Barrier found himself conjuring an angular shield, the spear aimed at him glancing off to the side. With a flare and thrust, the shield softened and reshaped itself into a blade before launching forward at the batpony, skewering him through the chest and immediately dissipating in favor of a new mana-construct, only for the new construct to find no target; he and another two-hundred some ponies were surrounded by a pile of thestral-corpses; Barrier found himself glancing down at the last bat-pony he had skewered. He was a colt, easily no older than thirteen. Licking his inexplicably dry lips, Barrier took a shaky breath and tore his gaze away, focusing on the surviving ponies.

Barrier knew this memory; it was the night that Princess Luna had become Nightmare Moon; she and the thestrals had launched a surprise night-raid on Canterlot, trying to capture the city.

“Check for wounded and gather yourselves, ponies!” Barrier glanced around once more. “Bind any surviving thestrals as well!”

As soon as the ponies went about binding the surviving thestrals and tending to the wounded, Barrier called out once more.

“Flash, Apple, front and center!” Barrier shouted out, and the familiar pegasus jumped in front of him saluting, followed by an earth pony with a light-gold coat, orange mane, and amber highlights.

“We’re going to split into three groups.” Barrier glanced over at the group, who were now scavenging armor from the fallen thestrals.

“Choose sixty ponies each and muster here with your group in fifteen minutes.” Both ponies sharply saluted and went about their orders, leaving Barrier to scavenge armor from the fallen thestrals as well.

The thestrals didn’t have particularly impressive numbers, but they had excellent night-vision that ponies lacked which gave them an advantage. Putting aside their reasons for attacking, Barrier didn’t really have the ponies to repel an attack; had it not been for a stroke of luck, they’d all be dead in their beds. A pony had woken up and yelled that there were thestrals in the barracks. Barrier and pretty much every other pony who had been asleep in the barracks rushed to that, and before long, were fighting in the streets.

Glancing down at the foal he had slain one last time, Barrier sighed and glanced up to meet eyes with his lieutenants and their groups.

“Alright, Flash, you and your group are going to take the western-wall. Pick up any civilians or guards you come across, and add them to your group. As of now, both of you are authorized to offer compensation on behalf of the crown.” Flash saluted and Barrier turned to the golden pony once more. “You’re heading south to the front gate. Same orders as Flash Sentry, you pick up anypony you find. The remainder of the ponies and myself will push forward to the castle and try to get a grasp on whatever the hay is going on. Until ordered otherwise, consider any thestrals an enemy of the country. Unless they outright surrender, put them down. Move out.”

Both ponies saluted a final time before leading their groups off in different directions.

“Alright you lot, listen up! We-”

Barrier bolted upright in bed, throwing Octavia off-balance and causing her to fall on her rump.

“What the hay do you think you’re doing?” His gaze fell on the mare, his breathing heavy.

“I came to tell you that a package arrived for you, only to find you sweating profusely, as well as tossing and turning. I decided to wake you up and you decided to shove me aside.” The irritation was clear in her voice.

“Ah, sorry.” Barrier ran a hoof through his fur; he was absolutely drenched in sweat. His mind flashed back to his dream. “Had a bad dream.”

“Yes, well…” The mare trotted to the door, not meeting Barrier’s eyes as she spoke, “the package in downstairs in the living room. I’ll see you in the kitchen for breakfast.”

After a quick shower, Barrier found his way to the kitchen; much to his surprise, the table was already set and the food was already plated.

“Morning.” He took a seat across from Octavia and glanced down at the plate; scrambled eggs, hay-bacon, and pancakes.

“Good morning.” The mare kept her attention on her food.

“Not that I’m complaining, but what’s the occasion?” Unless Twilight Velvet was home to make breakfast, they usually just ate out.

“I didn’t want to wait for you to wake up.”

