"Mistress, master, I believe we should begin packing now," the middle-aged gelding bid his owners.

Twilight Velvet looked up from her knitting. "What's the emergency, Vase?"

The gelding passed her the newspaper he had been reading. "It would appear Celestia's gone mad."

Velvet opened the paper and an opened letter fell out. "Oh. A Railroad message." Her eyes glided over the letter. "Ah... so Luna is in the Crystal Empire now? I suppose it is about time we packed. Be a dear and fetch my husband, please. He should be in his study."

"Of course, mistress," the gelding bowed politely.

Vase, no last name, was a volunteer gelding, choosing to be castrated in order to go under cover for the railroad and aid in their Equestrian spy network. For ten long years he had willingly served the family as they garnered information and helped abused geldings flee the capitol.

Coming up to the study door, he gave a quick, secret knock.

"Come in," welcomed the stallion of the house. The blue stallion looked up from his book. "What's up, Vase?"

The gelding closed the door behind him and cleared his throat. "Urgent message from the Railroad, sir. We are to leave and head for the Crystal Empire as soon as possible."

"I see," Nightlight nodded, closing his book. "Well. We'll need to only take the essentials... should we burn the place to cover our tracks?"

The gelding chuckled. "No need to be so extreme, master. I will detonate the tunnels as soon as we're through. No one can possibly follow us."

"Eager to be whole again?" the stallion asked as he replaced his book into the book shelf.

"I don't know, I've gotten used to be your servant," Vase replied with a smile.

"You can still serve us with both your testicles attached, Vase," Nightlight replied.

"Well, I've gotten used to living without sexual impulses as well," Vase chuckled.

"That's just the lack of testosterone talking," the stallion said. "When we get you fixed up, you'll be swimming in mares."

"Do you suppose the Crystal Empire looks down on stallions who enjoy lactating mares?" Vase asked, thoughtfully.

"Who cares?" the unicorn laughed, slapping the gelding's withers. "You do you. Besides, I'm sure there are plenty of milkmares to go around."

"Might be too much trouble," Vase said. "Being gelded has made life so much simpler. I can still enjoy mares this way."

Nightlight blinked at his friend. "If... if you say so."

"You have all the way tot the empire to help me make up my mind," master the gelding bowed politely. "Until then, I happily remain you loyal gelding."

Nightlight nodded. "It will be your choice. Of course. But, the missus and I would love you just as much if you were a stallion as well."

"We shall see, master," Vase said.

Two hours later, three ponies were making their way way northward.

"Velvet, dear," Nightlight said as he helped pull the cart with vase. "Are you sure all of this is nessacary?"

Velvet, who sat atop the cart with a rifle to watch their backs, nodded. "Of course. Tents..."

"There only three of us."

"Well, we need spares as well," Velvet scolded him. "Food, plenty, just in case we get lost. Camouflages, extra rifles and ammo. Plenty of dry firewood. That's going to be must, dear. Cold weather clothing. Two cots."

"Only two cots?" Nightlight asked.

"Well, you don't expect me to sleep alone, do you?" Velvet demanded. "Which makes the spare tents important because..."

Vase chuckled. "Say no more, mistress. I'll be sure to vacate whenever you two feel like... warming up."

"Good," Velvet smiled, turning back to scan the horizon. "Oh, did I also mention I packed gifts for the family? No, you cannot talk me into leaving them behind, you two. It wouldn't be proper to show up at the family's doorstep with a few gifts for my babies and their baby."

"Shining and Flurryheart are in hiding, dear," Nightlight pointed out.

"Semantics, love," was her reply.