I woke up to the sound of a thousand Pinkie Pie’s yelling “Fun! Fun! Fun! Fun! Fun!” in the distance. Or did I wake up to Katana going through my fridge? I couldn’t tell, all I knew is my back ached and I was still tired. I promptly did twenty stretches before walking out of my room to get a glass of water. I splashed half of it on my face without a care.
Katana was still standing in the open fridge. “Do you have anything besides carrots, kale, and pineapples?” she asked. “Seriously, why do you have ten pineapples?”
“Because I like them,” I said, levitating a couple long carrots out of the fridge. “Why else? And I thought you liked carrots.”
“Sure, but not for breakfast.” Katana sighed and closed the fridge. “I’m just gonna go out and grab a hayburger before heading for the train station. Um, you wouldn’t happen to have the bits for a ticket, would you?”
Of course she was going to ask for money. Not that I didn’t have plenty to spare, but I was sure she had enough herself. Just trying to leech more out of me, as always. “Yeah, but I’m coming with you. I’m overdue for a visit to my parents.” Way overdue, by at least a few months. My father was no doubt upset about that. Luckily I had this weekend off from my duties, though I’d probably get back to them later anyway. These carrots were good.
Katana walked to her saddlebag by the door and strapped it on. “Fine by me. Let’s get movin’ already, I don’t want to miss the early train.”
I levitated my own saddlebag onto my back and teleported my sword to me to shape around my torso. The sword felt strangely warm, somehow. It was probably just some magic residue from last night, so I ignored it. We left the house, and without warning were surrounded on all sides by a horde of bouncing Pinkie Pies. All sides. Front, back, left, right, top, bottom, and all there was to hear was “Fun! Fun! Fun! Fun! Fun! Fun! Fun!”
“Is this normal?” Katana asked, yelling over the Pinkies and covering her head, though the Pinkies were barely as heavy as a mouse.
“For Ponyville? Not the strangest thing it’s seen. For Pinkie Pie?” I laughed. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it was!”
The horde passed, and we were free to stand on solid ground and dust ourselves off.
“Not sure how she managed to duplicate herself though,” I continued. “Hopefully she… they… don’t destroy the town, or anything like that. Anyway, you go on and get your hayburger. I’ll meet you at the train station.”
Katana flared her wings. “Fine by me, but don’t be late.” And with that she flew off.
I rolled my eyes and went back inside, remembering that I’d left my armor. I didn’t need it, but something about wearing it just made me feel more secure. I was going to visit my father, after all. Might as well show him how far I’ve come. Once it was all strapped on I headed for the train station.
About half an hour later, having been delayed by the Pinkies until they were all rounded up by Twilight’s friends, Katana and I were on a train to Manehattan. There were only two other passengers sitting across from us in our car: two pegasi, a mare with a peach coat and light blue mane and tail, and a young colt–whom I assumed was her son–with a light yellow coat and bright blue mane and tail. The colt was bouncing around with excitement, trying to get a view out the window, while the mare tried to get him to sit still, obviously anxious about something the way her voice shook as she spoke to him.
“Please sit down, Aster,” she was saying. “I don’t want you to get yourself hurt.” She glanced at me as if she wanted to apologize, but I simply gave a smile and turned to watch the landscape fly by.
Katana chuckled at the two. “First train ride?”
The mother nodded sheepishly. “My son is very excited to see Manehattan. We’re moving into an apartment there.”
“Hey, nice! I live in Manehattan myself, and it’s definitely the biggest and coolest city in Equestria. What made you decide to move there?”
“My husband works there. For the longest time he’s had to take the train back and forth from Ponyville, but he’s finally found us a place to stay.” The mother sighed. “I’ll certainly miss Ponyville, though. Such wonderful folk there.”
“Some crazy folk too,” I mumbled.
“Anyway,” the mother continued, “It’s a bit of a journey to Manehattan. My name is Iris Barkley, and this is my son, Aster.”
The young colt paused from looking out the window to glance at Katana with a wave and smile.
Katana smiled back. “I’m Katana, and this,” she nudged my back, not softly, “is my cousin, Swordulan Thunder-head Shield.”
I rubbed the spot she hit and glanced at her with a frown. “You’re a Thunder-head.”
Aster gasped at the mention of my name and fully turned around to stare at me wide-eyed, as if finally noticing I was there. “Are you Lieutenant Shield?” he asked with awe.
