Throughout the Castle's halls, Bulletpoint has been talking on about something involving potatoes and wing feathers, but Crimson has only been focusing enough to vaguely take in the ramblings, instead keeping his attention fixed on his surroundings.

The direction they've been traveling heads directly to the East Tower where Moonlight's room is located, and that's exactly where they arrive, but they don't enter the first floor rotunda. Bulletpoint takes the staircase to the right side of the hallway, the one the leads to the upper floors of the Tower. Crimson muses at Moonlight's regal blue doors, hoping that she's fairing well with whatever it is she's doing. He'd go and check on her, but he figures it's best to allow her unbroken concentration.

They ascend one floor up and take the hall they come across, where this hall acts as a junction for the West Tower across the Castle. Here, many doors made of wood and steel are placed evenly, parallel to each other all across this extensive hallway. It's safe to assume that this is a sort of hotel-like residence for attendants of the castle, such as maids or scribes.

Bulletpoint leads Crimson to the first door on the right, seeing nothing particularly special about it in comparison to the others, but from Bulletpoint's "'Ere we are," it's the right place.

"She home?"

"Likely she is. C'mon," Bulletpoint clicks the door open and pushes it in.

"She won't get upset if you just walk in?"

"Nah, lass could give less of a fuck." He sidesteps and extends his hoof towards the doorframe, allowing entry to this dimly lit, odd-smelling room. "After you, mate."

Crimson puts his hands in his pockets and walks in, jumping his eyes around the room. Aside from being dark and strangely, but not unpleasantly, pungent, it's rather cozy. Upon stepping in, the elevation of the floor dips down a few inches, where polished wood flooring covers most of the room save for the carpeting in the living room. Said living room is directly to the left, where three couches of varying sizes sit very close to each other in front of a coffee table, which stands a multi-colored lava lamp that illuminates the room with its fair-reaching glow.

The kitchen is directly to the right, unseparated to the rest of the home by any sort of wall. Other than an island with some chairs, there isn't a dining area to be seen. There's two doors to the right, just off to the side from the kitchen, which are probably a bedroom and a bathroom since there's no other indicators of that elsewhere. It isn't the biggest living space ever seen, and it only has one bedroom, but that's to be expected from a personal quarters.

Bulletpoint nudges Crimson's side, "What'cha think o'the place?"

"I like it, it's comfy in here... and it smells like a mix of burnin' herbs and scented candles. Where's yer friend?"

"Asleep maybe. Wan'me to wake her up?"

"Nah, nah, I'm good with just waitin' here. ... Say, what's that vase thing with the glowin' globs?" Crimson points to the gently churning lamp.

"Magic lava lamp," Bulletpoint states. "Nutty, ain't it?"

"Never seen anythin' like that before. It's nutty, alright."

"Give me a sec-- Oi!" Bulletpoint suddenly shouts, attempting to get the attention of the resident. "You in hea!? Ya' got company!"

Crimson cringes at the absurd volume of his voice, mumbling to himself, "Guess we ain't waitin' then."

"When you're hangin' with the Guard's most nimble scout, fast response times are all you know," Bulletpoint psudo-strokes his confidence. "None'a that waitin' shit, ya dig."

"Thought you were one of them patrol ponies, not a scout."

"Ye, that too, but scoutin's my Specialist role."

"Mm. I've actually had a few questions regardin' the whole system here in Canterlot. Reckon I can get a few of 'em answered with y'all."

Crimson and Bulletpoint's attention is directed to the sound of a flushing toilet behind a door, the one closest to the wall and away from the kitchen. It opens up, and out from the bathroom steps out a yellow-coated, pink-haired pegasus mare wearing a blue knotted scarf.

She adjusts her scarf as she moves, sighing out in a stress-relieved fashion before her high-pitched, slow and sleepy voice calls, "Chiiill, B.P, I was, like, taking a peepee~" Her possibly purposeful rhyme is accompanied with a tiny smile. Her mellow, lazily-lidded light-pink eyes shift immediately to the tall man standing in her room. Her relaxed gaze is quick to beam at his sight. "Oh?"

Crimson's brows furrow in disbelief. ... There's no way. This couldn't be her... but it looks just like her. An alter-ego maybe? A clone? "... Miss Bubblegum?"

"... Eh-ah-wha?" she tilts her head, face turned like a lost and lonely lamb.

"Pfhah!" Bulletpoint releases sudden burst of amusement. "Fuckin' what? Miss Bubblegum? Mate," he nudges Crimson's side, "that's Strix Plume, I call her Essie. Essie, this is Crimz'n."

"... Who... who's Miss Bubblegum?" she asks, squinting her eyes in deep thought.

"Aheh," Crimson puts his index knuckle under his nose, stifling a chuckle, "pardon, I thought you were someone else for a minute."

"OoOooh~" she coos rhythmically, "you're talking about my sister, aren't you?"

