A Thousand Winters...

Chapter 1: First Impressions

"Is he that bad?"

The wide stone courtyard echoed with the sound of scraping metal and pained grunts. The occasional spat curse could be heard as well. The summer sun beat down mercilessly down upon the one hundred stallions training in the vast open tree lined courtyard. No clouds hovered above, giving no cover as the fiery rays caused everypony to sweat profusely. The only shade was given by the mighty Royal Palace looming high above the training yard of the Military Wing. Scattered throughout the stone plaza were training dummies, some plain, others armoured- but all were being pummelled by somepony or another.

One such pony grunted as he bucked the armoured mannequin's head right where the nose would be. The slightly rusted helmet rattled noisily, but did not teeter off. Growling, the pony flicked his blue mane from his equally blue eyes and bucked the dummy again, harder. The head came clean off, sailing through the air before landing with a loud thud on the grass behind it. The unicorn stallion let out a satisfied huff before shaking his disheveled mane. The pony's pristine white coat was soaked through and through with sweat.

Shining set his haunches down upon a stone bench at the edge of the combat area, softly rubbing his rear hooves. Bucking wasn't his strong point, yet he could still snap the head off a mannequin without too much exertion. But magic- Shining smirked- magic, both offensive and defensive, he was second to none. The white coated unicorn smiled to himself as he remembered his first ever live combat magic duel. Poor Amber Flare never stood a chance. The unfortunate trainee had been incapacitated for four whole days.

Shining Armour's train of thought was broken by none other than Amber Flare himself. The gold coated unicorn had forgiven Shining for his 'overzealous' attack, and the two had become fast friends ever since. Shining chuckled to himself briefly as the other stallion approached. 'Overzealous' was the word used to describe Shining's attack, when in all honesty, it was a single energy pulse. But Shining being Shining, the pulse seemed to be many times stronger than what other unicorns his age could muster.

"You know, if I didn't know better, I'd say that you have some weird growth disease. Thats the third dummy I've seen you kill in the past three days. I swear to Celestia you're on steroids or something" Amber Flare mused as he took off his golden helmet before setting himself down beside the taller white pony. Shining couldn't help but laugh.

"Its called 'skill', Flare. Skill and exercise"

"I exercise, but never in my life have I been able to buck that hard. I dunno, you got some strange genes in there", Amber Flare said, poking Shining's shoulder with a forehoof.

Far to the ponies' right, two pegasus guards were locked in a rather vicious combat session, drawing the attention of more than a few ponies around them. Ears perking up at the swearing, Shining stood up, sharp eyes finding the fight quickly.

"Goddess, I wanna see this!" he exclaimed excitedly before dashing off to join the growing throng around them. The strong white stallion pushed his way to the front to gain a better view of the apparent death match unfolding before him. Both pegasus stallions were armourless save for the pair of gilded hoof guards strapped to their forehooves. Amber Flare shoved his way next to Shining Armour, his maroon eyes widening at the brutal fight. The entire crowd simultaneously let out a collective "Oooo".

The two battling stallions were sweating buckets, both managing an almost dance like routine of block, attack, dodge, counterattack. Every so often however, the larger of the two- an athletic white pegasus with a blue mane, not unlike Shining's own- would land a strong blow on his adversary's hide. The smaller pegasus had a dusky grey mane with a fair cream coat, now covered in a series of scattered red marks. It wouldn't take long for them to turn into bruises.

Shining smirked as the bigger stallion, who he recognised as being High Flyer, managed to kick his opponent in his stomach, forcing the air from the poor trainee's lungs. The smaller pony finally raised both forehooves in defeat, smiling as he backed away.

"And thats four in a row for the reigning King of the Courtyard, High Flyer" called a voice above the excited chattering of the crowd. Shining turned his head to see a tall grey coated, silver maned unicorn stallion. His voice had been amplified by magic, and grinned as he gave the victorious pony a firm brohoof. "Is there anypony else who can challenge him, or has this High Flyer risen too far for anypony to bring down?"

