Guardian

by Dusty Grimoire

Chapter One "The Oncoming Storm"

I remember that day well. Grey clouds covered the sky like a down comforter and the wind was really kicking up. Until recess, it had been a pretty normal, boring day at school. I did what I always did for recess; I went to the field to practice levitation on some rocks. I’ll admit I didn’t have a lot of friends, since most ponies were scared of how big I was. The few that weren’t knew I was a bit of a wimp when it came to fighting for myself so they didn’t pay me much attention.

For whatever reason, it took me a long time to get the hang of magic. I couldn’t really place why at the time, but I always felt some sort of apprehension whenever I tried to use it. For whatever reason, I was convinced I wouldn’t be able to control it so I always tried too hard to reign in my magic whenever I used it. Still, today went well enough for the first few minutes and one of the rocks even got a few inches off the ground, much to my surprise. Sadly, this wasn’t an indicator of how the rest of my day would go.

I glanced toward the playground equipment and saw a white pegasus with sky blue hair being harassed by four other kids. I couldn’t really tell what it was about but I guessed the ball being passed magically by the unicorns of the group had something to do with it. After I started walking over, their shouts became distinguishable. “Too slow!” said a green unicorn colt with a deep blue mane as the ball looped sideways when the pegasus tried to catch it.

“I thought you said you were fast!” jeered another unicorn, this one purple with a white mane. He took control of the ball and slammed it in an arc over the pegasus as she dove for it. He then directed it toward the ground where a tan unicorn with a brown mane took control. “C’mon, all you have to do is touch it once!” she yelled. The pegasus screamed in frustration as she flew toward this last unicorn who waited until the last moment to fling the ball in a curved motion toward the last member of their little group. He was a red earth pony with a brown mane who stood almost as tall as I did, but not as large. He grasped the ball in his mouth and took off with a loping gait I didn’t think possible for an earth pony.

“Guys, stop it!” I yelled. “She just wants her ball back!”

“That’s kind of the point of keep-away you moron,” said the tan filly.

“Look, I don’t need your help, I can get it back,” the pegasus blurted through gritted teeth. She just caught up with the earth pony when he turned around and spit the ball back toward the unicorns as the green took control of the ball again. He gingerly lifted it into the air until the pegasus dived for it once again. She followed as he yanked back toward the ground and would have finally gotten the ball if the purple unicorn hadn’t shoved it toward the side at the last second. She tried to pull out of her dive too late as she skidded and bumped along the grass until she finally stopped in a small pile of mud.

The group of bullies did exactly what I was expecting. Each one of them laughed as merrily as their lungs allowed them to. I looked at them and then to the pegasus slowly trying to pull herself out of the mud. It had caked her mane, coat, and hooves to the point where you could see very little else except brown. My mind blazed with simultaneous thoughts of pity and anger but ultimately I couldn’t think of any other possible reaction.

“Enough!” I cried as I galloped toward the closest member of their group. The purple unicorn’s eyes nearly doubled in size as I ran up and slammed my horn into his chest. The colt went flying backward as the others simply gaped, slack-jawed at the sudden provocation. For what could have been at most a few seconds, I could not hear a single errant noise from the entire playground. Even the wind seemed to pause so it could take stock of what I had just done.

I had enough time to realize how much trouble I was in just as the others bolted forward to defend their hurt friend. I ducked under the ball, forgotten until this point, just as it came hurtling toward my head thanks to the green colt. Tan in the meantime used the distraction to kick up dirt and pebbles in my face. It didn’t really hurt, but I could hear the quick gallop of what could only be Red charging to my right. With all the dirt in my eyes, it was all I could do to turn and brace for impact. The hoof caught me right on the nose and I staggered backward, struggling to stay on my hooves and get the dirt out of my eyes. There was more galloping from my left now and I heard Green scream, “Kick his flank!”

I was sure the fight was over then. I couldn’t see, couldn’t fight, and it was three against one when I caught a white blur careen into Red a fraction of a second before he could smash me. “Thanks!” I exclaimed at my savior while wiping the last of the dust from my eyes.

“What do you think you’re doing!?” she shrieked in response.

“Helping you!” was all I could think of to say.

“Whatever, let’s finish this quick, ok?” she replied hurtling back into the air.

I was more than happy to comply as Red stood back up. Purple continued to roll on the ground but Tan thrust the ball with her magic into the air against my new pegasus ally. Green didn’t wait to see what happened but began harrying her with further clouds of dirt and debris. Fortunately for her, these dispersed in the air too much to be much of a threat but the ball could move in all sorts of unpredictable ways. Sadly, I was too occupied with Red to be of much use as he kept weaving back and forth, looking for an opening.

