Shining Armor reached the entrance of the Academy, with his saddlebags on his flank. He looked around, where more recruits were entering, some ones freshers (like him), others were veterans. A smile appeared on his face and he said:
"I can't believe I'm finally here."
He started walking, but then there was something that passed him at full speed, making him fall to the ground. When he looked up, he saw that it had been Fire Punch who had passed by him flying at high speed.
"See ya, moron."
Shining gave a grunt of irritation. He liked Fire Punch increasingly less. It seemed that the two were born to be enemies of one another, or at least rivals.
"Shining, are you okay?" Blue asked, reaching Shining's side.
"Yes, I am" Shining replied, getting up and shaking the dirt on his coat.
"I saw what happened" Blue said. "That douchebag is really starting to cross the line. When I put my hooves on him..."
"Let him be" Shining replied. "We will not get into trouble on the first day, are we?"
"You're right" Blue said. "Well, come on. We have to present ourselves to the presentation."
They went and put themselves on the line that was forming with all new recruits. They could see Fire Punch was nearby with a haughty look. Commander Lightning Bolt appeared and all they positioned themselves in the attension position.
"Welcome to the Royal Guard Academy, young colts. I'm glad you have been able to pass all the admission proofs. But now, is when things will get complicated. You will be tested in every way possible. And if you manage to pass, maybe you will have a great future, beyond what already awaits you as royal guards. Now go to your dormitories, put your things things and wear the uniforms that are on each bed. I want you in training camp in ten minutes. Did you understand?
"Yes, sir!" all the young stallions exclaimed in unison.
They then went to the dormitory that would be theirs, where there were several iron bunks. Above each bed was a browned uniform with the Academy's emblem on the left side of the chest.
"Well, tell me, which one do you want?" Shining asked to Blue, when they came to the bunk they chose. "The upper or the lower?"
"The lower" Blue said. "In the way I sleep, I think it's better I stay in the bed closer to the ground."
"Well, whatever."
But when they went to sit in their respective beds, Fire Punch appeared and landed in the bed which would be to Shining's.
"Hey, we had already chosen this bunk" Shining protested.
"You snooze, you lose" he said.
Shining had an immense will to beat him, but Blue stopped him and said:
"Remember that we don't want to cause troubles."
Shining make a deep breath and then said:
"Yes, you're right. Let's go take another bunk. One which stays as far away from him as possible."
And they moved away, while Fire Punch observed them with a evil grin.
"How can he be the son of the Commander Lightning Bolt?" Shining asked as they arrived at their new bunk. "The commander seems to be a stallion so respectful and honorable, but his son is..."
"A great bastard, stressing the word bastard?" Blue asked.
"You took the words right out of my mouth" Shining replied, laughing, as he climbed into his bed.
"Mysteries of genetics" Blue replied. "After all, there is always a black sheep in every family."
"Yes, you're right" Shining said. "Well, it's better we hurry to prepare ourselves and go to the training camp."
So they put down theit saddlebags and put on their uniforms. After this, Shining turned to his things and used his magic to cast a spell on them.
"What are you doing?" Blue asked, full of curiosity.
"I'm casting a spell my father taught me to prevent my things from being touched by other ponies except me" Shining replied. "We never know with Mr. I-am-better-than-anypony sleeping in the same dormitory as us."
"But what a good idea" Blue said. "Can you do the same with mine? Of course you have to do it in order to fit me."
"But of course" Shining replied, performing the same spell on Blue's saddlebags.
After that, they went to the training camp, where all new recruits gathered. Commander Lighning Bolt appeared flying, saying while landing:
"Very well, cadets, this is your first subject: combat lessons. I will be your teacher in this class. I will show you various fighting techniques that I'm sure you will learn easily, as long you give your best and apply yourselves to the fullest. But first, I want to see how are your fighting skills. I need a couple of volunteers. Let me see..."
He looked among the young stallions and then chose :
"Cadet Fire Punch and Cadet Shining Armor, perhaps?"
Both nodded and moved forward, positioning themselves in the middle, looking at each other. Fire Punch was smiling mockingly and Shining was trying to ignore him. Now Shining could unleash his fury on him, to the extent possible, of course.
"Scared?" Fire Punch asked to Shining, so that only him could hear.
"You wish" Shining replied coldly.
The two stared each other for a few seconds and then Lightning Bolt said:
"Begin!"
The two went against each other and began to measure forces. Each one tried to dominate the other, but always without success. This measure of balanced forces continued for a minute until Fire Punch did a low kick which made Shining lose balance and fall on the ground. The pegasus then simply held him so he couldn't escape. Shining tried to free himself, but Fire Punch was stronger than Blue and didn't have the same difficulty in maintaining the firmness of it.
