”I have my orders! To pick up and care for the Prince!” I pondered.

Shining Armour had given me clear and concise instruction, and told me to make sure the good Prince could be ready for the first training. It is my responsibility; to make him ready, for what is before him. I have no problems with this assignment, there is no real challenge to me.

The Prince is a recruit, in the new program to build up a new army and to prepare for a threat the old guard could not stand up. The Prince is just a pony and a guard under my care and protection, nothing more.

“He is quite handsome; but that is utterly irrelevant, right now!” I pondered; as I first saw the Prince lying on the premium bed, he had been given for the time to recuperate.

This was no mere barrack’s bed, or a gurney, you found in the infirmary; it was a wider and much softer and comfortable bed. I guessed it was in order to see him recuperate, as fast as possible.

While the stallion was indeed handsome, he was clearly haunted by memories and hurt by the experience of the time past. I could see the signs of fresh hurt in his downcast eyes, just as I could clearly see the determination to stand tall.

In his current state, it would have been wrong for me to take advantage of him in any way; I couldn’t say that I found him exciting or interesting, right now. Maybe later, if he recuperated and found his old strength; I could find him interesting, at least as a temporary distraction in the barracks. Still, right now, I had no interest in him; I had been assigned to care for him and see to that he could recuperate safely.

His name had been mentioned in the passing; she told me that this was Prince Blueblood, when my task had been lighted out. He was clearly a unicorn of high standing, before her signed up for what he was going through.

I had placed a sturdy glass with water by the side of his bed. In case he was feeling well enough to take a sip, while I was not watching him in person. I could after all not stand by his side all day and all night.

“I really do hope; he is doing better, today!” I pondered; as I approached the door to the room, in which the white unicorn had been resting in order to recuperate.

I would hate, to see him; in the terrible, messed up state in which he had been presented to me.

I focused my magic, experiencing the glow spread out over the tip of my horn and flow down its full length; before I reached forwards, opening the lock and opening the door. Once the door was fully open, I stepped in and looked at the stallion before me.

I closed the door, quietly behind me; after I had stepped into the room, then took a few more steps towards the bed. Of course, there is but the one bed, and Prince Blueblood was still resting in it. I will refer to him as Prince, in part due to this being all I actually know of is person. I do not need to know more than his first name, and that he will need my help in order to recuperate.

“How are you doing?” I inquired, braving a shy smile in his direction.

“I feel as if I had been left for dead, not really worth more!” he responded.

“That bad? Nonsense, they are expecting you to rise from the ashes; like the Phoenix bird!” I responded.

“Now, that is an interesting image; if I ever saw one!” he responded.

“Considering that Princess Celestia had one for a pet, I guess that is a curious detail!” I promptly teased him, in the hopes it could coax a more positive response.

“She does indeed!” he responded, looking up.

“While I could imagine only too many reasons, for you not to be feeling any appetite; but you still do need to eat! Celestia could kill me, if she learns of it; that you could not partake, in your exercises!” I tentatively tried to tease him.

“She could, she certainly could full-fill such a promise; assuming Shining Armour gave her the chance!” he chuckled.

“I brought you a small selection of dishes from the Canterlot Cuisine, small enough and not tasting too much!” I suggested.

“These?” he chuckled, again, as he eyed the set of diminutive and fairly bland tasting treats.

“You do have to eat something, and this would be a brave start!” I suggested.

“Even a small filly would know she had eaten, after a full meal of these! My options are limited; do I kill myself, or do I try to conquer my fears?” he suggested.

I could see the glow on the tip of his horn, before he reached out and picked up one of the treats. He actually did manage to insert it into his mouth.

While he was making the effort, to each the one small treat from the Canterlot restaurant; I poured up a small cup of fresh Imperial water, for him to wash down the food.

“If you need help with anything, or if you would prefer quiet solitude; just let me know!” I pointed out.

He merely nodded, as he was lifting the cup of water. This was a small cup, on purpose; it is easier for him to lift in the state in which he found himself; just as it would be more full filling to drink the water in small sips, right now. I was watching him, as he was sipping water, reacting on the effect the imperial water had upon him.

Why import water from far-off places, when our water is perfectly fine and just as good as the water others had? To the point, this water was purified by the presence of the crystal heart; protecting us against most things imaginable. The heart had served us well.

“At least, he is eating and drinking, a good sign in my book!” I pondered.

The Prince is quiet, but I could clearly see signs of how the small meal was doing him some good. It was but a very small taste of what he would require to eat, just in order to sustain himself. I would have to carry in several meals each day, and probably more than this selection; for him to truly recuperate, from what was currently haunting him. I had been entrusted to help him recuperate, from the ordeal.

“Maybe, I could manage to have just one more of these, today!” he mumbled; looking up at me, while still not feeling too well.

It is abundantly clear, the ordeal had taken a great toll on him. He would need more, much more; before he could even leave this very room, let alone stand up and take the exercises ahead of him.

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Author's Note

Guard Platinum Daggers's POV