As the bomb went off starting the party, Dusk could only stand in place, his right eye twitching of its own accord. Barb stood slack-jawed, watching Dusk for any immediate reaction. Fluttershy approached Barb and whispered into her ear.

“I-is that a normal shade of red?” she pointed out the colour Dusk’s face was turning. Barb shuddered as she imagined the outcome.

“Have you ever seen a kettle blow up?” Barb asked in turn. Fluttershy shook her head. “Well imagine Dusk as the kettle, and the water that’s supposed to be in there is his patience, only he’s run out of patience. It’s only a matter of time before he blows.” Barb explained. Fluttershy as expected, didn’t like the sound of that. She began to shake and curl up in on herself. Seeing this gave Barb an idea.

“Careful now, Dusk; you’re scaring Fluttershy.” she whispered into his ear. As if she’d spoken a safe word, Dusk’s expression calmed itself down as he sucked in air and let it out with the intensity of a yawn.

“I’m going to bed.” he muttered just loud enough for Barb to hear over the party that had managed to remain ignorant of his semi-episode. As he ascended the stairs, he began to unbutton his shirt, starting at the top. He’d managed to make it to the third button before a pink pony suddenly entered his field of vision.

“Ooh! There you are, I’ve been looking for you since the party started. I’m Pinkie Pie and I threw this party just for you! Do you like it? I’ve been told I’m the number one party pony in all of Equestria, which is great for me because it means that I know what other ponies like and it makes it easier to be their friends if I can relate to them, you know? Oh and you’re that guy that came to check up on the festival preparations Well don’t worry, because all the celebration stuff is taken care of so you can check that off the list–.” Pinkie rambled on and on. All the while, Dusk’s face began to twitch repeatedly as he fought the urge to… shut her up. Thankfully, Barb had caught on to the look and rushed to prevent a disaster as if her life depended on it, in which case, her social life did.

“Thank you so much for the party, Pinkie Pie. Dusk and I are very grateful and I intend to enjoy it to the fullest. Sadly, Dusk here has had a rather… trying day and it’s showing this very second.” Barb paused what she was going to say to look upon her partner with a mixture of fear and disgust as his entire body had begun to twitch. “So he’s a little… moody and needs to be alone for a while.” she added, pushing him past Pinkie to his bedroom door.

“Okey-dokey-lokey!” Pinkie replied, bounding off back into the party. She went so far as to leap off of the second floor and land in the crowd. It was impossible to tell if the others had actually caught her, or she’d bounced off the ground like an ice skater. Having liberated Dusk from the mouth of doom, she opened the door and shoved him through, slamming it shut afterwards as if she’d just thrown an explosive device in there instead.

Dusk’s vision had gone blurry and red for a moment, but as the sound of the party had been muffled by the door slightly, that vision turned to pink and he continued to unbutton his shirt like a mindless drone. As he did so, he wondered how in the wide, wide world of Equestria did that pink pony function. Having undone the final button on his shirt, he removed it to reveal a lean, ripped body that would have made even the Royal guard jealous. Those fights with his sister had proven to be beneficial in the long run.

On his lavender back, rested his cutie mark; the hot pink six-pointed star with a silver one underneath, surrounded by another five little white stars. On his chest rested a large surgical scar in the very centre where the cartilage was. He brushed his fingers along the scar, feeling the groove on his surface. The doctors had said that it would fade in next to no time, but it had been almost thirteen years and it was just a long pale bump.

Dusk refrained from recalling that particular memory and focussed on finding his bed. He didn’t bother to disturb the covers, but just took to lying on the bed with nothing but his pants. He’d deduced that the cold air would wake him up after a little while and he could begin researching his case before the celebration began. His head touched the pillow and he was out like a light. As slumber took him, he made one defiant comment.

“These ponies are going to kill my patience before the celebration begins.”

Barb was having the time of her life now that the party had gotten going and was out of Dusk’s way. A few choice ponies had gathered around the dragoness, Fluttershy especially. Funnily enough, they were the same ponies she and Dusk had checked up on earlier that day.

“So, sugarcube… what’s up with yer partner, Dusk?” Applejack asked, sipping some cider from her cup.

“Well, he’s single, but I don’t think you’ve got a shot there.” Barb replied. Applejack blushed redder than the apples on her farm.

“Ah didn’t mean like that! I meant–.”

“Well of course she doesn’t have a shot. She’s not as sophisticated as such a Stallion deserves.” Rarity cut in. Applejack forgot all about trying to rectify her mistake and turned to the fashionista.

“Hay now. Don’t go sayin’ nothin’ y’all will regret afterward.” she defended.

“A true lady has no regrets in any aspect.” Rarity argued.

“Not even that dog ugly perm you did for that Doctor guy that made him look like a Porcupine?” Dash interjected. Rarity drew daggers on the Pegasus with her eyes.

“We agreed to never speak of that again.” she hissed. Barb half expected venom to fly out of the unicorn’s mouth.

“What Ah meant before was,” Applejack interrupted, bringing the conversation back to normal. “What’s his problem? Ah mean, mah family gave him the ol’ Apple Family welcome and he looked more miserable than Cousin Toffee Apple with toothache.” she began.

“Yeah, and he had the nerve to argue with me about my flying skills.” Dash chimed in.

“An argument he won, if the rumours are true.” Rarity smirked. Dash growled at the unicorn and looked back to Barb for an explanation. All eyes were on her, except for Pinkie who looked around the circle, seemingly interested in the stares than what they were aimed at.

