Warrior's road

Celestia lifted her head the doors to the dining hall were oppened before Luna and Strike came in. Luna came up to the table and sat next to her sister while Strike was leaning next to the doors the same way he did in Luna's bedchamber, Celestia gave a small smile to Luna.

"Good morning Luna, slept well?" she asked in a kind voice, "and good evening to you Strike, why won't you join us for the meal? You must be hungry," she said but Strike gave her no answer.

"Our sister asked thee something," Luna said through gritted teeth. She does not like it when her or her sister are ignored by others, especially by those like her personal guard. Oh how she hates the sound of it.

Strike took breath in and out of his nose, "I'm not hungry." A growl could be heard from his abdomen making Celestia smirk at him.

"Hmm, it sounds that your body does not agree with you," she teased. She likes it when she gets the opportunity to do than over simple things like this. "but in all seriousness when was the last time you ate?" she asked in a more serious voice this time.

"that's my thing, not your," he replied evenly before another gurgle louder echoed. Celestia did not liked how much louder this one was.

"Are you sure? We could order you-" she began but was interupted by Strike.

"I'm pretty sure." She frowned at him before ordering herself a meal with Luna following suit. Now that Strike had thought about it he didn't observed either of the sisters all that well, always focusing on other things. Celestia is big, like really big. She is about 260cm tall with well-endowed curves to both her chest and hips and her breast about the size of well grown melons, and while she is soft and plump in the right places he didn't doubt her physical strength. Her eyes were some kind of pink if Strike had to guess and her hair and tail were billowing in a non-existing breeze while divided into pink, bright purple, cyan and blue and her coat was milky white. She was wearing simple purple sleeveless dress with skirt that reached up to her shins, with she had a golden tiara, some kind of neck gear and horseshoes.

Luna was more lithe and athletic but was good-looking with endowed curves in her own way, even if she wasn't as tall. She was closer to Strike's own height of 185cm, maybe 2cm shorter. Her hair wasn't billowing like her sister's but was acting like normal hair which Strike assumed to be because of the lack of her power. It reached down to her jawline and was bright blue in color much like her coat. Her dress was slightly darker blue while her tiara and that neck gear were black, her horseshoes were silver.

But there was one thing that he noticed but ignored thus far the sisters had in common, besides being royalty. They both had horns and wings, and from what Strike saw from the equine society, they're the only ones to have both. The others either one or other or neither.

"How long is from when you have eaten?" Celestia asked again as she heard another gurgle from Strike, causing him to sigh.

"If I eat something will you let me do my job at peace?" he asked to her to which she just nodded, seeing that she will not get any more out of him.

Strike took a seat on the opposite side of the table before he pulled down his hood and pulled uo his mask. The reason being so he could see on the sisters and to be alone. He put his head on his hands as he waited for anyone to take his order before he heard the sound of small bell ringing in front of him. Lifting his head he saw the bell wrapped in golden aura before it disapeared right in front of his eyes, blinking he looked at Celestia to see her smiling at him.

But before he could do anything a buttler this time came from a doors that were directly behind Celestia's chair. "Your wish your, Highness?" he asked with slight british accent.

"I would like you to take our companion's order please," she asked in a kind voice which suprised Strike. He would've never expected a royalty to use a kind voice but then again, what did he know. The buttler turned towards Strike before coming next to him.

"Your wish sir?" he asked in profesional manner.

"Anything rich in protein and energy ," he answered without looking at him. His order made both the buttler and princesses blink before the buttler looked at Celesia who just nodded to him.

"Very well I will be back shortly," said the buttler before he departed, leaving 2 puzzled princesses and 1 brooding human behind.

"Why such an odd order?" Luna asked.

"If I'm to guard you properly, I'm going to need the strength and energy to do so," he answered before going back to brooding, then he realised something. Looking up at Celestia he began, "you said that there wasn't enough of your sister's guard, correct?" she nodded, "so will more come in the following months?" she nodded again.

"Yes, they are very dedicated to her and would do anything- " she chuckled " -to see their ´beloved Lady of the Night´ unharmed," she finished with a joyfull smile, making Luna blush at their praise.

"So I why can't I just be done with it when there is enough of them?" he asked, both curious and dreading about the answer.

"Because Luna might not be at her peak, so she will still need somepony at her side," Celestia looked to her sister to found her glaring daggers at her. "But you will have more time to yourself and will not have to be with her so much," she said without looking away from Luna, her glare did not lessened in the slightest.

