…
It was a very important milestone in the Crystal Empire, the anniversary of Flurry Heart being born. Now, he time had come for her entire family to celebrate the milestone. For Cadence and Shining Armor, this was a moment that they'd been looking forward for weeks. But it was also becoming a fast progressing headache for the both of them.
"Cadence, how many more of these invitation do we have to fill out?" Shining Armor remarked as he and Cadence worked on sending the last of the invitations to Flurry's birthday party. "We're practically inviting all of Equestria here."
"Well you understand that being royalty means we have to invite the best of the best, right?" Cadence asked her husband. "Cheer up. We're almost done and then we can finally enjoy ourselves for a change."
Shining Armor couldn't help but notice how chipper his wife was.
"When I was Flurry's age," He laughed. "All my family did was invite a few close friends and family members. Nothing major, just some nice and quiet activity. But you always enjoyed the extravagance, didn't you?"
"As long as it wasn't too overwhelming, especially now that we have Flurry Heart in our lives," Cadence commented with a fond smile. "Still, it would be nice to invite Lemony Hearts here? I haven't seen her since we graduated from Canterlot Academy all those years ago."
The sense of nostalgia enveloped both rulers of the Empire. It had been many years since they'd first met and fell in love with one another.
"What's she up to now, anyway?" Shining wondered aloud.
"I've often wondered about that myself," Cadence couldn't help but wonder. "Last I remember, she was spending time with…you know who."
Shining suddenly felt his eyes cross upon hearing the name Cadence refused to reveal to him. "Well, he's ancient history, Cadence," He sternly cautioned. "Might want to not spoil the mood of Flurry's birthday. If you invite Lemony then just invite her, not him. There's no reason why we need to involve him."
"It's been a few years since we were all together last," Cadence commented. "A lot has change. Maybe he's changed his ways."
But Shining wasn't convinced by his wife's words. For he could remember this one pony from his past and how much of a tormentor he had been. "Cadence, I love you but the answer is no," He firmly declared while putting his hoof down. "If we invite Buck and Lemony together, he'll just pick on me and…"
"Buck won't do such a thing, Shining Armor. He'd have to be pretty foolish to think he could pick on a prince," Cadence reassured her husband. "Why don't you just give him a chance? Please? For our daughter's sake. We must set a good example for her."
Before Shining could reply, the door of the study opened and a crystal guardspony stepped in. "Forgive me, your highnesses," He apologized while bowing to them. "There's a journalist from The Canterlot Chronicle who wishes to interview you for a story he's working on."
"About what?" Shining Armor asked.
"About your daughter's birthday, among other things," The guardspony replied as both Cadence and Shining Armor exchanged brief looks. "Or should I tell him to…"
"If he has any questions, I can answer them," Shining declared while getting up from the table. "It would be wrong of me to say that I wouldn't answer, right?" Kissing Cadence on the cheek, He followed the guardspony out of the room.
Meanwhile, seizing the moment at hoof, Cadence began to draft up another invitation…to Manehattan. "The past is in the past," She whispered to herself. "He may not like it, but it's time for Shining Armor to see that ponies can change."
…
…
Buck Withers was once a pony who was full of himself. One of the best at Canterlot Academy, he was also the most disliked to a group of ponies who were either jealous of him or feared him for a very specific reason.
"Come in," He said to nopony in particular while working in his counting house's office one day, as a yellow coated unicorn mare stepped into the office. "Oh, hey Lemony. What's that?"
"Found this in the mailbox, Buck," Lemony Hearts replied. "It's from the Crystal Empire."
Taking the envelope, Buck opened up to see that he and Lemony had both been invited to Flurry Heart's birthday celebration.
"Well, well, well," Buck chuckled, reading what was on the invitation. "The little rugrat is turning two years old. Where has the time gone?"
"I know, right?" Lemony Hearts laughed. "Honestly, Buck, I can't believe Flurry Heart has gotten so big. Why, it seems like it was just yesterday we learned that Cadence was pregnant. Can you believe that neither of us have even met Flurry yet?"
"I don't need to imagine why. Especially given my past with Shining Armor," Buck declared while getting up from his desk chair. "If not for Cadence telling us herself we'd never know. Lemony, do you think I'm a changed pony from our days at Canterlot Academy? Few know me better than you, after all."
