Author's Notes:

So, this has easily been my least favorite chapter to write. I fought with it far longer than usual and almost scrapped the entire thing several times over. So, MASSIVE thanks to Izanagi for getting me to push through this one, and thanks to Izanagi/Alticron for editing and proofing again. I feel they've done a damn-good job on this chapter, so I decided not to beat them. Instead they'll get double rations this week. Little bastards getting six bowls of gruel this week. I know, I'm generous.

That shite aside, thanks to Izanagi/Alticron for the usual editing and proofreading, and special thanks Izanagi again - without him, this chapter wouldn't be a thing.

“Hoo.”

“I know, but we have to go shopping for ponies.” Barrier glanced at the snowy-white owl on his back.

“Hoo.”

“Yes, I’ll make sure to get you something as well.”

“Barrier, you’re talking to an owl.” Octavia deadpanned as she followed the stallion off of the train.

“Tavi says hi.” Barrier glanced back at the owl, who only hooted in return.

“Right, so to reiterate, we’ll meet back here at six-thirty to catch the final train back to Ponyville, correct?” Octavia tightened her scarf as a chilly breeze tore its way through the train station.

“That’s the plan, given nothing comes up.” Kissing the mare, Barrier turned and trotted away, calling out as he went. “See ya’ soon!”

“Shiny!” Barrier glomped the stallion as soon as he opened the door to the Sparkle household. “Just the pony I was looking for!” He had planned on asking Night Light about Shining’s whereabouts, but this worked.

“Oh joy.” The stallion stared at him in obvious annoyance.

“Come shopping with me. I need help figuring out what to get your sister.” Barrier rolled upright, Shining doing the same.

“I guess I could. I still need to get Cadance something anyways.” Shining pulled a scarf from the rack with his magic, calling out as he did so. “Mom, dad! I’m going shopping with Magic Barrier! I’ll be back around dinner-time!” After a muted ‘okay’, the pair trotted out into the frosty streets.

“So, what brings you to Canterlot?” Shining asked as the pair made their way towards the market. “It’s not a particularly quick trip from Manehattan after all.”

“We’re staying in Ponyville for the week. Twilight had some questions about old-world armor enchantments, and Octavia and I decided to take a vacation.”

“I’ll never understand how that mare puts up with you.” Shining quipped as the two of them stopped outside of a music shop.

“Beats me. She has the patience of a saint.” Barrier trotted into the music shop, turning to Shining Armor as he did so. “So, Shining. How much do you know about cellos and stringed instruments?”

“You just spent ninety-five hundred bits.” Shining pointed out in mild disbelief as the pair left the shop. “Where in the hay do you get money like that? I thought you donated your fortune months ago.”

“I did donate it. Well, the vast majority of it anyways. Saved a couple hundred-thousand and invested it, plus I’ve been working full-time since then. I’m not loaded or anything, but I probably have a good bit more than most ponies. Besides, a new cello is the least I can do for Octavia after everything she’s done for me.” Like preventing me from committing regicide.

“I guess. So, how did you know so much about cellos?” Shining asked as the pair trotted into a bookstore.

“Been researching them for a few weeks now. I had planned on getting Octavia one before I realized Hearth’s Warming was coming up. She takes damned good care of her cello, but it’s seen better days, and as it turns out, musicians don’t make a terribly easy living unless they’re well-known and play a lot of functions.”

“Didn’t she play at the Grand-Galloping Gala, though?”

“The one where Twilight’s friend pushed them to play the pony-pokey, destroyed the gala, and all but destroyed the ensemble’s reputation?” Barrier raised an eyebrow at his companion, levitating through the various books that lined the wall as he did so, going over them in his magic.

“Well, when you say it like that…” Shining stopped to examine the books as well.

“Shouldn’t we get her something other than books? She lives in a library. What books could we possibly get her?”

“I usually just get her nice quills and parchment.” Shining shrugged as he replaced a book on the shelf.

“Huh, well alrighty then. Since you’re getting her quills…” A grin broke out on Barrier’s face as he levitated a book in front of him. “I’ll get her this.” He passed the book to Shining Armor, who read the title aloud.

“Fifty Shades of Hay? Don’t think I’ve heard of this one.”

“You’re not missing much, believe me. Oh, and a card. Oh and this for your mom and dad.” Barrier plucked a card from its spot on the shelf as well as a copy of the Pony Sutra before approaching the cashier with Shining Armor, who had quills and parchment in his own aura.

“Really, the Pony Sutra?” Shining Armor observed dryly.

“Hey, it’s a good book that we had one-thousand years ago. You can thank me when you have another little sister or brother.”

Shining Armor only sighed and shook his head in bewilderment as their respectives purchases were bagged and they once more departed to the frosty Canterlot streets.

“So, how have things been going between you and Cadance?” Barrier inquired.

“They’ve been going great, believe it or not. I think I might ask her to marry me on Hearth’s Warming. I already have a ring picked out.”

“Good on ya’, mate. I’ll look forward to seeing you get hitched. She seems like she’ll get you a nice collar.” Barrier held the door to the smithy open as both he and Shining walked into the dimly-lit shop, the smell of various metals heavy in the air, as well as a stifling heat and ringing as a pony hammered something out in the back.