“Well, you see… Dusk is…very antisocial. Seriously, the marketplace in Canterlot goes silent whenever he walks past. Freaks me out every time. Seriously, I yearn for the days when he sends me there, just so I can pick up a decent conversation.” she replied. All the ponies seemed to feel sorry for the little dragoness.

“But why’s he so mean?” Rarity asked. Barb considered the question delicately. She knew the reason, but telling almost complete strangers would undoubtedly bring Dusk’s wrath upon her, and she’d had enough for one… lifetime.

“He just doesn’t like other ponies. The Princess and Captian of the guard are the only exceptions, although, he fights with the Captain so often, it’s become a ritual.” she replied. She felt that Dusk would find that response acceptable, should he ask.

“I’m surprised nopony’s beaten him up.” Dash said, punching her fists together. Barb found the comment funny.

“Seriously? We live in Canterlot. Ponies are all about status there, and Personal apprentice of Princess Celestia is up there with Nobility. Everypony’s afraid to even look at him funny. And those foolish enough to actually ignore his status wind up with dirt in their mouths.” Barb felt boastful at this point.

“How?” Dash demanded.

“He’s not Celestia’s apprentice for nothing. In addition to wrestling with the Royal Guard Captain, he’s supposed to be the most powerful Unicorn since Starswirl the Bearded.” The ponies cried out in unison, halting the entire party.

“WHAT?!”

“Y’all mean to tell us that that jerk who passed on a Pinkie Party is one of the strongest unicorns in History?” Applejack asked. All the guests gasped in surprise, leaning into the small group to look at Barb for confirmation.

“Well, he hatched me… and nopony has been able to hatch a dragon egg since Starswirl.” Half of the guests turned their heads up towards the door that barred them from the stallion in question.

“And you say he’s single?” Rarity asked. Barb snorted.

“Sorry, sweetie, but you don’t have a chance. For one, you’re too… fancy. And for another, he’s never showed any interest in mares, except family and the Princess.” Barb said. “I live with the guy and sometimes I think he forgets that I’m female.” she added just for example. Contrary to what most in Canterlot believed, Barb had no romantic feelings towards Dusk. Theirs was more of a fusion of symbiotic and sibling relationships. Then there was the minor age gap. While only a few years younger than him, Barb was still considered little more than an infant among her kind.

“You’re saying there’s no chance?” Rarity asked. Barb smiled and crossed her arms.

“Rarity, it’s more likely that the Nightmare Moon legend is real than you getting with Dusk is.” barb ended the comment there.

“Well, what about this ruffian and Rainbow Dash?” Rarity asked, motioning to Dash and Applejack.

“Hay!” AJ warned.

“Well, Dusk may just appreciate hard working mares, and so long as Applejack’s entire family doesn’t make him sick with all the food he was offered today, maybe. And as for Rainbow Dash… I don’t think so. After what he said to Spitfire, I don’t think athletic mares even qualify for–.”

“Hang on, what did he say to Spitfire?” Dash demanded, showing her warning face.

“Oh crap.” Barb said.

“What did he say?” Dash asked again. Barb raised her hands.

“Trust me, you don’t wanna know. All I’ll say is that she didn’t take his comments very well and she ended up with a face full of dirt… well carpet, since it was inside when it happened.” Barb said. Dash seemed like she was on the verge of storming up to Dusk’s room. Barb decided to move on from the topic. “If anything, I think Fluttershy here would have the best chance of getting with him.” she said. This drew everypony’s attention.

“HUH?!” they all said. Fluttershy didn’t like the looks she was being given and she tried to hide under herself.

“Oh… m-m-my… I’m flattered, and he is kind of handsome, I guess… but I’m not looking for a relationship, and he’s kind of scary too.” she said.

“Hang on… how could Fluttershy have a better shot with him than all of us?” Rarity demanded.

“Well… thanks to her painfully obvious timid nature, she’s the only mare other than the Princess that he’s been nice to. Though, thinking back, throwing him into that wall may have been a deal breaker.” Barb contemplated.

“You know, I think it was better when you were talking about me under the guise of the party music. At least them I could drown the constant noise out, but now…” Dusk descended the steps, buttoning up his shirt. Barb caught sight of the scar on his chest and shuddered.

“Sorry.” she muttered. Dusk said nothing as he stopped in front of the dragoness with a serious look on his face.

“I’ve got to go and take care of some business. Will you be fine overlooking the celebration’s preparations?” he asked. Barb looked up at him and nodded.

“Count on me.” she replied. Dusk nodded and reached a hand out, brushing it along Barb’s face.

“I’d expect nothing less from my number one assistant.” he said. His actions and words were out of character for him. Barb looked him in the eyes and he seemed to be contemplating something… grave in his head.

“What’s this business you were talking about?” she asked. Dusk flashed a glance at the others.

“Just some advance notice to the princess, that’s all.” he replied. Barb could tell he was lying.

“Dusk… what did you discover?” the dragoness begged. There was hesitation in him for a moment.

“With any luck, you’ll never have to find out. It all depends on how the Princess takes the news.” he let his hand fall from Barb’s face and went to reach for the doorknob. Before he could turn it, he felt a pair of strong hooves grab him and fling him around. He was then slammed against the wall.

“Hold on there, pal! If we’re all in danger, we have a right to know.” Rainbow Dash declared. The other party members yelled their agreement in unison. Dusk sighed, taking a moment to choose his words carefully. In the end that turned out to be a waste of precious time and he just spilled the beans.

“Nightmare Moon is real and she’s going to break free tonight.”

Author's Note

So, here's Chapter 4. Hope you guys like it, I tried to sort of... lengthen it because I found that the chapters in this story aren't as long as most of the other chapters in other stories. So let me know what you think.
EDIT: Also, another pic from SkyBound.