//------------------------------// // 13.1 Carrot's and Hugs don't Mix // Story: Prey and a Lamb // by Lambs Prey //------------------------------// "Good one Sargent, now what's a lamb really doing in my store?" "I'm here to get both these new recruits outfitted for the Night Guard, Quarter Master Carrot." Gloom repeated. The grizzled earth stallion across the counter gave Gloom a look like he suspected the bat pony had spent too long out flying under the sun, "I'm being serious." He said. "So am I sir." Gloom replied. Crimson and Prey waited behind Gloom in the Quarter Master's store house. After getting Prey a fresh bandage for his ear, they'd come straight here. Behind the Quarter Master's counter, isles of chest plates, champhrons, helmets, plumes, horse shoes, and other armour hung on racks that went back into the gloom, and a metal cage from floor to ceiling blocked off access to it all. Carrot leaned over the counter and looked down at Prey, who returned his disbelieving look with a bright smile. "It's a lamb." Carrot stated flatly. "Yes sir, he's also part of the ISND too." Gloom said. "The lieutenant told me about the Princess creating some new Division. Can't say I think much of the idea. Waste of resources." Carrot said gruffly. Prey silently agreed, but as it was this 'waste of resources' that had gotten him out of prison, he wasn't complaining. Crimson was watching the whole conversation with the cool stoicism that Prey expected, while Gloom looked like he was resigned to patiently arguing this one through. "Quarter master, I was assigned by Captain Nighthawk to outfit them as I thought best, and I have his permission to request supplies from the store house. If we could please get them outfitted, we'll get out of your mane and on our way." Gloom sighed. "You're not getting anything for your pet lamb, and that's final. As for your pegasus friend, that depends on whether I think he can be trusted not to injure himself." Carrot replied flatly, not caring in the least about Gloom's authority from the Night Guard Captain. Prey thought the Quarter Master was smarter than he let on. Prey didn't want to be outfitted in anything thank you very much, and for good reason. He was a runt, so nothing would fit, it would only weigh him down. He had no experience wearing armour of any kind, and neither did he wish to be dressed up like some child's doll with a sigil proclaiming him property of the Night Guard. "Sir, I agree with the quarter master. I don't need anything, and I doubt there's anything in my size anyway." Prey spoke up. "You're a member of the Night Guard, you need some form of uniform." Gloom said, hurriedly gesturing for him to be quiet. "A sheep, especially a lamb, is not a Night Guard. That's just a bad joke." Carrot grunted. Crimson stirred, "Excuse me sir, but Prey is actually part of the Night G-" "I already told you quite plainly no," Carrot interrupted, "And I'm not changing my mind. You're not the one who has to keep this here store house running, and I'm not about to bust my back for something as foalish as outfitting a sheep." The Quarter Master turned away as if the dispute was settled, "Let's see about outfitting mister Crimson Trace here, if he can pass muster that is." Carrot said flipping up the hinged counter stall, "Get in." He ordered, jerking his head at Crimson. Gloom made to follow but Carrot slammed the counter shut again, "Respectfully sir, I must remain with all my soldiers-" "Soldiers, hah! I only see the one, and even that remains to be seen." Carrot reached under the counter and pulled out a battered and scratched plain version of the Royal Guards chest plate. "Here," he said tossing it at Crimson, "Let's see if you can put that on without your mother holding your hoof." Crimson caught the chest plate stiffly, his wings bunching with irritation, but, "Yes sir." Was all he quietly said. Gloom meaningfully put a hoof down. "Quarter Master Carrot, I'm not trying to start a fight, but I have orders to follow-" "And I have mine, you over grown bat," Carrot snapped, making Gloom's slit eyes narrow, "And I'm not intimidated by the likes of you either, so you can just stand there like a good Sargent and wait till I'm done. I didn't get this post because I'm all cushy and soft, and I can take you any time." He said flatly. "I'm not instigating a fight, and it is my duty to inform you that you are out of line and prohibited from taking action that might lead to one either." Gloom answered. Carrot didn't so much as blink, "Not impressed. The lamb still isn't getting anything." He said with a snort. "And you, aren't you done yet?" Carrot snapped swivelling back around. Crimson met his gaze levelly, "Yes." He answered. The chest plate was now strapped on. Carrot grunted and stepped closer, tugging harshly on the plating and checking the straps and adjustments. Crimson kept his blank look but Prey could tell he was barely tolerating the abrasive stallions inspection. "Hmph, it could certainly be worse. For instance, you could be missing a leg and blind." Carrot grunted. Stepping back to the counter he pulled out the rest of the armour set, "Prove that you also know how to put that on and I'll consider the faint possibility that you might know the very basics." He groused. Gloom tried not to glower, then his ears flicked up and he looked around, "Prey? Where are you?" Prey looked up innocently from where he was perched on a box in the corner, "Right here sir. I'm just..." He looked at Carrot with a strange smile, "Just watching." Watching and listening to the constant stream of casual racism, not that anyone else could hear it. The Quarter Master didn't think much of Crimson, '-overgrown chicken-', and even less of Gloom, '-jumped up bat who thinks he's Princess Luna's blessing to all of Equestria-'. The grizzled stallion thought of himself as a 'veteran', and obviously felt very entitled to his own opinions. His thoughts on Prey were; '-whiny children don't belong in here. Must be some mistake or big joke on her majesty's part. Maybe she was just desperate for a mascot-' Prey somehow doubted Carrot was a veteran. He certainly had the attitude, but he was a pony. Ponies were soft. Unless there had been a war in the fifty seven years Prey had been away, he doubted Carrot had seen any real action. While Crimson was struggling with putting on the rest of the training armour set and Gloom silently fumed, Prey decided to test his theory. "Carrot sir, how often do these sets of armour get damaged?" Prey asked, drawing everyone's attention. "Too often." Was the blunt reply. '-they never listen to my warnings on proper maintenance-' "What happens when they are? Do you repair them or is there a blacksmith?" "No. Armourer." Carrot answered. '-Almond's smithy. Annoying lamb won't shut up-' "How many sets of armour do you have in here sir? It must be quite a lot to outfit all of the Guard." Prey asked next. "None of your business lamb." Carrot retorted turning away. '-only two hundred spare sets, but Captain won't listen to me and order in more-' "Hmm. How about the Royal Guard weaponry then?" Prey hummed. Carrot shot Gloom an annoyed look, "Keep your sheep in check. If all he's gonna' do is ask questions, you can get out." He snapped. '-strange lamb, I don't like it. Short swords and a surplus of presentation spears. Bah! Nothin' proper like we had in my day-' "Just one more question please sir, and then I'll keep quiet, I promise." Prey said with all the innocent sincerity his nine year old lamb frame could muster. Carrot didn't acknowledge him, but the ear cocked in his direction showed he was listening. "You look like an old army hoof, you must have been in lots of fights," Prey squee'd, clashing his fore hooves together and leaning forwards in eager anticipation, "Have you ever killed somebody?" He asked. They all jerked at that. Gloom's