This story is a sequel to When the Man Comes Around

The third story in The Journey of Graves.

Graves is finally getting settled into Ponyville: his things have arrived, and many of his new friends are helping him move in. However, the housewarming will just have to wait, as the marshal receives word that there's trouble brewing in the Everfree Forest. Simple enough really, except for one minor problem: Graves has already promised Rarity he'd take care of Sweetie Belle for the day. What will the marshal do when his troublesome job meets the walking disaster?

Bored one evening, Discord suggests to Celestia that they spice things up by seeing who's best at doing the other's job: he'll handle keeping things harmonious, and she'll be there to throw a big ol' spoonful of chaos into the mix whenever she feels like it. To his surprise, she agrees to do it. He's certain he's got this one in the bag—after all, how hard can something as boring as harmony be?

He shouldn't have underestimated his opponent.

UPDATE: Featured 2-15-14!
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For the Writer's Training Ground #007 down at Equestria Daily. Originally posted on my DA account, due to timing issues.
Cover Art and MLP:FiM in general © Hasbro/Lauren Faust

Golden Delicious has always known his friend Starburst as a mare who enjoys pushing herself beyond her limits. For years, she's worked herself to exhaustion on her visits to Sweet Apple Acres, and for years, he's tolerated it with a smile. What used to be incidents that scared him half to death are now a part of his routine: he and Starburst will work, Starburst will faint from exhaustion, he'll carry her back to the farmhouse, he'll tell her the dangers of overexerting herself, and she'll kindly dismiss his advice and just do it all over again. It's a tiring and endless circle, but he's more than happy to go through it again and again, always being there to take care of her when she's "burnt out."

He's just not sure why.
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Featured 7-11-14! Thanks, guys!
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Pre-read by (who else?) Kilala
MLP: FiM © Hasbro/Lauren Faust
Cover Art and the characters Golden Delicious and Starburst © kilala97 of DeviantArt