The Academy Admission
Finally the time Shining and Blue had expected came. They finally were fourteen, the perfect age to be able to enroll in the Royal Guard Academy. In the admission day, the two went to the Academy.
The Academy was quite an extensive place, surrounded by lush vegetation and a dense forest. There were only four buildings in the Academy: one for the bedrooms, one for the canteen, one for toilets and showers and the other for the superiors' officers, the hospital wing and the library.
There were lots of colts, all with the same dream to become Royal Guards. There was really there an air of immense competition.
"Well, I never thought there were so many colts like us trying enter in the Academy" Shining said to Blue. "Do you think we can get in?"
"Of course, yes" he replied. "Don't worry. We'll both be companions in the Academy."
"I hope you're right. Now, I'm a little nervous."
"And you may well being so" a voice said. "It's not everypony who enters in the Academy."
Shining and Blue turned and saw a pegasus colt of their age with a dark red coat and a mahogany mane. His Cutie Mark was a sword positioned vertically and with fire surrounding it. This colt had a quite haughty and arrogant look, which didn't inspire any confidence to both Shining and Blue. He was a little bit taller and muscular than Shining and Blue.
"What do you mean with everypony" Blue said, somewhat coldly.
"I mean ponies like you" the colt. "If you are so nervous, so why are you trying to enter in the Academy?"
"You talk as if you had already been admitted" Shining noted.
"It is because I practically already entered in it" he answered. "I'm Fire Punch, son of Lightning Bolt, the first lieutenant of Captain White Light. Obviously, I can get into the Academy."
Having said this he left giggling.
"What a smug!" Blue said. "Can you believe him?"
"Let him be" Shining said. "It's better, for now, we concentrate on the admission tests."
"Yes, you're right."
After some time, when all the candidates seemed to have arrived, all of them positioned themselves in a line, waiting for one of the superiores of the royal guard. Then a pegasus stallion with a sunglow coat and the same mane that Fire Punch's appeared. He was wearing his armor.
"Attention!" he exclaimed.
All the young stallions positioned themselves in an upright and rigid position and with his chin up.
"Welcome to the Royal Guard Academy" the royal guard said, walking down the line of candidates. "My name is Lightning Bolt and I'm the first lieutenant of the Canterlot Royal Guard. I will be the responsible for all your learning to become in royal guards. I'm not gonna lie to you. It'll be a hard way to go, because only the best will be graduated. But, first, you still need to enter in the Academy, through three simple proofs for admission: medical inspection, physical fitness and finally psychotechnical. Let's see who can enter and who will leave long before they can even start.
The young stallions were taken to the hospital wing where they were called one by one for examination.
"This will be easy, no?" Blue said to Shining.
"Yes, if you don't have any hidden diseases that prevents you from being a royal guard" Shining replied.
That made Blue release a chuckle. Then came Blue's turn, and when he left, it was time to Shining do his medical inspection. There, the nurse measured his height and weight, auscultated him, examined his vision and hearing... When she said it was all done and he could wait outside, Shining came out. When all the candidates were examined, only a handful of them were rejected immediately because they didn't have the minimum requisites of medical inspection.
After this, they followed to the physical fitness proofs. They had to cross a long road with a lots of obstacles. It was a proof a little hard to do because Shining faced obstacles that he had never dealt with. But fortunately, he managed to do so due to the strength and the endurance he gained in his trainings with Blue. In the end, he and Blue thought they had done a good job. Of course, many other candidates were eliminated for failing to finish the proof.
Finally, they were only missing one proof: the psychotechnical proof. It was a proof in which candidates were interviewed about why they were there.
When Blue left the room where he was interviewed, Shining came to him and asked:
"So, how was it?"
"It was not so bad" he said. "It was just answering a few questions... quite simple."
"That's it?"
"Yes"
"Well, I expected something more... well, more."
"You and me both, pal, but I think the secret is in what we say" Blue said. "Be careful, okay?"
"Don't worry, I will" Shining replied.
Then came Shining's turn. He entered in the room who was darkened with only a light focusing on a chair where he sat. Ahead of Shining was a mirrored glass. So he couldn't see who was doing the questioning.
"Say your name to be registered" a voice magically changed said.
"Shining Armor" Shining replied.
"Tell me, Shining Armor, why you want to be royal guard?"
"To be able to protect those I love and all the other ponies. I know perfectly well that there are many enemies who are trying to put an end in the millennial peace we have here in Equestria. I just want to make sure nothing happens to Princess Celestia, to the ponies of Equestria, to my family... I just want them to live in peace.
