Chapter 1: Humble Origins
“Bright get down from there this instant!”
I heard my mother's shout rousing me from a comfortable nap. This was not an uncommon way for me to start my day as every morning Since I could make my magic pick up that old ladder father kept behind the tool shed. I would wake up before the sun rose and climb to the very top of our home and wait patiently for the sun rise and the barest hint of the princesses distant form silhouetted against the the new sky. Though i was still a colt so more often than not i would fall asleep just after and be woken from my slumber by my…
“I said now!”
Her tone was strained not angry though her anger was much more obvious and usually involved a magical push off the rooftop. I felt the distinct grip of mothers magic wrapping around me and plucking me from my perch. She wasn’t always a patient mare. I tried my best winning smile but with the amount of times i had been plucked from the roof I feel as if its effects had waned on mother. She was a Solidly built unicorn probably at one time people referred to her as beautiful.
Her fiery mane still held its luster even if a few streaks of grey shot through it now. As did her eyes still hold the Icey blue glint of intelligence I've heard father blather on about for hours. OK maybe not hours but for a colt whose mother you were talking about it felt like that. Though she had more scars than any other mare he’d met. If you can't guess i was the youngest of my siblings. A miracle at my parents age i'm told as they were both pushing into their fifties. I’ve also heard it uttered by a few that i was an accident. Those snide foals usually ended up with a muzzle full of hoof! Oops there i go again this is what got me plucked from the roof in the first place instead of being let to climb down on my own.
I floated several inches in front of my mother’s face. This is probably where you're getting a bit of misinformation about my age and size. You must think me a very young foal to be hefted around so. No i was on the cusp of adulthood cutie mark and everything. I was not a small pony no i was not fat but solid father often joked i was thick as mother thought his skull was. She was usually quick to point out that was quite impossible for if so i would be made of stone. My fur is a deep stone gray to match the mountain. Not to mention while still not fully grown i already stood as tall as most full grown ponies. Close cropped mane the same color of my mother's off white coat. My mother was simply very strong with her magic.
For a moment it was not my mother the homemaker and gardener staring at me it was the drill instructor she used to be staring at me. The former member of the royal guard. An altogether fearsome mare. My smile fled from my young face as i swallowed against my own will. She stared for several seconds before speaking.
“Bright what day is today, you do remember don’t you. The day of trials. The day you’ve been literally drooling about for the past two years.” She stated all this calmly and with an air of authority i was used to.
For since i was old enough to hold a sword with my teeth let alone my magic she had drilled me in the art of combat. As she had done with both my sisters before me even if they had decided against a life of martial combat. I weep for whatever stallions they end up marrying. That is where i truly shined those two hours a day when she was not my mother but my instructor. I took to the sword and shield as a fish to water. Which in in on itself is strange few use that style as it requires a gifted unicorn to float both sword and shield and move them separately. I was not that kind of unicorn my telekinesis is strong but simple i instead learned to wield my sword as the earth ponies do with my mouth while using my magic to maneuver my shield. Mother had said she had seen none who used this style but it felt right to me so that is how she trained me. Nice being the baby in the family sometimes.
I nodded to her still afraid to speak. I am no coward but my mother… i would stare down the beings of Tartarious or a band of marauding griffins with nothing more than my own hoofs before ever seriously angering her. How father has lived as long as he had is still mystery to me as i have seen mother draw steel on him more then once and chase him through the town. Every time though they would return a smile gracing my mothers lips and while ragged always looked like the cat with the cannery.
Than Father has always had a way with ponies. in a way he was the opposite of Mother he was a dark night colored earth pony, where she was gruff and aggressive in her dealings with other ponies he was a pony that brought the best out in others. Reaching into there core and pulling out the best in them with a few words and a smile. Once he was a commander in the equestrian standard military. Leading ponies into battle. Apparently the story of there courtship was the gossip of Canterlot for months but try to keep a fouls attention with stories of there parents love... see how well that works out for you and you guess at how much i paid attention.
“You are lucky then that i have prepared your armor and weapons for travel.” She paused a moment. "Where your father is... i don't really know but then you know him he can really be a useless bag of hay." though the words were stinging a wistful smile graced her lips.
“Bright, I have never been one to pry as most mothers but as should you pass the trials i will not see you again for quite some time Celestia willing. What ever drives you to our roof every night.” Her tone had lost the instructor edge this was not my trainer asking but my mother. How much easier it would be to lie to my instructor but even now i am trying to live up to her ideal. So i must speak the truth. Though I have been reluctant since when i was a wee foal i had shared the secret with my sisters though much older then me still had that sisterly way of driving me up a wall teased me incessantly after I shared with them my reasons.
With a sigh i met my mother's icy blue gaze with my own deep green.
“Every Morning before the sunrises i climb that old ladder and wait for the sun to rise so i may pray to her to grant me the strength i need to serve them. To be there sword and shield as you and father once were to stand against the dark forces of this world and bring the sister’s word throughout Equestria. To do their will.”
About halfway through my mother's lower jaw slightly lowered at my solid gaze and burning drive behind my words. For a second i swore i saw tears touching the corners of her eyes then i was being tossed end over end behind my mother into the dirt. So much for touching moments right? I picked myself up out of the dirt not hurt in the least. I gently shook myself off when i felt hooves wrap around my neck my mother pulling me into a spine busting hug.
