The Guardian

I followed Mandy until I started to see we were approaching the bike sheds behind the school. My head was filled with confusion, why was Star wanting to meet me here? I saw Mandy disappear between two buildings, rolling my eyes I followed. Rounding the corner I spotted Mandy near two ponies, one was Stars other friend called Bright Prism, a pegasis with bright yellow hair and a pink coat.

As I got nearer Mandy and Prism parted revealing Star behind them, I gave Star a wave and the two other girls giggled and walked away leaving by the opposite end of the buildings. When I approached Star she was blushing and twirling her hoof on the floor. I found her attitude very confusing but that's not what I was thinking at that moment.

“Star? Why are you here? Why are you not in class?” Star was avoiding my gaze. “Star, what's wrong?”

“I...I can't do this!”

Star suddenly gallops away, leaving me very confused as Mandy and Prism come back into view.

“Soooo?” Mandy says sliding up beside me, I noticed her wiggling eyebrows. “What did you say?”

“About what?” I say looking back in the direction Star ran.

“You mean she didn't tell you!?” Prism asks.

“Tell me what?” I question, turning to face both Mandy and Prism.

“Um.....I don't think this is for us to say, It's Stars business.” Mandy replies.

“Girls, what is this all about?” I ask, I narrow my eyes and fold my arms. “I get dragged out here and notice star is not in class, then she runs off saying 'I can't do this'. What is going on?” My foot starts tapping the ground as the two girls look back and forth.

“We....We can't! We promised Star!” Mandy drops to her knees and grabs my jacket. “Don't make me brake my promise! Please!” Mandy starts to cry as I look to Prism with a raised eyebrow.

“I...I promised too.” Prism says, avoiding my gaze.

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Fine! Just...” I sigh. “Just go to your classes girls, I'll handle this.”

Mandy suddenly jumps up, all traces of her crying gone from her face.

“Thank you Kenny!” Mandy kisses my cheek. “See you later!” Both Mandy and Bright Prism take off leaving me standing shocked between the two buildings.

“Teenagers...” I mutter before taking off back towards the main buildings.

I never saw Star or the other two much after that, I went about the day sitting in the teachers lounge drinking coffee and reading the small selection of books they had available. I had just finished the latest chapter of my current book when I heard the final bell for the day. Placing the book back onto the small shelf from which it came I left the room and headed back to the car park. Most of the students leaving their classes for home stopped and stared at me, though I had gotten used to it I still felt uncomfortable.

I reached my car where I left it and found to my shock Star was sitting nearby, I stopped, Star has never got to the car before me. Most of the time I had to wait for her. Approaching the car I saw Star look away from me, had I done something wrong?

“Star? Are you ok?” I ask, unlocking the car. “You look troubled?”

“It's been a tiring day today.” Star answers.

“Anything I can help with?”

“No, I just need to go home and rest, I'll be better later.”

“Ok, but you know I'm here for you...right?” I say, opening the door to let Star into the car.

“Yeah, but I'll be fine really.” Star replies, smiling at me as she settles down into her seat.

I shrug and get in the driving seat, after turning the ignition I pull out of the car park and head for home. Again the journey was in silence, I had to do something about it.

“I thought more about your question from earlier.” I say.

“What question?” Star asks.

“The one about having a pony girlfriend, I know I said I don't know but I have given it a lot of thought.” I pause hearing Star shift behind me. “And I think there would be no difference if I had a pony girlfriend than a human one. If she loved me for who I am not what I could be then it doesn’t matter what species she is.” I reply, driving down the last few streets before home. “Though was there a reason you asked me that question or was it just curiosity?”

“Oh just curious I guess, I wanted to see what my guardian really thought about us ponies.”

“I think nothing less than if you were human Star, hell even your mum is practically calling me family. I love all of you.” I pause again. “Even if it means going against my code.”

“What do you mean?”

“My code states that I am never to get too attached to my duty or assignment, for apparently it could lead to...complications.”

“Like what?”