"Even with the cost of your own life?" the voice asked.
Despite any pony hesitate with that question, Shining replied without hesitation:
"Yes, of course. To me, the safety of others is more important than my own life. Which is the meaning of swearing to protect innocent ponies, if, when the time comes, we don't do it?"
"You're quite right" the voice replied. "Tell me, how do this desire to be royal guard appear to you?"
"That's no desire" Shining said. "It's more than that. It's my dream. The truth is that I have always admired the royal guards. I admire how they protect the others. I admire the courage and the determination they put in everything they do. I admire the discipline they have to endure being stopped for hours only to guard the palace. But the idea to become a royal guard came to me when I met with Captain White Light."
"With the captain?"
"Yes, I was five and my father was taken me to school. Was then that I bumped against somepony and then I saw that somepony was Captain White Light. I can say that I was impressed when I saw him. He was big and strong and he could easily protect the entire kingdom of Equestria, at least that's what I thought at the time, and I admit that I still think a bit that way. And when he said I could become a great royal guard, I thought about how amazing it would be. I thought that would be a great pride wearing an armor and protect everything and everypony."
"Did the Captain tell you anything more than that?" the voice asked.
"He said that in addition to enthusiasm, it was needed a lot of training for somepony to become a royal guard, and have a great sense of honor and justice. At first I didn't understand the meaning of it."
"And now, do you?"
Shining nodded and replied:
"This means that a royal guard is much more than a pony who wears an armor, patrol and fight criminals. A royal guard is a warrior who fights for peace and don't impose it and must fight for it without forget his true duty: the safety of all the ponies. It's also somepony who fights the enemy, always treating him with the utmost respect possible and avoid killing him unless necessary, because nothing is worth more than life, even if it belongs to our most hated enemy."
"But what good conclusion" the voice said. " You get it by yourself?"
"Yes, but I had to mature a lot to realize that" Shining replied. "But I think it was when I got my Cutie Mark that I began to realize it."
"So you learn the true meaning of being a royal guard" the voice said. "And knowing this, are you willing to go through with this?"
Shining then nodded and replied:
"Yes, absolutely."
There was a pause and then the voice said:
"Okay, now we're done. You can leave and wait outside."
Shining waved and then got up and headed for the exit. When he left, Blue approched him.
"So, how was it?"
"In fact, it was nice" replied Shining. "I answered in a way that it just natural. I just had to be honest in the words I said."
"Only naive, idealistic foals say stuff like that" said Fire Punch standing nearby.
"Naive?" Shining asked. "Being honest and honorable is not being naive."
"Yeah, yeah" Fire Punch said, indifferently.
Shining really had no sympathy at all for that colt. He was really an obnoxious pony and could even bring up the anger inside Shining and the desire to punch him in the face. Knowing what his best friend was thinking, Blue said to Shining:
"Don't listen to him. He just wants to annoy you. Deep breaths.
Shining did so and calmed down.
Then Lightning Bolt appeared with a scroll underneath his wing. When he arrived, he said to all presents:
"We have now decided the ones who will enter in the Academy. Those I nominate will be the lucky ones to have that chance."
He then took on the roll and unfolded it, preparing to read the names of the chosen ones. Shining felt his heart beating a lot and he knew Blue was felling the same.
In Shining's home, his parents and sister were waiting for him. Night Light and Twilight were sitting on the couch, while Velvet was walking from one side to the other, nervously.
"Why is he taking so long?" she wondered. "This is making me so nervous."
"Yes, mom, we can see that" Twilight said.
"Honey, if you don't calm down, you still do a pit under you" Night Light said to his wife.
"But how do you want me to calm down?" Velvet asked. "My son is about to enter in the Royal Guard Academy and face all sorts of dangers and you want me to sit quietly while that happens?"
"Shining is already grown enough to take care for himself" Night Light said, getting up and going to his wife. "Besides , he will not be alone. He will have Blue Sword with him. You know how those two are when they work together."
Velvet was about to respond, when they heard the front door opening and closing.
"Shining has arrived!" Twilight exclaimed, getting up and running into the hallway where she found her big brother. "Big brother!"
"Twily!" Shining exclaimed, hugging his sister. "So, did you behave well while I was gone?"
"Of course, yes" she replied, looking proud of herself.
"That's my girl" Shining said, giving her a noggie.
"Son, I'm glad you came" Velvet said, coming up with Night Light and giving him a big hug. "I was getting worried."
"Mom, I'm suffocating" he said, releasing himself from his mother's forelegs. "Also I only been out for a few hours."
"Sorry, my dear" said Velvet. "It's the mother concern talking."
