A Quest for Knowledge

When applying for the Solar or Lunar Guard, one must bear in mind that their smithpony isn't available for commissions. It’s not that they aren’t needed, or  that the smits are unavailable. It’s expected that the applicants prove they are mature enough to maintain their own equipment for a little while. Whether brought, rent, or commissioned, the armor and weapon should always be the product of a guard’s labor. But it’s not simply a matter of proving yourself mature and appreciating what you have. It’s also a matter of not becoming a leech to others.

Royal Guards are meant to provide for Equestrians, and not the other way around. In that thought the Royal Guard quarters and armor are paid by the guards themselves, whether it is with their monthly pay, or otherwise. It is not uncommon for a Solar Guard, for example, to uphold their duties during the first half of the day and work the rest. A small price to ensure solidarity and diligence from the applicants.

Hiring a Royal Guard always meant you would get the job done. All guards were famed for their dependability, and those that smeared the name with their actions did not escape judgement.

Everypony did their best to remain in shape. Whether it was pushups and obstacle courses in the training grounds or studying the protocol of action in the library, Terra Lionmane knew the importance of keeping a healthy mind, within a healthy body.

He was sitting among others in the library with his saddlebag dropped next to his chair. Some had quills and were studying, narrowing their eyes and chewing the end of their quills. Concentration was almost tangible in the air. Among them was Terra, an earth pony with a blue coat, and a spiky red and yellow mane and tail. His cutie mark was an golden star with a round ruby core in it. Terra was taking a short break, and to him, nothing was more relaxing than reading one of his all-time favorite books: “Artorigus and the Noble Knights of the Round Table”. This book, among others, were some of the most popular books that served as a source of inspiration for potential guards.

Terra’s eyes were focused on the words, his mind so immersed in the tale of the brave 14 stallions that he didn’t notice the sudden hot air current. It was not until he felt a pair of claws on his shoulder and a sharp pain upon his ear that he turned around to see.

On his shoulder he saw an eagle-like bird, with with a fiery plume that left a small flaming trail behind it. Terra rubbed a bit on his ear to ease the pain of the phoenix’s warning bite.

“Alright Fenix, you don’t have to bite so hard, what is it?”

Fenix chirped repeatedly as he lifted his wing, showing the entrance from which Shining Armor was coming heading towards him.

“Keep it quiet there!” Came the librarian pony’s warning,but Terra had more important stuff to worry about.

Dropping the book quickly, he dusted himself up and stood proudly at attention. Shining withheld a small chuckle and smiled instead. Like all the captains before him, he had spent a considerable amount of time with his fellow guardsponies and he wasn’t about to forget the times they all spent together. Like those before him he had to know how to work with them, and being friendly with them was important both before and after his ascension.

“At ease, Terra. I trust your day is well?” Raising his hoof, he let Terra relax from his position. In the meantime, Fenix decided to go to the window, spreading his wings towards the sunlight letting a happy chirp as he enjoyed the heat of the sun like all phoenixes did.

“As good as it can be. Is there something I can do for you?”Though Terra knew Shining from before, now that he was a captain he was inclined by the guards’ code to treat him with the respect he deserved, at least during the time they were on these grounds.

And Shining, though it took him time to get used to it, understood and held no grudge. “Me? Oh nothing, though you are requested for an assignment from the Lunar Guard. Your name was called by some… Selune Darkeye. Friend of yours?” He said, raising an eyebrow quizzically at him. Terra noded.

“Yes, we knew each other from school here in Canterlot. How come, though? I thought Selune was working at the archives. What kind of assignment is this, if I may ask?” He said, waiting. Maintaining a level of kindness in front of his superior was more than just common courtesy to him. To Terra kindness and nobility in both speech and actions were signs of a knightly stallion, something he aspired to be.

In response, the captain hoofed a paper over to him. Looking at it carefully he saw that it was a request from the Lunar Guard, signed by Princess Luna among others, to be assigned as a bodyguard to Selune in her journey. It was not yet approved by Shining as his signature was not there. Terra could only guess why.

