Electric Storm woke up in the middle of the night and groaned. She had tried to go to sleep for the past few hours, waking up every time she had just fallen asleep. She normally stayed up late in the night and woke up around the afternoon, there was, after all, quite a bit of night life in Canterlot. Her job was as a weather pony, kicking a few clouds, making it rain when needed. A simple life. She despised it.
She had always wished for something else. Her life was so boring, she felt like she was never important. And tomorrow, if things worked out, she was going to get what she wished.
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Storm woke up again to a irritating buzzing sound but now it was morning. She dragged herself out of bed, wondering why she set her alarm clock to this time. Then she suddenly remembered.
“Oh horsefeathers!” Storm jumped up and hurriedly got ready for the day. “Today I’m going to try out!”
She ran out the door, grabbed her suitcase, slamming the door behind her, then flew as fast as her wings could carry her towards the princess’ castle.
Upon arrival, she was greeted by the angry stares of two Royal Guards. She gulped slightly but put her head high and tried to look as dignified as possible, which wasn’t much. The guards stared inquisitively at her but held their tongue.
She rushed through the door and into the large room where Princess Celestia stood waiting, along with a few other recruits.
“Hello, my little ponies.” Her greeting was answered by everyone bowing and Storm awkwardly bowing down a little later. Thankfully, the princess took no notice.
“Everypony here is going to try to become a Royal Guard?” Murmurs of agreement ringed through the small group of ponies.
“Even you?” whispered one white pony to a small blue one, “You look like you couldn’t pick up a spear.” The blue pony shrank back a bit, her ears pressed against her head. Storm opened her mouth to say something but was beaten to it by the princess, “I am sure everyone here is strong and capable of being a Royal Guard.” The blue pony smiled gratefully.
“But please be aware this is no easy task. Equestria may be in a time of peace for now and the most you will have to deal with is probably a few street crimes which is nothing compared to an all-out war. Please make sure you are ready if this scenario were to occur. War is not something easily trifled with.”
A few ponies looked like they were ready to back out, including the small blue unicorn which had been picked on by the white earth pony. Still, they stayed.
“Are every single one of you in?” Princess Celestia demanded.
“Yes Princess!” Everypony replied, Storm throwing in an extra salute. Princess Celestia turned her way and smiled, “I like your enthusias-” she cut off, rather surprised, “Are you a bat pony?”
She now had everypony's attention, even a few of the guards out front seemed to look her way. Electric Storm shuffled her leathery wings nervously.
“Y-yes. Is that a problem?”
Princess Celestia looked curiously at her, “Not really. But most bat ponies work for my sister, they do like the night better than day after all.”
That was true, Storm found the night more peaceful and serene than the day. But she had other reasons to stay in the Royal Guard.
“I suppose I like the night. But I’d like to stay in the Royal Guard.”
Princess Celestia looked like she would press further but decided against it. “It is your decision.”
The rest of the ponies kept their eyes on her while Celestia led them outside into a huge stadium. Storm and many other ponies gasped.
I didn’t know there was a stadium in the castle. But it makes sense I guess. This must be where the Royal Guards train and the Lunar Guards must have another stadium.
Sunlight brightened the whole place up where Storm spotted countless amounts of training equipment and weapons. Storm glanced at the spears larger than she was and axes that seemed to weigh as much as a boulder. I bet only an Earth Pony can lift that.
The group was greeted once again by a gruff white unicorn. “So these are the new recruits?” He asked after quickly saluting the princess.
“Yes. May you take care of them? I have urgent matters to deal with.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
Celestia lit her horn and in a flash of light, she was gone.
“So I suppose all you weaklings brought your suitcases?” He demanded. Everypony nodded quickly, afraid to make him upset.
“You have five minutes to get yourself decently unpacked. Cloud Skipper!”
A white pegasus with a blond mane came up to the unicorn. “Yes?”
The unicorn glares at him. “I mean, yes sir!” Cloud Skipper hastily said.
“Remember your place, rookie.” the unicorn growled, “I’m one of the sub-captains under Captain Shining Armour, you will show respect.”
“Yes sir!” Cloud Skipper replied.
“Take these new rookies to there rooms. Give them five minutes then get them over here immediately.”
Storm tucked back a strand of a stormy grey-blue mane. She was getting more nervous by the second, the unicorn especially scared her. Are all the guards like this?
As Cloud Skipper led all the ponies to their rooms, he noticed Storm hanging back just a little. He pointed in the direction where the rooms where then went back to Storm.
"Hey grey pony!"
"Yeah?" Storm asked, turning around.
“You’re a bat pony, huh?” he whispered, softer than last time.
“Y-yeah.”
“Huh, most of them are Lunar Guards. But welcome to the Royal Guard anyway!”
“T-thanks.”
“You scared of Crystal Edge?” he asked, “The big white unicorn?”
“N-not really.” Storm answered but her mind thought differently. Yes! He’s creepy.
Cloud Skipper shrugged, “Alright, but he’s not a bad pony. He’s strict, but he just wants us to be as strong as we can be. If you want a mean pony, there’s another guard you should watch out for, especially since you’re a bat pony...”
“Who?” Storm started to ask but was cut off by Cloud Skipper yelling, “We’re here! You’re room numbers will be on the letter given to you when you were first accepted a week ago.”
“You might want to hurry” he whispered urgently, “You’ve got five minutes sharp.”
Storm quickly pulled out the letter from her saddlebags. “Room 101” she muttered under her breath. She opened the door and walked into her new room.
It was nothing fancy. A simple bed with white sheets was in the middle. The walls and ceiling were white while the whole floor was covered in a light blue carpet. A decent-sized window was above the bed, with a small nightstand with a lamp on it, beside it. There were six comfortable chairs on one side with a small dining table along with a door where she assumed the bathroom was. On the other side was a kitchenette and another door where the walk in closet was.
Storm smiled. She liked it when things were simple but she needed to add a personal touch to it. She dumped all her clothes in a small wooden chest then put up posters of the Storm Shields, an amazing weather team that could calm the wildest storms. She put a few of her precious items on the nightstand, including a small globe with a miniature electric tornado inside of it which was kept together by magic. It was given to her so long ago...
“Wow, you’re gonna join the guard!”an excited grey filly smiled, stormy eyes sparkling.
“Yep! After all, that was our parent’s job before they disappeared remember?”a stallion with a similar coat colour said.
“I think. I was barely a filly back then though!”
“That’s right! You still are a filly though right now!” he said, tousling her messy grey-blue hair.
The stallion continued, “I think I’ll be in the Search Squad. Maybe we’ll find Mom and Dad. We always talked about finding them.”
“You’re gonna be safe though right?”the grey filly asked.
“Of course! I’m always safe. Always...”
Storm felt a small tear run down her cheek. She wiped it away quickly then rushed back to the training stadium.
Keep running, keep moving, keep busy. That way, you’re fears will never find you...especially if you find them first.