The Courageous Knight

                                                                                                       Present day

It was a nice today, the weather is warm, the skys are clear and cool breeze are blowing, a perfect day to be working at Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack has asked Zues if he could help her and Mac with apple bucking, Zues had no plans so he agreed. After finishing with the last tree, the crusaders wanted to play with Zues knights and dragon, seeing that he's a dragon and all.

''Rooooaaaar! I AM ZUES THE MIGHTY DRAGON! YOU CRUSADERS CANT DEFEAT ME!!''

Zues roaded as he stummped the ground, flashed his teeth and claws above his head.

''For the kingdom of Equestria, we will defeat you! Cutie mark Crusaders charge!!!''

Applebloom screamed as she, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo charged at Zues. As Scootaloo pounced on top of Zues, AppleBloom and Sweetie Belle grabing one of his leg. Zues then began to spin around as the girls hold on to dear life until he became dizzy and collapsed.

''Al right Crusaders, time to unleash are wrath!''

As soon as Appleboom said that, all three fillys began to tickle Zues.

''BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! N..NO! My only w..weakness gahahahahaha!''

''Alright alright now com'on girls, thats enough, he's been workin rlly hard helpin me and Big Mac wit da apples, give him time to rest now ya hear.''

With that, the Crusaders gave out a sigh, hugged Zues, and headed to their tree house.

''Sorry about dat Zues, you know how fillys act on their age.''

''Oh its fine AJ, if anything, they remind me a lot like my students back at my world, they may be small, butg there tuff heh heh.''

[''heh heh right, and again, thanks for helpin me and Mac with the apple bucking, we where running behind schedual.''/color]

''Yeah no prob, I enjoy hard labor, its what keeps me fit and playing with the girls was round two.''

With that, Zues round-house kicked a tree, causing apples to fall into two barrels. Zues then grabbed both barrels and walked along side AJ toward the barn.

''Sooo, how are you and Twi doin?''

''Oh, shes good, she's actually with Fluttershy helping her with the animals, why you ask?''

''No reason, its just that you two have gotten close since the time you became her knight.''

She said, giving Zues a ''I know whats going on between you look''

(blushes)''Oh heh heh yeah..um..yeah, I mean she and all of you accepted me as a friend, and she was nice enough to let me stay with her and Spike at her castle.''

''Yeah, you've been a lot of help to all of us and a mighty good friend, especially to Twilight. We've all seen how she acts when shes around you, shes more happy, im surprised you havnt noticed.''

''Yeah, I mean, whenever we joke around, shes more playfull when we horse around and everytime we hang, she constantly ask me personal stuff about me. I honestly dont notice thing right away, its like my brain takes time to process heh heh.''

Zues said while rubbing the back of his head. Applejack just gave him the ''are you serious'' look.

''But what I can tell you is maybe I have been feeling...attracted to her, but the thing is we'er both different. She's a magical alicorn Princess and I once a human, just a fire breathing dragon. I just dont know what to do.''

''Well Zues, Im not good at match makin, but what im good at is beein honest, and I honestly thing you should follw ya heart and you'll find your answer.''

With that being said, AJ gave Zues a pat on the back and headed inside her home. Zues then made his way to his home at the castle, thinking what he should do, he knows he had grew attached to Twilight, but he feels that he is not worthy of her love, even her older brother, Shinning Armor, didnt think Zues was good enough for her. Back when Zues had became Twilights knight and swore his loyalty  to her, shinning armor had found out and didnt like the idea of not only having a dragon who has from another world become her royal guard,  he dosnt know Zues very well to trust him to protect his little sister. Princess Cadence was ok with the idea and though Shinning Armor was just over reacting. When Twilight had to go to Canterlot to attend a meeting with the other princesses, Zues had accompany her and escorted her to the crystal castle, on their way, Zues was by her side, wore the exact armor like all the other royal guards, but thanks to Rarity, he's was designed to represtent Twilight, his armor was silver and had Twilight's cutie mark on his right shoulder armor. Zues would tease Twilight and would do everything to please his highness, as they headed to the castle, Zues would provid her with shade, swat pesky mosquitoes, even laid out a blanket for her to walk over a poodle. Though it made Twlight a lil embaressed, she admired Zues jester and knows that he would do anything to protect her. Once inside the castle, Zues announced Twilights presents to the other princesses and led her into the thrown room. Twilight had ask Zues to wait for her out in the the hall while they discussed todays topic. As Zues waited, he had'nt noticed Shinning Armor approach him.

