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// Shining Armor's Most Important Question 
// Story: The Life of a Young Colt 
// by Rakoon1 
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Years passed. Shining Armor, during that time, became a more confident Captain of the Royal Guard. He couldn't only lead the entire Royal Guard pretty well, as he had all the respect from his soldiers and, of course, he always tried to give back all the respect they gave him.

Cadance, as she had told to Shining before he left to the Griffin Kingdom in his first mission, returned to his homeland, where she stayed there all that time, coming to Equestria when she could, despite their royal duties rarely allow her to do that. Shining, on the other hoof, had more availability to go to her homeland.

What worried him the most was his little sister, Twilight, which stopped of being a small filly in order to be a grown young mare. However, without Cadance around and Shining with his time almost always busy, Twilight had almost no company, beyond her faithful assistant, Spike. Gradually, she was becoming increasingly introverted and sheltered, concentrating solely on her studies. The only ponies she really opened herself were Spike, Princess Celestia and, of course, Shining.

Fortunately, it happened a moment that caused a major shift in Twilight. With the approach of the Summer Sun Celebration of the thousandth year, Princess Celestia sent Twilight to Ponyville for she supervise the preparations. However, it all ended with Twilight and her five new best friends defeating Nightmare Moon and turn her back into Princess Luna. But after that, Twilight decided to stay in Ponyville to study friendship and to become closer to her new friends. Despite not having his little sister now as close as before, Shining supported her like any other older brother would, because he was happy that she had gone out of her lonely state that existed since years ago.

One day, Shining received a letter which filled him with great happiness: Cadance was coming to Canterlot. Shining was with such a happiness that everypony could see perfectly. He was waiting for a moment like that, that only intensified the desire he had since days before. All those years dating Cadance had been very, very good, but he had became tired of being separated from her. He wished to have her by his side and feel his love for her fully realized. And there was only one way to do this: ask Cadance for her hoof in marriage.

On the day Cadance would arrive to Canterlot, Shining was in his office, sitting in his chair with the hooves of the hind legs on the table and the hooves of the forelegs behind his head, fixing the ceiling with his dreamy and passionate look. It was almost time to Cadance's arrive. He picked up a velvet box he had kept in his desk and opened it. Inside, was a magnificent horn ring.

The ring had a silver band and a beautiful pink diamond encrusted. That ring was the one his grandfather Star Shield had given to his grandmother Starlight and the one she gave to his father to give to his mother. When his parents learned of his desire to ask Cadance in marriage, they gave him the ring to give to her.

He then heard a knock on the door that startled him, almost causing him to fall down the chair. He closed the box, concealed it, sat normally and said:

"Come in."

The door opened and he saw with great relief that was Blue. For a moment he thought it was Cadance. Blue was not wearing his armor, but he had his saddlebags already prepared.

"May I come in?" Blue asked.

"You know the answer" Shining replied.

Blue came in.

"So, you're going now?" Shining asked, standing up and exiting from behind his desk.

"Yes, my train leaves in a few minutes" Blue replied.

"I can not believe you're gonna take a year off" Shining said.

"I have to go, Shining" Blue said. "I need to make this trip and you know it."

"Well, you know you'll always continue being my first lieutenant and my best friend" Shining said.

"Yes, I know."

"I'm just sorry that maybe you won't come to my wedding with Cadance. I would liked so much that you were my colt of honor. If you want, I can postpone the wedding until..."

"Don't even think about doing that, Shining Armor" Blue said. "If you do, I swear I will not forgive you. I don't want you defy your happiness for me. I also would have to be your colt of honor, but, in contrast, you have a pony that would be a great best mare. She would be more perfect than me."

Shining gave a slight laugh. He knew Blue was talking about Twilight.

"Yes, you're right."

There was a pause and then Blue asked:

"Are you ready to ask the question of your life?"

Shining sighed and replied:

"Actually, I'm a little nervous. Perhaps more than I expected. Just imagining Cadance accepting my marriage proposal, my legs tremble like jello."

"Everything'll be fine, you'll see" Blue reassured, who then looked at his watch. "Well, I gotta go before I miss the train."

"I'll miss you, my friend."

"And I'll miss you, bro" Blue replied.

The two exchanged a strong hug and then Blue left the office.

Later, Shining was walking through the halls of the castle, when suddenly a pair of hooves covered his eyes.

"But what the..." he started.

Shining took his hooves to those that was covering his eyes. The hooves' coat was soft as silk. Then his nostrils were invaded by an enticing aroma that he knew so well. Then a sweet voice said:

"Guess who?"

Shining smiled and said:

"Uh, I don't know. It's a very difficult question. Is it..."

He then turned and gave a long kiss to Cadance, saying, when they separated themselves:

"... my beautiful marefriend?" he completed.

Cadance laughed and said:

"You got it right."

"And what is my prize for having guessed it?"

Cadance nuzzled him and said:

"This."

"Well, I expected more, but this serves" Shining replied.

"Oh, Shining, I missed you so much!" Cadance exclaimed, hugging him.

"And I missed you too, my love" Shining replied, returning the hug. "How about we take a walk?"

"For me it looks great. But are you sure you should?"

"I have nothing more to deal with today" he said. "I dispatched everything as soon as I could, when I heard you were coming. So we can be together the rest of the day."

"You really think in everything, don't you?" Cadance asked, nuzzling him.

The two then began to walk around for the castle's gardens, while exchanging kisses and caresses. Everything was going in a perfect way. Shining, in every minute that passed, was more nervous as the moment of asking cadance in marriage was approaching. They then sat down on a bench to rest.

"But what a wonderful ride!" Cadance, exclaimed. "And of course the company also helped."

She looked at Shining and noticed that he was quite nervous.

"Shining, what's up?"

"Nothing, honey" he said, unable to hide his nervousness.

"Shining, I know you very well and we are a couple for years. I know how to see when something is wrong with you."

Shining made a deep breath and then said:

"Cadance, there's something I have to tell you, but... I don't know how."

"Is it something bad?"

"Depending on how you interpret things" Shining replied, secretly making the box with the horn ring appear in his hoof behind his back.

"Shining, you're starting to leave me nervous with all this" Cadance say. "What do you want to say to me?"

It was now. It was time to do it.

"What I have to tell you, it's a simple question that could change our entire relationship" Shining said.

He then knelt before Cadance, showed her the velvet box and opened it, revealing the horn ring, asking:

"Cadance, will you marry me?"

Cadance froze before that request. It was something she was not expecting.

"Shining... are you sure?" she asked. "It's a big step."

"Cadance, we've been dating for years" Shining said. "In every moment I spend with you, it becomes much more difficult for me to be away from you. I want to be with you. I want to have you by my side. I want to have foals with you and get old with you. I know it's a big step, but it's one I want to give with you."

"I don't know, Shining."

"And what if I told you that if you marry me, you will not only gain a husband, but also a great sister?"

That made Cadance drop a laugh.

"Are you using your sister to convince me?" she asked.

"It depends" Shining replied, smiling. "Is it working?"

Cadance smiled more openly and then nodded, saying:

"Yes, Shining, I accept to marry you."

Shining smiled, rejoicing with joy. He used his magic to put the horn ring onto Cadance's horn and they then exchanged a long and passionate kiss, hugging themselves after that. That was the first step to the two begin their life together.

However, watching them in the shadows were a pair of glowing, bright green eyes...

The End