It was time. Twilight had already gotten into Celestia's School Of The Gifted and it was his time to do something with his life. Studying the board, the list of jobs or learning courses lay in front of him all calling out at once. Cadence or Princess Cadence had taken up her role of Princess and was currently scouring Equestria to spread her new found monarchy. His cutie mark had also been found. Much like his sister it included a purple six pointed star but with a dark blue shield behind it and three twinkling stars above.
Things were coming along great. Well except for choosing a path in life. It was difficult when everyone wanted you to do something different. Before he had approached the board many higher ups had come round to talk to him about future jobs that would pay well. Unfortunately his due to his sister being Princess Celestia's apprentice, many expected great things from him.
"Hey Shining still here?" That voice could easily be recognized as his closest buddy. Night Spear found his job choice to be easy. As a fighter and his ancestors being descendants of the first Lunar Guards his choice was pretty easy to get. Well if you think about it, who would want their hair to be cut by a person named Night Spear.
"Yea man its tough when everyone wants you on their team." He rubbed his head in hope that it would have somehow increase his decision making skills.
"Haha complain all you like, anyway shocking turn of events..." He paused for a dramatic effect. "I am now part of the Night Guards."
"Woah never would have expected that." Came the sarcastic reply. Shining scanned the board for jobs. Some payed well but offered terrible working hours.
"Perhaps I should ask around." Shining wandered into the streets. In two days he had to hand in his form and officially join either the fighting force or a more private position as a bodyguard. Many of his friends had already joined different parts of the fighting force as scouts, spies or even siege mechanics. Apparently due to his abilities to cast shields his apparent skill set pointed him towards civil defense or mountain excavating.(In case of rock slides). Shuffling his feet through the busy streets the Canterlot breeze ran through his mane.
But it didn't provide him with an answer.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 2
For some strange reason his entire family had the terrible trait of panicking when a deadline starts to get closer. Shining walked briskly in the neighborhood.
The Royal Guards could be fun. Shining brooded over the thought. The Royal Guards would most definitely be fun. But it was already full. Every stallion wanted to be in the Royal Guard and it took minutes for a list of 200 to be filled. This mean't he had to resort to one thing.
"Nighty."
"Hey Shiny hows it going."
The two friends sat down for a coffee. It was three in the afternoon and the air of recruitment was in the air. Anyone who had already signed up were either going in early or getting prepared. The perks of the Night Guard meant recruitment times are at night.
"Hey man just wondering." Shining took a sip of coffee. "Would it be possible for me to join the Night Guards?"
Night Spear stared at him for a second before realizing his white coated friend was being serious. "Oh well erm...Well the Night Guards are chosen by descendants and tradition. That's why there are so few of us. Sorry man only a captain could ever even think of training."
"Oh alright then." Shining smiled but underneath he felt a twinge of disappointment. If he did not get a job soon then he would have to join the stragglers in taking what was left. And usually it wasn't good.
They stared into the streets. Watching high level officers pick up the recruits and haul them to their stations. Shining felt slightly happy that he had a little more freedom than those who had already gone through.
"WELL THEN WHERE WILL YOU BE GOING." A loud rambunctious Stallion donning the basic Royal Guard armour approached the duo. It was easy to smell the booze on his breath, probably a first timer to Canterlot due to the fact he was drunk in the afternoon.
"You going to the Lunar Guards eh?" He stuck his hoof rudely into Night Spears chest. He paused to gather his thoughts "You like to join that sniveling princess traitor eh?"
He didn't even get a chance to blink. Night Spear lunged his hoof a straight strike into the buff earth-pony. Unlike normal punches, Night Spear had made the spear literally one with his body. It mean every one of his strikes were honed to be able to pierce tree branches. Leaving a comical dent in his face, the very much drunk and dazed stallion sunk to the floor. Princess Luna was worshiped by Night Guards. From young their lives were dedicated to her til the death.
"Hey he took out Mighty Hoof." More Solar Guards circled the duo with dull anger in their eyes. All of them seemed to be blindly following the pack leader. Mighty Hoof crawled from under the crowd out of the way.
"You can't take so many of us goldy eyes
The taunts and jeers continued as Shining and Night Spear stood back to back
"Nighty you are getting us in trouble again." The group closed in their circle. The only safe area was the shop but even the shop owner sensed trouble and closed the door.
"Well not like it hasn't happen before right?" Night Spear scanned the surroundings. Nearby an old stallion pulled a wagon filled with flour.
"Ah well you gonna help me? Because I got a plan."
"How about I try a diplomatic approach and calm everyone down."