I reared up, trying to get some reach for when my opponent charged, but this made it awkward for keeping up with him. My friend dived against Green, using the dirt as a screen as she swooped by, striking him in the horn. He grasped his head as the ball continued to follow the pegasus. The ball trailed behind but it was moving slower and in more predictable patterns as Tan started panting and sweating profusely. Red took my glance as the opening he needed and charged forward once again from my right side. This time I was able to see him as I jumped forward and bucked, clipping the colt in his side as he skidded off course. To his credit, he wheeled around quickly and was staring me down with fire in his eyes when all of use heard a shrill tweet pierce the air.

As one, we turned toward the direction of the disturbance and I can only guess we all had the same reaction on our face when Miss Chain Reaction, the school’s science teacher, came cantering up, complete with whistle in her mouth. “Well, I was going to tell you to stop fighting, but it seems you’re all a step ahead of me,” she said in a flat voice. We all continued to stare for a moment before each of us tried to draw her attention at once.

“Ma’am, I…” I began.

“I didn’t do…” Red started.

“It was their…” Tan said.

All of our voices were drowned out as the unicorn with the red frizzled mane and yellow coat blew on her whistle once again. Her eyes flared as brightly as the particle explosion that was her cutie mark. “I don’t care who started it, or why. There will be no fighting on school grounds and I will make sure all of your parents know what has happened here today,” she said in the same flat voice. “All of you will go straight to the principal’s office while I start getting a hold of your parents. Now!” she finished.

“Yes ma’am” we all said, continuing our strange sort of unison.

After we all got to the office, there was little else to do but wait to see our parents. I couldn’t help but get a sinking feeling as the four I was fighting earlier kept trying to bore holes through me with their eyes. I didn’t figure they would want to say much to me so I turned to the pegasus filly and said “My name’s Shining Armor. What’s yours?”

“Lightning Bolt,” she replied, doing her best to examine every nook and cranny in the carpet.

“Lightning Bolt, I’m sorry I got you in trouble,” I whispered, trying not to glance in the direction of my opponents from earlier.

“You could have just left them alone, moron,” she whispered back.

“But, they hurt you, and they stole your ball,” I responded.

“Yeah, but now that we fought them, we’ll get in trouble the same as them,” she replied as she glanced up at me for the first time. “Look, I…know you were trying your best for me, but you didn’t have to get in trouble for it,” she said.

“I’ll admit, it wasn’t my best idea,” I said giving her a half-smile. “I just…had to help somehow,” I continued.

“Yeah, and you got a bruise for your trouble,” she countered, pointing a hoof at my nose. “You’re an idiot. A brave idiot but…” she sighed. “Look, I don’t really have any friends here and you did a very selfless thing for me today even if it was…” she said.

“Stupid, I know,” I finished, wondering if I meant it. “I think I get what you’re saying, and for what it’s worth, I could use all the friends I could get here myself,” I said, staring back at the ground.

“Shining Armor, get over here this instant!” commanded an all too familiar voice from outside the door.

“That’s my dad…I think I have to go now,” I managed to say, wincing.

“Right, well, we can talk more tomorrow if you want,” she said, smiling slightly. “Thanks for the effort, but next time, make sure you watch your own flank too,” she suggested as I got up to leave.

“I’ll try Lightning Bolt. See ya tomorrow,” I said, slowly trotting out of the room where three colts and a filly continued to try to kill me through hatred alone.

“So, was this Lightning Bolt you’re fillyfriend?” Twilight asked while hopping excitedly.

“What!? No, she was just a friend,” Shining Armor stammered, taking a step back.

“Are you sure? Maybe I should tell Princess Cadance about your secret love,” Twilight said, grinning to herself.

“Why would you tell the Princess?” he said too quickly.

“Well, it’s obvious that you like her, and she would want to know about your other fillyfriends, right?” she asked with a sickly sweet tone to her voice.

“What?!” he repeated. “Who said I liked her?” he continued.

“Oh, well, I guess I’ll just tell her that you don’t like her then,” she continued with too much disappointment in her voice.

“Wait, I never said that…I mean I don’t…but…” he stumbled before finding his next argument. “Fine, but if you’re going to tell her that, I won’t continue the story,” he said.

“Well played B.B.B.F.F.,” she said, giving her brother a half smile. “But I really think you should tell her how you feel at some point, don’t you?” she advised.

Shining Armor sighed and declared “I will. But you are way too smart for your own good, you know that right?” Twilight simply smiled as she sat back down. “Now where was I…” her brother continued.

Dad was right outside and due to his ragged purple hair, half-closed eyes, frowning lips, and occasional snorting; I was beginning to regret my actions. I glanced back to see he was still carrying his saddlebags still stuffed with star charts, a few books, and his prized telescope hastily put in a case. “Dad…” I began.

“Don’t,” came the reply.

“But Dad, please just…” I stubbornly continued.

“Shining Armor, now is not the time,” he interrupted.

