Crossed Swords "Cross" 
Gender: Stallion
Species: Earth Pony
Mane:Once very well kept and soft, stress and lack of care have made it incredibly unkempt and tatty. It is a bright platinum blonde, and kept in a haphazard ponytail. He has a short goatee and sideburns.
Tail: Much like his mane, his tail is very unkempt and lazily thrown into a tie near the end.
Eyes: His eyes are a light baby-blue color, and ringed by bags that mark his sleepless nights.
Body: At one point in his life, Cross was a sturdy and well built young stallion. But years of stress and lack of self preservation have reduced him to a shell of this. More gaunt than he used to be, and much more haggard. His pelt is a bright white, tends to shed a
lot and can often be seen with balding spots around his hooves from constant rubbing and fiddling.
Cutie Mark: Cross' cutie mark is a pair of crossed swords, but are marred on both sides by years of combat.
Age (Baby,adult): Adult - 29-30
Personality:
Once upon a time, Cross was a caring individual, stalwart in his protection of Equestria. He was a dependable and loyal friend, well liked by citizens and his fellow guardsponies alike. He was a hopeful and optimistic individual, and it was very rare to ever see him without a kind smile on his face.
His personality took a complete plummet after the tragedy that ruined his life forever. Now-a-days, the stallion is more closed off, more wary of strangers. And he no longer smiles the way he used to, when he does smile, it is broken and empty. Though he is undoubtedly still a kind pony, his spirit has clearly been broken.He attempts to be a good pony still, but has become a frequent patron in the taverns, choosing to drown his sorrows with alcohol. Despite his wary nature towards strangers, he does try his best to be social, and tries to help where he can, trying desperately to find the pony he once was.
Likes: Optimistic ponies, drinking, friends, sunny days, long walks, helping others.
Dislikes: Being alone, feeling isolated, himself, rainy days, feeling hopeless.
Phobias: Cross has a crippling fear of fire, and will often panic and have a minor freakout if he is near it.
History:
Crossed Swords was born to a wealthy family in Canterlot, both his father and older brother served as Royal Guards, and it was the young foal's dream to do the same. From the time he was old enough to walk, to the time he was old enough to enlist, he spent endless hours training alongside his father and brother, as they shaped him into a strong young stallion. Despite having no mother in the picture due to an illness soon after his birth that stole her from them, his life was a happy one, his father and brother provided him with all the love and care he ever needed, and they never wanted for anything. He would grow into a fine young male.
When he was of the proper age, Cross enlisted in the basic training for the young guards to be, he would quickly gain the favor of his commanding officers due to his talents with combat, the same talent that earned him his cutie mark. He sailed through basic with flying
colors, and soon the young guardspony was given his place beside his brother, making their now retired father proud. He remained a dedicated member of the guard for many years, proudly serving the ponies he care so much about, it seemed like his life was perfect.
But fate had other plans...
Happily married and with a foal on the way, Cross was in a constant state of bliss, he never would have dreamed that in one instant, his life would be torn from him.
It happened late at night...
Cross was pulling a late shift at the castle, and midnight was creeping its way across the clock's face, he would be able to go home soon, to see his beloved wife who was no doubt staying up late waiting for him. She always did. He was thankful for a close friend in the guard, coming to relieve him of his shift. Eager to get home to his family, the stallion hurried home, only to find the place surrounded by firefighters and all manner of emergency response. Behind them his home stood ablaze.
Despite the best efforts, the home was completely gone by the time the fires were quelled, and he was the only one who survived. The loss of his wife and unborn child was a devastating blow to the guardspony, and his life took a downward spiral from there.
He became inconsolable for many months, falling into the deepest pit of depression. He did his best to maintain his place on the guard, but it felt wrong, how could he protect anyone if he couldn't even protect the pony he loved most of all? His health slipped father and farther, both physically and mentally, and he only barely manage to survive due to the kindness of his father allowing him to stay in his foalhood home.
He is now nearing his 30's, and attempting to put his broken life back together, he visits the therapist now and then, to keep himself from
bottling toxic things inside, and does his best to live his life despite the broken feeling inside.
He is no longer a guardspony, though he is still well-known and well-liked around Canterlot, retiring early after being unable to continue serving to his full potential. He is alone and only just now beginning to reach out to ponies again.
Example RP segment:
(he, in reality, still lives in Canterlot, but since this isn't a real RP, it's in Manehattan like the prompt says!)
It was raining again, hadn't there been enough rain? He hated the rain.
The stallion let out a sigh and shook the water from his dingy mane, it always made it cling to him so uncomfortably, everything was uncomfortable when it was raining, he thought miserably. He really wasn't going anywhere in particular, but staying inside was getting dreary, and his favorite pub was currently undergoing renovations, so this would have to do.
His ears flicked ever so slightly in the direction of the noises coming from just off the sidewalk, down an alleyway. It sounded like a scuffle, and while it wasn't his duty to break those up any longer, his guardian instinct turned his hooves towards the commotion. When his eyes took in the scene he became immediately more alert, it was a surprising shift from the downtrodden veteran, to the alert protector.
"What're you looking at?!"
The stallion snorted dangerously in the direction of the little thug that was bullying the young filly, "You." The slight growl in his voice clearly elicited a twinge of fear in the coward, as he suddenly looked much less cocky, "What are you gonna do, old man?" The cold barked in a mock show of bravado, which did not deterre the stallion at all. Advancing a step, he continued to give the colt a dangerous look, his wild mane and sleepless eyes punctuated his unstable look.
"M-man forget this!" Unnerved, the cowardly colt dashed off in the opposite direction, stumbling over his hooves as he ran to escape this clearly mad stallion. Cross watched him until he was out of sight, relaxing and suddenly losing the spark in his eyes. The filly was safe. He'd done his duty.
The filly turned to thank him as she watched the thug run off, "That was really brave, th-..Huh?" She looked around in confusion, not seeing the stallion anywhere in sight.
Cross couldn't help a small smile as he made his way down the sidewalk, continuing his aimless walk. He couldn't help the slight warmth that ignite inside him, he'd almost forgotten how good it felt to protect others. Maybe things could get better after all.
[Acceptance]
Subject: Crossed Swords - The Broken Guard 
Thu Aug 21, 2014 8:43 pm