"As We have said, We are not-"

Just then the door behind Celestia oppened reaveling cooks bringing their meals on silver platters. What he saw was assortiment of various fruits and vegetables, the main course for the sisters were soups followed by rich salads but he saw no meat. ´Naturaly,´ Strike thought, before him was placed a bowl of oatmeal with bannanas, yogurt, sesame seeds and all of that was slightly coated in cinnamon. ´Whoa,´ Strike thought in awe, ´ So... much,´ he was almost shaking from the shock that was couring through him.

Strike picked up a spoon so he could began eating. ´Oh man,´ he thought when he realised that he was holding it like bricklayer would a trovel. ´Now waaait just a... there´ he thought before he picked up a large chunk of his meal and put it in his mouth. Strike almost moaned from the taste but managed to drop into his seat like a sack of potatos instead and didn't move for a while.

Strike's lack of movement concerned Celestia, "Strike?" she aske carefully, "Strike, are you alright.?" Now Celestia was begining to worry, Strike was not moving, not breathing. Did he ate something he should not? Did her cooks accidentaly poisoned him? questions like these were going through her head and was about to stand up and check him up, but then suddently he shot up straight and began eating messily. Pieces of sesame seeds were clinging to his thick lumberjack-like beard which got a new coat of white.

"Slow down a bit, then you can savor it," Celestia commented, put off by his manners while Luna was down right disgusted.

But Strike did not listen, instead he continued to eat as if he was starving animal. In the meantime the buttler came back, "is there anything I could bring you while you are enjoying your meals?" he asked.

"Red wine please," Celestia said before the buttler turned to Luna.

"We humbly ask for the same," Luna said.

"And for you sir?"

"water," Strike said simply. The buttler frowned at him before he left deciding that the creature was not worth his patience. They all wnet back to eating before Luna had enough.

"Will thee stop eating like an uncouth brute?" she snapped. Strike looked up at her and kept staring at her before speaking.

"I don't about you but I haven't noticed that you being strapped to that chair so if I disgust you that much you can always leave," he said as he pointed his hand at the door they through before going back to eating.

Luna was furious at him, "HOW DARE THEE TO INSULT PRINCESS OF EQUESTIRA, A ONE THAT THEE IS SUPOSE TO BE PROTECTING!"

"Luna, calm down it is not appropriate for you to be yelling like that," Celestia said, trying and failing to calm her down.

"Thee cannot be serious sister. First thee will not allow Us to follow thee when danger is looming ahead, then thee hire a creature thee do not know anything about, then thee gives Us the same creature as a guardian withou Us having a say in it." Aftre she got out some of the steam, Luna calmed down a bit, "If thee will excuse Us, We believe that We have a royal duty that is in the need of our attention. Have a good night sister." Luna stood up left the dining hall and into the thore room instead.

Celestia looked at Strike with very displeased expresion, "I am giving you this warning because I believe in goodness of heart. Do not antagonise my sister or I will find somepony else to guard her and you will be sentenced for 10 years of prison with high security. Is that clear?" she asked sternly, like a mother scolding her child.

It didn't move with Strike though. The only reason the thought of prison wasn't so appealing was his car, if he was send to a prison only god knows what they would do to that precious. "I assume that the same warning extense to you as well?" Celestia thought for a second before she nodded, "then understood, I think I should go as well since I can hardly do my job when I'm not with my V.I.P."

Just in time the buttler came back with a tray that held 2 full wine glasses, 1 glass full of water and 1 still not oppened bottle of wine. The buttler blinked at the absence of Lunar Princess, "May I ask where princess Luna went?"

"My sister had to attend the Night Court," Celestia said smoothly.

"I see. So what should I do with this?" the buttler asked. Just then Strike took the glass of water and drank its content with 2 big gulps before leaving. "What was that about princess?"

Celestia sighed, this is going to be for long.

Luna was quietly sitting on her sister's throne and waiting for any petitioners to come thorugh the throne room doors. She was quite bored, what with leaning her head on her right fist and tapping her fingers against the armrest with her left hand. Luna perked up when the doors finally opened but groaned invardly when she saw that it was just her personal guard, his mask covering his face. Walking up the stairs leading to the throne he came up to her right side. He turned so he would be facing the doors and without a single word as he stood there.