Lemony said nothing as she just tapped Buck on the shoulder in solidarity. "You are a changed pony, to me at least," she said. "In a way, I feel like you've grown up more than when you were on the polo team. Why do you ask?"
"You know what I'm talking about, sweetie," Buck replied, going behind his desk and picking up the invitation again. "Out of all the ponies I picked on the most, it just happened to be the pony Cadence would marry. If we go…Shining Armor will just mop the floor with me for sure."
"He won't mop the floor with you, Buck. He's a prince now. If anything, Cadence will keep him in line," Lemoy reassured him. "Come on, it would be great for us to go and visit our old friends again. Who knows? Maybe you and Shining Armor can make up from the past. It's never too late to make amends."
After a few quick moments of reflective thought, Buck sighed and came up with his answer. "Okay, for now I'm doing this just to visit Cadence and see Flurry Heart," He declared. "As for Shining Armor…I just hope he treats me well."
So they immediately set about preparing to head for the Crystal Empire to see Cadence and Shining Armor.
…
Meanwhile, aboard their own royal train, Twilight and her friends were also on their way to the Empire with their own gifts in tow.
"Hope she'll like this locket, Spike." Twilight scomented as she looked at a small, gold heart shaped locket with her picture on the inside.
"I'm sure she will, Twilight," The royal advisor replied. "I mean, it's got you on the inside after all. Plus, it compliments the locket your family gave you for your birthday. And you know how much you're Flurry Heart's favorite aunt."
Looking down around her neck, Twilight saw the gold heart shaped locket that had Flurry's picture in it. "I guess you're right, Spike. Besides, what really matters is that we're all together."
"Indeed so, Twi," Applejack remarked, sitting next to a stack of pillows. "Flurry's gonna love all these here pillows we all made for her. I mean, would you have believed that Sugar Belle was as good with sewing as she is with bakin'?"
"Her pillows are fine, but they're nowhere near as good as these damask blankets, Applejack," Rarity added, showing off a light purple colored blanket with Flurry's picture on the front. "Made from the finest fabrics. Yona helped me make it."
"Sure has come a long way since working under you, Rarity," Twilight smiled. "Seems like she's shaping up to be a fine fashio apprentice much like Coco and Pistachio. In fact, I'm glad that all of you were able to produce a gift for Flurry's birthday. I want this to be a momentous occasion for her."
"Well she is your favorite niece," Fluttershy commented, showing a set of dolls looking like her and her friends. "Do you think she'll like the dolls I made in our likeliness?"
"Well, we are all kind of awesome," Rainbow Dash remarked, rising into the air for a brief moment. "But not as awesome as the Sonic Rainboom that the Wonderbolts and I are performing during the party."
"With this Mascarpone Meringue Madness cake of course," Pinkie Pie excitedly showing off a large cake and a batch of cupcakes right next to it. "With yours truly helping the Cakes, it was a piece of cake to duplicate the reciepe. And don't forget about all these cupcakes that Flurry will get to smash into. Oh, it will amazing!"
This caused the other ponies to share in a brief chuckle with one another as the train neared the Crystal Empire.
…
Just as the train was pulling in, they saw Cadence and Shining Armor on the platform with a small group of welcomers and well-wishers. The trumpets sounding, Tempest Shadow stepped off the train and addressed the ponies in front of them.
"Their royal highnesses," She called. "The six princesses of Equestria!"
Stepping off the train, Twilight and her friends were greeted to the sounds of cheers and laughter from the Crystal Empire's welcoming committee. Right away, they approached the two rulers of the empire and all embraced with one another.
"There are our girls!" Cadence laughed as she and Shining Armor hugged Twilight. "How was the ride?"
"Not bad," Rarity replied. "Although I wish we can do these kinds of train rides more often."
"We do them all the time, Rarity." Applejack whispered, nudging her unicorn friend in the side.
"Anyways, where's the birthday girl?" Twilight asked, eager to change the subject.
No sooner did Twilight say those words than did Flurry Heart appear with an older looking unicorn mare at her side.
Moving away from the old unicorn, Flurry dashed over to her aunt and hugged her tightly!
"Happy birthday, Flurry Heart!" Twilight happily declared, hugging and kissing her niece before blowing into her stomach, much to Flurry's delight. "Auntie Twilight loves you so much."
"Thanks for watching her, Mistmane," Shining Armor smiled as he turned to the older unicorn. "How was she?"
