Sky tore the wedding gown off of her shoulders, casting it into a corner as she galloped back into her tower. Rat wasn’t far behind her, ripping her own dress off as she barged in after her new best friend.

“How the hell did you know to dress up like that?” Sky cocked her head.

“Well, when you said Silver’s home security was shit, I took the liberty of going through his things and found a reference to a mistress.” Rat grinned. “The rest was easy. What the hell did you do with the actual bride?”

“Hell if I know.” Sky shrugged. “I got drunk, mistakes were made, ponies said stuff when they should’ve kept their ugly traps shut, and I...got...married…” Sky looked down at her hoof, the little gold wedding band still there for all to see. She was transfixed.

“You actually got through the whole wedding ceremony, didn’t you?” Rat deadpanned. “Please don’t tell me you actually married him.”

“Um...okay, I won’t tell you, then.” Sky giggled. “What’s important is that we got that amulet and Rolling Thunder’s present.”

“Right.” Rat nodded as the two of them ascended the stairs into the living room. “Guess that means we’ve just gotta get into the facility. You know, the one with state-of-the-art magical defences guarded by super-soldiers.”

“That’s what this is for.” Sky chuckled, putting Silver’s amulet around her neck and checking herself out in a cracked mirror. “Shadow and I only ran into an Operative when the security systems were triggered. If Screwdriver was right, as long as I’ve got this on the alarms won’t trigger. No alarms, no Operatives.”

“Clever.” Rat nodded. “I still don’t exactly see you walking in through the front door and strolling up into Rolling Thunder’s office to get those crystals back.”

“No.” Sky frowned. “We’re gonna need to distract them, find some way to make them raise the alarm in a different part of the building.”

“So what, blast one of the walls off of the building?” Rat cocked her head. “You’re crazy if you think that that’s gonna work.”

“Blast one of…? No way. Nothing quite so...I dunno...explosive.” Sky tapped her chin with a hoof, trotting over to one of the old couches and pulling a box out from underneath it. “We’ve already seen that the Operatives don’t react to the sleep formula, so I can’t use my darts or knock them out, but there is one thing we haven’t tried yet…”

“Yeah? What’s that?” Rat asked, peeking over Sky’s shoulder curiously.

“This.” The white pony grinned, holding up a glass orb full of a strange pink liquid. “It’s a lust bomb. They breathe this stuff in and they’ll be too busy fucking each other to go looking for an intruder they don’t even know is there.”

“Wow…” Rat whistled. “Don’t suppose you’d mind sharing the recipe?”

“For you? Any day.” Sky winked, pecking him on the cheek and setting the bomb down on the couch. “You know, just so long as you don’t go making me breathe it in or something. If I was exposed to the lust formula, anything could happen…”

“Don’t tempt me.” Rat chuckled, settling down next to her and nudging the silver parcel. “So what’s Rolling Thunder’s wedding present, anyway?”

Sky took it in her hooves, turning it over and peering at it with curiosity. With a little tug she undid the wrapping paper, a tasteful tapestry rolling out onto the floor in her hooves.

“Oooh!” She giggled. “This’ll make a great rug!”

“Oh boy, the old ‘hide information in the tapestry’ bit.” Rat huffed. “Some ponies just have no imagination.”

“Yeah, he was probably hoping that everypony would overthink it or something.” Sky snickered, turning it over and taking a closer look. “Three clocks...I’m guessing the position of the hands matches up with the safe’s tumblers.”

“Or you’ve gotta look at the time that each clock is showing and get the combination from that.” Rat frowned. “Three o’clock, eight o’clock, six o’clock…”

“Guess we’ll have to try both and see which one works.” Sky shrugged, slinging the tapestry over her back and trotting into her room to get changed.

“What’s this “we,” sweetheart?” Rat asked, crossing her forelegs. “Unless you’ve got another amulet for me I’m not gonna be able to go in there with you.”

“Shit, you’re right…” Sky frowned, stuffing the woven masterpiece into her saddlebag and unstrapping her armour from the mannequin. “Uh...hell, I guess you can work with Shadow and Fox to get the alarm raised on the other side of the building, but there’s a condition.”

“What’s that, then?” Rat asked, cringing slightly at the mention of Shadow’s name.

“You set off that bomb and run for it. Even if I wasn’t worried that those two might inhale some of it and get ideas, that building’s gonna be crawling with Operatives.” Sky said seriously. “I’m not having anypony die on a job, especially when we’re so close to getting this shit sorted out.”

“Deal.” Rat nodded. “What happens if one of us gets banged up? Do you have medical supplies here?”

“Yeah, a few.” Sky replied. “I mean, I’ve got spare bandages and everything, but if you really need help, there’s a street doc named Sawblades who lives under the city, down in the sewers.”