''Hello, Zues''

''Hey Shinning Armor''

momment of pause.

''So, how is Princess Cadence and the baby are doing?''

''Thats none of your concern.''

''sorry, just starting a friendly conversation topic.''

''heres a topic, whats the deal with you and my lil sister? Why did you wanted to become her royal guard, whats in it for you? ''

''Whats in it for me?! Its because of Twilight that I have a place to call home, back in my world I lost my family at a young age, and as a orphan, I told myself no one can replace my family, so I kept to myself, I didnt rely on no one but myself to get me through life, that if I were to depend on someone or ask for any help it will just make me weaker being. But Twilight and her friends taught me that its ok to ask for help, that friendship is true strength, and on top of that, she gave me a roof over my head and a warm bed when I had no where else to go in this world, I owe her my life, so dont you come up to my face and ask me ''whats in it for me'', till the day I die my debt will be paid, and dont you ask me to step down either, I take my orders from Princess Twilight, I dont  take orders from you.''

Shinning armor just stood their.

''I know im suppose to stay here and wait for Twilight, but you pissed me off so much Id hate for her to see me this way, full with anger, full with rage, im going for a walk.''

With that being said, Zues left the castle and made his way to the town. As Zues walked, he took in big breaths and exhaled as he walked along the market plaza. Before, the ponies where afraid of him, but as he passed them they all smiled and greeted him, and he would do the same. he then came across a cart of apples for sell.

''Hmm, maybe I should get Twilight some apples as an apology for leaving her. huuugh I hope her bro wont be there when I get back.''

Zues said as he purchased a few apples and made his way back to the castle. As he approaches, he sees Twilight out in the front steps of the castle and also sees Princesses Cadence and Shinning Armor leaving. Zues then walked up to Twilight, got down on one knee and presented her with the bags of apples.

''Forgive me your highness for leaving you presents, it wasnt my attention, for my error I present thi with some apples.''

''hahaha, my goodness Zues, youve been acting silly today, and pleeease stop calling me ''highness'', I want you to just call me Twilight....... or Twi. And where were you, what happened?''

''Oh uuhh, I thought I saw a changling, I went out to investigate, turns out to be a false alarm.''

The two then made their way to the train station and Twilight was injoying her apples. Once on the train station, the both sat in a empty cart, as Zues sat down on the window side, Twilight sat next to him, but when she did, she begins to lean closer until her head was rested on his shoulder.

''Oh wow, heh heh the meeting took a whole lot of energy from you hugh.''

''Yeah, eating all those apples and the walk here made me a bit tired.''

She then lays her head upon Zues lap.

''Can you be my best loyal subject and stroke my mane, pleeease.''

''As you wish.''

Zues then begins to stroke her mane, while he runs his claws through her mane, Twilights eyes begin to slowly close but while trying to resist.

''Mmmmm that feels nice, it makes me wanna nap.''

''Please your feeling tired, you should go to sleep , I ll wake you when we arrive to ponyville.''

''No, then youll be all alone.''

She said while grabbing  Zues free hand and placing it under her cheek while holding on with her hooves.

''If you say so, you know, when I was young my mother would do the same and stroke my hair and it would always put me to sleep.''

''You really do miss your family.''

''I truly do, not a day goes by that I dont think about them, and I know theyre look out for me, and giving me strength, as you and your friends have.''

''Im happy to hear that.''

''Yeah... Twilight I wanna say thank you, for everything.''

''But Zues, You already have.''

That being said, Zues placed both his hands under Twilights head and begins to lift her towards his.

''Zues? What are y-''

With out any warning, Zues placed his lips, upon Twilights, and held the kiss for a minute, he then pulled himself away, and as he looked upon Twilight, her cheek had become blushed and her eyes sparkle.

''Whoa''

''Heh heh, yeah,''

As the the sun begins to set, and the suns rays reflect through the carts window, the two seprate shadows merged and became whole.