To Awaken Valor

The elders teach us that a society relies on three traits: Physical, Mental and Spiritual. These traits are what guide us through our lives.

My clan the Redhare uphold these traits in their quest and journey to discover themselves. For even one trait alone is not enough to understand the pure joy and majesty of life!

Death is indeed a part of life but that doesn't nor should it distraught you from creating memories. Memories are eternal just as the spirit is limitless and the earth fruitful.

The earth ponies of my clan find themselves most capable of understanding the physical trait. Becoming strong warriors or farmers they endure physical challenges.

Meanwhile the unicorn ponies of my clan are most sound of mind. They are well adept with the mental trait. Understanding the powers of the mind and unknown we call many of them mystics.

Finally the Pegasus ponies of my clan who fly free with the winds are that of the spiritual trait. Shamans of the skies seeking endless possibilities in a world that stretches far from their sight.

And so we all live, striving to discover and tell a tale from hearts eager to understand. Even the smallest story of courage into the unknown is considered hope.

This is my story. About a Redhare youth that learned the meaning of these revered traits. How one day of sorrow made me discover that I was still asleep.

Wake up!

~/~/- x -~~

Princess Celestia sun had begun it noon high descent. The sky was bright and rich in color! Light blues painted the sky and the wind carried a sweet grass scent throughout most of the nation.

White clouds of a puffy shape decorated the bright light blue sky. Today was a great day to get many tasks completed or in fact to just simply enjoy!

The sun was warm and welcoming.  Spreading from the sun were rays of brilliant light! They spread far and wide over the nation of Equestria.

Out in the training courtyard for the guards of Canterlot was a young stallion. A new recruit, he had joined last week a couple days after the recent Nightmare Night event with Princess Luna.

Details of his arrival were sketchy and kept secret. All anyone needed to know was that the young stallion could handle weapons very well. So well he was performing jump attacks and other types of maneuvers without losing much stamina at all!

Other then the young stallion skill with weapons he had a curious horn. For a unicorn to wrap his horn in white linen cloth was mysterious. Was it damaged? Did he get it hurt in some way? What did the symbols on the cloth mean?

These and many other questions like how the unicorn never seemed to use magic were all abuzz in most ponies’ heads.

Today he was working on his pole arm skills and techniques. Swinging a bo staff he brought with him around with strong physical force while standing on his hind legs.

He was very well trained and balanced on his hind legs. Performing whirling strikes! However being in such a stance while do so was no easy feat!

The young stallion had a pure red fur coat, blazing eyes of yellow gold, a long mane and tail of fiery colors! They bore red and yellow with a hint of orange.  His hooves were of corn silk white.

The stallion appearance burned with an ambition for his weapon craft! On all fours he stood 50 inches from the ground. His weight was well rounded being 170 pounds.

Some of the other recruits and quite a few of the veteran guard were impressed by his stature. He stood barely taller than most of the mares yet just shorter than Canterlot stallions like Shining Armor.

Despite being a young stallion most of the guard couldn’t believe the skill the new recruit could display!

But despite all of this the most curious thing of all was the new recruit bared no cutie mark. Surely he would have had a cutie mark by now right?

After all he was a young stallion who was older than most foals or colts in the kingdom and surrounding areas like ponyville. Yet his flank was in fact blank, curious such a curious pony.

“Hey Starstrike how goes it?!” The new recruit was called by name. Stopping his routine on some training dummies he looked to his right and saw the first friend he made here in the barracks.

Adamant Bronze waved his left hoof over at Starstrike. He was a male unicorn with a broken horn, his fur was light brown. His mane was colored orange and was buzzed cut like a soldier. Adamant Bronze tail however was very short; it was like a ball of fluff really. It was also orange.

He was a hardy pony though. Slightly shorter then Starstrike but he was definitely of a heavier build. His stocky nature proved true to his name. Adamant Bronze specialized in shield combat and shield spells.

His most defining trait however was his horn. It was broken in half horizontally being only half of what he was born with. Despite looks Adamant Bronze was strong and joyful! A natural born defender most called him.

Adamant Bronze trot over to his friend in an upbeat manner and smiled! “Save some of those moves for when duty calls buddy! No dragons and what not to fight here.”

“Adamant Bronze” Starstrike said in a less then positive voice “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I appreciate your good nature and whim. Unwise however is it to go a single day without proper training. You never know what will happen.”

Adamant Bronze let out a hardy laugh. “As usual you’re so dutiful! Good to know all the same, most of the guard are enjoying the day while still being on task, sorta.”

Starstrike responded with a bit of gruff in his voice “Precisely why I train. I almost don’t trust half of them to hold a spear in the right direction. Let alone know how to thrust with one!”

“Hey now, what did I tell you about all that doubt and such kind of talk?” Adamant Bronze replied and continued. “You got to loosen up more bud! Canterlot won’t be invaded anytime soon. Sure nasty things pop up from time to time but it gets taken care of all the same!”

