"It's a long story…" Fluttershy sighed as she sized up the undertaking before her.

"Would you mind if we lay on the bed while I explain? My hooves are killing me."

"Ah don' mind."

As they lay down on the bed, Big Macintosh couldn't help but notice Fluttershy had begun laying in an awkward position, half on her belly, half on her side.

"Y'all okay? Yer layin' sorta funny."

"Oh, I'm fine." Fluttershy reassured. "It's just that it hurts when I try to lay on my stomach."

"Ah'm sorry ta hear that…" Big Macintosh felt the entire situation uncomfortable, this conversation even more so.

"Aw, it's not your fault, sweetie." Fluttershy reassured him with a nuzzle, "It's just one of those things that comes with being pregnant."

"Ah know, Ah just can' help but feel bad."

"And that's-" Fluttershy giggled "Why I love you so much, you're always so empathetic."

"Anyway, onto the Solar Contingency…" Fluttershy cleared her throat a little.

"The Solar Contingency is a plan that was written out hundreds of years ago, in case someone would be mean enough to try to kill Princess Celestia."

"Right," Big Macintosh nodded, "but just how in the hay do y'all an' my sister fit in there?"

"From what I was told, it's rare enough to know all six people who have their connection to the Elements of Harmony. The six using them- twice- has only happened with us."

"Alright…"

"So, they… "included" us in the Solar Contingency now."

"Y'all know how long yer goin' ta be in "protective custody" an' all that?"

Fluttershy gave a shrug, and replied with a simple "I don't know."

"Well," Big Macintosh finally decided, "Ah guess Ah'll just have ta start takin' care of 'yer animals earlier than Ah thought."

"Sir, permission to speak?" The guard standing outside the door called.

"Y'all don' need ta ask, go ahead."

"Well, I feel sort of awkward about this, but as timing would have it, we just received an order to place you under protective custody as well."

"An' mind if Ah ask why?" Big Macintosh didn't mean to sound- well, mean- but he sure as hay wasn't about to be forced into protective custody without a reason.

"Well, you're married to one of the bearers of the Elements of Harmony- and the brother of another. We're afraid you would be a high value target for any group out to do harm."

"Really? Y'all don' think Ah can't handle myself?"

"We'd rather not risk it, sir." The guard shook his head. "As capable as you are, we're not going to take any chances."

"Well, now Ah'm wonderin'- y'all have anyway ta take care of Fluttershy's animals then?"

"We have two teams coming down from Canterlot- one to take care of the animals, and another to tend to your crops- we're having Miss Applejack give us the instructions."

"Well, Ah guess that's fair. Thank ya kindly 'fer the consideration."

"Heh, I'm just glad I'm not the one taking care of the animals." The guard soon realized his mistake, and rushed to add on "W-well, not because I don't like animals. Hay, I love animals. It's just that I've heard that there is one bunny named "Angel Bunny" who can be a troublemaker."

"Oh, he's really a sweet bunny when you get to know him!" Fluttershy defended the absentee rabbit.

"I'm sure he is ma'am."

Sweet like a week old potato chip!

"There are two other things- well, they're more news than something to discuss- that they wanted me to tell you."

"All right, shoot."

"Well, first- I really hate how they make it sound so darn formal- It is with our humblest apologies that we have heard about the incident Mrs. Fluttershy had with Plated Heart. We shall inform you that he has been fired, according to the guard code of conduct."

"Plated Heart? That was his name?"

"Yes, sir." The Pegasus guard continued. "We'd tried to get him into the guard's AA program, but he refused. I guess it was just a matter of time until he got fired, but I wish it wasn't like this."

"Yeah, well, Ah don' think anypony wants ta get fired 'fer something like that, if they want ta get fired at all."

"Yeah, I guess not. Anyway, the other thing is that your lunch is here."

"Our lunch is… here? Ah don' think we ordered any lunch."

"Well, Mrs. Fluttershy had informed us that she was short on groceries, so we had one of the guards go out and pick some up."

"Well, that's mighty kind of ya."

"Again, I feel guilty that we even have to in the first place. I doubt anyone would go after either of you two, but orders are orders."

"Well, Ah guess there's no point in lingerin' on it."

"Yeah… anyway, thank you, umm… I'm sorry, I can't remember your name."

"Well, I think you can't because I never told you. I'm Silver Sword."

"Silver Sword?" Big Macintosh realized it probably sounded rude, but the only guards he knew had very "guard-ish" names.

"Yeah, you're probably wondering about that, aren't you?"

"Y'all don' have ta tell me if ya don' want to."

"I figure I might as well. Thing is," Silver Sword began, "my father was a guard. His father was a guard. So on and so on, for about three hundred years. So, they eventually started naming the kids with "tough-sounding" names."

"Holy hay… that's a family line y'all kin' hang yer hat on at the end of the day."

"Yeah, I guess it is pretty cool. At the same time, it doesn't say much for our originality."

"Yeah, ya got me there… listen, while Ah'm thinkin' on it, mind if Ah just call ya "Silver?" Callin' ya "Silver Sword" seems a bit long."

"Go right on ahead, sir. While we're on the topic of names, is there anything you would prefer other than "Sir", Sir?"

"Shoot, Ah don' care. Most people just say Big Macintosh, but whatever floats yer boat. Sounds like we're goin' ta be together fer a while."

Ya know, one of these days, I am going to release a chapter BEFORE 9 PM. Not sure when, but one of these days...