I blinked in confusion and turned away from my window. “You know who I am?” How in Equestria was I known to some young colt? Royal Guards hardly get recognition, even Lieutenants.
“Of course! I read about you in the Foal Free Press at school. The Cutie Mark Crusaders wrote a story about you always being late to work because you were afraid of bugs. I didn’t believe it though, I know Royal Guards are always on time and aren’t afraid of anything.”
I gaped. The Cutie Mark Crusaders did what? I was never late! Okay maybe there was that one morning, but there was a mosquito in my house. No way was I going to let that fly. Besides, most of the other guards seemed to think it was a perfectly valid excuse. How did they even know about that though?
“I didn’t know,” I finally managed to say.
“Aster loves the Royal Guard,” Iris said. “He’s always wanted to meet one.”
Katana muttered something inaudible, though I was sure it was “Can’t imagine why.”
“They’re really cool!” Aster said. “They fight bad guys and keep everypony safe. I want to be just like a Royal Guard when I grow up.”
“I’m sure you’d make a fine pegasus guard,” I said, having to frown at Katana as she rolled her eyes. “They’re great at patrolling cities on their wings, and are usually first to catch the bad guys.”
“Oh.” Aster’s ears drooped and he looked back at his wings with a frown. “I can’t fly yet. My wings aren’t strong enough.”
“Psh, you’ll get there,” Katana said heartily, flaring her wings and giving them a couple flaps to adjust her position. “Most of the best fliers took longer than everypony else to get their wings in the air.” Iris frowned doubtfully at that. “Just keep practicing, work those wings, and don’t give up. I’ll bet you’ll be a great flier. Better than Swordulan, even.”
Both Aster and Iris gave her confused looks, then directed them at me. “You can fly?” the colt asked. “But you’re a unicorn.”
I chuckled. “Yes I am. I have to use magic to fly, using this—” I levitated my sword out from under my armor and formed it into its surfboard shape, hovering it above the floor. The two pegasi looked at it wide-eyed. “It’s an enchanted sword. I stand on it while levitating to fly. You wanna try?”
Aster beamed. “Yes!” He looked to Iris. “Can I, Mom?”
Iris hesitated, staring at the sword as if it were a snake ready to strike. “Is it safe?”
“Of course,” I said, stroking the dull edge of the blade to show.
Iris gave a nod to her son, and he excitedly jumped on the blade. Katana smirked and rolled her eyes as I levitated the colt around the car. Iris watched him with a cautious smile, though it wasn’t like he was going to fall. I couldn’t fly him around very fast or do any tricky moves in such a small space, yet he gasped and laughed with delight all the same.
“So why are you going Manehattan, Lieutenant?” Iris asked as the fun came to an end. “Are you being transferred there?”
“Just call me Swordulan,” I said. Rank was for the Guard anyway, and I found more respect in being called by name than rank. Some guards thought the opposite for whatever strange reasons. “And no, I’m just visiting my parents.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Then why are you wearing your armor?” Aster asked.
I shifted in my seat for a moment and subconsciously checked my armor’s straps. “Uh… sentimental value, that’s all.”
“He’s afraid of his dad,” Katana said wryly, and I very nearly came to kneeing her in the back not so softly. “What?” she asked, raising an eyebrow at me. “You are. Don’t try to deny it making that face at me. And hay, I’d be scared into wearing armor too if I had a dad like yours.”
“Why would you be scared of your dad?” Iris asked confusedly.
I sighed. Katana would be the death of me, some day. “I’m not. Katana is just being ridiculous. She acts like we’re like rival siblings, sometimes. It’s silly.”
Katana glared at me like she wanted to punch me in the back again, but the continued conversation held her back. We kept on for a short time about our families and roots, but Aster had a dozen questions about what it was like being a Royal Guard, especially a Lieutenant, and some were shockingly specific and complicated. Who in Celestia’s name ever wanted to know anything about the way our paperwork was organized?
About two hours passed until we finally arrived at Manehattan in the Grand Central Station, a building to rival the Canterlot Castle if I ever saw. Goodbyes were exchanged with Iris and Aster, though the colt was sad that he didn’t get to ask more questions. Katana seemed relieved as we left the crowded station.
“I thought he’d never stop asking questions,” she said with a sigh. “That amount of interest in the Royal Guard is unhealthy.”
