Author's Note
First of all, I like to thank LightningSword in helping me creating this story. Thanks so much! And I owe you one!
Prolouge:Young at Heart
By now most of the ponies who called Manehattan home were already awake and swimming thru the crowds of the streets towards their destined jobs or schools. Far from the busy city, resides a small cottage that nestled near forest, a small cry cut thru the calm morning sky jolting the parents awake from their very much needed slumber.
"I got it." A mare mumbled as she pulled from her husband's warm embrace earning a groan from him as he moved to the other side. His black and gray mane was messy as well as his dark gray coat, noticeable bags were under his closed eyes as Hard Iron attempted to go back to sleep.
"Can't we just get one day of sleep, Blueberry?" he asked his wife who was already putting on her robe over her velvet coat, she smirked at his tired remarked and tied her purple mane in a bun and walked out of their room and into the nursery where her young son continued to wail.
Blueberry went over to the baby blue bed and scooped up her tiny son into her arms soothed his cries to nothing but sniffles. Blueberry looked over her son as she prepared a nice warm bottle of fresh milk, the colt had a white and brown coat that blended perfectly with his snow white hair. Curious Mint green eyes looked at her warm rose colored ones making the proud mother smile "Valie, you are so adorable and handsome just like your daddy." She cooed at her son placing him in a high chair before grabbing the now ready bottle and gave it to the tiny colt who gratefully took it and drank heavily from.
While she watched him eat, Blueberry went on with her morning routine of making her husband's favorite breakfast however Her ears instantly pricked up at the sound of the radio turning.
The war in griffinstone is on edge with the equestrian military after a conflict that killed nearly 20 soldiers who were stationed there for training and other purposes.Captain shining Armor has these words to share with us " This was a terrorist attack on, the soldiers were completely unprepared for the griffin warriors to plunge in to the base. Although they had fought bravely, their battle was in vain and the base was taken over. Do not weep ponies who have lost their loved ones, for I will assure you that we will go straight for Griffinstone and demand an explanation for their violations of the base." And there you have it ponies, straight from Captain shining Armor's muzzle but that leaves us all with questions. Are we safe in equestria sense we have been attacked? Are there griffin spies walking amongst us just ready to attack? Will Equestria go to war? The only answers we can have is that only time and princess Celestia can tell. I am letter box and this the pony news network.
Hard Steel looked up from his plate, giving the mare he loved a questionable look as she moved towards the tiny black and brown radio.
"Hard Steel, please not when. Steel Valor is in here." Blueberry begged her husband who gave her a simple nod and switched the station.
"You know he is too young to understand anything that it is saying right?"
"I know but I just don't want my little colt to hear such horrible things." sighing Steel went over to his wife and gave her a reassuring hug which was gladly returned.
"Sweet heart, if Steel Valor want's to join the equestrian military then let him." he said. Blueberry bit her lip to keep it from trembling and closed her eyes. "I know." An annoyed wail got their attention and they looked back to see Valor spreading his little tiny arms stretched out, to them with an adorable pout painted on his little face, bucking his highchair. Giggling at his antics Hard steel picked up Steel Valor from the chair and brought him to the living room while Blueberry went ahead and cleaned up the mess that the spilled bottle made.
13 years later
Maybe he should listen to his parents when they said be careful on what you say oh well it's too late to say sorry Steel Valor blocked one swift punch from another colt and pushed him back.He was in a sticky situation being surrounded in a circle by three colts that were twice his size, Valor cursed at himself for his foolishness and glared at the unicorn in front of him. Shaking on his hooves, Valor spit a blob of blood and saliva onto the ground relived that the horrid taste was finally out oh his mouth; the ringleader smirked at his victim antics.The bulky black unicorn known as Typhoon Wind eyed Valor as if he were some sort of bug that needed to be squashed and advanced towards the younger colt.
"Ready to give up yet?" Typhoon sneered the other snickered in agreement. Through all this Valor did not budge and stood as rigid as steel, his face show tiredness but his voiced hid it.
"Oh please, this is only a warm up and besides." He used his front legs to steady him as he bucked the other bully behind him earning a startled yelp. "I can do this all day."
Angered Typhoon snarled and leaped at Valor who dodged it, this went on for minutes but to him it felt like hours. Although he did manage to get a few good hits here and there it did not cause any significant changes in the fight it self. Not being able to support himself, Steel Valor collapsed onto the ground shaking and breathing in labored breaths. Every part of his battered body screamed out in pain especially his left leg that was now positioned in an awkward angle and had a big black bruise forming.