The journey back home was ponderously slow and I knew of libraries with more conversations. It turns out, ten minutes from the school was entirely too far away. I felt like the sun was nearly set by the time we got to the front door and Dad turned to me before I could make my way inside. “How many times am I going to have to take you home before you stop this madness?” he asked.

“Dad…I know that I made a mistake, but there was a filly in trouble and…” I started.

“You didn’t get a teacher,” he said flatly.

“That’s…well…that’s true,” I said.

“You aren’t at school to fight, you’re there to learn Shining Armor,” he continued. “You’re mother and I both love you, but you have to stop getting into trouble. You’re a smart colt and strong as well. I wager you could give most of the foals at school a good thrashing if you really wanted to but that’s not how we raised you,” he finished.

“Yeah, but Dad, I was trying to protect someone, doesn’t that count for something?” I asked softly.

Dad smirked slightly and said “Something, yes, but there are many alternatives to fighting. Your mother would be the first to inform you that training and authority make a protector, not just desire. Shining, I understand why you get in all these fights, but I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“I know Dad, I just…” I trailed off.

“I’ll discuss your punishment with your mother, but know this, I love you Shining, and I only want the best for you. Now go inside and get ready for dinner,” he said, opening the door magically with little thought and less effort. I cantered inside and tried to close the door with my magic but ultimately settled for a soft kick instead.

“Dear, our colt got himself in another fight!” Dad announced.

“Did he win?” Mom called back.

“I swear, you’re just encouraging him,” he grumbled as he strode off toward his bedroom.

Mom trotted into the front of the house as I was making my way to my room. “So how many was it this time kiddo?” she asked with a smile.

“Four, three unicorns and an earth pony,” I replied. It was best to give mom as many details as possible. I went over the whole fight, including what caused it. Mom listened with a slight smile but she had a habit of wincing every time I mentioned where they hit me. She seemed a bit disappointed by Miss Chain Reaction’s interference but nodded when I was finished.

“Quite the ruckus it would seem,” was her reply.

“That’s what you always say Mom,” I said, laughing despite myself.

“Well, it’s true!” she replied. “Son, I respect what you’re doing, and I understand where you’re coming from. I used to be quite the little fighter in my day…” she said wistfully.

“Yeah, but you’re a detective now, right? I mean you have training and a badge…” I muttered.

“True,” she answered, giggling. “However, you don’t do much fighting as a detective. I protect people with my wits now, not with my hooves.”

“I know you do important work Mom, but sometimes you have to help people right then and there,” I argued.

“Sometimes you do…but you can’t always step in for everypony,” she sighed.

“Huh? Why not?” I asked.

“I hope you never have to find out,” she said. Her eyes peered right at me but I got the impression she wasn’t seeing me at all. “For now though, we need to do something about all this fighting,” she said, winking.

“But Mom!” I protested feebly.

“No dear, your father has the right of it. We can’t have you fighting when other options are available. I know you were helping somepony, but I also know you can do better than resort to force every time. I’ll have to think on this, but you can at least expect no dessert tonight,” she said.

“Allright…” I moaned. Mom was not one to be trifled with and I couldn’t argue with her reasoning. “Can I go to my room now?” I pleaded.

“Sure thing dear, I’ll call you when we’re done cooking dinner,” she replied.

I crept my way into my room to catch the sun beginning to set out of my window. My bed was still disheveled from this morning so I simply jumped in to rest up from my earlier injuries. I glanced at The Canterlot Royal Guard through the Ages on my table, but decided I’d be better off going over today’s events instead of the past. I still couldn’t figure out what I had done wrong. Not exactly anyway. I mean, I knew I probably should have gone to a teacher, but why was it such a big deal to help a fellow pony? If I could, why shouldn’t I step in on another pony’s behalf? Mom was a part of the Canterlot Police Department and she must have been in lots of scraps helping ponies from all over Equestria but for some reason, my actions were different. I’m not sure exactly when it happened, but my eyes ended up closing pretty soon after I hit the hay. I remember dreaming that night of Mom being carried off by a dragon as I helplessly watched. Her words, ‘you can’t always step in for everypony’, were echoing in my mind.

End of Chapter One 

Author's Note:

It was my intention to occasionally go back to Twilight and Shining Armor in the present day (as far as the prologue is concerned). In order to accomplish this without confusion I decided to present those sections in italics but I concede I’m not sure how well it will translate for readers. Please send me any comments or questions regarding the story and I will do my best to address them. Also, I recognize not everyone has the time to assist with editing, but I know my work is far from perfect. If you notice anything wrong, from a typo to massive grammar errors, please feel free to let me know. Thank you for taking the time to read the beginning of this story. With any luck, I’ll have another chapter done soon in addition to readers interested in a second chapter.

Comments

[Storyteller27]

Great start on a story about a character I haven't seen much written about here. Please continue!