Ser Vincent was not one to enjoy being seen as weak in the eyes of ponies.

Beyond the reasons from before his knighthood, Ser Vincent was sentry of might, a guard of the innocent, a protector of the needy, a force that hunted and broke the wicked – and for these reasons he hated being seen as vulnerable. As having been broken.

Of course, injuries happen, he would not dispute it. However, potentially weeks of being unable to even stand for ten minutes would only do harm to his image. A well cultivated image and name that was respected and feared, and certainly not attained whilst wheelchair bound.

“Hey Vinnie, you okay?” Pinkie Pie had volunteered to drive him out of the hospital. She had been her usual cheery self, humming as she pushed him along. She leant over, opposite the side where Vincent rested his masked head in his hand. “I'm getting the feeling you're a bit of a mister frowny pants at the moment.” She pursed her lips and squinted hard. “I can feel it.”

“Never better, Pinkie,” he replied automatically, his merry voice easily masking his inner turmoil. “Well, maybe I have been, but you get the idea.”

He felt a bit better having gathered his ensemble and donned his stallion guise, as such as it was. Back to being Ser Vincent, the strange dressed stallion. Alas the pain in his hip reminded him that he was crippled, but hey, small victories and what not. At least he wasn't fighting against fractured ribs. That had been seen to as a priority and whatever residual pain was numbed by painkillers. Then again, it wasn't a secret in Ponyville as to what he was. 'I'd hate to admit it, but perhaps this is more of a self-comfort thing.'

Thanks to magical operations and procedures he received he didn't need a cast but couldn't stand for too long. Merely long enough to dress himself with clothing Rarity had brought with her. His boxer shorts, or snip shorts as everypony else called them, were a bit... tight but other than that she did a fantastic job in salvaging his wardrobe.

“Think of it this way, Ser Knight, you can finally relax after such a perilous ordeal,” Rarity remarked as her hoof struck cobblestone.

“I relax well enough of on the train journeys; a carriage is practically my second home, the seat my bed,” Vincent said. He glanced up to Rarity who returned a scrunched muzzle.

“Hardly sounds therapeutic after extraneous activities. I'm sure a few days in the park will broaden your R and R horizons, right girls?” Rarity's question was met with agreements from the girl, minus Applejack and Fluttershy who had left to return their homes upon entering Ponyville.

Applejack only had time in the morning and left not so long ago to continue her farm duties. Fluttershy was the same and informed him that Stanley would be happy to hear the news. Prince Blue Blood had left not long after Twilight's decree, oddly smug and happy and likely to be at the spa until the train arrives.

Ser Vincent turned to the only other friend who had walked behind the group since they left the hospital. “Captain Enkindle, I require assistance. I'm being overwhelmed.”

The captain smiled and shook his head. “My apologies, Ser Knight, but what you ask of me is beyond my capabilities. Also I am off duty and don't want to assist in your futile escape efforts, so, nyah!” The captain stuck his tongue out, ears flattening despite one being burnt. He sported bandages and a bag of more bandages and ointment, for burns and fur growth.

“Traitor,” Vincent grumbled.

“Why don't you work on your drawings, Vincent?” Princess Twilight suggested helpfully, but he practically heard the eye-roll.

“Oh, do you still have The Wall?” Captain Enkindle asked with interest.

“Yeah he does,” Rainbow interjected, peering over a cloud edge, “Had a big ol' map of Equestria painted on his bedroom wall.” Rainbow wasted no time in collecting a new cloud to lounge upon and had been using her wings to keep it trailing the group.

“So what is it now, you working the south until that's full?” The captain whistled. “I remembered when you first started that thing. How's it going anyhow?”

“Only need a load of missions from the south and it'll look good, Kindle,” Vincent called back, looking to the path ahead through shadowed gaze. 'Other than Ponyville, this is the first clear cut mission where I can safely say it was worth the wall. That ridge east of Appleloosa was gorge--'

“So you got around to actually doing some sight seeing then?” the Captain added, derailing Vincent train if thought. “You were always going on about getting around to do it. Glad to hear you finally went through with it.”

