ust the usual day for Crimson Bolt, guard duty, guard duty, and what do you know? More guard duty. He sighed going for another shift of guard duty.
Why can't they assign me to something worth while? I always doing guard duty. Crimson Bolt thought as he trudged through the halls of Canterlot palace. Taking up his place at the entrance to the palace he thought, When I got accepted as a guard here I thought I would actually do something! I thought I would have something to tell my daughter... He cringed at this remembering the time 6 years ago leaving his little filly with his wife, Rose Blaze, them waving at him smiling with hope. The bills had been getting out of hand and he went to his life as a guard to pay for them.
I really need to ask a day or two off to go visit them, I haven't heard from them in a while.
Throughout the day various courtiers that he knew by sight went into the palace to do whatever business they had to do.
Just a typical boring day, the only highlights are when something happens like that time that Princess Celestia's pet went missing that was a pretty fun time except I got put on guard duty there. And that time when Captain Shining Armor and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza were getting married but it wasn't Cadence it was the changeling Queen, But I got tied up in this goop stuff. What is WITH my luck?
~<~^~>~
“What do you mean I can't take a couple days off to visit my family? With all due respect, sir, the only time I got to go back to Ponyville was on duty. I've hardly ever seen my family for six years, sir, six years! A two week break every six months isn't very much time.”
Shining Armor looked relatively unfazed.
“I understand completely.”
Crimson started to speak but Shining Armor cut him off with a hoof.
“I may have Cadence here with me all the time but when I was just a colt training for the guard I missed my family terribly but I hardly had to read the letters Twily sent me nevermind replying to them.”
“But the training camp only last for 6 months! Then you can go back home!” Slightly ashamed of his outburst Crimson added. “Sir.”
"I'm sorry,Crimson Bolt, but we have short staff here, and you are one of our best guards."
"Then why can't you let me take a couple days leave?"
"There have been reports of hostility of the gryphon border.... You are dismissed and you will have your answer in the morning."
~<~^~>~
"So what happened? Did you get a few days vacation or not?" Black Sun, Crimson's best friend and fellow guard. Exuberant as usual.
"To tell you the truth Sun I don't know and I won't find out until tomorrow. Why are you so interested anyways?"
"I just want my best buddy to be happy! The only stallion not to freak out and my eyes." Dark Sun's eyes are special, one is red and the other is yellow.
"See ya later, bro!." Dark Sun says as he wanders off to join the other guards. Oh yeah Sun? I bet you have a filly friend but won't admit it.
After a light dinner, no longer being needed Crimson Bolt composes a letter in case he doesn't get leave to go to ponyville
Dear Rose Blaze and Scootaloo,
I am very sorry we've been out of touch, I wanted to come and visit you for a few days and maybe bring you back to Canterlot with me. I regret not staying in better touch with you. How old is my little Scoots now? Nine? Ten? At any rate, I regret not being able to come to you.
Your loving husband and father,
Crimson Bolt.
Finishing the letter Crimson sighs and put the paper in his little trunk of belongings, then he climbs into his bunk in the barracks. Rose Blaze, Scootaloo, I'm coming for you, I hope.
He drifted off to sleep eventually.
~<~^~>~
After a night of troubled sleep Crimson Bolt woke up stretched, then climbed groggily down the ladder since he was too tired to use his wings. Has Scootaloo learned to fly yet? He sighed then went to the mess hall for breakfast, passing most of the other guards. Entering the mess hall he just sat moodily not knowing whether or not he could go home.
"Why the long face, cap'n" Asked the jubilant cook serving him some oatmash and toast. "It's not my cooking is it?"
"No Jubilee you're cooking is the best! I just haven't found out if I have a couple days off to visit my family, that's all."
She smiled and said, "Well I glad you like my cooking! And I hope you can visit your family!" before leaving.
"Thanks Jube, You're the best." Said Crimson before digging in to the first meal of the day. Fine, I'll admit that my life has a couple bright spots in it. Dark Sun, Jubilee, they're good friends. Crimson Bolt finished the last bit of oatmash on toast, got up taking his dishes to the kitchen, then he made his way to Captain Shining Armor's office to see if he had made a decision yet.
