“Oookay…” Coffee Talk said slowly and quietly, trying to take in what Princess Cadence had just said. “That just happened.” She and Kingsley looked at each other. Even Kingsley respected the fact of the alicorn’s revealed upset and kept his muzzle shut.
Shining Armor couldn’t help but spear their two unwilling cave mates with a look denoting both surprise and helplessness. Coffee credited the Prince’s own state of shock with the fact it wasn’t an accusatory look of, “You did this!”. She shrugged her withers and lacking anywhere else interesting to look, chose her grey unicorn companion as a focus of attention away from Armor. Timing being what it is, this was the same time the Prince also looked back at Kingsley.
Kingsley noticed them both looking. “What?” he asked, genuinely as confused as to the Princess’s outburst as they were.
“What was that about?” Shining asked him. “Do you know something about this? Did you do something to her?”
The former guard captain’s eyes lit up then in some form of understanding, but then to Shining he curled down his mouth in one corner in disgust. “I’m not your wife. Go ask her what her problem is.” He trotted back over to the cave wall, pawing a space clear of rocks, then laying down, placing his head on his hooves and closing his eyes.
Coffee, seeing his look, was the next one to gain the expression of the beginnings of understanding. She nodded, saying only, “Oh,” then followed Kingsley’s lead and went over to sit down next to him. If she was still cold, she kept it to herself, placing a hoof over his to let him know she supported him. His eyes opened and seeing Coffee’s soft expression of comprehension in her gaze, smiled a small smile, then closed his eyes again.
Coffee removed her hoof, letting the dark unicorn have his time and space for the moment and drifted off into her own thoughts.
While quiet reigned on their side of the cave, Shining Armor was wondering how to approach his wife about her outburst. He clearly wanted to know what was going on in her head and help any way he could, but he wasn’t sure if more words would just make things worse right now. He looked back over at Coffee Talk and Sombra (he couldn’t stop thinking of Kingsley as Sombra. He was and always would be King Sombra to the white unicorn). They were existing in a quiet balance of companionship and understanding right now...why couldn’t it be the same for him and Cadence?
He took a moment to look at his beautiful wife, really look at her. The stress she had been under ever since they had killed King Sombra that second time had been accumulating, taking its toll until he had seen the bags under her eyes almost constantly now, the tired instead of happy, normal gait she usually possessed, even a diminishing appetite the past week.
“Cadence?” he began quietly. “I knew something was bothering you. Ever since we blew him up a second time, but you haven’t wanted to talk about it.” He sighed. “I guess neither have I.” She didn’t look at him, didn’t respond. His hoof went to her flowing, pink-shaded mane. “Anyway, I’m here when you want to talk.” He kissed her cheek, then laid his head down on her withers, sighing.
For a long moment silence dominated the small cave. Shining even though he heard the deep, even breathing of their companions on the far wall as they slept.
“I don’t need to talk to you as much as I need to talk to him first, Shiny.” Her soft voice startled him.
Shining looked up, shocked. “W - What?” he stammered. “Why?” the question tumbled out before he could think about it.
Cadence was drifting off to sleep, her eyelids drooping. He was surprised when she did answer before falling asleep.
“Because I think he understands me and now I think I understand him.”