It was a bright sunny, summer day in Canterlot. Five ponies, two white unicorns, one with a red-orange mane, and the other with a blue mane, and a set of blue, red and white ponies were wandering the streets, chatting and laughing.
“-And I asked her, ‘please go out with me,’” Fiery Hammer, was telling his friends, “She sits there stunned for a minute, looking at me all covered in soot, and says-“
“-‘Sure. But if we go on a second date, make sure to let me know before asking, and I’ll make sure the chimney sweep comes first,’” chorused three of the other four ponies. The fourth, Roll, the tricolor unicorn, just snorted.
“You’ve already told us that one Fiery,” said Shining Armor groaned, “In fact I think you’ve told us that one at least three times already.”
“Well I don’t see you volunteering anything about your marefriend,” shot back Fiery Hammer, “And don’t deny you have one, I’ve seen those letters which call you all those cute names.”
“Cute names-“ Shining choked out, resisting laughter, “-you call Blue Puffball a cute name?”
“Well, there’s Drowned One,” Firey started listing out, while the three earth ponies sniggered, “then there’s Keeper of the Princess’ Idiocy, or maybe the Biggest Lout in Canterlot.”
“Wait a minute,” asked Shining Armor, his eyes narrowing, “I thought you said you only read the first letter.”
“I lied.”
Shining looked angry. But before he could do anything, he’s interrupted by Rough using a muscular blue wing to push Shining towards himself, “Come off it Shiny. We’re just curious, you’re the only one who hasn’t said anything about a marefriend back home. And we don’t believe you when you say you don’t have one.”
“Yeah, Shiny,” Rock supported his brother, “You’re just too nice of a stallion not to have one. So this ‘Cadence’ must be your marefriend, and you’re just too embarrassed to admit it.”
“Cadence as my marefriend,” Shining stated stunned, “you must be joking. Why would I want to go out with somepony who is constantly on my back about being sweaty and stinky from my training. Who constantly points out my every flaw. Who is perpetually disappointed in me. I have no clue what goes on in her mind. But I have no doubt, she is not my marefriend. In fact, we’re barely friends. Besides, she’s pink, and you know how I hate-“ A shoed, cerise hoof taps on his back. “-How she’s always there when I stuff my hoof into my mouth.”
“I’m cerise, not pink!” Cadence shouted at him, “Shining Armor, you dolt!” She then hugged him. “I can’t believe I haven’t seen you for a whole year. I’ve almost gotten to miss having to wipe up the mud tracks you leave everywhere.”
“Well it would have been six months,” Shining countered, “But you got impatient waiting for the newest fashions to come out, and took a trip to Prance.”
“I’ll have you know,” Cadence stated with pomp, “that Aunt Celly personally asked me to go to Prance, and I’d never turn her down. Besides, I didn’t make it. There was a bandit attack on the way there, and we ended up having to return to Canterlot.”
“What?” asked Shining confused and concerned “Was anypony hurt? Were you hurt? How many were there? Did the guards get them all? Are there any left that might come back for you?” he questioned rapidly.
“Definitely his marefriend,” whispered Fiery to Rock, Roll and Rough. Roll sniggered.
“I’m fine,” Cadence said reassuringly, “and the bandits are all taken care of. You know how the guard reacts when a-“ she looks at the four other ponies present aside from Shining, and modified her words mid-sentence, “-you-know-what is threatened. They tracked them all down before I even made it back to Canterlot.”
“Good.”
The two are silent, just staring each other in the eye. The moment is interrupted by Rough speaking up, “Well aren’t you going to introduce us Shiny?”
Shining and Cadence jumped. Before Shining reached up with a hoof and rubbed his mane, “Ah, sorry guys,” he apologized, before gesturing with his hoof at Cadence, “This pain in my rear is Cadence. Also known as-“ Cadence covers his mouth with her hoof.
“Ixnay on the prin-ay.” She whispers to him, as she removes her hoof.
“I was going to say,” Shining said annoyed, “My little sister's former foalsitter.” He then turned to his friends. Gesturing to the three tricolor ponies, he said, “These are Rock, Rough and Roll Boulder, the strongest ponies you’ll probably ever meet.”
“Eh, great to meet ‘ca” Rough called, offering a hoof to shake.
“Pleased to meet you,” Rock said, taking one of Cadence’s hooves and kissing it. Cadence giggles. “Can’t imagine why Shiny wouldn’t want to talk about such a beautiful mare.” Shining scowls.
Roll just sniggered.
“Moving on,” Shining rushed, getting in between Rock and Cadence. He gestured to the other unicorn present, “this is Fiery Hammer. He’s amazing with weapons, probably the best in our entire class.”
“Ignore the louts,” Fiery said in a soothing voice, “all four of them.”
“Hey,” three voices chorused.
“Don’t worry,” Cadence reassured him, wearing a large grin, “I always do.”
“Hey,” protested Shining.
Shining’s Log-Entry: Fallout
Of all the ponies we could have run into, it had to be Cadence. All four of my friends now have prime teasing material on me, and probably won’t be letting things go for the next decade, at minimum. After the introductions were over, the six of us wandered over to a nearby park, where all four of my friends disappeared. Leaving me and Cadence alone.After some awkward silence, the two of us tried catching up with each other. It didn’t exactly go that smoothly, seeing as both of us felt the need to snark at each other every other sentence. But I will admit, if only in this log, which nopony will ever read, sitting there in the park, chatting and arguing playfully, felt good. There’s nothing like a friend who you can just sit there and shoot snarky comments back and forth with. Afterwards, the two of us went our separate ways. I went and checked on my friends, before returning home.
My family has been doing well. Things haven’t really changed much. My parents are much the same as always, although they’ve told me repeatedly how proud they are that I’ve managed to be the top student at the Academy. While Twily loves going on about what she’s learned at her school. Which is quite a lot. She’s actually gotten pretty good at using magic, and can do some amazing things. But she has quite the problem with side-effects. Like how when she tried changing the color of a sheet of paper, she accidentally turned the wall orange in addition to the paper. But I’m still proud of her, and I’m sure she’ll grow out of it.
Shining Armor, Signing Off