The Fearless Warrior

I woke up in the next day after a whole day of intense healing magic over me, feeling my body much better. The healing team really was amazing. Near my bed I could see Steel Head, the royal guard that were taking care of me. He was sleeping so peacefully that I could not hold myself back. He was without his armor and lay in his improvised bed made out of blankets. He liked to sleep there since there was no captain to wake him up screaming if he was late.

Silently I step out of my bed, approaching the stallion in the improvised bed. I crouched near him and got my face near his ear, starting to whisper in a soft voice.

"he~ey... time to wake up sleepy head." I bit my lower lip to hold back my laugh. He mumbled something and smiled. Using my fingers I nibbled the tip of his ear. He chuckled and opened his eyes to end up face to face with me. His expression froze for two whole seconds and then he let out a scream and jumped. His fur standing up as he panted heavily.

"WHAT THE HAY ARE YOU DOING!" He shouted towards me but I simply laughed standing up

"You had to see your face now!" I said while laughing hard at him My ribs hurt a little from the spasms, but that was not enough to stop me.
"Ohh you damn little..." He gritted his teeth at me and stomped at the ground, showing that he was ready to charge me.
"CAN YOU TWO STOP THIS!" A female nurse shouted, entering my room with an angry face.
Me and Steel Head looked at the angry nurse and we pointed towards each other. She shake her head in disapproval.

"I don't care who started! But behave! In Celestia's name, you guys are not foals anymore!" She stomped out of my room snorting in anger. The nurses and the doctors around were already used to me, except maybe, that pink one. She was definitely new around here.

I sighed in relief as I saw the nurse going away and then I sat on my bed. Steel Head did the same, only sitting on his own bed. We looked at each other and laugh softly at the situation. Never in my life I tough that I could have so much fun. It was all a little surreal for me.

"I can see that the healing team made a really good job on you Eravel." A known voice said from the room's door. Both me and the royal guard stop the laugh, looking at the door and then we bowed at the presence of the white royal alicorn. Celestia seems to like these stealthy entries.
"At easy boys" She smiled. "Is good to see that you have recovered completely now. I assume that you are ready to travel to your new home?" She asked in that voice that could calm down the most hysterical of the hearths.

"Maybe." I said a little nervous.
"Don't worry young one, soon you will know that my loyal subjects have a kind heart, kind enough to forgive you." She said stepping forward. "Also, Steel Head here is going to go with you."
"'What?'" Both, I and he asked in unison.

"Your majesty, I know is not my place to contest your orders but, are you sure about this? Letting a royal guard out of the castle? What about my duties around here?" He said in concern.
"Don't worry my loyal warrior. I have more than enough guards around to protect the castle but I think Ponyvile lacks of good and brave stallions like you." She said smiling at him.

His wings shoot up and he got a straight posture at the complement.

"You can count me on, your majesty!" He said in a firm tone, grinning with pride. I just bit my lower lip to not chuckle at his attitude. Celestia giggled at him, making the white stallion blush a little. She had that talent to make everyone around her act like a child, eager to get their parent's approval.

"Well, not that all is set, I'll provide the transport for both of you. Get ready to go by the late afternoon" The princess said walking out of the room.
"Ahm, princess?" I called and she turned to me. "Sorry to ask but, what about my things?"
"They are well stored, why?" She asked turning her full body towards me to speak.
"I was wondering if I could have them back. They are a memento of my father, and have a sentimental value to me." I said bowing a little. I knew that the chances were little, after all, I was talking about my combat equipment. The only really memento of my father was the sword, but I wanted my whole armor and my axe too, I didn't felt safe at all without them. She stood in silence, thinking for a while before answer.
"I'll give them back... BUT! You must promise me that you will not repeat the same actions you did a month ago." She was looking at me with those piercing eyes. Even Steel Head shivered a little. I don't think he ever saw that side of her princess.

"Y-yes your majesty. I... I humble thank you for that." I slowly kneel in front of her. I was really grateful to have my equipment with me. After all, a warrior without his sword was useless. She bowed lightly acknowledging my thanks. I lifted my head to look at her and she just smiled at me, turned around and then leaved the room. I followed her with my eyes until she had disappeared.

"I think she likes you..." Steel said when the white alicorn left the room.
"Why? Because she gave me my armor back?" I asked him. He just chuckled and answered.
"No, she did not turn you in a pile of ash after you stared her rump from down there" He said punching me in the shoulder lightly. I just blushed heavily. I did NOT stare at her rump... I just glanced for some seconds…

The hours went by and soon a unicorn nurse brought me my stuff, levitating it with magic. I thanked her and started to prepare the rest of my cloths and my equipment. At first I had so many bandages around my body that I did not need clothes at all. But after I had gotten good enough to walk I asked at least my pants back. It seems that clothes were not something for everyday use here and, horses or not, I didn't felt comfortable all naked.

