Soul Saw Fire

"...Mom...Dad...He is my brother. Don't..."-The guard captain a unicorn guard and an earth pony guard heard Soul say again in his sleep. It had been tree days since Soul gave his statement and the foal had been asleep ever since. The foolish scribe had hit the exhausted foal without lowering the spell intensity to accumulate for the fact that he was using it on a foal and not a full grown stallion. With magic and machinery the nurses had ensured that the foal isn't in any danger and that it was receiving the nutrition it needed.

As for why there were guards. Well the Captain of the guard said it was because given the statement the foal gave it was possible that the two changelings might attempt to foalnap Soul and have one of them replace him to gather love while the other takes the foal to be fed upon by the hive. That was a sound enough explanation but once the shifts began and the captain spent one shift after another not so much as siting down or blinking everyone understood that the captain had merely taken to the foal and wanted to ensure it was okay.

This was quite odd as the captain despised unicorns with a passion. This hatred had taken root in him ever since he noticed that a fellow guard by the name of Shining Armor had received numerous promotions. Despite the fact that Shining was physically weaker and unlike the captain didn't put in the extra hours to better himself. In addition Shining had always lost at mock battles against the captain where they were both given similar forces to command. Everypony knew now that the reason behind Shining's promotions was Princess Mi Amore Cadenza but at the time of the promotions the captain thought it was because of Armor's skill with magic and the notion stuck with him.

As for why there was a unicorn and a earth pony guards well the captain wanted to ensure that the Soul didn't use his magic in his state and only a unicorn could prevent that from happening. The earth pony wasn't really needed as all guards could tie knots to restrain ponies but the captain thought that it would be good to have one around as earth ponies were more dexterous with their hoofs and as such the knots they made to restrain a pony always ended up being stronger and less painful for the tied pony.

"Captain maybe you should rest for a bit. Just leave the foal to me and Bright Light here."- The earth pony said as she walked to look the captain in the eyes. The Captain didn't seem to move or even acknowledge the statement.

"Y-Yes Captain just rest for a bit you haven't slept in the past 3 days. If the foal wakes up I am sure Rose Vine here can restrain the foal while I come and get you."- Bright Light said to which the Captain seemed to get a tick.

"So you intend to leave your post and let the foal use his magic and suffer from magic exhaustion?" The pgasus asked as he turned and stared at the frightened unicorn guard. "Not to mention that doing so will leave a perfect opening for the changelings to strike. Is the fact that we failed to notice the absence of a foal for a week after his parents had a funeral and allowed changelings a chance to feed on said foal not enough of an embarrassment for you?"- The Captain asked Bright Light getting angrier and louder with each word. Bright backed into a wall and was barely holding back tears as the captain finished speaking and backed off and then returned to his stoic position as if nothing had happened.

Neither of the guards said anything or even dared to move for nearly an hour after that. They probably would have stayed there  as statues longer but Soul began to wake up and that prompted the three guards into action.

"Uh.. why does my head hurt so much?" Soul asked no pony in particular as he tried to cover his eyes with his hooves in an adorable attempt to hide from the sunlight. In the next moment the foal froze and jumped up suddenly struck by memories.

"Mom Dad..." Soul shouted as he jumped and stood on the bed. As his vision began to clear he was met by the faces of the 3 guards. He was shocked and attempted to run away but stumbled on his bedsheets and a few wires that had been glued to him to monitor his health and fell back down to the bed.

"Calm down."{Calm down.}- Soul heard both the pegasus  pony and his little big brother say in unison in a demanding voice.

"My name is Lightning Shield and your p-parents a-asked me to t-take care of you w-while they go and cut s-some trees in the g-griffin lands. They just d-didn't want to put y-you in any danged so I-I will be your f-father until t-they come back. Is- is that okay with you?"-The Captain said as he hugged Soul and tears began to pour from his eyes much to the disbelief and shock of the other two guards.