Amber Flare nudged Shining.

"Think you can take him? With a buck like yours you might actually kill him" the gold coated unicorn muttered. Shining grinned broadly. Briefly he ran the scenario over in his head.

Pegasi are fast cuz of their honeycomb like bone structure for flight, but lack any real muscle mass unless they undergo vigorous workouts every single day. Unicorns, while most of their strength lies with magical power, have much denser muscle  mass, allowing for greater bursts of str-

The white unicorn's calculated thoughts were interrupted by a stern voice answering the challenge.

"I challenge him!"

The crowd parted to reveal an imposing shadow of a gargantuan unicorn. His mane was jet black, broken only by the vibrant silver streak running through it. His coat was the colour of splendid summer skies, and his eyes were tinted a bright minty green. Emblazoned upon his flanks was a golden shield wrapped in olive green laurel leaves. The entire courtyard bowed their heads as they made way for their regiment leader, the venerated and decorated Sergeant Skyfire. High Flyer gulped.

       The Regiment Captain looked around at his recruits, raising an eyebrow as they stood there motionless. After a few moments of irksome silence, the blue unicorn chuckled.

"What? Can I not see what my new trainees are made of? C'mon, pick up your hoof guards. I promise I'll go easy on you"

A few nervous laughs rippled through the crowd as High Flyer tightened the straps on his forehooves. Flaring his wings up defiantly, the white pegasus lunged at his captain...before receiving a well aimed hoof to the face. He dropped like a rock onto the dirt, very very unconscious.

The crowd "Oooooo"ed.

"Somepony take him away to the Medical Wing, I'm sure a visit from Nurse Scarlett will cheer him up" the captain winked. Everypony chuckled. Shining too, only weaker than everypony else.

He had been thinking less and less of the fiery and arresting Nurse lately, which seemed odd to him. He was a stallion, a stallion in the prime of his life. Why wouldn't he think of beautiful mares, especially when one was so close to him in the Barracks? Why wasn't he thinking of mares at all anymore? And why, why oh why did he find his eyes falling to attach themselves onto Amber Flare's firm, round fla-

"What you need to remember everypony is that one of the most sensitive part of a pony's body is their muzzle. A single, well aimed blow with enough force can incapacitate almost anypony, if not cause them to tear up with excruciating pain"

Shining was grateful for the interruption, quickly ripping his gaze away from his friend's behind and tried instead to pay attention to his captain.

The day passed quickly from then on. Training sessions were over, leaving only theory work and dinner left. Lazily, Shining and Amber Flare walked towards the Great Hall of the Barracks, the dinner bell tolling loudly from its domed roof.  The pair were greeted by a wave of raucous chatter as they hauled open the tall double doors. Ponies of all races sat in the eight circular rings of tables that made up the dining hall's layout. Shining and Amber Flare quickly nudged their ways into seats on the outer ring- reserved for trainees and new recruits only.

"What in Celestia's name is this?" the blue maned unicorn asked as he looked at the plate before him. The green lumps may have once been considered a variety of vegetable, broccoli most likely judging by the smell. However, Shining could not fathom what exactly the slightly brown lump was next to it.

"I believe this is food, although I'm not too sure..." mused the gold coated unicorn beside him. However, Amber Flare dismissed the odd blend of mush with a simple "meh" before eating.

As the bell tossed for the final time that evening, various guards scrambled out of the hall to go to their nighttime duties. To everypony else however, the chiming signalled free time. Hopping gracefully from the bench, Shining Armour trotted towards the North Wing of the Barracks.

The Wing consisted of a single rectangular building with a narrow stone plaza running through its centre. The dormitory windows looked out onto the courtyard going three floors high. Two gold topped towers flanked the Wing. Along the sides of the stone courtyard ran a series of wide arches supporting the weight of the dorms above them, creating a covered vestibule like area beneath them. The stars were beginning to appear in the lavender coloured sky above as the white unicorn trotted through the empty yard, paying no attention to the neatly trimmed and tended trees that ran down its length.

