There was the sound of a moving door-handle, and all three of them perked up -- necks and ears -- and turned to await the final member of their quaternion. But when the door opened, it wasn't the dark purple batpony sergeant standing there. Instead, against the pitch-black background of the closed-curtain bedroom, was a pale mauve pegasus mare, in ordinary Royal Guard regalia. And she looked a little embarrassed by the attention.