Guide of the hopeful

Was this path a burden?

That was indeed the question that one would often ask themselves after everything was said and done. But to Austere that was a question he had always kept in his mind buried deep away from his true thoughts, for the fear that all that he had done was not fulfilling to the young unicorn.

One question that he feared would break him long ago as he faced upon his days of the basic training as he walked alongside his new friend.

Austere could merely sigh as he placed his bag down in the barracks by his bunk, He had been assigned to training group two. His body barely functioning as his mind mulled over the traditions of the royal guard, how they were to be the stalwart defenders of honor and peace.

"Dude how are we to learn from that?! Here's the rules now watch this door for an hour, let nothing distract you!" Metal mimicked, his eyes landing upon the cyan unicorn he was assigned with. It was by chance that the two stallions were grouped up from day one.

"Not even I know, But how are we supposed to protect everypony if we focus on only one thing?" Austere commented, his hooves lifting himself up the small ladder allowing him to settle in the top bunk, the other ponies scattered across the barracks of the recruits seeming to nod along in agreement.

"Its to teach us that every problem does not escape the eyes of the royal guard." An older pony in armor spoke as she walked through the door. "That everypony has a part to play even when they think they do not."

Austere sputtered for a moment as everypony began to scatter into their positions to pay attention but alas a wave of the older mare's wing causes the others to relax if only but a little.

"But questioning such things will indeed bring change that we all welcome, the ones who can see beyond the initial problem while paying attention on their tasks are bound to succeed within our ranks...Do rest well young ones, Tomorrow will be harsh. You must be ready."

There was a sense of silence as Metal poked his head out from under Austere's bunk to make eye contact with the stallion above him. The door closing to give but a single message. 'what had they gotten themselves into?'

The next Morning

The next morning had started before the sun could even rise. The ringing of a bell, the groans of ponies galore along with the rattling of armor as ponies rushed to place it on themselves in the short time-span they were given.

Austere groaned, his horn ached as he began to levitate his armor on. The golden staple of a guard now felt like a boulder as he slowly trudged out of the room, Metal stumbling around as his wings get caught on a latch. It were better the red stallion be late then both of them.

'Why can't anything be simple?' he asked himself silently as he followed the large group with a few paces behind, A mare walking up beside him. She seemed rather confident about herself as she spoke.

"Gotta love when they wake us up like cattle. Almost makes you want to go home doesn't it?" Her tone was one of an overly confident but sassy mare, under the glamour rested a purple mare with a maroon mane. her eyes a soft cyan.

"Almost. Sadly we are all in here for the long haul, I didn't come here just to go when it gets tough." Austere smirked back allowing his helmet to rest snugly on his head while giving space for his horn, his fur changing color to a calming white and his mane to a gentle blue.

"Didn't expect you to, wouldn't be here if you were going to." her words merely affirming what he had said, although one might see a small smile at the corner of her lips. "So what's your name? you can call me Lilac."

"Austere. It's a pleasure." The younger stallion responded as he focused ahead of him, his armor clinging to his hooves even as they began to leave the palace towards the courtyards to be trained, from what he had heard, it was different from what a student would have to do in school.

Lilac stuck by him to ensure he did not fall behind, her personality allowing morale to stay high for the young unicorn. It felt nice to have someone who would stay beside him during the laps that Metal had earned the group, the red stallion looking just about ready to complain about all of the work.

"The rest of you can stop, Private Metal you are to continue for five more laps then we are to begin on combat drills" The harsh voice of the instructor echoed across the course as the red stallion was panting his head off barely struggling to run along the track.

Austere merely held his tongue before he split off from Lilac's side as she was leaving the track.

"What are you doing Private Muse?" the harsh tone targeting Austere as his hooves made contact with the track. "You were not ordered to join Private Metal!"

"What's the point in leaving one pony to do the work all on their own. Ma'am. When the first line of the guard code is to represent unity." He stated sarcastically joining the exhausted stallion using his magic to lift him up if but a little.

Slowly but surely, The others began to trickle in. Although one look in the eye of the instructor merely spoiled the moment for Austere.

He was in deep shit.