"I reckon so, if she looks exactly like you. But now that I'm gettin' a better look at'cha, you ain't got a horn."

"Mmhm~ That's my big sis, Swirly~"

"... Swirly?" Crimson's lips quiver, trying to break his resolve.

"Yu-huh. Swirly Cutie, that's her wubly, adowabul name~" she murmurs as she tilts her head left and right.

Crimson exhales sharply, turning his head to look elsewhere before he loses his composure.

"Hoy-oi, mate," Bulletpoint raises his brows to Crimson, "If you wanna be alive for long, you don't let Swirly know that ye found her name out. I'm speakin' from experience."

Crimson clears his throat and nods. "Don't worry, I won't let her know."

"Miss Bubblegum," Strix hums with a tiny smile. "I like that name~"

"You do?" Crimson asks in astonishment, getting a sleepy nod from her in reply. "Truth be told, I was callin' yer sister that just to give her a hard time. Ain't really gotta use it anymore since I know her real name."

"Aww!" Strix hops in place, rather adorably at that. "That's, like, a waste of a cute nickname!"

"Heh, well," Crimson rubs his forehead with a smile, "you've also got the pink hair goin' on, just like yer sister. What if I called you Bubblegum?"

"Raaad~" Strix wiggles her body at the rhythm of her word. "I like your hair, dude. It's, like, this really sinister, intimidating shade of red... kind of like your name. Your name is Crimson, right?~"

"My middle name, yeah."

"Can I call you... Crimmy?"

"Quite a juxtaposition to the traits you just mentioned."

"I know right? That's why it's sooo cooool~ It, like, subverts your expectations!"

"You can call me whatever you like, Bubblegum."

"Ahaha, I love nicknames~ ... Duude, Crimmy," she begins, scanning her eyes up and down his frame, "you're, like, super tall... and tan... and so hairless," she speaks with her tiny, unwavering smile.

"Describes me pretty well."

"Like, I'm wilding out right now. The no-hair thing humans got going on really trips me out, and, like, I've never seen a human this close before!"

"A first fer everythin', I reckon."

"Can I give you a hug?"

With interest present on his face, Crimson looks down at Bulletpoint to see if he's got an opinion on the matter, to which he shrugs and lets the man choose for himself.

Deciding well for it, Crimson squats down and opens his arms up, motioning with all of his fingers for her approach. Strix happily trots over and wraps her arms around his neck, pressing her cheek against his and snuggling into him as she emits a soft coo of enjoyment.

She smells... odd, like a mixture of a natural earthiness and vanilla-scented candles, but it blends together with the rest of the room, making the scent quickly fade in acclimation. Her body is strangely warm even though she's lean and firm. Something this small producing this much body heat is quite unusual. To contrast her lean body, her coat is soft and a little thicker than usual, making the combination of softness and firmness come off as strangely exotic.

He definitely has time to feel her though, as she holds onto the hug for longer than anticipated. Much longer than anticipated. She even begins to gently rock him left and right, quietly humming a tune in her careless bliss.

Crimson turns his eyes towards Bulletpoint, giving him a wary smile that signals he isn't sure if this is normal or not. Bulletpoint himself returns a cheeky, seemingly-aware grin, raising his brows over and over to mock the man's ignorance. "Trust me, mate," the smirking stallion begins, "she'll be there aaall day if you let her."

"Uh... Bubblegum?" Crimson asks.

"Mhmm?~"

"Could I have a beer?"

She breaks the hug immediately, gasping as if she just realized something extremely important, "Hoh, of course! How rude of me not to offer a drink!"

"Even though them shits is mine," Bulletpoint mumbles facetiously.

Strix rubs Crimson's shoulders, keeping her unfading smile. "Let me get one for you~" she murmurs as she comes off of him, walking towards the kitchen with a fairly lazy step... which, Crimson notices that isn't actually making any sound. Her hooves step along the wooden floor, but emanate no noise. "Take a seat on the couch, dudes, make yourselves at home. Mi casa es tu casa~"

"Whatever the fuck that means," Bulletpoint utters.

"Means, 'my house is yer house,'" Crimson adds.

"'N of course you'd know," Bulletpoint nudges Crimson's side.

They both take her offer, moving to the couches in the living room. Crimson takes a seat in the biggest couch and effectively takes up two cushions, and Bulletpoint sits on the single-seater off to Crimson's left.

"This ain't even your house, Essie," Bulletpoint calls proddingly.

Glass bottles clacking together jingle in the kitchen as Strix acquires two from the lot, taking one bottle into her left wing and one bottle into her right. She closes the fridge door and promptly makes her way back to the living room. "Swirly says that it's our house... so, like, technically, it's my house too, dummy~"

She gives Bulletpoint his drink first, then she moves to give Crimson his, and he nods in appreciation as he extends his arm out to take it from her.

Her unwavering smile finally fades away into a frown of concern when she catches sight of his forearms, only now noticing their awfully beaten state. "Duuude, your arms! ... What happened?"