look of wary confusion as he watched Prey question the Quarter Master changed to open disapproval. "Prey!" Gloom reprimanded. "That's none of your bucking business you oversized piece of dandruff." Carrot snarled rounding on Prey, but he pulled up short when he saw the look of wounded innocence on Prey's face. So instead of storming over, Carrot just jabbed a hoof in his direction, "Not. Another. Word. Got it?" He growled. Prey nodded dutifully, "Yes sir. My apologies. I didn't mean to remind you about that griffin." He said. Carrot's head jack knifed around, "What did you say?!" He demanded, a look of stunned outrage on his face. Gloom took a step forwards like he might be getting ready to put himself between the Quarter Master and Prey. "I said, 'my apologies sir. I didn't mean to bring up any bad memories.'" Prey said, blinking slowly, "Why? What did you think I said?" Carrot glared at Prey for a long moment, his hooves grinding into the floor boards, but he couldn't do anything about it, "Nothing." He eventually snorted. Gloom and also Crimson were giving Prey confused looks, but he just smiled back at them. "Finished." Crimson quietly declared, having strapped on the last shin guard. Carrot took a moment to refocus on his task, having been caught up in his thoughts, "Alright, let's see how bad it is then." He muttered. He walked around Crimson following the same routine he had with the chest plate. Tugging on straps, checking the tightness and looking for loose play in the way the armour was settled. "Congratulations, you're not as useless as I first thought. You get you're own set of armour. Come by tomorrow same time to sign for it. Now let's see how you hold a spear." Carrot grunted. "Sir, only armour for now please. The ISND will have its own issued weaponry, so that's not needed." Gloom hastily interjected, "But is there any way we can get that armour today instead? The sooner Crimson's outfitted and in uniform the better." He added. 'More like you don't trust Crimson enough yet and you don't want to come back here to deal with Carrot again.' Prey thought reading Gloom's real intentions in his thoughts. "No. Come back tomorrow." Carrot said bluntly. Gloom looked distinctly put out by that. Prey didn't blame him, the Quarter Master was definitely abrupt and rude, but Prey didn't actually hate Carrot, at least not how he usually hated every single pony he met on sight. For one thing, Carrot was an earth pony, the only type who had ever been in the resistance. Earth ponies were the only ones who had ever farmed, sweated and laboured amongst the villagers, and the only ones to oppose the Sun Wolf. 'And much good it did them in the fire storm.' Prey snorted to himself. The other reason was that Prey didn't deeply hate Carrot on sheer principle, was that the earth pony was, or had been at one point, a killer. He knew what it was to take a life, and Prey saw in Carrot's thoughts how that moment had changed him. Prey could forgive a lot on Carrot's part because of that. Prey could understand that. They finished up in the Quarter Master's office, got Crimson out of the test armour, and left. --- The door had barely shut behind them before Gloom demanded, "What was that Prey?" It was obvious what Gloom was referring to, so Prey didn't bother playing dumb, "Exactly what it sounded like, finding out more about our Quarter Master." Prey replied. "What were you talking about, what 'Griffin' where you referring to?" Gloom pressed. Prey unconsciously put a bit more distance between the two of them so that he was out of hoofs range as always, "The griffin he killed in his career, of course." He answered. Both Crimson and Gloom went quiet and looked at him. "And how do you know that?" Crimson asked carefully. Prey stopped so he could face both of them and made a show of taking a deep, calming breath. "The same way I could guess about your story Crimson. There were loads of clues. His abrasive attitude and temper, his profession in the Border Guard at one point shown by the old epaulette hung on the wall, the fact that he most likely asked for a transfer before he was commissioned as the Quarter Master, the four talon scars poking out under the armour on his left shoulder. All that points to the possibility, but his reaction to my question definitely confirms it." Prey explained. Crimson's wings twitched, "Why did you say it though? Did you feel it was necessary to bring it up and throw it in his face?" Crimson asked. "No, but I did it anyway. Ponies always feel entitled to pry into others past, but don't like when it's done to them. Also, it's now our job to dig out secrets in this ISND Division." Prey answered. "Not like that. We are on the same side, and what you did was not okay." Gloom said disapprovingly. '-and I thought we were getting somewhere-' His thoughts read. Prey frowned, this was going further than he'd intended, he'd merely wanted to get under Carrot's skin. "He was being rude to both of you, and almost openly racist against you Sargent. I don't like racist ponies any more than Crimson does." Prey replied, glancing away. That would make him look like he was just being loyal, in a misguided sort of way. Gloom pushed down a sigh, "Thanks kid-err, Prey, but you didn't need to do something like that. I can deal with my own problems." Gloom said. "If that's what you want, then okay." Prey said simply with a shrug. They resumed walking in a thoughtful silence after that, as Gloom lead them towards the Clerk and liaisons office. Prey knew that as he'd plucked it from Gloom's thoughts as they went. --- Prey's legs were still weak, and the long hours spent cleaning out the office certainly had not improved his general condition, the shower not withstanding. And the fact that he hadn't magically grown in the last ten minutes or so meant he had to, as always, canter all the time just to keep up. So it was that Prey was actually glad when they came to a stop outside of the clerks office. It said so on the door. Gloom knocked briskly, "Ma'am, Sargent Gloom and company." He announced. Personally, Prey would have listened at the key hole to check for an ambush before announcing his presence. "Come in." Came the muffled call through the wood. Gloom pushed the door open to reveal what once was a spacious office, but due to the filing cabinets and stacks of brown folders stuffed into every available space, it ended up being cramped instead. In the middle of the room stood a desk that matched the style of the room; groaning under forms, paper trays, files, and used mugs. Behind the desk sat the clerk herself, a medium sized unicorn mare. Prey immediately slunk behind Gloom to provide himself with a meat shield. The mare glanced up from her furious scribbling, the orange aura fading from the quill as she slotted it back into the ink well, "Ah, Sargent Gloom, great! You're just the pony I wanted to see." She said, mane looking slightly frazzled. Gloom cocked an ear, "I am, ma'am?" He asked cautiously. "Yes, yes, there's so many forms here that require your signature. Your new division in the Night Guard has so much paper work involved, it's not even funny. Even more so than usual I mean. We're still trying to catch up with the backlog from the re-institution of the Night Guard, and now this too. Honestly, couldn't you have waited?" She asked huffily, rummaging around behind the desk, "Now where did I put that stack?" "It wasn't intentionally done just to spite you Taffy." Gloom said drily. "That's what they all say, yet they don't do the paper work." The mare called Taffy grumbled, "Aha! Here we go." She said levitating up an intimidating stack of papers and dumping them in front of the Sargent. Gloom gave it a wary look, "Surely this isn't-" "Everything that you have to sign, yes. In triplicate." Taffy said gleefully. "Ma'am, I don't really have time for this. We