"Not so tough are yah pipsqueak?" the stool bully mocked, he only had a few scratches and a black eye that was already swelling. Not hearing a response Typhoon stopped on Steel Valor's broken leg; trying not to show any weakness Valor bit the inside of his cheek to preventing himself from screaming. Picking up the wounded colt with his magic Typhoon slammed Steel Valor on to the cold brick wall this time he hissed in pain when his bad leg rubbed against the ground. Valor closed his eyes in anticipation for the punch to come but the only thing that came was a gust of wind and a few curse words coming from the bully.
Dearing to open his eyes Steel Valor let out a relied sigh when he otter his best friend, Quill press, fending the other colts off. He aloud himself to lay his back against the wall concentrating on steadying his breaths and ignoring the fight that was just a few feet away. Within minutes the fighting stopped and the sound of approaching hooves reached his sensitive erase followed with by a annoyed sigh.
"Celestial be damned, you might of just broken the world record of getting as many bruises in your body in one day." The crimson Pegasus exclaimed as he helped Steel Valor up to his hooves. The earth pony smirked at his friend's response and leaned against him proceeding the hard task of walking home.
"Hey Quill."
"Hmm?"
"Instead of going to my place can we go and crash into your house?" he asked hopefully. In his years of bullying and 'getting his flank kicked' as Quill often says, his friend's home was much closer than his home which was 8 blocks away. Plus, Quill's mother was a retired nurse and knew how to handle situations like these.
"Fine but you are doing most of the explaining you hear?" Quill said, he inwardly sighed as he looked at his friend limping just after getting beaten. This is his third time getting into fight most of them he started because the colt was to stubborn to keep his mouth shut the other times he is just got hurt because of standing up to other bullies in the school. It was that one of those fights that he had first meet Steel Valor when he was just five and Quill was 7. Finally they reached his house though it was nothing big it was sort of welcoming than the other houses that were near by.
"Still with me Valor?" Quill asked taking notice that his friend has gone quite thru their walk.
"Yeah, just tired." Just as he said it the door opened and a pegasi mare steeped in to view. She had a red coat like Quill Press but she has a black mane that was soft and curled at the ends. Her magenta eyes locked on to the two colts on her door way and she quickly knew what happened.
"Oh Steel Valor, again?" Vermilion Heart asked when Valor nodded she guided her son's friend onto the couch and quickly prepared to take care of his wounds. But first Vermilion thought after gathering all of the equipment she needed. I need to make a call.
Laying in bed with his leg on a cast was surely something that Steel Valor had gotten used to, but what he hated was that how his mom always reacts when she sees him this way. Surviving a long lecture from Blueberry and reviving his punishment he was sent to his room where he stayed there the rest of the day. Hearing the door open to his room Valor simply looked the other way knowing that his Blueberry had informed Hard Steel about the fight his suspicion was correct when he heard the all to familiar sigh coming from the stallion that he admired so much. For a while neither of them said anything allowing the two to embrace the silence of the mid afternoon after what seemed like an eternity, Hard Steel broke it.
"Steel Valor, how many times do we have to tell you that fighting is wrong." Valor didn't miss the disappointment in his Father's tone and that made him pin his ears back in regret.
"They were messing with a filly who can't see and it just made me mad to see them hurt her." Valor sniffed and wiped his eyes before continuing. "I tried to make them stop hurting her but they ended up going after me." he looked at the bruises that still clung on to his coat.
Hard Steel placed a comforting hoof on his shoulder and smiled." I'm sure you gotten a few good hits on them right?"
"Not as much as I would of liked though." He grunted folding in his hooves and pouting "Guess I wasn't strong enough.".
Hard Steel smiled warmly before continuing "Listen Striker, having a big and Noble heart is much better than being the strongest colt in school." He ruffled his son's white hair causing Valor to laugh and try to pry of his Father's hoof from his already messy hair.
"Now striker, go to bed and rest alright?" Kissing him good night, Hard Steel tuck in Valor who yawned.
"Night dad, I love you." Steel Valor said as he closed his heavy eyes and began to sleep. Turning off the lights he gave his son one more look before softly saying. "Goodnight, my little Soldier." and closed the door, leaving the young colt to dream about brave adventures and heroes.