"The madlad took a fuckin' beatin' from the cap'n, that's what happened," Bulletpoint answers pragmatically.

Strix turns her attention to Crimson, visibly wondering if Bulletpoint's claim is true.

"Take a seat 'n I'll tell you all about it," the man pats the sofa cushion next to him.

Strix shakes her head repeatedly, "Not with your arms looking like... like... like a spoiled eggplant! That looks like it really hurts! -- Wait, I'll nab you some bandees from the bathroom!"

"Hey, it's alright, I--" Crimson stops himself as the petite pegasus lifts herself with her wings and hovers back to the bathroom, entering and rummaging inside. He watches her disappear behind the bathroom door, then he looks down at his arms. He examines them with mild concern, then he looks at Bulletpoint, "Are they really that bad?"

"They look fuckin' dire, mate. They were kinda bad before, but looks like they're gettin' worse. Essie's right, shit looks like a mess of rotten peaches. How isn't that hurtin' you?"

"I, eh... tend to get hurt a lot. For better or for worse, I've gotten so used to ignorin' pain that it practically lost its function in my body."

"Fuckin' A, lad. Nerves of steel took to a new level."

"Daamn," both Crimson and Bulletpoint hear Strix huff from the bathroom. She trots out steadily and heads towards the door to her room, "I'll be back real quick, dudes!"

"Where ye off to?" Bulletpoint asks curiously.

"Going to the supply closet down the hall. I, like, for real don't have any bandees in my bathroom! Watch Crimmy for me, B.P! Don't let him out of your sight!"

"Watch him? The fuck--?" Bulletpoint barely has time to respond before she exits the room and closes the door behind herself. "... Fuckin' chucklehead."

"Heh," Crimson reclines back into the couch, thoroughly entertained by the display. "So... that's yer friend, huh?"

"Ye, that's Essie. Always been kind of an odd one, but there's a charm in that, ey?"

"Agreed full-heartedly. She yer girlfriend or somethin'?"

"... That why you looked at me when she wanted to hug you?" Bulletpoint smirks.

"Yeah, actually."

"Pft, girlfriend. Me 'n Essie? Nah, mate. Wouldn't even think about it, especially not these days. She's like a sister to me, ya feel? Known the lass since I was a colt."

"Like a sister, hm?" Crimson muses dubiously, using his bare hands to uncap his bottle of beer.

Bulletpoint follows his lead, using his hoof to effortlessly knock the cap off of his own. Crimson tilts his bottle over to toast, and Bulletpoint tilts his in return, "Cheers." They both take a swig of the perfectly chilled beverage, enjoying the sensation of its contents racing down their esophagi. With a sigh and a wipe of his mouth, Bulletpoint continues, "Eyup, like a sister. Now, if we're talking Swirly, that's a different tale."

Crimson's brows raise in amusement before he takes another swig, letting the stallion continue.

"See, Swirly wan't always the serious type. Reckon you met her?"

"Sure did."

"So you know how she is, then." Crimson nods to his claim. "I'll start from the beginnin'. I came from some shit'ole up north, next to a famous sight called the Neighagra Falls. About a mile East off of that beaut of a sight, I lived in some town that don't even have a fuckin' spot on the map, and everypony was poor as shit-all. Me mum was a whore, dad was a drunk farmer that bed whores. You can probably guess I was the result of mixin' the two. Lived me life as the mistake that I was. Constantly hungry, sleepin' on the ground, dealin' with ass'oles. Life was shite, 'n I had to deal with it till me tenth birthday."

"Damn... sorry I'm havin' you bring back these memories, B.P."

"Nah, mate, could give less of a fuck. Way I see it, you either move on, or you stay fucked."

"Amen to that."

"Anyways, I reckoned me life was a burnin' garbage bin for long enough, and one of me neighbors thought so too. She was a real angel, that mare. She was the only pony I can eva' rememba bein' close to. So when I turned old enough to ride the train by meself, she payed for me ticket and I moved to Cantalot to finish school, hopin' to get me life turned around. That's where I met Essie in phys-ed class, 'n through her, I met Swirly. Now, me bein' a little cockstain from a shite family, I was a troublemaka'. Funny thing was, so were the lasses. Mind, we was just kids, but, me, Swirly, and Essie always made'a mess of things. At school, at the park, at home, you name it, we's always gettin' in trouble and misbehavin' like a bunch'a mongrels."

"Bubblegum and Swirl? Troublemakers?" Crimson furrows his brows. "You, B.P, I can see. Them? They don't quite come off as the delinquent type."