“Oh you know the basic ones, love, compassion, anger, hate. All the fun stuff.” I say, twirling my hand in the air.

“So you didn't like us when you first arrived?” I could hear the sadness in Stars voice.

“At the time I had just got out of training, all the crap drilled into me was fresh and ready to go.” I pull into the driveway of the house. “You were just a job to me.” I turn off the car and turn back to Star, she was crying. “Hey, but I don't think that now, you guys really are my family. I would even die for you.”

Star just stares at me before putting her forelegs around my neck.

“Thank you Kenny, you really know how to cheer a girl up.” Star mumbles into my shoulder.

I pat Star's head. “Don't mention it, now let's get inside shall we.” Star pulls away and nods. “Besides my shoulder was getting wet!”

Star hits my shoulder before I get out and open her door. Star jumps out and walks into the house, I take a few deeps breaths before locking the car and heading in myself. As I walked into the house I could see Golden Bank heading up the stairs with Star in front, I saw Star turn her head and give me a worried look. I stood there confused.

“Kenny, could you come in here for a moment?” I heard a familiar voice ask from the living room.

I walk through into the living room and saw Star's father Silver Star sitting in his leather chair. I approached him and stood to attention.

“May I be of assistance sir?” I ask.

“Kenny, sit down would you please?” Silver Star gestures to the nearest seat.

“Certainly sir.” I sit down on the couch next to Silver's chair.

Silver Star sighs before leaning towards me. “How long have you served our family?”

“Two years sir.”

“Two years and do you assume me and my wife to stupid Kenny?”

I was taken aback by Silver's question and I started to sweat.

“N-No sir!”

Silver gave me a narrow stare. “Are you lying to me son?”

“No sir!”

“Me and my wife have noticed some changes between you and Star Trail, more importantly the way my daughter looks and acts around you.” Silver states, his gaze never leaving mine. “She has become more open and yes we understand that your her guardian, but you two have become more than that haven't you?”

I froze. I didn't know how to reply or even if I should, however in a spurt of quick thinking I come up with an answer.

I lower my head and sigh. “At first sir, Star Trail was nothing more than an assignment, a duty. But now I think we have become more than just bodyguard and client.” I pause as I meet Silver gaze again. “I have come to respect her, I now consider her my friend.”

“And that's it?” Silver star asks, his narrow stare coming back.

“That's it.” I reply.

There was a long pause between us both before Silver Star slides off his chair and approaches his liqueur cabinet.

“Pity.” Silver states, opening the cabinet doors and getting out two glasses.

“Pity sir?” I ask, now looking more confused than ever.

“Do you drink Kenny?”

“Not often sir but I do.”

“Good, try this new Equestrian scotch, it'll put some hair on your chest or so I think the saying goes!” silver says, walking over to me and holding out a glass filled with a dark brown liquid.

I reach up and take the glass nodding my thanks as Silver goes back and collects a glass of his own.

“Earlier sir, why did you say pity?”

Silver chuckles. “You have no knowledge of pony relations do you Kenny?”

“I have knowledge of pony interactions and politics, if that's what you mean?”

Silver laughs. “No dear boy. I mean intimate relations.”

I nearly choke on the scotch I was drinking. “T-That was not covered in our training sir, though we were trained to pick up on certain signs that a pony was becoming too close.”

“Then you've failed in that regard haven't you?”

I stiffen, I had failed but how? I needed to know. “H-How have I failed sir?”

Silver puts down his glass and jumps on to the couch next to me, putting one of his forelegs around my neck he points to my chest with a grin.

“Kenny, you and me are going to have a quick crash course in pony courtship because from what me and my wife has noticed, your going to need it!”

Star Trail walks into her bedroom with Golden Bank close behind, Golden closes the Star's bedroom door and then turns around giving her daughter a large grin.

“So? Has he said it yet!?” Golden could barely keep her excitement in. “Come on! Tell me!”

“Not yet, but I think I'm wearing him down.” Star replies, followed by her own smile.

