Four years had passed since Shining and Cadance started dating. Since then, much has happened.
Twilight, after training a lot with her magic, managed to get in Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. In the process, she managed to discover her talent for magic and get her Cutie Mark. At first, Shining was disappointed for not being with his sister when she got it, as she was with him when he got his, but he was very proud of her, nevertheless, especially because she had become a personal student and protege to Princess Celestia herself. The downside of all this was that Shining now could no longer see Twilight as often as before, as she had moved to the castle, along with her new dragon, Spike, she hatched in the day of her entrance exam, and now was focused on her studies. Despite all this, when Shining was going to visit her, she always paused her studies to go play with him, along with the small dragon.
Cadance, on the other hoof, after finishing her studies with her aunt, had to return to her homeland, to her sorrow and Shining's. But this distance between the two didn't damage what they felt for each other. In fact, it only made their love grow even stronger. The two exchanged letters between them, that both kept fondly and then shared them with each other when they met in the holidays, the only time the two could actually meet and catch up with each other.
Shining felt himself, during the long time that he was not with Cadance, so alone and forsaken. Fortunately for him, there was a pony who was always by his side and in whom he could trust blindly: Blue Sword. He has always been willing to listen his problems and his afflictions, comforting him and giving him advices. Of course, Shining tried his best to repay the favor to Blue, but the issue was that he hardly had any problems. Shining had never met a pony who was so well with his life as Blue was. It was something truly extraordinary.
Shining's academic life was also very good, excepting for Fire Punch and his friends. Shining's capabilities, either physical or magical or intellectuals, improved every time. He was one of the students who could see such improvements. Of course, Shining's enthusiasm increased every moment because his studies at the Academy were near the end and he would soon become a royal guard, as he had always dreamed.
But then a great moment would come. Commander Lightning Bolt had told them he was going to do a test to each team. When the time came, he called each group once a week to take the test . Blue Sword was called and Fire Punch as well and they and their respective groups were able to pass it successfully. Finally, the time came to Shining's group.
When the day came, he and three colleagues (Silverweed, Summer Sun and Dark Knight) were called to the training camp for Lightning Bolt, each carrying a saddlebag with what they might need, because they could spend much time in the test, as has happened with someones. They arrived there and stood in line. Lightning Bolt appeared, accompanied by a unicorn guard, and said:
"Welcome, soldiers. This will be a great test for you. You should already have heard about the tests from your companions, I believe."
"Yes, sir," the four young stallions said in unison.
"So, as you may know, it won't be a very easy task." he says. "Each team faced a challenge and for you it won't be an exception. I have reserved for you a special test: pursuit."
The four recruits looked at each other . They had never done anything like this. Of course they already trained for that, but they never had it put into practice.
"Imagine that you found a bunch of changelings wander around and you managed expose them and defeat them" said Lightning Bolt. "They end up escaping through a forest to return home. You have to track them and capture them before they can do it."
"Yes, sir" the four recruits said.
"But, sir, we'll not face true Changelings, will we?" Summer Sun asked.
"Of course not" Lighning Bolt replied. "Instead of Changelings, we will have veteran guards."
Shining and the others waved.
"So, prepare yourselves" Lightning Bolt. "At three. One..."
The four soon began to prepare themselves.
"Two..." Lighning Bolt said, while the young recruits had just prepare themselves. "Three!"
The unicorn guard carried his horn with magic and then the four young stallions were teleported. Then they found themselves in the middle of an immense forest, which should be one that surrounded the Academy.
"Well, I think it's better we split up and try to find the Changelings" Dark Knight said.
Silverweed and Summer Sun nodded affirmatively, but when they prepared to do that, Shining said:
"Wait, guys, I think it's better think about this. I think separate ourselves is not a good solution. What if any of us fall into a trap?"
"And do you have any idea, Shining?" Silverweed asked.
"I have some ideas" he said. "I think it may work better than split up."
"Oh, and you think we're going to follow them?" asked Dark Knight.
"Dark Knight, I want to pass in this test as much as you" Shining said. "But for that we have to work together and get a good plan or..."
"Look, Shining, with all respect, we know you are one of the best students and all that, but I think we can not waste time with a plan" Summer Sun said.
"Maybe you think there for you are dating Princess Cadance you can boss in us and that and only your opinions matter" said Dark Knight.
That deeply angered Shining and he saw that he had to impose himself not just using words. He advanced to Dark Knight and then gave him a punch that threw him to the ground, picking up the other two by surprise.
"Alright, listen up, all of you. I don't care if you think I'm trying to prove I'm better than any of you, because I'm not. I just want to get this test done and over with. And to do that, we need to put our diferences and conflicts aside and work together as a team. If you think you can do this on your own, I won't stop you. Just don't blame me if we fail. But, of course, if you can put your pride aside and listen, maybe we can get this done quickly and well."
That left the other three speechless and they then waved to him, saying at the same time:
"Yes, Shining."
Shining was surprised at how quickly they had accepted what he had said and responded at the same time. He had truly earned their respect and smiled, beckoning them.
"So what do you have in mind?" Summer Sun asked.
"A way to find the Changelings without requiring split up" Shining replied.
Using his magic, he took from his saddlebag a map he opened it. It was a region map, with the forest where they were.
"I knew that we would need a map" Shining said. "I had the slight impression that our test could be in the forest."
"I don't understand, how can this help us?" Dark Knight asked.
"It's pretty simple. Commander told us we were facing Changelings fleeing to home. Well, where do Changelings live?"
"At some cold and disgusting place" Summer Sun joked, making others laugh.
"Funny, but let's talk serious" Shining said. "Changelings live in the Desolate Zone. A place ruled by darkness and chaos. If we know where we could go and if we hurry, we could get them."
"Yes, and how can we know where we are?" Dark Knight asked.