“Sounds like a hygienic place for a doctor.” Rat deadpanned. “Fine. Give me the directions to his place and I’ll run Shadow or Fox down there if either of them get hurt, okay toots?”

“Okay.” Sky smiled, more than a little relieved. “We’re really close now, sweetie. Soon this whole fucking nightmare’s gonna be over...then how about I show you around Canterlot properly? I mean, the guards are still gonna be out for our blood, but they won’t be as pissed as they are right now.”

“Hmm, a tour of Canterlot with a pretty mare.” Rat giggled. “Well hey, how could I say no to an offer like that? It’s a date, sweetheart.”

“Thought you’d go for it.” Sky winked. “I guess I owe you one for helping me out with all of this shit. I mean, hell, you weren’t obliged to do it or anything.”

“Are you kidding?” Rat cocked her head. “Sky, that Operative thing would’ve turned into my problem pretty fucking quickly if those assholes got into law enforcement and came to Manehattan. Taking them down benefits me as much as you.” Her ears flicked back, a little smile spreading across her face. “Besides, it was my pleasure.”

“Heh, look at you.” Sky smiled back, pulling her cloak over her shoulders. “You’re all gentlemanly and sweet when somepony takes your balls off of you.”

“Yeah, and I guess you’re not such a slutty sack of shit once I get to know you.” Rat rolled her eyes with mock reluctance. “Hey, er, Sky?”

“Yeah, sweetie?” Sky smiled brightly, pulling her burglar’s mask on over her eyes and adjusting it so that she could see out.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you something...personal…” Rat shuffled unconsciously, the things she’d read in Sky’s diary the night before still heavy on her mind.

Sky’s ears splayed back as she busied herself with her cloak. “Personal, huh?” She said quietly, looking a little uncomfortable. “What kind of personal question?”

“Well...it’s about Shadow.” Rat admitted, fiddling with her hooves some more as she fixed Sky with a more serious look. “And there’s something I found out about her...I guess I just wanted to know the truth…”

Sky’s ears flattened against her skull as she looked away, pulling her hood up. “Uh...huh. What about her?”

Rat looked down at her hooves, wondering how best to ask her, when Sky’s attention was caught by her little sister returning home. She burst through the door at some speed, galloping as fast as her legs could carry her back into her room.

“Uh...Shadow?” Sky asked, cocking her head as the door slammed behind the filly. The little white pegasus trotted up to Shadow’s room, pressing her ear to the woodwork. “Are you okay, sweetie?”

“No I’m fucking not!” Shadow yelled back irritably. ”He’s following me!”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” Sky giggled. “What’s he gone and done now?”

At that moment, Fox made his way into the living room, looking around innocently. “Um...is Shadow here?” He asked politely.

Sky turned on the spot to ask him what the hell was going on, but she couldn’t stop herself from letting out an excited little squee as her eyes fell on him. The little colt wore a black suit with a little top hat, the perfect outfit for a young unicorn who’d just attended a wedding.

“No, she’s not! Go away!” Shadow squeaked from inside her room. “She’s dead! Gone forever! Come back later!”

“Okay, one of you is gonna have to explain what happened.” Sky rolled her eyes, sitting down and looking between Fox and the door.

“It’s your fault!” Shadow yelped.

“Shadow didn’t like you calling us a couple.” Fox explained, trying to suppress a happy little smile as he spoke. “I guess some fillies don’t like getting exposed in front of hundreds of really super-judgemental ponies.”

He glanced around before leaning in to whisper to Sky.

“But...for what it’s worth, I really appreciate it.” He giggled quietly. “Do we really look like a couple?”

“Well…” Sky muttered, glancing warily at the door. “Yeah, you do. When you two are together you’re like the cutest little arguing old couple ever.”

Fox gave a little squee, hugging Sky’s foreleg before knocking on Shadow’s door. He gave the elder pony a sly little wink, and Sky couldn’t help but watch with quiet interest.

“Fuck off!” Came the young filly’s voice.

“Shadow, I’m super-sorry about what happened at that wedding. I was super-embarrassed, too!” Fox said earnestly. “I think Sky wants to apologise to you!”

“She’d never apologise for that sort of shit! Nice try!” Shadow replied, growling. “She gets off on embarrassing me!”

Sky cleared her throat, stepping up to the door again as well. “Hey, Shadow?”

“What?”

“Fox is telling the truth.” She said quietly. “I never wanted to humiliate you that badly, little sis. You were just so cute standing next to him like that and I...I was nervous, I guess…”

Rat and Fox looked at Sky incredulously, their bullshit alarms going off simultaneously.

“You...you mean that?” Shadow asked uncertainly.

“Absolutely.” Sky nodded, crossing her wings behind her back and grinning back at Fox. He seemed to be getting the picture. “Come on out and I’ll make you some coffee and give you a hug, okay sweetie?”

