The Guardian of Harmony

by Rifled Quill

Rating: teen
Tags: Adventure
Length: 5636

Friends? Who has time for friends when your aspiration is to become the second Earth Pony that achieves the rank of Captain in the Royal Guard?

"As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend." - King Solomon

Friends? Who has time for friends when your aspiration is to become the second Earth Pony that achieves the rank of Captain in the Royal Guard? Dusty wants nothing more than to achieve what his grandfather-in-law did all those years ago, when he was the first Earth Pony to become Captain of the Guard. However, a new assignment will become the one obstacle that will make or break his pact.

AN: This story follows the events of the show, but in a way that provides background and continuity. Tags are subject to change.

Many thanks to Bad_Seed_72, Biker_Dash, Phoenix Quill and totallynotabrony for being the pre-readers and editors of this story.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-09-27 10:10:01 UTC

I - Canterlot Days

Chapter One - Canterlot Days

Four months before Luna’s Return…

        Canterlot’s Symphony Hall looked empty to the eyes of ponies walking up and down the street which the establishment was set upon. Outside, the sounds of hooves clacking against the brick surface and voices of zealous royalty aired into the sunlit skies. On the inside, the sounds of twelve cellists gliding their bows and plucking at the strings of their wooden instruments melded into a simply delightful tune that was simply named “Canterlot”.

The piece paid homage to the town which it was being played in, a place of both hardship and beauty, all molding together into an ethereal melody that screamed out “This is our capital!” from the high crescendos and the quick plucking of the cello’s strings.

        The sounds of the cellists’ long-rehearsed work went unnoticed, save for a single stallion who had just turned onto the brick road. This featureless pony, wings nor horn present on his form, walked close enough to the Hall’s doors to hear the harmony of the cellists’ plight in representing their city; their home for that matter. The way it flowed in his ears was like no other. He could feel the strength behind the gliding bows, a vigor similar to that of the staunch protectorates of Equestria. The vibe of tune was a newborn foal frollocking about a field of majestic wonders. And the way all of the cellists managed to hold the tune together was something that couldn’t be broken, not even by the Earth Pony entering the doors to the Symphony Hall.

        Just as the door closed behind the new intruder, the melody dropped off a cliff as the musicians’ instruments waned into a silent nothingness. The stallion’s eyes grew wide, thinking that he had ruined what was possibly the most potent tune to have ever graced his ears. The quickly ascending high notes that soon followed the silence brought both relief and happiness to him as he caught sight of a seat to sit down and watch as the musicians completed what was possibly their final stages of the song. As the plucking continued, the sound of a drum came in, which the stallion quickly sought out as a kick-drum being used by one of the plucking cellists. The grey-coated hoof that beat down the pedal and knocked the drum’s surface tension looked familiar to him.

        As the final crescendo of the melody aired in the last line of graced tune, the Earth Pony zoned out the music to look towards the face of the cellist at play. Who else but his best friend Octavia to be plinking out the final two notes of piccato to end the lovely song. The cellists finally rested their hooves after the well-played runthrough of their newest piece. If anypony was pleased with the performance, it would be Octavia, the composer of the sheet music in front of them. Silence became cheerful banter as the ponies got up and shook each other’s hooves on a job well done. Soon afterwards, the musicians started picking up their instruments and carried them off behind the curtains of the stage.

        The Earth Pony stood up as well, approaching the stage where Octavia, the exception to all the leaving ponies, had barely begun gathering her things. Once he got within reach, he pumped his hooves up onto the wooden floor, greeting his friend with a warm smile. It took her a minute to notice as she picked up her music sheets and rosin, but the result was classic.

        “Dusty, what an enormous surprise,” the surprised cellist gasped as she nearly dropped her bow from her fetlock. The stallion chuckled and crossed his hooves over on the stage, the golden buttons and buckle of his uniform shining in the stagelight.

        “And what an enormous pleasure it is to finally hear that piece at its full potential. You all did a great job on it.” Dusty nodded and hopped up on the stage to approach his dark-maned friend. “Will the Symphony be playing it at the Summer Sun Celebration?”

