Lieutenant Golden Age of the 1st Ponyville Volunteers was a pony of many things. He was capable of great affection towards the ones he loved, yet he was also infamous for his lack of quarter to those who did him or his friends any wrong. He was a pony of passion when it came to certain things.
Patriotism was one of them
But one of the things Golden Age was not, was a pony of marriage. His lack of a spouse was due to a variety of reasons. Of all the ponies in Ponyville, there was but one that he could considered he had affection for. But alas, she was already taken, a futile effor at most. But Golden Age was sastisifed with that, him and the mare were still good friends. Besides, he did not think himself ready for marriage just yet.
Only 5 years before, Golden Age had been a captain in Celestia's army. But then civil war broke out. And Golden Age, for reasons he does not quite understand himself nowadays, resigned his commission and sided with Princess Luna and her army. After 3 years of blood conflict, Luna was defeated. However, Celestia was kind enough to allow him to re-enlist back into the Solar Empire. Then worked his way up to Lieutenant.
And now here he was, fighting for an army only two years ago he would've killed to the last stallion.
When it came to the military, Golden Age was both a revolutionary, and an outdated pony. His small company was one of the first to integrate the use of projectiles into their aresenal. When he joined, the Royal Guard was armed with weapons that would bring Nostalgia to Princess Luna! But he brought with him cannon and musket. And in a while, a good portion of the Guard was armed with these deadly ranged weapons.
However, his company was clothed with rather questionable attire. His soldiers were not covered with chestplates or braces. Not a strand of armor covered his lads. But instead, a simple set of trousers and sack coats, made entierely of wool, was their clothing. Along with the addition of a bayonet, scabard, belt, cartridge box, cap pouch, canteen, haversack, and of course a musket.
"Four months" Golden Age muttered, breaking the silence of his large Officers tent.
Golden Age was different from the rest of the offficers the army. Most were snobby jerks, who saw a commission as a symbol of their greatness above the rest of the lowly rankers. Golden Age however, saw different. He believed rank does not judge a pony, only a ponie's actions judges the pony. Most offiers would reside with other officers in private tents. Golden Age preffered the company of his men. Thus, it was often that Golden Age would allow his men to gather in his tent for a time of social interaction during nights of bad weather. A candle provided the tent with some, but not a lot, illumination
"Sir?" Pierce responded.
"Four months, four months since we left Ponyville. Four months since I've slept in a warm bed, four months since I've had a nice warm meal." He let out a sigh "Four months since I've seen Fluttershy.".
The stallions were attentive, listening to their commander.
Pierce spoke up again. "Do you believe she misses you sir?"
"I take it she does, but I do not know the extent." Golden Age replied with a frown. "But I am sure her mind is occupied with other things, things of happiness and joy. I wonder if she even takes the time to remember me, of all the times we've had together. Heck, I bet you if I was to die during this war, her attitude would go unchanged. She already as a wonderful husband, and 6 great friends. I assume I mean little to her, and that my departure from this world would mean nothing, nothing!"
There was a torrential downpour that night. The rain fell like rocks upon the canvas roof of Golden Age's tent. Flashes of lightning overpowered the luminance of the candle. Loud claps of thunder echoed throughout the rainy night.
"You're crazy sir! Off all the compassion you've shown to her, she must surely reguard you as a friend in the very least!" Another soldier spoke up. Stallions acknowledged him with nods and words of agreement.
Golden Age responded "I suppose you are right, we have been good friends for quite a while. 'Twould be foolish of me to think they mean nothing to her." His mood had suddenly changed from that of sadness to happiness. "Say, did somepony bring a banjo and bones?"
"I did sir!" A soldier exclaimed, unveiling a banjo and a set of rythm bones. He then proceeded to give the set of bones to a fellow comrade. "Would youl like to request a tune sir?"
"How about...Berry's Jig? But I'm singing this time!" Golden replied with a large grin.
The soldier then strung a few chords and then the bones player came began to play. The rest of the ponies clapped their hooves and sang the opening chorus. Golden Age then led began the first verse.
