Dusk Shine paced around the room several times, his hoofsteps were the only thing that can be heard in the room along with his occasional grunt of frustration. Dusk could feel the rage growing stronger every time he looked at the clock.
Just before Dusk was going to buck a hole in the wall, he heard the doorbell ring. He launched himself into a sprint and began running his way down the crystal hallways of Ponyville Castle. Powered by rage and excitement he galloped down the hallways until he found himself at the massive double doors of the entrance.
He took a deep breath to try to keep his anger under control. With a steady hoof he opened the door, only not to be surprised by who he saw. It was Ditzy Doo, the retarded mail mare who is carrying a large package. This senile old pegasus had already cost him weeks when she mixed up this package, now she was three days late. Dusk's temper was now just barely out of control, but he managed to keep his mouth shut.
“I'm sorry Duskie the post is just so overrun I could barely keep up.” Dusk chuckles and puts on his best smile.
“I'm sorry you are a little slow but also long it got here I am relieved.” Dusk took the package from Ditzy and slide it behind him. Before he can shut the door and escape this plebe Ditzy opened her stupid mouth.
“Thanks Duskie have a good night!” Dusk sighed as Ditzy took to the sky and flew away.
Dusk wasted no time in getting his package back to his room. He giddily cleared out his desk and grabs his multi-tool and began unwrapping his package. Inside the box was a series of boxes of plastic unpainted scale models he uses to play Rage of War. He bought everything he needed to make a gryphon army. He has a century of infantry, fifty cavalry, a squad of hussars and a Dragonslayer for his hero unit. His infantry were all equipped with the Gryphon Rifle, so his army was smaller but incredibly mobile with all the cavalry he had and the Dragonslayer was the only gryphon hero that can catch up.
He excitedly opens his box of infantry and begins to inspect them. He is already getting ideas on how to paint them. He opens his drawers and starts to prepare his work station for painting. As he starts to pick out what he needs from his hundreds of paints he hears a knock on the door.
“Yeah!” Dusk yells while he gets his paints in order.
“Dusk! Dinners finished!” Spikes loud Dragon voice bellowed from behind his door.
Dusk always hated how his mom would go on and on about him missing dinner so he got out of his chair and headed to the dining room.
Dusk's mom and dad were sitting at the table with Spike bringing a meal of spaghetti and tofu balls. Dusk sighed and took a seat opposite his dad, Winter Roller. His mother Twilight Sparkle was leaning against her husband.
“Spike make sure to get extra for Twi.” Winter says while placing his foreleg around his wife. Twilight slowly relaxes into her husband's embrace.
“It was a really hard day today. So many friendship problems, I don't know what's going on but ponies just can't get along lately.” Twilight groans and leans even more into Winter.
“So how's it going Dusk.” Spike says while handing him a plate of spaghetti. Dusk tries to formulate a response. “I sent a letter to Ember today, it has been too long since we've seen each other.” Spike smiles and continues to serve the family their meals. Dusk tries to speak up again.
“Twilight is there anyway. I can get my vacation earlier?” Spike asks.
“Not until we can tackle the mountain of requests we got, even Starlight is working overtime.” Twilight responds.
“Guess I'll be working even harder than!” Spike then begins to devour his own plate.
Dusk has now forgotten what he wanted to say. He decided to eat in silence.
“Come on, Spike the last thing I want is you to end up like Twilight.” Winter laughed a bit. “It will almost be as hard as the time I took over for Twi when she was pregnant with Dusk.” Winter and Spike erupted with laughter causing Dusk to blush.
“I remember that you, got the idea from me.” Spike replies.
“I still think I made a better princess of friendship.”
“You look better in a dress anyway.”
Spike and Winter laugh again while Twilight sleepy eats with a smile on her face. Dusk watched his family enjoy their meal, but his thoughts were still with his models. His mind was buzzing with the various strategies he could employ against different opposing armies.
“Spike, this is really good.” Twilight absently mindedly said.
“Thanks, Twilight. I bought some spices from Appleloosa and I used them in the sauce.” Spike replies.
“Really getting a use out of your wings hung Spike. Me and Dusk are jealous.” Winter says, he looks to Dusk for a reply but Dusk just nods his head.
Dusk managed to make the rest of the meal without saying a word. He was soon free to spend the night painting.
~~~
Dusk awoke the next morning sleep deprived, his alarm clock screamed at him. He uses his magic to toss his sheets aside and silence his alarm clock. The morning birds sang their annoying songs, he rolls out of bed and onto his floor.
He was a born Prince so he does not have to work, but he has something important to do today. He looks to his suitcase that is peeking out from his closet door. Through sheer force of will he rose to his hoofs and began his way to his suitcase. He picked it up and make his way outside.
Dusk tried his best to ignore the citizens of Ponyville as he makes his way to the train station. Dusk was in a great mood and nothing can bring him down. He happily trotted down the street until he reached the station.
Ponyville Station had recently been upgraded with a new line of track and a new station, the area was packed with commuting please ponies. Walked into the station and began to wait, it was not too long until the unthinkable happened. He saw a pink mare about his age on the station opposite him, it was Cotton Candy.
Cotton could not recognize him or his day would be ruined. Dusk quickly casts an attention void around him, this would make him blend into a crowd. Dusk knows Cotton can still notice him so he retreated back into the crowd. Dusk hid out for a quarter of an hour than his train comes. Dusk hurries his way on, and gets his ticket punched.