Starstrike ponder that for less than ten seconds and replied. “Confidence coming from those who defend a kingdom but don’t prepare themselves for the worst scare me. Really…really badly like when you get those itches on your flank that can’t be reached kind of bad.”

Adamant Bronze laughed some more. “You make valid point’s friend! You’re still an odd one for a unicorn but all the same good points. It just on days like today no one really worries you sees? If something should go wrong don’t doubt that any one of us wouldn’t jump into action! Have faith in your comrades!”

Those words he spoke, how Adamant Bronze said them with such reassurance. Starstrike let out a defeated groan and laugh with him. “I’m glad to have met you Adamant Bronze. True your name alright! But all the same, would you train with me for a bit?”

“Absolutely, I can still cast a mean spell or two with this horn of mine!” Adamant Bronze and Starstrike took to the training field and practiced for a good long while. The two unicorns displayed their friendship with a dance of strikes and blocks!

Meanwhile as the guard went about their duties and training two Royal figures watched overhead from a balcony tower. Princess Celestia and Luna gazed over their guard with pride.

Princess Luna had her eyes of moderate cyan upon a particular pair of ponies. “Adamant Bronze and the new recruit we found.” Her words cut her sister as she would sometimes call Tia out of her fixated gaze.

Celestia eyes of pale, light grayish magenta first stared to her sister as she would sometimes call Lulu then back to the field. She lined her eyes upon the same pair.

“The mysterious young stallion you found a week after Nightmare Night. It was on the borders of the Hayseed Swamps. You were getting back into your nightly patrols. It would seem he fitting in quite well, he already made a friend!” Celestia stated with happiness in her voice!

Yet Celestia caught that look in her sister eyes. “But something troubles you Luna?” Celestia spoke the words as in a hint to noticing her sister worries.

“Yes” Luna began “It just other then the obvious horn thy keeps wrapped up.” Luna paused for a moment to catch up with her thoughts and continued. “I’ve looked into his dreams for the last week as agreed to ensure he was mentally and emotionally sound.”

Princess Celestia knew where this was going. She just prayed to the stars it wasn’t just bad news. “What did you see?”

Luna hesitated to say the next few things on her mind but knew it needed to be said. She took a quick breath and opened her muzzle “A nightmare.” She continued “Always, consistently it starts out the same. First darkness, then his mind creates dim lights all about.  The shadow of ponies and the clashing of weapons echo.”

Princess Celestia gazed at her sister with worry as Luna face becomes more flustered. She decided to ask a few questions to help ease Luna mind as she explains her dream reports on the new recruit.

“What happens next, any voices?” Celestia asks reassuring her sister its okay.

Princess Luna nods her head. “Yes but the voices are very blurred and hard to understand. The only words I can properly hear are within the shadows.” Closing her eyes for a moment she envisions the rest of the new recruit dream.

“Then the sound of a female voice, screaming frightfully with concern mixed in. His shape takes form as a shadow and he runs! Running and running and running as fast as his legs could carry him! If he looked behind to the other shadows green lights would engulf his vision.”

Luna voice shakes a bit as she mentions the last portion of the dream. “It becomes silent for a moment, then he screams and says the only thing I could understand entirely Father! Save us! Please! Why did you leave us Father! Please come back! I’m sorry for being weak but they need you Father! FATHER!”

A wing wrapped itself around Luna tightly. She hadn’t notice but she began crying. Celestia was holding her sister with soothing wings and hooves. “That enough Lulu” Celestia said comforting “Thank you for watching over him.”

Luna wiped the tears from her eyes wondering what this pony she found had gone through. What did the nightmare hold in store for all of them? And what did it mean for Starstrike?

Breaking from the hug Luna looked up to her sister. “Thank you Tia I just….”

Celestia cut her younger sister off “Luna it alright. Being royalty doesn’t mean we can’t show our emotions.”

Luna nod in agreement and asked a question of her own. “Why do you think he wraps his horn up like that?”

Princess Celestia looked back out among the pair with her sister and pondered for a moment. “When the time comes perhaps we’ll come to know the truth. All of it, but for now let him enjoy this moment of peace.”

Princess Luna worry and curiosity became a small smile upon her muzzle. More than anything after being gone for a 1000 years, she missed her sister radiant tranquility and confidence. How through simple patience she was confident the answers they sought would be found.

Luna nuzzled into her sister for a quick hug and it was granted. A loud noise brought their attention back to the training field. Adamant Bronze and the new recruit Starstrike were going all out!

Their basic training becoming an intense match of wood, steel, iron and spells! Loud shouts and battle cries filling the air as their match started to get the rest of the guard rowdy! To the point where the rest of the guard in the training field took one of two sides and started an all out brawl!

The two sisters stared back to each other, shook their heads and laughed while saying at the same time “stallions.”