"Oh, as good as gold as anypony," The pillar of beauty chortled. "I must admit that it's a pleasure to spend time with her."
"Mistmane has been kind enough to watch Flurry for us while we conducted our business since Sunburst moved away," Cadence said to the six princesses. "We actually call her Grandmother Misty because of how close she and Flurry Heart are.."
"Makes me feel all the more happy and wanted," Mistmane laughed. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go check on the crystal landscapes. But I'll ne back later. Bye Bye, Flurry Heart. Grandmother Misty loves you!"
Waving goodbye, Flurry watched as her favorite foalsitter disappeared.
"So, how about we head over to the castle and get you guys settled in?" Shining suggested. But as the group walked away he began to get an uneasy feeling.
…
…
On board another train bound for the Crystal Empire, Buck Withers could only sit and anticipate what was going to happen once he and Lemony Hearts saw Cadence and Shining Armor again.
"Do you think this is enough?" He asked his girlfriend, holding out what appeared to be a check. "It would go towards the rugrat's life savings."
"1,000 bits?!" Lemony Hearts exclaimed! "Oh Buck, that's very generous of you! I'm sure it'll be most appreciated."
"Well it's the least I can do for them," Buck rather nervously replied. "But, I feel that…I feel that…"
"What is it?" Lemony Hearts asked with concern.
"I feel that once we get there, Shining Armor will have us turned away," Buck confessed. "I know he'll probably never forgive me for all the times I tormented him. And as a prince he'll have the authority to do so without question."
"It's all in the past, Buck," Lemony Hearts protested. "We're grown ponies now and we must move forward with our lives. Whatever grudge you may think Shining Armor still holds towards you, I doubt he'd be so cold hearted as to shut you without giving you a chance. And even if he did, Cadence would stop him."
Just then, the train pulled to a stop in front of the Ponyville train station and right away, Buck saw a familiar figure standing on the platform.
"Celestia!" He exclaimed in shock! "What's she doing here, Lemony?! I thought she retired to Silver Shoals with that sister of hers next to her upon giving up the throne?"
Lemony Hearts commented. "Didn't you hear the news? It was in all the papers. The princesses took up a role as teachers at the School of Friendship. Ponyville is their home now."
Buck watched as Celestia and Luna boarded the train along with Starlight and Trixie. As they all boarded, they made their way past Buck, causing Celestia to pay full attention to her niece's former lover.
"Buck Withers?" She asked and Buck took a deep gulp, nervously starring up at her. "What are you doing here?"
…
…
Buck could only stare up at Celestia wondering just how she was going to react to him being in her presence. Right away, he began to get a flashback of an encounter he had with her the night of Canterlot Academy's fall formal:
"Helloooo, Princess Celestia! Can I call you Celestia? We're practically family now that I'm dating the fair Cadence! Wow! Canterlot Castle! I could get used to living here! Maybe after graduation there'll be wedding bells! Lucky you! Let's go, Cadence! Mustn't be late for our first public appearance as Canterlot's newest celebrity couple."
"Uh, just going to see the rug…er, Princess Flurry Heart," Buck stammered as the memory ended. "Congrats on your…retirement, both of you. You've more than earned it."
"Um, thanks?" Luna awkwardly commented while raising an eyebrow, having only her sister's recollections of Buck to go on. "My sister has told me so much about you."
"Yes, I remember, you were stuck on the moon for a thousand years, right?" Buck asked, causing Luna to turn away in disbelief. "Too much? Excuse me," He quickly and desperately changed the subject. "Er… anyways, I hear that Cadence and the dor…er, Shining Armor, are enjoying life in the Crystal Empire now."
"They are," Celestia answered while sitting down in front of Buck and Lemony. "Although, I can't help but wonder something...why are you heading to the empire? You weren't exactly on good terms with Shining last I recall."
"Because your niece invited us, Princess Celestia," Lemony Hearts amswered. "Besides, Cadence and I haven't seen each other in years. We have so much to catch up on."
"Indeed you do," Celestia commented in a tone of voice that didn't seem to convey her true emotions one way or the other. "And you can call us Celestia and Luna now…we're retired."
Blushing in slight embarrassment, Lemony Hearts turned away. "Of course. Excuse me, Celestia."
Meanwhile, from the back of the car, Starlight and Trixie were listening in on the conversation.
"Did we miss something here, Trixie?" Starlight asked her best friend.
