Oleander had always loved Princess Twilight, who always visited his family even though she was likely busy doing friendship work. She was a family friend, her parents had told her, a fellow royal of Nana.
 
But now, Ollie new better. She was not just a family friend, she was family. Princess Twilight was his great grandmother, the mother of his missing grandmother Galaxy Guard. No wonder she looked so much like his mom. No wonder she visited so much. It all made sense now.
 
Visiting his great-grandmother for the first time, Ollie looked around in awe at the grand crystalline walls of her castle. So this was the home his grandmother grew up in. He wandered through the halls, wondering to himself what it must have been like to live in such a vast space.
 
While most of the doors were open, one remained suspiciously closed. It caught Ollie’s eye quickly, with the letter G that was glued to its door. G for…Galaxy. This must have been her room. And although he knew deep down that it wasn’t his place, Ollie had to see what was in there.
 
Freaking open the door, Ollie could see that the room had been left completely dark. Once he found the light switch, he could see that the nightstand and bookshelf were covered in a light layer of dust, like they hadn’t been touched in years. There wasn’t much to see here, likely because Galaxy took all her belongings with her when she moved in with Nana. Or it was actually a G for guest room and Ollie was snooping for nothing.
 
But something under the bed caught the colt’s eye. A book.
 
Upon closer inspection, it was not just any book, but a diary. Galaxy’s diary. Ollie knew that diaries were meant to be private, but decided he would read it anyway. It’s not like she would ever find out. Plus, it could possibly give him a glimpse of what Galaxy Guard was really like, beyond what the grown-ups had told him about her. Sprawling out on her bed, Ollie opened up to the first page and started reading.
 
“Dear Dad,
 
Mom told me to write a diary, so here I am. She said it would be therapeutic or whatever, especially if I wrote like I was writing letters to my dad. I know it’s not really you, I’m just writing in an empty book. This probably won’t help at all. But I guess I’m still writing.
 
It’s been few months since you died, but it feels like it was yesterday. I miss you so much, Daddy. I don’t know what to do without you. This has been the worst time of my life. But Mom and Dusk are doing fine, more fine than they should be. It’s like they were sad for a month, and then went back to normal. But it’s not normal for me. It’ll never be normal. My life sucks without you. I just want you back, Daddy.
 
Why am I crying over a stupid diary? I’m not really talking to my dad. This is dumb. Dad would want me to be stronger than this. I have to be, for him.
 
-Galaxy”
 
There were a couple tear stains near the bottom of the page, so it was clear she really was crying. Poor Galaxy, Ollie thought. She just missed her dad. Was she really as mean as they said she was? He decided to keep reading to find out.
 
The next page he flipped to was filled with holes, like she had stabbed it with her pencil. They were stab-holes of fury.
 
“Dear Dad,
 
Guess fucking what? Turquoise Edge, that FUCKING murderer, just got reinstated to the guard! The killer who RIPPED the life out of you, let off FUCKING easy! Like your life meant SHIT to the guard, even Commander Tempest! She didn’t even get a trial!!!
 
I thought she was my friend, but she isn’t anymore. I was too blind to see that she’s a cold-blooded KILLER with no regard for the lives of others! Her complete recklessness put lives in danger! And now she’s being let loose to endanger more ponies just because she’s SORRY? What the fuck??
 
The guard leaders might have been fools in letting her off easy, but I will not let her get off easy. I will give her hell for this, I will make her PAY for what she did to you. I swear on your grave, Turquoise Edge will not get away with this.
 
From,  
Galaxy”
 
Oh Celestia. Ollie reeled at the intensity of the entry. This was his dear Grandma she was describing as a cold-blooded killer. And he knew her, she would never hurt a fly. Didn’t she say it was an accident? Why couldn’t Galaxy see that?
 
He decided to read on for more clues, turning to the next page which was blurry with tear stains.
 
“Dear Dad,
 
I can’t believe it. I can’t fucking believe it. Mom just got engaged to that Celestia damn schoolteacher. I thought their relationship was just a fling. I thought Mom would always love you. But now she’s getting married like she DIDN’T just lose a husband! And Dusk’s just going along with it! It’s like you meant NOTHING to them!
 
Why is this happening, Daddy? Why is everyone moving on? My entire world was destroyed when you died, and they’re acting like nothing happened! It’s like everything you did for me, for us, meant nothing. They’re saying I’m the problem, that I’m overreacting and I’m the one who needs help. Did they forget how much Dusk overreacted over you spending more time with me? Why are they all against me?
 
You would be so disappointed if you could see us. It’s like they didn’t care about you at all. But I care, and I will never stop loving and missing you. I will make you proud, even if no one else will. I promise, Daddy.
 
Love,  
Galaxy”
 
Ollie looked upon the page, processing everything he’d read so far. She had been so angry and hateful one page, and the next she was heartbroken and confused. Her dad had just died, she clearly had a lot of mixed emotions.
 
He decided to flip all the way to the last page to see if he could learn anything else about her.
 
“Dear Dad,
 
It’s been awhile! I am writing to tell you that I have been busy with a relationship and now I’m engaged! Her name is Firefly. You know her, Queen Luna’s daughter. She is a lively pony, and it has been an adventure to know her so far. She seems to have a strong sense of what’s right, which I admire so. And while she does have her flaws, we’ve been working on them together. We’re a team, Firefly and I, and I consider myself lucky to be with her.
 
Even though I haven’t written in awhile, I want you to know that I’ve never stopped thinking about you. I’ve never stopped missing you, even though Mom and Dusk moved on long ago. I don’t need them to gang up on me for telling the truth, I’m moving to Canterlot with Firefly and leaving it all behind. I’ll continue fulfilling my life’s work in the guard in your honor, but all in all this is a new beginning for me.
 
Firefly have been already talking about kids and what our future will look like. I can say for certain that when we do start a family, I will love my children like you loved me. I will treat Firefly and our children like you treated our family, no matter how much Mom and Dusk took your efforts for granted. I will do everything it takes to be half the pony you were, to be a noble soldier and loving family mare. I know it’s what you would want.
 
Your daughter,  
Galaxy”
 
She was so hopeful in that last entry. She had such good intentions for her family, yet it all went wrong. But she was also filled with so much anger, no wonder it ended up damaging her other relationships. But above all, she was a filly who was devoted to the father she missed so dearly. A father who was probably not so perfect if Princess Twilight and Dusk’s reactions meant anything.
 
Ollie understood now. Galaxy was not the nicest pony, but she was hurting. That’s why she acted the way she did, because she was acting out in pain. She missed her father like anyone would miss a dead parent, but she let her anger consume her despite her best intentions.
 
“Ollie! Where are you?”
 
The colt jumped a little at his great-grandmother’s voice, shoving the diary under the bed before anyone could find him. He left the room with a newfound understanding of his grandmother.