"Is Skyward gonna be okay, Doc?"

Dr. Black Bag or known affectionately to the town of Appleloosa as 'Doc', glanced at the group of ponies surrounding him and adjusted his spectacles, looking at Applejack in particular, since she had been the one who had spoken. "Ya don’ need t’ worry none. She'll make a full recovery, but she's gotta stay here in Appleloosa; she cain't be moved anywhere right now. Stingin's knife missed her right lung, thankfully, but she ain't gonna be doin' any swordplay or magic fer a good while. That thunderbolt she conjured was one hay of a light show...gee whiz."

"Dr. Black Bag, when can she be moved to Ponyville?" Twilight Sparkle asked, and the dusky gray and salt n’ pepper mane and tailed stallion looked at the purple unicorn mare, sighing and adjusting his spectacles. He was an Earth Pony but that didn't stop him none from earning his medical degree and becoming a doctor. "Within 'bout three weeks, mebbe less if she behaves herself. Fer now though...she's gotta recover here. She lost a lot o' blood in that fight. Stingin' was too good with a knife...always wuz. He always knew 'xactly where t' cut somepony."

Applejack shook out her mane. "Ah'll stay here with Skyward, Twi. Braeburn's gonna need help applebuckin' anyhow this season. Ya'll can come out here whenever t' check on Skyward as well."

“Great! Cause when I come down to visit Skyward, it’s gonna be time to PAR-TAY!”

Fluttershy headbutted her pink party pony friend, shaking her head at her. "Pinkie, no! Skyward can't party right now, look at her! She’s too hurt to even get up from what that big dumb meany did to her!"

Pinkie’s mane deflated a little but puffed right back up soon after. "Oh...right. Well then when she comes back to Ponyville I'll throw three parties for her!"

"Three? Why three, Pinkie Pie?" Twilight asked with confusion, perking her ears.

The pink party pony giggled, popping out from behind the bed. "Weeeeelllll....first party would be because she rescued Apple Bloom from that super mean and nasty Nettle pony...second would be because she won that epic awesome super-duper cool battle out on the prairie...and third cause...SHE FINALLY GOT HER CUTIE MARK! WHEEEEE!"

Pinkie Pie fired off her party cannon with a 'squee' and a shower of blue, purple and silver confetti: eyes widened all over the room and Twilight yanked back the covers to see for herself. Sure enough...there on Skyward's flank were three golden triangles stacked in a pyramid…and the lower right triangle was filled in solidly, while the other two were empty.

"She....she finally got it. After all this time--she got her cutie mark," Twilight murmured, a broad smile spreading across her muzzle, and she exchanged excited grins amongst her friends. Even though they knew a certain rodeo pony was going to have to be told everything now…

"Wonder what the last part o' her name's gonna be?"

"Skyward Sword?"

Spike snorted. "Nah. That's practically a no brainer and it’s NOT COOL to copy somepony else."

"Well...how about Skyward Strike?"

"...Do you know how idiotic that sounds, Rainbow Dash?"

"S'not like you're coming up with anything, Rarity, and she DOES carry a sword yanno..."

"Oh please, she is a battlemage after all...Skyward Flare?"

Rainbow Dash mimed sticking a hoof down her throat and gagging, and Rarity stomped her hoof in a huff.

"Umm...maybe Skyward Sonata?"

Twilight shook her head. "Fluttershy, she can’t sing..."

Trouble Shoes, who hadn't left Skyward's side since she'd collapsed; or at least until Doc had chased him out of the operating room in the Appleloosan Acres Hospice, gazed at the sleeping mare and ran a hoof tenderly over her mane. His mind replayed the terrible battle out in the Appleloosan prairie...yet one thing came to mind. It was when she had emerged triumphant, sorely wounded from her battle, yet Apple Bloom she had kept safe at any cost. She had protected the filly, as if she were her own mother, or big sister.

Protect...

Skyward's very nature was to protect ponies that couldn't protect themselves. Seeing Apple Bloom in mortal danger--that alone he knew would have galvanized the unicorn mare into action. She did not act until she knew somepony was in real trouble. Like...like a guardian angel...or...

"Skyward Spirit."

The chatter and arguing in the room screeched to a halt, and they all looked at Trouble Shoes. Twilight approached the large stallion, tilting her head. "Wha...what did you say?"

He shook his mane out of his eyes. "...Ah don' understand why she had to earn her cutie mark to git a last name...but...she reminds me of a guardian spirit. She's always there protecting the ponies that need help th' most. Sorta like whut th' buffalo tribe tell tales of...protective spirits that watch o'er them an' come in t' help when they need it. Ain't she exactly that t' anypony that needs help?"