Shining stepped forward towards the growing crowd. "I think that's enough. You got more important things to do and my friend will apologize." He stared sternly at Night Spear who simply pretended to notice.
Mighty Hoof stepped forward clutching half of his deformed face. It was obvious two seconds ago he was crying but no one said anything "Alright sharp ears, you apologize and I walk away with my buddies."
Night Spear braced himself. "I'm sorry."
Mighty Hoof was not satisfied. The one who humiliated him now was being humiliated. "Sorry for what Lunar scum?"
Night Spear lowered his head to hide his smirk. "Sorry for making your face better looking that it was."
A silent snigger went up in the crowd.
"What was that punk?"
"Wow and he is deaf too."
Another chortle only louder rose through the crowd. Mighty Hoof stepped forward with a broken stick raised in his mouth. And for the second time he fall to the floor, only this time clutching his chest and two cracked ribs.
Grabbing a sack of flour Night Spear closed his eyes and smashed it on the ground. Only Shining Armour had the instinct to close his own. Night Guards fought with all senses and Night Spear had often used that in school as well as out of school.
"You can't fight what you can't see."
Darting through his blinded opponents he made quick work of them jabbing vital points before returning to the spot where he stood before.
To onlookers who had witnessed the spectacle from outside it would have looked as if the dark coated Pegasi had simply threw a sack of flour and all his enemies had simply fallen in pain. Scary.
The injured scurried back and more joined their places. This time Shining reacted. Forming a large pink bubble around him and Night Spear he quickly expanded the space meter by meter until all were pushed back.
"You really like to put on a show huh?"
"Well thanks for the late help. How long can you hold a bubble now."
"Long enough wh-" A shattering sound could be heard and the bubble shattered. "Well then long enough isn't very long now is it Shining." Shining Summoned a rubber like shield while Night Spear bounced off it flying towards the new attacker. Quickly dispelling his old shield he summoned yet another to protect his friend from the impact.
In one movement, the lone soldier darted to the side causing Night Spear to bury himself into the ground. Shining quickly expanded a shield to blow everyone back and dragged Night Spear into the safe zone.
"You alright bro?"
"Yea thanks for the defense."
They turned to face an old Unicorn dressed in the Royal Guard Armour but the gold had been faded and scratches lined the plates. He was no new recruit.
"What is going on around here. Who started this mess."
All seven hooves pointed at both of them. " You got something ta say to my new recruits or me mister."
"Yea, its amazing they could even write their own name." Night Spear said dryly.
"You may be from another division but that doesn't mean that you can make fun of my soldiers boy."
Shining Armour stepped forward to defend his friend. "With all due respect sir. They were insulting Princess Luna the Steward of the Night, and my friend was simply defending her honor as it is his duty."
The old stallion stayed silent for a few seconds. Taking four steps back he turned around and faced Shining. "Boy put up your shield again. If you can block this then I consider everything forgotten."
Without warning a beam of red ripped through the streets. Shining instinctively brought up a pink triangle shield to counter. Slowly inch by inch Shining was being pushed back. He could feel the intensity of the lazer burning through his shield and wearing down his magic. He analyzed the beam. It crackled with energy but was spilling off the shield in different directions.
Ah ha
Shining tilted his shield slightly and summoned another.
"Two shields won't protect you boy." The beam increased with intensity. "That all you got old timer?" Shining taunted. He could feel the red beam of heat amplify almost cutting through his defenses.
Perfect.
Quickly turning his shield he angled both at 45 degrees sending the fiery line of death back at its sender. But before it could hit the old pony. It swirled and bended around him flying back towards Shining. A loud crack ripped the eardrums of bystanders followed by an explosion.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From the smoke and ruins Shining lay down. his magic had been exhausted but the older pony didn't seem able to charge another beam either.
"Well since you didn't stop it I won't forget anything that happened here today." He paused to dust himself off. "Expect a letter to your parents soon. Although it wasn't a letter about how bad he was. It could easily be a fine for violence or assault. And that did not look good on a record.
Mighty Hoof and his gang cheered. "I said I forget nothing. So that means double time on the track tomorrow. You never insult a Princess or expect exile do you understand Mr. Hoof."
Night Spear picked Shining Armour up. "Phew wow that was intense. But I could have done it." The obvious lie was too easy to pick out but Shining was tired.
"Shut up Nighty."
The next day a letter came in to the mail box.
Dear Mr and Mrs Sparkle. It has come to my attention that your son Shining Armour as of now has not chosen a path for the future. I would like to personally invite him to join us at the Royal Guards Force as a specialist class due to my personal judgement of him as a fine soldier I would like him to comply soon.
-Captain of the Royal Guards