Coloratura hadn’t slept very well, so it was no major loss when she woke up to the commotion downstairs. She yawned widely, rubbing poor sleep out of her eyes as she crawled out of the guest bed. She almost jumped when she opened the curtains to find two pegasi guards lounging on the sunny awning outside her window. “G’morning.” The two greeted her with a wave.

“G-good morning,” she murmured sheepishly before quickly scampering away.

“The Major’s fillyfriend kinda looks kinda like Countess Coloratura, doesn’t she?” She heard one guard say as she walked away.

“The Major? Scoring Countess Coloratura? Gimme a break.” The other guard laughed. “Besides, the Countess has got a silver mane, not black. Plus she’s got this really mean, green, fighting machine attitude to her, unlike, y’know–”

‘That was close,’ Coloratura thought as she slipped out of her bedroom. Another guard mare outside her door waved her a lazy salute as she came out. She gave her a little nod in reply. She reached the staircase downstairs to find the living room below packed with guards, no doubt more of Donut Joe’s old special forces friends. They all seemed to be watching a commotion outside.

“Ten bits on the Major’s Mom kicking his butt in five minutes flat,” one guard wagered, watching Cinnamon Chai march out onto the lawn after her son.

“You kidding? Have you even heard of what Captain Cinnamon Chai was like in the Gryphonian civil war? She’ll have his flank for breakfast in two,” another guard chuckled.

“DONUT JOE!” Coloratura winced as she heard the familiar voice of Cinnamon Chai AKA Mom rattle the windows from outside. “I let you be alone with my future daughter-in-law for ten seconds and suddenly we need all your old guard buddies to watch her?!”

“Mom, the way you said that actually made me sound like some sort of criminal.” Coloratura heard Donut Joe mutter outside.

The guards in the living room gave Coloratura friendly greetings as they parted to make way for her, allowing her to reach the window. She leaned up on the sill to peer outside, finding Donut Joe and Mom continue their argument with hoof signals. Spitfire stood between them on the lawn, seemingly amused at the two’s antics. She gave Cinnamon Chai a sharp salute which Mom snappily returned.

“Bagged’em and tagged’em by dawn, just as promised.” Coloratura heard Spitfire say. “Our sell-out squealed in ten seconds flat. Gave away his loansharks and their hideout. We caught’em with their pants down, played ball with their flanks. Disorganized small fry, the lot of’em. Apparently our sell-out promised to repay’em by giving’em Counte–” Spitfire trailed off as one of her guards nudged her to point out Coloratura listening in. Spitfire quickly cleared her throat. “Their hideout had plenty of evidence, enough for Princess Cadence and Princess Luna to put’em all away. Nothing to suggest they’re linked to any bigger groups but we’ll see if we can make these ponies talk. I’ll have lookouts watch the hideout in case anypony visits, but I think this case is closed.” she wrapped up her report snappily.

“Thank you, Captain.” Donut Joe nodded.

“Nah, thank you, Major.” Spitfire grinned brightly, “I haven’t had this much fun kicking flank in ages! Beats just making ponies eat my dust at the derby, y’know.”

“Oh, you’re awake, darling,” Mom said as she came back inside. “I’m sorry about all these ruffians in the house,” she said unapologetically to a chorus of protests from the guards. “Come on, let’s get you some breakfast, Rara dear.” She said to more scattered protests. “I already fed and watered you hooligans! How much more cake do I need to stuff your fat flanks with?!” Captain Mom demanded, silencing the guards into submission. She huffed as she quickly shepherded Coloratura away from the window and into what looked like a dining room set up in a very sunny solar. “I swear the house hasn’t been this full of soldiers since my leaving do.”

“They’re nice ponies,” Coloratura said as she allowed herself to be guided into a chair. It was pleasantly warm, warmed up directly by the sun streaming through the solar's windows.

“We special forces ponies tend to stick together, yes,” Mom nodded as her magic busied itself about the kitchen built into one side of the solar, toasting bread and levitating kettles.

Coloratura watched as a rack of toast and a cup of tea magically floated down in front of her. “Thank you,” She murmured as she curled her forehooves about her cup of tea. “Um, will the guards be alright, leaving their posts like that?”