“Wait, what are we at a blacksmith’s shop for?” Shining glanced at his companion in curiosity.

“I need a sword.” Barrier shrugged as he levitated several different swords off of their resting places on the wall.

“What the hay do you need a sword for?” Shining watched him cycle through each of the swords with ease.

“Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. Besides, it doesn’t feel right not having a blade.” Barrier levitated all of the swords back onto their spots on the wall. “Though all of these swords are a joke.”

“They all look fine to me.” Shining took one of the swords off the wall and gave it a few practice swings.

“Seriously?” Barrier stared at the unicorn with an incredulous look on his face. Taking the blade in his magic, Barrier held it out to Shining. “Three things. First of all, a short-sword such as this shouldn’t bend like this.” Barrier bent the sword in his magic, almost afraid it would snap as he did so, “That’s a good indicator they won’t hold up under pressure or in a fight. Secondly, all swords should be full-tang, otherwise you risk them breaking on contact with another blade or hard surface. The handle should be an addition to the blade, not the other way around. Lastly, and this is a big one,” Barrier held the sword into the light, the light shining fantastically off of the gold blade. “This blade is gold, which means that besides looking pretty, it’s useless.” Barrier hung the sword on the wall once more.

“What’s your problem with gold? I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say anything good about it.” Shining asked as the pair trotted to the counter.

Barrier snorted and shook his head, “Gold’s okay for some stuff. It’s pretty and has some value, but as weapons and armor it’s useless. Fact of the matter, is that no matter how you treat gold it’s still soft and far too malleable to be effective armor or weapons. There’s a reason that the guards spears aren’t made out of gold. How can you be a Captain of the Guard and not know this?”

“As far as I know, gold is the best we have. The spears are iron, but iron is way too expensive for us to make armor out of. Gold’s the best we have.” Shining shrugged in response.

“I guess if it’s gold versus nothing, gold would win.” Barrier finally shrugged.

“What can I help you with?” A well-built black pegasus with a silver mane and deep purple eyes trotted up to the counter the pair stood at, an anvil and hammer resting on his flank.

Before he could say anything, Barrier started, “I need to order a spatha. Thirty-seven inches, made out of iron. The hilt needs to be a dark-wood, perhaps mahogany, full-tang. The scabbard needs to be brass with an adjustable leather strap. Think you can manage that for me?”

The blacksmith blinked in surprise, seemingly unaccustomed to a pony having such a specific order. “Uh, sure.” The pegasus finally answered, quickly grabbing a quill in his mouth and scribbling down the order on a nearby piece of paper.

“It also needs to be made properly. Nothing like that crap you’ve got on the floor.” Barrier added quickly.

“Uh, sure. I have to tell ya’ though, iron is really expensive right now with the lack of trade from griffin country. You’re probably looking at a fifteen-hundred bit sword.” The blacksmith held the paper up, showing Barrier that he had the right specifications written down.

“That’s fine, as long as it’s made right.” Taking the paper in his magic, Barrier scribbled down his address and handed it back to the pegasus. “Have it sent to that address.” With a flare of his magic, ten one-hundred bit pieces flew to the counter. “I’ll send you the other five-hundred when the sword is finished, deal?”

“Uh, yeah, that’s fine.” The pegasus still seemed uncertain about the whole situation.

“Right, off we go then, Shining. We’ve still got things to do.” Barrier trotted back out of the store, Shining following him in silence.

“So, uh…that was quick.” Shining wasn’t really sure what else to say regarding that transaction.

“No reason to mince words for something as simple as that order.” Barrier turned to say something else, but stopped as a building caught his attention. “Shining, care if we stop off there at the museum?”

“Huh? Uh sure, but why?” Shining turned to the Canterlot Museum which stood tall and imposing across from them. “Oh.” A poster on the wall advertised an exhibit dedicated to the Nightmare Wars - the one-week war that pit sister against sister, ponies against ponies. “Yeah, I think we have time to swing by there.”

“Thanks.” Barrier trotted across the street towards the museum, Shining following behind him, his own curiosity piqued, curious as to how Magic Barrier would react to the various displays and information presented inside.

After a twenty-bit admission fee and particularly flirty receptionist, the pair found themselves at the entry to the Nightmare Display.

“You know, I grew up with stories like that. It’s what made me want to be a guard.” Shining commented as they read through the museum pamphlet, which gave a brief overview of the war.

“Can’t say this is the kind of thing I expected history to write.” Barrier shook his head and levitated the pamphlet into his saddlebags.

“What do you mean?” Shining asked, doing the same with his pamphlet.

“They depict it as some epic race against time. The ultimate battle of good versus evil.” Barrier sighed and sat down on his haunches. “It wasn’t anything like that.” Barrier shook his head and took a deep steadying breath.

“Well, that’s just how Princess Celestia told them the story.” Another voice rang out, followed by the sound of a pony trotting up to join them.

The newcomer was a pale-blue stallion with a dark-blue mane and emerald-green eyes; the pie-fiend from the Grand Galloping Gala, Barrier mentally noted.