came to get the assigned records and files that have been set aside for the ISND. We were supposed to pick them up this morning and now are running behind schedule. Can't you please just give us the files and we'll do this later?" "Nope!" Gloom sighed, "Taffy please." Taffy scowled at him for a long moment. "Who's your civilian friend?" She asked, abruptly changing topics. "Crimson." Crimson said, answering for himself. "He's one of the new ISND Night Guard, we just haven't gotten around to getting him his armour yet." Gloom put in. Taffy blushed slightly, "Oops, sorry Sargent. I was trying to guilt trip you into the paper work in front of the civilian. Wait, I didn't mean it like that." "Taffy Hopes, could you please just give us the files, I promise I'll come by later and deal with the paper work." Gloom sighed. Taffy was still eyeing up Crimson, "You promise?" She asked suspiciously. "Yes." A smile lit up her features, "Alright then, but first, Crimson, what's your favourite type of fudge?" Taffy asked. Crimson blinked, "Pardon? I don't see how-?" "Getting to know you. I always ask everypony new, breaks the ice see? So what is it?" Taffy asked leaning forwards across the messy desk. Crimson looked at her blankly, "I do not have one. I have never had fudge." He answered. "What? Never? How come?" Taffy asked with a disappointed frown. Crimson shrugged, "It was never a luxury that was available where we- I mean where I come from." He replied. "Oh? Where's that? It must be somewhere very far away if it doesn't even have fudge. Is it beyond the mountains or up north? I always love learning about foreign cultures, and that also explains your accent. You must have some interesting stories to share from before you joined up." Taffy enthused. 'So that's why you aren't opposed to the Night Guard or Gloom.' Prey thought. He could hear that the thestral Sargent being referred to thought that Taffy Hopes was '-a bit of a weirdo, but harmless-' "I do not wish to talk about it ma'am. It's no longer relevant." Crimson said flatly. She looked a bit hurt, but Gloom took the opportunity to jump in, "Ma'am, we really need to get going. Can we please have the files?" He asked. "Oh, those aren't here." Taffy shrugged. Crimson's eye twitched for a second before he got it under control, while Gloom took a deep, calming breath before slowly letting it out, "If they're not in here, then where might they be please?" Gloom asked patiently. "In the records department of course. Why? Didn't anypony tell you Sargent?" Taffy asked with a smirk. "No, no they didn't. It's just something else to add to the list of what nopony thought to tell us." Gloom growled quietly. He snapped a quick salute to Taffy, "Thank you for your help ma'am, but we need to be on our way then." "Fine, but don't forget your promise. I need those all signed in triplicate, remember!" Taffy laughed as they filed out the door. Her eyes alighted on Prey just as the door was closing, and he saw her look of confusion just before the door closed, "Sargent, who's-?" And then the door clicked shut. "And now on to the records department." Gloom grumbled. "That was the clerk and liaisons officer?" Prey asked. "Yeah. She's friendly, good at her job, but always complaining about it. I imagine that we're going to be seeing a lot of her over the course of our time in the ISND." Gloom said. "Is her officer position military, or...?" "No, it's clerical." Gloom answered. 'Ah, good. That means she has no real authority over me.' Prey thought. "What is the difference between her role and this record department?" Crimson asked. "Taffy deals with everything related to the Royal and Night Guard. The records department deals with everything else. And don't they let you know it." Gloom answered as they went. --- They passed a number of Royal Guards as they left the Guard section of the lower palace, heading for the records department. Apparently to get there, they needed to pass through a more civilian area of the palace. Prey knew for a fact that Gloom didn't miss the scornful and/or fearful looks the few servants they passed gave the thestral, and he doubted Crimson did either. At one point, Gloom stopped and led them down a side corridor to avoid someone who was apparently a noble coming the other way. A sicon of the ridiculously wealthy House Fell apparently. Whomever they were when at home. --- "There it is." Gloom finally said as they came out from around a bend and saw a set of double doors, through which a couple of distracted looking ponies were going in and out of. Prey wasn't close enough to hear their thoughts, but from the waist coats they wore and papers they carried, he was sure they were accountants' or clerks. They had a certain look about them, so similar to that one he'd caught sight of in the Border Guards camp that one time. Prey had found the stallion's tent left unguarded on one of the three times he dared to sneak into the main encampment. He'd never ventured in deep, but on that occasion he'd come across the accountant's tent. The fool had come out from Canterlot to see where the funds were going, having apparently heard that the 'fighting was over' and 'they'd won the war', and so came out to demand an explanation for the constant drain on the treasury. He'd thought to earn a couple of feathers in his cap for a job well done. Fire Strike had confined him to his quarters out of the way, and Prey had read through the stallion's angry letter that he'd left out on the cot. The clerk had written it to be sent back to Canterlot, complaining about 'his appalling treatment'. Prey left a little something lethal in the accountants water flask before he slipped out. Gloom marched up, still put out about the whole '-office dump cleaning out-' earlier and pushed the doors open. Inside was a more organised and laid out version of Taffy Hopes's office, but on a larger scale. For one thing it had about six desks in use instead of just the one, and far more filing cabinets for another. Prey observed the hustle and bustle with interest. "Yes? What can I do for you?" A bored looking blue stallion asked from the closest desk, barely looking up from his writing. "We're here to pick up the folders for the new ISND Night Guard Division. Taffy Hopes said they would be in here." Gloom said. The clerk looked up from his work with a thin smile, "Ah, yes. Sargent Gloom. We were expecting you..." He glanced up at the clock above the doorway, "Some six hours ago." He finished with dry contempt. "I apologise. There were multiple delays. But if you could just give us the correct papers, we'll get out of your way." Gloom said calmly. "I'm sorry Sargent, but the allotted time slot has come and gone, and we're very busy. We don't have time to unpack all of the folders again today. Come back tomorrow on time and we'll see about it." The clerk sniffed. "He's lyyying~" Prey spoke up in a sing song voice, "That's the files over there." He said waving his small hoof towards a large stack of boxes. Everyone stopped to look at him. "I beg your pardon?" The clerk asked, too shocked by the manner in which a lamb had spoken out against him to even be offended. Gloom turned back to the clerk, a cold look on his face, "My talent let's me know when something isn't quite right, and Prey just confirmed it. Why did you lie?" He asked. '-so sick of these back biting pencil pushers-' The pencil pusher in question gaped for a second before hastily composing himself, "What're you talking about? Those boxes could be for anypony, I cannot be expected to keep track of all the myriad things-" "Oh look, someone was kind enough to put a label on the boxes. 