“Not... exactly, Kindle.” Vincent rubbed the back of his hood as he glanced back, beyond Pinkie. “I've been rather busy.”

The Captain eyes widened slightly, ears flickering before acceptance claimed his features. “Forgive me, Vincent, but how long have you planned this for? Six years now?” He shook his head. “It's just a few weeks at most; after all these years you should have been to at least one of those places.”

“Yes, well, duty called,” Vincent dismissed coolly, looking forward once more. He sat up to avoid the impression of a sulking teen. The painkillers had reduced the stinging grind of his mending bones to a constant throb. He was on half dosage of prescription to maintain lucidity.

“All I'm saying is, you're not the only knight in existence,” Enkindle remarked as he strolled into Vincent's field of view. “You need to take a step back every now and then, you know?” He offered a sincere smile and a tilt of the head. “Breathe easy, without the mask.”

“Believe me, you're not the only one to have had this discussion,” Rarity remarked.

“Yeah, Vincent,” Princess Twilight said to him, “You've worked hard, you've earned it.”

Much to everypony's surprise the knight huffed, seemingly amused. “Oh, well, this isn't exactly a world where those who do deserve something for working hard get it.” It was surprisingly bitter comment to come from the human, it even caught him off guard. He looked back to the Captain and found him glaring back.

“Ser Vincent, from one professional to another, I implore you to heed her highness' order. As an old friend, as distant we may have drifted, please listen to me.” He stepped in front of the wheelchair, stopping it in its tracks. Pinkie nearly toppled over it as Vincent look up to the stern, yet sad eyed stallion. “Take a break before you break. And fix that chip on your shoulder.” He straightened up as best he could on crutches and offered a more friendly, dazzling smile. “Fates know you have enough on there.”

Captain Enkindle hobbled back the way they came, turning to offer a bowed head. “Now, if you'll excuse me, your majesty, ladies, I'm going to do another check on our injured guardsmen. Farewell.”

The girls all offered a wave, Pinkie pausing to spin Vincent around in his wheelchair to face the parting captain. He stared back at the stallion as he walked further and further away. There was a quiet for a time, as Vincent was trundled along the path into the town. As he was pushed along the pavement, Pinkie finally broke the silence.

“So, Vinnie, how come you haven't opened your cards yet?” Her question made him look down to his lap, where several unopened letters lay.

“I honestly don't know. I'm not used to so many so I haven't really, um, gotten around to them?” He wasn't sure himself as to why he let them linger on the bedside table, unopened. Or rather, he had a hunch, but nothing so concrete: he was so unused to getting more than two get well cards that he was simply overwhelmed and chose to leave them.

'Nothing ill can surely come of this. Quit being preposterous you fool.'

“I think they're long overdue for fresh air, Vinnie,” Rainbow quipped with a flat stare as she drifted by.

“Indeed,” Rarity remarked as the group turned a corner, “Why with anypony else I dare say I would be offended.” She cast him a small pout. “Alas, since it is Ser Vincent, what else should I expect?”

“I know, right?” Princess Twilight added with a wry grin,“Nopony forgets to open their cards, and what do you know, Nopony did.”

“The point has been made,” Vincent said with a playful, but harsh edge.

Pinkie then leant over towards his ear. “Psst! I think you should start opening your cards,” she whispered.

Ser Vincent rolled his eyes, letting honest mirth creep into his voice as he tilted his head her way, “Thank you for the advice.”

“No problem!” she chirped before straightening up to beam a smile.

“Can we stop off somewhere?” Vincent asked. “Just to open these letters for now.”

“Sure, there's a restaurant that's good as a coffee parlour,” Twilight said, “we can stop by – it is pretty close.” She gave Vincent a soft smile and he nodded. She lead him through the street, conversing with Rarity for most of the journey.