“Oh, don’t worry yourself none, dear. Only half of them are actually on duty. Half were either here on holiday or on leave. They came here in their own time, bless them. Even then we’re special forces. We’ve got Princess Cadence and Princess Luna’s mandate to act discretely in emergencies.” Mom waved a dismissive forehoof.

“Oh.” Coloratura murmured, nursing her cup of tea. “I’m sorry I ended up troubling you again.”

“I’m going to grow really tired of reminding you that you saved my son yesterday.” Mom sighed in defeat. “As you probably eavesdropped, they caught everypony involved in yesterday’s incident. You’re safe now.”

“Thank you. I’m really really grateful.” Coloratura nodded, “Say, how did they know there might be more ponies involved? I thought it was just, well, him.” She winced at the thought of there being more than one Svengallop.

“We’re Torch Legionnaires. This is the sort of thing we deal with all the time, cracking down on abuse, traffickers, sla–” Mom abruptly trailed off, “You know, making the world a safer place for everypony.” She finished vaguely. “Go on, eat your toast.” She offered her a buttered and jammed slice of toast.

They sat in silence for a while. Mom seemed deep in thought. Coloratura couldn’t help but feel she was eyeing her out of the corner of her eyes. Mom finally gave in to some sort of inner battle as she gave a loud sigh. “Donut Joe!” She hollered.

“Already here.” Donut Joe muttered, rubbing the ringing out of his ears as he stepped up next to her.

“Good.” Mom growled, standing up from her chair. “Sit your sorry flank down right here.” Donut Joe had already been ponyhandled into the chair before he could even protest. “Eat your breakfast.” She slammed a plain piece of toast in front of him.

“But I already a–” He began.

“Eat. Breakfast. With. Rara.” Mom spelled it out for him, giving him a death glare that promised more than just toast if he dared to argue. "I'm going to go make popcorn. Got that? Pop. Corn." She threatened. Mom somehow managed to maintain the glare as she walked backwards, reversing flank-first out of the dining room door.

Donut Joe looked down at his piece of toast, studying it intently as if hoping to find something to say in the crumbs.

Coloratura couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for him. “So, um, you’re a Clocktower Guard?” She spoke up for him.

“Oh, yeah. Well, ex-guard. Just a donuteer now.” His ears perked up, seemingly relieved at having something to talk about. “You’re a Society member too?”

“Yes.” She knew he was stating the obvious more for want of something to say. So was she. “Sub or dom?” She asked, feeling a little bit of Cinnamon Chai’s adventurous spirit in her question.

“Dom,” he said, simply, “You?”

“Sub.” Coloratura mumbled, blushing brightly.

“Oh.” He nodded, turning thoughtful. And just like that, the conversation died again. Coloratura was just flailing inwardly for something to say when he finally spoke up again. “A lot of stuff happened yesterday. Take all the time you need.”

“Huh?” Coloratura blinked.

“Gonna be there for you. Won’t rush you either. Will be waiting for you when you’re ready. So take your time.” He said to his piece of toast.

She glowed, feeling a rush of warmth lighting her up. Her heart melted at his show of gentle thoughtfulness. For a moment she wondered if she deserved such wonderful kindness. That was when the guilt struck her.

Had she been leading him on this entire time?

She felt something stick in her throat. She realized it was her heart. She choked a little as she summoned up her courage. Donut Joe was such a wonderful stallion. He didn’t deserve to be kept waiting, only to be disappointed to find out what she was later.

She had every right to know. She had to tell him. And she had to tell him now.

"Joe, I–” She mumbled, “Joe, I'm not–I’m not actually a mare. I'm–I'm a stallion.” She closed her eyes tight, bracing herself for the inevitable outburst of disgust. “I–I'm sorry, I sound like a complete weirdo. I–” She blurted out as panic gripped her.

"So what?" He asked.

“I wasn’t leading you on, I promise. I’m sorry if you feel I did. I just–" Her rambling cut short as her brain caught up with what he said. “Wait, what?”

"I'm a unicorn.” Donut Joe shrugged his withers. “Does that bother you?"

