@registeredUser
 
It’s mid-life crisis age, that’s why they all pick it.

Forty might seem old if you’ve let your body go to seed – especially if you also more-or-less stopped learning new things a decade ago. Forty might also seem old if you’re female and only now looking to reproduce, because the threat of menopause looms. But otherwise, what the heck is old about forty? It’s not as if these characters wore themselves out juggling a job and childrearing, because a consistent feature throughout is that they’re childless…
 
Of course if we’re going by real-life horse age then FiM makes no sense in the first place so there’s no point arguing.

@anonymouspegasus  
‘cept for the fact that Granny Smith, her sister and her aunt (Applerose and Applesauce, to be precise) are pushing 300, and old dame Inkwell is 90something.  
I’d say the Equestrian ponies don’t exactly live as long as a horse.

@anonymouspegasus  
okay he’s a little dissatisfied. Sounds like all he has that’s going on in his life is his job and wishes he had more. He doesn’t sound depressed about it or he dislikes his job. He may live alone but he isn’t alone. The guys still has friends. They just have more going on in their lives than him. “I only blame myself” line could be an hyperbole of the only reason he’s still a guard is that it’s been his biggist focus.

@registeredUser  
40 is the normal life expectancy for a horse. In terms of adults, it’s around the age where the body starts to wear down and is frequently considered around the time of the mid-life crisis.

Okay, seriously. I know I really shouldn’t be thinking so hard on this, but why is it always age 40 for these? Why is just 40 considered so old? It’s annoying enough for most of these [mostly] dumb ficlets, but it’s just especially nonsensical here.

@Dr Outback  
“I’m the only one to blame”  
“only have a desk job and a piece of cardboard”  
“an empty bed waiting for me at an empty home”
 
Yeah, that doesn’t sound sad or dissatisfied at all.

This one isn’t really sad. He doesn’t sound dissatisfied with his life.

This is every Royal Guard. ALL of them.
 
Even the changelings.