Dinner was a surprisingly vocal affair for the pair; over the past two weeks they had spent together, they hadn’t really talked until the last handful of days, and even then it had been mostly business between the two, just with noticeably less hostility.

“Manehattan University?” Barrier hadn’t been familiar with the different tiers of education in present-day; most ponies in his time had only went through four to six years of primary before they went to work and learned a trade by hoof. “Apologies, I’m still trying to wrap my head around going to school for more than ten years.”

“Well, how long was school one-thousand years ago?”

“Ponies had four years of primary and then you would apprentice under somepony to learn a trade for another year or two. We didn’t have any schooling beyond that, with the exception of a few personal tutors for nobles and the guard academy for enlisted ponies.”

“I see. Well, present-day, ponies have primary school which ranged eight to ten years, and then a large number of ponies will proceed to further schooling in the form of colleges and universities. I myself studied music at Manehattan U for six years after primary school.”

“Ten years of school…that sounds awful.” Barrier shuddered at the thought of spending that much time in a classroom studying the same subject.

“It wasn’t too terrible. A little tedious I suppose, but the subject matter was enjoyable, so that certainly helped. So, what about you? You said that you went to the guard academy which was akin to a college from this era. What did you study?”

“Well, it may be different today but the guard academy wasn’t a school as you know it. We learned how to…well, we learned how to guard. It was mostly just defensive,” and offensive, Barrier thought to himself, “measures and the associated protocol. Some guards were pulled aside to specific units and occasionally given a specialty. I suppose my specialties would fall under hoof-to-hoof and magical combat.” As well as assassination and espionage. “That was about the extent of it as far as I know.”

“I see. So, a few days ago you mentioned that being a bodyguard was a one-time thing. What will you do next, now that you’ve signed away the vast majority of your money?”

I plan on killing a princess, not sure where I’ll go after that. Barrier mentally noted to himself, though his heart was even less into the thought of regicide after the incident with Luna earlier in that day. “Not sure, really. Honestly, the only reason I agreed to this was because I needed a favor from your father. Until a few days ago, I honestly regretted taking it, because holy mother of Tartarus you were insufferable. But, once we agreed to tolerate each other…well, you’re a good pony and I’m honored to have met you.”

Octavia smiled slightly as Barrier’s statement came to a close. “Yes, I’m afraid I was taking my frustrations out on you when you were no happier with the situation than I was. Again, I apologize for that.”

“Eh, don’t worry about it. We both made some mistakes when dealing with each other, we’re past them at this point.” Neither of them brought up that in two days they would go their separate ways. Barrier would have been elated had he known that four days ago, but now that he was getting to know the mare underneath the anger, he found himself slightly saddened by the prospect. He couldn’t help but wonder whether the mare felt the same.

“Thank you for dinner, Magic Barrier.” Octavia smiled softly and stood up. “Surprisingly, it was quite good. Certainly not the gruel I had expected of you. I suppose we should turn in for the night, so that we can get up for practice tomorrow.”

Barrier snapped out of the newly-discovered depressing thought and nodded, levitating their dishes into the sink and making a mental note to remove the rock oven the following day. “Good night Octavia.” Barrier watched as the mare turned and trotted up the stairs, his eyes lingering on her backside for a brief moment. He couldn’t help but bite his bottom lip slightly as he followed her up the stairs.

“S’too early. Gimme like….another hour.” Barrier pulled the blankets up over his head and curled up into a ball.

“So help me Celestia, Magic Barrier, if you make me late for practice after my absence yesterday I will beat you.” The charcoal mare took the blanket in her teeth and yanked it off of the unicorn, exposing him to the cool morning air.

“You’re a really cruel mistress ‘Tavi.” Barrier yawned and sat on his haunches in bed, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

“Oh, you love it.” The mare shot back, glancing at her sleeping companion before blushing and turning to the door rapidly. “Honestly, have you no shame!” The mare trotted to the door and slammed the door shut. “I leave in ten minutes, with or without you!”

“Yes master, please don’t abandon me, master!” Barrier called out as he looked himself over, trying to figure out what caused the mare’s sudden shift in tone. With a chuckle, he realized he had been saluting the mare from the time the covers were yanked off of him.

“You’re the one who pulled the covers off of me. And besides, it’s a perfectly natural reaction for a stallion my age.” Barrier chuckled slightly as the two of them trotted through the city, the sun only barely beginning to rise.

“For the last time, Barrier, drop it.” Octavia was once again redder than a tomato, and her voice was reduced to little more than a squeak.

“Fine, fine.” Barrier chuckled again as the two of them entered the familiar building, complete with it’s painfully extravagant decor.

“Come along, Barrier, today is the last day of practice before the Grand Galloping Gala.” The mare trotted through the lobby, followed by her unicorn companion.

As with the practices before, the ensemble went for nearly ten hours, with the closest thing to a break being them discussing the finer points of the performance. Barrier could appreciate good music, but ten straight hours of music, broken only by the occasional bathroom break, tended to suck most of the joy out of a day.

“So, you’re Magic Barrier.”

Barrier turned the knob of the sink, cutting the flow of water. “Really? We meet in the bathroom?” Barrier turned to greet the pianist of the ensemble before sighing and acknowledging the statement. “Yes, I’m Magic Barrier, how can I help you?”

“I was wondering what your intentions with Octavia are.” Well that was straight-to-the-point. “Octavia is a dear friend to myself and the ensemble and we want to ensure she’ll not be hurt.”

