ourselves.”

The mare smiled wickedly and gave Taz a glare that made him gulp. It was a glare of lust, of a mare that knew what exactly she wanted.

As with every time the two started in, Twilight ignored it. Pretending something wasn’t happening wasn’t the healthy way to go about it, but it was either that or accepting it. She chose A. “I expect you all to look after each other. It’s been almost six months since we’ve last seen or heard from Red, but while we’re gone, he might make his move. Trust each other, have each other’s back like the family you are. And watch out for Shimmering Night, please.”

They all nodded at that.

“Starlight, you’re the most magically gifted. If something goes wrong, I want you to contact Dayspring Gleam as soon as possible.”

The mare nodded at that.

“Vela, Nighttide, you’re our heavy hitters. However, don’t get overconfident. Attack as a team, don’t try and take them by yourself,” Radiant stated.

They each nodded in turn.

“Blaze, Flash, use your speed, you can’t hit what you can’t catch,” Rainbow added.

“Ana, Dayspring. Look out for Aurora, she’s getting slow in her old age,” Dayspring Gleam said with a smile upon his muzzle.

“Oh, buck you too!” Aurora replied back, smiling at her twin brother's jest.

“The point is, look out after each other. You’re all friends... of sorts anyways. Be there for each other, and above all, stay safe,” Twilight stated.

“You can count on us, mom,” Taz said.

“We’ll make you proud, grandma,” Vela added.

“You’ve already done that,” Twilight said as her party gathered around. They could all see that Ataxia’s patience was quickly reaching the end of its rope.

Starlight watched as Dayspring Gleam powered his horn, surrounding the group with the beginnings of a mass, long-distance, teleportation. She knew from her own studies the spell took a LOT of power, but he made it look almost like foal’s play.

“Hey mom,” Ana said.

Ataxia looked at her daughter, surprised.

“Kick his flank!”

The purple unicorn smiled. “He’ll never know what hit him.” She then closed her eyes and prepared herself for the thing she hated most in the world: teleportation.

Dayspring’s spell was complete and the group of ponies flashed out of existence to hunt down the only lead they had discovered in six months.