Children of the Guardian

Chap 7

"Good job today Midnight you're improving rapidly."

Midnight stood up, his legs shaking from his weight. His whole body ached and he was covered in bruises from head to hoof. Even his tail was hurting.

"Yes… General Bio." He gasped as he looked at his trainer/tormenter.

Bio was a dark green stallion with deep purple eyes. His jagged black hair was only matched in sharpness by his razor sharp tail. Even as Midnight looked at him his tail constantly slithered like a snake back and forth. It's yellow tipped blade hovering in the air. Bio's cutie mark was a black skull and crossbones. This was appropriate given the fact that many soldiers called Bio the Devil Guard.

(Father always said that General Bio was a fierce fighter, I was foolish to not believe him.) Midnight thought as he finally steadied himself.

Bio had been teaching him how to use a sword and fight like a true warrior. Only recently however had they begun true sparring. It was with wooden swords of course but getting hit with one still hurt and he was feeling pain EVERYWHERE.

"However you still have a lot of training to do. Next week I expect you to be able to get at least ONE hit on me before our time is over." Bio said his deep gruff voice barely audible.

He then turned and left the sparring chamber escorted by two guards. Midnight knew that Bio was married to Princess Luna and he rarely left her side. He had agreed to train Midnight when he had grown old enough because David had saved his life.

Memories flooded back to Midnight about how he had thought that it would be great to study under Bio. As soon as the training started though he discovered why Bio was called the Devil Guard, he worked Midnight like a slave. Push-ups, pull-ups, sprints, and everything under the sun were heaved on him. After the first few sessions he had talked to his father about quitting and finding another teacher.

(I remember that whole talk…I ran in crying and covered in bruises. I leaped into Dad's hooves and I immediately felt safe. Even when Bio came in yelling at me for running from training, Dad talked him down.) Midnight blinked as he shook his head.

"Gotta focus… ow… but first… a hot shower." He mumbled as he exited the training area. He walked past a few guards who looked at him concerned but he waved his hoof and assured them that he was fine. As he reached his room he saw his personal guard Lance standing at his door.

"Your highness!" Lance gasped as he ran over to Midnight.

"I'm fine Lance. I just need… to rest." Midnight sighed as he felt his legs give way under his weight only to have Lance steady him with his strong body.

"Yes you do your highness. Come… let me help you to your room." He said as he opened the door with his hoof. Midnight briefly found the strength he needed and climbed onto his bed.

"Your highness your body is covered in bruises, why didn't you go to the doctors?" Lance said as he shut the door behind him with a gentle push.

"I don't know Lance. I guess I just wasn't thinking. Although… it's kinda hard to think when your whole head is screaming at you in pain." He sighed.

"Midnight…" Lance said. Midnight slowly sat up. Lance was the ONLY guard who had Midnight's permission to speak his name, and when he did it was usually serious. "Yes Lance, what is it?"

"I'm concerned about your health sir. These training sessions are getting more brutal every weak."

"I can handle them Lance."

"I know you can sir, but you still need to think about the effects on your body." The guard turned and removed his golden helmet. As he did his long black mane flowed down his neck resting at its base. He then turned and stared at Midnight. His icy blue eyes unflinching and unmoving. "I will speak to your father about removing you from General's Bio tutoring."

Midnight leaped off the bed with what little strength he had left, which resulted in him falling off the bed.

"NO! I can take it Lance."

"Your body says otherwise." The white stallion countered.

"I can do it. I WILL do it." Midnight growled.

"Why?" Lance asked his voice rising. "Why do you want to continue to put yourself in a position where you can get pounded into a pulp?"

"BECAUSE I WANT TO BE LIKE MY FATHER!!" Midnight screamed causing Lance to step backwards in shock.

"My father is the Guardian, the greatest hero Equestria has ever seen! I want to be like him in every way I can. My father can handle Bio… So can I." Midnight said as he struggled back onto the bed his body still in pain.

Lance turned and placed his helmet back on his head. "Very well your highness. Is there anything I can do for you before I go?" He asked walking toward the door, his spear and shield cutie mark reflected in Midnight's mirror.

"Yes Lance. Could you get a messenger to ask Brushie if she would like to visit?"

"Yes sir. Rest well your highness." He whispered as he left the room. As the wooden door shut quietly with a click, Midnight laid his head down against his pillow and closed his eyes. The pain in his body had diminished but it still caused him some minor discomfort. That discomfort however soon faded as the sounds of birds chirping, and the quiet calm of his room finally over took him as he fell asleep.

"Midnight… Midnight…" A voice whispered rousing him from his sleep. Though his eyes were still closed he could already make out who was waking him up. The soft feel of a felt scarf on his face and the gentle caressing of wings was all it took to figure out.

"Brushie… come on… I'm tired." He smiled as he opened his eyes to look into the beautiful light blue pools that he had come to know and love.

"Then why the hay did you invite me here if all you were gonna do is sleep??" She asked as she rolled over and propped herself up on one of his pillows.

"I wasn't trying to sleep; my body has a mind of its own." He commented as he wrapped his hooves around her.

Celestial Brush giggled, "Yeah… it's just sometimes that mind isn't where it needs to be." She joked as she tapped his forehead with her hoof.

"So I got to know. Who the hay did this to you?" She asked gesturing at his bruised body.

"General Bio." Midnight responded weakly.

Brushie smiled and stuck out her tongue. "Just him?? It looks like you got mauled by a Hydra!"

"Yeah well… it certainly feels like that." Midnight said sitting up.

"So I guess you want to hang out huh?"

"DUH! You invited me remember? Are you sure Bio didn't wreck your brain on accident?" She joked as she patted his chest.

"Yeah I'm sure." He responded as he hopped off the bed, with a minor jolt of pain in his legs.

"Well it's only 1:00. How bout some lunch?" He asked walking over to her. His question was answered by a large growl from Brushie's stomach. "I'll take that as a yes…" He chuckled as he led a blushing Brushie by the hoof out of his room.

Midnight struggled to keep Brushie under control as he walked with her through Canterlot. He knew she had been to Canterlot a few times, but never alone and especially not with him. They both soon arrived at a restaurant where they were lead to a table directly in front of a stone fountain. The fountain had stone figures of Princess Celestia, Luna, and now Twilight spitting water from their mouths into a stone basin. The waiter's soon arrived with their food. A salad for himself and soup for Brushie.

"Hey why don't we sit on the rim of the fountain instead? It would be a lot more comfortable then these chairs." Brushie said as she stood up and walked over to the fountain and sat down. Midnight did the same and they both soon finished their lunch.

"Hey Brushie… thanks for… you know… spending this time with me…" Midnight stuttered as his put his hoof onto hers.

"Midnight… you know you're adorable when you try to be romantic right?" She asked as she kissed him. Midnight's eyes flew open as their lips met, but they gently closed as they both wrapped their hooves around each other. And in that one, all of the pain he had been experiencing from his training, melted away in a wave of happiness. A wave he knew… that could only come from true love. Next Chapter: Chapter 8 Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 23 Minutes