        “Oh,” Octavia cooed as she pondered on the thought. With four months left until the event, the piece would need to be rehearsed hundreds of times so that it could be played straight from memory. And such a piece as the one they played, the cramming that would be required would throw off the balance overall.

“Uh… Probably not. With such a new piece, the rest of the orchestra would have to study at a rapid pace, as would the band.” She smiled sheepishly as her hoof scoured the floor for her bow. “So I’m afraid we won’t be able to this year,” she concluded, “Besides, the celebration is being held in Ponyville and not Canterlot.”

        “Well that’s a shame,” Dusty commented, moving towards the big cello case which Octavia used to tote her fabled instrument from the symphony hall to home each and every practice. “Would you like some help carrying your instrument, ol’ pal?”

        “That’d be lovely, ol’ friend of mine,” Octavia nodded with a smile. The two Earth Ponies shared a laugh. It had been a long time since either of them had gotten to talk like this, and to do so was refreshing for the both of them. As he said he would, Dusty slipped himself under the instrument and secured it to his back, leaving Octavia to carry her bow and music books in her saddlebags. The cellist raised her eyebrow, “Are you sure you can handle it on your own, Dusty? I’d hate to have my favorite cello unavailable for the big concert soon,.”

        The stallion could only manage a chuckle. Being a strong pony like himself, he could easily carry the cello, as well as a pony or two if need be. He was in the Royal Guard, after all. “You know full well I can carry this thing, Tavia.”

        “Let’s just get it home before you decide to accidentally drop it in the street. Celestia knows what’ll happen if you slip up and snap the bridge off the poor thing.” Octavia quickly quivered her bow in her saddlebags’ special pouch. Dusty nodded and adjusted the large case on his back with a roll of his shoulders.

        “Lead the way,” he motioned with a hoof. The mare shook her head and walked toward the stairs leading down from the stage, Dusty following behind her at a methodical pace.

        “Anything new with the Guard as of late?” Octavia asked as she leaped off the final step and turned toward the aisle leading to the door Dusty had come from beforehand.

He had just barely finished getting down the first few steps when he answered back.“Does having to get on a soapbox and admonish unruly cadets count as something new?” The brown Earth Pony snickered. It was true, however. Just before he had even walked onto the streets of the awakening town, he had to shout and crucify some of the newer low-ranks for committing acts of idiocracy in the face of Lieutenants and the Captain himself. How they even thought they would get away with it baffled Dusty. Still, he was able to maintain control with a touch of belittlement and preaching.

        Octavia huffed in reply, cantering up the aisle to the doors of the music hall. “That’s always something new for you,” she said sarcastically.

        “Well, what do you expect? Nothing happens here in Canterlot besides the occasional petty theft or fainting townspony.” Dusty shook his head. Half the time, the day was spent lazing through the streets with spear in hoof, only to be carrying unneeded weight for twelve hours at a time.

        The sun outside of the hall was a welcomed sensation for the two as they walked off toward the higher district of Canterlot. Being a successful musician like most of the royalty that had musical talents, Octavia was able to afford living in one of the larger apartments of the royal capital city while Dusty was stuck living a small Officer’s barrack with only enough room to sleep two ponies comfortably. That is, if you call sleeping on a stiff wooden floor comfortable.

        “So Tavia, what’s new with you?” Dusty trotted a little faster to catch up to the side of the mare. She looked up to the heavens above as if her thoughts were in the few puffy clouds above. No words were spoken for a timely bit, but he didn’t mind it at all. It wasn’t like he was ushering recruits to the mess hall. After a few more seconds, the grey mare smiled and looked to him.

        “I’ve… Met somepony new…” Her cheeks flushed a bright red under her coat, the small smile she had being a fragment of her joy. Dusty’s eyes arched with content and happiness for his friend.