It was a short train ride to Canterlot for Dusk, he was still a little annoyed because of his package coming late. Dusk knew today he was going to have a great day because he had already evaded Cotton. The train begins the climb to Canterlot.
The train ride ends and Dusk are in Canterlot, he rushed his way out of the station and into the city. He had memorized the way by heart and deftly navigated the medieval building of Canterlot. Dusk breathed in the thin mountain air and forged his way to his destination.
Dusk found himself in an old family house, the house where his old friend Shatter Shell lives. He trotted up to the door and gave it a good knock, Shatter Shell immediately answered and Dusk almost whacked him in the head.
Shatter Shell was a beige unicorn stallion with hay colored hair and golden eyes. Shell and Dusk jump and hug each other. The pair excitedly moves into the living room. Shatter Shell had prepared a small mock battlefield on a collapsible table. The battlefield was the castle of the two sisters in its current ruinous state. Dusk takes his Lunar Rebel Army out and Shell takes his Changeling Army out. The two of them set up their models in formation and they were ready to play Rage of War.
Dusk knew Shell can hide his drones whenever he so he planned to rush his Earth Pony groups into the ruins as fast as he can. He got his Pegasi Cavalry move towards above them on the roof of the castle. He had some rare heavy Unicorn Infantry, Dusk decided to keep them in reserve behind his Earth ponies. He had other units which he had formed up around the courtyard in a defensive line. Dusk writes down all the movements in his game notebook and Shell did the same. When they take their simultaneous turns Shell moved into his entire swarm upon the roof, Dusk was outmatched and they were not in range so he wasn’t worried. The next turn has Dusk move his Pegasi back while his Infantry take the center of the castle, he has his archers prepare to shoot through the holes in the ceiling at the enemy swarm.
The next turn rolls over and two rushers charge ahead and catch Dusk’s Pegasi easily, the dice are rolled and Dusk takes some losses. The rest of the Swarm rush into the holes in the roof, Dusk’s men have successfully held them back. The next turn has Dusk’s Pegasi block the holes in the roof and trap the swarm in the building with the assistance of his mages. The game dissolves into micromanaging their units and Dusk is slowly gaining a lead until they both realize they have been playing for four hours straight. They decided to stop for a break and Dusk ordered Pizza, Shell calls and Dusk pays.
“Magic school was honestly such horseshit.” Dusk says out of the blue as the duo lazily sit in the living room.
“Come on now Dusk it wasn’t that bad”
“No no no it was shit, terrible and horrible. When I was done highschool I just wanted to stop.”
“Dusk why are you talking about this, that was a year ago.”
“It’s just being back in Canterlot, maybe it made me remember things, that and I nearly dodged having to deal with Cotton Candy.”
“What does that do with Canterlot?”
“Just seeing her puts me in a bad mood, I can't get the sight of me kicking her off a cliff out my my head.”
“Dusk am I your only friend?” Shell earnestly asks.
“Plenty of ponies consider me a friend.”
“What do you consider them.”
“Shut the buck up Shell.”
“No answer me Dusk I’m worried for you.”
“For me or about me?”
“Dusk.”
“Fine, I don’t care whatever. I have like two other friends, Spike and maybe Brilliant Cut but that’s it.”
“Okay I was worried about for a while, you never get along with anyone.”
“You sound like Mom.”
“She’s the Princess of Friendship, I’m surprised she does not bother you more.”
“She says I take after my Dad.” Dusk shifts around. “She also says I am like her when she was younger.”
“I’m having trouble imagining like her like you.”
“Shut the buck up Shell.”
The doorbell rings and Dusk opened the door to see a pink mare in front of him, she has green eyes and pink coat, she had Cotton Candy for a cutie mark. Her mane was straight and mid length and ends in a fuzzy, curly and cute little tufts. Dusk feels rage at the pit of his stomach, he tries his best to keep himself under control, but he failed and slamed the door in her face.
“Owie!”
“Why are you here! Why in the overloving pile of all that is horrid are you here!” Before dusk could think of another thing to scream he heard a squeaking sound from inside the house. The mare jumps through a window and skips up to him.
“Well, I felt my tail shake like a fwuapa flop and I knew that meant I had to find Dusk because he needs my help!”
“I never need your help.” Shell decides to leave the room.
“Anyway, anyway, so the Princess told me to go find you because something bad is about to happen and then she told me she can’t find you because the tree and only summon those that touched the Elements of Harmony or something serious like that and she was like FIND DUSK NOW! So I remembered when I went to the train station to see you and then I remembered when you said not to talk to you when you look like you don’t to be talked to anyway you were already smiling so I said to myself I have nothing to do if you are already happy!” Dusk did not understand a work of what she said.
“Okay Cotton slowly, why are you here.” Dusk says “I know you're an idiot but slowly this time.” Dusk adds.
“Okay Dusk..” Cotton says, almost oblivious to Dusk’s jab at her. “Your Mom needs to see you, she says it’s something important.”
“Well, she can go buck herself, then I’m staying here.”
“Dusk this Important!”
“No.”
“Please.”
“No.”
“Duuuuusskkk please this is like Elements of Harmony Important.” Dusk is shocked by her words.
“So you are not lying this time.”
“Yes. Duskie I would never lie to you.”
“What about that time you...”
“WAIT! Dusk okay I Pinkie swear I am not lying.”
“Okay than do it.”
“Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye.” Cotton Mimes out the action, putting a lot of drama into the needle part.
“That’s Dark Cotton.”
“I promise you Dusk I’m not lying.”
“Alright let’s go home then.”