It was a simple statement. But it struck her so deep she couldn’t help but suddenly burst out in tears, hot wet joyful tears.

“S-sorry, Rara, was it something I said?” Donut Joe’s usual stoicness melted away in sudden panic at her tears. “Sorry, didn’t mean…”

“N-no! I–I like unicorns.” She blurted through her tears. “I love unicorns!” She cried, leaping out of her chair to glomp him in the chest.

“Wh-whoah!” Donut Joe gasped. “Well, that’s a relief,” he chuckled, slowly returning her hug, holding her carefully as if afraid she might suddenly break in his muscled grip. “It’d be awkward if you didn’t like unicorns. Because I want to go out with you...when you’re ready I mean.”

“Yes!” Coloratura squeaked loudly.

“Didn’t mean now. Said when you’re ready.” Donut Joe chuckled helplessly.

“O-okay,” she sniffled, softly, peering up at him gratefully through eyes glimmering with tears. “When I’m ready. It’s a promise.” She shifted nervously, suddenly realizing she had tackle-glomped him. She decided she might as well get it all out while she was there in his hooves. “Um, by the way, my full name is ‘Coloratura’.”

“Huh,” Donut Joe cupped his chin in a hoof thoughtfully, “You have the same name as that singer pony, the sparkly vampire one,” he said.

“Pffft, hahahah,” Coloratura burst out in tickled giggles. It was probably the funniest thing she had heard anypony say in ages. “Heehee. if by ‘vampire’ you mean ‘countess’, yes, I’m that Coloratura. And no, I don’t bite.” She laughed.

“Oh.” Donut Joe gave her his usual slow, appraising look. “You’re smaller and more hug-sized than you are in the pictures,” He said, placing a hoof on her head fondly for emphasis.

Coloratura could only explode in one of her furious blushes. Thankfully Donut Joe was there to help rub all the steam out of her mane.

There was only ever one major problem with unicorn households. They only ever had quills. There was no way an earth pony could write with those infernal things, not unless they wanted a mouthful of feather motes for the rest of the day. But thankfully, Donut Joe had noticed her glaring at her archnemesis, the quill, and offered to write for her. Thank goodness for unicorn coltfriends. Er, future coltfriend? Coltfriend-to-be?

Nah, coltfriend it is.

On hindsight, it had probably been a bad idea to ask him to help her write a letter about him. But Donut Joe obviously enjoyed it, judging from how he smiled teasingly at her at the end of pretty much every sentence, forcing deeper and redder blushes from her with each punctuation. But at least there was a letter.

Dear Princess Cadence,

How are you? I hope this letter finds you well. I hope to visit you myself soon. I miss you, lots. You may have noticed this is not my usual mouthwriting. It is my coltfriend's spellwriting. Yes, he's a unicorn, and unfortunately his household has nothing but unicorn quills. I will tell you all about that shortly. But first, I must thank you for the new badge you sent me. You will not believe how right you were when you told me I should carry it around with me. It has saved my life and for that I am grateful.

I am so sorry I haven't replied to your letters in a long time. I have spent that time learning my longest, hardest lesson in mareship so far. I am afraid to report that my earlier mareship lesson reports are at least partially wrong. I had always maintained that it is the love of a partner that makes a mare. I now stand corrected. A good partner can certainly help you feel like a mare and there is nothing wrong with that. But it is a great partner who helps you discover that everything you need to be a strong, confident mare is inside you all along.

Love certainly plays a part, but it is only a part of what makes a mare a Mare. Ultimately what makes you a mare is inside you, your trials and struggles, your tears and sacrifice, your victories and achievements. And if you ever find a partner who strives to help you see all of that in yourself, one who supports you through the tears and shares in celebrating your triumphs, then you have found true love.

I have had to learn this the hard way. It was a few months ago now. I was in Ponyville for the Helping Hooves Music Festival when....