        “Well? What’s their name? Are they from here?” The stallion chuckled, inquiring to know more about the new pony. Dusty had an interest in the couples scene, but he knew it wasn’t his time for delving into relationships. Besides, what was duty and protecting kept him at a fever-pace that wouldn’t even allow for something of the sort, save for today, his only time he had from belittling cadets and lecturing neigh-sayers.

        “Her name is… Sweetie Drops so to say… But… She prefers that I call her Bon Bon instead… A-And she’s from Ponyville actually, not here…” Dusty couldn’t help but smile at Octavia’s reddening cheeks. It was rare that he got to see his friend in her embarrassed state, but it was something that they were used to since they were good friends. Finally, Octavia piped up from his side, “Um… Dusty… Could I ask you a favor?”

        The fellow Earth Pony raised his eyebrow. “Why of course Octavia. What shall it be?”

        “I have a date with her tonight… And she wanted me to teach her how to dance…” Octavia’s voice faded away, her gaze running from Dusty’s to hid her deep embarrassment.

        “And?” He drug out, cocking his head to one side.

        “I haven’t danced since the Winter Formal in the Palace Gardens, and with the new piece I’ve just finished, I haven’t really had the time to practice at all…” She explained to the stallion. Dusty’s expression changed from his cheeky smile to a bout of confusion on his muzzle. Octavia shook her head and looked away. “N-Nevermind. Let’s just pretend I didn’t say anything.”

        Dusty scoffed sarcastically in good faith for his friend. “Who said I wouldn’t help you practice a dance? Heck, maybe you could teach me a few moves.” The stallion chuckled and put his foreleg around her neck. “Besides, what kind of pony would I look like if I were to deny such a simple request?”

        Octavia’s mood brightened up a little bit with his positive words. “Well, we’ll never know since you agreed to help,” she grinned pleasingly. Dusty noticed the extra pep in her step, and he adjusted to her new speed as they picked up from the slow trot to a steady canter. “Last one to the apartment is a rotten dragon egg!” She teased, speeding off with Dusty nearly tripping up from the lost support of his foreleg.

        “I’ll get you yet!” Dusty shot playfully, regaining his balance and galloping off after his friend into the high district of Canterlot…

  -   -   -   -

        “How’d you beat me?” A winded Octavia huffed as a proud Dusty went to set down her prized instrument in a spacious corner of her apartment. “You were carrying Von Chord, for Celestia’s mane!”

        “Years of physical training exams and chasing after deserters who think they can just go AWOL in the middle of the night,” the stallion snickered as he returned to the cellist’s presence. “And parade armor isn’t the lightest thing to gallop in as well,” he added.

        “Fine. You win this time Dusty,” Octavia scoffed with a defeated sigh. Dusty shook his head and patted her shoulder.

        “There there, Tavia. You’ll get your revenge once you teach me how to dance.” The stallion smiled with some humility. He knew that there was going to be at least one instance where he would mess up for the both of them. Octavia smiled at this.

        “What kind of music shall we practice to?” She asked as she approached her collection of records for her very own phonograph. Dusty put a hoof to his chin and pondered a couple of piano songs that he had heard through his existence. He knew Octavia was sure to have something with how extensive her collection of vinyl records were.

        “Do you have anything from the Golden Guard Orchestra?” Dusty cocked his head to side, pacing to the mare’s side to get a better view of the record labels. There was one record he was after, a certain victory theme played by the famous pianist known as Noteworthy. He could already hear the melody trotting through his ears as the both of them searched for the G section in her records.

        “Aha! The Golden Guard Orchestra!” Octavia exclaimed victoriously as she pawed at the line of golden-embroidered record covers. “Got a certain record in mind?”

        “Something by Noteworthy, their top pianist. It was a victory theme of some sort from years ago…” Dusty looked up to the ceiling, the sculpted outcroppings serving as his mind’s map on a quest to remember the name of his favorite song. The tune, from what his brain could conjure up, was something that the pianist had dreamed up that represented the Princesses plight in maintaining the peace and order that had been instilled by the Three Tribes of olden Equus times. It was something that represented a new light in the dark land; It was something that instilled bravery in the ponies of the newfound nation. Wait a minute… “Look for a record called A Brave, New World,” he half-commanded and half-said.