“Ugh, how stupid is that man!” Golden crosses the room and takes Star by the cheeks. “How could he not know my daughter is trying to court him!”

“Mum!” Star shouts, pushing her mother away. “He's human, he's not like us, our courtships are different. He probably can't even smell my pheromones.”

“Pony feathers! Every stallion can smell them, he's just hiding it.” Golden taps her chin. “Yes that's right, he just blocks them out because he's your protector. Probably doesn't want to hurt your feelings.”

“But that's not what I want him to hurt!” Star puts a hoof over her mouth.

“What was that dear?” Golden asks, pretending that she didn't hear it.

“You heard me! Your hearings not gone yet.” Star giggles.

Both Golden and Star start to laugh as a shout comes from down stairs.

“WHAT? YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS?”

“Uh oh! What has your father done now?” Golden says, looking to the bedroom door with concern. “Should we go down?” Golden asks Star turning her gaze back.

“I think we should, father might ruin my chances before they start!”

Golden chuckles before opening the bedroom door and walking out with Star close behind.

I sat petrified. My fingers had dug themselves into the soft material of the couch and my face had become rigid with fear. I slowly turn my head to meet Silver Stars stare.

“So....that smell?” Silver Star nods. “Holy shit!” I whisper. “How could I not have known? We had the training about detecting the signs of a pony's advances!” I release my grip on the couch and slump over, holding my face in my hands. “Why would they leave something like this out?” I asked myself.

“Maybe because you're human they thought you wouldn't be susceptible to pony pheromones.” Silver says.

I straighten up and take a deep breath. “This certainly answers some questions.” I state.

“Questions?”

“Star was asking me about what would I say if a pony asked me out. Now I know the real reason why.”

“Maybe she was just afraid to ask outright, you know padding the ground so to speak.” Silver states. “Why don't you go ask her?”

I freeze again. “A-Are you really telling me to ask your daughter if she was asking me to go out with her!?” Silver nods. “I-I can't.” I answer, lowering my head again. “It just wouldn't be right.”

“What wouldn't be right? You going out with my daughter or you asking the question?”

“Both, I cannot get involved with my client, it's forbidden.” I stand from the couch and stand by the living room window. I stare into the sky as the last dregs of sunlight fade, god I hate autumn. “We have a code Mr Star, my fellow guardians and I, a code we cannot break.”

“What's the phrase you humans say, bullshit? You go about your days protecting Star Trail and then turn around and say that you can't express your feelings because of some code? That's manure Mr Rowe and you know it!”

I flinch at Silvers use of my last name, he only addresses me that way when he is very annoyed or angry with me. I sigh before turning back to him.

“Let's say I did ask Star out on a date, how will others react? I can't put Star through that sort of thing, it wouldn't be fair.”

“Fair? I know for a fact Kenny that my daughter adores you, in more ways than one. If you reject her, how do you think that's going to effect her? It will effect her a lot more than some neigh saying on the streets!”

I go to reply but nothing I can say will trump that, I turn and look out of the window. I regret what I have to say but I have a duty, a purpose, I can't have this distracting me now.

“I'm sorry Mr Star, I can't get involved with Star....” A single tear rolls down my cheek. “...I just can't.” When Silver doesn’t respond I turn, and that's when I feel like a piece of shit. I spot Star and Golden Bank by the living room door staring at me, Star had tears in her eyes. “Star I....”

“Don't...Just...don't....” Star says before running up the stairs again, I hear her bedroom door slam shut.

I feel my heart break, I do love her but if I do I can no longer be her guardian. I walk towards the front door of the house and open the door.

“Kenny, where are you going?” I hear Golden Bank ask.

“Out, I...I can't be here right now.” I walk out the house closing the door behind me, I don't look to Star's bedroom window as I get in my car and drive away.

I drive for several miles before I stop in the car park of a local store, I grip the wheel tighter before bashing it hard with my fist over and over again. I finally break down resting my head against the steering wheel.