“Well, thanks.” When no response was forthcoming, Barrier turned his focus to breakfast. He was pleasantly surprised when he found that it was excellent; for some reason, he didn’t expect the mare to have any culinary skills. She just didn’t seem the type.

Breakfast done, Barrier soon found himself in the living room, unwrapping a plain brown package that his name had been scribbled on. As the wrapper fell away, Barrier held a dagger and a letter in his hooves, wrapped securely in cloth. Unravelling the cloth, he smiled slightly. It would have been a plain-looking dagger if not for the way that the edge shimmered; violent magic seemed to dance along the edge and tip of the blade, giving it a faint glow. The letter was straightforward and had been written by Clavier Melody, stating that their contract was complete and that he was no longer obligated to protect Octavia.

“So, is that what you’re going to use to kill the Princess?”

Barrier turned to see Octavia standing in the doorway, a slight frown on his face. How in the hay did she know about that?

“I’m not a fool Barrier, I asked my father what he was giving you in return for guarding me the day we met in his mansion. With how you acted towards Princess Luna, it isn’t much of a stretch to figure out why you would want such a blade.”

With a shake of his head and a slight chuckle, Barrier shook his head. “I had planned on it in the beginning, not so much now.” Laying the dagger on the coffee table and falling back onto the couch, Barrier chuckled at the mare’s confused stare. “My heart was never really in it. I tried, believe me. I tried so hard to blame the princess, to hate her, but I couldn’t. All I could do was tell myself that it was only fair; my life for hers.” Adjusting himself so that he was sitting properly on the couch, Barrier motioned for the mare to sit down next to him.

Hesitantly, the mare joined him and he continued his explanation.

“When you lost your temper in the castle and pointed out how she had suffered,” Barrier briefly thought back to the mare’s rant and prior smack before continuing. “what little resolve I had sort of fell away. Granted, the resolve was fragile to begin with, but yeah.” After a moments hesitation, Barrier quickly hugged the mare. “Thank you for snapping on me in the castle the other day. You very well may have saved me from doing something I’d never be able to forgive myself for.”

Octavia blushed profusely at the sudden and unexpected contact, though her blush faded and she smiled slightly and hugged back when he cited his reasons for the hug.

“So…” Barrier separated from the mare. “I suppose after today you’ll be rid of me. Eager?”

Octavia turned away at the thought. “Perhaps not as eager as I once was. Tell me Barrier, do you have any plans for tomorrow?”

I planned on being either dead or in the dungeons for regicide tomorrow, so nope. “None at the moment. I didn’t really plan on making it past tomorrow if I’m being honest.”

“Yes well, since you’re no longer going to attempt to regicide, would you like to attend the grand-galloping gala with me?”

Barrier’s face scrunched up in thought as the mare quickly tried to explain herself away.

“It’s just that as a performer, we’re all given tickets, but our tickets all allow for a plus one, and I don’t really know anypony else who would be willing to attend an-” The mare was cut off by Barrier pressing a hoof to her muzzle and chuckling slightly.

“I would be honored to accompany you to the Grand Galloping Gala, Miss Melody.”

The mare fell silent and smiled slightly as she nodded. “Right then, now, do you have something to wear?”

“Don’t suppose it’d be too much to hope I can au naturel, can I?”

“Haha,” a humorless chuckle, “no, Mr. Barrier. You’re going clothes shopping.”

Why do I feel like I’m going to regret everything that lead me to this point?

I regret everything that lead me to this point.

The sun was high in the sky and Barrier had been in a Canterlot clothing shop for most of it.

“I really don’t think this is necessary, Tavi.”

“If you’re accompanying me to the Gala, you must look the part. We’ve not the time to have you a suit tailored, so this will have to do. Now, go try on this black one.” Barrier sighed and took the outfit in his magic before departing into the changing room with it.