        At his request, Octavia’s eyes looked through the golden-lined covers, searching for the record label that bore the name of Noteworthy’s victory theme in bold print. Dusty also helped in the search, starting from the other side of the line of records. It wasn’t long before Octavia was pulling out the record cover with the correct vinyl record inside. “Here it is. A Brave, New World,” the mare waved the cover in front of him, “Why this one, anyways?”

        “Because I always liked classical music,” Dusty nodded, “And because I want to dance to something meaningful.” The two ponies chuckled and walked over to the phonograph set near the dining table in the apartment, smiling all the while.

        “This’ll be interesting. I haven’t danced to a song like this in…” Octavia paused as they reached the record player, “Forever!” Dusty chuckled and stood to the side while the mare set up the phonograph to play his song. “And… Done!” Octavia commented with a gentle grin, “Shall we?”

        “I’ll follow your lead.” Dusty nodded once and relaxed himself. His new dance partner pushed herself up onto two hooves, standing up on her hind legs and freeing up her forelegs.

        “Your turn,” Octavia egged him on, keeping her balance and motioning with her hooves. Dusty stood up in the same fashion, spreading his legs a little farther apart as if he were standing in a defensive pose. The cellist gawked at the ease of which he did so. “But… How do you even- What!?”

        “Like I said, years of physical training exams. Standing on your hind legs and wielding a polearm takes time to master.” Dusty chuckled as he took a few brave steps toward the mare. “Now dancing on your hind legs. This is something new to me.”

        Octavia chuckled and stepped forth to the dressed stallion, her eyes looking him over momentarily. “Well since we have that out of the way, let’s try dance etiquette,” she said, stepping closer as the opening chord of the tune started off. “Now, put your right hoof on my right shoulder and your left hoof on my left side.”

        “If you say so,” Dusty went with it, placing his hooves in the spots she told him to. Octavia mimicked the same move, only her left hoof covered the stallion’s own. The two now stood hoof to hoof, the main riff of the song starting to take off into its beginning verse. In the stallion’s head, the sweet language of a battle to be fought, sang through his head.

A warning, to the people, the good and, the evil...

        “Now, since you’re the beginner, I’ll take the lead.” Octavia smiled and advanced with her right hip, forcing Dusty’s left leg behind him and nearly upsetting the balance between the two of them. She took no heed, her eyes already closed as she let the keys of the grand piano sift through her body and produce the timely hoofsteps she took, her dance partner doing his best to keep up. Octavia could see him struggling with keeping the movements fluid, and she put on a ghostly smile that radiated between the two of them. “Don’t worry Dusty, once you’ve gotten more practice, you’ll be as good as me,” she cooed playfully.

        Dusty chuckled and kept pace with the mare, his hind legs picking up more and more of the countermoves in order to keep up with the waltzing mare. “I don’t plan on dancing much in this lifetime. You’re lucky you’re even getting this much out of me.”

        “Oh hush. Just you wait,” Octavia said as they twirled around in their steady waltz that took up most of the foyer of the apartment. “You’re gonna eat those words when you find your special somepony.”

        Dusty scoffed. There was no way in the whole, wide green land that he would ever have time to seek out his other half. The Guard taught him to accept many fates, and this was one of many which he’d faced in the past. Love for glory. What a wonderful trade off. “Trust me, Tavia. I ain’t gonna have time to find that special somepony when there’s a petty request to fill here in plain ol’ Canterlot.”

Octavia opened her eyes now, her vibrant purple irises beading against Dusty’s hunter green. “What are you saying? Nopony can’t go somepony-less forever.”

        “Tell that to my grandfather-in-law, one of the greatest Royal Guard leaders to have existed in the ranks,” Dusty retorted, his movements becoming a bit more stiff with each rise and dip of their hips. “He took the defense of Equestria to the fullest. There was simply no time for stuff like love and looking through rose-hued glasses. Besides, I’m happy where I am now. Having a friend like you is plenty enough for me.”

