//------------------------------// // The punch of a lifetime. // Story: How to punch a prince and be hailed as a hero. // by Light Heart101 //------------------------------// “Hey Switch Blade, any sign of the train?” A guard asked as he was patrolling the train platform with his partner. The pegasus shrugged as he leaned against the wall. “None. Just chill out Hot Steel. Trains come in late every now and then.” “By half an hour. Usually, it’s a matter of five to fifteen minutes.” Steel said as he was feeling a little anxious. “There are a lot of angry ponies waiting for a train right now.” “That’s life. Odds are some large rocks or an uprooted tree landed on the tracks and they had to clear it.” Switch said as he saw the train finally coming. “See? You take this job too seriously.” “You would too if you let the kingdom get taken over a few times.” Steel sneered at the younger guard. He never liked it when he had to break in a new guard, and this one was just a bit too relaxed about this job. “Listen, kid, I lost three promotions, and I’m up for another. I’m not letting train duty take that away from me.” “Just chill. Magor stuff only happens once a year, if that. Being a royal guard is the easiest…” Switch’s voice trailed off as he saw the train pulling in.  They quickly saw that several windows were smashed inwards along with marks on the bottoms of them that looked like some group used grappling hooks to get in. They got a glimpse inside of a few carts and saw that they looked trashed. The seats were torn and luggage was tossed all over the room. The ponies they could see in there looked scared as they all sat quietly, hugging their hind legs in front of them. “You were saying?” Steel asked as he drew out his spear. “Rally on the train! We’ve got trouble!” He called out to the other guards as they all quickly turned their attention away from the crowd outside of the platform and made their way to the train, ready for some sort of attack. The train stopped in front of them just as the main door of the train opened up, revealing two ponies. The rainbow blur was quickly recognizable as Rainbow Dash, but only a few guards and officers recognized the unicorn next to her. Lieutenant Book Knight. A lot of guards knew that Book was the only guard in Ponyville, functioning more like a one pony police force. Even though he never took on any major things in Ponyville, he was infamous for being one of the recruits who took combat training too seriously, making it a point to be the best fighter there. A lot of guards questioned if all Book did was just his policing of a small town. Both Book and Dash looked bruised and tired as they walked towards the guards “Book! What happened here?” Steel asked before saluting the officer. “Had to make an unwanted stop. Get these ponies checked and have somepony write down their testimonies. You may also want to get the backup train running. This one is a little worn out.” Book explained as he walked past them. “I have to do my monthly report. I can also mention this incident while I’m there, so take your time.” “W… was there some kind of trouble?” Switch asked as Dash was walking past him. “Just some extra luggage in the back. If nopony claims it, just hold it till Celestia figures out what to do with it.” Dash said with a small grin before limping behind Book. “I have to see whats got Twilight here for so long. She never tells us how long these business meetings will take.” The guards all looked curious as they stared helping the traumatized ponies out of the train. Steel and Switch quickly opened the luggage compartment and gasped as they saw a pile of tied up diamond dogs in masks and hoods. “Well, looks like Book had the fun part. I would have loved to have a good fight.” Switch tried to scoff before getting a glair from his partner. “You’d be the first one to run away.” Steel said bluntly as they started to take their new prisoners into custody. Book and Dash were both practically dragging their hooves to the castle after the large fight they were in to keep the passengers from being kidnapped.  “A flipping train attack after a show and two straight days of practice? My wings are going to be sore for a month. They already feel like they are on fire. I need to beg Spitfire for some RNR before I burn myself out.” Dash whined as she was following Book towards the castle, noticing his face wasn’t showing any pain whatsoever. “You seem to have taken this beating better than I have.” “I’m used to the fighting for… reasons. I just wished I had my armor this time. I could have had that mess done so much sooner.” Book admitted as he was feeling the sting of his unprotected body. Dash gulped as she nodded at him. “Yeah, I know about you and your hero work…” Book stopped in his tracks as he turned to Dash. “Okay, who told you?” He asked sternly, not liking it when other ponies know about his secret identity. “Twi ranted to me and the rest of us six about how much she hates you. It’s kinda sad. I thought you two were friends once. Now with your night…” She was cut off by Book raising a hoof to her lips. “That’s classified, and I protect ponies from things you and your friends wouldn’t even want to see. I do what I do so that nopony else has to.” Book said harshly before noticing how intimidated Dash was by his reaction. Book sighed as he reigned in his emotions. “I’m sorry, but Twilight’s pacifism can’t change what’s out there. Sometimes fighting is the only answer.” Book whispered to Dash calmly. Dash simply raised her hooves. “Don’t worry about me. I frankly think it’s cool. So… how do you deal with day and night shifts?” Book sighed as he rubbed his sore shoulder. “The rough way. Two hours of sleep three times a day, and a lot of caffeine.” Dash cringed at the thought of having such little sleep. “Ouch. That must come into a lot of overtime and vacation time.” “I do get well paid, even though I invest a part of it into improving my gear. A lot of that money I just invest through the crown. As for vacation time, I have over six months saved up, but I don’t get to use it.” Book explained as they kept walking. “What?!? All of that work on your own and no breaks?” Dash asked in shock. “Somepony has to do the job, and even though my night shift isn’t something that needs constant watching, I am Ponyville’s only officer. So the only times I get RNR is when I get hurt enough to go to the doctor.”  