"Apparently there is a history that Trixie doesn't understand about," Trixie commented. "Doesn't this seem a little…strange to you?"
"From the looks of it, yes," Starlight nodded. "Hope it doesn't get in the way of Flurry's birthday celebration. I've got a book here documenting all of Flurry's first two years."
"It's very nice, Starlight," Trixie commented, going through the book's pages. "But don't you think it's kind of like Twilight's book? The one you gave her while she was in the hospital?"
"Yes, that, Trix. Only this time, this book will be given during a happy occasion," Starlight firmly replied. "Besides, this book doesn't have as many memories yet."
"If it remains a happy occasion, Starlight," Trixie commented again. "And something tells Trixie it won't be that way for much longer. Just hope it doesn't ruin the little one's day."
…
Back up front, Celestia and Buck continued to stare at each other in an awkward manner. Many memories of the days at Canterlot Academy were flooding back to them in an instant.
"So, uh," Lemony Hearts stammered in uncertainty. "Celestia, what are you and Luna both doing now that you've retired? You know, besides teaching at the School of Friendship?"
"For starters, Lemony Hearts," Celestia replied. "I'm sure you remember Twilight's mental health crisis after the Legion of Doom's attack on Canterlot?"
"How is she doing, by the way?" Lemony Hearts asked.
"She's doing fine," Luna remarked while sighing deeply. "But there are times where it's a struggle for her. PTSD is something that must not be taken lightly. You'll see her and the other princesses at the Crystal Empire. If you were invited of course."
"Of course we're invited!" Buck immediately protested, holding up the invitation to Celestia and Luna's face. "See?! We were invited, even if it was Princess Cadence's doing!"
"Buck, take it easy!" Lemony Hearts protested. "The former princesses here aren't the ones coordinating the party, you know."
"Sorry," Buck hastily apologized, quickly realizing the error of his ways. "It's just that…I'm worried Shining Armor won't forgive me for all the trouble I caused him back when we were in school. I'm sure you still remember my behavior. Don't you, Celestia?"
"I can remember how much of a jerk you were to Shining Armor, Buck," Celestia replied, much to Buck's dismay. "And he wasn't your only victim either, I'm afraid. Still, I'm a pony who has learned to forgive others for their past errors. You may seem willing to change, but you need to show Shining Armor that you're actually willing to change. It needs to be sincere both inside and out."
Unfortunately for Buck, those words were easier said than done.
…
…
A little while later, all arrived at the Crystal Empire's train station just as another train from Canterlot also arrived. As they all got off, the group came across Twilight Velvet and Night Light crossing over the bridge from the other side.
"Well, isn't this a surprise?" Night Light gave a jolly laugh. "I trust we're all bound for the Crystal Empire?"
"Yes. And it's good to see you both," Celestia replied while hugging and kissing the royal grandparents. "Care to join us?"
"Of course," Twilight Velvet smmiled as she and her husband joined the group bound for the Crystal Empire's main castle.
"Gives us a chance to have some company on the walk over. And it feels like old times having you by our side again, Celestia. I remember how much Twilight used to look up to you and want to be just like you," She wiped a lone tear from her eyes. "They really do grow up so fast these days. Hard to believe it's been two years since Flurry Heart was born."
As they all walked, Buck couldn't help but grow more and more nervous at how Shining Armor was going to react to him being there. And as the group neared the castle, Buck gulped rather nervously. The moment of truth was almost upon him.
"Well, here we are!" Twilight Velvet chirped in blissful unawareness. "Where's our precious little angel?"
"Right behind those doors, dear," Night Light remarked, as they knocked on the door and a guardspony opened it up. "Hello, we're here for…"
But rather than let Night Light finish his sentence, the guardspony allowed for the group to pass through and into the castle.
Approaching the throne room, the doors opened to reveal Cadence sitting on the throne of a decorated throne room that was being worked on by Twilight and her friends. "Hi everypony," She greeted, happily getting down while the others followed (except for Buck who stood outside). "So glad you could all make it!"
"We wouldn't miss it for the world, Cadence." Celestia happily with Luna, hugging her niece along with Luna.
"Oh, my gosh, Lemony Hearts!" Cadence cried as she rushed over and excitedly hugged her former classmate! "It's you! It's really you! Oh, I've missed you so much! Thanks for accepting my invitation to come!"