'Night G. Sgnt. Gloom, today' it says. How thoughtful." Prey announced joyfully. Gloom and Crimson joined in giving the clerk a look. Prey couldn't see it as they were turned away from him but, the blue stallion started sweating and couldn't meet their eyes. "Well, would you look at that. I made a mistake, how unusual, my apologies. It's been a long day after all." He hurriedly blustered. "Yes, I'm sure." Gloom said icily. Turning he swept his gaze over the office, where every pony was busily eavesdropping without looking up from their all important work. He snorted softly and jerked his head at Crimson, "Come on, let's get these boxes shifted." He said. "Too many to carry in one go sir." Crimson commented as he eyed the stack. "To start with we'll just shift them into the hall, and decide where to go from there." Gloom instructed, "Come along Prey." As it turned out, only Crimson and Gloom had to shift all seventeen boxes to outside the door. Prey'd braced his hooves and dug in his shoulder. He'd tried tilting or levering the box up, but no matter his efforts, it hardly lifted off the floor. Huffing, Prey kept trying, silently cursing his runt body for over the millionth time in his extended life. Prey had lifted heavier weights before, but these boxes were just too large for him to get them off the ground so he could shuffle them onto his back. 'If I was still in the Resistance, it would be 'find-a-way-or-scream-in-agony'.' Prey thought as he strained, but still the box wouldn't budge. It was infuriating. It didn't help that he was still tired out from a log day doing heavy duty cleaning. Nor did the indulgent chuckles from the office clerks behind him as they watched the '-little lamb try and copy the adults-' "Prey," Gloom began uncertainly, "Perhaps you should let us do that." He suggested, giving Prey a look like he suspected that the lamb would yell at him for daring to interfere. "Alright." Prey said and stepped away. "What?" He asked the surprised Gloom as he headed for the door. He might not like being small but he didn't have a complex about it, and they were much better suited to move large bulky objects than he was. --- "Alright, let's get going. This is going to take a couple of trips." Gloom sighed. The three of them were standing outside of the records department's doors, with the pile of boxes now stacked against the wall. Gloom and Crimson were each balancing three boxes apiece on their backs with the aid of their wings. They hadn't given Prey any to carry, and he wasn't about to volunteer. Crimson eyed the remaining boxes with mild distaste, "No one will take the boxes while we are gone?" He questioned. "Who's going to want to randomly move boxes of paper work? Luna knows I certainly don't." Gloom grumbled. "Just find some servants and order them to help." Prey suggested bluntly, then added, "Sir." Gloom grimaced as he shifted to get the boxes into a position hopefully less likely to fall and make a huge mess, "As nice as that sounds, the Guard doesn't have the authority over the palace staff to interrupt their tasks and assign them new ones, as it's caused problems in the past. Only to keep them out of restricted areas or if they are proving to be a nuisance." He answered. "Then grab a unicorn Guard, or find a cart." Prey said. "Can't. They're on duty. And besides, the only ones nearby are in the Royal Guard. All the Night Guard are either off duty or busy. I can't countermand standing orders for the Royal Guard, only the Night Guard because I'm not a lieutenant. Might have to see about a cart though." Gloom said tiredly as he began the trek back towards the recently cleared ISND office. "You don't seem to have much authority over anything, considering we apparently only answer to Captain Nighthawk and Princess Luna." Prey noted. Not that he wanted anything from either of those ponies. One behaved like some nighttime vigilante, and the other was an over enthusiastic dark Goddess. "Yeah, sure seems that way. The Night Guard is still very much in its beginnings, and there's so much legislation that hasn't yet been sorted out." Gloom answered. "I dislike having to fight past those that should be standing beside us." Crimson said flatly. Prey got the feeling he was talking about more than just today. "Me too." Gloom sighed, also referring to something else. "Me three." Prey agreed, completing the trio of unvoiced events. ------ Gloom groaned and stretched his back, hearing several bones pop, "Finally." He grumbled. "That was... A most annoying waste of time." Crimson agreed flatly as he reviewed the freshly emptied stack of boxes in the middle of their new office. It had taken a while, what with carting the boxes back here, then unpacking the files and shoving them onto shelves to be sorted out later. Even so, the seventeen boxes didn't go very far to filling the solidly made shelving that lined the three alcoves. There was a minute's silence as they each evaluated their work and how empty the oak panelled room still seemed. 'This place will be perfect for laying down hidden runes.' Prey thought. Provided the gold bands around his legs didn't prohibit him from doing so. He still hadn't tested what capabilities he had left to him yet, and he didn't dare do so without preparation. That was also assuming Gloom took his eyes off him long enough for Prey to do so. Annoyingly, despite the Sargent's fairly relaxed attitude so far, the thestral still hadn't let either of them out of his sight for more than ten seconds. 'Maybe I should blind him then.' Prey thought. "Come, enough day dreaming where Princess Luna can't even have the joy of overseeing them, let's get moving. It's dinner time." Gloom said, snapping them all from their thoughts. "Her Majesty can do that sir?" Crimson asked. "Er, no, I was just saying- Look, I was trying to be funny but it wasn't. It happens quite often, so don't dwell on it and let's go." Gloom said, herding them towards the door. "Ah. I was just wondering. I have heard many tales from my father of her Majesty's strength. I was wondering if that was one of them." Crimson said, obviously feeling the need to explain his foolish question. "No, from what I understand, Her Majesty can't enter dreams unless the dreamer is properly asleep. Don't quote me on it though." Gloom said. Prey breathed a sigh of relief at that, although it was only a small reprieve. Luna had said she wouldn't enter his dreams unless he was having a nightmare, not that he trusted her word for a second, but at least it was something. Luna was an all powerful alicorn, and would do what she wanted when she wanted, but at least the Moon Goddess wouldn't be invading his waking mind during the day whenever she felt like it. Probably. --- They entered the bustling Guard's mess hall through the same door they had that morning. This time they went straight to the back of the queue for food, and once again Crimson pulled out a second tray for Prey. Prey noticed the approval in Gloom's thoughts at Crimson's actions, and so reluctantly voiced his own polite thanks to the pegasus to keep up the appearance that he was trying to form a team bond, gaining further mild approval in Gloom's thoughts. 