Luna watched that display as it happened before going back to being bored.

"That was unprofesional of me," came Strike's muffled voice. Luna turned towards him with a questioning look and waited for him to explain but he just kept standing there like a statue. She looked towards the doors and continued doing what she was doing until now. It wasn't until 5 more minutes before she had enough of the boredom and decided that if she is to have a personal guard, she could get to know to atleast make this bit more bearable.

"Where are thee from?" Luna began.

"Irrelevant," Strike replied bluntly which did not pleased Luna.

"Will thee not say more?" she insisted.

"No."

"Why?"

"It's not an interesing story. I was there, I now I'm not. End of story."

"We would like to hear," Luna did her best to keep her tone pleasant but Strike was not making it easy. The throne room doors opened and in walked a pony cladded in a white robe with a hood that was hiding their face. "Maybe later, We have petitioner to help." Luna said as she looked back at the pony slowly coming closer to the throne.

Something was off about the pony to Strike. Why would somebody hide their face and their body like that? Unless they were hiding something and that color was awfully reminding him of somebody. The pony then tossed a cylindric object at them.

Both Strike's training and instincts worked faster then anybody, even Strike could realise. He grabbed the princess by her arm and back of her dress and violently yanked her from the throne. Then he layed down on her to use his body as a shield. There was a loud explosion that made Luna's ears ringing loudly and her sight slightly blury and unfocused.

Meanwhile Strike was okay as he knew what to expect. Getting off the princess he turned and two more hooded figures. Beneath them were two pony bodies with pool of blood leaking from them. The first figure lifted its head and pulled its hand from said head and looked at Strike. While he couldn't see their face he was 100% sure they were not happy with him.

Strike quickly stood up and lifted his hands while the figure unsheathed their broadsword. The other figures came closer only for the first figure to struck out their hand making the other two stop. They looked back at Strike and tilted their head. Whether it was a challenge or question Strike didn't know.

He slowly walked down the stairs and came closer to the figure until he was standing opposite of them. The figure brought their sword up until its hilt was infront of their head. Then they swung it downwards which made their right hand stick out. They looked up at Strike and awaited his response which didn't came.

Strike could hear a soft ´hmpf´ from the figure before they rushed at him. They spun around and brought their sword in wide arc. That blow would have decapitated Strike have he not dodged into the arc. He then brought a hard left hook to the head and front kick to the back. At the back of the robe was clearly visible the mark of a sun which confiremd Strike who they were.

The figure spun around and pointed their sword at Strike for a second before going into a defensive stand. They circled one another before the figure lost their patience and charged Strike again. This time however Strike met it in kind. When he was close enough he jumped as high as he could. He brought his knee to his oppenent's jaw. The the figure down he prepared himself for the others. None of that happened however as the figure ordered them to stay put again. They stood up again rubbing their jaw before they nodded to Strike.

Luna was entrapped by the way her gurdian fought. He relied purely on his fists and managed to strike twice already and going without a scratch. So entrapped in fact that she failed to notice that one of the figure was slowly coming from behind her. Until they stepped on a loose tile which made Luna turn back and sprung into action immediately.

Meanwhile the figure managed to score a hit against Strike. A shallow cut across chest but nothing serious. They circled each other again and this time it was Strike's turn to charge. As he sprinted he faked a jump which made the figure lift their sword in defense. Instead Strike lifted the figure by both legs and slammed them hard against the floor.

The figure lost their grip on their sword. Strike then landed a knee on their solar plexus which knocked the wind out of them. He put his knees on either side of them and began pouding them mercilessly in the head. Whenever they lifted their hands for defense he went for their body. The body shots were hard and unforgiving as they made their reciever yell several times in pain. Strike then got shot off his opponent and whatever it was it hurt like a bitch.

Luna was now fighting an unfair fight of 1 against 2 and one of them just shot a spell at her guardian. Her dual-wielding skills have rusted slightly over the 1000 years on moon and the time spent in the castle. They were still more than sharp enough to deal with these welps however.

A figure from her right thrusted their sword at her. She pirouetted to the right and parried the sword before stabing her dagger into the figure's shoulder. She ripped the dagger in a way that made the wound bigger. While the figure clutched at their booboo moaned the other one charged Luna.