"Just like old times, eh, Cadence?" Lemony Hearts laughed. "Buck and I can't wait to see the guest of honor. Where is she, anyway?"
"Oh, Shining Armor is taking Flurry Heart on a little walk around the castle. He'll be back in a little bit," Cadence replied and then immediately asked. "Now where's Buck? Isn't he with you?" But then suddenly, Cadence saw Buck's tail peering from behind the door and using her magic, managed to pull him into the throne room, much to his reluctance.
"Ca..Ca..Cadence," Buck stammered, struggling about in Cadence's magic aura. "It's…it's been a long time, hasn't it?" He tried hard not to blush.
"Buck, why are you hiding from me?" Cadence asked him. "I personally invited you and Lemony Hearts here, didn't I?"
"Uh, uh, yeah! Yeah, you did!" Buck nervously stammered. "It's…it's not because I'm hiding from you, just so you know. It's because…"
But kust then, Shining Armor made his way into the throne room pushing Flurry Heart's stroller. He suddenly stoppied when he saw the dreaded pony from his past standing right in front of him.
"What are you doing here?!" He snapped, looking right at Buck. "Cadence, what in the name of the creator is he doing here?! I thought I said I didn't want to invite him!"
"P-P-Prince S-Shining Armor," Buck nervously stammered new as the Prince of the Crystal Empire slowly advanced towards him, his eyes casting daggers of cold ice. "What a nice…surprise to see you."
"Shining Armor, I invited him along with Lemony Hearts!" Cadence interjected, hastily getting in front of Buck. "What's in the past is in the past. It's not good to keep dwelling on it."
"You?! I don't believe it! Why did you invite him, Cadence?!" Shining demanded as he snorted. "You saw what he did to me in school! You know how horrible he used to be!"
Right away, a strong tension filled the throne room as Shining continued to advance on Buck.
"Look, uh, dork…" Buck stammered out. Only after it had left his lips did he realize how wrong what he'd just said was.
"You see, Cadence?! He called me a dork!" Shining growled. "He hasn't changed a bit."
"Shining, stand down!" Cadence ordered. "Buck, surely you didn't mean that…"
"He did mean it!" Shining Armor cried. "Just like all those times in school, Cadence! But this time I'm not going to let him just walk all over me."
Acting fast, the rest of Twilight's friends attempted to pull Shining Armor away before things got out of control.
"Okay, okay, let's all calm down here!" Rarity cried, trying to push Shining Armor away. "There's no need to get into petty Insults and have somepony do something they'll regret later."
"What she said," Applejack added, watching as Twilight suddenly began to feel her heart racing and gulping nervously as she could only watch the tension continue to rise. "Shining Armor, you need to calm down!"
"I'll calm down once this disgusting bully is out of my castle! I never want to see him again!" Shining angrily declared. "Guard, remove him from my sight at once!"
"Shining Armor, stop it!" Cadence ordered. "Please!"
"No, not until he's gone! I won't stand here and be insulted by the likes of him, not anymore!" Shining retorted, and suddenly Twilight continued to feel her anxiety escalate further. "Come on, Buck! I dare you to call me a dork again! I dare you! Say it to my face if you're not afraid. See what happens!"
With tears forming in the corners of her eyes, Twilight immediately disappeared with a loud flash, causing everypony in the room to jump back in surprise!
"Twilight!" Cadence cried in horror. "Where did she go?!"
A hushed silence fell upon the throne room as Shining Armor and the others saw that Twilight had disappeared.
"S-she's gone! Twilight's gone!" Spike exclaimed in horror! "The fight must've been too much for her."
"Now look what you did, Withers!" Shining Armor snapped. "My little sister is gone, because of you!"
"All right, Shining Armor," Night Light sternly spoke. "That's enough out of you! You and Buck are old enough to settle this like civilized ponies. There's no need to make a public spectacle of it."
"I…I think we'd better go now, Lemony," Buck said in disbelief. "I guess not everypony is going to accept my changing for the better."
Turning away, Buck stormed out of the throne room with Lemony Hearts following suit.
…
Once they were gone, all of the attention focused on Shining Armor.
"What is the matter with you?" Cadence demanded to her husband, anger reflected in her eyes. "Why couldn't you accept Buck for who he is now, Shining Armor?"
"Because you remember what he did, Cadence!" Shining snorted and folded his hooves. "All those times in school he would pick on me, trying to call me a dork! How could you invite him here after all of that?!"