“Say, why don't you hang out with your pal?” Pinkie said, tapping his shoulder. “You can catch up! Sounds like you guys have a lot of that to do.”

“We're busy,” Vincent dismissed, “Me as a knight and he in his long overdue position as captain of the guard.” He half-turned his head back to her and said, “We do have a nice chat every now and then.” Vincent then returned a passing greeting. It was new practice he had taken up in recent days; of course he was no stranger to greetings, even back in Canterlot from castle staff, but denizens of the capital typically avoided him. Not all, but enough to embed a sense of isolation amongst a crowd at first.

“That's a good start but you can do better,” she replied in a chipper tone. She wheeled him further along the pavement as they rounded another corner. “I think you two should hang out more often.”

“Noted,” Vincent muttered.

The group pulled up to a quaint little restaurant: an enlarged cottage, reminiscent of an old fashioned inn. Given the history of Ponyville, it was possible to have been once, a stopping point between Canterlot and southern territories that were yet to be charted-- before Apploosa, Dodge City, or even before Las Pegasus was a collection of rain clouds. The yard was fenced by rose bushes and had patio tables. Once of which Vincent had found himself wheeled up to.

“Tell you what girls, you tell aunt Pinkie what looks yummy and she'll buy it. Her treat!” Pinkie offered as Twilight and Rarity took their seats opposite the knight.

“Oh, why thank you,” Rarity said with a smile. Everypony gave their order: Twilight had a hayshake, Rainbow opted for a cinnamon roll and a 'cup of joe' as she dispelled her cloud cart and pulled up a chair, whilst Rarity request was an iced haifen coffee with lemon peel and a mint leaf.

“Gotcha,” Pinkie said before coming to Vincent. “What about you, big guy?”

Vincent gave an audible, amused huff and tilted his head. “I appreciate the gesture, Pinkie, but I'm afraid I'll decline. My stomach feels rough as it is.” He looked up to her, “Thank you for the offer.”

Pinkie Pie disappeared into the cafe, leaving the knight with the princess and her friends. Or were they his friends as well? He didn't know at what point a pony one met daily could be considered a friend, perhaps he was at the cusp of that line, here at the table. And then there was what was on his lap: likely get-well letters.

“So, Vinnie, whatcha got planned for for the few weeks?” Rainbow asked as she reclined into her seat. She blew the red of her mane out of face. “Anything spring to mind? Gonna grumpily scoot around all the time?”

He sighed deeply, slumping his shoulders for added effect. He aimed a tilted stare towards her, “Perhaps you know of activities suited for a dislocated femur and glass ribs?” He re-orientated his masked stare. “I'll spend time indoors, with a good book or two, review a few study notes.”

Twilight ears perked up, her eyes alight with a hungry spark. “Oh, what are you hoping to chase up?” She leant forward with interest. “Got a project in the works?”

He brought a gloved hand to rub the underside of his mask's muzzle. “I have an idea for a new project, need a few pieces of data – mostly surrounding fur and mane.”

“Whatever for?” Rarity inquired, tidying her dress by the hem.

Vincent turned to her and paused for several passing moments. He wasn't silent, offering a quiet hum before he leant towards her. “Actually, Rarity, maybe you could-ack!” He recoiled in his seat, jerking to his other side to ease weight off his wounded leg and minimise pressure to his lower ribs.

Rarity winced. “Vincent, dear, please don't strain yourself,” she said as Pinkie returned with a tray of drinks. “It already sounds as if you hurt yourself enough whilst on the clock.”

“Is Vinnie getting antsy in his seaty?” Pinkie asked with a grin. She handed out the drinks, Dash taking and then loudly tearing into her treat.

“Fell on old habits; I used a lot of expressive mannerisms to make up for the mask and getup,” he admitted with a shrug. His disguise as an odd stallion served him well, from the face shadowing hood to the tip of his mop tail. “They're sort of a part of me now.”

“You could always take your mask off,” Twilight commented before sipping her hayshake. She felt Vincent lock eyes with her beneath the mask but she didn't flinch, innocently slurping her drink. She fired an eye-roll his way, “Well you could. Ponyville's kind of on your side right now.”