Book said somberly.  Dash didn’t know how to respond to a pony who pushes himself far more than she does. “Wow… I guess that’s why you got that bad attitude. It makes my bruises a lot feel a lot better. Maybe I can talk to Celestia about letting you sleep for a while and rest?” “No. Luna has already stayed up long enough for my report. Just give me a hot shower and I’ll be ready to talk to her.” Book assured Dash. “Yeah, I can use a shower as well.” Dash agreed before a couple of guards stopped them.  “Excuse us, but we regret to tell you that the showers in the palace are out of commission.” One of the guards explained to the visitors. “There is some plumbing work going on and it won’t be finished for a couple of hours. Celestia requested that we tell you to use the guard’s locker rooms to clean up.” Dash groaned in frustration. “Seriously? Why does this have to happen now of all days?” “What? Did you think fairies brought in the water?” Book asked Dash as he kept a cool head about it. “Listen, do they have locker rooms in the Wonderbolts?” “Yeah. Why?” Dash asked Book as he started leading her to the barracks. “It’s just like that, but a little bigger.” Book explained. Dash raised an eyebrow at that remark. “I’d understand you knowing what the royal guard’s locker rooms look like, but how would you know what ours look like?” “A random tip that Luna had me look into. I found nothing interesting, but Spitfire sleeps with her eyes open, and Fire Streak shouldn’t be put on night duty.” Book said bluntly. Dash didn’t feel comforted by his admission to sneaking into the Wonderbolt base, even if he was authorized by Luna to do so. The two beaten ponies made their way to the barracks and were soon discouraged by the ladies’ locker room. They knew that it was getting towards mid-day, meaning the cleaning crew had already started their rounds and were now working on the ladies’ locker room. Book and Dash groaned as they both walked into the only one available. “We don’t get private shower stalls in our base. How about here?” Dash asked Book as they walked inside. “Not a chance,” Book muttered as he wiped the sweat off of his head. “I think I’ll just skip the shower and just wash my face and hooves.” Dash nodded as they walked to the sinks. “Same. I want to know what kind of nut makes these decisions.” As the two fighters were cleaning themselves off a couple of more royal ponies walked in. One of them was one of Dash’s best friends, Twilight Sparkle. The other one was less than pleasurable, Prince Blueblood. He was notorious for being an entitled pain to most of the ponies in the castle. Rarity was the first pony in the main six who had met him in person, but she soon realized that he was nothing but a pretty face and a nuisance. Dash ended running into him a few times through her Wonderbolt shows, so she got to confirm it. Even Pinkie and Applejack ended up taking a few hits from his suggested tax increases. Twilight was the least familiar with the prince’s annoying habits, but it was mainly due to her only seeing him in meetings alongside the princesses. Thus she got to see his professional side while he looked at her as an equal. Dash assumed that since it has been a long time since the first gala, Twilight thought that Blueblood had changed. Book, however, knew how annoying Blueblood was. He was a recruit in the royal guard once, and all guards were circled around when it came to security positions. So Book had to guard the little prince a few times, putting up with his snide remarks and arrogant attitude, let alone the dumb tasks he’d give them. Pressing his clothes, cleaning his hooves, etc. Book was glad that Blueblood wasn’t an officer. Guys like that tend to make dumb choices that can waste ponies time. Then again, it’s not like he’s doing any better now. The spoiled prince looked rather irritated by the thought of using the common locker rooms instead of his personal bathroom, but it looked like he wanted to be here that late.  Dash gave a soft groan as she saw him. “Great. Now he may ask us to find some way to get him a bath.” “Not on his life,” Book said bluntly, not even looking at the prince. “Why do you say that?” Dash whispered to him. “Because you are an element of harmony in front of Twilight, and I don’t give five bits what he says.” Book explained as he started trying to scrub his hooves off. “Dude, you are a guard.” Dash tried to point out to him. “That reports directly to Luna. I don’t have to take orders from the snowflake.” Book said as he saw how concerned Dash looked for him. “What’s he going to do? Tax me?” Book asked with a small grin, earning a chuckle from the speedster. Blueblood huffed as he stepped up to one of the sinks and started working on his own mane. “And I thought all the common ponies had left already. It is so hard to ” Twilight shook her head as she walked over to Dash. “It’s Dash