Marbles, all grown up and still stuck as a pony joins the guard, and takes to the military life too well, all except one thing, hes still caustic. He makes no friends, but doesnt do anything to be ousted for being a bad team player. But those who are more perceptive than most are able to see past the cold exterior to a core made of hate and hostility, none more so aware than Celestia.
 
Celestia, the mother figure she is, is know to treat all as her children in a way. The guard to her are just her big strong boys and wil always brighten their days with a smile, and a touch to their arm, cheek or shoulder, giving physical reassurances, doubly so for those who seem down, or distant. Then enters Patches.
 
Patches is full of more hate than she thought anyone should possibly hold, but has amazing discipline to keep it in line, but she sees it there, boiling behind his eyes every time he looks at her, her sister or anyone else. Believing she just needs to shower him with more comfort and give him deeds to bring out the good in him, she asks her sister to help with his work as a night guard, and so proceeds a time of her pet project of cracking his shell of ice and iron. It slowly dies a cold death.
 
One day a situation occurs in which she seemingly is put into danger, Patches intervenes, taking a wound for her. Thinking she has effected him she moves to thank him for the action personally during his recovery. instead of reluctant acceptance, all she sees is undisguised contempt, as if hes blaming her for the wound. She then realizes there is no love in him, but duty.
 
After a time when he returns to duty she comes upon him, and for once in her millennia long habit formed of love and comfort, she hesitates. her instinctive will to give love freely is blocked by doubts she rarely ever has as all the thoughts of him enter her mind like a toxic wind. In the end this lost son, full of bitterness, has hurt her in ways no grand monster ever has, and not with magic, or violence, but with the most mundane of things. In a world of dragons and demi-gods, the mortal can still do more harm without lifting a hand.