'It's all so you can kill them unsuspected later.' Prey comforted himself. As the three of them shuffled down the line, he paid special attention to the non-thestral and Night Guard members, listening to their thoughts as they shuffled down the line to see how they reacted to their counterparts. It was about what he expected. More dislike and distrust on both sides, although for the most part not overtly displayed. "Hello there again. Where's your little companion? You haven't done anything with him have you?" Came the threatening voice of Cookie above Prey's head over the counter. They had reached the serving hatch. "No I'm right here." Prey piped up, and a moment later he jumped up and caught hold of the edge so he could see over it, "Hello again miss Cookie." He said sweetly. "There you are dearie. It's good to see you. Tell me, has Crimson here been looking after you?" She asked with a smile, although on her stern muzzle it looked out of place. "Why yes he has. Thanks for asking. He doesn't say much but he's a good colt isn't he?" Prey asked with false cheer, silently wishing that he could kill the old cook right then and there. It was a shame that this humiliating act was so effective at winning the mare over, as attested to by her thoughts, '-such a polite little lamb. Almost makes my whole day worth while-' Prey could feel Gloom's disbelieving stare on his back. Prey jerked his chin at the thestral standing in line behind him, "Miss Cookie, I'd like you to meet Gloom. He's my Sargent." Prey told her. "Just Cookie dear," She automatically corrected, then, "Wait, did you say Sargent? Your Sargent?" "Yes, I've been signed up to the ISND. Isn't it great?" Prey giggled. Cookies glare locked onto the Sargent's, "Has he now? I didn't know it was legal to sign up children, Sargent Gloom." She said, making the rank sound like a filthy word. Gloom shot a look at Prey which clearly said, 'I can't believe you're doing this to me and I'll get you later', in fact he swore as much in his thoughts as well. "Don't let him fool you ma'am," Gloom hastily defended himself, "Her royal highness Princess Luna brought Prey into the Night Guard herself. There were special circumstances that necessitated his conscription." "Conscription now is it?" Cookie said, anger clear in her tone. "Miss, you're taking this out of context, Prey here-" "Prey?! Is that how you thestrals see him? He's just a foal." Cookie snapped. "Um, excuse me Miss Cookie, but it's alright. Prey is my actual name, really it is. And if Princess Luna decided that I must be here, then it must be alright, right? I mean she wouldn't do it otherwise, so I'm sure it's fine." He offered her a heart melting smile, "Sorry, we seem to be holding up your line Miss Cookie. Could we please get some of your food so we can eat? I'm quite hungry." The earth pony mare was struck speechless for a second before she managed to get her voice back, "Of course dearie. It's no problem at all." She said faintly. With a bowl for each of Crimson's trays and another shoved aggressively at Gloom, they were shuffled up the queue and out of the line. A number of quiet murmurs followed them as they moved to a table in the corner and sat. "What was that for?" Gloom hissed at Prey the moment they were seated. Crimson didn't say anything, but he too was looking hard at Prey as they waited for an explanation. "Because I felt like it." Prey shrugged, stretching across the table to try and reach one of the bowls of vegetable stew. Crimson moved it back a couple of inches and out of reach, "I would like to hear a proper explanation too." He said to Prey's annoyed glare. "Yeah, what was that earlier all about how you didn't want to be treated like a foal and then you go and pull that act and also sic the cook on me infront of everypony, all while making the Night Guard look bad. Did you stop to consider any of that?" Gloom demanded in frustration. "Of course I did," Prey said with startling coldness, "I also distinctly remember telling you that I don't care what these other ponies think of me. If playing a simple child makes them like me, then I'll act like a child. It's an easy mask to wear." "You're just trying to garner sympathy by play acting cute? That isn't acting childish, that is childish." Gloom snorted. Crimson nodded. "Yes it is, and I don't like it but I'll do it anyway. Makes life easier for us all in the long run." Prey answered, reaching across the table again for the stew, but once again Crimson held it out of reach. "And why do you think that makes it okay for you to try and manipulate everypony you meet? Others get by just fine without having to fake it, and so should you. Lying is the root of every problem. Princess Luna has picked us to live a second chance. Your words reflect badly on her. I am trying to befriend you, but you are making it hard." Crimson said, his odd phrasing strangely eloquent as he lectured Prey. Gloom joined in, "You shouldn't have done that Prey. Now they're going to be even less inclined to take the ISND seriously, and the story of the 'Night Guard employing children' is only going to spread if you keep making displays like that." Prey rolled his eyes, "That was going to happen anyway. Ponies talk, and seeing a lamb in the Night Guard was going to provoke those reactions regardless. The Night Guard is insular, and Princess Luna's decisions are already second guessed by almost everyone. Aside from the difference in species and the fact that the Royal Guard perceive you as intruding on their territory, the reason the Royal Guard don't trust you. Because they still remember Nightmare Moon-" "-She is not Nightmare Moon and never was. That demon has been banished for good." Gloom hissed. Prey held up his hooves placatingly, "I never said she was. I said they still remember Nightmare Moon, and it's colouring all their views. You know I'm only telling the truth." Gloom scowled, but reluctantly conceded the point, "Nopony puts it quite like that, but yes." He muttered. "And that will take time to change. But for now, anything to make the Night Guard less alien is good. So, my point boils down to this. I am a freak." Prey stated without emotion. Prey didn't care about any of what he'd just said, it was all just a ploy to get everyone else to underestimate him. Prey held Gloom's yellow eye as he continued, "The Night Guard doesn't need another freak, so I'll be a normal lamb instead and fade into the background. That's the entirety of my point. There, finished. Done." He paused, and let a smirk pull up the corner of his mouth, "And I'll admit, it was partly for fun. Don't say you didn't find that funny in hindsight." Prey said slyly. Gloom didn't return the smile, and neither did Crimson, although it would have been astonishing if the pegasus had. "That's the second time you've called yourself a freak. Is that how you see yourself?" Gloom asked, a thoughtful tone in his voice. "Of course. What else could I be?" Prey asked blankly. Gloom muttered something to himself and sighed, "Alright fine. I'll concede the point that the Night Guard isn't treated the best, and also the point that they wouldn't have taken you seriously regardless. I'll even concede that from a certain perspective," He looked hard at Prey, "That might even have been funny. But I'll say this," Gloom leaned across the table, making Prey shrink back in his seat. "You're putting too much thought into all of this. Lighten up. Boop." Gloom's serious expression broke and before Prey could leap away, the thestral shot out a fore hoof and lightly poked Prey on the nose. "What?" Prey asked crinkling his nose, currently too confused to be mad that Gloom had touched him, 'Has he taken complete leave of his senses?' He hadn't even seen that coming in the Sargent's thoughts, it had been completely spontaneous. Gloom sat back in his seat with a lazy grin, "You're over thinking everything Prey. Not everypony is an anomaly that you've got to factor into whatever calculations you run in your head. Sometimes, you've just got to be yourself and trust other ponies." He said. 