Children of the Guardian chap 9

by ~Sunjian54

Children of the Guardian

Chap 9

The ride to Sweet Apple Acres was quiet and uneventful. Sunlight however didn't mind as they zoomed over trees and the buildings of Ponyville. She had rarely seen any farther than Canterlot city when she was outside the castle. Not because her parents forbid her, but because there was never any time to explore or visit other parts of the Equestrian Alliance.

"Oh wait!" She said as she pulled her homework out of her bag and quickly erased one of her answers. She had forgotten that Equestria was not called Equestria anymore on her work. Her father had united all the lands around it into one mighty force. Equestria, Dragonia, and Griffia, all three lands had united into one mighty alliance. She quickly rewrote her answer and placed her work back into her bag, careful not to drop anything off of the chariot.

She once again looked out at the beautiful landscape has everything whizzed by. The green of the grassy plains soon gave way to row upon row of beautiful apple trees as the chariot began to descend toward a bright red farmhouse.

"Dad! Dad! We're here!" Sunlight said pulling on her dad's mane. However David didn't respond to the tugging. Sunlight then noticed that his eyes were closed and he was breathing very slowly.

(Is he sleeping? No… he snores when he sleeps. He must be deep in thought.) She thought as the chariot touched down on the ground.

Indeed… for David the trip from Canterlot to the farm had been quite short because of his thinking. He had been thinking of the upcoming Alliance meeting. It was when all 3 of the leaders of the Alliance lands meet to discuss how things were going respectfully. David was hoping to discuss a rising problem occurring south in the Zebra lands across the ocean.

(Come to think of it… it was Zecora who brought this information to me in the first place.) He thought as his mind flashed back to the fateful day. He had been sitting in the main hall next to Twilight as usual until he noticed Zecora step through the door.

"Miss Zecora of Everfree your majesty." The guard had bellowed.

"Zecora! It's so good to see you again." Twi said as she approached and hugged her aging friend. "Twilight my young pony how you've grown! To see your crowning moment, I missed your crowning moment, I wish I had known." Zecora said sadly.

"It's okay Zecora, David come here!"

David rose from his seat and approached.

"Greetings Zecora." He said as he shook her hoof. "Same to you strong Guardian. You have become quite the mighty stallion." The zebra said smiling.

"Yeah… only because Celestia and Luna saved me. So how can we help you?" Zecora's face then turned grave as she lowered her eyes.

"If it's all right with you… can I explain this to Twilight too?" She said quietly. David nodded and Zecora sighed.

"I am from lands south of the sea, and much trouble there is to be. A mighty Zebra stronger than I, has gathered an army to declare that all must die."

"So you've come to ask for the Alliance to do something about it?" David asked. Zecora nodded quietly.

"I'll do what I can." David said as the memory faded. "I'm gonna need the help." He whispered as he opened his eyes.

"Help with what Dad?" Sunlight asked. David shook his head and realized that they had landed. "Uh nothing Sunlight… just a memory, now come with me. I'll introduce you to Devin." He said as he stepped down off of the chariot and walked toward the barn. Sunlight looked around as they walked trying to take in everything she could see. She was amazed at how simple everything was, and that made her happy. She had learned from her mother that you didn't need everything to be happy. Seeing the barn and the fields that she was sure had to be plowed by the family that lived on the farm made her smile.

"Dad… what if Devin doesn't like me? I mean I'm not famous and strong like you." Sunlight asked. David laughed and hugged her.

"You're my daughter. You just be yourself and be on your best behavior. He'll love you I promise." He said as they walked up to the door of the house and knocked on the door. The sound of a door unlocking was soon followed by the door opening to reveal Applejack.

"Well I'll be! David!!" She shouted as she through her hooves over around David's neck.

"Yeah it's… great… to see you to AJ." He said struggling to get the words out since she was nearly choking him. "I reckon it's been ages since I've seen you!"

"It's only been a few months AJ."

"To the apple family that's AGES." AJ said as she ushered them in. The house itself was quaint and small. It had a small living room with a couch, chairs, and a rocking chair for granny smith.

"Well who's this?" AJ said smiling at Sunlight.

"Sunlight Flash Mrs. Applejack." Sunlight responded smiling.

"Ya'll look just Twilight you know that." She asked staring at Sunlight as she sighed. "I reckon I'm getting old David if ya'll have such a pretty child." David threw his arm around AJ's neck.

"That's quitter talk Applejack. You're still the strongest pony in the Alliance, next to Big Mac." He said smiling.

"That's true. I reckon ya'll are here to see Devin right?" She asked.

"Yeah, Sunlight has a question for him." David said sitting down.

"He's in the back." AJ said down next to David. "Sunlight could you get him while AJ and I catch up?" David asked looking at his daughter pleadingly. "Sure thing Dad." Sunlight said as she walked outside and onto the fields. The setting sun was settling in the distance as she began walking through the fields looking for Devin.

