"And that's what happened," Caboose finished as he and Centorea walked back towards his house, Centorea holding the remains of her shirt against her chest like a towel. "Turns out I didn't have my needle and thread on me like I thought, so I'm taking her back to my place to fix her shirt. Can you tell her host family she's going to be late, scary Smith lady?"

On the other end of the phone line through Caboose's helmet, Smith groaned. "I don't really have to. Centorea had a special dispensation to wander around on her own to find her 'Master'. I thought that meant her host family, but apparently it meant more than that. I was going to contact you about hosting her-"

"Oh she can stay with me!" Caboose interrupted eagerly. "We're already friends!"

Centorea perked up at that. Her Master, her Knight, was eager to house her? He was just too sweet. Truly providence had smiled upon her to grant her such a wonderful Master…

"You…didn't try to ride her, did you?" Smith asked Caboose carefully.

"No," Caboose responded immediately. "We had to catch the thief on a scooter, so I ran."

"How did you keep up with her on foot?" Smith asked in disbelief.

"Oh, I slowed down for her!" Caboose quickly corrected. "It's unseemly for a centaur to be outrun, after all."

Centorea winced. Okay, her Master had a problem with running his mouth. Still, it was only because he was so pure of heart that he lacked even the understanding of the concept of deception…and discretion, but that was something she could handle.

"You slowed down…never mind," Smith concluded. "Still, you should never try to ride her. It's part of Centaur culture that only the one chosen as their lifelong Master is ever allowed to ride them-"

Caboose suddenly gasped, turning to Centorea excitedly. "I get pony rides?" he squealed out excitedly.

Centorea blushed prettily. While it was something she'd attempted to offer before, being asked for it while she was half dressed was somewhat embarrassing. "Y-yes, Master," she responded warmly, a little touched that he understood just how significant it was that this be allowed, to show such excitement. "As my Master, you may…ride me. I will carry you wherever you wish to go."

"Yay!" Caboose declared happily as he swung himself expertly up onto her back, wrapping his arms around her waist to steady himself. "Oh my gosh! This way I can have a pony ride, and hug!"

Smith groaned from the other end of the phone. "This is making my head hurt…ah! My yakisoba!" The line went dead. Caboose ignored that.

As they arrived at the house, Caboose slipped off Centorea's back to let her in and lead her to the living room, where he picked up his needle and thread to repair her shirt. "My sisters were always growing, so shirts were always tearing," he explained easily as he worked. "I'll have this fixed quick, Centauria…no, that's wrong…Carolina? No, that's the Freelancer…Cento…Centa…"

Centorea smiled softly, leaning in towards him. "Master…please, call me Cerea."

"Oh, that's much easier to remember!" Caboose declared happily.

Cerea smiled softly, deciding to make this part more formal. "I, Centorea Shianus, acknowledge you as my Master and swear my lifelong loyalty to you. Master…will you accept my loyalty?"

Caboose stared up at her for a time. "Cerea…this is important to you. But…" He looked down at the shirt he was repairing. "I can't see you as a servant. You're my friend." He looked back up as he set the needle down. "I don't know if I can be your Master…but I can be your Partner. Is that okay?"

Cerea felt her heart stop in her breast. Her destined Master…would insist that she be his equal? That the one she was fated to serve, to carry into battle, to tend in all things…would accept her only if she did not debase herself to be beneath him? Even in the hallowed tales of the greatest Centaurs and their Masters, there was nothing even to begin to touch on such an honor! "My Master, My Liege," she began softly, tears in her eyes. "You who are the greatest of Knights…I shall be your squire, serving under you as you teach me your ways, that one day I can be worthy to stand beside you in battle. Will you accept my service, my loyalty, my blade at your side?"

Caboose stared at her for a time, trying to make sense of it. It sounded right, maybe. "Okay."

"Darling!" Miia suddenly yelled as she slammed the door open. "Did you get another girlfriend?"

"Is she shirtless?" Papi asked in surprise. "Can I be shirtless too? I don't get hungry as fast when I'm shirtless…Master, I'm hungry!"

"D-Darling?" Cerea gasped in shock. "Master, who are these girls?"