The Mane Six and the Doc looked at one another and Applejack grinned at the rodeo clown star. "Seems lahke ya chose a real good name for her. Might wanna run that past her when she wakes up, though."

"Mind tellin' me why? Ah'd ask Skyward, but she's...well..."

Rarity thanked the doctor profusely for his help, escorting him out and asking for advice on what would be best for Skyward while the others came to sit near their injured friend. Applejack took off her hat, glancing at the others. The cat was out of the bag for sure now what with Skyward’s cutie mark exposed, and there was no hiding from the truth. She gestured to the puzzled looking stallion.

"Now Ah want ya t' keep in mind that if ya had asked Skyward this, she'd tell ya nuthin' more than the honest truth, Trouble Shoes. But ya see, th' whole reason why is..."

One by one, each mare (sans Rarity for a few minutes) took their turn telling of Skyward's origins, showing the stallion the make of her sword and the odd design on her shield, and the danger her own world was like. The battles the mare had fought, the magic she knew, and why she spoke so oddly. They also told him about what her cutie mark meant and why she had to return to Hayrule—to free her homeland from Ganondorf’s vile hoof.

"So... she’s seekin' a way back t' her home?"

"Actually, Trouble...she doesn't wanna go back to Hayrule anymore. And yer the reason why."

The large stallion blinked in surprise, and Applejack bit her lip. "Don' tell her Ah said this. But yer th' only stallion who's treated her like a real lady. An', she honest t’ Celestia loves ya. Hay, anypony can see how much she cares about ya, problem is, she’s shy, she doesn't know what to do, and she doesn't want t' hurt ya if she does find a way back t' her realm. She loves ya that much t' think 'bout yer feelin's before her own, Trouble Shoes."

Spike approached, hopping up on a chair so he could better see the big stallion. "The thing is, knowing what you know now, Trouble Shoes, how does that affect your feelings for her knowing who she is and where she comes from? Or the fact she is honor bound to return to free her land from that rogue mage?"

"Ah still love her. Don' see why no other stallion wouldn' want t' keep her, considerin’ all th’ amazin’ things she’s done.”

The purple unicorn mare shook her head as she spoke. “Most of them were just too stupid to see it, Trouble Shoes…and well, the rest of them only had one thing on their minds. You’re the only pony who sees her for who she really is, and who loves her for it regardless. You’re the kind of stallion she needs. When we weren’t there for her, you were. You made her laugh, you kept her safe, and you made her happy. When we teased her, you stood up for her and comforted her.”

“But if she has t' go back t' keep her land safe from that crazy unicorn thief...mebbe...Ah could go with her."

Needless to say, every single jaw in the room was struggling to get off the ground. Rarity was the first to speak.

"So...you are saying...you'd give up your life here in Equestria...just to be with Skyward Spirit? You would follow her wherever she went? You would do anything to stay with her?"

Trouble Shoes nodded mutely, turning his head to nuzzle the sleeping mare gently...and winced when Rarity squealed so loud he had to flatten his ears clear down against his head.

"THAT IS SO ROMANTIC! EEEEEE! WHO KNEW SUCH CHIVALRY AND TRUE LOVE EXISTED..."

Applejack quickly grabbed a cork from an empty cider bottle nearby and stuffed it in Rarity's mouth. "Rarity, shut th' buck up! Skyward's tryin' to sleep an' ya heard what Doc said 'bout her gittin' rest! Geez!"

"Okay, everypony outta here. Now. Let Skyward sleep. Besides, I get the feeling those two have a lot to discuss once she does awaken...and NO EAVESDROPPING, Rarity," Twilight said sternly as she levitated her friend and walked out of the door with the others following. Rainbow Dash giggled and bumped Pinkie Pie, who giggled back in return and winked. Trouble Shoes snorted softly, shaking his head...

But he turned his gaze back to the sleeping unicorn mare and rested his head against hers, softly nuzzling her and carefully as he could cradling her in his front hooves. Though it had embarrassed him to admit it...he knew it was no lie. He did love her.

He only could hope that she loved him just as much in return.

*****************************************************************************************************

Slowly, Skyward awakened again in a bed, grimacing at the dull throbbing pain in her side, and the smell of medicine reached her nose.

(The buck am I doing in a healing cot...oh. Right. I cannot believe I won that battle. Never mind that freak lightning bolt! I know I didst not summon that-would not, not with Apple Bloom within range! Apple Bloom...if she got out of that lightning strike okay, one prays she...ow ow...)

