Sorry guys for the late update school has buried me. Finally managed to get back to writing this. Thank you for your helpful reviews. Now once again lets get back to continuing the story.

I Do Not Own MLP In Anyway!

Nightwing was in awe at Celestia announcement. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He turned to see that Silver had the same shocked eyed look he had. It was an honor to be the personal guard of the princesses.

Celestia continued on with the announcement. "If you want to participate in the event, report here tomorrow at 5 am sharp. Be sure you're on time. Any later and you will be excluded. Now please return to the festivities and enjoy."

Nightwing turned to Silver with excitement. "Silver this is great. A chance to be the personal guards the princess. That's the greatest honor that any guard can achieve."

"Yeah but think of the odds that we out 400 or so guards can win that contest. It's not going to happen most likely." Silver said with a frown.

"Hey you're supposed to be the upbeat one here. If we don't try we will never know. Hey who knows, maybe we'll get lucky." Nightwing said with a grin.

"Hmm your right, I guess once the party is over we should get some sleep and then back here. Who knows maybe we will be the only ones that show up." He said jokingly.

"Yeah maybe." With that they both stood at their post diligently as the party continued on until about 11 when the guest started leaving. When the last guest left, the guards switched post. Silver and Nightwing headed straight to the barracks to catch some shut eye before they had to wake up again at 4 am. So they had time to get ready for the meeting at 5 am.

Silver fell asleep no problem but Nightwing had several thoughts coursing through his head. Do I really have a chance at winning? Can I actually become one of the princess's personal guards? Or will I just make a fool of myself?

Nightwing shrug these thoughts out of his head. He needed sleep if he was going to be ready for tomorrow. He lay down on his bed and closed his eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep. He felt as though he was asleep for seconds before he was woken up by his friend.

"Come on its time to go." Silver said to him. Nightwing got up and got himself ready going through his normal routine. As he looked around he saw that about half the barracks was up as well. Well this should be interesting at the very least. He thought to himself.

He finished getting ready and joined Silver. They both head back to ballroom. There were tons of guards already there. "You know I'm surprised at the amount of guards that showed up for this." Nightwing said.

"Me too, Hell I'm wondering how they heard about this." Silver said amazement.

"Probably from the cooks. They like to talk a lot you know them."

"That is very true. Well, let see what in store for us."

All the guards in the room including Nightwing and Silver waited patiently to see what was going to happen. Then they saw Greywhoof and Breezetail approach. They waited for the crowd in front of them to quiet down before they started talking.

"Listen up because we are only going to say this once. For the ones brave enough to want to become the princesses' personal guards, you have passed our first test. But before you start patting yourself on the back, this entire week will to be to train you. You're going to be pushed farther than you have ever been pushed. This is going to make your regular training seem like a birthday party." Greywhoof said.

"We hope you're up for the test. We are probably going to lose some of you before the real contest begins. Those of you who make it to the real contest, well I hope you will give your best. Now any questions?" said Breezetail.

"Just one, when do we start?" Asked Nightwing. Breezetail smirked. "Right now soldier, everyone sign up on list and then report to the courtyard to begin training." With that Breezetail and Greywhoof both turned and left.

The Guards all went to the sign-up sheet and wrote their names. Nightwing and Silvermist were one of the last ponies to sign their names. Nightwing took a look at the list and tried to see how many guards had signed up.

"Looks like, including us, there are 100 guards participating in the tournament."

"Well at least we won't have a lake of competition." Silvermist said with a smile. They walked outside to courtyard as they were instructed. They were told to start off the training with a 20 mile run in full armor.

The run was around the mountain and then back here for the next exercise. This would probably weed out the majority of the ones who wouldn't have the commitment to keep going. They began the run once everyone was ready.

As the got about 10 miles into the run, the heard the sound of ponies vomiting and some were panting heavily but no one quit. They finished the run and returned to the courtyard with a bunch of tired guards. Nightwing and Silver were tired as well but they not like some ponies. Some were on the ground heaving and breathing heavily.

"You are already tired soldiers? We haven't even got started yet. Now get up and get into formation. I want 100 pushups since every pony can't seem to handle a simple run." Breezetail said. All the guards groaned. "Oh, well then make that 200." That shut them all up.

They got into the push up position and they all started doing the 200 pushups. Some ponies were struggling. Others just thought this was a nuisance. Nightwing and Silver went finished them even more tired and sore than before.

"Dude its only 12'o clock. We still have most of the day ahead of us." Silver said with a tired a breath.

"We will survive. And once we do we will compete in the tournament to see who will become her guards."

"Whoa slow down there. We have to finish this week first." Silver said with a smirk.