and a guard from Ponyville. They were probably in that late train. It’s nice to see you are okay Dash.” The princess said before patting Dash on the back, earning a whimper from the flyer. “More or less.” “It’s good to be here Twi,” Dash said before biting her lip as she looked at Blueblood. She hated him, but she knew better than to take back to him. “Prince Blueblood.” Book turned to acknowledge the two ponies who didn’t really like him. “Princess.” Blueblood looked slightly irritated as he faced the pony. “Aren’t you forgetting somebody?” Book slowly let out a deep breath before he decided to have some fun with him. “Oh… hi Twilight.” Book said as he turned to the mare, earning a gasp from both of them and a stifled giggle from Dash. “Shouldn’t you be joining the other guards or something?” Twilight asked through gritted teeth. “Yep. Dash is helping me. We’re going to join them into one big guard.” Book quipped again, enjoying being able to get under the prince’s skin. “I should have you report to me for this insubordination,” Blueblood said angrily as he faced Book. “Just to let you know, my current position only allows me to report to Luna, and under certain circumstances Celestia. I was given direct orders not to take orders from anybody else without permission or under extreme circumstances. Right now the most extreme thing you are capable of doing is brushing your teeth.” Book said firmly, glad that he didn’t have to bow to this stuck up brat. “H… how dare you!!!” Blueblood sputtered out. “That’s telling him,” Dash said through a small giggle as she nudged Book, wanting to hear him make fun of the jerk. Twilight huffed at Book as she tried to talk to him. “I’ll have you know that we have spent this morning going over some very important business!” “You two were trying to figure out what color the stripe on his jacket should be? It’s easy. Yellow.” Book quipped again. “Actions speak louder than words, your highnesses. That’s why I am able to handle more thugs than you can… wait, I have to translate for Blueblood…” Twilight gave a soft growl as she tried speaking again. “I’ll have you know that I did not become royalty by sitting around!” Book scoffed at her. “Well, somepony did.” “WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!?” Twilight yelled at the fighter, feeling ridiculed by the vigilante who is able to get away with his antics. Book just smiled as he looked at the stallion. “Tired lately Blueblood?” Twilight tried speaking again, but she wasn’t nearly as witty as Dash when she was dealing with a stallion who doesn’t care about her position on violence. Blueblood raised his head up as Book and Dash were both chuckling. “Well! I will not be insulted by some commoners!” “Oh, we’re royalty. We were just switched in our cribs at birth. We’re identical princesses.” Dash said as she started laughing at how ticked Blueblood was. “Go run to your auntie, just not Luna. We are going to be having a grown-up talk, and you need to have your applesauce before your bedtime.” Book quipped once more. Blueblood was fuming as this simple guard was insulting him and getting away with it. He could have tried raising more of a fuss about this, but he figured a brute like this needed a more hooves-on approach. Blueblood grabbed a hoof-towel and started spinning it, wanting to put this pony in his place. “Dash, back away.” He ordered firmly as the speedster backed away. He then turned to Twilight and gave her a courtesy bow. “Forgive me for doing this in front of you.” As Book turned the water off on the sink, he felt a sharp snap as the towel slapped his flank, right on a rather sore bruise. “There! Maybe now you can learn some respect for a superior stallion.” Blueblood said snidely as he tossed the towel aside. Book tensed up as his eyes started to glow. It was a medical condition he had that was a sign that his heart rate was increasing. He had just finished a case of his own that had him working all week. Then he had the lousy train attack. Now he had to deal with a brat that wanted to try and impress a princess. Twi seemed to smirk at the blow Book took, which only fueled his frustration. As Book turned to Dash, he saw that she was offering a hoof-towel to him too. Book gave her a small smile as he took the towel and started patting his right hoof dry with it. He started softly at first before he increased his strength in his pats, feeling his temper reaching its limit. Before anybody could react or stop Book, the fighter dropped the towel and spun at the prince. Book leaped to his hind hooves, only giving Blueblood a second to realize what was going to happen. The prince could only stare in horror as Book’s hoof landed square on his chin, knocking him onto the floor. Twilight gasped in shock as she saw the prince laying on the ground while Book turned back to the sink and started humming to himself contently. Dash quickly tried to help the prince up, but as he got up he tried pushing Dash away. “Get off of me!” “I’m a Wonderbolt, not a hoofball player.” Dash tried to lighten the mood and protect Book from the prince’s anger, but she was too late. Blueblood wasn’t dumb enough to try punching back, remembering Book’s reputation of being an amazing hoof to hoof fighter. However, he knew the crime Book brought on himself and was unafraid to press him on it. “NOW YOU HAVE DONE IT!!! You struck royalty! That’s a court-martial offense! You’ll be in jail for up to ten years, and I have two witnesses!!!” Dash knew that she wasn’t dumb enough to try to fight with Blueblood, but she was willing enough to lie for Book Knight, especially after doing something she wanted to