A guards charge

"Princess I'm pretty sure you're supposed to be protected, not train to fight besides you already are an element of harmony. You're the element of magic so I'm pretty sure you zap anything once, they'll be feeling it for a while." I said looking up at her, which was not the best idea being immobile I should have just smiled and nodded.

"I thought you promised me you would treat me no different, I don't think you'd refuse to train another pony if they asked to fight." Twilight said giving a pretty good argument.

"You're right I did agree to that, but just because you're a mare, a princess, and an element of harmony does not mean I'm going to take it easy on you." I said, as I weakly stood up with a bit of a limp.

"Great when do I start?" Twilight asked with a smile.

"Now." I stated looking her in the eye.

"Wait right now as in right now?" Twilight asked.

"No Twilight the now as in you should have all ready been standing in attention." I said. She gave me a funny look that looked cute almost like a little foal. "Didn't you say you wanted to train right, and you wanted no special treatment. Since you are so eager I figured why not start now, and make the training a bit harder buy starting off in a fight against me to see what you know." I teased her to see if she was up for the task.

She gave a confused look before I just pulled her with me, as we went through the halls of the castle it was almost silent. It really didn't bother me to much after all I really did like peace, I've never been much of a social person the less pony contact the better it always seemed like to me. But the only place I could not mind pony interaction is work when it involves work or fighting.

"You sure are quiet, are you going to tell me where we are going?" Twilight asked with a bit of a playfulness in her voice.

'Of course talking, why is it almost all of these ponies here wants to strike up a conversation, perhaps they should be reminded on the beauty of silence and save their words for when it counts.' I thought.

"Almost there." I muttered.

"Are you alright, you seem like something is wrong or bothering you?" Twilight asked concerned.

"I'm fine now here it is." I said.

I slowly pushed open the doors revealing the guards outdoor training area, it was laced with wooden weapons are. It remained hidden by huge walls and a spell to keep lurking pegasi above. The dirt was marked by many hoof marks, and as for the training dummies they were either dented or slashed open. Weapon racks were stationed at the side, which made it easier to point out to a book worm. The walls had burn marks on them from spells missing or another pony dodging them, as for lighting it was only Luna's moon and the stars that lit up the sky, or Celestia's bright sun to light up the area.

"I've never been to this area of the castle." Twilight stated in awe, taking in the surroundings. I calmly handed her a wooden weapon, a staff to be exact. Nothing to sharp for a book worm, it's simple to use, lightweight, and has a long range.

"That's because this area of the castle is reserved for higher ranking personal, you would not have known of it till your fifth year of being a princess, enough chatter now let's spar." I told her taking two wooden daggers.

"Hey are you sure we have to spar right now?" She asked a bit frightened.

"Well having second thoughts now princess?"I asked with a dull look.

"What's the whole point of this, we all ready both know you are much more skilled and will win in a spar." Twilight complained

"The whole point is training you with wooden weapons, as you are royalty I will never spar against you with real weapons. But as for fighting you will learn how to and quick." I told her adjusting my leather armor.

"But...but...this is so not fair I'm pretty sure you don't do this to the other trainees." Twilight told me, with a bit of an attitude.

"You're right, they don't train like this against higher ranked members, it's a spar almost like your brother and I had. While we don't have that many reported injuries and not a single death, they fight with real weapons as if it were an actual fight for their lives. So I'm pretty sure you don't want the actual treatment on this one." I told her with a smug look on my face.

"Fine for now, I still don't want special treatment, some time I want to train with real weapons." Twilight told me with a look of certainty on her face.

"I'll ask Celestia on that one, if she approves you will have your wish, now pick your armor. Do you want a heavy plate armor, or a slightly less heavy mail armor, and if none of those suit you leather armor like myself?" I asked her, pointing to the armor racks.

"I'm not very strong so how about the leather?" Twilight asked me.

"It's up to you." I told her. I watched as her horn glowed as she picked up the leather armor and strapped it on, thankfully there were still ones with pegasi wings cut out.

"So are you sure you still want to do this? You can turn back now while there is still time." I pointed out to her.

'No I have to go through with this, I can't be scared anymore I need to learn more responsibilities, and while I know my friends are always there, we can't always just rely on the elements of harmony. I need to face my fears head on with no regret.' Twilight thought.

I sat there playing catch with my self tossing the wooden daggers, twisting them around from time to time. Until I finally noticed Twilight look up from her train of thought.

"I'm sure I want to do this." She stated firmly stomping one hoof on the ground.

"Good now lets test your ability to swing a weapon, pick your choice hoof or magic, when you work your combat skills up you can use both strongly." I told her sheathing both wooden daggers.

She gave a few swings with her hooves, the strikes were very weak, she just grabbed the staff with her magic and used it.

"Alright I still have no idea how you're not tired yet, but your first goal is so strike me in the chest with the staff." I told her turning my back on her.