Crimson Bolt knocked on the door to the captain's office and heard a "come in" from inside, he entered.
"I suppose you came for your answer?"
"Well what else would I be doing here? Sir."
"I have discussed it with others and you can have three days leave starting at sunset."
"But why sunset?"
"We have a new guard coming in tomorrow, but until then we don't have anypony to fill your shifts."
"I understand, sir, thank you sir."
Crimson saluted left the room but almost ran all the way back to his quarters, stuffing the little chest full of his belongings. Yes! Yes! Yes! I'm going home!
And after one more full day of work he was indeed going home.
The train finally stopped and Crimson Bolt could hardly contain himself to collect his small beg and chest. He rushed out of the train almost tripping on the threshold of the train car. He dropped his cases more than once.
"Calm down, calm down, Crimson."
He said to himself picking up his cases for the fifth time, flying now he raced to his house.
Well this looks different... His formerly blue house had been repainted a light yellow. Hmm.. Crimson then knocked on the door. That was then opened by a pinkish pony with a red mane and a berry cutiemark.
"H-hello? What are you doing here mister guard?"
"Um hello? Who are you and what are you doing in my house?"
"Y-you're house sir? I've lived here for two months. Umm, would you like to come in?"
She moved away from the door letting Crimson in.
"Uh thanks." He walks in and sees that it is indeed his previous house. "You said you got this house two months ago?"
"Yes Sir, I did."
"Excuse my questions Miss.."
"Punch, Berry Punch. And you are?"
"My name is Crimson Bolt, Miss Punch, who did you buy this house from?"
"Why is it so important?"
"It's so important because this was my house six years ago, and my wife stopped mailing me two months ago..."
Crimson almost snapped, but was immediately sorry,
"I'm sorry Miss punch, I haven't exactly been home of my own leave in quite some time. Then seeing it all changed like this.."
He trailed off.
"Oh, Mr. Bolt, the caretaker I bought this house from... He said, he said that the mare that previously owned the house... That she died...."
Crimson took off his helmet and held it to his chest.
"Two months and I never knew, two months I didn't come sooner!"
He was trying to hold his tears back.
"I missed my own wife's funeral!"
At this he just broke down and cried with interjections of "What about Scootaloo?" Berry Punch feeling sorry for the stallion sobbing in her living room, got Crimson Bolt one of her special soothing drinks.
"Here, Mr. Bolt, drink this and you'll calm down."
As soon as he had enough control of himself again he said.
"Thank you Miss Punch, do you have any idea where my Scootaloo is?"
Berry Punch thought for a moment then said,
"I think she still goes to the local school at the end of town. If that's any help. You can call me Berry Punch, calling me 'Miss Punch' all the time hides the sensitive pony hiding under that hard shell."
"Thank you Mis- Berry Punch."
Then he glanced at his little chest and bag.
"Umm... Do you mind keeping these for me? I thought I was going to be coming home to my family...."
"Certainly, Crimson Bolt, I would be honored to have a royal guard as my guest."
She said then pulled the cases inside. Crimson put his helmet back on then made his way to the schoolhouse. He finally found it but as there were no little fillies or colts outside before going to the door.
"-and that concludes our history lesson for today. Now if you'll turn to page one hundred and.... What can I do for you?"
At this all the foals int the classroom look at him curiously a royal guard had never visited their classroom before. Crimson Bolt walked into the schoolhouse scanning the room for a certain orange and purple filly, upon seeing her he burst into tears rushing to her desk and sweeps her into his arms.
Oh Scootaloo, I'm so so sorry about the last two months"
"Dad? Is that really you?"
"Yes darling it's me."
He answered hugging her even tighter and Scootaloo trying to rival the force of the hug. Both of them crying now unabashedly in front of the whole class. The whole class trying not to cry as well.
"Why didn't you come back earlier? Didn't you get the letter?"
"No sweetheart, I haven't gotten a letter for two months!"
Back on the ground the pink and purple earthpony says quietly,
"I think we'll finish this period early today. Recess everypony."
Right above the little stream on fillies and colts filing by below a father and daughter hung close to each other. The feeling of unity between them all they needed.