//-------------------------------------------------------// The Academy -by Silverbrony97- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1 : The letter //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1 : The letter 19 years ago Silvermane aged 19 Silvermane sleeping in his bed comfortably curled up. A voice female called up to him " Silvermane , breakfast" his mothers soft call had woke him up where as his Dads harsher call had failed to do so. Getting out of bed and throwing the blanket back on it " I'll make it later" he muttered to himself , then started sorting his mane and tail which where a mess as always. After spending 5 minutes doing it so they looked normal enough for him he head down the stairs where the butler met him , he was a young unicorn stallion with a black mane and maroon brown coat wearing a black suit with bow tie over it.In the brown aura of his magic he was carrying a silver plater , he said it a very posh accent " Your breakfast sir" Lifting the lid on it showing a section of foods " Thank you " Silvermane said with genie gratitude taking the plater within his dark blue magic aura. He continued down the second flight of stair to the ground floor , his hooves clattered on the white marble floor echoing thought the large room .A few maids cleaning things in the large entrance room. Heading into the dinning room he the sound his hooves made changed from a loud echoing thud to a soft tap as he walked along the red carpet leading into a long oak panelled room several photos hung from the walls over head and several sets of old fashioned Knights amour where on display. In the centre was a long wooden table , sitting close to each at one end was Silvernight a tall dark unicorn stallion with a grey similarly styled mane to Slvermane and light red eyes , next to him sitting a unicorn mare of average height with a large blond bee hive hair style and soft blue eyes , Silverhooves . Both of them turned to look at him , Silvernight spoke in his normal abrupt tone for when he was telling Silvermane of  " Silvermane come here" looking displeased with him , Silverhooves gave him a similar look . Silvermane approached lowering his head and putting his tail between his legs while his ears remains flat to his skull as always. They both looked down on him him sternly then Silvernight floated a letter by in his light red aura and placed it by Silvermane then he asked " What is this ". Silvermane looked at the letter reading over the address and then saw the royal stamp checking it then opening and quickly reading over it, looking at it in disbelief " I made he muttered not looking up " I made it" . Upon looking up he saw both his parents faces smiling happily " Well done son " Silvernight said happily smiling then hugged Silvermane gently . Silverhooves on the other hand had burst into tears yelling " Oh my foals growing up" delivering a tight hug knocking the wind from his stomach. "Mom , mom" he said in hoarse voice . After a minute she let him go and he struggled to recover the breath he lost from her hug "Sorry Silver" she said after calming down a lot. Silvernight chuckled a little then smiled " I had Jones go pack your stuff he got you up and for some reason brought you breakfast" Silvermane was happily eating the food of the plater sitting next to his father. " I'll stay in contact the best I can dad okay , I know what Moms like when I'm away for long periods of time." they both laugh as Silverhooves looked at them sternly and they both stopped freezing and go back to eating. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 3 : Goodbye //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 3 : Goodbye As the knife nears his throat the stallion kicks out hitting the stallion in the gut causing him to fall dropping his knife. Then a blast of magic grazes his coat to little effect , he returns hitting the other pony with a blast twice as powerful sending them flying across the room into a cabinet filled with plates which end up shattering spraying shards of pottery flying in all directions. Taking the spray he grabs the other pony by the neck with an earth pony level of strength and throws him out the door just as several guards rush to the scene.  “What’s going on here Sir” the grey unicorn asks removing his helmet looking a bit confused “Did you do this Sir?” Silvermane breathing heavy rubbing his head “ Yes” his voice shaky “ I just lost control aster the second pony I don’t how I manage to lift him” the other guard who had entered the store now reappearing , the white earth pony still wearing full amour “ There both have the same story , these thugs tried to rob the store and well he stopped them”. A week later Silvermane standing outside his parents manor wearing his black leather saddle bags with a standard silver sprayed buckle “ Bye Mom” hugging Silverhooves round the neck tight , she sobs “ Be careful out there don’t get hurt and remember to write to us weekly” whilst sobbing into his light grey coat. Silvernight rolling his eyes “Son just remembers if you need anything I’ll make sure you get it okay. I’ll miss you, goodbye I’m proud to call you my son” smiling ‘Come Silverhooves he need to get going” she gently release her hug from him “I love you Silver” . Silvermane wiping the ear from his eye “I love you to mom.” He starts to the walk down to the castle feeling more fearful than ever before walking by many royal guards out on patrol around the city. Heading into the courtyard of the castle seeing a crowd of ponies gathered by a small number of royal guards and one wearing purple captains amour , seeing may stallion his own age and a few older ones there to. Approaching hearing the gruff voice yelling “All new trainees into race based line , Unicorns here , Pegasus here , and earth ponies here !”  