do after a long time. She knew Twi wouldn’t protect Book, but she decided that Book needed some help this time. She just hoped that Twilight would forgive her for this. She turned to Book with a small smile as she acted obliviously. “I didn’t see anything. Did you, Book?” Book grinned as he had Dash backing her up. “Nope. Sorry, Bluey. The case is dismissed.” Book said as he and Dash were walking off, the pegasus whispering to Book excitedly about how epic that punch was. Twilight was fuming as she yelled at the two wounded ponies. “DASH!!! DON’T DEFEND HIM!!! I’M A WITNESS!!!” As she turned her attention to the prince, she saw that there was already a sizable bruise forming on his chin. Twilight quickly tried to comfort him and started taking him to the nurse’s office in the barracks. Blueblood started sniffling due to the pain his chin was in. “Don't any of the guards like me?” Luna was tired, as usual. She had another long night and had to contend with staying up late for Book to show up. First, the train was late, then she learned that Book and Dash had to fight off bandits on the train. Now Book is standing in the private meeting room with her nephew who was wanting to lock away the knight for a right hook. She just gave a soft sigh as she tried to appease the prince, knowing that Book had recently finished a dangerous threat that she assigned to Book in order to keep this out of the eyes of the public. “Blueblood, please try to calm down. A lot of the guards have been on edge this week with the threats of those timberwolf raiders. I even blew up at Tia the other day, and we were able to settle it like adults.” She tried to assure him before turning to Book. “Book, may you kindly apologize?” Book actually seemed rather calm and relaxed as he spoke rather gently. “Prince Blueblood. I’m sorry.” He said as he was hiding his grin on the side of his face that Blueblood couldn’t see. Luna knew he wasn’t sincere, but this was good enough for her. “Great! See? Now you two can just put this behind you and get back to your duties.” Blueblood huffed as he turned his head towards Luna. “I will not accept his apology! I want him court-martialed!” Luna winced at the idea of losing Equestria’s superhero. “Blueblood!!! Look, how about I take your duties for the day and let you two go to the opera house?” Book shook his head. “I can’t stand to hear a pony cry.” He said cryptically. Blueblood gritted his teeth before whining to his aunt. “Auntie!!!” “Blueblood!!! Don’t you even know how hard it is to court-martial a pony?!? I’ve haven’t had to do it since my banishment. I can’t help you with any of the… whatever rules there are concerning it nowadays!” Luna whined before a thestral captain walked forward. This captain was a part of Luna’s personal security and was listening with the guards who had to be inside to make sure that Book and Blueblood don’t go at it with each other. “Ma’am! The offender is required to be put under house arrest until an investigation is completed and a preliminary trial is accomplished. If the offender doesn’t live in the city then quarters will have to be provided. He will be put under heavy guard and will be allowed all necessary accommodations.” The thestrial said as she stood at attention. Book raised an eyebrow at what she said. “So all I have to do is relax all day in a private room? Not a prison cell?” “As an officer, yes.” The thestrial explained. Normally Book wouldn’t be up for a break, but he only had to deal with a major threat or assignment once or twice a month, and he already dealt with three, not including the train. He was starting to get worn out, and his body was actually starting to seize-up on him. He knew that Blueblood wasn’t going to let him go, so why not take the win? Book calmly turned to the prince and grinned. “I want a lawyer and some ointment for my wounds. Besides that, set an alarm for me tomorrow at eight AM.” Blueblood scoffed at the relaxed pony. “Oh, you are calm now, but what will happen when you are locked in Tartarus for ten years?!?” Book shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe get married?” Luna sighed as she realized that she had no choice about this. The Shadow Knight would be out of commission for who knows how long, and if Book was convicted, he’d be gone permanently, even after Book’s sentence. She knew that Book could be dishonorably discharged and he either didn’t recognize the danger he was in yet or was simply expecting this case to go his way. Either way, she had to do her duty. “Fine. Guards, escort Book into a VIP room in the palace, and stand guard until some assigned guards can relieve you. I will assign a few others to bring his food to him. After that I will message his relatives and start the process of finding an attorney for him. Once Dash is done with the medical check she will be interviewed. I will kindly ask you, Blueblood, not to have contact with her without two guards present, and you are not allowed to pressure her in any form. Until further notice, you are under house arrest.” Luna explained while gesturing the guards to escort the others out.  Book didn’t put up a fight as the guards were escorting him closely, but not roughly in any way. Blueblood just kept his head up high as he was trying to hold onto his dignity. As the two of them walked off, Celestia walked into the room, curious about the bruised ponies. “Luna, what happened here?” Luna scowled as she walked past her sister. “It’s your shift. You handle the court-martial investigation!” She barked as she stormed to her bedroom. Celestia just stared blankly as she tried to figure out what in her name happened.