"Wait… I don't even know what Devin looks like." She suddenly realized. "Oh well… I'll find him." She said smiling as she kept walking into the apple tree forest. As she did however she suddenly heard a noise in the distance. It sounded like a hammer or an axe striking up against a tree. She began walking toward the sound, hypnotized by the steady rhythm of the sound as it reverberated through the fields. It wasn't long though until she found the sounds creator.

It was a young Earth pony colt, hitting a tree with what appeared to be a wooden sword. The colt was a light brown and had a bright green grass colored mane, and a dark blue tail. He continued to hit the tree over and over again from different directions with the sword in his mouth. Sunlight looked on while hiding behind a nearby tree. (Wow… he's so… cute.) She thought as the pony continued "fighting" the tree. Sunlight gulped and took a deep breathe.

(I'll just say hi. After all, he may know where Devin is.) She thought as she walked out from behind the tree with a "Hi!"

The colt turned his head and stared at Sunlight, his eyes wide in fear and shock. "Hey don't freak out. I'm Sunlight Flash. What's your name?" She asked gently. The colt spit his sword out of his mouth and offered a shaking hoof.

"K-Kuni… I'm Applejack and Devin's son." He said struggling to get the words out. Sunlight admired Kuni's courage. He was a bit childish because of his fear, but Sunlight found that attractive. He was brave and was capable of talking to her. Most colts wouldn't because they knew who her mother and father were. "Nice to meet you Kuni." She said as she looked him over.

"Hey… is that your sword you were practicing with?" She asked hoping to ease the tension that felt like a lead weight on her body. Kuni smiled and put the sword back onto his back.

"Yep, my dad and I made it. I want to be just like him someday." He said smiling at her.

"How come you want to be like your father?"

"Cause my father is the most amazing commander Equestria has ever seen."

"But he took orders from my dad in the war right?" Sunlight asked smiling until Kuni stood up and backed away.

"Your-your… Dad is the G-Guardian?" He asked stuttering.

"Well yeah. Why?" Sunlight asked trying to approach him, only to have Kuni back up again.

"I shouldn't be talking to you… I'm not worthy…" He said as he bowed down in front of her as low as he could. Sunlight's heart was aching in her chest. She hated losing potential friends because she was royalty. (Not this time… NOT AGAIN!!) She screamed in her head as she helped Kuni up.

"Please… don't mention my status. I don't like losing friends just because I'm a Princess. Can we please be friends Kuni?" She asked holding his hoof. Kuni's face was bright red and his heart was pounding. He had never had a girl hold his hand before.

"S-sure… we can be friends. If you don't mind being friends with a farm pony." He said smiling as big as he could.

"I don't mind at all. Do you mind being friends with a royal pony?" Sunlight asked smiling as well.

"No way." He answered. "Sunlight!! Time to go home!" David called from the house. "Well… looks like I have to leave Kuni." Sunlight said sadly. "Will I ever see you again?" Kuni asked hanging his head low. "Sure you will. I'll come visit when I can. Or maybe I could invite you to the castle." Sunlight said giving Kuni a quick hug as she turned and ran back toward the house.

"Bye Sunlight!!" Kuni called out as she vanished from view. (She was so pretty…and she actually liked me.) Kuni thought as he went back to hitting the trees with his sword, and as Sunlight joined back up with her father and boarded the chariot she couldn't keep her mind off of the young colt.

"Hey dad I met Devin's son Kuni." She said smiling. "I heard. But you didn't talk to Devin." David said smiling. Sunlight's eyes shot open, she had forgotten about asking Devin about his role in the war. She was just about to say something but David spoke up. "Don't worry I saw him and asked him some questions for you. Here are the questions I asked, and here are his answers." He said handing her a piece of paper. Sunlight was amazed. The paper had every question she wanted to ask Devin written on it and all of his answers. "Thanks dad… this gonna help me A LOT." She said sliding the paper into her bag. "I'm glad." He said as they landed back at the castle.

"Now go finish your homework and come down for dinner okay?"

"Yes sir." Sunlight answered as she trotted up the stairway to her room. David smiled as he walked through the main hall toward him and Twilight's room. On the way however he stopped and looked at a giant sword hanging on the wall. "You're lucky old friend… you don't have to put up with kids. Still… it would be nice to see you again. You paid the price for your job. Rest well Judge." He whispered as he walked past. The sword had belonged to a good friend of David's that he met recently. He called his friend the Judge because he could always see the evil deeds that ponies had done in their lives. Unfortunately he had died recently, but before he did he gave David his sword and told him to never forget their friendship. (I'll never forget our promise my friend. Never.) He thought as he entered into the throne room. Next Chapter: Chapter 10 Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 6 Minutes