"Because I believe in second chances, Shining Armor!" Cadence protested. "Because you think Buck is still a bully, you're blinded by the fact that he has changed with age! What's worse is that you gave your little sister, the pony who was our best mare and mare of honor at our wedding, our daughter's aunt…an anxiety attack! All because of one slip up! You never even gave Buck a chance to defend or explain himself! What kind of example does that set for our only daughter?!"
Right then and there, Shining Armor felt more like an idiot than ever. His anger for the bully from his past had caused everything to be ruined for his daughter's birthday.
"Cadence is right about everything she said, Shining Armor!" Twilight Velvet spoke up, glaring at her eldest son. "Yes, I know what Buck did is wrong in the past, but it's in the past. And I did not raise my son to be as bad as the bullies he hated so much. Now, why don't you just stay here and think about what you did for a little bit while we check on your little sister? And I think you owe Buck an apology when this is all over. We all know you're better than this, so start acting like it!"
Shining Armor sat down on the floor of the throne room as he watched Cadence and his parents leave. Looking back to his little sister's friends, Shining Armor attempted to look for forgiveness from them.
"Come on, y'all," Applejack firmly declared. "Let's go check on Twilight. We ain't makin' the same mistake twice." With disapproving glances, all of Twilight's friends walked past the prince.
Soon, Shining Armor alone with his thoughts.
"Maybe Cadence is right," He sighed in a low voice as he thought aloud to himself. "I should accept Buck for who he is, but…it's so hard to accept him over what he was in the past. I can't just let it go, not after everything I had to endure because of him."
He then, got up and looked up to the ceiling of the throne room, crying out in a loud voice. "IS THERE ANYPONY HERE WHO UNDERSTANDS ME AND MY FEELINGS FOR BUCK?! ANYPONY?!"
…
Shining Armor waited for an answer, but got nothing. But then suddenly, he heard the throne room door open.
"Shining Armor," The voice that belonged to Mistmane called out, bringing in some crystalized plants on a wooden cart. "I heard you yelling in here. What happened? Where are the guests? Isn't there supposed to be a birthday party?"
"Mistmane!" Shining gasped, turning around to face the old unicorn. "I…I didn't mean to…"
"I could hear the shouting from the gardens even with my hearing not quite what it used to be," Mistmane explained. "What exactly is going on?"
"It's Buck Whitters, a bully from my high school days. He seems like he's changed and that's what everypony keeps telling me," Shining sighed in an embarrassed and disgusted voice. "But I just don't believe it. Maybe Cadence is right, maybe I'm just too blinded by my hatred for Buck. I didn't think he got to me as much he did." Sighing, he proceeded over to the throne and sat down in deep thought.
"Buck seems like a nice pony," Mistmane commented. "I don't see anything wrong with him now. Whatever he used to be, he seems like he is trying to be a better pony. And yet it seems like you aren't willing to give him a chance. A painful experience to all involved,"
It was then that Mistmane began to think back to when she and the other pillars had turned away from a pony who had once looked up to them.
"I should know," She sighed, briefly looking away from Shining Armor. "I used to be like you, along with the rest of the pillars. Thanks to Princess Twilight and her friends, we were able to see what we did was wrong before it was too late. We realized that we were wrong to condemn our friend Stygian to limbo for all eternity without giving him a chance to speak up. Now, you are in the same position we were once on."
The more Shining Armor listened to Mistmane, the more he felt like he needed to set things right. "So, what should I do?" He asked the old unicorn.
"Go to Buck and apologize," Mistmane suggested. "Show him that you're willing to change for the better and accept him for who he now is. You both need to accept that you're not the same as you once were, and that the time has come to bury the wounds of old."
Knowing what needed to be done, Shining Armor raced out of the throne room, desperate to catch Buck and Lemony Hearts before it was too late.
…
"Well, this is a waste," Buck remarked bitterly as he and his girlfriend stormed towards the train station. "Guess someponies can't accept others for who they are, Lemony. But I guess I should've seen this coming! Why'd I have to call him a dork?! Of all the things to say, why was that the thing that had to slip out?!"
But before they had gotten far, they were stopped by Shining Armor who teleported in front of them, much to Buck's dismay.
"Buck, wait!" Shining cried even though Buck was in no mood to listen. "Look, I'm sorry for snapping at you back there!"