Quickly the ramble ordered its self into  3 straight line. The captain removing his helmet revealing a face looking as if it had been cut from stone it was so cold. His tall horn and short cut mane caused even the strongest of stallions cringe when he looked at them, he started to patrol up and down the lines looking at each pony one by one weighting them up. The loud cater of hooves on the flagstone court guard echoed and all the ponies to turn to see a white unicorn with a blue mane galloping up to the line walking in right behind Silvermane to join the back of unicorn lines. The captain stared at him then continued. Silvermane quivered as he walked by, stopping taking a few seconds extra to look at him then kept on going. Once he reached the front he began calling names starting with the Pegasus; then on to earth ponies and finally Unicorns. He yelled “Shining Amour!” The pony behind Silvermane yelled “Here Sir!” In response then he contained on “ Silvermane !” Silvermane quickly responded “Here Sir!”.  They then started to walk in single file towards a platform where a large grey train was waiting. The captain yelled over the talking of the shocked stallion “QUITE!” every pony fell silence instantly “Now everypony you will have partners of the same race!” Ponies quickly moved many finding ponies they already know. Silvermane looks around seeing no pony he recognized, Shining amour stood by him looking the same confused and lost. Seeing everpony else had a partner the Captain stared the two of them “ You two “ we looked at him “You two are now partners now if or buts” they both respond “ Sir yes sir” . Ponies began boarding the train entering the sitting cars “ Okay ponies put your bags and gear in the sleeper cars this is an overnight trip we will reach the training ground in 27 hours” The train shuddered as it lurched forward out the station and out of canterlot. Chatter filled the car , Silvermane looked to shining amour and he looked at him “ So” Silvermane started. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2 : Getting rought //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2 : Getting rought Silvermane heading towards Canterlot castle at a fast trot after receiving the letter saying that he admitted into the royal guard and will be shipped of for training in 2 weeks . He head quickly past some royal guard outside the main entrance and heads up though entrance hall. He started looking around the huge castle however end up lost , this being unusual for a stallion who goes there so often whether to this just be visiting some ponies he knows who's staying there , to attend royal ceremonies , the grand galloping gala and not often to talk with Princess Celestia. A couple of guards arrpached him both them knowing him " Silvermane what are here for this time " he said in his deep strong voice , Silvermane stuttered in response then said " Celestia " the other guard said " She's in her throne room" in a soft female voice . Silvermane " thank you smiling to them as he left for the throne room. Heading the huge double doors opened as he walked in a pair of unicorn guards followed him up to the throne ,Celestia sitting reading a book she looked hearing the stallion approaching. Silvermane "Hi Princess Celestia " she smiled at him "Someponies in a good mood today" looking him in the eye "Look I got into the Guard academy" holding up the letter. Reading over it she smiled "Well done I remember when you where a foal you always want to be a royal guard.". She gets up and starts walking out the room silvermane in tow "Now when do you enter training" he responds "Next week ,I'm worried Celestia" his voice trembled as he spoke . She lift her wing over him to comfort "It'll be okay your a good stallion" he stops and looks up at her "Really" stopping to "Yes Silvermane , now I have a meeting we'll talk later okay" he looking "Okay bye" they part ways leaving the castle Silvermane walks into canterlot market. Not realsing the time walks in at its peak hour. Heading into a shop with several large ponies of different races in going up go to the counter the elderly earth pony mare "What will it be Silver ?"  he looked at her smiling " Can I just my normal please ?" she hands him over a hay sandwich please" she hands over the sandwich and passes he her a couple of bits. Once leaving the counter one of the large ponies , a unicorn walked up to her and grab her by the neck and yells "Empty the the register now!" the other pony grabs Silvermane by the neck holding a knife to his throat. Silvermane struggles meekly doing nothing but bring the knife closer to his throat.