Marjoram looked horrible.

His coat wasn’t as shiny as it should’ve been. His mane and tail looked scraggly and uncared for. His hooves were chipped and uneven. Most worryingly of all, Shores noted, was that he’d lost almost all of the weight he’d worked so hard to put on. She could see most of his bones, and he just looked so skeletal.

Above everything, Marjoram looked tired. Exhaustion was evident in how he held himself. Bloodshot eyes were ringed red and purple from fatigue, and his voice was even heavy with lack of sleep.

It’s a good thing Twilight wrote us. Shores noted. He looks almost as bad as he did after Carnation.

Trotting over to where Marjoram was standing listlessly beside Twilight, who seemed to be buying groceries, Shores flung her bags down and nearly tackled him in a crushing hug.

Marjoram’s legs almost buckled, but somehow he managed to keep himself upright. Tired eyes stared at her uncomprehending for a moment, before they lit up with joy.

“What are you doing here!?”

“I decided to drop by for a surprise visit! I do get a vacation, after all, and what better way to spend it than to come here and spend it with you!?” Truthfully, this was one of the few times Shores had ever asked for extended leave, and knowing the circumstances, Celestia had practically helped Shores pack her bags.

“Seriously? You don’t take vacations!”

“Usually I see you everyday, you crazy stallion! So, here I am!”

Marjoram looked at Shores, then slowly turned to Twilight, “Did you know?”

Twilight looked happier than Shores had thought she would. Twilight looked worse for wear too, like she’d been studying for tests for a week straight. A strained giggle escaped Twilight before she nodded, “Yes I did! I didn’t want to ruin the surprise.”

“That’s why you bought so much garlic at the store,” Spike muttered suddenly.

“I could have bought my own ingredients, Twilight, you know that!”

“Yeah, but I thought it would be nice to have some things on standby!” Twilight protested, “You know, so we could all spend some time together before you started to cook!”

Shores smirked, “You know cooking isn’t all I do.”

“You’ve seen me,” Marjoram said dryly, “You’ll be cooking for however long you’re staying.”

Shores had to bite her tongue from making a remark about Marjoram’s current weight. Somehow, she managed, “Yes well, it’s not as if you cook often.”

“I cook lots now!” Spike beamed, “Could you teach me some things while you’re here!?”

“Of course, Spike!” Shores smiled back, “Now, do you mind taking me back to the library, Marjoram? I should drop my bags off. We can catch up a little while Twilight and Spike finish shopping.”

“Sure,” Marjoram used his magic to lift up Shores’s discarded saddlebags.

Shores smiled, “C’mon, you. Let’s go.”

Marjoram seemed ready to fall over if a harsh breeze picked up, but he kept up with her gait without hesitation. His breathing was audible, but it usually was.

“So, where will I be sleeping?”

“With me, potentially. Or on one of the couches or something. I’m fairly certain one of them folds out into a bed.”

Shores nodded, “That’s good. I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going to go wash up in the bathroom. It was a long flight, and I want to be nice and fresh for the first day.”

“There’s towels in the cupboard beside the bathroom if you want a shower,” Marjoram said, “Same with spare washcloths. I’ll set your things in the kitchen, if you don’t need them now.”

“A shower does sound nice, and the kitchen is fine. I’ll be quick.”

Marjoram smiled, and Shores could see it was a genuine smile, “Take your time. I don’t have anything to do today.”

Shores smiled brightly, “Alright! Just don’t go do anything too stupid while I’m in there! I want to hear about what’s been going on in Ponyville!”

“It’s Ponyville. Nothing important has been going on,” Marjoram retorted.

“I don’t live here. Share idle gossip with me like the petty ponies we really are. I want to know all the details!”

“It’s me.”

“Don’t give me that, I know you enjoy knowing too much about ponies.”

Marjoram’s lips twisted into a grim smile, “True enough. Off with you now! Shower first, then gossip!”

Author's Note

It's about time Shores showed up, honestly.