The next morning Alex awoke with a relaxed yawn. He felt good, warm and something very soft cuddled against him. Opening his eyes he gulped as he saw Berry Punch right infront of him, her mouth only inches away from his own. He smelled a slight amount of alcohol in each of her soft breaths. With a soft hum she cuddled closer to him, her tail wrapping around his leg.

He smiled softly at that gesture, softly stroking her mane as she in return leaned into his hand. Opening her eyes slowly.
"Morning Alex." She cooed as she leaned more into his hand, closing her eyes again. This brought a smile to his face. He then thought about making breakfast, then again he did not know her kitchen.

"What would you like for breakfast Alex?" Berry opened her eyes again and smirked at him.

"No Berry, you relax, I try to cook, alright? That's the least I can do for you. I have to repay you for housing me." He spoke with clear pride in his voice to which she just giggled.

"Oh really? I remember fairly well that i bought you not too long ago but let's not argue about something like that. How about we just cook together? That way i can tease you even more." She wiggled her eyebrows.

He playfully rolled his eyes at that, she then spoke up. "I will head down but could you please wake Pinchy, she needs to go to school after all." He nodded and got up after rubbing her belly to her delight.

He then walked over to the foals room and softly knocked on the door. "Pinch are you awake? Rise and shine, the day is here." He opened the door slowly and took a look inside. There the foal was, slowly awaking from dreamland, her yawning almost giving the young man a cuteness overload.

"Morning Alex, what is for breakfast?" She smiled softly. He got inside the room and smiled at her sleepy antics as she rubbed the sand from her eyes. Then she held her arms out for him.
"Carry me down please? Pretty please?" She gave him a look that would make puppy-dog-eyes seem aggressive in comparison. He chuckled softly and nodded, picking her up and walking downstairs while she giggled.

Once he entered the kitchen with Pinch, Berry could not help but lough loudly. "I am sorry Berry, i tried to do what i could but i was conquered by the almighty Berry Pinch." He joked as he brought the filly to the table and set her down.

Once he had returned to the kitchen, the two of them began to make the breakfast. It was a simple meal but it was filling and enjoyable to all. Alex was especially thankful for the strength of the coffee. It fully brought back his full spirits.

"Oh Alex?" Asked Berry "Would you be so lovely and get Pinchy to school? I just don't have the time today and need someone to do that."

He nodded. "Of course I can. But why? Did something happen?"

She nodded. "Yeah, I heard some of the fillies in her class are bullies, so I want to be sure she does not get bullied. So i really ask you to keep an eye on it." He nodded in understanding and looked at Pinch who smiled up at him. He watched Berry tell Pinch to be good in school and behave herself to which the filly just rolled her eyes in slight annoyance.

A few minutes later the two were on their way down the road of Ponyville. The sun was shining high and warmed the town. A soft breeze floated through the small side streets and created cooling wind tunnels with that. That the two of them used to their advantage, evading the sun by that.

This went on till Alex noticed a guard. However this one was different from the ones he had seen before. This one was tall and very muscular. To add to that he seemed to be a earth pony. The guard studied their every move, he even seemed to be following them. This now worried Alex, as he knew the guards of Ponyville by this point fairly well and he was certain that no guard had a build like this. Too bad that all guards were unrecognizable from one another except for race and body build. Those armors of theirs were enchanted to hide their true identities, something he had asked Applejack a while back ago.

Alex decided to not care about the guard but keep up his guard, walking a bit closer to Pinch,always keeping a eye on the guard who still seemed to follow them. After a few minutes they arrived in the school on time. Pinch hugged Alex before running into the schoolhouse. Alex smiled warmly for a bit before looking around, trying to spot the guard. He seemed to have disappeared.

He felt like he was being watched though, like his every step was being observed. He looked around, trying to spot his observer. He soon spotted a pegasus guard on the rooftop of one of the houses. He seemed very thin but the look he threw at him was cold as ice. Again Alex shuddered, this all was becoming weird. The earth pony guard was weird enough but he knew for a fact that they had only five pegasus guards in town and none of them looked like this guy.

Sure there had been new guards coming from Canterlot but those had come home to relax, not do their jobs again. This was what worried him, two ponies had kept their armors on and kept their eyes on him. A really bad feeling ran up from his feet to his head. He needed to inform someone about this. He quickly made his way towards the crystal castle, he needed to inform Twilight about this, he saw her not as a friend but he needed to report to her, what weird occurrences were going on here. He entered the castle, hoping to find the princess fast.

Back in one of Ponyville's more rundown motels the two guard ponies entered a room, inside sat Silver Mane, working on some form of staff. He looked up when the two entered and took off their armors.

"What did you see Maverick?" he asked turned to the muscular earth pony.

"I watched the thing walk out of your wife's house together with the kid. They took the side streets to the schoolhouse, he noticed me though. I fear he noticed something being off." The stallion called Maverick reported.

Silver Mane nodded. "And you Midnight Vision?"

"I observed the two of them arriving at the school, her hugging him and then her going into the schoolhouse. I am afraid he noticed me too. But say Silver, what are we doing here? And why?" He asked.

"You know what we are doing here and why. We watch them cause I fear that thing is trying to steal my wife and daughter away and I won't let that happen, I mean what if it hurts them?" Spoke the ice blue stallion.

"We believe you Silver but.....we still remember what happened between you and your wife. We believed you when you said that you had changed your ways. But this now seems very suspicious to me." Maverick raised an eyebrow questioningly. "If I find out that you go back to your old ways I won't lie for you this time."

