//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: The Knights of Friendship // by Joeyjambo122 //------------------------------// After leaving Magnum and his daughter and later after checking on the pony providing the music, who was named Fluttershy, the trio were now on their way to where they would be staying, the Golden Oaks Library. "Fluttershy was nice." Spines commented as they approached. "If a bit animal crazy." She finished. "I'm just glad we're finally done with checking the preperations for the celebration and relax for the rest of the day at the library." Shining remarked, exhausted from the strange day he had while checking the preperations. Spike still had a pouty look on his face. "Hopefully, Spines won't try to get me a bride again..." He said grumply as Spines chuckled again. "Hey, there's the library." Shining pointed out, ignoring the twins bickering. Both twins looked to where Shining was looking and saw the place they would be staying. It was library built within a big tree, though Shining believed the building itself was firehazard but he decided to keep this complaint to himself since they were leaving when the celebration was over. Using the key Star Sword gave him to get inside the library, the trio entered the pitch black library. "Where's the light switch?" Shining asked mostly to himself as fumbled around the darkness. The lights suddenly switched on as a crowd of what looked like the entire town all shouted- "SURPRISE!!!!" Startling the young stallion enough to knock his young companions off his back with an audible 'Oof!' upon landing on the wood floor. The pink pony that ran off when they first arrived popped up right in front of Shining, startling him further. "Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie! Were you surprise!? Huh!? Huh!? Huh!?" She said in a hyperactive voice. "Yeah, I was." Shining said deathly calm. Pinkie Pie apparently didn't as she continued to rant about she did after she ran off earlier as Shining walked toward the refreshment table. Spines did stop him from accidently drinking some hot sauce that was left there. Looking around the crowded library, he noticed a few ponies he had met during the day, Soarin, Big Macintosh and his cousin Braeburn and Mac's sister, Applebloom, Flash Sentry and sister Scootaloo, and Magnum with his family. "Well Miss Pie, not that this welcome party isn't great, but me and my assisstants need get to bed and ready for tomorrow." Pinkie Pie made a sad face that practically said 'Please stay for the party.' Shining attempted to ignore her and turned to call for the twins, but noticed Spines was being was introduced to Scootaloo and Applebloom by Sweetie Belle and Spike was nearby, keeping a very close eye on her to make sure she didn't try to get him another bride again. Shining flashed back to their conversation on the chariot and sighed sadly, remembering Spines desire to make friends. "Fine, I'll let the go on..." Pinkie Pie cheered in light. "...for a few more hours. Then everypony has to leave, alright?" He finished. Pinkie's smile shortened a little before shugging her shoulders. "Ehh... as long as I get to throw a party. Later!" She zipped to off to party once more. Shining watched the strange pink mare dance around like a complete nut ball. "Why do I get the feeling that my brain will melt if I even make an attempt at understanding her?" He said mostly to himself. "Maybe, but she sure is pretty, ain't she?" Braeburn said walking up to him. Shining raised his brow. "You have a crush on her?" He asked. Braeburn nodded with a dreamy. "She is my special somepony, because to me, she's cute when she acts like herself. Have you ever felt so in love with somepony, you'd thought you would always be together?" Braeburn asked. Whether Braeburn intended to or not, the question ended up bringing up some bad memories Shining had attempted to forget... "So your saying your career is more important than me!?" An angry familiar voice shouted. "That's not what I'm saying at all Cadence! I'm just saying that I'm going to have to devote a lot of my time to my studies under Captain Star Sword for a while until my cadet training is over!" Shining attempted to defend to no avail. "It's not just this! Ever since you became a cadet, you practically shut almost everypony, except your family, out of your life, just to focus on your training, even me! And I'm just sick of it! Well, I've had it..." Cadence said with a huff. Shining gained a worried look. "Cadence, wha... what do you mean?" He asked, dreading the answer. She was about to walk out when she looked back. "I mean this relationship is over. If your training is more important than me or anypony else, than you can have it all to yourself." She finished with a frown and proceeded to walk out the door as Shining begged her not to break up with him, only for him to run straight into the door as it slammed. "Shining, ya'll alright there partner?" Braeburn's concerned voice brought Shining out of his memory induced daze. Shining shook his head and cleared his eyes and saw not only Braeburn, but the other five stallions he met that day looking at him with concern in their eyes. Shining hastily responded. "Uh... yeah I'm fine, just... just fine..." Big Mac walked up to him. "Are ya sure Armor? Ah noticed the moment Ah heard Braeburn ask you that, you froze like sompony just told you your dog died." He noted with concern. Shining shook his head and responded hesitantly. "Really, I'm fine... I'm just going to rest upstairs for a little while. I've had a long day, but I promise I'll be back down. I just... gotta go clear my head. See ya..." He then proceeded to walk upstairs to the room he was staying in. "So, anypony else think it's pretty obvious something is bothering him?" Flash asked the obvious question. Soarin ran a hoof through his mane. "Pretty much. Think we should talk to him?" He asked. Magnum shook his. "Probably not a good idea, we hardly know the guy. Whatever Braeburn asked him, it clearly bothered him, so why don't we just leave it at that?" The older stallion suggested. The others nodded reluctantly, still a little worried about Shining. Shining sighed heavily as he gazed out the window of the library, watching the stars glitter around the fabled 'Mare in the Moon'. Spike, who had noticed Shining wasn't at the party, walked into the room to find his foster brother sitting on the bed looking out the window with distant look in his eye. "Shining?" The dragon's boyish voice snapped Shining out of his trance and finally took notice of the drake standing at the bottom of the steps that led to the bed. "Are you okay? Spines is singing karaoke down there and your moping up here for some reason. Care to explain?" He asked with a raised brow. Despite himself, Shining gave him a small smile. "I'm alright Spike. I just needed to... clear my head. I promise I'll be ba kind down there partying with you in a few, alright?" He responded quietly before returning his gaze to the window. He felt a light tap on his shoulder and found Spike standing next to him. "Seriously, me and Spines will always be here to talk to you if something is ever bothering you." He gave his brother a quick huh, causing Shining to smile a little wider. "Thanks Spike, but it's no big deal. You did help me feel a little better though, juse give me a few more minutes." Spike, though reluctant, shrugged his shoulders, before hearing his sister's distinct voice asking a mare to be his wife again, causing to immediately dash down the steps and out the door. Shining chuckled again and decided to head down, knowing the inevitable twin sibling squabbling he had become familiar with, his spirits brightened a little. Looking out the window one last time, Shining thought he saw something shifting around the moon, but quickly dismissed it and ran back down the stairs and into the library, unaware of the blue swirling mist making its way in the direction of town hall, the Mare in the Moon suddenly missing from where it was.