"If you got concerned when I was just a few hours away, I don't want to think when I have to go to the Academy and have to stay there and come home only in the week-ends."
"Wait..." Night Light said. "Does that mean what I think it means?"
Shining didn't answer immediately and then made a wide smile and said:
"I was accepted in the Academy!"
"Oh, well done, my boy!" Night Light exclaimed, giving a congratulating hug to his son. "That's my son. I'm proud of you, champ."
"Thanks, dad" Shining thanked.
"Does this mean that I will never see you?" Twilight asked, pouting.
"Twily, of course not" replied Shining, stroking his face to hers. "What would I do without you? I'll return every Friday so we can have our nights of stargazing."
"Do you promise?" Twilight asked.
"I promise you everything you want" he said.
That made Twilight smile and embrace his brother. Shining then looked at his mother and saw that she was avoiding looking at him, with a sad look. He approached her and saw that she had tears gleaming in the corner of her eyes.
"Mom... what 's up?" Shining asked.
"Nothing..." she said, wiping her tears with the hoof. "I'm just happy that you're going to have your dream come true."
But when she saw Shining's gaze, she confessed:
"You know I've never been much in favor of you wanting to be a royal guard. I confess I hoped you were not accepted into the Academy. After all, what mother wants her son to face all kinds of dangers?"
"Mom, don't worry" Shining replied, stroking his mother's face with his hoof. "Everything will be fine. You know that this has always been my dream and I'll be very happy to live it."
Velvet wiped his eyes and then said:
"I know you will, my dear."
"Besides, I will not be alone" Shining said. "Blue was also accepted. You don't have to worry about nothing."
"Blue has also been accepted?" Twilight asked. "That's fantastic! I knew he could do it!"
Everypony looked at her, leaping with joy. She then blushed slightly and said, laughing nervously:
"I mean, I'm very pleased that he will also be a royal guard just like my B.B.B.F.F.."
That made her parents and her brother start laughing and then the four gave a family hug.
Shining could not be happier, because he had taken a big step on the way to live his biggest dream: be a royal guard.
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Keep coming
U have my attention now don't buck it up!
3466440 Maybe, but Shining needs to overcome obstacles and Fire Punch is the perfect candidate for that. And besides, expell is much better than not get into the Academy, don't you think?
Alright, so we start this chapter with-----
They're applying to become a Royal Guard at the age of 14? Okay, that settles it: Equestrian society expects the ponies to live independently at a younger age. Thank you, DRWolf001!
*next paragraph* Ooh! Correction time!
What I have highlighted in red, I think you should change that to say "bathrooms".
And, last I checked, Canterlot was built on the side of a mountain.
That is not the attitude of a winner, Shining! You're definitely getting in!
What the....? Who's this idiot?
So they line up for the admission tests.
"Only the best will be graduates." Well, coming from you, that'll only boost Fire Punch's already-ridiculous ego. (Okay, did you pick that name based on the Pokemon move Fire Punch?)
So they all head to the hospital wing for their medical examinations, and Shining and Blue pass with flying colors.
Next is the physical exam: an obstacle course, basically. Time to put all that training to good use, Shining!
And he passes.
Naturally...
Gotta have a good reason for applying for the military, right?
So Shining goes in for his interview, and apparently it's in an interrogation room... Not exactly the most comfortable place to be...
*The interview happens*
And that's exactly how you're supposed to answer questions like these; with honesty and without hesitation. Shining has the makings to be a great soldier---I mean, Royal Guard.
Rewording: "Only naive, idealistic foals say stuff like that."
You and the rest of the world, Shining...
So then comes the final announcements for who made it into the academy.
We change scenes to find Velvet having a nervous breakdown over Shining being gone for so long. (Seriously, woman? Your son's applying for the military; this stuff takes a while.)
Then Shining comes home with the news that he and Blue made it into the Academy.
But, for some reason, Velvet is less than enthusiastic...
Understandable motherly concerns. It's also hard for parents to accept when their children grow up.
So this chapter did three things: it showed us Shining starting his journey to become a Royal Guard, it introduced us to our antagonist, and it showed development of relationships between Velvet and Shining.
Twilight sweetie, what you feel for Blue is more than just a crush.
Also, when Shining and her parents laughed, it seemed as though they knew about her feelings but, in you second book, 'Twilight and Blue Sword', it was made clear that Shining didn't know the fact that Twilight had feelings for Blue Sword ever since she was a filly.
10936610
Twilight was just a filly during this story. Shining probably thought that was just a silly filly crush.
Nice story though still a couple errors here and there