Dark Vision sat in the largely empty apartment. The fact that it was empty wasn't a shock to her. Sweetie Drops had just rented it, after all. "How much do you already know?"

Sweetie sank her rump down on the floor. "Not as much as I clearly need to."

Dark raised a brow. "I find that hard to believe. You came here entirely on accident?"

Sweetie was quiet a moment. "Tabitha has... a magnetic personality."

"I see."

There was an accusation in the statement, even if Dark had said it perfectly evenly. Sweetie could feel it, and her hackles rose. "I just wanted to talk, and... make a--"

Dark raised a hoof. "You don't need to explain your actions. They were not against any law that I have been made aware of."

Red and flustered, Sweetie clopped a hoof on the ground. "No! No... I won't let this hang. I wanted a friend. I wanted someone to... just talk to. Someone I felt was close, but not too close. Another human seemed just the perfect thing. "

"What experience have you had with humans and related species?" She raised a brow questioning at Sweetie.

Sweetie put a hoof to her chest. "Besides almost marrying one?" She let out a bitter little laugh. "Lyra started slapping down the heavy magic without any protection, messed the poor bastard right up. Luna had to fix it, and she got hauled away for it."

"I... see." Dark nodded. "Well, that fits the pattern. We have a human that's been the target of heavy magic use. I feel confident I could restore her, but..."

Sweetie sighed softly. "You too, huh? Yeah, my human selected his path and got to hiking it. It wasn't really my place to change that."

"Precisely." Dark rose and moved towards a window, her horn glowing as she pulled the blinds shut. "She's adapting well to Equestrian life. She's forged alliances, and is even somewhat patriotic, at least, as much as anyone as ignorant as she is can be." She turned to Sweetie. "I would see she continues that path. She'll be a fine citizen. May her life be long and peaceful, though I have my doubts on the latter."

Was peace an option for humans? Sweetie wasn't sure. "Alright, so, about this operation?"

"This building." Dark tapped on a wall lightly. "The entire structure is a horrifically powerful and extremely active nexus."

Sweetie's eyes widened. "Nexus of what, exactly?"

"It would be easier to say of what it isn't." Dark frowned. "Tendrils reach from here to almost infinite Elsewheres. The likes of the 'elf'... Have you met her?" Sweetie shook her head. "We'll have to go over her. The intelligent and reasonable ones are quite dangerous, but can be negotiated with and peace reached, to a point. Less intelligent, more feral, and simply more hungry entities exist and would make this nexus their open gateway to a buffet known as Equestria." She raised a hoof. "I can't allow that."

"And... neither can I."

Dark nodded. "You understand quickly. You've heard enough to have a basic understanding. Do you still wish to stay?"

That was a kindness, and a test. Sweetie Drops knew she already knew more than anyone not involved should know. There was only one real answer before her. "I'm in. Can we just prune these tendrils and--"

"Negative." Dark drew a slow breath. "They're too deep and wide. If we try to cut this place free, it would damage the universe as we know it. Damage, unknown. The risk is far too high to find out." Her horn glowed as an image appeared. She created a three-dimensional display of the building, slowly rotating. Leading off from it were countless feelers and lines. Some were larger than others. Some were quite large indeed.

"What's this one?" Sweetie couldn't help but notice the largest. It latched onto the third floor and did a full circle around it before fading out away from the building. It seemed massive. "Do we have any data?"

"Good eye." Dark smiled. "That one's been troubling me as well. On the positive, I've seen and detected no outright hostile forces behind it. On the other, it's constant and powerful. Something will come falling through it. It's just a matter of time... When the monster tenant on the second floor performs his monthly ritual, it seems to relax the connection. I'm unsure how they're related, but they are. Whatever he's doing affects this connection above him and keeps it from reaching critical mass."

"But critical mass to... what?" That seemed the big question. It could be good, or awful. It could doom the entire world, or be nothing at all. Sweetie scowled with her thoughts. "Does Tabitha know any of this?"

"No, and she shouldn't." Dark raised a hoof. "I trust I need not remind about secrecy."

Sweetie gave a slower nod as she raised a hoof to her chin. It was a dangerous situation. It was also fascinating on many levels. "Have you... Are they bi-directional?"

"They appear to be." Dark shook her head. "I have not personally tried it. We're the agents of Equestria. We can't risk ourselves that way when removing us without benefit would be a failure of our duty. It would also be massively risky and, dare I say, foolhardy. Any given passage could lead to a world that is nothing but fire and flame, your own personal sun to enjoy for the fraction of a moment before you were gone."