"Please this little bookworm has gone a few days without sleep, this isn't anything." Twilight said with a half unsure look on her face.

"That's good to hear because of that statement I'll make sure you'll be dying for sleep." I told her.

'Maybe I shouldn't have said anything at all...' Twilight thought mentally slapping herself.

"Well are you ready?" I asked her.

Twilight didn't say a word as she readied her weapon, I made a motion for her to begin. She immediately opened up with a strike, grazing my face. I quickly leaped out of the way, before I saw her coming in for a charge.

'Is she even fighting with strategy?' I thought teleporting behind her.

It took her a second to turn around and see me, only for myself to jump on top of her staff, this made her lose her magical grip on it. I leaped off and rolled into the dirt. The stones from the ground scrapping me a little, as I was not expecting the surprise landing. I dusted myself off only to see that she regained composer faster than I had expected, she began swinging before I kicked a bit of dirt in her face. This time it didn't through off her grip on the weapon, but it made her vision worse.

"Really dirt!?" She asked very loudly.

I didn't say a word but just raised my mask, this way I could still breathe fresher air than her.

"Fine don't say anything, just for that I'm not going to take it easy on you!" She stated readying her weapon.

She took off in the air this time, holding the weapon tightly, she was thinking of a plan.

'If I can get him without him seeing me I'll win this quick, I also have the advantage up here I can spot him.' Twilight thought struggling with her flying.

'Did she almost fall? Seems like someone is about to mess up.' I thought kicking up more dirt and dust.

"You know I used to be like you I used to never like using words much, but I noticed you sometimes like to use your words more than I thought at first. Yet than all of a sudden you are silent again, why's that?" She asked.

"In do time you'll learn, in do time but to be honest princess or not I still don't trust anyone besides my ex squad mates and the two princesses." I told her.

"Would you stop calling me princess!" Twilight shouted.

"Make me then, you'll have to earn your title of your first name if you want to train with me then princess." I told her stressing the princess part out to get her going.

"Fine that's it stop hiding in all that smoke!" She yelled casting a spell that dispersed all the dirt leaving me standing there, I watched her come bolting down. I gave a slight grin and side stepped out of the way, she had very little control of her flying and had to teleport out of the way before slamming face first into the dirt.

I stood waiting for her to make her next move, out of common respect that her flying was weak at the moment. I slowly stepped backward and drew out my weapons, and noticed she readied herself and regained her composure. She had the staff in an attacking motion as she swayed it back and forth. I threw one of my daggers at the wooden staff. There was a loud crack as the wood clanged against each other, Twilight became distracted and I quickly took the opportunity to finish her off.

"You lost you didn't all that bad for someone who is not used to hand to hand combat with magic involved.  Now as Unicorns we might have the slightest in fighting if..." I stopped when she interrupted me.

"If what?" Twilight asked her body pumping with adrenaline.

"I was getting to that, if we stay out of an Earth Pony's reach they have brute strength, some of them much faster than unicorns, while pegasi have the advantage of the air, we can counter that with magic or ranged weaponry. I know that killing is a scary concept, granted most of the time I prefer disarming the opponent sometimes you have to....you know." I stammered out.

"I know my brother has told me stories of what has had to be done, I guess it's just a part of the violence being taken to a different level." Twilight said.

"Now get up we're going for another run for it." I told her.

"You weren't kidding me about making me regret sleeping were you?" She asked.

"Not at all." I told her.

Before we were about to spar a clapping sound came from the room, I turned around to see Discord clapping.

"Bravo Twilight look at you fighting now I never knew that you had this side of you, I mean you're much smarter than these....well brutes." Discord said with his almost always sarcastic voice.

"Discord I thought I told you to avoid me at all cost, you really are just a trouble maker aren't you?" I asked all ready knowing the answer.

"Oh I know but while walking through the castle I thought about my dear friend Twilight." He said while grabbing Twilight and giving her a hug, I could see the look of dislike she was giving.

"Look here I know you've been watching and set her down right now Discord, she has a spar to finish." I told him.

"Oh a spar how about we go for one right now, I've always wanted to try and spar." Discord said with a half toothed grin.

"How about you leave us alone." I told him.

"Fine but maybe I'll be able to spar the "great" Shadow Strike." He said putting air quotes around the word great.

"You can't get under my skin Discord I'm not going to waste time on you." I calmly stated.

"Maybe you should just leave him alone for now." Twilight said to Discord.

"Training is over I forgot I had something to take care of." I said.

I walked away besides my duty of watching over her was over for the moment, I deserved breaks every few hours. I left the area in a hurry making sure I wasn't followed I would turn around every few moments.

"Good job you made him quit early!" Twilight in the chest making little indents in his chest.

"My dear this isn't early, and really you a fighting type. Please Twilight we both know hand to hand combat is something you won't excel at, maybe you should just stick to magic it is what you're good at after all." Discord said dragging his lion paw across Twilight's back, Twilight could feel his cold claws run down her back making her quiver a bit.