Barrier could only raise an eyebrow. “I have no intentions with Miss Melody. She’s a client and acquaintance, nothing more and nothing less. What gave you the impression it was anything more than that?”

“She missed practice yesterday in favor of spending time with you in a jail-cell.” The pianists deadpan delivery made Barrier chuckle slightly.

“Yeah, that was a bout of bad luck, not really anything beyond that.”

“With all due respect, Mr. Barrier, a ‘bout of bad luck’ doesn’t end with a night in jail for our cellist. She’s a very punctual pony. Might I request details as to what happened?”

“Haha, nope.” Barrier stated in a deadpan manner. “So much nope. You want to know, you’ll have to ask Octavia. If I tell you, she might very well hit me again.”

“...she does have a strong right hoof.” The pianist noted with a nod. “Very well, thank you for the chat, Mr. Barrier. It has been enlightening.”

“Sure thing...uh pianist.” Barrier commented as the pony departed the bathroom. “Huh, well that happened.” Barrier returned to his seat in the auditorium, his horn flaring slightly as he checked his sentry-spells and plopped down into the soft chair. Thank the gods this was the last day of practice; he might very well take up knitting or something if it were to continue.

As the final hour slipped by, Barrier once more found himself chatting amiably with Octavia, the pair discussing what they should do for dinner. They ultimately decided on the same small cafe where Barrier had finally snapped at her.

“Perhaps we’ll actually get to eat dinner this time, hm?” Octavia teased slightly.

“I don’t know, I think we should make it a tradition. Me blowing up at you should become a regular thing. I rather like the idea myself…”

The mare frowned and stared at her companion. “The only reason I let you get away with that was because I deserved it. I trust you enough to not embarrass me in public like that again.”

Barrier chuckled at the menacing tone the mare’s voice had taken. “What’s in it for me? The day after tomorrow, I’ll be free to harass you however I please, you know.”

“So help me Barrier, I know where you sleep.” The mare hissed as they continued to trot through the streets of Canterlot, the light rapidly fading to give way to the night sky.

Barrier adopted the same mischievous grin as he had the day prior and opened his mouth to make a retort only for the mare to cut him off with a swat to the head.

“Not a word, Magic Barrier.”

“You’re no fun.” Barrier ruefully rubbed the back of his head as the two trotted up to the door of the cafe.

Dinner was a short but amusing affair; once more, the pair of them ordered a simple salad, Octavia for her own reasons, and Barrier because it was the only thing on the menu he recognized the name of.

“So as I was saying…” the mare trailed as Barrier’s gaze drifted off to the side, her gaze following his.

A thin piece of lettuce found itself on the mare’s nose the moment she took her eyes off of her companion, much to her irritation.

“Honestly, you’re like a big foal.” A facehoof, followed by a groan and the removal of the lettuce.

“Would you have me any other way?”

“Yes. I can literally think of a half-dozen different ways I would prefer you.”

“...are any of them bound, gagged, and on the bedroom floor?” Barrier grinned slightly.

The mare opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out; all she could do was stare blankly as her brain rebooted.

“You know, you’re kind of cute when your brain shuts down like that.” Several of the cafe’s patrons were staring in slight amusement.

“I hate you.”

“You really do say the sweetest things sometimes.” Barrier began to pick at his salad, the fork levitating in his magic.

“I hate you.” The mare reiterated, also returning to her salad.

“So, two more days until your performance at the gala. Nervous?”

“Not terribly so. My ensemble and I are the best at what we do and we’re given a free-day before the gala to collect ourselves. We are more than capable of performing at a function such as the gala and I’ve no doubt that we’ll do splendidly.”

“Well, you’ve no lack of confidence.” Barrier chuckled slightly. “You know, your pianist asked me some questions earlier, towards the end of your practice.”

“Ah yes, they were asking why I had missed practice. What did you tell him?”

“I told him that if he wanted to know they could ask you. He asked why we spent the night in jail. I didn’t think you’d want me to tell him it was for murder, so I kept silent. Why, what did you tell him?”

“I told him that it was a personal issue and that it wasn’t anything he or the ensemble should worry about. He didn’t press, so I didn’t elaborate any further.”

Silence reigned for a brief period as the two of them mopped up their salads, Barrier breaking it as he pushed his now-empty plate away.

“I think your pianist thought I was courting you also.”

The mare choked slightly on her last bite of salad. Clearing her throat, she posed the question, “And pray tell, why did he believe that?”

“Hay if I know. He just asked me what my intentions were.” Barrier chewed the question over for a moment before adding, “I guess it makes sense, if you think about it. I’m hot, you’re hot, hot ponies date each other.” A brief chuckle, followed by Octavia blushing awkwardly before he added, “In all seriousness though, I accompanied you to and from practice for like a half-a-month. We arrived and departed together. It’s fair that they would think we’re seeing each other.” The pair paid their bill and stepped out into the chilly night air of Canterlot before Octavia finally replied.

“What a ludicrous assumption on their behalf.” The mare didn’t seem to speak with the same intensity Barrier had expected.

“Yeah, a ludicrous assumption indeed.” Barrier chuckled humorlessly. Why did that statement leave him feeling sad?

Author's Notes:

Thanks To:

Alticron and Izanagi For cooking, cleaning, and plunging the toilet for me while I write this stuff; oh and also editing/proofing. That to.
Havokwithak because hell yes trucks.