Shadow’s door cracked open, revealing one very nervous looking green eye and a pair of fluffy blue forehooves. “Wait, I thought I was banned from coffee…”

“Well, you’ve had a tough day and I need you two to work with Rat on the job tonight. Perhaps I could lift the ban for one day…”

Shadow narrowed her eyes at Sky, looking for an ulterior motive as she slowly ventured out of her room again. Sky turned tail on her little sister, trotting along in front of her for a little while until she passed Fox. With a kick of her hind leg, she pushed the colt right up next to Shadow, grinning evilly.

“We’re a couple, Shadow!” Fox giggled, pouncing on the filly and wrapping his hooves around her. He was so excited that he even lifted her up a little, nuzzling her cheek and smiling like Hearth’s Warming had come early.

“NOOOOOOO! SIS, I TRUSTED YOU!” Shadow squealed, trying to unfurl her wings. It was no use. Fox had her in a tight colt-cuddly grip and there was no letting go.

“That was your first mistake!” Sky giggled back, watching her little sister go bright red with anger and embarrassment.

“But...but…” Shadow whimpered, squirming and struggling in Fox’s grip and glaring at the two of them. “But…”

“Shadow, you make me the happiest little pony in the world!” Fox beamed, bumping his muzzle against hers.

Shadow looked up at Sky pleadingly, silently begging her to save her from this mad little unicorn, but Sky remained resolute. Those two were far too adorable to break up right now. With a little squeaky sigh of resignation, Shadow relaxed, resting her muzzle on Fox’s shoulder and quieting down.

“Whatever.” She grunted.

“There, see? Was that so hard?” Sky chuckled, trotting to the balcony and beaming at the three little ponies.

Rat’s giving me a weird look… She thought to herself, her smile fading just a little. I’m gonna have to ask her about that once this is over. He’s too curious for his own good, the silly little colt…

“Okay, guys!” Sky announced, as Fox finally relinquished his irate new marefriend. “Get your shit together! We’re gonna need all three of you at your best to pull this off, but after tonight we’re never gonna have to worry about those Operative assholes again.”

Stronghooves frowned as he trawled through the wedding reports, cocking his head.

“The mistress in question lives in Trottingham, correct?” He asked, glancing up at the other assembled guards, who nodded in confirmation.

“She’s had a week to hear about the wedding.” Daybreak frowned. “Still, there’s no way that she could’ve gotten here in time to crash it.”

“That’s because it wasn’t her.” Stronghooves muttered, pulling aside one of the reporters’ photos of the two mares fleeing the scene. It wasn’t the best possible photo, the motion blur making it difficult to see them properly, but Stronghooves smiled softly as he caught sight of a glimpse of red poking out from under the bride’s dress.

Misty’s tail isn’t that colour… He mused, recalling her picture in Silver’s office. Looks like my little sister’s at it again…

He looked up at the assembled ponies. “Drop the investigation into the wedding. Continue surveillance of Rolling Thunder’s facility and report on any movements his boys are making.”

“Then you might be interested to hear this, Cap.” Shield said, trotting into Stronghooves’s office with another folder. “I just got word from the stakeout guys. Thunder and Silver are on the move back to the facility. They’ve got that lockbox with them.”

“Blast.” The Captain grunted. “How long ago was this?”

“About ten minutes ago. The runners got here as fast as they could.”

“The Palace isn’t far from the facility…” Stronghooves leapt to his hooves, pulling his helmet on and slinging his sword over his back. “Everypony, form a perimeter around the facility. Keep the citizens safe. Shield, Daybreak, you two come with me.”

Daybreak pulled a bandolier full of explosive crossbow bolts over her shoulder, bumping her flank against Stronghooves’s.

“I’m ready, boss.” She grinned, revelling in ability to make her new coltfriend blush without even trying.

Stronghooves gave a very un-stallionlike squeak, clearing his throat and pointedly not looking at her as he trotted to the door. “Ahem...er...yes...well…”

“Daybreak, don’t fuck with your commanding officer’s head.” Shield mock-scolded, grinning in amusement. “We’re gonna need poor Hoovesie here to give us orders and you’ve got him all tongue-tied!”

“Damn it, guys…” Stronghooves sighed. “You’re just both trying to push my buttons now, aren’t you?”

“Yep!” Shield and Daybreak said in unison, laughing as the rest of the officers filed out.

Stronghooves did his best to glare angrily at the two of them, but faced with a pair of such sweet and good-humoured new friends, he couldn’t help but smile.

“Well then, how about we get this sorted out so I can start working out how I’m going to punish you for being so silly?” He chuckled, turning tail on them and stepping out of his office.

“Guys.” Stronghooves and Sky said in unison, halfway across the city from one another. “Let’s go end this once and for all.”