The Guardian

It was a little over seven hours into our journey and my ass was getting numb. I looked over to Star and she was sleeping in the backseat, shortly after leaving Orlando Star became tired and went back for a nap. We were now half way to Washington D.C and I was getting nervous. I thought about the figure and how he nearly killed Star, I gripped the steering wheel tighter as I felt anger at my failure. I banged the wheel hard it was loud enough to wake Star.

“Kenny? Are you ok?” Star asks, wiping her face and climbing back into the front seat. “Is something wrong?”

I don't look at her but I reply anyway. “I was just thinking about last night, that person could have killed you! And I wasn't there to stop them!”

“But it wasn't your fault, you didn't know it was going to happen.”

“I know but it still doesn’t make it right! Star from now on we sleep together.”

“Your fast.” Star giggles. “I at least thought you would take me out first.”

I splutter a reply. “N-no not like that! I mean maybe later but I just want you near me at all times, no exceptions.”

“I knew what you meant, I'm just joking with you.” Star says, she looks out the window. “So how far are we?”

“We're about half way there, I might need a break soon though, I can't feel my butt cheeks.”

Star laughs. “Maybe I can help with that.”

“Star please, the sexual stuff can come later, alright?”

“Fine! I'm not a little filly anymore, I have needs!”

I roll my eyes. “I know you ain't Star, I'm not saying you are, but you can't rush these things. Humans don't rush into sexual relationships, well some don't. What I'm trying to say Star is that I want to enjoy what we have and when we finally 'consummate' our union I want it to mean something.” I reach over and stroke her face without looking. “I just don't want a rut or sexual encounter, I want our feelings to be in sync, I want both of us to enjoy it.”

“Are you saying you wouldn't enjoy it now?”

“I don't know, you had a scare last night and I think that is what’s fuelling your desire to rut me, you want to be loved to be held. But if we do it now, the act, your first time will become meaningless. Do you understand?”

“I think I do.” Star lowers her head. “Your right Kenny, I want our first time to be memorable too, I will wait.”

The next twenty minutes is spent in silence as Star just stares out the window at the rolling fields passing by. I smile as I see a services sign up ahead and decide now's the time to stretch our legs.

“There's a service station up ahead, I think we could stretch our legs a bit.” Star just hums an agreement.

Five minutes later I pull into the station, I sighed in relief as it had a small diner attached and it was open.

“Fancy getting something to eat?” I ask Star as I help her out the car.

“Yeah, I'm starving.” Star replies.

I scratch Star's ear as she leans into me.

“Oh look! It's one of those pony lovers!” I turn my head to see two truckers leaning on the front of one of their haulers. “Fucked her yet!?”

I turn my body and I see the truckers face go pale as he sees my badge on my coat. I stride up to the man and into his face.

“I don't like your attitude.” I say glaring at him. “And yes I am a pony lover, as a guardian it is a requirement. I spot a flash of metal beside me and in one move I have one of my guns sunk into the nose of his friend. “One move my friend and you won't be seeing the day end.” I state without turning away from the first trucker, I hear a metal object hit the floor. “Now you are going to apologise to my marefriend here and be on your way, right?”

“I...I'm sorry little pony, I didn't mean to offend you.”

I turn my head to his friend. “You too.” I pull the firing pin on my gun back.

“I'm sorry!” The guy almost squeals.

“Good! Now leave.” The truckers both scramble for their trucks, minutes later they were gone. I put my gun back in my coat and turn to be met by two state troopers with guns out. I tap my badge. “Guardian business.” The two troopers nod and put away their guns, walking back into the diner as me and Star follow after them.

“You didn't have to do that you know, I don't care what others say.” Star says, “but I liked it anyway, turned me on a little.”

I grin. “Glad you did, though I don't know what came over me, what that guy said just boiled me inside. I vowed to protect you Star from enemies and idiots.” Star giggles. “Now I'm hungry, let's get inside.”

I pushed open the diner door and several of the diners patrons look up but quickly go back to their meals. Me and Star walk up to the counter.

“What can I do you for?” A older women asks with a happy demeanour.

“Let's see....What would you like Star?” I ask, turning to my mare.

“Do you have any dishes without meat?” Star asks the women behind the counter.

“We sure do! We expanded our menu, never no when you pony folks are coming around.” The women points to the menu above the counter. “We have salads of various types, potato, cheese, or just plain ones to name a few, our cook even learned some new recipes from a vegan friend of his. Those dishes are on that menu there.” The women points to a separate menu a few boards down. “All dishes there are meat free alternatives, just encase you want to try some traditional human dishes.”

Star nods. “Thank you.”

“No problem hun, you just take your time ok?” The women smiles before leaving to serve someone else that entered.

I stared at the menu as Star stared at the meat free alternatives.

“These dishes are all fascinating. I know we ate some human dishes at home but I didn't really know there were so many.”