Before Vincent shot back his retort Rarity spoke for him. “Now, now, I think the dear knight has had enough bruises prodded for a while--” she thanked Pinkie as she took her ice coffee – “but back to your request, Ser Vincent, as to what it is mainly.”

She threw him a small wink when she looked back to him. Vincent did not miss the opportunity.

“I was wondering if you would care to assist me on my next project, just a few questions about manes and fur,” he gave a gesture to himself, “As you may guess, you'd be far more knowledgable in those departments than myself; my work is largely adding abilities and changing the physiology, I know more about what goes on during a transformation beneath the skin than about the hair follicles. What I studied of it was simple, that hair is simply keratin, proteins and all, its purpose, etc.”

He gave a shrug. “I have no idea what makes for good shampoo, or what what make for better fur dye, or--”

“Ser Vincent!” There was a flutter of wings as a grey mare swooped down from up high. Her erratic flight path whipped her mane from side to side and made things difficult for the stallion following her. She came to a skidding halt, her horseshoes grinding against the stone.

Ser Vincent stood up all too swiftly to prevent her from crashing into Rainbow Dash and his hip blossomed with pain. He heard the girls yell his name but the spike of agony deafened him to it for the moment. Her brown bag of letters slapped his good leg but the shoulder high mare still crashed into him. He shifted his weight to his good leg as he held her close.

“Ah!-” he began with a jovial tone to hide his pent up agony, “-- Mrs Doo, always a pleasure!”

She leant back, doe-eyed as ever, but just as sheepish as the first time she crashed into his house door. “Sorry, Ser Vincent, but this was an important order. Had to be delivered ASAP!”

Vincent lowered himself back into his seat and released a withheld sigh as quietly as he could. Even then it was akin to a steam engine releasing steam. “No bother,” he said kindly. He hadn't minded her mishaps before but for once he was irritated. Not enough to complain. Never enough.

“Careful, Ditzy,” Dash said with a scowl, “Vinnie's not quite up to snuff, so try landing a bit further back next time.”

Vincent found the poor mare's embarrassment rather adorable, from the way she fiddled with her uniform's buttons to the way her ears fell into her mane. It was shame she looked so downcast. “Sorry, sorry--” and then she immediately perked up, “But this is an important delivery!”

A large pegasus dropped a heavy wooden box onto the table, between the drinks that shook. He wheezed out a sigh before wiping his brow and turning to the postal pony. “A'ight, I'm done, you get the papers signed and I'm gonna go on break.” He walked off, stretching his wings and arms Vincent looked a the box. He recognised the mining stamp: a pickaxe held in a diamond dog paw.

“Oooh, what's in it?” Pinkie leant onto the table and eyed the box with great interest. The other girls also studied it themselves as Vincent waited for papers that Ditzy was fishing out of her bag.

“Payment for my service,” he said as he received a clipboard and pencil. He paused on a signature line to glance to Twilight. “If you wish to satisfy your curiosity, go ahead, but you'll be helping me carry it where it needs to go.” He nodded at the box before concentrating on signing the papers. He wasn't sure if the chicken scratch was because of the fresh pulsating ache in his side or not.

Using her magic Twilight eased out the nail of the lid one by one, setting them aside neatly. The girls leaned in, Rarity sipping on her ice coffee. Once the lid was removed jaws dropped.

“Woah...” Dash whispered as Vincent finished signing the papers.

“Are those bullions?” Twilight asked, still stunned.

Rarity had taken it upon herself to remove a block from the box. It was wrapped in white cloth, coddled like a child, appearing even more so when she exposed its shimmering face.

“Pure platinum,” Vincent replied casually, returning the clipboard and pencil. “Thank you. The paper said there was four in there.”

“Kilograms?” Dash asked still wide eyed.