Shining's eyes however were fixated about the twilight sky above him. The light purple tint reminded him of his little sister, living comfortably under the wing of one Princess Celestia herself. Thinking of Twilight reminded Shining to write her a letter tonight before going to bed.

After an hour or so of writing and stretching, Shining went to sleep.

BOOOOONG

        "Goddess-dammit!"

However much Shining Armour loved being in the Royal Guard, he would never love the ridiculously early and stupidly loud bell which summoned ponies from their dorms. His groan was matched by his roommate, a pegasus by the name of Razorwind.

"There is no reason in all of Equestria as to why its considered okay to wake up a pony at five o'clock in the bucking morning!" Shining only groaned back in agreement. Why? Why did the night disappear so quickly?

Forcing himself from his bed, the white unicorn stallion shook his ragged mane from his eyes before stumbling into the bathroom.

Using his magic to tighten the straps around his stomach, Shining looked at himself in the mirror. He was dressed in the light brown armour of a new recruit, having only joined the Guard three months ago. Smiling smugly to himself, Shining started to turn out the door when he caught sight of Razorwind trying to put his own armour on. The athletic pegasus flexed his wings as he slotted them through the allocated holes in the armour. For reasons completely unknown to Shining, the unicorn couldn't drag his eyes away from the other stallion's strong back.

Whoa, what was that? He shook his head and left, making his way down to breakfast.

It wasn't until much later on in the day that things start to get interesting.

"HAHAHA! Oh my Goddess that was bucking hilarious!" wheezed Shining, his face contorted into a look of pure hysteria was he fell back on the stone bench laughing. Amber Flare bit down on his lip in pain, biting back the tears. The fiery sensation running up his hind legs from his hooves was almost nauseating. He had tried to buck a training dummy in the head with the same amount of force Shining could.

"Its not funny..." Amber spat, fighting to stand properly after his failed attempt. His legs wobbled slightly as he waddled over to crash down next to his taller, clearly stronger friend. "How the hay do you actually manage to get that strong? I mean, your muscles are like twice as big as mine, and your magic damn freakishly powerful. We do exactly the same exercises, both physical and magical"

"But, I do them properly" Shining quipped. Amber shoved him lightly. The afternoon was passing slowly by. The training yard wasn't filled with the full regiment today, only about three dozen ponies actually doing any exercises. A few were sparring and a pair of unicorns were practising a magical duel. Shining had discarded his armour, leaving it resting against the yard wall. All in all, a seemingly normal day.

Until Sergeant Skyfire came marching towards him.

The regiment captain came striding towards the pair of laughing ponies in his full armour, gleaming gold in the sunlight. His tall white crested helmet was lined with amethyst studs, showing his rank. As the hulking unicorn approached, Shining and Amber stopped talking immediately, both standing up and saluting swiftly.

"Ahhh don't bother with all that. its Shining I want to speak to anyway" the captain said gruffly. Shining's heart stopped briefly before frantically turning to his friend. Amber Flare only nudged his head in the direction of their captain, not saying a word. Shining gave him a quick glare that meant 'well you're a great deal of bucking help'.

"U-Um, of course sir? What do you require?" Skyfire inclined his head down to a small saddle bag he was carrying. His long horn lit up with a bright blue glow as the bag flipped open, revealing a small pile of neatly folded papers tied with a red ribbon. A golden 'C' was stamped in wax in the centre. Shining's heart began to quicken. Thats Princess Celestia's Seal, oh Goddess what have I done?

"Royal Orders", Skyfire explained, levitating the documents in front of Shining's now sweating face, "seems the Princess has taken a keen interest in your progress, and so have I" The white stallion looked at his superior with an expression of disbelief.

"I-Interested how, sir?"