"It seems obvious to me who wins" he said to Shining's ear.
"I... don't... think so!" Shining exclaimed.
Then he turned to Fire Punch and, with his hind legs, he made an impulsion, managing to launch Fire Punch back, freeing himself and standing up. The two launched themselves again one against the other to measure forces yet again. But Fire Punch had more strength than Shining and then he managed to overpower him once again. But this time held him even tighter, making it impossible for Shining even to move.
"See if you can get out of this one again" Fire Punch said to the white unicorn.
Shining tried, but this time, he couldn't even move.
"Enough" Commander Lightning Bolt's voice said. "You can stop fighting."
But Fire Punch continued to hold Shining and the young unicorn felt that the holding was getting increasingly harder.
"Hey, didn't you hear what the commander said?" Blue asked to Fire Punch.
"Fire Punch, release him straight away" Lightning Bolt ordered.
Fire Punch dropped Shining and he hit on the ground. Shining turned to Fire Punch that watched him with a superior look and smiled at him with a triumphant smile. Shining looked at him furious.
"Shining, are you okay?" Blue asked, going to his friend .
"Yes, I am" Shining replied, getting up.
"I must say that, despite what happened just now..." the commander said, making a stern look to Fire Punch who shrugged slightly "both of you fought very well. Good work. Now, about the others, group yourself in pairs. I want to see what you can do."
They did so. Blue partnered with Shining and the two fought against each other. Although Shining already was accustomed fighting with him, he felt difficulties in fighting because he was still resentful for the fight with Fire Punch. Blue realized that and was mild in his movements.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Blue asked while they were fighting.
"Yes, of course I am" Shining replied, defending an attack from Blue. "I'm just tired from that battle."
"Hey, you know you still are the best in combat" Blue said. "I will not forget the times that you defeated me in our trainings."
"Thank you, Blue, but you are also a great fighter" Shining said. "It would not surprise me if you could beat me."
After the combat lessons, it was lunch time and then the new recruits had to be separated for the afternoon classes:
the pegasi had to go to their military flight lessons, the unicorns (like Shining and Blue) went to their defensive and offensive magic lessons, while the earth ponies would make a run through the forest. In the magic lessons, Shining soon proved to be the best in defensive magic, creating his impressive protective barrier, and Blue in offensive magic, shooting magic beams with extreme precision.
After classes, students had free time until dinner time and the curfew. Despite others having gone soon to dinner, Shining was in the training camp, starting to train his fighting techniques since the start of the free time. Blue came to him to call him:
"Shining, come dinner. The food is great."
"No, thanks, Blue" Shining replied, continuing to practice.
"But you must eat something" Blue said.
"I'll eat later."
"Okay, as you wish, but..."
"I'll eat later."
"Okay, but have attention to the curfew."
"Alright"
Blue then walked away.
Shining continued practicing and practicing. He couldn't forgive himself for losing against Fire Punch. Just imagining that mock and cocky smirk, he felt the anger rising in him. Then he gave a big kick in the air, giving a shout out to the air. Then he stopped, panting. All that training left him feel exhausted and it was already almost the curfew. The voice of reason told him to stop, but his pride told him otherwise and it seemed that was the voice which spoke louder inside of him. But when he prepared to continue with his training, he felt a hoof leaning on his shoulder and a familiar voice saying:
"Take it easy, boy. You can get hurt with so much training."
Shining turned and was shocked when he came across with...
"Captain White Light!"
Shining could not believe what was before the Captain of the Canterlot Royal Guard. As if guessing what he would say, White Light said:
"At ease, soldier. I just wanna talk to you in a... casual talk."
But that only made Shining stay even lesser at ease.
"I see you've been practicing instead of enjoying your free time and go dinner" White Light noted, giving a few steps away and looking around.
"Well, you know, I... I usually train when..."
" When you're worried or upset about something?" the captain asked, turning to him.
"Well... yes" Shining replied, shocked for Captain White Light knowing that. "How did you guess?"
"You're not the only one who does that. Moreover, you remind me of a pony I met a long time ago."
"Who?" Shining asked who, perceiving the inconvenience of his question, added. "If I may ask you."
"Let's say you remind me the pony who turned me in what I'm today" Captain White Light said with a certain tone of longing. "But, anyway, now I ask: what is the reason of your concern or irritation?"
Shining, although didn't feel himself very comfortable in opening up to a superior of his, he knew he could trust him with his thoughts.
"I'm angry at my failure in the combat lesson today" he said.
"Angered by the failure or for having failed against the pony you like the less here?"
"But how..." Shining started.
"It may not seem like it, but I like to watch those who will one day be royal guards and I noticed the little enmity between you and Fire Punch."