"I have changed dammit! And you know that. Yes this seems bad but you would be worried too if this thing were to be around your wife and child. I want to do good here so please keep an eye on him. Also, i need one of you to get Pinchy to safety, which means to me. I will try talking to Berry after that."

This time Midnight Vision raised his eyebrows. "Now this sounds like you are trying to make us get your daughter to use as a hostage to get your wife back, so no....i am not in for that, count me out. I will watch the guy and that's it!" He walked closer to Silver. "If he poses a threat i will take him out but know that i will do the same to you if you fall back to your old ways!"

"I know i know!! You know what, you two will just keep an eye on the guy, i will get Pinchy myself." With that outburst Silver Mane stormed out of the room to bring his plan to fulfillment.

Meanwhile Alex had informed Twilight about what had happened and his worries.She had listened and nodded from time to time. Also had she asked about detailed information's about the two stallions looks and how their body was built. After receiving all the information she opened a file, using her magic to flip through the pages at a mindbogglingly pace till she came to a stop.

"Here we have them Maverick and Midnight Vision, let's see......both exceptional fighters in their own rights. Both said to have okay ranks.....oh whats that?" She read more. "Oh horseapples...."

"What?" Asked Alex, the worried look on Twilight's making him anxious.

"Both of them are very good friends with Silver Mane....and both testified for his innocence when the abuse claims came in. Alex, i don't know what he is planning but i am sure it is nothing good, you need to get Berry Pinch from school now. We must protect her and her mother as much as we can and it is clear we can't count on the guards in this. I will now gather the girls while you get Pinch. Once she and Berry are safe we go and get that guy, understood?"

He nodded and turned, running out of the castle as fast as he could. He had a bad feeling about all of this.

He arrived at the school in 10 minutes and ran inside. He made his way quickly to the classroom and knocked on the door. Miss Cheerilee the teacher of the class opened the door, to his surprise she did not seem to be scared of him, nor did it seem like she was not welcoming him there.

"Good day, Mister Alex right? Or do you have a full name too so i can speak to you properly?" She smiled happily at him. "Don't worry,i know who you are, the kids told me about you."

He liked that she was so friendly with him but he needed to act fast. " The name is Alex Terris and I am terribly sorry but i need to take Berry Pinch out of class now, there could be serious danger for her."

Miss Cheerilee got serious instantly and motioned him to go on. He told her everything he knew, with each new information the magenta tone of her coat got more and more pale till she nodded and quickly called Pinch out who looked up at him confusedly.

"Whats wrong Alex?" She asked a bit of worry in her voice.

"N-nothing Pinchy, there is just a small problem and we need to get to your mommy fast." He answered trying to put on a happy smile for her. She nodded and walked after him as they left the school.

They had walked a few minutes when a stallion stepped in their way. Alex looked at him, then down at Pinch and her reaction made it all clear to him. She was shaking in fear, her irises had shrunk to the size of pin pricks. Immediately Alex stepped in front of Pinchy, blocking the view of her from the stallion.

"Silver mane i presume....?" He asked, he clenched his fists, readying himself.

"Correct creature....since you know who i am....i am sure you know what i want, hand over the kid and go away from my wife." He spoke with a ice cold and arrogant voice.

"Never, i know what you bastard did to Berry and considering how Pinchy is reacting, did you....?" At that Silver laughed coldly.

"Well i needed to make sure the little brat does not go and tell anyone about anything.....if you understand...?" This made Alex see red. He raised his fist ready to strike, when Silver waved his hoof. "Ah ah ah....don't forget, i am still a guard, you can't do anything to me, if you do the whole station will be after you."

Alex stopped but nodded."I know but the same goes for you, i have informed Princess Twilight and she is on my side, so you touch Pinch or her mother and you will be hunted by us." Alex smirked to which Silver growled.

"Fine, but know one thing Pinch.....if i see you alone....you will do more than just cry..." Alex picked up Pinchy who was crying by now and ran to the Castle fast, all the time trying to calm her down.

"Don't worry Pinchy, i will get your mom and then take care of him." She nodded in tears as Twilight awaited them.

"What happened Alex?" Alex told her everything, the anger clear in her face. "Alex, i usually don't condone it but he needs to be stopped. You will now go and save Berry Punch and if Silver Mane is with her...you have the permission to do everything and use every method needed to stop him and save her. Understood?"

He nodded grimly. "Yes I do, am i allowed to kill him if needed?"

She nodded and then floated over a small bottle of a clear liquid. "Yes you do and if needed drink this, it is a potion that grants you magical immunity to a certain level for 3 minutes. It is your one big trick understood. Only 3 minutes."

He nodded and took the bottle and stored on his belt. "Yes i do, i won't disappoint you." With that he left to save Berry.

Berry Punch was waiting in her kitchen for Alex and Pinch to return. Alex she was not worried about. He was tall and seemed fairly capable of defending himself. But Pinchy was now way too late, she should have been home half an hour ago. She was ready to now run out and search her for herself, when she heard a knock on her door. Relieved, thinking it was Alex she trotted to the door and opened it.
"Alex, i am so happy that you ar......" The words were stuck in her throat as she saw who stood there. It was not Alex.

It was Silver Mane.

"Hello Berry.....may i come in?"

Author's Note

Aaaaand chapter 10 done, sorry for all that want to see Silver dead, not yet not yet.
I still hope you like the story and as always comments and critique is encouraged. See you all next time!!