"Best believe it, mate. They was wild. 'Course, now they mellowed out 'n shit, but when they was rabid, we had a different fancy, ya feel?" He takes a hearty swig of his beer, popping his lips off the top loudly, contorting his face briefly as to swallow the copious amounts of bubbly liquid. "Swirly... she was a 'lil different. Always kind of competitive and hung around colts a lot. Bein' a unicorn 'n all, she wasn't always the statue of physical prowess, ya dig. Still, she gave everythin' she did her all, even just to spite wankas that put her down. Maybe she was compensatin' for her name, but I couldn't tell ya. Her 'n I didn't really get along at first, but since I made friends with Essie 'n stuck with her, Swirly 'n I were forced to be around each other outside of school 'n shit. I couldn't count the details, but one thing led to anotha... the lass 'n I got comfy, ya dig."

"Hmph," Crimson smirks with levity. "Hard to believe you're talkin' about the same hissy unicorn that yelled at me earlier today. These were different times, weren't they?"

"Oh, you bet. ... You really go 'n call her miss Bubblegum?"

Crimson nods cheekily.

"Where even at?"

"In her office, I think. At that place with the fancy desks that have sinks on 'em."

"Ye, the Royal Research Labs. I'm surprised you're still alive, mate."

"I reckon if she wasn't workin' on somethin' important, the outcome would'a been more tragic fer me."

"That's what I'm thinkin'," Bulletpoint chuckles warmly, just before trading his lightheartedness for an air of despondency. "... She 'n I spent years togetha. Essie's always been a flower about it too, and even helped us out when we'd get our necks in a twist. She'd always know what to say to get Swirly 'n me to make up after a bullshit argument. That's why I was never able to see Essie as anythin' but a sister. She became the family I never had."

"Good to see you 'n Bubblegum still kickin' it. ... But what about you 'n Swirl? The way you're makin' it sound, it don't seem like you two are a thing anymore."

"Eh," Bulletpoint shrugs and looks away, finding something interesting on the carpet somewhere.

"Not very convincin', B.P."

"Things changed, I'd say. She's still around, I still talk to her. I mean, this is her fuckin' residence. She lets me 'n Essie stay as long as we keep the place clean, so I'm clear to say she don't hate me. ... Just..." he cuts himself off to sigh and take another sip of his drink, "... guess things changed."

"Ever tried talkin' to Swirl about what might have changed?"

"Hooh, mate, I've tried. Tried more than several times. Nothin' ever came from it, and she's a busy lass these days. Me pesterin' her don't help nopony."

Crimson hangs his beer bottle by the end of his fingers, gently twirling it in circles from the top as he contemplates. "... You still wish you 'n her were a thing?"

Bulletpoint flaps his lips and shrugs, "At this point, I don't ev'n know. Maybe I do, maybe I don't... maybe... maybe I--"

The door to the room opens up, interrupting Bulletpoint as both him and Crimson look over. Strix comes trotting in with several rolls of toilet paper and bundled bandage wrappings in her mouth and wings. "Mmm-bph!" she calls, bumping the door with her flank to close it. She carelessly tosses the toilet paper rolls and bundled bandages into the restroom, save for one bundle that she's aiming to use.

"Took ya long enough," Bulletpoint says teasingly, shifting his demeanor a little too quickly.

"Sorry, dudes!" she apologizes as she makes her way towards Crimson. "The supply closet was, like, locked! So I had to get a maid to open it." She stands before the man, placing herself in between his knees as she uses her right wing to reach out and take his left arm, the arm that doesn't hold his drink. "Let doctor Strix fix you up~"

Crimson sits up and lets his arm become taken by her feathered appendage, which admittedly feels very bizarre. Unlike birds and other winged creatures, the feathers on these ponies are pretty big and easy to count, and they feel quite fuzzy.

She uses her mouth and her hooves to manipulate the bandage wrap, twirling it around his wrist first before moving down to the rest of his forearm. From the slight sting Crimson feels with these wraps, they're already pre-treated and only require placement. Him and Bulletpoint watch her perform her methodical motions, until she uses her teeth to bite off the wrap and tie it all together. She then reaches with her wings and rests them on his right arm, but she waits before pulling it towards her, allowing Crimson the ability to pass his drink off to his left hand.

She continues mending him, and he focuses on the expertly-done wrapping on his left forearm. He twists his wrist a few times, swishing the beer gently, getting a feel for the bandages. "You an actual doctor?" Crimson asks.

"Something like that~" Strix replies sleepily, "I'm a field medic." She bites down the end of the wrap and ties it firmly, gently rubbing his shoulder with the tip of her wing, "Good as new. They're not, like... too tight or anything?"

"They're just right. Appreciate it, Bubblegum."

She nods sets the bandage wrap down on the table. She climbs up onto the couch and sits next to Crimson. "So, what was that thing you were saying? It had Captain Snowfall in it?"

"Right," Crimson takes a swig of his beer to finish it off before setting the bottle down on the coffee table. While he speaks, his eyes are captivated by the gently churning lava lamp that shines the dim room an assortment of colors. "So, I was havin' a stroll around the Castle, lookin' for some place to relax. Figured outside would be the best place fer that. Made it out to the fields back there, with all them guards, 'n I sat down under a shady tree."

