Ether’s slap didn’t hurt, Reddling’s battle-hardened resistance to pain made sure of that. So why did it feel so…

Wrong.

After letting Ether’s words register completely in his mind, he slowly trotted down the stairs and into the living room, where Ether sat surrounded by her books. He glanced at her, opening his mouth to say something, before noticing her look.

She wasn’t going to like anything he had to say.

The stallion closed his mouth, saying nothing as he walked out the door. Shutting it behind him, he made his way out onto the street and took off into the night to get some air and do something thinking.

‘What the hell? I should have said what I wanted?’ He thought as he flew towards his second home, the night guard barracks, ‘So why couldn’t I say it!’

Landing in the courtyard, Reddling set off in no direction in particular. As he walked, he passed a wave of new recruits, just entering the guard and getting used to the idea of living together in the dorms. It was only a few months ago, but it felt like decades since Reddling joined the guard with the intention of killing the Princesses.

He shook his head, walking away and deeper into the castle, which normally housed scores of attendants and political emissaries, but in the dead of night, it was a perfect space to just think about things going on in one’s life. Like the fact that in the space of a night, his co-worker announced that she was pregnant, was forced to move in with him, and then effectively kicked him out of his own home.

“Fucking Equestrians…” He muttered to himself, not noticing the pony walking behind him.

“I thought I gave you leave for the night?” Luna’s voice came from behind him, causing the stallion to jump, turning quickly with his wings outstretched defensively.

“Oh, it’s just you, Princess Lu--” He started to say, his wings folding in slowly as his surprise faded away, only to be interrupted by the Princess.

“That’s Aunt Lulu to you, Reddling.” She reminded him.

“R-Right, Princess Luna,” He said, the night princess shooting him a look before her continued, “Was there something you needed of me?”
“No, you simply appeared rather troubled despite the excitement of the night,” She explained, “Is something the matter?”

“Yeah, about that…” He trailed off, looking up at her, “I really don’t think this arrangement with Ether is going to work out as you hope it will…”

“Is your place of residence too small to support your family?” Luna asked, “I’m sure we could host you here until you find a new location!”

“No, it’s not the apartment, it’s Ether herself…” Reddling explained, “She’s not in the best mood.”

“Why do you think that is?” Luna inquired.

“I dunno, Something about blaming me for the foal, when she’s the one who needs to take responsibility for her heat cycle!”

“Are you suggesting that you had no part in it’s conception?”

“No, I just think she’s blowing this whole thing out of proportion!”

“Maybe so, but that does not excuse you of your responsibility.”

“What responsibility?”

“As a father, you have to be a good role model to your foal, no matter what the situation is.” Luna explains, “It’s a lot of work, and it’s going to be hard to persevere at times.”

Redding falls backwards, the thought of having to be presentable at all times weighing on his mind as he stares at the ceiling.

“I don’t know if I’m ready for all this…” Reddling says.

“Well, you have eleven whole months to prepare,” Luna replied, “And you can start by apologising to Ether.”

“But it’s not entirely my fault!” Reddling said, sitting back up.

Luna giggles, rising to her hooves and setting off back down the hallway, “Before a lawyer, or an assassin, Ether is a mare much like myself.” She says over her shoulder, before disappearing back into the shadows of the moonlit hall.

“What do you mean?” Reddling called out, to no response.

Realising that Luna was gone, he set off towards the open courtyard once more and took to the twinkling skies with a flap of his powerful wings, there were a few hours left in the night, hopefully he could get this whole situation under control by daybreak.

On the flight back home, Reddling tried to think of what exactly he should say to Ether. Apologising was never his strong suit, after all. Why did he even care so much again? It’s not like he HAD to get along with her, so long as the foal was taken care of…

“Am I… In love with Ether?” He asked out loud to nopony in particular, “No, of course not, why would I be? She’s just a burden, an attractive, strong burden with a very similar outlook on life to myself and currently bears my only offspring, but a burden.”

Anypony who actually overheard the stallion would have told him exactly what his rant meant, but alas, nopony did, and so his feelings went unrealised.

Landing outside his home, Reddling quickly unlocked it and stepped inside, closing the door behind him quietly in case Ether was asleep. He wasn’t going to apologise if he could help it.

He crept past the living room, not looking in as to spend as little time as possible getting to the kitchen, he desperately needed to eat something after a long night such as this.

“Are you sure you’re really an assassin? You can’t even sneak through your own house.” Ether’s voice came from behind him, it seemed as if he’d been caught.

Reddling stood, turning to face her with a slight anger in his eyes. It look like he was going to have to say sorry to her after all.

“Listen I-” They both opened their mouths at the same time, only to stop and pause awkwardly for a moment.

“You first.” Ether said, blushing slightly.

Reddling nodded, taking a breath before starting his apology, “I-I’m sorry.” He begins.

And then stops.

“That’s it?” Ether’s eyebrow raised in surprise, “All that, and you walk in here with ‘I’m sorry’?”

Reddling just stands there, trying to muster the courage to say something, anything. His mouth hangs open, no sound emerging as his mind runs on overdrive.

“Well, I suppose when you’ve never said sorry to anypony in your entire life, this is a pretty good start.” Ether said, “Well, in that case, I suppose I’ll have to make up for it.” She says, before suddenly pulling him into a tight hug.

Reddling’s eyes widened, he wanted to struggle free, nopony was allowed to touch him without permission, let alone hug him!

Yet still, she was warm, and it felt nice to have her hold him like that, for whatever reason that may have been. He raised his own front hooves, hesitating for a moment before awkwardly wrapping them around Ether. Suddenly, his emotions didn’t feel so wrong. This hug was oddly comfortable, and made him feel like he was wanted, needed even.

Ether moved her face up to Reddling’s ear, her mouth opening so he could feel her hot breath pulsating on his soft ear tuft.

“I’m sorry.”

Author's Notes:

This chapter started out being considerably edgier than I'd originally expected.

In other news, I finished a second chapter for once!