'Trust ponies? Never.' But Prey was far from stupid and didn't say that out loud. So instead, he just "Hrumph'd" and stretched across the table for his bowl a third time. Crimson slowly slid the bowl into his reach, examining Prey through heavy lidded eyes, "You are very strange. But because this serves the good of Princess Luna in the long run, I see no harm." He said. "And it's not up to you, it's up to Sargent Gloom. He's our baby sitter by Royal Night Princess decree, remember?" Prey reminded him waggling his spoon at Crimson. "Unfortunately, yes, I'm responsible for you two mental asylum cases. And my diagnosis is; there's been far too much deep talk and philosophy for one day. By the Night, this is, what, the third one today? We need to cut down on that, it's exhausting." Gloom laughed lightly. "I believe that is just the fourteen hour shift sir." Crimson said carefully. Both Gloom and Prey raised their brows at the red pegasus, "Did I hear that right? Was that a second joke?" Gloom asked in fake amazement. Crimson just shrugged, as expressionless as ever. Prey dug into his vegetable stew while it was still warm after surreptitiously checking for poison, gulping down the chunks of cauliflower and carrot like they might run away or get stolen if he didn't consume them first. Gloom gave Prey a look and a thought of' '-I've seen wolves less ravenous-' but didn't say anything and just got on with his own lacklustre stew, Crimson reluctantly joining him a minute later in the consumption of Cookie's cooking. --- Prey was just finishing up scraping out the bowl when he heard them coming. They'd just entered his perception range, and he could hear their thoughts. There were five of them and they were heading purposefully straight for him and Crimson. Prey froze. Deep rooted instinctual fear gripped him. For a split second he hovered in indecision. Fight? He would only have to lay a hoof on them and it would be over, but it wouldn't be worth it. Would it? His eyes locked on Gloom, his warden and jailer. He'd be caught straight away. He was surrounded by Guards in the mess hall. Indecision wavered in Prey's heart. The moment stretched, lengthened, and ended as Prey did nothing. "Just look at you, so adorable!" Squealed a mare as she grabbed Prey from behind in a hug, pulling him up into a hug as she nuzzled his wool, "So cute and fluffy." Gloom looked up at the intrusion, mouth open to protest, but stopped. "What are you-?" Crimson started half rising from the bench. "Welcome to the Royal Guard!" The group cheered as they hurled a bucket of confetti in Crimson's face. "Don't touch me!" Prey's high pitched squeak of fury went unheard over the cheer as the five Royal Guards who had come over started to laugh. "What?" Crimson spluttered, bits of coloured paper stuck to his mane. "Its the Royal Guard custom made welcome." One of the Pegasus laughed. "Used to do it with rice, but Cookie complained about the waste of food." The unicorn with the empty bucket joined in, setting it down on the table. "But I am in the Night Guard." Seemed to be the only thing Crimson could come up with, casting a confused look back at Gloom who was just smirking faintly. "Ah, the Night Guards all come from their big brother, the Royal Guard, so you're still one in our books." The Pegasus answered cheerfully. "Hey, stop struggling, I only want to give you a cuddle." The earth pony mare hugging Prey crooned as Prey flailed at her, "Put me down!" His squeak of outrage made them all laugh, except for Crimson who still just looked confused. "He's so cute, are you looking after him for somepony or something?" The mare asked, her earth pony heritage making her quite unaware of Prey's struggles to free himself. "No," Gloom grinned, "He's been inducted into the Night Guard, as a 'special case' to keep him out of trouble. He's quite the hoof full let me tell you." His eyes taunted Prey, '-you wanted to act like a child, so here you go-' Prey knew this wasn't a serious situation, and that any act he took to escalate it like, say, shredding the mares mind and turning her into a vegetable, would result in death by outraged alicorn. But the instinctual fear of being touched, especially by a pony, was striving to override his rational mind. 'I will kill you.' Prey seethed, heart hammering under his all too brittle ribs. All the strong earth pony would have to do would be to squeeze too hard and he'd break like a twig. His hoof twitched mere inches from the leg across his chest as the mare, called Topaz Honey, rubbed her cheek vigorously against Prey's head, "Your ears are just the softest. Oh, what happened to this one? Never mind I'll kiss it better. Too bad you aren't a filly or you'd look adorable in a tutu." None were really paying attention to Prey's struggles, only as light amusement that he was providing with Topaz. They chatted merrily away, none of them realised that Prey was mere seconds away from killing one of their number. They just chuckled. They were laughing at him! This wasn't a joke, this was dead serious to Prey, but they just thought it was funny. None of them understood the irrational fear, the clammy terror, they just laughed. "I was not expecting...I'd expected I'd made an enemy of everypony at breakfast." Crimson said carefully. "Why? What'd you do?" "Songbird and a couple of others apparently were racist to the Night Guard this morning," The pegasus said, "You know how it goes." "Songbird? Really? That's not like her, usually she's much better behaved than that. I'll talk to her later." Topaz Honey said, finally looking up from nuzzling Prey. "There is no need for that." Gloom said at much the same time Crimson announced, "It is not worth your time." "So why've you got a sheep? Is he your adopted little brother or something Crimson? The lieutenant says until recently some pony had an adopted baby dragon in the palace." The unicorn asked. "No, I am not related to Prey at all." Crimson replied somewhat stiffly. "New in the ISND division in the Night Guard. Anypony heard of it?" Gloom asked. "No, sorry sir. Can't say I have." The unicorn answered, using the formal address now that Sargent Gloom had asked him a direct question. "It's just Gloom while not on duty. But yeah, it's new in the Night Guard. You'll probably hear about it soon. It's a small task group made up of us three, set up to track down drug dealers, smugglers, and other stuff like that." Gloom explained, refraining from going into detail. Their purpose wasn't exactly secret, but, '-no need to tell anypony more than that-' "Well I wish the both of you the best of luck sir. And your lamb. Night Guard or Royal Guard, stopping criminal scum is all that matters." The was a chorus of agreements from them all, and a general smatterings of good luck wishes, while the unicorn started to gather up the confetti with a brush spell back into the bucket. It would be against regulations to leave a mess. Topaz finally loosed her grip enough for Prey to squirm free and dash under the table unnoticed, while the ponies exchanged a few more words before they left. "See ya' around." "Nice to talk with you." "Congratulations once again." "Perhaps we'll get to train together sometime Crimson." "Have a good evening." Gloom and Crimson offered smiles and returned the goodbyes, or Gloom did anyway, with the departing ponies only flinching ever so slightly at his fangs. "That was...Better than I had been led to fear." Crimson commented quietly once the Royal Guards had left. "Some of them are alright I guess." Gloom said with a small shrug, "I think Topaz wanting to cuddle Prey is what made them really come over. That, and wanting to throw confetti in your face." He added. "You did not warn me that I should be on my guard." Crimson said, as if that were all the explanation needed. "Hey, it wasn't a test of your reflexes or anything. They were just doing what the Royal Guard do. They are quite big on their traditions, as I think you'll find out before too long." Gloom told him. "Are all their traditions like that?" "No, just most of the time. Mentioning time, we should be going, we don't have time for a full dinner, we've unfortunately still got stuff to do. Grab the trays and we'll drop them off as we go." Gloom said standing up. "Prey, where are you?" He asked casting around, before thinking to check under the table, "Come out from under there. Topaz is gone." He added with a mocking grin. Prey was sitting like a statue against the table leg in the shadow. He didn't say anything to Gloom's taunt, just slowly got up and shuffled out, head down. Gloom didn't think anything of it and they set off for the mess hall's exit. If anyone had been crouched down low enough to meet Prey's eye, it might have been a very different story. 