“I’ll bet my dad would disagree with that,” I said. Very likely that’s how he wished I had acted about training to become a Royal Guard. The thought made me frown.
Katana laughed. “I don’t doubt that.” She began stretching her wings as we made it back under open skies. “You know your way around, right? Manehattan can be a pretty confusing city to newcomers. It ain’t like Canterlot.”
I shook my head as I took in the loud streets and busy sidewalks of the city. Each street seemed to go on and on, and same with the amount of ponies everywhere. Hundreds, if not thousands were constantly coming in and out of Grand Central Station alone. Equally strange, hardly any paid me any attention. Usually Royal Guards in full armor outside of Canterlot Castle brought stares, but not here it seemed.
“You know where my parents live, right?” I asked. “I haven’t been to their place yet.”
“Yeah, no problem.” Katana took to the air. “Follow me.”
I brought my sword out, shaped it, and hopped on to follow. Now that brought stares. Katana led me down and over a dozen streets which I made sure to memorize. If I was ever going to visit again, best I knew where I’d be going. Eventually Katana stopped in front of a large apartment building with a design heavily focused on flowers and vines.
“This one,” she said, pointing to the door on the far left of the building. “They live in one-o-six. You should visit me too, some time. I’m getting tired of having to come to you.”
I looked at her disbelievingly. “You have a place of your own?”
Katana scoffed. “Well, duh. I got one as soon as I got a job at the lightning factory. My parents want me out of their manes as much as your dad wants you in the Royal Guard.”
I grimaced at that last part, and in a way, I felt bad for Katana. Both of her parents were unicorns, like mine, yet she was a pegasus, and her brother Stonehenge an earth pony. Both of them had as tough a time growing up as I did. For me, it was training hard to be a good enough Royal Guard for my father. For them… it was just trying to be good enough. Stonehenge tried by joining the Royal Guard–trying to live up to our grandfather's legacy like me I guess–but he had washed out, then disappeared somewhere in Fillydelphia. Katana tried however she could, but nothing ever seemed to be enough. I was sure she had used me to gain the attention her parents never gave her, though she wouldn’t admit it.
Katana punched me on the shoulder, though not that hard, thankfully. “Don’t make that face, Swordy. I don’t like it. Plus it’s not that big of a deal, so cheer up. You at least got everything you ever wanted.” She laughed.
“Yeah, everything,” I muttered, shaking my head slightly. If only it were as easy as cheering up. Everything I ever wanted? I wasn’t even sure what I wanted, besides making my father proud, and I would make him proud. He didn’t even know I had been promoted to Lieutenant yet. Strange to think that had happened months ago.
“Well, I guess I’m off,” Katana continued, flapping her wings to a hover. “Good luck with your visit. You really should come to see me in the future, there are a thousand different things to do in this city.”
“Maybe I will,” I said, which no doubt she’d take as a promise. “Try to stay out of trouble, Katana.”
Katana smirked. “Yeah, yeah, I know you don’t like having to save my hide. Thanks though. See ya!”
With that she flew off and out of sight. I looked back at the apartment building and took a deep breath. Here goes. Into the lion’s den.
It was up a few levels of stairs and down a hallway, and there was the door. 306. I knocked, and time seemed to stretch. My mother should’ve been home, it was a weekend, and she never missed a weekend to relax at home with a book. I heard movement within, and my heart skipped a beat. Why did I feel so nervous? I softly growled at myself. Stupid to be nervous.
The door opened.
My mother’s face came into view, and she beamed at the sight of me. “Swordulan! I didn’t know you were coming over today. You should’ve sent something. It’s good to see you.”
I let out a relieved sigh as she came forward to give me a tight hug. “Sorry for being away so long. I’ve been, agh… busy. It’s good to see you too.” I took off my helmet as her death-grip ended. “How’ve you been doing?”
“Good, very good,” she said with a ceaseless smile and motioned me inside. “How about you? I haven’t seen you in months, so something exciting must have kept you away.”
“Uh, yeah.” I walked in with her and looked around. The front room was rather spacious, with minimal furniture, and there was quite a view of downtown Manehattan at the far side. A glass sliding door led to a balcony with a flower-and-vine-themed iron fence. Connected to the front room was a small dining area and a slightly larger kitchen. “I’m doing alright. I was promoted to Lieutenant a few months ago, and a couple days ago I was helping Shining Armor and Cadance in the Crystal Empire.”
