Silence- A Soldier's Journey In Equestria

The cold morning air made for excellent running conditions, your body could work for longer in the cold, the body heat you build up being sapped by the frigid air. Too cold and you lose too much body heat, bordering on hypothermia. Too much heat can lead to dehydration , it can also cause hyperthermia, both quick killers.

The cold morning air was the goldilocks temperature, just right for running.

My breath misting alongside the pants and gasps of the recruits, we had been running for less than 10 minutes and these ponies were already struggling. I wondered wether this was normal for ponies, maybe they just don't have the same stamina as humans? Even the Captain was out of breath slightly. I decided to raise the issue"sir, how long can your guards run for?"I asked, not in the slightest tired or out of breath."it seems our stamina may differ sir" I joked. Causing another bout of giggles from the recruits and a quizzical look from the Captain.

"Ponies can run for about five kilometres in one go. My best guards can run at max ten kilometres. Why, how much can your soldiers run?" Shining asks, panting as we ran.

"For my regiment, minimum of 10k within an hour, capable of running for three days straight or more with no rest. There's a reason we're called the best sir, some of the fittest humans in the world are in our regiment, and for good reason. We go into the harshest of terrains and the most dangerous missions, we're expected to perform no matter where we are and deliver no matter what." I said, grinning at the shocked expressions of the ponies surrounding me. "But hey, that's what humans are made for, we're predators, omnivorous of course but we can hunt prey for miles, waiting for them to succumb to their injuries collapse from exhaustion." I explained, showing both my molars and canines with a wide smile.

"Well as long as you don't eat anything sapient, you'll be fine here, some ponies are a bit squeamish though. Got to admit, your kind are rather scary, even more so than Griffins. I mean look at you, you're running with a full bag and your weapon, no matter how strange that thing is." Shining quipped.

I chuckled at his response "I'd never eat another sapient being, it'd be like cannibalism in a sense, not to mention murder." I shifted my rifle sling slightly. "I'm used to carrying all my gear anyway, but I hope I don't have to demonstrate what this thing can do. Let's just say it's not pretty and leave it at that." Both my rifles were a weight that, in addition to my webbing, was a weight I had grown accustomed to in my long service to Queen and country. Running in my gear was a common occurrence and was something that I had grown to love. It seemed that the only two people armed in this group was Shining and I, with the captain of the guard sporting a short sword attached to a belt and scabbard around his barrel.

A few minutes later, the run had led us to the depot at the bottom of the mountain, with the sign post of the base stating 'Whitetail Royal Guard Training Area: Enter at own risk " We're here" panted the Captain." Dump your gear at a bunk and prepare to move in five. This'll be your home for the rest of your training, all of your personal property will be here when we get back"

Five minutes later...

"The first test shall be a timed run of the assault course" the captain said, gesturing towards the plethora of walls, jumps and other obstacles. Some of the recruits looked worried, the prospect of tackling this assault course a daunting one. "The rules are, no wings, no magic and no skipping obstacles. If you fail to complete the course, you will be removed from training and will have to try next time. Any questions? No? Good, recruit Parker will go first followed by Bronze Buckler, Swift Wing" the list went on as the captain listed off the names of the recruits. "Parker, you're up!"

"Yes sir!" I replied, launching off the starting line and attacking the first wall, lauching up it and running along the raised platform towards a large drop. I jumped off the edge and rolled, maintaining my momentum and springing across the following three pit jumps.

After the jumps was a small tunnel, which I slid through without hesitation, rising to my feet and carrying on as I exited.

As I built momentum still I ran up the hill leading to a rope swing, launching myself over the gap and landing back into a run. Next was a net climb, which I climbed and descended with ease, the following two wall vaults and sprint to the finish leaving me breathing deeply.

I turned to the rest of the recruits and Captain armour to find them attempting to quite literally pick their jaws up of the floor.

"What?" I asked, the group still staring at me with an awestruck expression.