“I’m Proud of you Bright as to is the , go now and show all those snot nose brats what it means to be a son of the Blade family.Though you will probably have to move fast you've got only eight hours to get to the fields under Canterlot. If you don’t wish to gallop the whole way there you must leave now.” With that i felt my saddlebags settle solidly onto my back as my mother let go of me and turned walking back into our home. I took a brief moment to say goodbye to home. For should i fail i would never be able to come home and tell my parents of my disappointment.
**********
So off i set down that winding road that led to Canterlot luckily i didn't have to go up into the city as i would never make it in time if it was in the castle. I set a quick pace only stopping briefly to eat the trip was fraught with introspection and self doubt. I eventually made it to the training field not long before the trials were set to start. I stood in line as i waited my turn to speak to the dour mare behind a solid desk. When my turn came she looked up at me briefly
“Name and purpose.” Simple and to the point she would have to be as she had likely been here all day dealing with many a colt and filly just this side of adulthood.
“Bright Blade and i have come to compete in the trials of arms.” She looked me over and looked over her glasses.
“And how old are you… this is only for those 14 and under.” I should have guessed something like this might happen. As i mentioned i’m a bit taller and broader than my fellows. With a deep sigh i looked her Squarely in the eye
“Ma’am i'm thirteen this year but i understand if you need to magically confirm this i know i'm large for my age.” the mare simply Humphed and i felt the spell wash over me without any warning. She blinked slightly before nodding and continuing to scribble on a piece of parchment.
“Well, seems you check out…” She then went to drone on about the rules and regulations of the trials. While we could use our own weapons they would be magically bound as not to wound our fellows. Armour would be supplied by the trial itself as they were not looking for who could afford the best armor. Well that's not exactly how she put it but it's the gist.
Eventually she finished and handed me a armor requisition form and my participant number which stated in large black letters, three hundred twenty four. I went and requisitioned my armor they needed to actually run to the guards training area to get something that would fit me as all they had on hand was to small for me. This made me chuckle. As i made my way to the holding area now wearing my newly acquired armor it still didn't fit perfect but it happens. I heard a commotion coming from the registration area. Which was weird i should have been one of the last to sign up while i had not been late i had been close. Though i paid it no real mind as i headed to the Arena.
While registration had ended it would be a bit of time yet before the actual trials began. No one knew for sure exactly how each trial would be held. They changed it up every year, i could see groups all throughout the holding area paired off in two’s or three's some as large as six or seven. Probably friends our classmates. Some of those here clearly didn't belong here they were soft and looked as if they hadn't seen combat before. That said he hadn’t seen real combat either... but well you try training with mother every day. It is said though that the trial were not meant to see how trained we were but to gauge our potential. I said a quick prayer for Celestia to guide ,my blade and to bolster my arm.
I was drawn from my ponderings and observations by a dirty looking filly. Brown coat dappled with what i hopped was dirt and old dried blood on the areas of her body not covered by her torn and tattered cloak. She had a scar bisecting her right eye leaving it milky faraway. I could not tell if she was a earth pony or pegasus do to the cloak it was bulky enough it could be either.
“They don't look like much do they?” She asked.
I stared for a moment trying to gauge if she was talking to me or herself but the vivid attention of her lavender left eye left little doubt. This was a pony who had seen many a fight even if they had been in the gutter she wore what looked like leather wraps hard metal studs just visible as she walked up.
I Sighed, “No they do not, but a lesson that I've had beat into me is to never underestimate those who look innocuous. You never know what tricks they are hiding.”
I think i surprised the mare with my eloquent speech she wouldn’t be the first to assume my size meant a lack of intelligence. I smirked and mimed picking up my jaw. She caught the hint.
“I guess i deserved that one big guy.” I caught sight of her number three hundred twenty five. Also no armor.
“Name’s Street Life yours?”
I look at her couldn't hurt to talk I couldn’t tell her angle didn’t see a point in being rude though.
“Bright Blade a pleasure.” I made a point of looking her over… which she interrupted with a loud clearing of her throat.
“Ehmm eyes are up here big boy.” Her tone was teasing yet firm.
“No Armor?” I sputter out mares…
“Oh nah that stuff will slow me down were not all mountains of flesh and muscle. I work better when i can move.” She took a moment to look me over.
“Honestly surprised they had something in your size.” I grinned at her and winked
“They didn't they had to go grab some of the guards practice armor.” She laughed at the propping herself up on to her hind hoofs to clap a hoof on my shoulder, she had to reach a bit.
She looked like she wanted to continue but a booming voice echoed out from a raised platform at the end of the field.
“SILENCE MAGGOTS!”
A grizzled earth pony shouted. I’d never heard someone with a voice that loud that wasn't magically enhanced but there was no tell tale glow on the horns of the unicorns near him. All of them were obviously military the tell tale uniforms sharp and clean.
“Now that i have your attention.” he continued still in a loud carrying voice but no longer screaming.
“We have a large pool for this year’s Trial. The royal guard is a selective unit we accept the best of the best only. So to narrow the pool.” I could see him grin a little darkly.
“We’ll be having a free for all battle. Now starting on my word we will be having one hour of combat. Now some caveats you will see my men spread around the edge of the field just because you are knocked out of the field doesn't mean you're out of the running you're being judged on merit, prowess, heart and determination. An hour after the combat ends will list of the fifty names of those who will make it to further screening. Those of you who fail have two options you can see the recruiter for the equestrian military or go home and try again next year if you will still make the age cut off ” that Grin returned to his muzzle.
“Oh, by the way BEGIN!” the last was yelled.