"But this has nothing to do with it. I mean, yes, but... it's not just that. The other reason I'm training is to be the best that I can be. That's what I always try to do and that is my goal."
"It's a commendable attitude, I must say" the captain said. "But you know what? To win a fight, it takes much more than strength, technique or speed. It's also necessary acumen, determination and courage, things that you have to spare. The question is to know your opponent."
Shining hated when Captain White Light made so cryptic comments like that.
"What do you mean?" Shining asked.
"You have to turn Fire Punch's weapons against him" White Light said. "Find out what strengthens him and use it to your advantage."
Shining still did not very well what those words meant. But how could he use Fire Punch's weapons against him? White Light put his hoof in Shining's shoulder and said:
"You'll understand what I'm talking about."
And having said this, he began to move away.
"Wait" Shining asked, making him stop. "Why are you helping me?"
"Because I see that you have what it takes to become more than a normal royal guard. You have a great future waiting for you. Furthermore, I believe Fire Punch needs a lesson of humility, if you know what I mean. Now, I think you have a lot to think. I hope you have the same success you had in deciphering the meaning of honor and justice."
And then he walked away.
Shining was thinking in those last words. But how did he know that? How did he know that he had understood the meaning of what he had told him as a child? Then a thought came upon Shining's mind: was Captain White Light who was conducting the interview in the psychotechnical proof?
It was night and, while his colleagues slept, Shining was lying on his bed, fixing the ceiling, thinking about the advice Captain White Light had told him. He thought about what would be Fire Punch's weapons. What made him stronger? It was a question to which he couldn't find the answer.
He closed his eyes, preparing to fall asleep, but Fire Punch's cocky smirk didn't leave his head. He had to defeat that arrogant foul who thought he was better than the others. Then he had an epiphany. How he hadn't realized it soon? It was so obvious. Smiling at his puzzle solved, he let himself be carried away by sleep.
The next day, the young stallions were awakened by the sound of the horn and they dispatched to wake up and to wear the uniforms for the morning inspection. After that, it came a morning jog through the woods and, after the warm-up, they marched to his combat lessons. When they arrived, the Commander Lightning Bolt still hadn't arrived.
"Hey, guys, look who he is" said Fire Punch, referring to Shining. "The loser."
Fire Punch's friends released a laughter.
"That worm..." said Blue. "When I put my hooves on him..."
"Calm down, Blue" said Shining. "I got him."
So he began approaching and Fire Punch took a few steps.
"So you came for a rematch, didn't you?" he asked with a certain tone of cynism.
"Exactly" Shining replied.
That seemed to catch Fire Punch off guard and then he said:
"Why? So I can beat you again? Sorry, but to many followed victories bore me."
"I see, you're afraid of losing to me, aren't you?" Shining provoked.
"Me? Afraid of you? No way!"
There was a pause and then Fire Punch said:
"Okay, let's do it."
Both positioned themselves, while the others were watching. Shining and Fire Punch stared at each other for a few moments and then they moved against each other and began to measure forces. In this fight, it was obvious that they were both pretty evenly matched, but this time, Shining had a good plan. He had to catch him off guard and for that... he had to lose. So he let himself being carried away and then Fire Punch managed to knock him to the ground and hold him.
"No, Shining..." Blue said.
"Looks like I win again" Fire Punch laughed. "As expected of course. Right, guys?"
When Fire Punch turned to his friends, victorious, Shining Armor took advantage of his distraction and managed to free himself from Fire Punch and then overpowered him and held him.
"What do you think of this now?" Shining asked.
"Let me go!" Fire Punch exclaimed, trying to free himself, but without success.
"Not until you admit your defeat" Shining replied.
It seemed that Fire Punch wouldn't want to do that, but seeing that he couldn't free himself, he ended saying:
"You... you defeated me."
"See, it wasn't so hard" Shining said him.
Then he released him and stood up and went to Blue who congratulated him, along with the others.
"Wow, but how did you do that?" Blue asked. "Yesterday you couldn't even overpower him once."
"Let's just say I got a good advice" Shining replied, smiling.
Seeing them from afar were Captain White Light and Commander Lightning Bolt.
"Well, you were right" Lightning Bolt said to White Light. "That kid is really something."
"I told you, didn't I?" White Light said. "Shining Armor will be a true revelation in this new generation of royal guards. We can expect big things from him. And you, do you think your son has learned the lesson?"
"I doubt it, but we can still hope so" Lightning Bolt replied.
"Even so, I believe that this rivalry between him and Shining will still give much to talk about" White Light commented. "I think it's better you go up there and start the lesson before another fight gets started, huh?
"Yes, you're right" Lightning Bolt said, saluting White Light and then advancing to the training camp.
White Light then smiled and then moved toward his office.