"Interested in the fact that you can buck a training dummy to death with one kick, the fact that your magical powers exceed that even of some of the most experienced of the Guard, and interested that you have excelled in every theory tests and combat evaluation we have given you", the Sergeant gestured towards the documents, "read it".

Tentatively, Shining Armour took hold of the papers in his own magical field, breaking the Royal Seal with agonizing slowness. His eye twitched as he brought the parchment to his eyes, Amber Flare craning his own head in to get a look. Both ponies eyes widened as they scrolled down the elegantly curved writing, written none other by Princess Celestia herself.

Dear Cadet Shining Armour,

It has come to the attention of myself and several other members of the Royal Canterlot Guard that your progress in your military training his second to none. I have heard much of your achievements and exploits over the past three months, from the very first day you enlisted.

It is not unaware to me that you just so happen to be the older brother to the lovely Twilight Sparkle, and it fills me with joy to know that two siblings both excel in the things that they love. It was with great pleasure that I read through your entire file, given to me by your esteemed superior, Sergeant Skyfire. I have conversed much with the Captain of the Royal Guard, Golden Aegis, and both of us have come to the conclusion that you are ready to be elevated to the next stage of your career.

It is with great pleasure that I raise you to the rank of Private. Your new status allows you to wear the armour of the Guard, and to be counted as one of them in all respects.

Congratulations young Private, I hope to hear more of your achievements for years to come

Your Ruler and Monarch

Princess Celestia

P.S: I told Twilight of the news. Expect a very cheerful letter soon.

Shining stood there motionless for a moment while Amber Flare grinned hugely.

"Well done buddy!" he said, slapping Shining on the back with a forehoof. The white unicorn shook his head at the news. He looked at Skyfire, who had a sly smirk pulling on the corners of his mouth.

"Welcome to the Guard"

For once in his life, Shining was up before the morning bell. Not only that, but he had washed, groomed and dressed himself. Razorwind was still snoring. With a heart full of pride, the blue maned unicorn looked at himself in the mirror. Gone was his dull brown harness, now replaced with a gleaming set of gilded and engraved plate steel. The golden inlay in the helmet sparkled in the early dawn light, the tall proud white crest marking him as a member of the Unicorn Guard.

The bell chimed loudly, causing the sleeping pegasus on the other side of the room to loudly scream something along the lines of "bucking-bell-why-is-it-morning-already-bucking-dammit!"

"Morning Raze" Shining said giddily. The pegasus looked at his roommate with bemused confusion before spying the gleaming suit of armour on his body.

"Oh yeah, your bloody promotion"

Shining let out his biggest, cheesiest grin for the pegasus.

"Private!"

It took Shining a second to realise that it was him being addressed. He looked up from his bowl of oatmeal to see a lanky unicorn stallion trot towards him. Shining recognised him as Hermes, the fastest sprinter in his regiment.

"Sergeant ordered me to give you this", his magic held a small scroll tightly wound round, "your Duty Orders."

The blue maned stallion eagerly undid the scroll, his striking blue eyes scanning the words. He furrowed his brow slightly as he read, so then reread the note.

"It says nothing on here about where I'm posted. It only says the Cloud Wing, but not where or who with"

"Thats because you're not with anypony else. Princess Celestia has ordered you be posted as personal Bodyguard to her nephew, Prince Blueblood"

Personal Bodyguard? Wow...Shining thought as the words rang in his head.

"What's the Prince like?" he asked curiously. Hermes shuddered.

"I feel sorry for you Private, I really really do"

The second bell of the day tolled, signalling the beginning of the morning's duties. Shining galloped full sprint to the regal Cloud Wing of the Royal Palace, a stately building that overlooked the magnificent Court of the Sun and Moon one side and the vast breathtaking Valley on the other. Four regal towers crowned the curved section of the Palace.