With a flick of her wings and stay airborne she evaded the figure sword. She snapped her wings to her back she plumeted down at the figure. Said figure lifted their sword up in an attempt to impale her. Cute. Shooting a spell from her horn the figure was laying on their back before being pierced through theit chest.

Luna stood up and looked at her handywork with pride before she was stabbed in her side by a dagger. She yelled in pain before she used her magic to drag the culprit towards her snarling face. Without a word she shot a thin magic beam which went through their head and broke a window. Luna dropped the dead body before limping towards the throne and sitting down slowly and began pulling out the dagger.

"Don't!" yelled a masculine voice, making her stop, "don't pull out that dagger!" Strike ordered as he dragged an unconscious .

"Why?" she asked sternly, not liking to be ordered around.

"Wh- do you have a brake liquid in your head or something? If pull that dagger will die." Luna scoffed.

"We have pulled many objects out of Our body and We still live," she informed.

"Then you're officialy both the dumbest and the luckiest being alive, congrats, princess! You may pick up your prize," Strike exclaimed sarcastically.

Luna frowned at him before attempting to remove the dagger again only for Strike to drop the figure and stop her. "I'm not fucking around, Princess. You won't. Pull. That. Dagger. Out," he growled. He meant it, he wasn't going to protect the princess, only for her to commit a suicide. Accidentaly or not.

The doors to the throne room opened violetly and in walked a large group of solar guard lead by some stalion in purple armor and blue plume. Next was princess Celestia who teleported to her sister side immediately when she saw her. She gasped when she saw the dagger in Lunas's side and immediately ordered for a madic team to arrive.

"Oh, Luna are you okay," she coddled before turning to Strike with an angry expression. "What is this?"

"A job well done," Strike replied evenly.

"You call this ´a job well done´? She has a dagger stabbed in her side!" she exclaimed.

"Yes. And if it wasn't for me your sister would gurgling on the floor by now." Celestia opened her mouth to rebuke him but soon realised that he was right. She looked away in embarrassment at her outburst.

"Yes, of course. You are right... I thank you and... I am sorry for my behavior. It was unbecoming if me," she apologised.

"Firstly, that apology would've more meaning if you were looking into my eyes but it's whatever now. Secondly, understable, you love your sister and don't want her see her hurt." Celestia looked at Strike and smiled a little.

"Thank you for undestanding." A white furred unicorn stalion came to them as the medics came too.

"Reporting in, Princess," he said.

"Proceed, Shining Armor." The stalion plulled off his helmet, revealing two toned blue mane. "We have 2 dead thestral guards, their throats have been cut open." He shivered and fought the urge to rub his own throat. "Then we have 2 dead cultists and 1 unconscious cultists. Then there are blood stains and a broken window. For now the dead ones are being taken for analysis while the unconscious one into a medical ward so her wounds clould be treated," he informed.

"What is the extend of the wounds?" Shining Armor sighed.

"Medics have reported cracked and broken bones, strong concussion, lots of bruises, bruised organs and then some more." He shivered again. "Whoever did that, I'm going to fight them from a safe distance." Celestia slowly turned her head towards Strike with a very shocked expression. He just shrugged at her.

"I was just doing my job," he said.

"Oh, that's your job? Beating ponies within an inch og their life?" Shining Armor asked.

"Only those who threaten my V.I.P. Speaking of, I have to find her," he said as was about to leave but stumbled and if it wasn't for Shining cathing him, he would've roll down the stairs. Shining sat Strike down and was about to remove his ´armor´ when he was stoped by the man.

"What do you think you're doing?" he asked with irritated voice.

"I'm just trying to look at how bad is it," Shining informed.

"Atleast let me do it," he said in strained voice as the pain on his left side became worse and moving his left arm was only aggravating it. Celestia used a spell to remove his cloathes and put a hand to her mouth in horror. Strike's entire left side was purple, almost back. The bruise covered on only his left side but the left side of his back and left shoulder as well.

"Well, you are not going to move a lot for some time," Celestia's tone had no space argument. "Both you and Luna need to recover before going back to your duties." Another medic team has been called this time for Strike. As the man being taken away, Celestia could not help but think about the injuries he dealt and recieved. ´Maybe I hired somepony who's overqualified for this?´ had it been some other job like a teacher, a gardener, a maid she would have laughed. ´Only time will tell, for now I'm just glad that somepony cableable is watching over Lulu.´ She teleported to her bedchamber as the following day is going to be a long one.