My Little Pony Champions of Justice

Another day had passed in Canterlot with Valiant now training with the castle guards, many were impressed by his newly found magic skills, as well as his natural talent at blacksmithing which was improved under the instruction of Hard Hammer. Valiant had spent his mornings training in the courtyard before helping his newfound master with a few orders for new armor and weapons or the occasional jewel crafting for one of the Canterlot Elites.

"MORE HEAT LAD!!"

"AYE SIR!!"

Hard Hammer and his apprentice were hard at work that day forging an entire set of armor as a request sent from Griffonia using the new mithril silver he had shown his master, for many days Valiant handled to bellows and furnace while Hard Hammer shaped the armor piece by piece until at last the armor was polished off and placed on the rack ready for pick up.

"Well done lad."

Hard Hammer praised his young apprentice looking at how the armor seemed to shine even in the darkest area of the shop as the representative from Griffonia came knocking at the door with the two sisters escorting him.

"I am Sir Feather Duster; Representative for the king of Griffonia."

The griffon was dressed in a rather frou frou outfit with a monocle which wasn't what the unicorn was expecting after reading about the Griffonian warriors of old while Hard Hammer instantly shook hands with his client before wiping them clean of any unwanted filth.

"Excellent timing sir! We just finished the last bits of the armor."

Hard Hammer then showed them the armor he and Valiant had been working on, at first the gryphon raised an eyebrow with a talon to his chin before scoffing at the armor waving it off.

"I don't like it. It's fancy and all but this couldn't POSSIBLY protect the king."

"How's about a bet then?" Valiant said winking to Hard Hammer and the sisters as the gryphon turned around.

"And you are?"

"Valiant Charge; Hard Hammers apprentice and I have a wager for you."

"I'm listening." The gryphon said with a sense of curiousness in his voice.

"How's about a demonstration? If the armor meets your qualifications you pay us...Double! for the original price."

"And if it doesn't?"

"Then you can take it....for free."

At this point Hard Hammer would've bashed him over the head for making such a foolish wager but like any craftsman Hard Hammer knew the best way to get a customer to buy your merchandise was to advertise it. The group watched as Valiant placed the armor on a practice dummy before grabbing one of the swords from the weapons rack.

"Now what we have here is your basic combat sword forged from the finest steel in Equestria now. Observe."

Using his magic Valiant swung with all his might just before the sword shattered to pieces shocking Feather Duster as his monocle dropped off his eye, jaw feeling like it had just hit the floor.

"Like throwing glass against stone and as you can see there's not even a scratch."

Valiant gave the armor a quick polish making it shine with perfection as Feather Duster placed his monocle back onto his eye looking overjoyed shaking the young unicorns hoof.

"Well demonstrated my boy!"

"And our agreement?"

"Oh yes. I'll have double the payment shipped first thing tomorrow! his majesty will be pleased!!"

With a clap of his talons two gryphon guards came flying in to take the armor while Hard Hammer patted his young apprentice on the shoulder while Valiant gave a triumphant grin before going to pick up the shards of the broken sword to repair it later before Celestia whispered something to Hard Hammer.

"Understood yer highness. You're done for today lad. I can handle the rest of the orders."

"You sure about that sir?"

"I'm old boy not helpless! Now off with ye!" Hard Hammer yelled. Scolding his apprentice.

Not wanting to argue with his master Valiant simply shrugged his shoulders and trotted out the door to wash up outside. Splashing a bucket of cold water from the castle well was just what he needed to cool down and wash off the soot from his body but as he began to dry himself he could swear he heard the faint giggle of mares nearby as Princess Celestia and Luna approached him from behind.

"Excuse us Valiant. Do you have a moment?"

"Of course. What is it you need your majesties?"

"There's no need to be so formal. We received a letter from Twilight and her friends requesting that you come to visit them in Ponyville."

"Visit Twilight and the others? sure why not?"

Valiant knew a visit with his friends would be better than dodging the castle maids and local mares all day (again!) nodding in agreement with his decision Celestia ordered two of her guards to escort him to the train station knowing his knowledge of the city was limited and she had also noticed that some of the local mares had become attracted to him, as they made their way through the streets a few of the locals began whispering to themselves.

"Is that him?"

"Yes he's the blacksmiths apprentice. What I don't understand is why a unicorn would pick such a lowly profession?"

Valiant had once again ignored the taunts of the nobles knowing the wouldn't understand why some actually choose to work for a living instead of being born wealthy and it seemed the guards were in agreement as they shot a glare at the ponies sitting down before finally arriving at the train station.

"Thanks for the help boys."

"Would you like us to escort you back to the castle on your return sir?"

"No I think I can find my way I mean it's a castle."