"The one that's, like, near the barracks and the sparring circle?"

"The same one. I'm sittin' there and almost fall asleep, but from the noise, I realize that the sparrin' circle's not too far off. Open my eyes enough to see the action, 'n before I know it, I'm draw in by the pre-zen-tation. So there I am, watchin' and havin' a gay-ol time, but next thing I know, Snowfall 'n this fella called Banter stride up to me, and the Banter fella wants to tussle."

"Banter," Strix murmurs. "Wanting to fight you def sounds like something he'd do."

"Should'a been there, Essie," Bulletpoint exclaims. "This bloke took Banta out for a joy-ride. Spun him like a ragdoll over his head so hard, he nearly chucked his breakfast."

"Hehaha! You spun him?" Strix chuckles happily, getting a nod from Crimson. "You spun him, like... like... WooOooOoo!" she wiggles her body in a manner that hardly represents what happened.

"Heh, yeah, somethin' like that," Crimson exults. "I tried to help him up afterwards, but he blew me off. Some pack'a fellas came in and helped him out instead."

"Ye, Banta's 'lil posse. They're like his fan club. Them fucks are almost as bad as Banta himself."

"Sounds like I pissed off more than one person," Crimson mulls.

"Considerin' they hang onto whatever comes out'a Banta's cheeky fuckin' mouth, I'd reckon so too."

"But, like," Strix gently pushes Crimson's shoulder with both of her hooves, trying to recapture his attention, "what about Captain Snowfall?" The pushing is soft and easy, but Crimson moves his body to playfully exaggerate the motion.

"Mm, right. So, after I got done with Banter's little ho-down, yer captain asked me fer my name. Told her I'd give it to her if she beat me in a spar. Wasn't really a spar, since I wasn't fightin' back, but the deal was, she had to land one hit. Just one, and she'd win."

"Right embarrassed the captain of the Royal Guard, he did!" Bulletpoint points at him excitedly.

"Wuuh? Nu-uh!" Strix's dazzled self shifts in place excitedly.

"I'm tellin' ya, Essie, you should'a seen him! Cap'n couldn't land a hit, then, at the end, Crimz'n grabbed her like one of them vines do ya' in the Everfree!"

"Well," a small smile grows on Crimson's face as he rubs the back of his head, "That... ain't really what happened." Bulletpoint furrows his brows, waiting for the elaboration. "Heh, so, uh, Snowfall actually beat me. It's why I told her my name at the end."

"The fuck? How, mate? You lit'relly blocked every hit!"

"Not all of 'em. When she first started attackin' me, I blocked the first... what was it... three or four? Somethin' like that. The next hit, a real sly uppercut, actually hit me on the tip of my nose. It wasn't the cleanest hit, but it connected. So, by my own rules, I lost at the very beginnin'. I was lookin' to stop after that 'n take my loss, but I noticed she kept hittin' me... reckon she actually didn't realize she landed a hit. So, I kept blockin' her attacks, 'n needless to say, that tricky little uppercut didn't get me again."

"So..." Strix ponders, "your forearms got mushed up 'cuz you kept taking hits from the captain?"

"Sums it up."

"You're wicked~"

Bulletpoint slowly shakes his head as he chuckles, "You done left the cap'n's pride in shambles, 'n she didn't even lose."

Crimson shrugs, "Way I see it, she didn't lose to me, she lost to herself."

"Fuckin' A, wait till she hears this tale. She'll prolly be right pissed."

Strix gently pushes Crimson's shoulder again, just as she did before, "You killed that beer, dude. Want me to fetch you another?"

"If it ain't a bother."

"Mm-mm~" she shakes her head, climbing down from the couch and heading towards the kitchen again.

"'N get me another too, Essie!" Bulletpoint cries, swigging down his current one until it's finished.

"Mm-hmm!"

"So," Crimson begins, "I've been wonderin'."

"Ye?" Bulletpoint reclines in his seat.

"Remember I said earlier I had questions about Canterlot?"

"Ye. You meanin' stuff like the Princess?"

"Yeah, stuff like that. More-so like the order of power in Equestria."

"Mn, Essie?" he looks over his shoulder, seeing her return with a beer in each wing. "Think you've got this spectrum."

She gleefully hangs each bottle for their taking, followed by the sound of simultaneous popping of both beverages when they open them at the same time.

"Thanks, Bubblegum," Crimson smiles at her.

"No biggie!~ ... Aaalright, so... the order of power in Equestria. That's a funny thing to be interested in."

"Just tryin' to familiarize myself with the world around me. You're more knowledgeable in this than B.P. apparently."

"Mmm-hm," she nods, climbing back onto the couch and sitting next to him again. "My duty in the guard is, like, Information Specialist and stuff, so... I know lots of weird and kookie things~"

"Color me impressed," Crimson raises his brows. "That's one surprise outta many you got, I'd reckon."

"Yeah, dude~ Do you wanna know another surprise?"

"Lay it on me."