“I'm not the meat free type so I'll just have a ham sandwich.” I say.

“Ham? That's pig right?” I nod. “In Equestria pigs are used to make fertiliser for crops, no pony would ever think of eating them.” Star shudders.

“Farm animals here ain't like yours back in Equestria, here their not fully sentient, which is why we eat them. Most are bred only for that purpose in some places.” I state. “But I can change my mind if it will make you uncomfortable?”

“No, I'll be fine with it. You go ahead, I have my choice now.”

I nod and get the attention of the waitress again.

“Made up your minds?” The waitress asks.

“Yes we have, I'll have a ham sandwich with mayo and what are you having Star?”

“I'll have the meat free meatball soup please.” Star replies pointing to the meat free board.

“Good choice! I'll be right back with your orders.” The waitress walks away to the back area leaving me and Star to talk.

“I'm really enjoying myself Kenny, I'm sorry if I didn't speak for a while earlier. I was just thinking.”

“All in the past. Though I was quite worried that I said something wrong, thought I might be getting the silent treatment the rest of the trip.”

“I can't stay mad at you Kenny, even if I wanted too.” Star leans closer. “Though I do want to rut your brains out.”

I chuckle. “All in good time my dear, all in good time!”

We both laugh as the diner door rings, I glance back and my smile drops from my face.

“Kenny, what's wrong?” Star turns to see where I'm looking and I see her face go pale.

Standing in the doorway was a man dressed in a black leather coat staring at me, there was a devilish grin on his face.

“Look who it is, a guardian and his mare lover.” The man says, a low cackle leaving his lips. “I was disappointed to hear you had left Orlando but working over your father Star Trail was most enjoyable.” The man walks up to us but stops as I turn on my seat. The man puts up a leather gloved hand. “I'm not here to fight, though I think it would be thrilling to fight you guardian. No, I am here to deliver a message, much to my distaste. The message is this, simply hand over the pony, and walk away guardian. Do that and you go free, don't and you really might want to weigh your options.” The diner door opens again and three leather clad humans enter each carrying a weapon, I smiled as none of them had guns. “And what are you smiling for?”

“Oh nothing!” I reply, “just you have threatened me and my mare without any guns, it's quite the mistake.”

“Not really.” The man states shrugging. “These men are trained to use lethal force without hideous projectile weapons.”

“Hideous projectile weapons? What are you, twelve? Just call them guns.” I say. “And I'm not giving her to you.”

The man sighs. “Very well, I supposed this was to be expected.” The man points to me. “kill him but leave the pony.”

The three men all move to rush me, three shots ring out and slowly the leather clad goons drop to the floor one by one. Their heads were smoking were bullets entered their foreheads. The man looks to me and my two raised guns, I point them towards him. I hear two more guns being pulled and smile as the troopers in the diner have raised their own weapons against my threatener.

“Looks like the odds are against me now.” The man states, seconds later he moves and two knives bury into the throats of the two troopers. “Not anymore.” The man wipes down his coat. “Like I said I didn't come here to fight, I must go now. You have our warning, give her up or die, your choice.” The man goes to press a button on his arm.

“Who are you?” I ask, cocking back the firing pins again on my guns.

“Since we will meet again I am Hex, world famous pony hunter, well, soon to be any way.” The man presses a button and waves as he fades away.

I stand in the diner still holding my guns up to the empty air, my face was snarling in rage. I walked out of the diner and pointed my guns up, I proceeded to unload my weapons while screaming to the sky. When my guns emptied I still kept pressing the trigger, that is until I felt the comfort of a hoof press into my side.

“Kenny, the men inside need help, they are bleeding to death.”

I look down to Star and her face was a picture of anguish. “Ok Star, I'm sorry, go back inside and I'll get my medical kit from my car.” I place my hand on Star's hoof and give it a rub. Star walks back inside as I put away my guns and head for the car.

Twenty minutes later I managed to stop the bleeding with two Equestrian healing potions, the liquid quickly sealing the two troopers throat wounds. I finished applying bandages to their necks as more troopers and an ambulance arrived to tend to the men.

It was a further hour before we finally left, the witness statements said that me and Star were not the aggressors and had rightly defended ourselves. Heading down the highway we were both quiet, we both had no words to say about what happened. I knew by the night rolling in that we wasn't going to be in Washington tonight, I looked to Star.

“We're not going to be in Washington tonight Star, we have to find a motel for the night.”

Star look back to me. “What if the man finds us again?”

“He won't, he gave me a choice. I have probably two days before they figure out my answer, I think it subtly goes 'screw you'.”

Star smiles and then proceeds to lie her head on my lap, my heart beats faster. I only calm down when I feel Stars breathing get slower, she has fallen asleep. I leave one hand go and stroke Star's mane, which in return I hear her happily sigh. I think back to the man called Hex, what exactly does he want Star for? Who does he work for? But one thing about him made one question stick in my head.

Why did it feel like I knew him?