{W-We s-should do what dad and mom said. T-that way when they come back maybe they wouldn't try to get rid of me}- Soul heard his brother say and shortly after the foal relaxed and embraced the hug that the crying pegasus was giving him.

"O-okay but I don't really have to call you dad do I? No offence mister but aside the fact that you are a pegasus  you are nothing like dad."-Soul said not really understanding why the pegasus was crying. Apparently that wasn't the right response as the hug became tighter and tighter making it ever more difficult for Soul to breath.

"Get away from my patient he need to rest. If I need to sedate you all to make that happen Celestia help me I will. "-A pegasus nurse shouted from the door before she pried Soul from Lightning's suffocating hug.

"I am sorry nurse the captain here is just a bit emotional. I will just pull him outside to set him straight in the mean time you make sure everything is okay here Bright and make sure the foal stays put or I will personally kick your flank when I come back."- Rose said as she threw a rope on her captains neck and pulled him out of the room nearly strangling him. Usually the captain would have resisted then used the rope to tie her up and then have her court martialed for something like this but the 3 days of no rest were preventing him from doing anything other then try and keep pace so he didn't suffocate.

"Well now that that's taken care of how are you feeling today little colt?"-The nurse asked Soul as she began to examine him.

"I think my little big brother is okay he doesn't seem to be hurt."- Soul said once he retrieved the wooden figure from his mane and presented it to the nurse for examination.

"That's nice but I meant you sweetie."- The nurse said with a smile which Soul didn't really have.

"Me? But I am not little. I am a big pony and I am old enough that I could be trusted to stay home alone and..." Soul began to protest but the nurse pushed her hoof on his muzzle to silence him.

"Okay, okay mister big colt. Calm down and relax for now and if you do that I will go and get you some chocolate chip cookies and milk."-The

nurse said as he lightly pushed the protesting foal into the pillow. She took the small wooden figurine and placed it on a table next to the bed despite Souls attempts to hold on to it and his pleading look. Once he heard about the cookies though he seemed to cheer up and stand still with a small smile on his muzzle.

"Really I get to have cookies? Mom and Dad rarely let me have any because they say they make me hipero-hypen-hyperactive."-Soul said without breathing in as his smile grew even larger.

"Y-Yes I won't be long I just need to go find something sugar free. Well guard you stay here and make sure he doesn't get up and stays in bed until I get back."- The nurse said before she flew out of the door at an impressive speed.

"What the buck are you thinking captain? I know you haven't slept in a while but you can't just lie to a foal like that and you can't just adopt a foal without doing all the paperwork and then there is the screening. I know its sad to see and you only wanted to help but what happens when the foal learns his parents are dead or when he heals up and the social service ponies separate you from him? Well go on tell me captain because I know one thing. That foal is probably going to die from the shock." Rose Vine shouted at her Lightning Shield in another wing of the hospital. He seemed to lower his head more and more with each word.

"Well its the guards fault. My fault he is even in the hospital. D-Do you think I can just let him die like this just because I failed to train my guards properly? I-I don't know how but I'll find a way to keep him from finding out about his parents. A-and I know a few ponies to take care of the paperwork. S-so yes lieutenant I do know what I am doing I am making sure that that foal doesn't have to suffer anymore because of our incompetence. Now return to your post and make sure nopony tells my new son about his parents I have paperwork to take care of before he is discharged from the hospital. When your shift ends go to the station and make sure to inform those idiots that I am taking a leave for the next few days to attend to personal matters or I will court martial you for that stunt you just pulled."- Lightning Shield shouted back stunning the mare before he headed for the hospitals exit. Ponies seemed to make way for him and tremble as he past by them.

"Hey mister do you think you can take me to the little foals room? I know that I was supposed to stay here but I really need to go . Mister are you listening to me mister?"- Soul asked Bright Light over and over again. It had already been half an hour since the nurse had left.

{Come on somepony please come back. I don't want to disobey orders but I don't what to see a foal pee itself because of me.} -Bright Light thought still keeping his statue like expression. Fortunately for both him and Soul Rose Vine entered the room at that moment.