"That's the problem" Shining said. "I know the forest around the Academy with the palm of my hoof, but they should have sent us to a forbidden part of the forest to recruits, because I don't recognize nothing of this."
"Wait, I could have a solution" Silverweed said. "I can use a location spell. It's my specialty."
"That would be fantastic, Silverweed!" Shining exclaimed. "What are you waiting for? Come on."
Silverweed then concentrated his magic on his horn and his glare intensified and casted a beam to Shining's map where a silver spot appeared.
"Good, now we have our location" Shining said. "Very well, Silverweed."
He smiled, nodding.
"Now, according to our location, the quickest path to the Desolate Zone is... to west" Shining said.
"Are you sure?" Summer Sun asked.
"Of course, yes" Shining replied. "I spent three years studying Changelings and the Desolate Zone."
"But why?" Dark Knight asked, intrigued.
Shining didn't feel comfortable sharing this information. Since he heard his grandfather's story and how he met his end at the hoof of Changelings in the Desolate Zone, he always sought to know as much as he could about these disgusting beings and the place they called home.
"That doesn't matter" Shining replied. "Now we have to move forward. We are early in the morning, then the sun now has just born, so it is pointing east, so we have to go in the opposite direction. Changelings tend to be most active at night, so we have making a good way now."
"Well, then let's do this" Dark Knight said.
They headed for the path indicated by Shining, running as fast as they could, stopping only to look around or look for clues or to eat something. When the day was over, they were walking up when Summer Sun suddenly stop and ask them to stop to.
"What?" the other three asked at the same time.
"Look," he said, pointing to the ground, where there was almost invisible hoofprints. "Hoofprints, and I bet with you they are from our Changelings."
Shining examined them and he saw he was right.
"You are right, and they are fresh. They are around here. Very well, Summer Sun."
"It's the advantage of coming from a family of farmer earth ponies" Summer Sun replied, shrugging. "We spent a lot of time watching what we can to learn to recognize even the faintest movement."
They moved carefully, as night fell. They then saw a light and approached with caution. Then saw a camp where there were two pegasi royal guards. They should be those who were pretending to be Changelings.
"Okay, this is the most important part" Shining said in a low voice to the other three. "We have to catch them by surprise. Dark Knight, you can fly above them to distract them?"
"You bet I can" he replied.
"Good" Shining said, turning then to Summer Sun and Silverweed. "Okay, guys, you two wait for my signal and then we attack."
"You can leave with us."
"Don't worry."
"Okay, guys, let's do it" Shining said, extending his hoof and the others put theirs above his.
They then put Shining's plan into practice. Dark Knight raised loudly flight and then plunged, starting to attack the royal guards who defended themselves and then tried to retaliate. Shining then motioned to the others and the three moved. The guards were caught by surprise when they saw them coming against them and then began to fight, but all ended with the young stallions tieing them.
"Very well, guys" Shining congratulated.
But then a group of four guards appeared around them.
"Oh, no..." Shining said.
"This was an ambush" Silverweed said.
"What do we do now?" asked Summer Sun.
"It's the end" Dark Knight said.
But Shining wouldn't give up so easily and had an idea for that setback.
"No, it's not" he whispered them. "I know what we'll do. Wait for my signal."
Shining waited while the royal guards, acting as Changelings, tightened the circle, and when they rushed to the attack, Shining resorted to his magic and created a protective barrier around him and the others that protected them from that attack from de royal guards who crashed as if it had collided with a hard surface and then drops to the floor.
"NOW!" Shining exclaimed, ceasing his spell.
Each one threw themselves to one of the royal guards and began to fight him. All ended when each of the four managed to dominate his royal guard. They had achieved. They had really succeeded. The four then approached and bumped their hooves while dropping a standing ovation.
It was then that they began to glow and after that they were teleported again, going to show up in the training camp. There, were the Commander Lightning Bolt, Captain White Light and the colleagues of the young recruits, with Blue and Fire Punch among them.
"Congratulations!" Captain White Light exclaimed to the group who positioned themselves in the attension position, saluting. "I must say I was quite impressed with your excellent teamwork."
White Light made his horn glow and then a screen of light appeared and it started to show images from Shining and the other's test, continuing to say:
"You made it through a test that many recruits have failed at first attempt. But I have to give my congratulations to you especially, Shining Armor."
"Me?" he asked.
"But of course. You led your team properly, keeping a cool head at all more complicated moments. And when your team doubted you, you managed to impose yourself and gain their respect."
"But I didn't do anything special" Shining said modestly.
"You're kidding, right?" Summer Sun asked.
"Shining, if wasn't for you, we wouldn't have achieved it" Silverweed said. "It was you who led us through the forest and guided us in the fight against the changelings.
"Yes, but we would also have failed if you, Silverweed, hadn't used your location spell, or if you hadn't found those hoofprints, Summer Sun, or your skills in combat, Dark Knight" Shining said.
"They are right" Dark Knight said to him. "If wasn't for you, we would never have been able to complete this test. Sorry for what I said to you earlier."
"You don't have to apologize yourself, Dark Knight."
"Even so, the whole team is to be congratulated" Captain White Light said.
"You have all passed" Commander Lightning Bolt said. "And with great distinction."
Shining when he found himself, was being lifted into the air by Summer Sun, Silverweed and Dark Knight and congratulated by them and all the other recruits, led by Blue, came to them, also to compliment Shining. Just Fire Punch and his friends stayed behind, with the red pegasys looking to his rival with a look of great anger and envy.
Shining, as he was tossed in the air and caught by his colleagues, could not stop smiling. That had been his first test as leader and he had done it with immense ease. He thought about what his grandfather would think if he saw him in that way. He would probably be proud of his grandson and Shining really expect to continue to respond to that.