“Why do we even wear clothes? We’re naked all the time.” Barrier muttered to himself in annoyance as he buttoned up the suit and trotted out to the store once more, this time dressed in a black suit and red tie. While not one for fashion, Barrier was fairly certain he looked good in the outfit; the tie would contrast nicely to his coat and the shirt would contrast nicely to the tie; simple enough in his mind, but would the slaver-musician approve?

“Hm…” The mare circled around him before finally nodding her approval.

“I thought you were a musician. You’re reminding me of my granddaughter’s friend Rarity a lot right now, and that is horrifying.”

“Oh hush, I already told you that this is important if you’re to accompany me.” The mare all but drug the reluctant unicorn to the counter.

With a resigned sigh, Barrier paid for the suit -an exorbitant amount in his opinion- and allowed the mare to drag him to his next destination; a mane salon.

“Ow, be careful damnit!” Barrier winced as the brush struggled its way through his mane.

“Honestly, how do you live like that? It’s like a rat’s nest!” Octavia sat across from him, watching the mare struggle to run the brush through his blue mane. “Stop struggling and let the mare work, or else there won’t be enough time to have your coat trimmed.”

“Yes mom, if I behave can I go out and play lat-” Barrier clenched his teeth and swore again. “Damnit mare, careful back there!”

“You clean up rather nicely.” Octavia observed the unicorn with a slight grin on her face.

Barrier’s coat and mane both shone resiliently in the daylight as the pair trotted along.

“Feels like I’m heading to my first day at the guard academy again.” Barrier couldn’t complain too much; he felt better than he had in months. His mane flowed loosely once more and his coat felt light; all in all, it had been worth the torture.

The pair had stopped back by the Sparkle residence to find the couple had returned from Ponyville. Thanking them for their hospitality, Octavia had stated that she would be returning to Manehattan after the Grand Galloping Gala; Barrier had told them that he would likely head back that way himself, having decided it would be his best chance at getting a regular job. It certainly didn’t have anything to do with being near his first real friend in over a thousand years. Not even a little.

Barrier found himself trotting through Canterlot alone. He and Octavia had split up; him to run an errand of his own and Octavia to go drop off her cello at the castle, in preparation for the following day’s festivities. Now that he was alone again, Barrier found himself reminded of the lonely feeling he’d lived with since his return; though he hadn’t realized it at the time, the daily banter with Octavia had done wonders for his state of mind. Shaking the thoughts from his head, Barrier trotted into the bank, intent on depositing and investing the few hundred thousand bits that he hadn’t donated. While the returns wouldn’t be enough to live on, they would certainly help.

Nearly two hours later, Barrier found his wallet significantly lighter and his magicite dagger stashed safely away. The conversation only a few hours prior rang in his mind.

“So, now that you’ve come to your senses, what will you do with the dagger?” The pair was trotting through Canterlot, chatting occasionally, though mostly just taking in the other’s presence.

“I’ll probably see about putting it in a safe somewhere. While I’d rather not use it, if one of the princesses ever falls to the extent of Nightmare Moon again…well, I won’t let another pony suffer like I did if there is anything I can do to help it.”

The mare had suggested a Safety Deposit Box, if Barrier insisted on keeping the weapon. Afterwards, they had once again drifted into amicable silence.

As he trotted back into the Sparkle household, Barrier smiled and nodded at Night Light, who was on the couch. The family and Barrier knew Octavia wouldn’t return that night; now that their business was over, she had insisted on staying in a hotel, claiming it would be improper to do otherwise; so they had set a place to meet the following evening and went their separate ways.

“You’re lonely, aren’t you?” Night Light chuckled slightly and sat his book down.

“Yeah, not really sure why though. It’s not like I won’t see Octavia again. Hell, I’ll see her tomorrow evening.”

Night Light shook his head with a knowing look, once more picking his book up. “Yeah, love has a funny way of confusing us.”

Author's Notes:

Thanks To:

Alticron for the lotion, and
Izanagi for putting it on the skin.

And the proofing/editing. They do that to, but it's of low importance when compared to applying lotion for me.