"Very well. Have a safe trip sir."

Valiant gave a quick nod as the train doors closed taking off for Ponyville. Valiant stared out the window for some time as the cart rattled from time to time while the ponies inside chatted among themselves, this reminded Valiant of the Deeprun Tram back in Azeroth when he first visited the city of Iron Forge with the gleaming sunlight being the only major difference. Once the train reached the station Valiant was greeted by a pair of pink hooves the wrapped around him and began to crush his spine.

"YOU MADE IT!!"

Pinkie Pie shouted with joy as her friends eyes began to bulge out of their sockets.

KRKKKK!!!! "Um Pinkie? No offense but you're killing me!!!"

Valiant managed to squeal just before the pink mare released him as the rest of her friends came to greet him.

"Valiant darling! it's so good to see you again."

"Hey girls. So what's on the agenda?"

"You'll see."

Pinkie said leading the way. The group soon arrived at Sugar Cube Corner where Valiant was introduced to the other ponies along with Applejacks little sister Apple Bloom and her friends the "Cutie Mark Crusaders"; Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle followed by mister and misses cake and their twin foals Pumpkin and Pound Cake.

"Well hey there ya little-!!"

BOP!!

"OW! Ohh that little guys got a mean swing!"

Valiant said with a smirk rubbing his nose while Cup Cake pulled her son away looking worried.

"I am SO sorry!!"

"It's fine misses Cake."

Valiant said still rubbing his nose before ruffling little Pound Cakes mane as the party went on into the afternoon. To end the day Applejack decided to show Valiant her families farm; Sweet Apple Acres, there he could see apple trees as far as the eye could see followed by a carrot farm not too far away.

"Pretty neat huh?"

"It's amazing!"

"You know we're about to harvest the south orchard care to lend a hoof?"

"Sure."

Applejack wasted no time in showing Valiant the basics of apple bucking and in no time Valiant was moving from tree to tree knocking apples down into the buckets below. Apple Bloom and her friends had decided to help out with the harvest along with Applejacks brother Big Mac, for a while the ponies seemed to be enjoying themselves until Valiant caught a feint stench that almost made him barf right in front of Applejack.

"You alright sugar cube?"

"Fine it was that smell! UGH!!"

"Smell?"

Applejack took a quick sniff along with Big Mac before a look of terror came on their faces following the scent to where Apple Bloom and her friends were still harvesting apples.

"Oh no!" The mare said sounding terrified.

"Applejack?"

"COME ON!!" Applejack shouted sounding worried as the two stallions followed behind her racing deep into the orchard. Meanwhile Apple Bloom and her friends had just finished gathering the last of the apples from the trees while a pair of emerald green eyes peered from the shadow of the bushes just beyond the orchard, the three fillies joined in a group hoof slam when Applejack and the others came rushing onto the scene.

"Oh hey sis. We just-!!!"

"KIDS!! RUN!!!!"

Before Apple Bloom could register what was going on a large timber wolf darted out of the bushes and straight at them as they scattered screaming with fright, for a moment the timber wolf didn't know which filly to chase after until he saw Sweetie Belle trip over a large root skidding into the dirt.

"My ankle!!"

Sweetie cried out in pain as the wolf licked its lips ready to pounce on her until a red flash blasted it a good distance away. Valiant shot the beast right on its side leaving a slight burn while Big Mac grabbed Sweetie Belle running to join his two sisters and Scootaloo.

"Mac you watch the others! This one's mine.."

Valiant circled the wolf as it began to recover from its attack, the beast wasted no time identifying his assailant. Growling in anger and hunching its back the beast prepared to charge but Valiant stood his ground.

"Come on..." Valiant taunted the wolf, curling his hoof at it and as expected the beast charged in full of rage as the unicorn did the same.

SNARL!!

"HYAAAAGH!!!"

WHAM!!

Both collided strong enough to send each other tussling down a nearby hill as Applejack followed while Big Mac stayed behind to watch the girls. She saw Valiant and the wolf coming near the bottom of the hill as the unicorn quickly sprang off the wolf after delivering a straight jab with his left hoof but before he could regain his stance the wolf sprang up at the same speed clawing Valiant in the chest.

"AGGGHH! Hrrrrr...."

Valiant staggered back from the pain as the wolf licked his blood off its paw and Applejack was starting to worry as the rest of her friends came onto the scene after hearing the racket caused by the girls screams.

"Applejack what's going on?!?" Rainbow dash asked as her friend pointed to the showdown going on below.

"Timber wolf!!"

Applejack pointed to Valiant and the timber wolf circling each other again, the girls gasped seeing the three claw marks in his chest with blood leaking out of each one. Fluttershy gave a loud gasp before fainting while Pinkie hopped up and down panicking like she always did when it came to stressful situations.

