The Only Mark That Matters

Dear Radish,

Something has happened regarding Starlight Glimmer. I’m guessing you already know. I’d like you to come to Ponyville so we can talk about it in person. Please try to keep an open mind.

Your friend,
Twilight Sparkle

Radish stood before Twilight’s castle. Somewhere inside, a criminal lived free. Twilight poked her head out of the door. Radish narrowed his eyes at her. She approached him.

“Look…” Twilight began.

“She assaulted Light, Twi.”

“I know.”

“Locked her in an attic and left her for dead.”

“I know. Look, I can’t ask you to forgive her. I won’t ask you to move past what she did. But promise me you’ll leave her alone? Let her live here in peace?”

“I’m going to arrest her, Twilight.”

“Radish, I’ve pardoned her. The paperwork is already filed.”

“You didn’t waste any time, did you?”

“She’s no longer an enemy. The end result is the same- Starlight Glimmer will never hurt anyone again. Isn’t that what matters?”

“She has a rap sheet a mile long. She should be in prison.”

“What good is rotting in a cell? You make up for actions with better actions.”

“If you let her go without punishment, you’re only encouraging the next villain. You’re breeding criminality from your castle.”

“Breeding criminality? Radish, she’s not getting off scot-free. She’ll work off her crimes under me, as my student.”

“You’re sending a message to her victims that justice doesn’t matter. That the Princess of Friendship doesn’t care about their suffering.”

“Her town has forgiven her.”

“I haven’t. Light hasn’t. The prison she demolished hasn’t. The ponies who lived in fear of the criminals she freed haven’t.”

“I know. But Radish…”

She looked back at her castle.

“This is the only way. I couldn’t stop her, Radish. I could only convince her to stop herself. Now I have to honor the promise I made to her.”

“She’s playing you! You’re smarter than this! She’ll slit your throat in the night and skip town!”

“Radish!”

“She nearly murdered me and now you want to share a bathroom with her!? Do I mean that little to you!?”

Twilight gasped. Her ears drooped and her mouth quivered.

“How can you say that? You know how much I care about you!”

“If you cared for me one bit, you’d have blasted her to Tartarus like Tirek.”

“Radish, please, you have to trust my instincts on this!”

“No. Not this time. You have to trust mine. Twilight, friendship can’t solve everything. It can’t fix everyone.”

Twilight took a step back. Tears welled up in her eyes.

“Tell me you don’t mean that. Tell me you don’t believe that.”

“Twilight…”

“The Magic of Friendship is the most powerful thing on the planet, Radish. Have I been that bad at showing you that?”

Radish sighed.

“It’s just not in the Guard manual, Twilight. We rely on shields and spears. Moats and walls. Martial arts and maneuvers.”

“But surely there’s a bond of Friendship between guards?”

“There can be, but there doesn’t have to be. We’re bound by duty.”

“Radish, are you bound to me by Friendship, or by duty? Are you just a guard working for a princess because his manual says to?”

“I’d rather be duty-bound to a living princess than friend to a dead one. You have to surrender Glimmer to Canterlot to stand trial.”

Twilight wiped her tears and closed her eyes.

“No. I don’t. I’m sorry, Radish. I’ve made my decision.”

“You’re out of your mind, Sparkle.”

“You don’t talk to me like that.”

“I do when you need some sense talked into you.”

Twilight stood tall. She peered at him through narrowing eyes.

“Major Root! The Princess of Friendship has ruled this matter closed. You are ordered to stand down.”

Radish sucked in air. He glared at Twilight.

“Yes, ma’am.”

He saluted her.

“Any other orders, your highness?”

“You are dismissed, Root.”

She turned and walked away. Her body was shaking.

Radish turned and walked away. His breathing became short and hard.

They both made five steps from each other before they stopped. They turned. They looked at each other, and their faces softened. They galloped up to each other and hugged.

“Twilight, I can’t go through another fight with you. I can’t let it go, but I can let it be.”

“Radish, I’m sorry. This was one of the hardest decisions I’ve made as a princess, because I knew I’d be risking our Friendship. I have to do this. I have to prove that Friendship can redeem her. Otherwise my title, my beliefs, my whole life since I came to Ponyville is a lie.”

He hugged her tighter.

“I don’t want your life to be a lie. But protecting princesses is my life. Don’t let that become a lie either, Twilight. Don’t let your guard down. Take every precaution.”

“I will. Thank you, Rad.”

“If she harms a hair on your coat, I’ll end her. You tell her that.”

Twilight hugged him tighter.

“She knows. She’s terrified of you.”

“That makes me feel a lot better.”

Over her shoulder, Radish saw Spike with Owlowiscious in the doorway. He gestured off to the side behind Twilight’s back.

“Stay in touch, okay? Anything you need.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

Twilight reentered her castle, giving one last wave goodbye. Radish waited in a nearby alley. Spike and Owlowiscious joined him a short time later.

“What’s up, Radish?”

“Hoo.”

“I wanted to talk to you two, guy-to-guy-to-guy. I need you both to promise me you’ll protect Twilight from Glimmer. Whatever it takes- talons, beak, claws, fire.”

“Hooo?”

“Come on, Rad. Starlight’s fine now,” said Spike.

“Promise me!” Radish snarled. Spike took a step back in surprise.

“O-okay, Radish. We promise. We’ll watch Twilight’s back.”

“Hoo hooo.”

“Thank you.”

Radish looked up at the castle. Somewhere inside, a criminal lived free. Radish had to live with that. But Radish didn’t have to like it.