Skyward sucked in a painful breath and gritted her teeth but was unable to suppress a moan of pain. The faint sound of agony was enough to bring Trouble Shoes from the other room, where he'd gone (at Applejack and Rainbow Dash's constant prodding) to go eat something since he refused to leave Skyward's side for any reason, aside from bathroom breaks and baths. The pain wracked mare looked up and met his leaf green eyes from across the room...and she smiled, albeit wanly at him...before she hissed and curled up a little. Knowing what was wrong, the stallion carefully meandered to her side, and removed a dark brown bottle and a spoon from the nightstand near her bed. He unscrewed the cap, fumbling a few times and earning a few curses that made Skyward snicker, then whimper in pain again, before he filled the spoon and held it to her lips for her to take.

Skyward normally would have made a face at the spoon and its contents before resignedly taking it, but she was in too much pain to do so, and she swallowed the bitter liquid, trying not to taste it. She barely managed to swallow it, and drank from the cup of water that Trouble Shoes gave her.

"...thank thee...ah...it hurts..."

"Ah know, sugarcube. Here...lie back, it'll kick in a bit."

Skyward did lay back...give or take within fifteen minutes the medicine did its work and she was able to breathe without pain.

"Feelin' better, Skyward Spirit?"

"...I shalt be when this heals and... what didst thou call me?" She looked at him, eyes wide in shock, and Trouble Shoes smiled at her warmly. "Ah called ya Skyward Spirit. Sorta fits ya given how ya protect those who need a guardian pony of sorts."

He saw the conflict in her eyes, and he gently gathered her close and nuzzled her, making her stiffen up and blush furiously. "No need t' worry. Applejack an' the others tole me 'bout where yer really from."

Her ears lowered and she bowed her head. "If thou art angry with me for not telling thee, one understands..."

Trouble Shoes gently turned her head with one hoof so she was looking at him. "Skyward, Ah honestly don' care where yer really from. Ah gotta admit though, Ah'm amazed at half the stuff ya did, an' have done. But it only goes t' show ya fit yer name...a skyward spirit that protects the little ones, who protects ponies in danger."

"Trouble Shoes, if they didst tell thee about mine home, thou knowest then I cannot complete my name unless I earn my cutie mark, and I hath not yet."

The stallion's smile didn't leave his face--instead, it only grew, and Skyward blinked at him in confusion. "What? What is so amusing?"

"Think 'bout this fer a second. Ya said ya cain't complete yer name until ya earned yer cutie mark, right?"

"Aye...that is the way of it..."

"So what would happen iffen ya did?"

"...My completed name would depend on what I did to earn it even if I hath not yet..."

Skyward suddenly trailed off as Trouble Shoes's grin got even bigger. The Haylian mare bit her lower lip and looked over at the blankets covering her up and swallowed hard. She took a slow breath, reached out with one hoof and scowled when she saw she was visibly shaking. A much larger, nut brown and white furred hoof covered her own, and she looked into Trouble Shoes's leaf green eyes, and he smiled softly at her, giving her a nod. Together, she pulled back the blankets with his help...

Tears stung her eyes and a joyful laugh erupted from the Haylian mare's mouth when she beheld the trio of golden triangles on her flank.

"I....I cannot believe...I...I earned..."

"Ya earned yer cutie mark all right, sugarcube. An' ya did it defendin' Apple Bloom. Ya chased that wretch clear out t' the prairie an' ya made sure Apple Bloom made it out okay. S'why...s'why I came up with Skyward Spirit...ye're like a guardian pony o' legend who protects ponies when they need it most, and guides th' young'uns. Th' others tole me about how ya taught those three fillies a few things."

"...Skyward Spirit...hmm."

She turned and gave him a real, unalloyed smile that made his heart race madly in his chest...Sweet Celestia; she looked so beautiful when she smiled like that...

"Then I accept thy suggestion. Skyward Spirit wilt be my name."

Trouble Shoes gave her a hug, pleased she had found his choice acceptable, easing up when she winced in pain and shifted a little. "Aah-ah...ow...forgive me...it..."

"S'all right. Yeah...yer gonna be stuck in this here bed fer a good while. Stingin' Nettle really cut ya up good. So...ya like th' name Ah picked fer ya?"

"I love it. I am just sorry my friends did not help thee choose a name for me."

The stallion winked at her. "Oh b'lieve me, they did. Ah think ya dodged a bullet, t' be honest."

Skyward Spirit raised an eyebrow. "Wait. Please tell me they didst not..."

Trouble Shoes smirked at her. "Ya shoulda heard half th' stuff they were comin' up with...Skyward Flash? Mebbe...Skyward Sonata?"

