Crystal Knight

Crash!

The brown stallion slid down the tree and bent his legs as he stumbled forward. His sight was blurred, but that can happen when you get headbutted by a chimera. He shook his head clear and blew some of his light blue mane out of his face as he raised his iron shield. The beast was still there and it was… Talking. Again.

“If you had let me bite him he would be dead already!”

“And that worked so well last time when he almost cut you off.”

“Will you two–”

Screech.

The beast turned its attention back to the stallion in leather armor as he took his blade away from his shield. They growled at the annoyance and tensed their legs as plans went through their heads. Though each wanted the kill, they couldn’t deny what was affective. The ground shook as the chimera charged and the stallion raised his shield.

Unlike last time when he took the blow on his shield, this time the bent rectangle was dropped and the beast was side stepped. It dug its claws deep into the earth as it tried to turn, but the stallion was too experienced. With bent knees and longsword forward, the warrior lunged into the creature's chest. The two came crashing into the ground where claws and hooves flailed for purchase and vengeance. Very slowly they started to move less and less until not at all. The warrior pulled his blade free from their chest as sweat poured down his face. “About… damn… time.”

Stepping down from the creature brought the possibility of bruised ribs into a horribly painful reality. He undid the chest plate and glanced down before groaning at the massive purple bruise that had formed. His shield had taken the horns, but his whole body had taken the impact. Impacts. However, the warrior worried more for his fallen shield which lay on the grass. A quick inspection of the item made it painfully clear that he couldn’t use it. “Splintered wood, bent metal frame. Damnit. Shine is going to kill me for this.”

A soft smile filled his face as he remembered his kind wife. No, she wouldn’t ever do something like that. A long, painful trek through the woods brought him back to the small village of Barrel, or home as the warrior liked to call it. Ponies who saw him walking through always stopped and smiled at him, happy for his safe return. Being the only guard in a town like this definitely had its perks, but being home wasn’t one of them. The village also knew not to delay him long or to make him wait for he had more important things to check up on then them.

He opened the door to a nice house in the middle of town and quietly called, “Shine? Honey?”

A yellow mare came into the room in a green sun dress that matched her short mane. She wore a small smile which immediately grew upon seeing her loving husband. She tackled into him and gasped when he groaned. “Knight, are you okay?”

Knight waved it away with one hand. “Of course. Just some bruised ribs.” A smack resonated throughout the room as the back of his head hurt. “Yes?”

Her normally sweet voice came out in a harsh whisper. “Bruised ribs aren’t okay. You can’t just keep getting hurt like this. I mean, what would we do without you?”

He smiled at her as he gently embraced Shine Maker. “I’m sorry, but you know I can’t stop. I protect you by going out there and fighting those beasts and in doing so now protect our colt as well.” The two stand in silence as Shine gripped into his leather covered arm. They had had this fight many times, but neither wanted it today, not after Knight had just returned. He gently wiped away a tear that fell down her face and gave her one more comforting squeeze. “It’ll be alright. Besides, I have you two to come back to. I don’t think I need any more reason than that to not get myself killed.”

Shine slowly nodded and stepped out of his arms. “Thank you honey, but you know I won’t stop worrying.”

“I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Another small tear fell down her face as she turned to the stairs. “Lunar Beam is sleeping upstairs. Get out of your armor and come up afterwards. I’ll be waiting.”

Knight sighed. She had known his lifestyle when they got married and he didn’t think that had changed. An accidental cinching of a strap reminded him that he was wrong. Today had been a rookie mistake, and after seven years of doing this job he shouldn’t have made it. In fact, this was the fourth injury in two months and five monsters. Two months…. ever since Lunar was born. He shook his head as he tried not to dwell on it. They were waiting for him and he didn’t want to disappoint them.

Slowly he climbed the stairs that led to the room and gently rapped his knuckles against the door before walking in. Shine smiled at him and beckoned the stallion over.

“You need to be quiet. He only got to sleep about an hour ago.”

Knight nodded as he pulled the blanket away from the small form. He slowly extended a hand down and brushed the colt’s dirty blond coat. “Hi there little guy. Sorry I was away for a while. I wasn’t doing anything too dangerous, just my job.” He glanced up and smiled slightly as Shine gave him the dirtiest of looks.

“I am not doing this here.”

“Doing what?”

“Not while the baby is here.”

“I have no idea what you are talking about.”

She sighed as a slight chuckle escaped her. “Alright idiot, come over here and kiss–”

Knock, knock.

Knight glanced downward and shook his head. “I’ll be right back for that kiss, alright?” He waited for her to nod and stood to leave. He trudged down the steps as his side ached with each heavy step. Another knock came from the door before he arrived and he finally opened it to a white stallion in golden armor staring back at him.

“Hello sir. I am here with the Equestrian army and we are recruiting all that we can along our way to The Crystal Empire. We were told to try this house.” He paused and looked into the hard eyes and set jaw of the pony and saw exactly what he had been hoping for. “Are you Knight Shield?”

Knight nodded solemnly as his chest started to tighten in fear. “Why are you all marching?”

“Reports claim that The Crystal Empire has risen again and that whoever was sent to pacify it failed. Now we are needed to make sure that whoever may rule it does not turn its forces against Equestria.”

“Not really sugar coating it, are you?”

The guard looked down. “Your village speaks highly of you. All three of them. This was merely the last one we checked on and I thought you deserved to know the truth if you joined.”

Knight bit into his cheek as he thought about the others that were at least technically under his protection but then glanced back as he heard a door upstairs open. “How serious is the threat?”

“Both princesses are going with as much of a force they could muster in such short notice. We could use every stallion available.”

Knight glared at him. “You rotten,” he stopped himself as he simply looked to his hooves. It wasn’t his fault that everyone knew him as a defender because that is what he was. What I am.

“Honey, why is there a royal guard at our door?”

The guard stepped back from the door and swallowed hard. “I think it would best for me to wait for an answer out here.”

Shine’s eyes widened as the door softly closed. “Is he offering a position? Are we moving to Canterlot?” Her smile slowly faded as Knight shook his head. “Then why would he be here?”

“They need me at someplace called The Crystal Empire.”

Shine paled at the grave tone. “No. They can’t have you.”

Knight opened his mouth to tell her that they needed him, but then closed it. They weren’t why. They never were. He slowly lifted her chin so that they looked each other in the eyes. “I can’t risk this getting back to you two. I’m sorry, but I have to go.”

She forced herself not to look down, to not cry. Instead she merely slipped her arms around him and held him tight. “Just remember who is waiting for you at home, okay? Come home safe like you always do.”

He nodded and held her close. “I promise I will be back. You can count on it.”

The two separated slightly, but only so they could share one more lingering kiss before Knight stepped out the front door and left the yellow mare all alone in the cold room.