An Unlikely Prince

An Orc’s Guide to Making New Friends

Grar continued to grow through the years, and he spent a lot of time with the young filly known as Lilac every time she came to visit.

He liked her, she was easy to talk to, and didn’t seem to mind his appearance.

When he was eight, Celestia had started to have Grar tutored by scholars who resided in the castle, and while Grar surprised his teachers by excelling in most academics, he seemed bored by them to the point of skipping his lessons on occasion.

Though they were always able to find him watching the Royal Guards in their training field.

One day at the age of ten, when Grar had skipped out on his lessons, he was watching the guards teach a small group of students who were curious in joining the guards one day.

Grar puzzled over the ceremony and etiquette of some of the drills.

It just seemed pointless to him. But he was still excited to see the young ones pair up and fence with practice swords.

He saw a young unicorn colt there, left out of the match due to not having a partner to pair up with.

The boy had a blue mane and white coat, and was easily a few years older than him at the least, and maybe a little taller, but Grar found himself coming out from behind the hedge that he had been using for cover and approached the officer who was watching over the lessons.

“Captain,” he greeted, recognizing the décor on his uniform to signify his rank.

The Captain turned and looked down at him, a little surprised at seeing him.

“If it wouldn’t be any trouble, I can be this colt’s sparring partner,” he suggested.

The officer looked to where the colt who was left out was standing, who seemed to be looking back at them, both curiously and apprehensively. The officer looked back, “I’m not sure that’s a good idea, you’re a prince and a guest of…..”

“And this is something I want to do,” Grar cut him off, “I’m not worried about getting hurt, I want to learn to fight,” he said, staring up into the guard captain’s eyes.

The officer sighed and shook his head, “Alright, fine, both of you get a set of practice swords,” he said. “I’m not going to take it easy on either of you, so you’d best take this seriously,” he advised the two boys.

A few moments later, Grar stood opposite of the young colt in a training circle.

The young Orc could barely contain his excitement as their instructor spoke up, “Now, listen carefully, I’m going to teach you both how to fight in the traditional Swordspony fashion, developed in the 3rd Celestial Century and used to this day by the Regional Armies,” he told them, drawing his own blade, showing them his stance.

“As with anything, the base of this is in your stance and your footing,” he told them, spreading his feet to about shoulder’s width, his young students mimicking the stance as well.

He got out of his stance and went to each of the children and adjusted their stance, “alright, now, relax your shoulders.”

……….

The instructions went on for another hour, and the instructor taught them the basics of combat, and he felt that it was time for them to go at each other for a crash course in sword combat.

“Alright, remember, you’re not trying to kill each other,” The captain told them, “If it looks like things are getting out of hand, I’ll stop it,” he said.

The Orc boy nodded, as did his opponent, and they both got into their stances, “now, begin,” said the instructor.

Grar was the first to make a move, swinging his sword downward at the colt, who held his own wooden sword to block it, and then push it aside.

The two exchanged blows, both having difficulty moving the heavy wooden training swords, and neither showing any real skill, but the colt seemed the more talented of the two, while Grar was clearly the stronger.

The Captain seemed to take notice, and interest in both of them as he watched their play bout seemed to slowly turn into something angrier as neither of them got the upper hand. Their swords swinging wider and wildly, until the colt managed to knock the wooden sword from Grar’s hand.

The blue maned colt smiled and lowered his weapon, “I’ve disarmed you,” he said triumphantly.

Suddenly the Orc leaped forward, “I still have this arm!” he growled, smashing his fist into the colt’s face, sending him sprawling back, and sliding on the ground, dropping his sword completely.

The Orc stood over him, but the unicorn colt clenched his teeth and got to his feet in a flash, sending his own fist into the green face of his opponent.

The Captain was about to stop them, but held off, interested in seeing the two of the duke it out bare handed. He narrowed his eyes as he watched closer.

The two boys exchanged blows, both getting in good shots at the other’s face. The colt slipped under a jab and struck with an upper cut, making the Orc stumble, before regaining his balance and slamming his fist into the colt’s gut.

By now the rest of the training field had stopped and were watching, the other children chanting ‘fight’ as the two slugged it out.

