//------------------------------//
// Prompt #460-The Depths Of Generosity 
// Story: Ponywatching 
// by ThunderTempest 
//------------------------------//

Like Kindness, Loyalty and indeed, all of the elements to a degree, many ponies never quite fully understood the full meaning of Generosity. It could be categorized as being helpful to those in need, or at least, more need than yourself, but it was so much more that just that. Generosity was why Rarity joined the Royal Guard in the wake of Twilight Sparkle’s coronation.

Naturally, there had been some confusion amongst her friends at her seemingly impulse decision.  They all thought that being a designer was Rarity’s top goal, and the Royal Guard, with the hard armour, strict training schedule and stricter guidelines on behaviour, was practically the antithesis of everything that Rarity worked towards. They were functional, not fashionable. But every time the topic came up in conversation in the few weeks before Rarity was due to depart for Basic Training, the unicorn had smiled, and avoided answering the question with all of her considerable verbal grace.

The day that Rarity departed for Basic Training up in Canterlot, all of her friends came by the Carousel Boutique. Applejack had agreed to look after Sweetie Belle while Rarity was gone, as her parents were on yet another cruise, and Rarity inwardly shuddered at the unbidden thought of Sweetie Belle speaking like Applejack and wearing that damnable hat. The six friends had one last spa session as their farewell party for Rarity, and then, all too soon, it was time for Rarity to depart.

*****

Rarity slipped on her training armour, which was the dull grey of steel, rather than the shining gold that ponies usually saw on the Royal Guards on duty, and headed out toward the parade ground, her twin practice swords strapped to her sides. Rarity had considered herself to be in decent shape. Oh, she knew she was nowhere near as fit as Applejack or Rainbow Dash, but those two were hardened by hours of hard labour and practice, but she liked to think that she could hold her own. As it turned out, she wasn’t as in shape as she thought. Basic Training had fixed that in a hurry, though. Six months of drills, classes, standing in the hot sun for hours on end in heavy metal armour, and no shortage of hard physical exercise had shaped and hardened Rarity’s body, though the other trainees still called her ‘Marshmallow’.

Now, all of her hard work was going to finally pay off. Today was the day that she and all of her fellow trainees would finally leave Basic, and would graduate to the full gold-plated armour of an active guard. Rarity fell into line with her other recruits, adopting the position of ‘at ease’ which had become second nature to the unicorn. An officer called for attention, and as one, the entire formation snapped to the position with a single loud noise as armour banged on armour. 

[Time]

Rarity kept her body straight, and her eyes forwards as their commanding officer strode up and down the ranks, inspecting each pony for the minutest of flaws. He lingered on Rarity for a good while before he moved onto the next pony. Rarity never broke expression, though inwardly she was proud of herself.

“Trainees!” barked the officer, “You have sweated, bled and cried over the last six months. When you came to me, you were weak little balls of marshmallow ponies,” Several of the recruits’ eyes shifted to Rarity, who simply kept her posture, “But I have forged you into fine examples of what a Royal Guard should be. You are no longer under my command. Tomorrow, you will report back here, but it will not be me you will listen to. You will be assigned duties within and without Canterlot. You are now members of the Royal Guard. Make us all proud. For the Princesses!”

“For The Princesses!” roared the former trainees.

“Dismissed!” And just like that, it was done.

*****

Most ponies never fully grasped what Generosity meant beyond the most superficial definition. To Rarity, Generosity was not just giving when asked-It was making sure that she never needed to be asked in the first place. And this was the ultimate generosity for her, the giving of herself and everything that she would ever be and do. To Equestria, to the Princesses, and especially to one in particular, who was the reason that she had signed up in the first place.

But Twilight Sparkle would never know that, if Rarity had anything to say about it, because sometimes Generosity was more appreciated if one didn’t know the reasons behind it.