“Soarin!” Shining trotted up to greet the pony, hoof-bumping him. “It’s been forever, how’ve you been?”

“Eh, it’s been okay. Got some time off from the Wonderbolts for Hearth’s Warming Eve and decided I’d stop in at Canterlot for some shopping. So, Shining, who’s your friend?”

“I’m his non-homosexual-gay-lover Magic Barrier.” Barrier said with a perfectly straight face. “Nice to meet you.” Barrier firmly shook Soarin’s hoof, revelling in the pony’s dumbfounded expression as he tried to process the statement.

Face-hoofing, Shining shook his head and let a slight chuckle escape him. “Soarin, this is Magic Barrier my…” Shining hesitated. “Uh, my grandfather.”

Soarin’s expression, which had started to recover, dropped once more.

“Magic Barrier, this is Soarin, a friend from the guard academy, though he’s now a Wonderbolt.” Shining continued.

“I remember him from the Grand-Galloping Gala. That poor apple pie never stood a chance.” Barrier shook his head in mock sadness.

The comment snapped Soarin back to the conversation at hand, rather than trying to comprehend absurd statements. “Hey, I couldn’t help it! It was a long show and I was really hungry!” The stallion poorly defended.

“He didn’t eat the apple pie, he ate the apple pie.” Barrier put extra emphasis on ‘ate’, causing Shining to laugh and Soarin to blush.

“So, what brings you to the museum, Soarin?” Shining finally asked as Barrier went back to examining displays.

“Recently took up history as a bit of a hobby. Found out they had an exhibit on the Nightmare Wars, and came to see what I could find out on it. Gotta agree with your uh…grandpa though. They really doctored the whole story up, I think. The pamphlet doesn’t mention anything about the hundreds of ponies who died to the followers of Nightmare Moon, and it never gives any specifics about her followers. It’s a really one-sided story.”

“It pisses me off.” Barrier chipped in, his voice somber.

“Uh, what do you mean?” Soarin asked in uncertainty.

“It doesn’t say anything about how Nightmare Moon came to be or the cause behind it. It doesn’t mention any of the bad that happened during that week. Like you said, no deaths, nothing on her followers,” Barrier’s expression was one of deep sorrow, surprising the blue pegasus. “I can understand why the princess kept the information to a minimum, but that doesn’t make it any easier. I look at all this,” Barrier motioned to the various displays, containing different weapons and armor, as well as old pieces of parchment that related to the event. “And all I can think about are the ponies who died that week. Not a single mention to them anywhere in this display. The ponies who died because we ignored Princess Luna in our ignorance. We could learn from that, but this?” He once again motioned around to the display. “There’s nothing to be learned here.” Barrier made to leave the exhibit, but found his attention drawn to a display with a worn metal helmet in it.

“Your uh, grandpa seems to have pretty strong opinions about this all.” Soarin commented to Shining.

“He’s my grandfather times like...eleven or twelve. He was a Captain during the Nightmare War.” Shining explained. “He was banished alongside Nightmare Moon for one-thousand years. I can’t really say I get why he’s so upset at all of this, but chances are he has a good reason.”

“Wow man, that’s heavy.” Soarin glanced over at the one-thousand and twenty-something year old stallion. “No wonder he’s so upset about this. I wouldn’t be too happy if my friends died to save Equestria and didn’t get hardly any recognition for it. There aren’t any kind of memorials that I can think of dedicated to them, and the losses aren’t really mentioned here and…uh, are you okay?” Soarin called out to Magic Barrier.

“I’m fine.” Magic Barrier removed his hoof from the display case and glanced at the dented helmet on display. “Just remembering the pony this helm belonged to…nobody else will.”

The helm was plain iron with a dark two-tone blue plume and slight gold accents in several places, denoting the rank of the helm’s wearer. On the side of the helm, the letters F.S were messily scratched, probably with a knife.

“You know the pony who owned that helm?” Soarin asked as he trotted over to Barrier to glance at the display.

“Yeah, his name was Flash Sentry.” Barrier chuckled slightly.

Shining’s ears perked up at this and he trotted over to join them, Barrier pointing out the faint markings of the letters.

“I remember when he did this. Our squad kept hiding his helmet from him. We’d put it back in the armory. After the third or fourth time of him having to explain to the quartermaster how his helmet kept going missing, he finally scratched his initials into the side to help him find it if it went missing again. Not sure where they found this helmet though, it wasn’t part of the Nightmare War.”

“What makes you say that?” Shining asked as he stepped away from the display case.

“The markings are that of a sergeant. Flash was a lieutenant by the time Nightmare Moon and her followers attacked. Last time he wore that helm was when we had a mission in Griffonia. The one that he made lieutenant on actually.” With a sigh, Barrier turned towards the window. “Come on, let’s go get some lunch or something, this exhibit is making me irritable.”

“Uh, yeah sure. Soarin, wanna join us for lunch?” Shining turned to his friend.

“That’d be awesome. Hey Mr. Barrier, do you care if I ask you some questions?”

Barrier sighed as they left the museum; he felt far older now than when he had went in.