"What do we do?!? what do we do?!?"

"I'll tell you what we're gonna do!! Go down there and help Valiant kick that wolfs-!!"

"RAINBOW DASH!! STAY BACK!!!"

Valiant shouted, his voice sounding enraged as the startled mares moved back a bit while he kept his focus on the wolf. For a moment neither combatant moved as a light breeze blew through the area with everypony on edge wondering what was going to happen next. Valiant examined the area around him and saw nothing that could be of use in his fight save for a small hatchet by a tree stump. He then examined his opponent. The wolf was very fast when charging in a straight line but when it came to making turns it was slow and that was the advantage Valiant needed.

"COME GET ME YA FURLESS FOUR LEGGED REJECT!!!" Valiant shouted darting in the direction of the stump with the wolf closing in from behind.

"What the hay is he doing?!?" Applejack screamed as she saw the timber wolf drawing closer but as it drew closer Valiant snatched up the hatchet with his magic, making a sharp turn to the left as the timber wolf attempted to do the same only to end up tripping over its own paws giving Valiant the opening he was looking for.

"YOU DIE!!" Valiant shouted with fury as he flung the hatchet, as the wolf rose to its feet the last thing it saw was a bright flash of light before hearing a loud crunch coming from its head. Valiant had thrown the hatchet dead center in the timber wolfs skull as the beast stood for about two seconds before dropping dead with the emerald glow of its eyes slowly fading.

Twilight and her friends came rushing down cheering as Valiant removed his weapon from the beasts skull still feeling the pain of the claw marks left in his chest. Applejack was the first to see just how bad he was hurt as she helped him to sit down while he groaned with the exhaustion of the fight catching up to him.

"Rainbow get a doctor! Quick!"

"I'm on it!!"

Rainbow Dash did as Twilight instructed and flew off in a flash while Big Mac and the girls arrived to see the dead timber wolf and their friend who was now badly hurt.

"Mac. Are the girls alright?" Valiant asked between breathes.

"Eeyup." Big mac answered as he showed all three crusaders safe and sound.

"Try not to talk so much sugar cube. Fluttershy there's a first aid kit in the kitchen can ya get it for me?"

"Of course!"

Fluttershy raced towards the house as Rainbow returned with Healing Touch carrying the signature black bag all doctors carry as he spotted the wounded unicorn.

"Everypony stand back while I examine the patient." Healing touch said as the ponies made room while he examined the wounds, Valiant did his best to stay still but each touch felt like a branding iron on his side as Healing Touch began sterilizing it with antiseptic before Fluttershy arrived with the first aid kit.

"Ah! Perfect timing Fluttershy. Hand me the bandages will you?" The unicorn doctor asked just as he finished cleaning out the wound.

Fluttershy did as instructed and the unicorn doctor worked quickly to cover up Valiants injury.

"You're lucky young colt. Any deeper and that wolf would've punctured a lung."

"Thanks doc."

Healing touch instructed Applejack to make sure he got a few days bed rest before doing any physical activity and the farm mare was more than happy to let her friend stay at her home for a couple of days. Knowing her royal duties Twilight had written a letter to Celestia informing her of the timber wolf attack and Valiants condition while her friends helped Applejack take Valiant back to her house.

That night as Valiant slept the girls chatted among themselves about what they had just witnessed.

"Did you see the way he flung that hatchet right into that timber wolfs skull? Totally awesome! but it would've been more awesome if I had joined in." Rainbow Dash said in a prideful manner placing a hoof to her chest before Applejack stared at her in anger slamming the table.

"Consarn it Rainbow! He wasn't trying to show off he was protecting us!!"

"Okay eesh! sorry." Rainbow apologized trying to sound sincere while Twilight looked to the others.

"I'm more interested in the way he looked. Did you see his eyes?"

"Oh yes the are a lovely shade of red."

"Not like that Rarity! I mean the look they had. I've never seen a pony with such anger and the way he killed that timber wolf was just well..."

"Savage?" Fluttershy finished Twilights sentence.

"Exactly!!"

"C'mon y'all what does it matter? The point is he saved the girls and I for one am grateful for that."

"Applejack's right. So the guy has a few anger issues I mean who doesn't right?" Rainbow stated as her friends nodded in agreement before saying goodnight to each other, once the others had left Applejack trotted upstairs to check on her friend who was quietly resting on the couch, while he slept Applejack brushed some of his mane away from his face as she broke into a soft smile.

"Thank you so much Valiant." She whispered placing a kiss on his cheek before trotting upstairs to bed as Valiant slowly roused from his sleep still feeling the warmth of her kiss on him.

"Applejack..."

The End.