When they were both tired, out of breath, and their noses bloody, the Captain finally stepped in, using his magic to hold them both up, and separate them. “Alright, that’s quite enough boys.”

The two looked at him, angry at first that their fight was interrupted, but even Grar seemed to shrink under the authoritative glare of the Captain.

He began to carry them back inside, turning to his subordinates, “Continue,” he told them, before going on his way with the entrapped Orc and colt.

The two boys were silent as they were carried along. The Captain was the one to break the silence, “Prince Grar, who is taking care of you?” he asked him.

Grar clenched his teeth, knowing where this was going, “Violet is,” he answered.

The Guard Captain nodded, and took a turn down a hall, and set the Orc boy down, “Go have her clean you up, I expect to see you in the throne room in an hour, the three of us will have a talk with Princess Celestia about things,” he said.

The Orc straightened himself out, and looking at the floor, he nodded, and turning around to go to where Violet’s quarters were.

Behind him, he heard the Captain speak to the colt, “you have family in the Palace?” he asked.

“No,” was the answer. “I’m Shining Armor, my family lives in the city,” he said.

Ignoring the rest, Grar went to Violet’s door, and knocked.

Since becoming his official guardian many years ago, Violet Petals had been given this room, which she and her daughter had moved into, her husband was no longer around, for reasons he never asked. She still worked as a maid, and so did her daughter on occasion.

The door was opened and he was soon looking into the eyes of Violet Petals, and soon they were filled with concern, “What happened?” she asked, ushering him inside.

“It’s nothing,” he tried to say, as he was seated down in a chair.

“This isn’t Nothing, Grar,” she said, turning to a door to an adjoining room, “Lace, get the peroxide and cotton swabs,” she called, a soft ‘ok’ answering her.

Taking the young Orc’s chin in hand, she looked him over, seeing his face scuffed up and bruised in some spots. “Now, tell me what happened,” she said.

The Orc reluctantly relented, and told her about how he snuck from his studies to train with another boy at the barracks, as her daughter, Lace, came into the room with a bottle of peroxide and some cotton, which Violet quickly grabbed and began to clean his cuts and scrapes with.

Lace sat off to the side and watched, and giggled once her surrogate brother finished explaining himself. “Heheh, you’ll never make friends by punching everypony in the face, Grar.”

This got a look from the Orc, which actually seemed concerned, “But I want to be friends with him, he’s a good fighter,” he said as if it was a simple fact.

This earned him a curious look from both mother and daughter, who shared a look. “So, you want to be friends with him, so you punched him in the face?” Lace asked.

“I just didn’t want our match to end, I was having so much fun with it,” Grar said, giving them booth a toothy grin.

Lace just shook her head and rolled her eyes, “Boys.”

Lace was just about the same age as Grar was, but it was clear that he was going to be taller than her forever. While they didn’t spend a lot of time with each other, Lace still called him her big brother, especially when the other foals at school would tease her.

Once he was cleaned up, and bandages were place, Violet looked him over one last time, “you said he wanted to see you and the other boy with Princess Celestia?” she asked him.

He nodded, worried as to what Celestia would punish him with, he hoped she didn’t ban him from watching the Royal Guard.

“Well, best not to keep them waiting, try to behave yourself, and apologize to the colt when you see him,” she told him in a scolding tone.

He nodded again, “I’ll tell you how it goes,” he said as he left the room, heading to the throne room.

…………..

It was a few minutes later that Grar saw both the guard captain and the young colt he had been fighting with earlier at the large double doors to the throne room.

He saw that the young colt, who he remembered was named Shining Armor, was also bandaged up, and looking equally as nervous about telling the Princess what happened.

The Captain went to the doors, “Come on, let’s speak to Princess Celestia,” he said, pushing the doors open with his magic and leading the two before the Princess who was seated in her throne, overlooking some paperwork which she held aloft with her magic as she rested in her throne.

Grar had been seeing less of the Pony Princess, ever since she took on a personal student, her time has been limited.

She looked up from her paperwork, and smiled at first, setting the paper aside, but then made note of both the boy’s condition and also the fact that the captain of her guard was accompanying them.

She looked to the tall armored stallion, “Captain Ironmane, mind explaining these two?” she asked him.