        “All I can say is, stay true to yourself,” Octavia nodded and grinned warmly, “It goes a long, long way.” Dusty shook his head and followed along with her quickening steps. He had to admit, dancing was indeed an art. He was sure of this when they passed by a mirror hanging in the front of the apartment, his brown form and her grey one blurring by in the wonderfully coordinated twists and turns of their dance. This brought a smile to his face, even after the small debate.

        It had been much too long since he and she could spend time together like this. Together. Waltzing away to the song of his life. This is how life should be.

        Both of the ponies’ eyes had closed, their hooves planting down in the same spots they stepped before as they continued the loop around the room. Filling in their silence was the final chorus of the song, Dusty’s head putting together a ghostly image of a choir singing to the heavens above. Across from him, Octavia’s small grin had grown into a full-blown smile. Spending time with her good friend was something that she needed to do more often. Simply put, it brought her joy and rejuvenation when she could see him with his infamous smile of smiles, the kind of smile everypony had when they were truly enjoying themselves.

A brave, new world…

        The two Earth Ponies came to a stop at the phonograph as the last remnants of melody flew away into the ceiling above. Dusty looked down at his dance partner, her rosy cheeks and purple eyes looking away bashfully. “That… That was really fun Dusty…”

        “I couldn’t agree more,” the stallion smiled warmly. He had enjoyed himself for the first time in a long time, and he had Octavia to thank for it.

        “If there was a time where I wish I weren’t homosexual, it would be right now.” Her cheeks flushed a brighter red. “I just wish you could stop trying to be so loyal and take time to look after yourself and do what you want to do. Being in love is a magical thing, Dusty.”

        Dusty shrugged and stood strong to hold the both of them up. “Tavia, you know that I’m doing what I want to do. Being a Guard, let alone an Officer, is what I’ve always dreamed of. As a matter of fact, I want to be just like my grandfather-in-law.”

        Octavia smirked softly and dropped onto her front hooves, taking a few steps toward the phonograph. “Does that include having to live in a state of misery for the rest of your life, Dusty? Does included living to the see the light and not having any type of legacy to leave behind?”

        Dusty shook his head, pushing away the silly thoughts of family and doing something more than contributing to the defense of his homeland.

        “Do you remember what our school’s motto was?” Octavia asked, turning around to face the stallion. He raised an eyebrow, quickly scanning the back of his head to go back to the days of being a Timberwolf on the hoofball field. Out of the memories of math equations he would never use and the numerous times he nearly killed himself on the field to get that one point, there was an image of a black plaque sitting above the whiteboard in the locker room.

        This plaque, engraved with golden swirls and lettering, held something that the team put to the test on the field all those Friday nights ten years ago. The coach preached it to them on multiple occasions. The principal said it over the intercom every morning. It was instilled in the minds of true Timberwolf ponies.

        “Leave a Legacy,” Dusty said matter-of-factly. Octavia nodded and prodded the subject a little further.

        “Do you think spending your days tending to little needs and walking around Canterlot for hours on end is Leaving a Legacy?” She asked, cocking her head to the side.

He nodded, pointing a hoof to himself. “When all that time adds up to becoming the Captain of the Guard, yes. Yes it’s Leaving a Legacy.” Dusty’s eyes skewed into slivers of white, green and black, his glance piercing the armor of Octavia’s question. He knew that had work and having to put up with simpletons would eventually earn him the spot of the prestigious rank. That and leadership, which he was pretty capable of as is. It was no surprise he was a Second Lieutenant after all.

        “That’s not the kind of legacy I’m talking about, Dusty.” Octavia advanced to Dusty’s front, her eyes shooting back into his coronas. “I’m talking about this kind of legacy.”