Skyward Spirit snorted at the first one and rolled her eyes at the second, and Trouble Shoes laughed heartily. "Didn' think so, sweetheart." Hearing him call her that, made her blush all the more, and she plucked at the blanket with her hooves, looking down at it.

"Hm...yer so darn cute when ya blush."

Her ears went up and she looked at him wide eyed before ducking her head again, and he chuckled, brushing a strand of her mane out of her face. A royal blue eye regarded him shyly from the parted curtain of royal blue and indigo, and he smiled softly at her, earning a soft giggle in response, then a wince and coughing, and he gently pushed her back down onto the covers.

"Ya rest now, sugarcube; feel like eatin' anythin'?"

"Nay...just...might one ask thou something?"

"Sure thing, sweetpea. Whut is it?"

"...stay with me?"

Her voice was soft, almost too soft to hear. But he heard her all the same, and he gently tucked the covers around her, giving her a smile that threatened to make her heart melt...

"Ah'll be right here fer ya, Skyward Spirit. And Ah'll be here when ya wake up. That's a promise."

She laid a hoof over his, smiling as she allowed the medicine to pull her into sleep. Her eyes slid shut--before she drifted into true slumber, she swore she could have felt something brush her cheek before true sleep claimed her.

**************

True to his word, Trouble Shoes was right there when Skyward Spirit awakened from her nap. He too was sleeping, and she couldn't help but smile at the sight, and nuzzled him before she could stop herself. Blushing furiously, she curled close to the stallion and gazed at him, her muzzle mere inches from his own.

(...To think he cares for me. After what...what they did, one would never think of being loved again. But...what I felt for Jade Mist and Dark Wind...that was not love. Nay...this...this must be love. Not even those two gelded bastards stirred mine heart the way Trouble Shoes has. And unlike those two; Trouble Shoes has been naught but honest and loving...)

She sobered when she caught sight of her shield, leaning innocuously against the wall. The symbol of Hayrule reminded her of her duty to her land, her people, and her princess...a tear slipped from her eye and slid down her muzzle...

She heard a noise, and turned her head only to come in contact with a soft white muzzle, and she blinked. Then she felt the blood rush to her face when she remembered just WHO that muzzle was attached to...

"Aw, sugarcube. Why are ya cryin'? Yer not hurtin' ya again, is it? Let me get ya some more medicine."

He was about to move when she suddenly curled against him, burying her face in his neck even though her entire body screamed in protest when she did. "...Please...do not leave me alone..."

She almost cried when he resumed his former position, that of being curled around her, and began stroking her mane with one great hoof. "Ah ain't goin' anywhere, Skyward Spirit."

"...ye can still call me Skyward if thou wish..."

Trouble Shoes just smiled down at the pretty Haylian mare and nuzzled her--Skyward Spirit choked back a sob at that, and looked up at him. "What?"

" 'Nuthin. Jest want t' look at ya."

She snickered and winced, despite herself. "Oh come now; I likely look like something straight out of one of those 'terror flicks' Pinkie Pie likes to watch so much. I'm a right mess...always was after a major battle..."

She snorted in amusement, turning her head and came literally nose to nose with Trouble Shoes, who gazed down into her wide royal blue eyes. He lifted a hoof and brushed some of her mane out of her face, and she found herself leaning into his touch.

"Now ya lissen here, missy. Ah think I done told ya not t' talk yaself down like that. Iffen ya say somethin' that silly again, Ah'm gonna kiss ya t' shut ya up."

Skyward was torn between laughing herself sick or staring at him in shock...the buck did he just get done saying?

"Wha...what...what did ye just..."

(Outside the room, Rarity stuffed her hooves into her mouth to keep from squealing out loud; oooooohhhh this was getting good!)

The Haylian unicorn stared at the impishly grinning earth pony before a matching smirk found itself onto her face. "Is that so."

"Yup."

"I take it I do not hath the option of teleporting."

"Nope. Yer still healin'. Yer stuck in this bed with me until yer fightin' fit again."

Skyward blushed madly at his choice of words but she shrugged, barely able to keep the grin from finding its way to her muzzle. "Hmm...one supposes; still, I hope I am pleasant enough company, I do not want thee to think that...mmmf!"

Skyward Spirit's eyes flew wide when Trouble Shoes, true to his warning, pulled her close and kissed her right on the mouth. Her eyes fluttered closed and she let him kiss her...he was so warm and gentle, yet his grip on her was firm, not harsh. He let her go sooner than she wanted, but he was smiling at her, and drew her close to him to nuzzle her cheek.

"Ah warned ya."

She chuckled, returning the nuzzle with one in kind, and silently giggling at his own blush. "So thou did. Hmm--one had best watch oneself then."

