Aunt Fluttershy had always said that if you used kindness, you could win over anypony. Well, Turquoise Edge had been trying to kill Galaxy Guard with kindness for over a decade. She knew her former best friend could be as stubborn as a mule, but she was beginning to feel extremely pissed off. So when they were paired off to spar during a training exercise, emotions were already running high. But a Pie doesn’t give up, and Turquoise tried to give her a smile.
 
“Been awhile. How have you been, Gal?”
 
“I’d ask the same of you, Killer.” Galaxy spat the last word out, narrowing her eyes. “You will address me as Commander Galaxy Guard, not Gal. We’re not buddies, Lieutenant.”
 
 
“Wow! That was almost decent of you, Commander Guard. Maybe you still do remember how to be nice.” Turquoise picked up her trusty spear. “Do you still favor the Saddle Arabian dagger?”
 
“Yeah, still do,” Galaxy grasped the dagger in her wing and sneered. “It’s perfect for slitting murderers’ throats.”
 
Turquoise couldn’t hold back an eye roll as she posistioned her spear under her wing with her primaries curled around it. She and Galaxy squared off, trotting in tight circles around each other. Galaxy, despite the burning rage in her eyes, wasn’t her usual quick-footed self. Turquoise thrust herself forward and her spear nicked off a small tuft of her opponent’s mane. “You’re off your game ‘Commander’! When did you get so slow?”
 
“I’m pregnant, you moron.” Galaxy shot back.
 
“Really? Again?” Turquoise smirked, easily dodging a jab from the blade. “Wasn’t too long ago you had your first one. Well hell! You should bring the grub round the rock farm to meet Holly. Might be fun.”
 
“My child won’t go anywhere near your little brat!” Galaxy sniffed indignantly, dodging Turquoise’s spear herself. She muttered under her breath. “I’m surprised it even exists. Guess that farm filly didn’t realize she was marrying a cold-blooded killer…”
 
“Hey! Leave Mel out of this, Galaxy. This is between you and me.” Turquoise’s spear left a deep scratch on Galaxy’s armor. “And for a child of the Princess of Friendship, you certainly seem to be against forming friendships. Mama must be so proud.”
 
“You leave my mother out of this!” Heated with anger, Galaxy went in for an extra vigorous round of sparring.
 
Turq blocked all the blows pretty easily. She had made a serious effort to shed her baby weight and gain back her muscle. Galaxy might as well have been a lumbering yak. “Maybe you should take a break or something. Between the pole up your butt and foal in your belly, you’re making this way too easy.”
 
Galaxy paused, grimacing and panting, yet still clearly on guard. She shot Turquoise a look and walked away towards the water bucket, dagger still tucked under her wing.
 
“Look Gal,” Turquoise laid her spear down and began trotting up to her, “I don’t know about you, but I am bucking sick of all this fighting. It’s not gonna help us in the long run.”
 
Galaxy kept her back turned, silently fuming.
 
“Oh come on! How many times can a pony say she’s sorry? It was an accident! Don’t you think I feel horrible? But your mom moved on, your brother seems fine, it’s just you that keeps hating me! I did my time and have been trying to be patient with you, but it’s starting to piss me off! I send you a Hearth’s Warming card every year, a gift on your birthday, and I say hi whenever we pass on the grounds! What do I have to do to get my friend back!?”
 
“We’re! Not! FRIENDS!” Before Turquoise could react, Galaxy whipped around angrily with dagger in wing. She suddenly felt a shooting pain in her left eye, and before she knew it she was on the ground with blood pouring from her face. Whether it was an accident or on purpose, Turquoise didn’t know. But that no longer mattered.
 
“AAAHHH!!” Turquoise clutched her eye, crumpled up on the ground. The blood pouring over her hoof was hot and thick. Tears were streaming from her good eye. “What did you do to me?!”
 
Galaxy dropped her dagger, appearing to be in shock, maybe even regretful, for a fleeting second. But she quickly put her hoof down and changed her demeanor, glaring coldly down at her enemy. “Now you know a fraction of what my dad went through.”
 
“Augh!” Turquoise was gasping in panic. She had never been in this much pain. “Did you cut out my eye? Did seriously cut out my bucking eye, you asshole!?”
 
“What does it matter?” Galaxy growled. “You took my father’s life! You’re lucky I didn’t take yours!”
 
Despite the intense pain, Turquoise growled in rage as she struggled to rise to her hooves. “If you seriously cut out my eye, you’re gonna wish I took yours instead!”
 
She got one last look at the steely glint in Galaxy’s eyes before being swarmed by medics. Some doctor forced her to lie back as he had his hooves all up in her face, checking what was left of her eye. As she was pulled onto a gurney, all her adrenaline seemed to get sapped out. All she could feel was the pain, more intense than any other she had experienced, even childbirth.
 
But all she could feel in her heart was hatred. If this was how that asshole wanted to play this, when Turquoise had done all she could to make up for the past, then so be it. She thought she hated her before, well Turquoise Edge swore that from now on, she’d make it her mission to make Galaxy Guard’s time in the royal guard a living hell.