"Did you know, I was born with, like, -- well, the doctors call them birth defects, but I call them gifts -- but, pretty much, my hoof bones are smaller and shaped weirdly, and I've got dense fur on the ends of my hooves, so when I walk around, I don't make any noise. It isn't any trouble for my health, but it does make sneaking in and out of places pretty easy~ It's why Snowfall chose me as Infiltrator and Information Specialist~"

"I noticed that. Walkin' on the wood floor in the kitchen, I couldn't hear yer hooves at all. Thought I was goin' crazy for a minute."

"Gets annoyin', you best believe," Bulletpoint huffs.

"Yeah?" Crimson ask in return.

"'Cuz, fuckin' Essie loves sneakin' up on ponies 'n ridin' them in for a startlin'."

Strix giggles and closes her eyes, "You're too easy to scare, B.P~ Like this one time, I-- -- Uhp, oh! Wait, I'm getting distracted... ehehe, sorry, Crimmy~"

"Don't fret, we ain't in no rush."

"... What was the question again? ... Hoh, I remembered! The order of power." She looks at the man to catch his approving nod. "Yeah, so like, Equestria is ruled under Celestia and Luna. They do all the laws and stuff, with the help of the Royal Consortium, which is just, like, a fancy name for a bunch of snobby ponies that think they're better than everypony else."

"Wait..." Crimson halts her, "... Luna? There's another princess?"

"Mm-hmm~ Luna, the princess of the night. You maybe haven't seen her because, like... she's only out at night. Oo! This one time, it was two in the morning and I was really hungry, so I went to the master kitchen to get some munchies. I opened one of the fridges, got a box of strawberries out, and went for the door... but as soon as I opened it... boo! Luna was right there and she scared me!"

"... What?" Bulletpoint furrows. "Luna scared you? Real shit?"

"Real as real can get, B.P.!"

"That how it went down?" he asks doubtfully. "Luna went 'n rode you in for a scare?"

"Well... it was more like, she didn't expect me to be there, so I scared her so bad that she screamed big time... and her scream scared me. It was super loud! You know her Royal Canterlot Voice? It was even louder than that! ... But anyways... like, yeah, the two sisters rule Equestria and stuff. Hehe~"

"And under them must be the Royal Researchers?" Crimson inquires.

"Mmm... almost," she tilts her hoof left and right. "It's... kind of a weird tree-type thingy. After the princesses, the Heads of Bodies are next, which are the captain of the Royal Guard and the Head Researcher. Then it branches into more and more ponies. They're all in charge of their own little pieces, but Celestia rules them all when she needs to."

"Got'cha," he says before downing a swig of his drink. "So there's two Heads of Bodies, you call 'em?" Strix nods happily at him. "I've gotten pretty familiar with the Robes already, so what about the Guard?"

"What about it?" she asks curiously.

"What's the deal with the silver armor versus the gold? I've seen some pretty important ponies wearin' it. Is it somethin' given to high ranks?"

"Mmm... mm-mm," she shakes her head slowly. "Gold is for everypony in the Guard, no matter the rank. What does change is the rank on the breastplate and the color of the crest on the helmet. Red is lower-class, blue is upper-class, and white is Specialist. Anypony who has silver armor has a white crest. And you might be thinking, 'But Bubblegum, how do you get the pretty silver armor?'" her merry high-pitched voice tries to copy his deeper tone.

"You must be clairvoyant 'cuz that's exactly what I was thinkin'."

"Haha, I knew it~" she leans against his side and bounces herself off it. "So, like, we get two tests that we need to get good grades on, and if we don't, we faail! One is a physical test, and the other is a skill test. It doesn't matter what rank you are, if you do good, you can get a position in the Specialist Team. There's different positions, like Infiltrator, Spell Specialist, Tactician, Ranger, Field Commander, and a bunch of other stuffs. You get whatever position you apply for, or whatever you're best at."

"Do them silver-armored guys do somethin' special in the Guard?"

"Well... when we're chilling at Canterlot, we just do whatever our rank tells us to do. Like me, a low-ranking sergeant, my job is just to wander in a pattern around the Castle and make sure everypony's okay. Bulletpoint as an officer, he can give orders and he guards important stuff, like Princess Celestia."

Bulletpoint buffs his chest in pride.

"Princess Celestia is a pretty important stuff, I'd reckon," Crimson mutters airily.

"Psshehe yeah," Strix snickers, "but what makes us in silver special is that we get deployed on, like, super secrete missions and stuff~ The things that are too dangerous or secret for the normal dudes to handle? That's what we do~"

"Suppose that's why they only take the best of the best."

"Ye," Bulletpoint nods, "and it's also why I give big kudos to the cap'n. The lass has been at this shtick for so long that she don't even need to be a Specialist for a higher pay-grade, she's at the tippy-top already. Yet, she's still spec-ops 'n risks her life with the rest of us muckers. Mad respect to that, ya feel."