'Simply Coloratura! Pop culture icon, Coloratura, applauded for her continued bold down-to-earth statement In the face of harsh criticism from pop industry conformists. Rara-ists rally to their idol in a dashing display of loyalty as—' Coloratura put down the newspaper with a satisfied little smile. It had been a rocky four months, but she had stuck it out with a plain smile and honest cheer. And her efforts were paying off. Her reliance on simple elegance and focus on good music and vocals had swayed her old fans and won an entirely new audience of ponies both young and old. There was still a lot of flak from the industry to contend with, but her record sales spoke for themselves.

“You seem, happy, ma’am,” her new manager—no, aide, a charming young pegasus mare named Spelling Bee, said from where she sat across from her. Coloratura would never have a manager, never again. She would always be her own manager, so she decided.

Coloratura smiled, nursing her mug of Donut Joe coffee. “That’s because I am,” she said, taking a contented sip as she settled comfortably into her favourite seat in the corner of the store.

“I’m sorry we’re working through your private time. I’m still so slow, being new and all.” Spelling Bee apologized meekly.

“Shush. We’re not working, we’re chatting over donuts. While eating them. So eat.” Coloratura waved at the plate of donuts in front of her.

“Th-thank you, ma’am.” Spelling Bee nervously picked up a donut. “Um, I don’t know how much I can help you though. You manage the stage crew and instruct the concert staff all by yourself. You were so amazing today, it was like watching an orchestra conductor at work.”

Coloratura smiled a sheepish smile of her own, “It hasn’t always been that way. It took me a lot of inspiration,” she admitted, humbly.

“Oh,” Spelling Bee’s ears perked up, her eyes gleaming with that bright naiveté of a young impressionable mare, “What was your inspiration, if you don’t mind me asking, ma’am?”

Coloratura blushed a little as the store’s owner chose that exact moment to catch her eyes in that subtle, cheeky way of his. Spelling Bee followed her gaze curiously. Her curious look melted into a knowing grin. “Oooh, that’s some hunky inspiration, ma’am.”

“Oh, hush, Spelling Bee! Eat your donuts!” Coloratura waved her teasing off.

“I think I’ll have these to go, if that’s alright with you.” Spelling Bee smiled wryly as she got up to leave. “I think I should leave you alone with your—*ahem* inspiration.”

“Spelling Bee!” Coloratura cried after her giggling aide as she made her escape. “Geez, why does it have to be so difficult to find good help these days?” she muttered under her breath.

“She’s cute,” she heard a familiar voice say. She looked up to find Donut Joe standing next to her booth, watching the young pegasus take flight outside.

Coloratura smiled at his obvious teasing. There was a time when the thought of her stallion looking at real mares would have caused her no end of upset. But those times were long over. “So, is she your type then, hmm?” She asked, nudging him in the flank.

“No, already got somepony else in mind,” he smiled, leaning down to whisper in her ear, “This really beautiful mare I’m finally going out with later tonight.” She looked up at him. Her eyes met his. Her heart thumped faster and faster as she realized he was gazing down at her. She was all that was reflected in his beautiful green eyes. “I know we planned for later, but it’s a quiet night, no customers.” He nodded at the empty diner, “What say I close up shop early tonight?”

Coloratura gazed up at him fondly, her front hooves gripping him around his neck impatiently. “I say….” She began.

“Hey, Joe, my usual!” A loud ball of noise that looked an awful lot like Spitfire called out as she walked through the front door. “Uh.” She blinked, noticing the two standing nose-to-nose in the middle of the empty diner. “Hey, make that a threesome!” She amended her order with a whoop.

“Bwahahahahah!” Spitfire laughed wildly as she took flight amidst a telekinetic hailstorm of donuts. “Make sure you rut her properly into the ground, big guy!” She cackled as she flew off into the night.

“Why am I friends with her?” Donut Joe questioned his life choices. “Don’t pay attention to anything she says. She’s a menace.”

“She’s a good menace.” Coloratura smiled fondly. “She gives g-g-good advice.” She added, in a voice barely above a whisper.

Donut Joe’s ears twitched as he stared at her in stunned silence.

She blew him a bashfully playful little raspberry in reply.

He sighed, smiling helplessly as he checked his watch. “Hope you don’t have to be back early tonight.” He grinned.

“I’m yours all night tonight, Joe.” She smiled. Because this time she knew the spell would last, even past midnight.