“Your Majesty, I’m sorry for disturbing you, but we were providing training for young colts today, and the young Orc Prince joined in, he was partnered with this young colt, Shining Armor,” he said, indicating both the children as he mentioned them.

“Shining Armor?” Celestia’s raised an eyebrow, “You are the brother of my student, Twilight Sparkle, are you not?” she asked him.

Shining nodded, bowing respectfully as he could, “Yes your Majesty, Twiley…. Twilight,” he corrected, “is my little sister.”

Celestia smiled, “she speaks fondly of you, and says that you are really passionate about joining the guard, I look forward to seeing how you perform,” she said kindly.

Shining, smiled nervously and bowed again, “thank you, your majesty,” he said, doing his best to contain his happiness.

Captain Ironmane cleared his throat, bringing the attention back to him, “Yes, well, if we can get back to the matter at hand, you Majesty,” he said.

Celestia nodded, her demeanor returning to one of curiosity, “Right, continue Captain,” she said.

“These two were sparing for a fair deal of time, and when Grar was bested, he struck Shining Armor and the two of them continued to fight with their bare hands.”

The Princess shot a withering gaze towards the Orc child, who felt himself shrink beneath it.

“I see, and you wish him to be punished for brawling?” The Princess asked.

“Not exactly,” Ironmane said, “I’d like to have both of them enrolled in the Junior Guard Academy early,” he told her.

Celestia again raised an eyebrow, “Mind explaining yourself, Captain?” she asked. “Shining isn’t old enough to enroll yet, and Grar, who is even younger, is a Prince.”

“I know your majesty, but these two have the potential to do great things,” The Captain said.

“The two of them got into a fist fight after their match had ended, and you want to put them in the academy?” Celestia continued to argue.

“They need a lot of discipline, and I’m sure we can give that to them,” The Captain held to his suggestion. “I’ll need your permission along with that of their guardians to do this.”

Celestia sighed and relaxed in her throne, “Alright, if his parents agree, Shining Armor can enroll in the junior academy.”

The young colt smiled brightly as his eyes widened.

“But Grar is not, he is a Prince, and not a citizen of Equestria, he is not inclined to learn to fight for its safety.”

“Celestia,” Grar started, before remembering who he was talking to, “Princess, please, I, I want to learn,” he told her.

Celestia adjusted her posture, and waited for him to continue.

“When I was fighting I felt, I felt like I found something that was meant to be part of me,” Grar pleaded, looking up at her. “Do you know what it’s like?” he asked her. “To know that you’re missing something?”

The young Orc may never know how close to the truth he was. Celestia sighed, and gave him a wary smile. “Alright, if Violet will agree to it, you can attend the academy, but not as a full time student,” she compromised. “You can learn to fight, so long as you continue your regular academic studies.” She leaned forward to make sure he listened closely, “And you will no longer skip out on them if you want to keep training.”

Grar smiled and bowed, “thank you Princess Celestia!” he gratefully exclaimed.

Celestia couldn’t help but smile, “I’ll assume you’ll tend to the paperwork, Captain Ironmane.”

The Captain nodded, “Of course, your Majesty, you won’t regret this,” he promised her.

The Princess of Equestria gave them a wave of farewell, dismissing the three from the throne room, as she returned to her own business while they left.

………

Outside the throne room, the Captain left to go back to the barracks, telling the two boys to return to their guardians to ask for their permission, though the two of them found themselves standing around awkwardly, both wishing to say something to the other.

The Orc managed to speak first, “Look, I’m sorry I punched you out there,” he said. “I was just having so much fun, I didn’t want to stop fighting right there.”

Shining looked at Grar and tilted his head, before chuckling light, “it’s alright,” he said, holding out his hand. “My name is Shining Armor, it was a good match, I hope we can have another like it.”

Grar smiled, and took his hand in a friendly shake, giving him a toothy grin. “I’m glad we can be friends.”

“Me too,” replied Shining, “But one more thing,” he said, letting go of Grar’s hand. Before pulling back and punching the Orc hard in the face, putting him on his backside.

The Orc looked up at him with a bemused look on his face as the colt shook his hand, having hurt it slightly, “That’s for the sucker punch, now we’re even,” he chuckled.

Grar started to chuckled as well as the colt offered his hand again, to help him up, “For now,” the Orc responded.