Tenor was sitting on a chair by his bedroom’s window, a book held in his magical aura as he simply enjoys the mornings tranquility, as he occasionally drinks from a cup of coffee from the nearby counter. Today seemed it was going to be a rather lazy, and relax kind of day for the stallion, rather than going out and explore his old foal hood town. Which was fine by the stallion, as when tomorrows comes around he’ll be heading back to Canterlot, and resume his duties as a guard. As the stallion flips through another page of his book, which is a classic tale of an old stallion warrior, and his mage companion on a journey to save their kingdom, a knock came to his door.
“Yes?” Tenor said as he looked away from his book, and stared at his door as it opened to show Jewel Feather. “Hey there mom, is there something you need?”
“No dear, I just came to say that I’ll be heading out to get somethings, so I’ll be back later today alright.” Tenor nodded while giving a vocal response to his mother’s words.
The blind pegasus then bid her son farewell, and made her down stairs, while Tenor goes back to reading. As the stallion goes back to reading his book, he starts to wonder if he should go out for lunch, or just stay home and make something, but as his thoughts wonder the stallion’s started to think back to what his mother said to him when he started his week long vacation. And that was about trying to be the stallion that, Tenor really wanted to be, and not what his father wants him to be. This whole week has been a rather, exhilarating as well as liberating, as Tenor was able to fully express his love of music and just be, him. maybe it was really time for Tenor to fully embrace his talent, and just be him, and hope that maybe in time his dad could be proud of his decision.
“Maybe I should start putting in my resign forum when I get back to Canterlot.” Tenor muses as he thinks about leaving the guard, and actually check-out a carrier in music.
Tenor’s ears then perked up at a commotion coming from down stairs. Closing his book Tenor left his room and trotted down stairs, but as he reached the bottom steps the stallion saw that his father, Iron Brigade, standing in front of the smaller mare who seems to be curling in on herself. The large unicorn looked away from Jewel Feather, and looked squarely at Tenor Tune, who only just stared back.
“What are you doing here colt?” the stallion asked Tenor.
“Visiting my mom, and making sure she’s doing well. And giving her some family time.” Tenor said as he walked over to his mom, who upon feeling that Tenor was close enough, slowly backed away from Iron Brigade, and hid behind her son. The larger stallion took a step within the household as he began speaking.
“I thought I told you long ago colt, you are not to fraternize with, distractions.”
“Distractions!” Tenor said in a slightly raised tone. “She’s my mother, and your wife!”
“Former wife.” Iron Brigade corrected. “If she’s unable to stand by us while we strive for greatness, then she doesn’t deserves to be with us.” Both Tenor and Jewel were shocked to hear this, Tenor because his father was just so disregarding his ex-wife, Jewel on the other hoof was shocked to hear her ex-husband is still thinking this way.
“Do you even hear yourself!” Tenor said a bit louder, horn nearly flaring with magic. “Mom has every RIGHT to see me, she doesn’t need to fulfil some stupid reason for—”
Tenor was silenced when his father stomped a hoof on the floorboard, causing both Tenor and Jewel to jump. Iron Brigade then loomed over the two, his dark coat taking in an even more darker tone, as his eyes just glare down at his son and ex-wife. Even though she can’t see what her ex-husband was doing, Jewel could just feel the atmosphere of her house getting colder, as if something was sucking the heat out. Not only that, but she can feel the judgmental and criticizing eyes of Iron Brigade on her, causing her to cower behind her son like a scared little foal. Tenor tried to stand tall and resolute, to show his father that he wasn’t going to back down, but the overwhelming presence that the older stallion had makes Tenor buckle under the pressure, if ever so slightly.
“…are you back talking to me, colt?” Iron’s voice was deep and heavy, it was as if simply speaking was enough to cause the pair to hunker down. But Tenor regained his resolve, and actually butted heads with his father! Their horns scrapping against one another as they stared into each other’s eyes.
“You dare stand up against a commanding officer?”
“You’re retired old stallion, so your rank doesn’t matter all that much!” Tenor said as he pressed his head against his fathers, trying to push him back. but Iron Brigade was a like a stone wall, he wasn’t budging.
Without saying anything, Tenor was enveloped in his father’s magical aura—and was violently thrown to the side of the house! Tenor collided with the wall with such an impact, that his body caused the wood and plaster of the wall to splinter, while the stallion cried out in pain as he slumps to the ground.
“No stop!” Jewel said as she threw herself at Iron Brigade. “Please Iron, don’t hurt—AGH!” the mare was tossed to the staires by Iron shouldering her.
“You stay out of this mare; you’ve done enough to ruin the soldier I forged my son to be.” Iron said as he glared down at the mare, who could only look at her ex-husband with fear…and remembering how she was in a similar situation years ago…a situation that costed her eyes.
