The first week at the Academy passed quickly. When Shining noticed it, it was already Friday. He couldn't wait for nightfall so he could be with his family again. He couldn't wait to hug his parents and his little sister. Moreover, he had sent a letter to Twilight saying they could have their stargazing night in that night.
As it was custume at the Academy, on Fridays, the cadets only had a marathon through the forest with obstacles, followed by a series of pushups, crunches and extensions. In that week, it was a six miles marathon and a seried of fifty pushups, crunches and extensions, each.
After all this, the colts, exhausted, went to take a shower and then lunch. When Shining and Blue came out from the canteen with a full stomach, Blue said:
"Ah, it feels so good a meal after all that training."
"You're quite right, Blue" Shining replied. "Still hurts me my muscles after that race and all those exercises."
"So it's better we start preparing ourselves because, if this was the first week, wait for the next ones, when the distances of the marathons increase, as well as number of exercises."
"Well, if this doesn't make us the strongest and fastest royal guards of all time, then I don't know what will" Shining joked.
The two laughed as they passed through the wall where there were framed photographs of famous royal guards, like captains or lieutenants. They could see Captain White Light photograph there when he was younger. The colts admired that wall for a while. They liked to imagine how it would be to have their picture on a wall like that.
When they resumed walking, Blue noticed a purple curtain that was there at the end of the wall and saw what seemed to be a corner of a frame coming from behind. Driven by curiosity, Blue approached it, while Shining continued walking and then gave a sneak peek into what was behind the curtain and what he found left him speechless. Shining, noting his friend had fallen behind, turned to him and called him:
"Blue, are you coming or not?"
But seeing that he was astonished, asked, while approaching:
"Blue, what's up?"
"Ah, do you remember when I went to your grandmother's house by the first time and I saw a picture of your grandfather and I commented that I knew him from somewhere?" Blue asked. "It was in the same day that you got to know your mother was pregnant with Twilight."
How Shining could not remember the second happiest day of his life that was knowing that he was going to be a big brother. He remembered every detail of that day and knew that Blue had made that comment.
"Yeah, I remember, but why do you ask?"
"Because I just remembered where I know him" Blue said, motioning to what was behind the curtain.
Shining, frowning, came over and looked at it. When he saw that, he was in shock. First, he judged to be seeing a photograph of himself, but then he realized it could not be him, because it seemed to be a slightly older version of him, wearing a slightly desaturated violet royal guard armor with very light yellow edges. Ahead of armor, over the chest, was an emblem which was a shield with a six-pointed star inside, the same as Shining's Cutie Mark. Underneath the frame, it could see written: Captain Star Shield.
"It's my grandpa" Shining said softly.
"He was the Captain of the Canterlot Royal Guard before Captain White Light" Blue said. "However, it's all I know."
Shining was still in shock with what he was seeing. How coulf his grandmother or father or even his uncle didn't tell him that his grandfather was Captain of the Royal Guard? It was something he couldn't understand. He had every right to know that.
Observing the two young stallions from far was Captain White Light who was taken by surprise when he saw Shining had discovered a photograph of his grandfather. Making a fast trot, he went into his office and sat down behind his desk. Using his magic, he brought a scroll, ink and a quill, while he took off his helmet, releasing his mulberry and purple mane, and began to write a letter, starting with "Dear Mrs. Starlight Sparkle...".
In the dormitory, while the other ponies were packing their things to catch the train that would take them back to their houses, Shining was lying back on his bed, staring the ceiling. Using his magic, he made a picture of him with his family, with all of it, appear in front of him. He always felt his family was incomplete when he saw that picture, an empty place that corresponded to his grandfather. He always wanted to know what had happened to him, but when he brought up the issue to his grandmother, his parents or any other member of his family who could have known him, they simply changed the subject. He remembered perfectly well when he asked to his grandmother how he was and she always answered that Shining looked a lot like him, not only physically but also in many other aspects. Now that he knew he had been Captain of the Royal Guard, he had to know exactly what happened to him.
"Shining..." Blue's voice called coming from beneath.
Shining Armor saved his family photo and then looked down to Blue.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"I just found out that my grandfather was a royal guard, and to top it a captain, and my family hid it from me and you're asking me if I'm okay?" Shining asked rhetorically in a cold way.
"Ah... yes" Blue replied shyly.
Shining then took a deep breath and then said:
"Sorry, man, I..."
"It's okay " said Blue . " You don't have to excuse yourself. I understand what you're feeling, but, hey, I came here to give you great news."
"What news?"
Blue waited until everypony had gone to answer:
"When we found out that picture of your grandfather, I realized that you would want to find out all about him, so I went to the library and... Well, can you guess what I found?"
"What?" Shining asked, without much enthusiasm.
Using his magic, Blue took from his back a folder and said:
"Your grandfather's file."
It soon caught Shining's attention and he just jumped down and said:
"Let me see it."
Using his magic, he took the file and then opened it, sitting on Blue's bed. He sat down next to him to see also the file. Inside, there were numerous records, among which there were his grandfather's registration form and his grades during his time at the Academy, notes that were excellent. There were also photographs of his graduation day and some of him as royal guard and as captain. Also there was one of his marriage with his grandmother and even with two young colts Shining recognized as being his father and his uncle when they were foals. Shining couldn't help but smile. His grandfather seemed so happy in all of them.
"Blue, you're the best friend that anypony could have" Shining said, continuing seeing more things in the folder.
"I know that" he said, smiling.
But after some searching, Shining's frustrations increased.
"No... there's nothing here about what happened to him. Only his academic profile and information about some missions he did."
"What if ask to your family?" Blue suggested. "They can answer you that."
"If they didn't it until now, do you think he will do it now?" Shining asked. "No, we have to find another source."
Blue looked down and saw a photo that had fallen while they were searching the file. Using his magic, he picked it up and watched it. A look of amazement filled his face.
"What about Captain White Light?" Blue asked.
"Do you think so?" Shining asked in return. "I don't know. Do you think I should?"
"Well, he is your grandfather's successor as Captain of the Royal Guard" Blue said. "Beyond that, there is this."
And he showed the photo to Shining who took it with his hoof and watched it. It was his grandfather, and beside him was a young stallion a few years older than him and Blue. He had a bluish gray coat and a mulberry and purple mane.
"Doesn't he look familiar?" Blue asked.
Shining couldn't believe it. It was really Captain White Light when he was younger. Moreover, he knew his grandfather very well.
"I have to go talk with him" Shining decided, standing up and straightening the file.
"What, now? Shining, we have to embark to go home for the week-end soon. If we don't present ourselves to the train departure, we will stay here until next week-end."
"I know, Blue, but this is too important"Shining said. "And don't worry about anything, okay?"
And with a little magic, he packed his things in his saddlebags and then put them on his flanks.
"See? Ready to go."
"Okay, fine, but be fast" Blue said. "See you on the platform."
"Agreed" Shining replied, saving his grandfather's file in one of his saddlebags. "Bye."
"Bye."
And then Shining left the dormitory and went towards the captain's office, eager to discover the answers to his questions.