’’Uh... Hello...’’ What a nice way for me to make a first good impression. The rainbow pony just nodded once, acknowledging me and turning her head to Twilight.

’’So Twi, who’s this guy?’’ She jerked her head towards me, ignoring me. Biiiitch... I snorted and turned my head away from her.

’‘Well... Why don’t you ask him?’’ Twilight grinned sheepishly. Rainbow Crash didn’t seem too happy about that.

’‘Whatever...’’ Rainbow Dash sighed and rolled her eyes. ’’So, who the hay are you then?’’

I sighed, she finally stopped treating me like air. Unbelievable. ’‘The name’s Stronghold. I’ve known Twilight here for about 8 years.’’ She didn’t seem too interested in that.

’‘Stronghold, how about you tell her about your former position at the guard?’’ Twilight smirked as Rainbow’s attention snapped to me in an instant.

’‘You are a guard?’’ I took a cautious step back from the mare, eyeing her suspiciously.

’‘Yes..?’’ I have no idea if it was a good idea to tell her that. She made a sound that reminded me of a fangirl squeal. Oh boy...

’‘That’s so awesome! Twilight, who would’ve known that you’d get a coltfriend who’s in the guard!’’ As Rainbow took a step closer, I took a step back away from her. Twilight’s expression was a mix between being confused and embarassed. She even started blushing.

’‘Rainbow... He’s not my coltfriend...’’ Twilight whispered loud enough for me and Rainbow to hear. I looked down at my hooves and kicked my left hoof.

’‘Besides, I was a guard...’’ I sighed.

’‘Was? Pfftch... You probably gave up...’’ My mind snapped. I couldn’t focus on anything else than the mare who just said that I gave up. I scowled and stepped towards her, easily towering over her.

’‘You know nothing...’’ I growled. ’’Do you know what it is like to see a filly, who’s about eight years old, die in your arms and there’s nothing you can do because her injuries were too grave?’’ I stomped. ’’DO YOU BUCKING KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE?’’ I took a few ragged breaths and felt tears surfacing in the corners of my eyes. I gritted my teeth. Rainbow took a few steps away from me. ’’...That’s what I thought...’’ I turned around and walked away from her. A couple of ponies were staring at me, startled by my sudden outburst. I violently flicked my hood back onto my head and spread my wings. I heard Twilight call for me to stay but I gave my wings a powerful thrust and shot up into the clear blue sky.

-----

'’Stronghold...’' Twilight whispered as she saw the stallion fly away. She turned towards Rainbow Dash, who was sitting on her flank, her expression was completely blank. Stronghold must’ve had an impact on her.

Twilight sighed and started walking back to her library. She didn’t know if Stronghold was going to stay after what Rainbow did to him. If she was lucky, he would come back to the library after venting for a couple of hours.

If there was one thing she knew about Stronghold, that thing was his pride for what he managed to do as a guard and as a good samaritan. He had sacrificed many things just to help using the best of his own abilities. That’s why Twilight cared for him so much. Stronghold would never take somepony for granted; he’d stay by their sides and power through with them.

She sometimes wished that they could be more than friends but by the looks of things right now, she’d be lucky if he’s still her friend. She sighed heavily and turned around, walking back to the library. Rainbow was still standing at the same place as she had been when Stronghold shouted at her. Her lower lip quivered and she flew away, leaving a polychromatic trail in her wake.

-----

’‘BUCK!’’ I screamed from the top of my lungs. Who the hell does that mare think she is? This is... This is too much. And why does that annoy me so much? I just... Just can’t think about what happened... I don’t want to... I don’t want to remember... I landed on a cloud and covered my face with my hooves. I just wanted to dissappear. I don’t want to be seen by anypony and just be left alone...

But...

Twilight... I just can’t leave her like this, without saying goodbye or even what I meant to say to her from the beginning... I have to do this, no matter what. I’ll just say it to her and then I’ll be on my merry way away from Ponyville. I hear Trottingham is nice this time of the year...

Well, here goes nothing... I stood up, ruffled and spread my wings and leapt off the cloud, heading back to Ponyville to settle this for the last time. What if she doesn’t feel the same way..? What if I’m just another friend for her..? What if-

No.

I have to calm down... I can do this. I didn’t get accepted into the Royal Guard by cowering away when a mare taunted me. A mare for Celestia’s sake! I can do this... I pushed my wings harder with every stroke, grunting as I felt the edge of my capability.

-----

Rarity and Fluttershy had went to the library after they had heard about what had happened between the stallion they didn’t know and Rainbow Dash, where Twilight had been caught in the crossfire. Neither of them had seen Rainbow Dash yet during their walk through town, so she must’ve went up to her cloud home to have some time on her own.

As they entered the library, the first thing they noticed was the state which the library floor was in, and a certain baby dragon who was busying himself by cleaning up the mess. The two ponies just looked at the young drake with a worried expression which he understood immediately what it meant.

’‘She’s upstairs...’’ He said in a somber tone, sighing. He didn’t know why Twilight had been so upset, but when he had noticed the obvious lack of a white stallion, he got an idea of what had happened, but he had opted to not say anything as that could make everything much worse.

The two friends trotted up the stairs, heading straight for the lavender unicorn’s bedroom. As they opened the door, the first thing they noticed was the darkness inside the room. The windows had been covered.

’‘Darling?’’ Rarity called out as she removed the curtains, showering the room with some much-needed sunlight. A groan was heard from the loft where her bed was. Fluttershy flew up and inspected the source of the groan.

Twilight was lying in her bed with her cover lying ontop of her, not moving a single muscle. ’’Twilight?’’ Fluttershy whispered, the only answer she recieved was another forced groan.

’’Go away...’’ A muffled voice spoke up from beneath the covers while pulling the cover closer to it, making a perfect pony-shaped lump. Fluttershy pouted and poked the lump softly.

’‘You’re not being very cooperative here, Twilight. Why don’t you tell us what happened?’’ Rarity spoke up as she ascended the steps. A sudden rustle beneath the covers made the fashionista and the vet perk their ears in attention. Twilight threw the covers off her and sat up. Her mane was messy from being beneath the covers, much to the chagrin of the fashionista.

’‘I’m going to tell you girls about somepony I know. His name is Stronghold...’’ She talked about the stallion she knew. Rarity swooned as she got to know that he was in the Royal Guard. As she told them about his meeting with Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy shrunk back and added a few ’oh my’s when the situation Twilight was speaking about justified it. Rarity’s expression was stuck somewhere between fascinated and horrified.

The three ponies heard the door leading into the library swing open and hit the wall with a thud. Twilight’s face lit up as she suspected it to be a certain somepony she wanted to talk to.

-----

I landed just in front of the door and swung it open. I cringed as the door struck the wall with a resounding ‘thump’. I walked inside to see that the library was in no uncertain terms; a mess. Books were lying everywhere. If I didn’t know better, I’d suspect that a tornado had passed through the room. The little dragon was lying on a huge blue tome, snoring away while curled up into a small purple ball.

As I passed through the library, careful not to step on any books, I heard voices coming from up the stairs. I snorted a small puff through my nostrils and trotted up the stairs. I can do this and I will do this!

I noticed that the door into Twilight’s room was already open but I still charged through it. Two gasps and a giggle brought my attention to the loft where Twilight, and two ponies who I didn’t know were standing. Well... Now or never, I guess...

A/N: Well... This took a little too long to get published... Many things will be explained in the next chapter, such as the real story behind Stronghold's outrage and stuff. I have no idea when it will be released, though. Pre-read and edited by frieD195.