Iron was then knocked down to the floor, as Tenor shoulder tackles him with his entire body. Before the larger stallion hit the ground, Tenor used his magic to envelope his father, and with great effort tossed the larger stallion out of his mothers doorway. Jewel can’t see it, but Tenor is now sporting a large bruise on the shoulder that crashed into the wall, and is having trouble standing on it as he walks towards the doorway. When he reaches the door Tenor can see that his father is already back on his hooves, and that a small group of ponies were scattered around, looking on with confusion and slight concern. After recovering from the throw, Iron Brigade glared at Tenor who just glared back, horn igniting with magic while his coat bristles slightly. Iron’s own horn ignited with his own magical aura, as both stallions appear to prepare themselves for a fight.
“What is going on here?!” the crowed, as well as both stallions turned to find the mayor of the town walking over to them, along with Twilight and a few of her friends. Including Rarity.
“This has nothing to do with you mare! This is a matter between me, and my disobedient son!” Iron bellowed, causing all the other ponies to back away, as he turns to look back at Tenor.
“I’m warning you right now old Stallion, you ever treat my mom like that again, or think you can throw your weight around like you own us…then you have another thing coming!” Tenor said as remained within the doorway.
“After everything I’ve done to make you the stallion you are right now, you…turn against me?” Iron Brigade said in shocked disbelief, while his voice still carried a spark of anger.
“I only became a guard so you would be proud of me, just to even acknowledge my efforts…” Tenor said as started to tear up as he continues to talk to his father.
“But the only thing you care about is nothing more than your pride as a guard, and trying to make me like you. well, not anymore.” Tenor says to the stallion who seemed to falter slightly. “I’m done trying to live up to your expectations, or your approval. As far as I’m concern…we’re done.”
The older stallion just continued to glare at Tenor, who became very tensed up after speaking his mind. To everypony watching this scene play out, they were all wondering if this would break out unto a fight, but luckily…things didn’t turn out that way. Iron Brigade gave off a loud snort through his nose, puffing out a hefty amount of steam before turning on his hooves and just, stormed off. The old stallion gave one last disapproving glare to Tenor, before the crowed split so he could walk past them and go off to who knows where. Seeing as the situation has defused itself, the mayor along with Applejack and her friends Twilight and Fluttershy, started to tell the crowed to go back to doing what they were doing beforehoof.
As for Tenor, he visibly relaxed as his whole body nearly slumped to the floor of exhaustion. This was probably the most intense moment that he’s ever had, as he just not only stood up to his father, but actually challenged him and basically telling him he refuses to go along with his ‘Way of the Guard’. Turning to look over his shoulder, Tenor saw that his mother was laying on the floor, shivering as if a very cold breeze was washing over her. so quickly getting to his hooves, Tenor trotted over to his mom to see if she was alright.
“Mom, are you alright?” Tenor ask’s worriedly. Jewel only respond with a few sniffles, before wrapping her forelegs and wings around Tenor as tears began to coat his fur. Tenor wrapped a foreleg around his mom and held her securely.
“Tenor…” Twilight said as she walked into the house, and found the pair just huddled at the base of the stairs. “Is everything alright?” The unicorn asked as she looks upon the pair with a worried look. Tenor looks at Twilight with a reassuring look as he spoke.
“Yeah. Mom’s just shaken up is all, just...gives us a moment.” Twilight nodded and left the pair alone for time. “Mom, are you alright? He didn’t hurt you when he knocked you to the stairs?” the mare shook her head as she separates from her son.
“No. but I’m more concern about you!” Jewel then starts to use her wings to pat over Tenor’s body. “When I heard that the wall cracked, I thought he’d hurt you badly!” Tenor pats his mom on the back as he tries to comfort her.
“Mom I’m fine.” Tenor says as he tries to calm down his mom. The pegasus manages to calm herself down, just a bit, as Tenor helps her to her hooves and brought her to the living rooms couch.
A minute later and the mayor of the town asked if she could come in, and after getting permission the grey-maned mare asked for the details of what happened. Jewel Feather began to tell the mayor that she was going to go and run some errands, but the moment she opened the door she bumped into her ex-husband, who began demanding to know where Tenor was. That’s when Tenor told the mare that he and his dad began arguing with one another, before it escalated to small scuffle between them that broke out.
After getting the story, and seeing that neither pony was injured, the mayor asked if Jewel would like to press charges of assault, which she agreed to as she actually has a restraining order towards Iron Brigade. The mayor then bid the pair good day, and that she will begin preparations for filing a complaint to the courts about Iron Brigades actions, and his violation of a restraint order, leaving the pair trying to relax in the living room. and just put this whole event behind them.