“There is a reason I haven’t signed it yet.” said Shining as Terra lifted his head to face him. His eyes were focused on shining and his ears were perked listening carefully not to miss something important. It would be disrespectful and rude to do otherwise.

“There aren’t many reasons for me to refuse this. As a matter of fact, since this is approved from Princess Luna, I could hardly refuse.” he paused for a moment and Terra didn’t interrupt him, knowing he wasn’t finished yet.

“That doesn’t mean I want to refuse this order. In fact, I am proud to offer one of my guardsponies, one of those I’d like to call friend.” His face bent into a smile.

“Thank you sir, you honor me,” said Terra, his chest puffing a bit. Though Shining shared that feeling with many others it made Terra feel proud nonetheless. When Shining ascended to the rank of captain, Terra didn’t feel jealous:  he knew he was more capable than him, he knew that there were few chances for an earth pony like Terra to be accepted. For that Shining Armor was grateful, and this was one of the reasons for which he was having this talk with Terra right now.

“Knowing your disposition, you might see this trip as an adventure.” Shining’s eyes fell upon the cover of the book Terra was reading. He recognized the figure on the cover. Artorigus, the King of the Noble Knights a popular tale he was also familiar with. He turned back at Terra, his forehead furrowing in seriousness as he looked the other stallion in the eye.

“I don’t know what you will encounter at the old castle, the Everfree, or anywhere else you and your friend go. But I’ll be damned if this restoration of history becomes a reason for me to lose one of my ponies. So you make sure you come back safe, alright?”

Terra’s face shone a bit as he smiled, now this was one of the reasons he was proud to be a royal guard. Not just because of his knightly aspirations, or the fact that his parents were retired royal guards, but because of the camaraderie. Being reminded of this, even if he was being scolded in the meantime, was a joy for him.

“Aye Shining, I’ll do my best, I’ll do my best.”

“That’s Captain Shining for you…” said Shining, keeping his serious tone. This made Terra flinch a bit as he resumed the formalities and stood in attention once again, ashamed that he let his guard down to a superior.

“Sorry, sir! It won’t happen again sir!” Shining Armor in turn laughed a bit as he revealed his ruse.

“SHHHHHH!” The librarian hissed in the background and the two ponies lowered their voices a bit, not wanting to cause a fuss. Shining took a deep breath to relax.

“I’m just joshing, you don’t worry about it!  But seriously don’t get killed that’d be bad.”  He coughed a bit and shook his hoof, shooing Terra back to work.

“Now off you go! I’ll sign this, and I want you to be ready in six hours back in the barracks, understood? I promise it won’t take more than that for your assignment to be finalized. In the meantime, you take Fenix, go home, prepare some supplies for the trip, say your goodbyes, prepare your armor, and get ready!

Terra turned to Fenix and let out a low whistle, calling him to his side. He extended his hoof, letting Fenix rest his claws upon it. When they got outside the library, Terra turned to Fenix. He mimicked the phoenix’s squeaks and chirps, telling him to go home.

This was a trick he had learned over time after he found Fenix. Whether it was by pure luck or fate, five years ago while he was returning from a delivery for his uncle Solid Gear he happened to be crossing a forest near Baltimare. There, he encountered a ruined nest under which lay a phoenix egg. Inspecting the nest and seeing large claw markings and burns, Terra realized that the phoenix's parents were possibly hunted and killed by dragons. Dragons love phoenix eggs and hunt them as trophies or for their spicy taste, they consider them a delicacy... Knowing that, Terra couldn’t leave the egg on it's own. With the help of his friend Selune, Terra managed to raise the phoenix hatchling properly. The newly hatched phoenix looked at Terra and seeing the colors of his mane the little one saw in them the colors of a phoenix, thus imprinting over time to Terra and viewing him as a father.

As Terra ran home to make the necessary preparations, he felt a slight tug in the back of his mind pulling him forward. It was a feeling he knew all too well, the invitation to go out in the world and join the hunt of the wild enchantress dancing in the night, the one they call “Adventure”.