First I put my brown line shirt and then my leather boots. Steel just watched in silence as I got dressed. My armor was torn open in some parts and had two pieces of metal missing. Several others were bend. I sighed and started to put it on. I would need to fix it latter. My bracers and my leg armor were completely covered with scratches. The hard leather piece that protected my throat was completely destroyed and I did not bother putting it on. My leather gloves with metal knuckles were intact and I was impressed as I saw my helmet with only a few scratches.

I put on my belt after checking the small essential bags. Then I attached my sword in my left side and my axe in my right side. I only missed my shield but I could remember that he has been completely destroyed in my fight with the manticore. Aside from that I felt complete again with the weight of my weapons and armor. I felt safe again.
"Ok, you just look weird in all this stuff..." Steel Head said as he watched me in full armor. "I mean... is just... weird." he walked around me, analyzing.
"Well that's how I get ready for battle" I answered smiling. He just nodded.
"I guess this must be useful, since you came alive after fighting a manticore." He said simply. "And what about those?" He asked pointing at my weapons.
"These are my sword and my axe. They are weapons used for kil... for fight." I said correcting myself. I did not wanted to think about killing, not here and now at least.

"They sure look... dangerous..." He said analyzing the head of my axe closely. I just chuckled.
"Yes, they are... anyway, get ready, we need to leave" He went to his armor that was at the room's corner and got dressed fast. Way too fast and all by himself. He told me that one of the first things they learned in the royal academy was to get ready in the armor fast.

After a Steel Head guided me through the corridors we finally arrived at the exit of the palace. We were in full armor, his light blue mane covered by his helmet. My head and part of my face covered by my own helmet. The two guards on the carriage tensed up as they saw me approaching dressed that way but eased a little as Celestia approached me with a smile. I bowed lightly and so did my companion, Steel Head.

"You don't look very nice dressed that way Eravel." She said looking at my outfit.
"Sorry Princess... But I really need this to feel a little more comfortable." I answered with a respectful tone. She sighed.
"I think I can understand… But remember, there is no reason for you to protect yourself like this… not while you are at Ponyvile at least." She smiled at me "Have a good travel both of you, and Steel Head." He shoot his wings up and straightened his postures as the princess talked to him. "Take good care of him ok?" He answered her with a firm 'Yes your majesty' and then led the way to the carriage.
The carriage had 4 wheels and was completely open. The rear part had a piece well decorated to give the rider a feeling of safety. I held on that part firmly. Steel Head sit right beside me and then we took off.

The wind started to blow in my face, or what was exposed of it. At first I was terrify with the flight, but soon I started to enjoy the view. Steel Head looked like he was really excited to arrive at the village and I well knew why.
"You are such a pervert, you know that?" I chuckle and he grinned at me, catching my thoughts.
"Heh, you are jealous because you are a monster and can't get laid" He said smirking and I just laugh. New town, new ponies, new mares for him to start flirting. I just chuckled to think of how many times he would get his ass kicked by the mares there.

We passed by a farm of apple trees, and then we could see the mayor building, at the center of the city. I stared in awe. The city was so colorful and the buildings were so weird from what I had back in my own village. Everyone looked happy down there, taking care of their own lives, without a trace of worry in their faces. Passing through the city I soon could see the Everfree forest. Steel Head told me about that place and the dangerous that lurked in there. I also had a horrible experience involving that place.
The carriage landed at the side of what looked like an old tree. A huge old tree. There was not a single leaf at the top. The bulk had a grayish color. Despite its appearance I figure it out that was a house. It had three windows in the lower level and two on the upper level. One door that was just tall enough for me to enter without having to crouch. It had also, on the second floor, a balcony. The house looked like it was abandoned years ago, but Steel didn't seems to bother about that.

"Ahh! Home Sweet Home..." He said walking in. Our ride had just left.
"erm.. Home abandoned Home you mean right? Wow... this place is almost falling to the ground." I said walking inside.
A thick layer of dust covered the entire place. It had some shelves for books but they were all empty. Aside that, not a single piece of furniture around. Circular stairs lead to the second floor where I presume the bedrooms were. I walked across the living room to a door and discovered a small and simple kitchen and another door that leaded to the back of the tree house. Going upstairs I found two bedrooms and one bathroom. Both were almost at the same size except that one of them had access to the balcony.
"You can pick that room for you, I'll get the one at the back." Steel Head said going for the more simple room
"ahm, are you sure? I really don't mind..." I said
"Nah, you can have it. We are too close from the forest and I won't be able to sleep peacefully knowing that I have only a huge glass door near my bed to protect me hehe..." He chuckled and I just sighted, smiling at him.