"Anything to report private?"-Rose asked as she stood in front of Bright.

"Yes mam the target wishes to relieve himself I would like your permission to escort him to a rest room. Also the nurse is supposed to return with nourishment for the target shortly."-Bright said as he saluted Rose.

"Permission granted but do it with haste and ensure there are no accidents. I shall stay here and inform the nurse. Head out." Rose said as she saluted Bright back. Within seconds Soul was levitated towards the door. Soul managed to get his little big brother from the table as he floated by it.

"Thank you mam." Bright said as he was leaving the room with Soul firmly in the grasp of his levitation spell.

"Everypony is gone crazy or is an idiot. This is going to be a long shift."- Rose mumbeled to herself in the quiet room as she facehoofed and groaned.

"I couldn't hear you. What did you say?" The nurse said once she left a tray of cookies and a glass of milk on the table after landing.

"Ah nurse where did you come from? Never mind that the foal is going to be okay right? "Rose said with hope in her eyes. " I don't think the guard will survive otherwise." Rose then added quietly under her muzzle.

"The open window naturally and don't worry I am certain that my patient will be okay so long as he isn't subjected to exhausting tasks for the next week or so. It might be a bit longer before he can safely learn about his parents if ever but I believe your captain already knows of this. "-The nurse said with a bit of sadness in her voice. "By the way where is my patient?"- The nurse added shortly with a bit of bloodlust in her voice that made Rose's hair stand on edge.

"He wished to go to the bathroom."-Rose said as she barely resisted the urge to salute and add mam to the end of her response.

"Well that's okay I guess. We don't want to risk his mussels catching atrophy even if he seemed stronger then any foal I've seen. Can I count on you to give him these cookies and milk? I put his medicine in them so once he takes them he should get some rest."- The nurse said as she began to leave the room trough the window again.

"Of course m.. make sure he eats the cookies and drinks the milk got it. I'll find you if something happens."- Rose said slightly lifting her right hoof to salute at one point before she restrained herself and put her hoof down. Once the nurse heard her response she took flight and left.

"I have successfully accomplished my mission mam. There were a few difficulties."-Rose heard Bright's voice  from behind her as the doors opened.

"Hey, hey do you know where that pegasus pony went? I asked some other ponies but no pony told me. I need to find him because mom and dad told him to take care of him and that means that I should stay with him but I don't know where he went and if I don't find him dad and mom might ground me when they calm back if I don't do what they told me."- Soul said in his usual fast speaking way of speech as he seemed to search the room for something.

"Um...the captain needed to go take care of somethings but he said you should behave and listen to the nurse and me until he comes back."-Rose said as she lifted the foal from the ground its legs moved a few times before he realized he wasn't going anywhere and stopped moving. "Here the nurse brought some cookies and milk just for you so how about you have some and then..."-Rose began to say but she had let Soul on his bed and the foal attacked the poor cookies without mercy before she could finish her sentence. Rose found the situation adorable and funny and a small smile appeared on her muzzle.

"What should we do about shift changes now that the captain has left mam?"-Bright asked shaking Rose from her observation of Soul.

"You can head for the station. Make sure that you inform a pony in charge that the captain is taking leave to attend to personal matters and get a unicorn and a pegasus to come her in time for the night shift after that go and rest guard. I will keep watch and ensure nothing happens."- Rose said in a tone which wouldn't allow for arguments if the unicorn wanted to.

"Yes, mam. Thank you mam."-Bright said as he saluted to Rose once more before he charged up a spell and disappeared in a bright flash.

"Wow was that magic? Can I do that? how do I do that? Can  y.o..u..." Soul began to say after witnessing the teleportation magic having finished off the cookies and milk before the medicine kicked in and he fell head first on his fluffy bed sheets.

"I am sure you can little colt but for now you need your rest."-Rose said quietly as she lifted Soul and placed him on the pillow before tugging him in. "Yes this is going to be a long shift."-Rose said to herself as a smile appeared on her face.