A playful gleam entered his eyes and she barely held back a laugh. "Now hold on there a second, Ah think Ah'm th' one who's gonna be keepin' an eye on ya, sugarcube."

"Oh really...who made thou the boss, may one ask?"

Trouble Shoes was grinning at her banter, pressing his face right against hers...though their grins were matching wicked smirks, their eyes told a different story entirely. "Ah did, ya got a problem with that...sweetheart?"

"Hmm...let one think a moment...nope," she replied, mimicking his drawl as best she could before she took his muzzle in her hooves and kissed him...and he immediately kissed her back, pulling her into his forelegs and embracing her as best he could without causing her pain. Skyward surrendered to him instantly, wrapping her forelegs around him in return and pulling him closer with a soft purr of happiness.

(Outside a certain white unicorn mare was wriggling in delight and muffling her squees of joy behind her hooves)

When they finally let up for air, Trouble Shoes gathered Skyward Spirit close and cradled her in his forelegs, smiling like a foal. Celestia and Luna, he loved her so much. He hated seeing her in pain...speaking of which...

"Really now, why were ya cryin', Skyward? Ah don' like seein' ya cry iffen Ah can help it."

He softly nuzzled her and she turned her face into his neck. "...There are times I despise being a battle mage of Hayrule...and this is one of them."

"Skyward, Ah ain't leavin' ya. Yeah, yer friends tole me what yer up against; an' if ya do have t' go back to Hayrule--Ah'm comin' with ya."

Needless to say, that shocked her and she stared up at him, eyes wide and mouth open. "Y-you...Trouble...what...Goddesses...what about thine life here? You wouldst give all that up? Why?"

"Because yer worth it. Skyward, Ah love ya, an' Ah'm gonna make sure ya know it, all th' time. Ya've been alone fer so long, an' from what I gathered, somepony hurt ya real bad, didn't they?"

"...ye do not know the half of it. They did, in more ways than one."

He snorted, ears slicking back a bit. "Yeah well; anypony dumb enough to mess with MY mare is gonna be gittin' a good buck clear 'cross that there Hayrule Field o' yers; honey, what's wrong?"

"...Nay, I...(sniff) I am fine...just...just not used...to being wanted...loved by somepony..."

"Well git used t' it, Skyward. Ya ain't gonna shake me that easy. I love ya, Skyward Spirit."

She smiled through her happy tears, snuggling into his chest and he smiled down at his marefriend, nuzzling her soft mane and just content to hold her close to him. "...I love thou as well, Trouble Shoes."

The large stallion smiled, nuzzling her mane and her cheek. "So, d'ya have any family back home?"

"Aye...my sire, Mossy Boulder, and my elder brother, Tempest Wing. He is a pegasus. My mother...my mother was a unicorn, same as I. Her name was Inferno Flare."

Trouble Shoes softly kissed her cheek, making her look up at him. "Ah take it then she's..."

She mutely nodded as she bowed her head—even though it was an old wound, it hadn’t really healed. Losing one’s mother left a mark that would never fade, and he hugged her close. "Yer mother would be right proud o' ya, Skyward. An' Ah'm sure if yer brother an' yer sire were here, they'd be proud o' ya too."

"Tempest would likely end up getting drunk off his flank...Father? Bragging about me like he did Tempest when he got his cutie mark."

"So what's yer brother good at doin'?"

"He can bring in a lot of lightning and wind from the clouds he kicks in...he tends to use them in battle a lot. He has pinpoint accuracy, and coming from a pegasus stallion who is likely going to divebomb you loaded with a lightning bolt?"

Trouble Shoes winced, shaking his head. "Celestia---remind me t' never tick yer brother off iffen Ah ever get t' meet 'im."

She snorted softly. “If he tries, rest assured. One knows a trick or two to ground him proper.”

The big stallion chuckled, nuzzling his marefriend and earning a loving nuzzle in return. The bluesteel unicorn mare yawned, and Trouble Shoes chortled softly, holding her close against his side as the tired mare snuggled up against him.

“Sleep, Sky. Ah’ll be here when ya wake up, honeylove.”

Skyward Spirit smiled softly up at him, stealing a kiss from her stallion before she curled up and went straight to sleep, the Clydesdale-esque stallion nestling around her as he drifted off himself. Because they were asleep, neither pony saw the grinning young purple dragon with a camera take a picture (flash off) of course, and nod approvingly at the sleeping couple.

“Definitely one for the memory book,” Spike said to himself as he walked back outside, looking at the printed picture in his claws with an approving nod as he went to go find Twilight.