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// Shining and Rose [Slice of Life] [Comedy] 
// Story: The Slash and Burn Folder 
// by Blind Gardener 
//------------------------------//

Clawed, bruised and bleeding, Rose and Shining leaned against each other for support outside the guard station. They were singing a duet together voiced for a gryphon and a pony about a legendary encounter between the Silver Gryphon Guard of the Windswept Hills and the Black Marsh Bandits of Equestria while they treated each other's wounds. For fun, Shining was singing the Gryphonic parts, while Rose sang the Pony ones.

It was this scene that Twilight Velvet arrived to when she responded to the message that her son had been causing a public disruption again. She sighed, staring at the two singing foals.

"Shining." She said, interrupting their song. Shining and Rose both abruptly turned to look at Twilight Velvet. She was disturbed to see her son mimicking the gryphonic glare.

"Shining, this isn't healthy. Look at yourself, you can barely stand, you're all ripped up."

"It's just play, mom" Shining said

"Play." Twilight velvet marched up to her son, poking his belly "Half a centimeter to the left here, and you'd never have a hard time hitting high notes." She poked another spot on his face "If this was any deeper it would have popped your eyeball" She touched the tatters of his ear "If I didn't have access to high quality health care, your ear would never be the same. If I didn't have access to healing magic, you'd bear these scars for the rest of your life."

Then she turned on Rose. "Fractured Metacarpal" She said, taking Rose's wrist with her hoof and causing the griflet to wince. "Broken ribs here, here, and here." She jabbed at Rose's chest. "No concussions, lucky there" She said, looking deep into Rose's eyes. "And since your family can't afford the healthcare, if I don't pay for it I will feel incredibly guilty about the fact that those wings won't fly without being broken and reset. I don't know if it's the fault of your play, but I'm sure that the play was a contributing factor."

At this point the frowning police first aid specialist tapped Twilight Velvet on the shoulder. "I'm sorry, but you're wrong"

"What?" Twilight Velvet asked, spinning on a hoof to find a frowning medical official. She took a step back from the glare.

"First, your son. Half a centimeter to the left and we'd still be able to re-attach it easily, if you actually had medical training you'd know griffon surgeons are priced for their precise, neat cuts. Second, it couldn't have gotten deeper, there's bone in the way. Third is a valid point though." She nodded solidly.

"Now, for the griflet. No recent breaks or fractures. There are sprains, but no breaks. You are correct that there's no concussion, but it's harder to concuss a griflet than a pony. Easier for them to get fractures. As for the wings, yes they're mangled to the point that flight under her own power is unlikely, but it is an old injury." The police mare paused to give Twilight Velvet a speculative look "If you are willing to pay to have it corrected, I do have the number of a few bone specialists who could do it." 

"Normally I don't like to get into the middle of family disputes, but you're not a trained medical professional. Please don't pretend to be one." The police mare said, with the sort of kind patience one reserves for fools.

Twilight Velvet hung her head abashedly. "Alright. I got carried away a little there. I would like the specialist's number though." She took the proffered card, and tucked it into her purse.

She turned, somewhat more gently, back to her son and the griflet. Her son looked guilty, and was cowering away from her. Rose had a more aggressive look on her face, crest raised. Twilight glared back at Rose until the griflet backed down, and lowered her crest submissively.

"RIght." She said. "I guess it was O.K." she glared at both of them. "You didn't seriously injure one another. Not for lack of trying."

Shining coughed.

"Do I have a sign on me that says interrupt me while I am speaking?" Twilight Velvet asked rhetorically. "I know you're going to tell me you were being careful. I don't care. It was dangerous. You don't actually know how to fight or spar, just to brawl. You don't even know any good defensive magic. I named you Shining Armour in the hopes that you'd develop into fine young man, but it feels that, just like your aunt Water Works, your talent is more ironically related to your name than directly related."

"Oh! What was Water Works' talent, Mrs Velvet?" Rose asked eagerly.

"Draining swamps and distilling alcohol." Velvet said shortly, ears flicking back and forth.

"That's kinda related" Rose said, cutely "I wish we griffons got cutie marks and special talents."

"Griffons get special talents, Rose, just not cutie marks that show them." Velvet said tightly, eye twitching irritably "Could you please stop interrupting my maternal rant? And stop trying to be cute to get Shining out of trouble. It's not going to work."

Rose scowled, upset at having been caught playing cute.

"Rose, I know Mrs and Mr Tarsal don't care about you fighting in the streets, but I do. I know you're a very good friend of Shiny, but the two of you need to stop this. I am enrolling Shiny in a martial arts class. I am also going to enroll you. As an incentive, if you actually show up for the classes with Shiny, and stop brawling in the streets, I will pay to have your wings fixed." Twilight said firmly. "Now, onto other matters. Shining Armour, did you complete your mission?"

"Uhhh" Shiny said

"Yes!" Rose said "He said I could babysit his little sister."