Have you ever heard of a pony called Night Breeze? I am sure you have, he was and is the most recognized paladin in the Equestria. Have you ever wondered why he disappeared from a public life with no notice? Maybe you thought that he died in the battle against enemies of Equestria? He sort of did... But then, if you are curious, listen to my story about the paladin Night Breeze, who was the first one that dared to show disrespect towards Her Royal Highness, who was the first to tell the truth about paladin’s work and who was the one to die too soon. Yes, it’s unsafe to tell this story, but I risk everyday with a hope that I’ll live one more day before the Royal Secret Service catches me and makes me go to the place where everypony goes after death. However, as I haven’t got much time, let me tell the story from the very beginning.

An Equestrian paladin is always a respected one. It doesn't matter if you ask about them in a big city like Canterlot, the one full of anonymous ponies, or in the countryside city like Ponyville where everypony knows each other. Everywhere they will tell you at least a few names of those who have made themselves famous by their actions. Some of the children will even tell you that they dream about becoming a paladin. However, as the time goes by, most of them grows up out of their dreams. Those few who still want to serve under Celestia's wing, go to Canterlot, to the renowned Academy of Warriors, where they take exams. That's the moment where many of them fails. They are simply not suitable for this job.

Sometimes it happens that they are offered the position in one of the other academies, as their extraordinary skills were noticed during an exam — either a special ability of flying or magic. These are needed for many jobs and valued by a lot of ponies. However, if one pony possesses them all — flies with a natural talent like a bird, will create you a true masterpiece out of a table with a help of magic, can beat four ponies at once in a fight and many other skills — then he is an appropriate pony. He will become a respected paladin of Her Royal Highness, Princess Celestia of Equestria.

However, passing an exam is just the beginning of a road of paladin. He or she needs to attend a special course in the Academy of Warriors, where the best of the best are teaching all the candidates for paladins from across the whole land of Equestria. Not many of the students survive the courses, both physically and emotionally. Some of them at some point comes to the conclusion that the future life is not worth such dedication and they leave the academy. Another some of them gets hurt during courses so severely that they cannot continue their studies and need to go back to their land, ashamed and with no perspectives for future life. Only few of these begin successfully their life from anew. As about the rest... You will often see them in the pubs or inns, talking about their courses in academy. Sometimes you will even give them one bit for telling an interesting story.

As said before, only truly the best of the best manage to finish the courses with positive grades and become a paladin. That's why this job is so renowned — it requires a great deal to get to it. During the graduation ceremony, when Shining Armor, the Prince of Crystal Empire, gives you a badge with a sun and the moon on it, when Celestia calls you her own paladin, you can be only proud of yourself, as well as your family who has been invited to the ceremony. They cheer for you, not even knowing what will be your future life like, not even knowing that your destiny won't be as perfect as they imagine it. But let them enjoy the moment, let them show off in their neighbourhood. Who wouldn't want to tell everyone that his son or daughter has become a paladin of Her Royal Highness?

That's more or less how the history of our hero went. On his great day of graduation he was congratulated a thousand times or more. He was told — ‘what a great son you are!’, ‘wait ‘till I tell all the neighbours about you!’, ‘I am so proud of you, lil’ bro!’ and many other things. Night Breeze was very excited for all the life that was awaiting him — the life of fame and greatness.

When he stepped down the aisle of the Aula of Princess Luna, many hooves clapped for him and his classmates. In total, out of a hundred ponies of the whole Equestria, only thirty have managed to graduate and receive the title of paladin. Today they were on the mouth of all Equestrian warriors and Canterlot’s habitants. Everypony heard their name at least once, either mentioned in a cozy corner of a restaurant visited by Canterlot elites, or in the darkest of the darkest corners of this city. The thirty people were on their road to fame and glory. Or at least that’s what they thought.

Our hero, Night Breeze, after the ceremony went to a formal lunch with his twenty nine mates. All the professors of the Academy were present too, along with the Princess Celestia. Shining Armor has excused himself with an urgent incident, which he needed to immediately attend to. The lunch went in a rather strange atmosphere. The professors were constantly talking about the students who have quitted the courses before they graduated, reminding each other of their fails and providing reasons why they shouldn’t graduate anyway. Celestia was just listening to them without saying anything, and the paladins were eating their food silently, recollecting the memories of their former colleagues.

Night Breeze was thinking about one, particularly about his roommate, Sun Chaser — the one who was the most excited for the prospect of being paladin, at least at the beginning. As the course went by, he was less and less happy. One evening, when Night Breeze was studying ‘Advanced Theory of Magic, vol. 2’, and their another roommate — Windy Hoofs — was trying to cast a spell on the table in order to make it move, Sun Chaser started speaking. Speaking about his feelings, his thoughts. Saying that it wasn’t fair at all and not as noble as he thought. They were listening to him for the whole night.

The following day during the period between lessons, when they were all in their room, Sun Chaser was summoned to the Headmaster’s office. After a while he came back to the room and — without looking them in their eyes — started packing his things.
‘What are you doing?,’ asked Night Breeze, moving his eyes from ‘Spells and Ponies’ to the other pony.
‘I’m leaving the Academy,’ answered Sun Chaser, still not looking at them.
‘But...,’ Breeze was completely surprised, ‘But why?’
‘Nighty... I know that you can think. Do it. Think. I talked with you yesterday night. Today...,’ he stiffled the sigh, ‘Today I was expelled. So, think, what might be the reason, think!’
Night Breeze didn’t know what to say. And Windy Hoofs was suspiciously quiet, both in this moment, and all the following week. Avoiding his eyes and even his presence – they met only during night, when studying in their room – this all told Breeze more than any words could.

Today Windy Hoofs was sitting next to him and silently consuming this food, probably even unaware of his neighbour’s thoughts; or who knows, maybe he was thinking about the same? Anyway, the lunch finished and everyone went back to their dorms. Soon enough their true life as a paladin would begin...

Author's Note

It's my very first story so I'd appreciate some constructive feedback, even if the negative one. Also, I am not a native English speaker, so feel free to point out any grammar or interpunction errors.