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Dappled sunlight filtered down between the gaps of the willow trees as Two Tone rode her motorcycle down the neighborhood street in my Royal Equestria Security Forces (RESF) dreamscape. The trees grew so far out that they almost formed a natural archway. Helping to blunt the worse of the summer sun.

It was a nice neighborhood. Not ritzy, but a nice neighborhood. The better part of Ft. Trotterdale. Much nicer than the neighborhood that Two Tone grew up in. But almost anywhere was better than that place. The zebra’s destination was an old, but well maintained, white, single story, bungalow-style house. It’s modest front lawn was bordered with neat flower beds that were filled with a riot of colorful blooms.

Even as Two Tone shut off the motor to her bike the mare could hear the incessant, ear-splitting yapping of a canine-like animal. The zebra gritted her teeth as she removed her and helmet and put the bike up on its kickstand. She stowed her helmet in one of the lockable panniers on the bike. Then she unzipped her leather jacket and made her way to a side gate.

As the zebra swung the wooden slat fence open she was confronted with source of the noise. It’s name was Dragon and it was like a dog. Only smaller. Two Tone had never been able to figure out how much noise could come from such a tiny thing. She often couldn’t tell which end was the front end or the back. It was like a little, dingy white, hyperactive, rug mop that bounced back and forth around her ankles. She ignored it and followed the pavers along the side of the house to the backyard.

Two Tone found who she was looking for under the shade of the back patio and the protection of mosquito netting. The old kirin mare was sitting in a rattan arm chair by a table of similar construction. Hearing the sound of approaching hooves the kirin placed a bookmark in the book she was reading and set it on the table. Then she rested her hands in her lap. With a big smile on her face she looked up at the mare and squinted through heavy framed glasses. Dragon had followed Two Tone all the way and had not relented in its acoustical assault. The kirin looked at it and softly spoke.

“Dragon. That’s enough. You know who Two Tone is. Now, be quiet and let us chat.”

The dog instantly went silent and looked at her for a second. Then it turned its gaze back to Two Tone and growled ever so faintly and then walked away. The zebra watched the dog leave as she sat down in a chair adjacent to her host.

“Grandma Coal. After all these years I still don’t know how you put up with that little monster.”

The kirin smiled. “Now, now. Dragon is really a sweet thing once you get to know him.”

Two Tone looked back over her shoulder to where Dragon was now yapping at an iguana that was resting on top of the fence in the shade of a willow. She stared at it for a second and then looked back at her host and muttered.

“I’ll take your word for it.”

Grandma Coal refilled her glass from pitcher that was sitting on the table along with plate of cookies. She looked at her guest. “Sweet tea dear? It goes quite well with the lemon coolers that I baked earlier today.”

“Yes please.” Said the zebra.

Two Tone sat there patiently as her host slowly poured her a glass and placed 3 cookies on the white china plate. Then she passed the plate and glass over. A long, faded, curving scar running from the right corner of her mouth up and into her mane. This resulted in giving old mare a slightly lopsided smile. With refreshments served the old kirin addressed her guest.

“Now dear. Your messages make it abundantly clear that you seeking to find discreet, safe, long-time shelter. For almost a dozen foals.” >>3311688t As she said this she made a slow, circular gesture with her right hand. “And feel free to talk dear. I freshened up the wards before you came over today. So we can talk and nopony will hear or see us. And if unwanted ponies do show up unexpectedly then Dragon will deal with them.”

The zebra glanced once again over her shoulder as Dragon bounced and jumped up repeatedly at the lizard who indifferently watched its efforts. Then she looked back at the kirin and with a deadpan, sarcastic voice said. “I feel safer already.”

Grandma Coal smiled. “Good. Now. Do any of these poor foals have any medical issues that need immediate tending to? Also does their current host have adequate facilities to house them? Are they getting 3 square meals a day?”

Two Tone retrieved her cell phone from her jacket and pulled up some notes she’d written on it. “Well there host has been able to provide them with more than adequate crash space and grub. Most of them have some type of bruises and stuff, but those are being handled on site. However one of the fillies has some fucked up teeth that…….”

The zebra looked up from her phone to find her host staring very disapprovingly at her. She swallowed and continued. “I meant to say that one of fillies has some existing dental issues that demand immediate attention. So we need to obtain a dentist who we can work with that will not ask questions, and will keep quiet afterwards.”

The old kirin nodded her head sadly. “Oh dear. That’s most unfortunate. Yes. We must get the poor thing to a dentists. I know a couple who might be able. I will make some calls. Also I will start sending queries through my sources to see what can be done to discreetly resolve these foals long term situation. I assume their host realizes this will not be cheap?”

Two Tone put her phone back in her pocket. “Yeah they know. Ideally they’d like this wrapped up in a fortnight. Can we do it?”

The kirin closed her eyes and was silent for about a minute. Finally she opened them. “Yes. Yes I believe it can.”

Two Tone downed the last of her sweet tea. “Good! Now Grandma Coal, I’d love to stay and shoot the breeze, but I need to talk to a shi….” The zebra corrected herself. “A whole ton of other ponies if this is going work out. So I need to getting rolling. Once again thanks for your help!”

“Of course dear.” The kirin smiled as the zebra got up. “Do you want to take any lemon coolers with you?”

The zebra adjusted her IWB holster and magazine pouches and then straighten her jacket. “Sure! Thanks. I’ll take a few. I’ll have them later, but not as many as last time. Okay?”

Despite her protests Two Tone found herself leaving with 2 dozen cookies carefully packed in cookie tin. As she left Dragon followed behind her barking the whole time. Grandma Coal listened to side gate slam shut and few seconds later the sound of the motorcycle start up and soon ride away. Dragon came trotting back and laid down at the kirin’s hooves. The old mare sighed and looked out at her garden. Then she said out loud.

“Well now Dragon. We’ve got ourselves some to chores to take care of. Don’t we.”

She then carefully pulled a gunmetal grey laptop out of a knitting bag that had been sitting at her hooves the whole time. Opening it up she turned it on and after going through several security protocols she produced a headset from the same bag and put it on. Then she activated VOIP and waited as it the laptop made a connection. Then she spoke.

“Hello there dear its me. I have need of your services again.”