'They laughed.' Perhaps it didn't mean anything to them, but it had meant something to Prey, a deep seated fear originating back from when he was in the Resistance's clutches. And they'd laughed. 'Unforgivable.' --- By the time they'd reached their destination, Prey had calmed down and the imperceptible tremors in his legs had ceased. It wasn't that Prey had nearly lost control of himself, because he hadn't. Not 'nearly', only about half. Prey was always aware of who he was and what he was doing, but at least the fear mixed with adrenaline had finally worked its way out of his heart. No one likes the the feeling of being afraid after all. "You two wait out here. If you know how to stand at attention, then stand at attention. I'm to report to Captain Nighthawk. It shouldn't take long so just wait till I'm finished." Gloom ordered, and it was an order, he was back in Sargent mode. The fact that they'd been told to wait outside made it obvious what or more accurately who Gloom was reporting about. Them. The two recently freed criminals, and he didn't want them present for said report. Gloom knocked, and the gruff voice of Nighthawk ordered him to, "Come in and shut the door Sargent." That left just the two of them standing outside in the otherwise deserted corridor. This was the first time that Gloom had let them out of his sight for more than a minute. Prey looked at Crimson, who as per Gloom's order, stood at attention. It was a fairly good stance as well, straight, legs braced, wings folded tightly, tufted ears up and yellow eyes forward. It was just the two of them. Prey didn't actually have anything he wanted to say to the Pegasus. The opportunity to talk unobserved didn't currently hold any appeal to Prey, and to be honest, he was still feeling a tad bitter. So they waited in silence. - Ten minutes passed, and no sign of Gloom returning. That was fine, Prey was a patient lamb. - After a further five minutes with still no sign of the Sargent, Prey decided it was likely that Gloom had been caught up in something else by Captain Nighthawk, and so wouldn't be out any time soon. Prey sat himself down to wait, receiving an ear flick from Crimson for breaking stance, which Prey ignored. - Ten minutes later a pair of Night Guards, a unicorn and a thestral, went by. They eyed Crimson and Prey carefully, before entering the next door down the hall, the lieutenants office. Unlike the Royal Guard, they clearly knew where Prey and Crimson came from. - Another ten minutes of silence. It seemed being a Night Guard meant a lot of standing around doing nothing in the late hours of the day. - Prey was just running over some old plans that he'd concocted back in the confines of Dreverton in case he ever got free one day, (and deciding what was possible and what was completely unfeasible even by his own standards), when Gloom finally returned. Prey's eyes flicked open as Crimson's hooves stamped as he came more fully to attention, "Is everything alright, sir?" He asked. "You were in there a while, what went wrong?" Prey asked, brushing back his ears as he tiredly got to his hooves. He'd asked that question specifically to make Gloom think about the answer, so he could read it as it ran through the thestral's head. '-something like this happening already. We're not ready, not a team yet. I must do my duty for Princess Luna though. Must bring justice to the memory theft victims-' Gloom cleared his throat, "It's not a problem for today. We'll make a start on it in the morning, but for now we're done for the night. Let's go back to the bunk room." He said, tiredness evident in his tone and the slope of his ears. It had been a long day for them all. Crimson nodded, accepting Gloom's words. Prey didn't. "Some crime or the like has been committed, and Captain Nighthawk wants the new Division to pull its weight, right? Sir." Prey asked, looking carefully at the Sargent. Gloom blinked, "I'm not sure why I'm even surprised. Got it in one again, Prey." He said. "It must be something that can't be dealt with by the normal Royal Guard," Prey noted, still carefully observing Gloom, "A crime that falls under what the ISND's specialities are supposed to cover. Treason? Smuggling? Spies? Intelligence? Kidnap?" '-kidnapped the foal and the mothers memories have been stolen-'. "KidPrey! I mean Prey, it's a problem for tomorrow. The Royal Guard have done what they can already. But we're all too tired to do any good tonight, but we'll get on it first thing in the morning." Gloom told him, rubbing a fetlock across his eyes. Gloom didn't wait for an answer and set off, leading them back along the route that Prey recognised memorising. It would take them back to the bunk room where they'd slept away the previous night. Already the maze like palace corridors were taking their correct place on an internal map in Prey's head. Prey wasn't thinking about that though, he was thinking about what he'd heard in Gloom's thoughts. 'Stolen memories.' Why did that seem so similar to what had originally brought him out of Dreverton? It could just be a coincidence, but Prey had a bad feeling in his gut. Mind mages weren't common. From what Prey knew, almost every form of mind magic was forbidden. And Prey was a hundred percent positive that Celestia strictly censored or controlled access to any knowledge about such magics. It's certainly what she'd been doing fifty seven years ago, much to his frustration when he tried finding even so much as a reference note in any magical tome he stole. Different city or not, for another such incident that was going to involve him again to happen so soon, it was suspicious. 'Something bigger is going on.' Prey thought, but without more information or being able to examine any evidence, there wasn't currently anything he could do to find out what it was. Arriving back at the bunk room, Gloom lit a candle to light the dim room, although Prey suspected it was more for his benefit than for either of theirs. The thestrals slit eyes gave excellent night vision, which Prey was sure creeped other ponies out all the more. Predators hunted at night. Prey also suspected that Crimson's own yellow eyes, although not slit pupils, still saw better in the dark than his own. Maybe he'd find some way to correct that flaw in the future. "Right," Gloom said yawning hugely, prominently displaying the other key difference in thestrals from ponies, not counting the bat wings. "Daily debriefing session and then I'm going to sleep. I haven't got more than five hours a night for the past two weeks, and the day and night shifts keep getting switched round. My body clock's broken, so I'm really looking forward to a full eight hours sleep." Gloom said, pulling off his helmet and setting it down on the closest bunk. "Debriefing? For what sir? We were with each other all day and so couldn't have missed anything." Crimson said. "Apart from whatever you aren't telling us that Captain Nighthawk told you." Prey grumbled. "No, what I meant was just talk with each other. You know, discuss. Like last night, trying to build team work and all that." Gloom said waving his hoof in a vague circular motion. "Teamwork is just obeying the chain of command. You do whatever the person holding the chain says." Prey told him. Gloom barked a laugh, "That was fairly quick, I'll give you that one. But no dice, we're still doing this. You two could benefit from some interaction. You aren't exactly..." Gloom trailed off, struggling to come up with a work that correctly encapsulated all the strangeness that was Prey and Crimson. "Social? Amicable? Stable? Sane? Friendly? Nice?" Prey suggested. "Normal." Crimson supplied flatly. Gloom sighed, "This ain't a rant at you. Look, normal isn't a requirement around here. In fact it helps if you're a bit strange in the Night Guard," Gloom joked, "But trying helps, especially when working with other ponies in a professional environment." Prey snorted, this was ridiculous. He wasn't normal and never would be, and had no interest in being so either, especially for them. Even a blind goat could see that much. Yet somehow even Gloom's enhanced thestral vision had missed the obvious. 