There are many axioms in Equestria. "Go with the grain." "Count your blessings." "Strive to be happy with what you have."

And, though left unsaid, the most important one of all: "Know your place."

Although Flash Sentry loves Twilight, she can never know of his love. She can never return the feelings. It wouldn't be proper. After all, social order is more important than fulfilling one's own wishes.

Alternate Universe tag is due to the existence of a caste system in this story. Please keep that in mind as you read.

Thanks to Sir Rustbucket, Draconian Soul, Regidar, and Loopy Legend for editing.

Now Featured on Equestria Daily!

Now with a poem by Fiend from the Darkness!

Now with a YouTube reading by BlackIrisBalloon (and multiple voice actors)!

Now with a Korean translation by Kianoke!

Followed by What Hath Joined Together.

Rated Teen for mild violence and thematic elements.

Did you ever think how must have been Shining Armor's childhood? How was his relationship with his parents? How did he react to his younger sister's birth? The reason he decided to be a royal guard and how he entered to the royal guard academy? How he met Princess Cadance and how they started their courtship? How he managed to be the captain? In this story, we will know that and see how he managed to overcome the problems.

This is the first story of my main saga. Its sequel is Twilight and Blue Sword.

Second story: Twilight and Blue Sword
Third story: The Light Kingdom
Fourth story: The Taking of Tartarus
Fifth story: Star Knight and the Nine-Tailed Fox
Sixth story: The Island of Tambelon
Seventh story: Light and Darkness - The Shadow of Midnight
Eighth story: The Hidden Prince
Nineth story: Aventures in the Bermikun Triangle
Tenth story: The Elements of Virtue
Eleventh story: The Prince of the Cursed Kingdom

Darkness from beyond the borders of reality yearns for a vessel to invade.

Sweetie Belle loses her magic and wants it back. She finds a remedy for her injured horn, but things don’t go back to normal. Sometimes, a cure can be even worse than the poison, as the filly is about to learn.

This story was featured on the front page of Fimfiction.