"That, and she's super down-to-earth~" Strix murmurs. "She's strict, but she's so real, y'know?"

"Wouldn't doubt it," Crimson concedes. "Knew there was somethin' I liked about Snowfall. Now that I really think about it, there's a lot of swell ponies around. Not everythin' was sunshine when I got here, but in almost two weeks of bein' in Equestria, there's been great company all around. Especially you two."

"D'aw~" Strix brings herself in and hugs his upper arm, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Right back at'cha, ye wanka." Bulletpoint sips his beer quickly and huffs, feeling the bubbly liquid warming his insides.

"Good vibes all around~" Strix coos before a strike of realization hits her. "That makes me wonder, dude... where did you come from?"

"It's a pretty long story," Crimson mumbles before he swigs some of his drink. "Not sure if y'all are really interested in hearin' me ramble."

Bulletpoint points his wing at him, "Like you said, mate, there ain't no rush."

Crimson looks at Strix, who's still latched onto his arm, wondering what she opines. "I like story time~" she murmurs.

The man looks towards the lava lamp again, letting out a contemplative exhale. "Right, well... the story starts with my dad, and-- ..." Crimson finally notices the clock that sits on the wall in front of him, the same wall that houses the exit to the room. He sees the time, it's nearing midnight. "... Shit."

"Somethin' the matter, mate?" Bulletpoint inquires.

"I, uh... I'm thinkin' I need'a get goin'. It's late, 'n there's someone I gotta see. Guess there was a rush after all."

"Aww!" Strix drives her forehead into his shoulder, rubbing it against him. "Don't go!"

Crimson turns his face to smile warmly at her despite her inability to see him. "We can have another shin-dig like this one soon."

"Promise?" she lifts her marveled pink eyes at him.

"Promise."

Strix nods with a tiny frown, the first frown she has ever given him. He nods to her and then to Bulletpoint before he excuses himself from the room.

‎

---

‎

Moonlight's tongue sticks out of her mouth slightly as she focuses on turning a screwdriver with her magic, sitting the last screw that closes the little cube she's assembling. The little box has a screen on one face, similar to the screen on the bigger ANA device back at her home. It has two buttons under the screen and two dials, one of the left side of the screen and the other to the right.

She sets down the screwdriver and straightens up her slouched posture, mounting with excitement at her finished product. She had been working continuously on this little contraption with only interruptions to acquire lunch and dinner from the maid. With the moon now gazing through her window and the muffled sounds of the night, her tired eyes are ready for rest.

She levitates the little box closer to her, suspending it right in front of her face. In profound hope that everything works as intended, she presses the green button under the screen. The little box hums for a moment, making her ears perk up in anticipation.

Be-Deet!

The screen lights up, showing a green line beginning its trek across the screen. "Yes! Haha! Yes!" Moonlight beams with glee, hugging the little box against her chest.

"Someone's a little excited," Crimson announces from right next to her.

"HUH!" her body shocks in fright, harshly startled at his unannounced appearance. Crimson catches the little box when her magic fails to maintain itself, saving it from a possibly terrible tumble to the marble floor. "Crimson!" she calls angrily.

"What? I caught it at least."

"You scared me!" She huffs and adjusts her glasses, turning to look at him, "When did you get in here?"

"When you were screwin' this here cube together. You seriously didn't hear the door?"

Moonlight glances at the doors to her room briefly. "... I suppose I didn't. ... You, um... you smell strange."

"Heh, yeah. I would think so."

"Uhm... h-how was your day? Was it eventful? And-- ... wait a minute... what happened to your arms? And those cuts on your cheeks?"

"Ah, nothin' much, just had a little run-in with the Guard. Don't worry, though, it ain't nothin'. Harmless sparrin' is all. I actually got to know some of the folks in the Guard, did a little drinkin' with some pals... and..." Crimson trials off when he sees Moonlight's magic envelop his forearms. The bandages that have done well to hide the bruises and bleeding come off, revealing the atrocious state that they're in.

With a heart-sunk gasp, Moonlight's trembling eyes bounce between his and his forearms. "... Crimson!?"

"Moonlight, really, it ain't that bad."

"Bad? Bad!? This is horrible! Crimson, what did you do!?"

"Like I said, just some harmless sparrin'. It ain't nothin' to get worked up over."

"No! This is not okay, Crimson! Why would you go get yourself hurt like this? I am officially postponing tomorrow's endeavor until you are better!"

"Tomorrow? What was goin' on tomorrow?"

"We were going to a town in West Equestria, where Celestia's scouts had reported the presence of magical anomalies. But not anymore, until your body properly recovers! I can't stand the idea of you being hurt while outside, it's extremely dangerous and I won't risk it."

"... Moonlight? You do realize the entire point of me goin' out with you to these field tasks IS to get hurt protecting you? If a little somethin' like this is enough to stop me, I wouldn't be the best guardian, would I?"