        Her grey hoof reached up to his chest and covered up a button on the left side of his uniform. His body unintentionally reacted by pumping blood to the area she graced, warming it. This remote action would actually help the unknowing mare get her point across to him, hopefully. “When I say legacy, that means leaving something behind that can never be forgotten. Let me ask this. How many ponies remember all the Captains of the Guard?”

        Now this was a good question for Dusty. He could even ask his own. How many ponies know that he was the grandson of a Captain of the Guard? Do they even care to remember which one? Right now, it really didn’t matter to Dusty. He still had a dream to achieve, and it was to become the leader of the force that kept his home safe from harm. To become Captain of the Guard. To have his portrait hung up next to his grandfather’s in all its dynastic glory. “I can recall most of them up to the ninth generation. Our current Captain can name them all back to at least the fifteenth generation-.”

        Octavia cut him off with a rushed sigh. “What I mean is, how many actually care?”

        She had a good point there. Did anypony really care that he was trying to achieve something that had only happened once in the years that Equestria had existed? An Earth Pony as the Captain of the Guard? Dusty knew no one would care now, but once it would happen, he would be forever remembered as the only other Earth Pony to achieve such a status in all of Equus. “Why does that matter? I care, don’t I? It’s my dream. My aspiration to become the most I can be.”

        Octavia shook her head, looking further into his soul. “Dusty. I’m talking about a legacy that involves family and leaving something that will continue on after the end of your days.” She patted his chest, sighing. “Just think, to have your own little foal living up to your name that grandfather of yours made for your family. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? And for it to continue through their days and so forth would leave something that could go on well into the future of Equestria.

“If you were to continue chasing your dream and living like your grandfather, you’d be robbing the future of a pony that will be needed in those times. And that’s not what you want right? You want somepony just as good as yourself to be Captain of the Guard and protect the young and old of the land you’ve fought for for these last ten years.”

        Octavia did make a valid point. Having somepony just like himself running the Guard in the future would be something that would be memorialized among the ponyfolk of Equestria. Deep down, she knew she was right now. “I see what you mean now, but-.”

        “But what, Dusty? What’s stopping you?”

        “I still have to finish what I started, Tavia. I see no point in trying to leave a legacy until I finish what I’ve been working so hard for. To stop and pick up something else would be completely foolish on my part.” In response, Octavia’s hoof reached up to her forehead and wiped away the invisible anger that coated her muzzle.

        “Dusty, love doesn’t work like that…” She shook her, replacing her hoof on his chest. Her purple needles of her gaze went back to pricking at his green flesh. “It’s a lot more than just search and voila. It takes time to foster and mold into something that we see all the time in our lives…

        “But back to what I was saying before. My point is that you can’t lose sight of yourself and deny your heart’s desire while making this journey, Dusty. You have desires that you can’t even see to begin with. It just… Happens, so to speak.

        “You see where I’m going with this, yes?”

        Dusty nodded.

        “Now, can we please have one more dance? All of this lecturing made me forget what steps I was going to teach to Bon Bon tonight.” Octavia, shook of her anxiety, looking up pleadingly to him.

        “Sure. I think we can both use it-.” Before Dusty could conclude his sentence, a flash of white appeared between them. From it came a scroll with a red ribbon and the seal of Shining Armor’s Office holding it tightly rolled.

        “Where’d that come from?” Octavia asked, surprised by the sudden blindness the flash had inflicted on her. Luckily for the stallion, receiving scrolls from Shining Armor’s spell casting was a common courtesy of his. He was used to it by now.

        “It’s a note from the Captain. I’m guessing something about tonight’s patrol of the royal quarters.” Dusty reached down and picked up the scroll in his fetlock, sitting down to prepare for the quick reading. Octavia turned to his side and sat down next to him, reading over his shoulder to see the contents of his sender’s message.

“Second Lieutenant, report to the Officer’s Quarters immediately. I have an important assignment for tonight’s patrol that needs to be filled in, and you’re the only Officer I can trust with this task.”

