Dusk Shield strolled through the streets of Ponyville as the sun’s rays bathed his white coat and blue mane in their warmth. He was a young colt lacking a cutie mark with tall lanky legs causing him to be taller than most of his classmates.
His silver eyes darted to the left as a pony pulling a cart barreled down the streets. He teleported a short ways away and crouched down with one hoof held out in a defensive position. The pony and cart slid to a stop as he ushered the small family of ducklings he had protected across the street and into the small pond a short ways away. Dusk and the pony with the cart game exchanged polite nods before continuing on their separate ways.
Dusk had been told many times that he was like his mother, but often he wished he could be more like his father. While he had inherited his mother’s natural love for all living creatures, he had also had her bashful and overall shyness. On the other hoof, his father was a unicorn guard filled with courage and boldness. However, it seemed his younger sister had been given all the confidence and strength.
His eyes were drawn down what was almost a completely deserted street with the tall houses on each side casting deep shadows. There were three colts who appeared to have a pegasus filly backed up against a wall. Looking closer, he noticed the filly had a sky blue coat and a long white mane.
Without thinking twice, he teleported in front of the young filly and encased her in a bubble made out of his silver magic as he glared at the colts in front of him.
“Listen up, and listen good,” he threatened in a chilling voice as his glare bore down on his petrified audience, “I’m only going to say this once.”
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Winter Melody glared at the three colts standing before her as they continued to throw insults at her.
“You’re nothing but a flightless pegasus, just like your mother!” the first colt taunted.
“My mother can fly and so can I!” Winter yelled as tears of rage began to form in her teal eyes.
The second colt scoffed before adding, “barely. You’re pathetic and so is your brother. He will never be anything like your father.”
“Shut up!” she screamed as she shoved the colt down. “Say what you want about me, but leave my family out of this!”
“Neither you or your brother have your cutie marks!” the third colt, whom Winter hated the most, taunted with a sneer, “You two don’t even know how you’re going to be worthless!”
Just as she was about to smack the colt in the face repeatedly and forget everything her mother ever taught her about kindness, her brother appeared before her and wrapped her in his magic.
She saw pure fear in the eyes of her bullies and almost smiled. She didn’t care if that was mean, these jerks deserved it. She looked to her brother and was almost scared herself. His tall figure cast down a deep shadow causing him to appear more lean than lanky and very intimidating. She couldn’t hear what he was saying to the bullies, but they looked as if they wanted to melt into the dirt beneath them. Moments later, the three colts took off running and the magic bubble disappeared causing her to almost miss a unique white flash.
“Are you okay?” Dusk asked as he turned to face her.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” she said before jumping up and down adding, “You did it Dusk! You finally did it!”
“Yeah, I guess so,” he said sheepishly. “You won’t have to worry about them bullying you again.”
“Not just that! You did it! You got your cutie mark!” She watched as he turned to look at his flank with was now adorned with three teal stars centered inside of a silver shield.
“Huh,” he said as he scratched the back of his head once more, “I guess I did.”
“Of course you did!” Winter cried as she continued her jumping while making her way down the street. “Now come one! We have to show mom and dad!”