I was in my room before it all started. I was packing a few things for the whole thing. Sure, I was going to be here in Canterlot for the boot camp, but that doesn’t mean I will have the luxury of having a bed at home. I’ll be having to live with the rest of the recruits in the barracks.
Staring into my open bag, I noticed how little I could really take with me. Only some clothing, hygiene stuff, and not much personal items.
The sound of hoofsteps in the hallway broke me out of my daze. I looked up from my packing to see my dad was standing in the doorway.
“Hey, Shining Armor. What are you doing?” he asked. I hadn’t told him yet.
I froze. I couldn’t say anything.
Instead of waiting for me to answer, his gaze went down to my bed. Along with the open bag, there were a few brochures and other pieces of parchment about the Royal Guard on my mattress. He quickly put two and two together. “What is this?” he asked in a firm voice. Using his magic, he levitated one of the brochures up to my line of sight.
“I….I’m going….to join the Royal Guard,” I somehow managed to speak. It felt as if I had reach deep within me to pull the words out.
“Are you mad?” It wasn’t the exact response I was expecting from him, but it was about what I had imagined how he would react: calm indignation, “Why in Celestia’s name would you want to join the Royal Guard?”
“I want to do something with my life, something that I can be proud of,” I answered, looking to the side of him, not wanting to be caught in his glare.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my dad take another look at the brochure. His rage had gone down, but I still could tell that he was still not happy with me, “This is a big decision, Shining Armor. Why did you have to make this choice on your own?”
“Mom is supportive of it, I’ve already talked to her about it."
“Look at me.”
I did. I knew better than to not.
“Is she really?” His voice was stern.
I sighed and shook my head, “No….well, kinda. She’s really worried about it.”
He continued, “And that’s why I don’t want you to join either. I’m worried about you. We all are.” While he was still rigid in his demeanor, his words were far more compassionate and his face reflected this.
Looking down at the different literature about the Royal Guard, I spoke in a soft tone, “But I want to serve. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for as long as I can remember.”
I was excepting to be scolded by my dad right then and there. Instead, he was quiet. I looked back up at him. For a moment, he looked back at me before he turned to look around my room. His gaze was fixated at the stuff that I had posted on the wall next to my bed. “Can you come over here, son?” he asked in a calm tone, with no hint of strictness.
Obeying, I trotted around my bed and stood next to my dark blue-coated dad. He didn’t say anything when he arrived. He continued to stare at the items on my wall. Pictures of us as a family on vacation in Seaddle, a photo from my flugelhorn recital, a poster of Bruce Springsteed’s album ‘Born In Equestria’, a crayon drawing that my little sister Twilight Sparkle drew for me, a photo from the dance where Cadence and I fell in love, and plenty of other stuff from over the years.
I still didn’t understand why my dad called me over. I was about to say something until he moved his head and looked around at the rest of my room.
Following suit, I took a look around my room. The first thing I really took notice of was that my room was a complete mess. I’m sure my dad took notice of that too. But other things stood out as well; a collection of guides and monster manuals for 'Oubliettes and Ogres' on my bookshelf along with my dice and figurines, my flugelhorn (which I hate to admit but I still enjoy practicing), the model of the spaceship Equestreprise from Star Trot, and a stack of cassette tapes (including my favorite one by The Mystic Knights Of The Electric Stable).
I was the one who broke the silence between us, “Wow, I never realized it before, but I sure have a lot of crap in here.”
This was enough to make my dad smile and laugh. My dad wasn’t made of stone, in fact he was very loving, but I’ve never seen him be so candid before.
“Shining Armor, let me just say that I’m proud of who you are,” he started, as he turned to me. Our eyes met and I could tell this was one of those stallion-to-stallion talks. “I remember when you were a little colt, trotting around this house with an overturned cardboard box on your head, claiming to be the captain of the Royal Guard.”
His words made me really embarrassed, “Uhh….geez, dad….”
He laughed again, “But I guess I never wanted to believe that one day you would go and make that change.” His expression changed to one that almost seemed melancholic, “Growing up and going off to the Royal Guard. You’re becoming a fine stallion, talented, smart, got yourself a special somepony, and now already looking toward the future. I fear that this is all going too fast.”
We paused for a moment. The silence of my bedroom didn’t offer comfort for either of us. To counter it, I spoke, “To be honest, I sort of feel the same way.”
The stillness returned. The only noise that was made for the next few minutes was the squeaking of my mattress when he sat down on it. While I couldn’t see or hear anything, I’m sure there was a lot going through my dad’s head. I had only seen him like this once before, and that was when he was helping Twily study for her entrance exam for Princess Celestia’s Academy.
He finally spoke, “You really have your heart set on this, huh?"
“Yeah, it’s this yearning that I can’t fight. It’s just too hard to ignore it,” I answered.
Dad retorted quickly in an almost pleading manner, “But why don’t you take your time and think about it?”
“I have thought about it. For years.” Now it was as if we were both pleading to each other, “I just know it’s the right thing for me.”
“Are you sure though?” he stood back up to his hooves, “Remember when you wanted to become a famous martial artist after you saw Buck Lee in that movie? For weeks you tried to copy him, but you failed each time until you eventually gave up. I’m just saying that you’ll still be here tomorrow, but your dreams might not be.”
I raised a hoof to my face and tried to hide some of my shame, “Oh geez….I remember that. Can’t believe I was such a dork….”
My dad chuckled a little at my reaction. He changed the subject for both our sakes, “I just want to make sure you understand what you are getting yourself into. You’re my son, and I support whatever you plan on doing, even if it’s going to make me worry about you non-stop.”
Without a second thought, I said what was on my heart, “I’m positive this is what I want to do.”
He smiled at me, something I always enjoyed seeing. “Well, I guess I can’t change your mind anymore than I can change Twily’s mind when it comes to buying books.”
I smiled at both my dad’s approval and his comment, “Thanks, dad.”
“Hold on a second,” he said before trotting out of my room. About twenty second later, he returned with a piece of parchment being levitated by his magic. “Boot camp is a nightmare from what I’m told, so I want you to take this.”
He lowered the parchment into my bag, on top of everything else. I recognized the photo immediately. It was of the four of us getting a family portrait done together. I remember the day too, it was right after Twily had gotten her cutie mark and we all saw it as a time to celebrate.
“Just remember, Shining Armor, we all are proud of you no matter what you do. Your mother, Twilight Sparkle, and myself. And we are here for you whenever you need us, kiddo.”
He hadn’t called me ‘kiddo’ in a long time. It was enough for me to wrap my limbs around him for a hug, which he returned. I tried my hardest to not shed a tear, but I’m only a pony after all.
“Thank you, dad.”
END