"Save your breath!" Buck cried in a bitter tone of voice. "Everything you said was true! I'm paying the price for all that I did to you in school! I never should've come here, I know where I'm not wanted!"
"Please, just listen to me for one second, alright?" Shining pleaded, teleporting himself in front of Buck once more and engulfing him in a shield.
"I'm listening, dork," Buck impatiently tapping his back hoof. "Well?"
"Look…" Shining sighed and began. "I know we can't turn back time and redo our school years together, but have you ever stopped to think about how upset I was every time you picked on me? Called me a 'dork'? I felt sad, I felt angry, I felt weak and alone. I wanted to get back at you more than anything, but I learned over time that revenge doesn't solve anything."
Buck didn't believe anything Shining Armor was trying to say as he frowned. Still, he was willing to defend himself.
"Look, Shining Armor," He commented. "I..I…should never have done what I did to you. I was a different pony back in the day. A terrible, horrible pony. I was too full of myself to see that you were a pony who had value. But seeing you angry at me, it made me realize just what kind of a jerk I was. You were right to be upset with me, just saying I'm sorry isn't going to erase the pain and suffering I inflicted on you and on others. But if you can give me a chance…I would like to start again with you, as a friend."
With each word spoken, Shining Armor's guard began to get lower and lower.
…
…
Back at the Crystal Empire's castle, Twilight had been found and was now sedated in her room by a small team of doctors.
"All right, she should be resting now," A doctor said to Cadence and the rest of Twilight's friends as he injected a sedative into Twilight's foreleg. "It was definitely an anxiety attack."
"I can't believe him," Cadence remarked. "I know Shining and Buck had a history, but Buck isn't the same pony as he used to be. Why is Shining Armor behaving like this? It's just not right. He's acting worse than when Thorax was causing a scare in the Crystal Empire."
"Indeed," Twilight Velvet added, holding onto Twilight's right front hoof. "Part of why he joined the royal guard in the first place was because he wanted to prove himself and ensure he'd never be pushed around again. Over time it morphed into a desire to protect the ones he cared about from harm. Seeing Buck Withers again, it must've rekindled that long buried desired."
Just then, the doors to the bedroom opened and in stepped Shining Armor followed by Buck and Lemony. Everypony in the room glared at the Crystal Empire's prince.
"How is she?" Shining nervously asked even though he needn't have bothered.
"Sedated, no thanks to you," Rainbow Dash declared. "What kind of big brother would upset his little sister like that?! You're supposed to be her big brother best friend forever!"
"I know there's no excuse for what I did, Rainbow Dash," Shining Armor solemnly responded to the angry rainbow maned pegasus. "Buck and I…we…used to have a hatred for one another. If there's anypony who should learn to accept Buck for who he is…it's me."
"And I have to accept you for who you are, Shining Armor," Buck delcared, standing in front of the prince. "You aren't what I once thought of you as back at Canterlot Academy. You're definitely not a…" A clearing of the throat from Lemony Hearts prevented Buck from finishing his sentence.
"Never mind." He finished, amd Shining Armor then turned his attention to Twilight, as she slowly started to open her eyes back up.
"Twily!" Shining walked over to his little sister and hugged her tightly!
The pain of the needle from the sedative was still fresh. "Ouch!" Twilight groggily winced as her brother released her from his hug.
"Twily, I'm sorry for my outburst earlier. I shouldn't have done it." Shining Armor replied.
"That's okay…" Twilight weakly answered, producing a small smile. "Just…try to keep your emotions in check next time."
…
…
Later that day, the birthday party for Flurry Heart was in full swing as all watched the young alicorn celebrate her big day.
"So, I guess we are on good terms again?" Buck asked Shining Armor as he and Lemony Hearts got ready to leave for home.
"I guess we are," Shining Armor answered. "Care to keep in touch?"
"I'd like that very much, your highness." Buck bowed.
Giving each other an embrace, both former rivals and classmates saw each other off.
But little did Shining Armor know that Cadence had a somewhat strange look on her face. "Hey Cadence, you all right?" Shining Armor asked upon noticing his wife's distress.
"I'm all right, it's just my stomach, that's all," Cadence answered as they made their way back to the castle. "It's Probably nothing."
Little did they know that in the aftermath of Shining Armor making peace with his former enemy, something big was coming to the Crystal Empire's royal family in due time…
…
…