My mother made a startled sound and looked at me wide-eyed. “Really? No wonder you haven’t come by. Congratulations! I’m sure your father will be happy to hear it. He should be here soon, actually, but until then I’d like to hear everything you’ve been up to.” She sat down on one of the small couches and motioned me to another one. “I read about the Crystal Empire just this morning. A whole new culture brought back from a thousand years ago. So exciting! But I didn’t see you mentioned anywhere.”
“I wasn’t there for long,” I said, making myself comfortable on the couch opposite of her.
I began telling what had happened from the beginning, and followed it up with Katana breaking into my home. My mother was surprised I had moved to Ponyville, and I realized just how much had happened since she had moved out of Canterlot. The Gala, Discord, my promotion to Lieutenant and involvement in Shining Armor’s romantic schemes, the changeling invasion and wedding… I hadn’t told my parents any of it. I didn’t get the time to tell either, as once I finished talking about Katana, my father, Steadfast, walked in. I felt my body go stiff, and I subconsciously put my helmet back on and stood at attention.
Steadfast walked further into the room and looked at me with a blank expression. “What are you doing here?”
Was he really that upset? “I had the weekend off, so I came to visit.”
Steadfast’s eyes had become daggers, and his tone grew more heated with every word. “You should have sent a message. Actually, you should have sent anything! I haven’t heard from you for months, and now you decide to show up?”
My mother looked between us awkwardly. “I’ll… leave you two alone for a bit.” She got up and disappeared down a hallway, though I hardly noticed.
“I thought you would’ve preferred an update from me personally,” I said, trying to sound calm and confident, though I could feel my stomach churning. My armor was no help. “I thought you wouldn’t want to just read a letter.”
“It’s not about a letter, Swordulan,” Steadfast growled, “it’s about being consistent! How can you expect me to be glad with your visit now when you didn’t even visit for Hearth’s Warming? We had even sent an invitation, but with no response, for all I knew you could have been dead.”
I blinked in surprise. I couldn’t remember getting any invitation, though that hardly seemed the point now. “And what if I was?” I asked too calmly for how I felt. The calmness didn’t last. I felt something snap inside of me, something that had gotten beaten into submission years ago, and then bent back at the Crystal Empire, but now it was broken. “Would you be glad then? Would that be better than being here now? Because as far as I know, Dad, you’ve never been happy with me. You’ve never cared!”
It was full on shouting now. “I cared far more than you think, so don’t you dare say that to me!”
My legs couldn’t have gotten any stiffer. “No! I know exactly how much you cared. Ever since I was born, all you’ve ever said to me was ‘Train hard! Respect your superiors! Honor your parents and ancestors!’, and was I allowed to protest? No. I never wanted any of that, but could I ask you to stop? No. What did you ever expect of me? To become a noble Captain, like your father? I’m not a Captain, and I’m not a noble. Yet you felt the need to weave my path out for me instead of encouraging me onto my own, like a real father should. What I expected was a father who would be proud of how far I’ve come despite my failures, a father who would support and guide. Not force. But I don’t have that kind of father. I may be a Lieutenant of the Royal Guard, and a good one, but don’t think for a second that I’m proud you’re the reason I’m here.”
Forcing my legs to move, I made for the door. I was done. I worked my coat off almost every day so that my father could be proud of me, but if this was how he showed it… I wasn’t going to put up with it anymore. I was done.
“Don’t think I never helped you get to where you are,” Steadfast snapped.
I grimaced and opened the door. “I’ll never forget you’re the reason I’m here. You helped me all right, helped me become the son you’ve always wanted… You should have had more children, because I refuse to be what you want.” I walked out and glanced back at him. He continued staring at me with those daggers, but he also looked tired now. “Tell Mom I love her.” I shut the door with my magic.
For a moment I stared at the wall in front of me, nothing coursing through my mind except for what I had just done. I had just stood up to my father, and given up on him. After years of having to listen and obey him, of hoping one day I’d make him proud, to show him I was a strong Royal Guard like my grandfather… I was done.
I realized I hadn’t been breathing since I closed the door, and took a deep, stuttered breath, exhaling it slowly. It was over. Time to go home.
I was soon back on a train to Ponyville, and I drifted off to sleep as it pulled out of the station, still tired from the night before. I never noticed one of the stars on my cutie mark disappearing.