The two of them arrived at the library. Shining had gone with his mother to the bank this morning to get the money and cadence had gone with OC to Chrysalis’ house. Cadence wasn’t aware of what the plan was, only that Shining did have 5000 bits on him.
Cadence had had OC park on the opposite end of the street Chrysalis lived in and the two of them hoodied up and walked down to the address. They where both shocked at the house they’d arrived at. Large letters read ‘CONDEMNED’ across the door in red. Whether that was a joke or not was unclear as inside they saw an older lady, presumably Chrysalis’ mom watching TV while eating cereal directly off of the partition separators of her TV dinner, or in this case TV breakfast tray table.
They hadn’t gone inside, they had only looked through the window. Sneaking around back they peered through a window and found the exact spot where Twilight’s photo had been taken. The wall was recognisable from the cracked board third from the top. And if that wasn’t enough, there was a roll of duct tape still sitting on the table. They didn’t actually see Twilight there but this was confirmation that at the very least, they knew where she’d be. And where they knew where she’d be was…
“Here’s the spot.” Shining said as he stopped in front of the library recycling bin. He had a generic grey plastic bag and he looked genuinely nervous. Cadence, for her part, was trying to look like she wasn’t looking around while looking around trying to make it look like she was looking around. That made since in her head as someone trying to look for kidnappers instead of Twilight and Chrysalis. “Cadence… I’m worried.”
She put her hand on his shoulder. “There’s nothing to worry about, we’ll get her back.” she said, trying to sell the act. She leant in and kissed him as he raised the bag towards the bin. Wait… had Shining split them up this morning to turn the prank on her? That bastard! He would too. With that quick... suspicion at the very least, she was prepared for anything.
She wasn’t.
“That’s not what I’m worried about.” he said as he stopped the bag at about chest height, reach into it, pulled something that was clearly not 5000 bits out and threw the bag into the bin. “I’m worried you’ll say no.” and with that, he leant down on one knee. “Cadence… will you marry me?” and he opened the box with the ring he and Velvet had bought this morning.
Cadence was stunned. She blinked a few times. Deadpan flabbergasted. She looked around, looking for… anyone. She couldn’t see Twilight or Chrysalis, or even Velvet or OC who had stayed back at the car. It was just him. She turned back to him and in a low whisper with so much tone all her future students cringed in fear at that moment asked “Is this a prank?”
Shining smiled and shook his head and said aloud “No.” he then added in a much lower voice that could only be heard if Twilight or someone was hiding in the bin right next to them “Not on you at least. I’m going to say some stupid things in a moment… but this part, is 100% real.” and louder he said again. “I love you Cadence. Will you marry me?”
Cadence felt like she was catching on. The proposal was real. But the implication was the prank. “Did you spend your sister’s ransom on a ring… for me!?” the slightest hint of actual disgust registered on her voice. But it was far overwhelmed by joy.
“You once asked who I loved more. You or her. You have your answer.” he said, bringing back memories of how the first prank she and Twilight had pulled was started. This was borderline evil…
“Oh my goodness! Yes! Yes I do!” she fell down into him hugging and kissing him deeply. They parted after about ten seconds and Shining put the ring onto her finger. “Wow… you can really tell just by looking at it that it costs 5000 bits.” It didn’t. “I’m a luckiest girl in all Equestria! Who needs Twilight when I get this? And with the baby on the way, we can just replace her anyway. But let’s not call it Twilight if it’s a girl, alright?”
With that, Shining picked Cadence up and carried her out from the library ground. Cadence kicking and screaming happily all the way with yells of ‘We’re getting married!’ coming from both of them and random strangers congratulating them able to be heard by the very surprised person who’d been hiding in the bin the whole time. Her head raising up from it with a generic grey plastic bag sitting on top of it.
Elsewhere
“Full disclosure: I still haven't and never will answer which of you two I love more and the ring cost more like 500 bits. Mom stopped me from spending the full 5000 when she I told her my plan. So blame her.”