'Oh well, just play along.' He thought. "Right, debriefing. Let's do it. What next?" Prey asked dismissively as he wondered over to his bed. '-this is stupid but got to take it seriously. So tired though, can barely keep my eyes open-' Gloom started undoing his shin guards, "Er, just anything really. This debriefing thing is going to be a daily occurrence, so let's not turn it into a chore. Just five minutes and then done. But seeing as you two are still supposed to be integrating back into society after your..." Gloom hesitated briefly before just deciding to say it how it was, "Imprisonment, it's for the best. This is going to help with you that." Crimson just nodded and shuffled his wings. Whether that was in genuine acceptance or just aknowledgement that he'd heard what Gloom had said wasn't so clear. Prey felt anger flare to life in his chest, like an ember suddenly fed kindling. They were the ones who'd shoved him in Dreverton to rot, thrown away the key and then forgotten about his existence until Captain Valour deemed him useful. They were the ones who'd sent the Border Guard and Captain Fire Strike. Their action, or inaction, had contributed to the deaths of the only two people he cared about. Yet now after all they'd done to him they expected him to change and fit into their perfect little society. It infuriated him. But as he could do with almost every emotion except for fear, Prey controlled the anger and hid it under an iron wrought expression of calm innocence. "Okay, and how would you suggest we use these five minutes?" Prey asked politely, as he stood up on his hind legs and began the process of hauling himself up onto his bunk. If they were going to waste five minutes he might as well be comfortable whilst doing so. '-bunks too high, that's kinda' amusing to watch-' Prey ignored Gloom's thoughts as he pulled himself up and dragged the pillow over, and began to plump it. "Try just being open and honest I suppose. We're gonna' be working with secrets every day in this job, so having somepony to be honest with will help." Gloom suggested. 'Pathetic, they're so soft in absolutely everything they do.' Prey snorted as he settled onto the pillow, which because of his small size was big enough for a bed roll all by itself. He folded his legs and waited. "Come on, somepony say something." Gloom told them when neither made any move to speak. "I am unused to this. Canterlot and the Night Guard. Royalty and the palace. I have no experience with what is expected of me by Princess Luna." Crimson abruptly spoke up. "Don't worry, you're doing fine. Everything's still very much up in the air, so it'll all sort itself out at some point. You're not going to fail her majesty, in fact none of us are. We'll just do our best." Gloom reassured him. It came off a bit awkward, but his thoughts were sincere. Prey fought the urge to gag. They all went back to just watching each other, Gloom and Prey sitting on their bunks and Crimson still standing by the closed door. Prey glanced between the two ponies, who were both looking at him expectantly. "What? I don't have anything to add. Nothing you'd want to hear anyway." Gloom looked like he might protest that, but his thoughts were constantly being dragged back to sleep, "Alright. You get to pass this time, but I expect you to contribute something tomorrow." Gloom yawned. Crimson's ears flicked at Prey in annoyance, so Prey gave him a big smile of innocence. Crimson snorted and turned away, trotting over into the middle of the room where there was the most space between the double bunk beds. While Gloom removed the last of his armour and stacked it in the foot locker, Crimson began a series of stretches. Prey watched with half an eye while carefully unwrapping the fresh bandage around his ear. It looked like Crimson was following some set of predetermined movements, oddly flowing as he moved from one set to the next. Prey ceased checking his ear to watch properly as Crimson finished his warm up and began a series of swifter movements that were clearly martial arts in origin. One wing snapped out in a strike while Crimson pivoted on his fore hooves, before shifting stance and following up with a blow from the opposite wing, covering the opening the first strike had caused. Crimson was in complete control of his movements, making the flowing forms look easy, almost like a dance. However Prey could tell that each stance the pegasus moved through took a lot of effort to pull off so smoothly. It looked like the style was based exclusively around pegasi, because it incorporated wings heavily into the strikes and movements. Each form was basic, but there was no wasted movement or effort, no step further than it had to be, no strike harder than was necessary. It was perfect in its simplicity. Crimson must have been practising these movements since he was smaller than Prey. 'So this is what his father trained him in.' Prey guessed. He was sceptical of how much use Crimson's martial arts would be in real combat. It was one thing to practice by yourself when there was no danger of getting hurt, and another to do so when someone was trying to kick your skull in. Crimson clearly had training and practice, and Prey wasn't going to underestimate that. But having never seen it in action, he was unimpressed. Being under pressure, sleep deprived, a hoof deep in mud while someone screamed their life out next to you and unicorn fire blasted overhead would turn even the most hardened drill Sargent into a bumbling amateur who didn't know up or down, let alone keep it together enough to employ a high calibre of martial arts. Maybe Prey was being too judgemental. He hadn't actually seen anyone use martial arts in an actual fight before. Perhaps it was unbeatable. Or perhaps the simpler reason was that it was just a bad idea. Being able to crack a boulder with a single kick didn't do much good against a crossbow bolt or a unicorn blowing your head off. Gloom had finished stowing away his armour, but had also paused to watch the show. He caught Prey's eye and offered a fanged grin, "Princess Luna knows what she's doing." He silently mouthed to Prey, before clambering into bed and pulling the grey blanket up. Prey looked down at the golden bands on his fore legs, 'Unfortunately, you're not entirely wrong.' Prey finished re-tying the bandage just as Crimson was coming to the end of his little dance, breathing lightly. Carefully the pegasus went about resettling his wings, straightening out each feather and pinion so they lay properly as he folded them. The stallion was a puzzle, but a remarkably simple one. "Good night, sleep well." Prey said out loud to Crimson, pulling his own covers back and sliding underneath. He got a grunt in response. Prey laid his head down on his uninjured side, flicking his good ear aside before he did so as not to go to sleep lying on it. Waking up with a dead ear wasn't something to be laughed at. Not that Prey planned to go to sleep. He had work to do. Crimson blew out the candle and climbed up to his own bunk. There was some shifting as he got comfortable, and Prey wondered if Crimson even followed a set pattern of practiced forms for that. Once it had gone quiet, Prey settled down in the warm darkness to wait. ------ [[[Bonus - Ray of Sunshine-Does this look like the face of Happiness?]]] https://imgur.com/QlVyxR9