"W-Well, yes, b--but--but... no! You need to get better, and that's final," she demands as she uses her magic to effortlessly re-wrap the bandages around Crimson's arms, seeing that they're still usable.

"And what if I told you we're goin' out tomorrow either way?" he replies sternly.

"... T-Then... then, I..." she stammers, scrunching her muzzle as she fails to counter his assertion.

Crimson steps closer to her, placing the hand that doesn't hold the cube on her back, gently running his nails up and down her body. Her back straightens, and her tense form slowly relaxes with the affection.

"I..." she begins warily, very much still apprehensive, but not enough to argue against him any longer. "... I just don't want anything bad to happen to you while we're out there..."

"But nothin' bad will happen to me, Lighty. I promise you. And I ain't one to break my promises. I say tomorrow is a go."

"... I suppose we... could go, then... if you truly insist. I'm... honestly a little eager to go. W-Well, maybe not... eager, but I do look forward to it. ... I know you're aware that I don't like being in Canterlot very much... I'd rather be somewhere else, even if for only a while. ... A-And besides! I know the town we're going to, I've been there to collect soil samples before. It's a nice little farming town, very pleasant ponies live there."

"And I reckon this is the tool we're going to use in our endeavor tomorrow," he says as he holds the cube in front of Moonlight. "You were real focused on gettin' this thing finished, but it looks like you did. What is it anyway?" he asks as he brings the cube to himself, looking at the pulsating green line that lazily travels along the length of the screen.

"The cube you hold is officially the mini ANA! She does everything her bigger counterpart can do, but in a smaller, portable size! If any wayward magic is to be found, she'll catch it! I was, um, ehehe... hoping I could build a regular ANA, but I didn't have enough supplies. But with a few twists and turns of the regular blueprint, I managed to make a smaller one! I think a mini version that can be carried around will be much more useful in the long run."

"Completely agreed. And you said this place we're headed to is a little farmin' town?" Moonlight nods to him. "Be nice to finally explore Equestria without somethin' crazy happenin'."

Crimson catches Moonlight lift her hoof over her muzzle, yawning quietly behind it before she promptly returns her attentive gaze to him. He finds her interest in his words and whim adorable, but it's terribly obvious by the tiny bags forming under her eyes that she needs some sleep, and his gentle touch is only adding to her urge for rest.

"Looks like it's time to hit the hay." Crimson sets down the box onto the lab table, gently rubbing her back before he stops tending to her. "You've been at that thing all day."

Moonlight nods, keeping her eyes lowered and fixed to the mini ANA. "... Are you going to sleep now too?"

"Yeah, gotta be up bright 'n early for tomorrow, I'd reckon."

"... Did you find the guest bed in the room you slept in comfortable?"

"Eeh, it, was..." Crimson purses his lips, thinking of something nice to say before he settles on, "a little different from what I usually sleep on, but it's comfy enough. A bed's a bed, all that matters to me. Reckon I'd better get used to it, since I'll be layin' on it for some time."

Moonlight's musing gaze remains on the flat, traveling green line in the mini ANA's screen. A voice in her head wants her to speak up, to give a brazen offer equal to the one he gave a few days ago back at her home... but she doesn't. She remains silent, leaving both of them in the quiet of the night.

"Right, well," Crimson begins, putting his hands in his pockets, "I'mma go crash out. See you in the mornin', Moonlight."

Before Crimson can step forward and head to the doors, Moonlight puts her hoof on his upper arm, using every ounce of her frail interpersonal fortitude to stammer, "H-Hug?"

Crimson stops himself and turns his head to look at her, how she's leaning forward in her stool to the point of nearly tipping forward just to touch his arm. With a smile, he spins himself around, wrapping his arms around her as he brings her up off of the stool to hold her against him, one hand on her back and the other her flank. The side of her head rests against his, and her arms wrap tightly around the back of his neck. For a number of reasons, her breath comes out shakily as they embrace each other.

He walks with her in his hold towards the stairs, moving up to her bedroom. As he does, he admires her softness, her texture, and her silky-smooth coat. His fingertips sink slightly into her plentiful body, making her such a treat to hold. She smells so flowery and pleasant, a complete contrast to what he probably smells like right now. Moonlight doesn't seem to care though, so that's all that matters.

He sets her down on her bed, breaking the hold they had on one another. A small smile that had formed on her face slowly fades when they let go of each other and Crimson steps backwards, putting his hands in his pockets again. As he backpedals, he smiles and calls to her, "G'night, Moonlight."

As she watches him turn and make his way down the steps, she musters enough of herself to return a somber, "... Goodnight."

She remains in place, listening to his flip-flops clack across the marble floor downstairs. The doors to her room moan as they are opened, and the click of the shutting finalizes his exit.

She lies down and rests her head on a pillow, levitating Soap over to herself and hugging him tightly as her tired eyes remain open in thought.

Next Chapter: Chapter 5: Apex Predator Estimated time remaining: 24 Hours, 52 Minutes