I entered my room taking my helmet off to look around better. It was a rather big room with a locker and a shelf carved in the wall, but no bed. The first thing I did was open the glass door to the balcony to see it better. I had a nice view of part of the forest. This house was a fifteen maybe twenty minutes on foot from the city. It was good to have some privacy, especially if most of the people... or ponies around tough you were some kind of a monster.

After a while I just took off my armor and weapons, staying only with my line cloths, belt and my axe. I walked outside, and went for a near tree climbing it and chopping a long stick and some branches, making an improvised broom. If I was going to live in that house I needed to clean it all at least. Clean that big house was a hard job and Steel kept complaining about it. It took us the rest of the day to just clean the living room, so we could sleep there. The sun started to go behind the forest as the night approached. I was tired and my body ached from the hard work of cleaning.

"Damn and we only cleaned the living room!" Steel complained as we sat outside resting.
"Yeah. But if we are going to live here we will need to clean it all up." I sighted. "Tomorrow I need you to go to the city and get us some food supplies and also some cleaning supplies. We need buckets and pieces of cloth to properly clean"
"OR we can get a clean team to do this for us" He said grinning
"A what?" I asked in confusion.
"A clean team" he repeated. "Ponies who specialized themselves in clean houses and other places. I bet I can found one in the city!" He said smiling. It was a good idea except for...
"What about money? They don't do for free, do they?"
"I have some spare money that we can use for this and to get some furniture. When you live at the palace you don't have much expenses, so I have plenty of money saved." he said standing up and stretching his body. I chuckled and stood up again. He was too carefree to be a guard. I wondered if all others Royal Guards were like that.
"Ok, since you are the one paying for it..."
"I tell you what, why don't we go to the city now? I'm hungry, and I think you are too. And we don't have any kind of food here" he said.
"I... I don't know if I'm ready to get involved in the city..." I said reluctant.
"Oh don't be a sissy now! Let's go. I'll protect you if that's the problem" He teased.
I just laugh a little.
"Ok Ok... I'll get my armor and we can go." I said going inside and started to dress up. Maybe if I had a more aggressive look they would not come too near me? That made sense in my mind.

I left the house wearing my whole armor, including my helmet and my sword. I had no plans in using it against anyone, but I still did not felt safe without it. Steel Head was right next to me using only half of his armor. He had his head and mane free. The walk was short, fifteen minutes later and we arrived at the borders of the city and kept going further. My hand rested at the hilt of my straight sword. I could feel the stares around me and that made me unease.

"Calm down Erval... They are not going to hurt you... They are just curious..." Steel whispered to me.
"I know, but it is hard to relax when you are the center of the aten..." My speak was cut off when a cyan blur strike the side of my head hard. My ears rang and I was glad I was with my helmet, or that could have hurt more than I could take. I dropped on my knees and my hand reached for my sword instinctively.
"ERAVEL! NO!" Steel voice reached my ear and I did not unsheathe my sword. But in my hesitation I felt a second blow at my back, sending me forward and making me land with my chest at the hard stone pavement. The air left my lunges and I felt my head dizzy. I rolled on my back and tried to stand up, but the cyan blur landed on my chest again, making me gasp in pain. A hard hoof came and hit the side of my head. I felt the world spin when the strike hit my helmet and part of my face.
"Dash! Stop!" A Female voice called out. I looked to my side to see other five ponies coming closer and closer. I recognized them as the ones I tried to kill several weeks before. I knew I was done for, but I did not want to die like that. In a swift motion I unsheathed my sword, taking advantage that the cyan pegasus had hesitated. The sharp edge touched the cyan filly's neck. The other five and Steel Head gasped as I did that,
"d-don't move..." I said... my voice was trembling a little. I could feel that same emotion crawling in my chest. The unstoppable rage that took my mind in the forest, but I fought it, pushing it back. The other five stopped their advance and I pushed the cyan pegasus aside so I could stand up. I could see the suddenly fear and frustration in her eyes, all mixed in an angry expression.
I stood on my feet, Steel Head watching the scene in awe. I spit some blood on the ground. Damn, I hated that taste.

"Don't you guys get closer or I'll kill her!" I bluffed. I had no intention to harm them but I had also no intention to die there. I started to walk slowly backwards, in the direction of the city's exit. I slowly walked away from them, my hand holding my sword very tight.

"YEAH! Go away! And don't you dare come back near the town! You got it? NEVER!" The cyan pegasus shouted at top of her lungs. I took the chance to start running away from the scene. I had promised Celestia that I would never raise my sword against any subjects of her, and there I was, pointing the tip straight at the pegasus that I had almost killed once. I ran straight to my new home, praying to Odin that the Princess would have mercy on me, or at least give me a quick end.