“When there is nothing left to do; you must set yourself on fire.”

Nopony quite knows what possessed Starswirl the Bearded to utter this odd phrase. Some theorise that it was merely a euphemism or a riddle, and means everypony has a purpose; and that if you don’t have purpose you may as well be dead. Others think it has something to do with boredom; that if you are bored you need to put in some effort to mix things up and be ‘not-bored.’

For Private Mercury of the Earth-Pony Shields Regiment and her friends – Privates Brute Force and Steel Block – this phrase always means the latter. Because what else is there for an earth-pony shield-bearer to do in times of peace other than to guard the palace? And guard duty often comes with boredom.

What better way to fight boredom than setting stuff on fire?

Rated Everyone for the lulz