"Miia, Papi, I made a new friend!" Caboose called out happily. "This is Cerea! She's going to be living with us from now on!"

Miia let out an angry keening hiss. "Another rival! Darling, why?"

"Magic is at work!" Caboose declared proudly. "Japanese spell says we're supposed to be together!"

"Master! I'm hungry!" Papi insisted again.

"I'll make dinner!" Caboose replied instantly, giving Cerea her repaired shirt before heading for the kitchen. He paused at the door. "Cerea, if you want, I can teach you how to bind yourself! My biggest sister had the same problem when it came to finding bras and running fast." With that he moved to the kitchen and began to cook.

Cerea sighed softly. "Is he…always like this?"

"Like what?" Papi asked in confusion.

Miia groaned, hanging her head. "Yes. Still, as frustrating as it is when he's stupid, when he's angry…"

"I witnessed that righteous anger caged deep within him," Cerea explained quickly. "It is an awe inspiring sight, and shows him as truly the ultimate knight!"

Miia got a rather dreamy look on her face. "Yes…he's my noble hero, leaping to defend my honor!"

Realizing they were both reacting the same way, the two girls began glaring at each other, an intense rivalry beginning. Papi glared too, more to not be left out than any idea what was actually going on.

Once dinner was finished and the dishes were clean, Caboose tucked Papi in for the night as she'd become completely tuckered out. Since it was almost nightfall, Miia was also slowing down and seeking a bed to curl up, ending up loosely cuddled around Papi for warmth as Caboose wasn't going to bed yet. "Time to go meet Polt for our run!" Caboose declared happily as he went to the door. "Freckles, guard!"

[Yes, Captain Caboose,] Freckles chimed in, beginning his patrol.

"Master, who is Polt?" Cerea asked firmly.

"Oh, she's a friend!" Caboose responded immediately. "We go running together every morning and night."

"I also engage in morning and evening constitutionals as a matter of habit," Cerea spoke up. "Perhaps I could join you?" While her tone was polite, inside she knew she wanted to get the sense of this Polt, and see if she was one who sought her Master's affections, and if so to determine if she was worthy.

"That sounds like fun!" Caboose declared happily. "This way!" With that, Caboose set out along the road at a comfortable jog…which forced Cerea to move at a canter to match.

It wasn't long before they caught up to another jogger, a Kobold. Caboose waved to her. "Polt! I have a new friend for you to meet!"

Polt turned back with a smile. "Oh, is this the one you talked about this morning?" she asked excitedly.

Centorea felt herself stiffen. The Kobolds were a noble, proud race, and one that the Centaurs had long been on the best of terms with, as the Kobolds had been among the Centaurs first Masters before humanity had arrived on New Japan. The Kobolds were descended from dragons, ones who had lived in the coldest of climates and traded their scales for thick, fluffy coats before moving back to more equitable climes to claim a place amongst their scaly kin. She also recognized the markings – subtle unless one knew what to look for – that marked where in her clan's bloodlines Polt stood. She was a direct descendant of their most important and noteworthy ancestors, Falkor. Of possible mates for her Master, this Polt was amongst the most desirable and best suited, for she came from one of the noblest tribes and was of their noblest bloodline.

"Yes!" Caboose declared happily. "We caught the purse snatcher together! Her name is Cerea."

Centorea moved up carefully to match pace with them, moving to Caboose's left as Polt jogged to his right. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance," she spoke up formally.

"You don't need to be so stiff, Cerea," Polt offered warmly. "We're all friends here."

Centorea flushed with pleasure. That one so noble, and a friend of her Master, would name her friend as well… Her thoughts turned as she noticed how Polt ran beside Caboose. She ran close enough that her tail swished behind his rear on every other pace…and matched her pace so that her left leg moved when his right leg did. Were he a male Kobold, this would result in their tails meeting on every other pace, about as blatant as Kobold courtship became whilst remaining clothed.

It was plain that Polt saw Caboose as far more than a friend, and was seeking in her way to make it happen. Centorea decided for herself that it was her duty as Caboose's 'squire' to help Polt make that happen…and hope that there would still be enough room in Caboose's heart for her.