Shining cantered up the sweeping marble stairs that led to the upper levels of the Wing, eagerly awaiting to see his new charge. Hermes had been incredibly vague on Blueblood, which to Shining was less than unhelpful. The strong unicorn started to slow however when he heard the faint sounds of...wait, thats...screaming! Somepony's in trouble!

With all the speed he could muster, Shining raced pull sprint towards the source of the anguished cries. From the pitch, it was a mare. Like a knight from the old foal tales told to him by his grandmother, Shining Armour found the room from which the screaming was coming from. It was the final room on the tallest floor, dead ahead of him. Like an iconic hero, Shining burst into the room, a spell already at the ready. The double mahogany doors swung open as he charged in.

"STOP! In the name of Celes-"

The guard pony stopped when he found the source of the screaming. A white coated, blond maned unicorn stallion lay curled up in the far corner of the room, wailing in complete and utter terror at the opposite corner of the ceiling. Shining turned his head. A single tiny, miniscule spider sat there, still and silent.

You have got to be kidding me. The other stallion shouted and cried as the spider moved a leg. Keeping his composure, Shining turned to the panicked pony.

"What seems to be the problem your highness?", knowing full well what it was. The Prince raised a shaking hoof to the corner of the room.

"T-T-That t-t-t-thing! That hideous a-abomination of nature! Remove it NOW!"

Kill me now, Shining thought painfully.

His horn lit up with a bright magenta glow as he took hold of the spider, levitating it carefully as he placed it gently outside onto one of the pillars that supported the small balcony at the far end of the room. As the little arachnid scuttled away, Prince Blueblood stood up slowly, still shaking uncontrollably.

"I-Is it gone?"

"Yes your highness" Shining replied flatly. Regaining some of his composure, the Prince stood up at last. Shining raised an eyebrow. The other stallion has almost as tall as him, albeit considerably less bulky. Shining's athletic frame was somewhat larger than other unicorns anyway. A bright compass cutie mark glinted on Blueblood's flank as he tossed his lavish golden mane to the side.

"Ahhh, well thats good then. Now, go fetch me my Monday Suit. Hop to it guard!"

Shining almost spluttered.

"I,I'm sorry your highness, I don't-"

"The BLACK ONE WITH THE BLUE TIE! Honestly, are they letting simpletons into the Royal Guard now? Aunt Celestia help us all"

Not wanting to damage the clearly fragile Prince, Shining Armour started towards a large, elegantly carved oak armoire encrusted with blue gem stones the size of Shining's hooves. As he started to open the wardrobe, a shrill shriek interrupted him.

"NO! In the other wardrobe! Honestly, my dear fellow are you feeling well? Should I call a doctor? You seem to be disorientated. Oh wait, dear me I had forgotten, you are the new guard am I not correct?"

Shining stamped his hooves to attention and saluted, just like he rehearsed in his dorm.

"Private Shining Armour reporting for duty, Your Highness!"

Blueblood sniffed.

Oh dear Celestia, please tell me he isn't like this all the time?

"Shining Armour? its unfortunate the same cannot be said for your actual armour. Honestly, there is dust and scuffs all over it. Did they give you the spare set?"

Shining internally fumed. He had spent hours polishing his brand new suit the previous night. Hours! It was so shiny that Razorwind was partially blinded when the candle reflected off it.

"Anyway, the other wardrobe, cadet"

"Thats Private..." Shining growled almost silently under his breath as he walked towards the second armoire. he was greeted by a dozen suits, all of them black with blue ties. Not knowing which one was the 'Monday' suit, Shining picked one at random before handing it to the Prince.

   "No, NO, NO! I said the MONDAY suit!"

Blueblood huffed and shoved his way past Shining to grab the third suit from the left. It was identical to the one Shining had in his hooves.

The sun had almost set by the time Shining stumbled back into his dormitory. Razorwind was already inside, writing a letter to his brother. As Shining crashed down onto his bed, still in full armour, the pegasus turned. He smirked.

"So...how was it?"

Shining groaned...