Sweetie grimaced at the mental image. "Right. So, for now."

"For now." Dark pointed at Sweetie. "Belay whatever tactic you had for financial bearings. You're one of Tabitha Taylor's guards, now."

Sweetie blinked at that. "I didn't introduce myself like that. She'll be far too suspicious if I go from a candy salespony to a guard, just like that."

Dark tapped herself with her hoof. "Lay the blame on me. Be angry, if it helps her not ask the right questions. It isn't a lie. I am ordering it."

Sweetie frowned. She hadn't wanted or planned on that relationship. Could she approach things properly if she was a guard? She supposed she'd just have to try. "Affirmative." She glanced around her bare room. "I need to start actually living here."

"As you wish. I'm not hard to find." Dark rose to her hooves. "I expect to run into you on your patrols."

Then she was gone, leaving Sweetie to make the bare room into something she didn't feel as awful being in.

"We need to speak." Spring set a hand on Razz's withers. "You, beta male."

"W-what?" Razz started in surprise. "I'm not a beta!"

Spring ran a finger right along his spine up towards his skull. "Yes you are, and you're adorable. Tabitha accepted you into her life, and... I think I have a little clue why. Razz." She crouched down in front of him, bringing their faces together. "Razz."

"Yes?"

She flashed a bright smile. "If I told you I'd tie you down and force you to do as I said, but ensured it would be one of the best things you'd ever experienced, would you say yes, or no?"

Razz's eyes narrowed as he took half a step back. That sounded... awful, and kind of... Why did it sound at all appealing? Parts of his brain couldn't help but imagine all the scenarios that might arise, should Spring do as she threatened, or was that a promise?

Spring laughed melodically. "Your expression tells me all I need know. You are a beta, but you have a good heart. Be a good beta. Don't be a bitter one." She trailed a hand down the side of his face and cupped his snout. "After all, you're a beta with a family that... loves... you." The word seemed still a bit alien on her lips. "They will protect you even without law or contractual obligation, just to have you safe and happy. Is that not what love is?"

Razz focused on her face, trying to ignore the fact that her hand was so soft, alien, and intriguing. "There's more to love than that, but that's a start." He raised a hoof to cough into it. "So... you're a beta too, right?" Spring scowled with the anger of the sun on a hot day. "W-wait, hear me out! You like being under Tabitha." In a smaller voice he murmured, "In all ways..."

Spring's face slowly softened. "You may... raise a valid point. I am an alpha that gazes fondly on lower stations. It is, however, a game. In the end, she knows I am an alpha, just as she is one. Together... I will gladly play her beta, or even omega, if she grew... such boldness." Her tongue washed over her lips, clearly distracted by the idea. "But for you? I'm afraid I will always be your alpha, and there are scarcely any others I would think are different."

Razz flinched back, fearing Spring was angry at him or didn't like him. Without actually saying that, she clenched her fingers and held him still. "Hold there... You're now part of... me, this. I am your alpha. That has meaning. That means you obey and respect my place, and I will protect you. Even if we put aside the matter of love, an alpha protects what is his, or hers. You are mine, Razz Berry, and I plan to take care of you."

Razz was in a tortured place of excitement and dismay. The words Spring had said seemed so... He didn't know how to feel! He forced a smile, quirked as it was. "You're part of this family, I guess, so I'll protect you too."

"How brave." She stroked the soft fur on his cheeks and the top of his head in rough motions of her hands. "We have to become more familiar." She rose up to standing. "But, for now, we have business. You, yours, me, mine. We will meet again. Of course... should your bestial urges get the best of you, you will approach my door at the stroke of the first bell. I will show you what I promised, and then we'll both know clearly you are my beta, and I will make sure you enjoy the position."

Spring blew a kiss before she turned, striding away and leaving a confused Razz behind.

He rose to a more sure standing. "I'm not going to do that." He was still getting used to Spring not being an enemy. He would help, and be a good part of his family, but tossing himself at Spring's feet...

He went a cheery red as images of what sorts of things Spring might do to him, if he agreed to roll over and show his belly to her. He shook his head vigorously. "I'm not a beta," he grumbled to himself. He'd win Spring as a peer, an equal. If she was willing to... play that way, that's what he wanted.

He strode down the hallway, repeating the mantra to himself, "not a beta..."

Author's Notes:

Are you an alpha or a beta?

These typos keep trying to insist on their place. Let's fix that.