        “Is that a good thing, o-or a bad thing?” Octavia asked, looking to Dusty with concern in her eyes. Dusty shook his head. He knew Shining wouldn’t have sent him a message directly if this wasn’t urgent.

        “I don’t know, but we’re gonna have to hold that dance for another day,” he said, standing up and getting ready to head out the door, “Sorry, Tavia.”

        “No no, it’s fine. Duty calls.” Octavia smiled softly and stood up to escort him to the door. “My apologies for putting you through that lecture.”

        “It’s quite alright. It’ll give me something to think about tonight while I do whatever the Captain had assigned me.”

        “Be safe,” she said, planting a friendly kiss on his cheek. Dusty chuckled and returned the gesture. A perk to being good friends was sharing a platonic love that couldn’t be broken by a gesture that would be looked down upon because they weren’t each other’s special somepony. Everypony forgot that a cheek-kiss was a sign of respect and family-bonding back in the days of the Three Pony Tribes.

        “Cross my heart and hold me dear, shove an eighth note in my ear.” Dusty chuckled, followed by a playful swat from the grey mare. “I’ll see you around, friend,” he concluded.

        “Alright,” Octavia said with a nod, opening the door back to the Jewel of Equestria. Dusty set hoof onto the brick leading back to the heart of Canterlot, leaving the mare waving in the doorframe. “Good luck, my friend...”

  -   -   -   -

        “Where’s my brother?” A lavender Unicorn’s voice questioned Dusty. He was too busy checking the deadbolts to the palace corridor that Celestia’s student’s room was located in. Doing the task that was usually left to the brother, Shining Armor, was different from his usual patrols around the entire palace. Guarding Twilight Sparkle, that would definitely leave time to roll Octavia’s lecture through his mind for a while.

        “He’s on a diplomatic visit in Saddle Arabia with the Princess.” Dusty said, pushing a lock into place to keep the corridor’s entrance secured until morning. The clanking of his golden armor was annoying to the both of them, especially the Unicorn poking her head out of the doorway. “He and Her Majesty should return by tomorrow’s end.”

        “Oh…” Came a soggy sigh from behind the Earth Pony. He turned his head to see Twilight’s gaze set hard into the floor of the hallway. Dusty shook his head, making the armor continue to clank annoyingly in his ears. The golden horseshoes that came part-way up his foreleg clacked against the same floor as he advanced back to the door of her quarters.

        “Is there something bothering you, Miss Sparkle?” Dusty said with some concern. Twilight shook her head, retreating back into her room to get ready for the Lights Out order that was usually implemented at ten o’clock each night. He poked his head in as she groggily walked off to her bed chamber. She seemed rather saddened by the fact that Shining Armor wasn’t there, which was understandable. But he didn’t know what to do for her other than stand outside her door and keep watch until morning’s light.

        To be honest, he knew how she felt. The promise of an important family being there for you only to not be there when you need them most. That was his own father, the one that defied everything that his own father had worked so hard to define in the first place. Maybe he should be nice and extend his service to her if she so asked for it. It was only fair, after all.

        “If you’re in need of anything, do let me know.” Dusty nodded before pulling his head back out into the hallway. He wouldn’t mind it one bit to do something for the mare. At least it would give him something to do besides ponder on his meaning of life.

        From outside, he could hear the wisps of breath as Twilight blew her lanterns out for the night. This was Dusty’s cue to close the door so that the lantern he had placed on the other side of the door wouldn’t disturb her. As he straightened up and began pacing towards the far end of the hallway, he began to think about what Octavia had said to him.

“Leave a legacy…” Dusty thought aloud. Maybe she was right. Maybe there is more to one’s existence then just trying to emulate what everypony else thinks is important. He was going achieve what he had been fighting to earn for the past decade, even if it would make him miserable like Octavia predicted.

Misery couldn’t be that bad anyways. Besides, there would always be something to make it bearable. Even the tiniest morsel of time that he called “spending time with Octavia” would be more than enough to bring him out of any kind of depression. And that, to him, was a type of magic that couldn’t be broken in the slightest.