"The element of chaos giving advice isn't that something you don't excel at." Twilight told him removing his lion claw, she lightly smacked him on the head with the staff. He didn't like the feeling the wood hit his head, so he picked up a weapon as well.

"So you want to spar than?" Discord asked.

"Are you sure you said you've never sparred before?" Twilight asked for once she could actually get along with Discord, and without wanting to fill him with a few magic blast.

"Great it's raining." I sighed flipping up my hood.

I walked through the streets feeling the rain splash on my body and drip down in front of my face a little bit, I kept at a decent pace causing puddles all around to splash around my hooves. It was refreshing though after so much snow this year, sometimes those pegasus ponies just forget what type of weather is supposed to happen, this rain was nice with it not being a thunderstorm just a rain. The cool water was refreshing after all the training, besides Canterlot Castle is always to warm.

"Well Twilight you can put up a good fight, I'm surprised your not tired yet with all this physical activity." Discord said giving an insult and a complement at the same time.

"I'm surprised you haven't used any of your crazy magic." Twilight admitted with a bit of a blush.

"It's a spar not an actual fight." Discord said as he set down his weapon. "Also Sparkle don't forget fighting is a last resort, let the others do it for you, after all it's their job." Discord told her as he walked away.

'For a second there it sounded almost like he cared for me a bit.' Twilight thought as she pondered on where I was.

"It's nice to see you how's the city treating you?" My uncle asked as we walked into a small tavern, the place was dry and had a quiet atmosphere. A few late night drinkers would swing by from time to time, so it wasn't to bad.

"It's treating me rather well how the country life?" I asked extending my hoof to shake his.

"It's rather well, I just thought I'd be seeing how it was back here. You know I noticed you had a bit of a limp coming here, care to explain?" He asked with a smile.

"Well that's simple to much training and I accidentally came down to hard." I told him as he just rolled his eyes.

"Fight and train is that all your life has come to fighting and training, why don't you every find something else to do. Eventually you'll have to and it will be to late to start a family. Maybe you should find a nice mare huh?" He said as I just watched him stand up and ordering a drink or two, hell maybe four knowing him.

"I told you this I'm never going to find the right mare, if that does happen you'll be the first to know." I reassured him with a weak smile.

"You know I hope I do get to see my grandchildren one day, ever since you started calling me your father." He said weakly.

"You are my father to me ever since he left and took the others I lost all respect for him."

"You know I'll always be here if you want to talk about it."

"I don't think that will be necessary, when I find him I'll be able to ask him everything."

"He hasn't been seen in years neither have your siblings how do you even know he's still alive?"

"It's just a hunch."

"Hmm I'll just him tomorrow." Twilight yawned as she laid down. She let her silky sheets slide across her fur, giving little resistance that's what she loved about silk the most, little resistance. Her bed was not the warmest thing at the moment she felt a shiver go up her spine as she laid down.

"Well I guess that will be all are you sure there is nothing that you wish to tell me of, any promotions or special things going on?" He questioned.

"Oh I almost forgot I've been charged with the protection of Princess Twilight." I stammered out.

"Well there you go maybe you can finally meet a mare!" He yelled out.

"Yeah right she deserves better than someone like me." I murmured out.

"Sounds like you like her, and after you said you didn't like any mares." He teased carefully.

"Look I'll let you know how everything works out, as for now I have to go." I told him.

"I'll see you later Shadow." He called out.

"I'll see you later Smoke." I said.

'He's growing up so fast and still hasn't had any contact with his actual father. Does he really dislike him so much that he would change is name? How I've wondered all these years.' Smoke thought.

The rain was coming down heavier than before, drenching my hood and soaking the uniform I carried the weight of underneath my jacket. The water was much colder than before possibly because it was getting later, my actual fur coat was becoming soaked more by the minute. I stared at the puddles and looked at my reflections. Maybe my adopted father was right, all I did do was fight and train I've never really had a social life. 'Maybe I could make a change to that pretty soon.' I thought as I kept walking. 'The other guards always talk about going to see their wives, or going with a few of them to the clubs or the bar after work. Yet all I do is train to fight and to fight what? My father for if he's even still alive why is it I fight?' I thought kicking a few rocks and listening to the sound of the rolling.

I slowly made my way into my little apartment, and saw my dog Striker jump up from where he was resting. I looked down at him and bent down to his level to pet him, I tried to shield my face from his slobbery wet tongue but it was useless. I looked at the mail that was left on the counter I noticed there was nothing at all and gave a slight sigh. I crawled into bed and lay there looking at the ceiling feeling the cold sheets below me. I was to lazy to change out of my soaking wet clothes, I knew if mother was still alive she would have a fit right now. Some how the wet clothes and bedding didn't bother me as I slowly drifted off to sleep with Striker next to me in bed.

'When will he get a mare in this bed, you know it's lonely with him always being gone.' Striker thought.