“Nope. Bullions, each weighing ten-kilos,” he added before being tapped on the shoulder. He looked back up to Ditzy to see her proudly presenting him a red letter. “Two times more than usual, I wonder why?” He tilted his head. “Thank you, Mrs Doo, and as always it has been a pleasure.”

“Really?” she replied with surprise. “Even after hurting you?”

At her ear wilt, Vincent acted quickly with warm words. “I think it hurt me more to see you so ashamed, accidents happen and you were doing your job. I can't tell you how often that happens to me.” He finished with a fake, pleasant chuckle that brought the desired smile to her lips. “It'll take a lot more than that to keep me down, such as your wilting form.”

She meekly scuffed the curb with her hoof before beaming a smile. “Okay, if you say so!”

“I do, that smile is so much better, as well as have a nice day,” Vincent finished before turning to the table, gaze on the letter in his hand. She left, taking to the sky. He achieved what he set out to do: display his apathy to the pain she caused, reassured her that he was fine despite the throbbing sting in his side, and made her feel a little better about herself, at the least enough to carry on working.

He looked up to the group, stoic mask facing the arched brows of the mares present. He read the mischievous faces between Pinkie and Dash, incredulous from Twilight, and general mirth from Rarity.

“H-have I done something peculiar?” he asked, freezing whilst reaching for a knife before him.

“Nothing,” Twilight said, in that dangerous tone that said he had, “Nothing at all.”

“It hardly seems that way,” he quickly stated, unease seeping into core.

“What's the Hound and Pony Mining Company?” Rarity asked as she studied the bullion in both hands. Her primary fur finger ran over the zero-point-nine-zero-zero imprinting below the branding.

“It's where those diamond dogs I apprehended when I first arrive were sent,” he replied as he pulled out the letter from its envelope, “It a large plot of land, enough to sustain their kind for sixteen-generations and provide jobs, all the while integrating them into Equestrian society.”

Twilight continued as Vincent fell silent upon reading the letter. “Diamond dogs are adamant in subterranean living, so the land may sound large but most of its underground. Princess Celestia has been trying to encourage peace between our species for centuries and the reserve has been making huge strides.” She beamed a smile to Pinkie. “All we get is mostly copper, iron, titanium and aluminium – all the gems, gold and such is theirs.”

Dash took hold of the platinum bullion handed to her by Rarity, her ears perking as she held it carefully, daring not to scratch it. “How much is this worth?” she asked herself before glancing to Vincent, “Like, do all knight's make this much?”

Vincent stopped reading to, mechanically and silently, stare at Rainbow. He waited until she felt cold from his gaze alone, until her ears had fallen, before speaking in stern, quiet voice. “Like you , Miss Dash, I make a difference and that is all that matters to me for now.”

He then quickly returned back to reading the letter, his words warming back to friendly. “This is a commission, an urgent one at that. My salary, if you must know, is not even a third of the regular.”

“Oh, so is somepony... or doggy, asking for a potion?” Pinkie asked, gleefully taking a bullion of her own from the box. “I didn't know you were selling potions.” Her enthusiasm deflated as she glanced back to the bullion in her hand, her mane deflating and a frown forming. “Wow, Vinnie, you're pretty expensive.”

“Ponies generally know that I am a master of transmogrification,” Vincent said, his speech slowing as he read on, “I'm licensed for all potions under such field and several others, except medicine, and hardly many ask me to make a batch of gill producing drinks, save the odd regiment desperate in the army. But I will help others freely, especially the ill or those on deaths door.”

He then ripped up the letter and stuffed into his pocket before folding his arms and huffing. “I know what I want to do with my sick leave,” was all he said.

The girls shared a glance before Twilight spoke. “And that is?”

“Go to Canterlot and save some rich idiot's daughter from dying a horrible death.” He then pointed at each mare with his gloved hand, “And since you all touched my money you can help.”

Author's Notes:

Apologies to the late update, christmas time has been hectic, and as such I should inform you that the next update may come around new years.

I hope you enjoy it for now! If I don't post before then, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!