//------------------------------//
// Of Alicorn 
// Story: Armor Gleaming Bright 
// by Starscribe 
//------------------------------//





Shining was the last pony to suggest needless relaxation after the worst of a crisis was over. After all, she had no reliable information about what was outside the shield, and every reason to suspect that the Empire might be under siege again at any moment.

But the Crystal Empire’s unique magical defenses created an incentive to keep ponies as relaxed and happy as she possibly could. She had tried to call Canterlot for aid, but no phone in the city could reach beyond the Empire’s borders. Their enemy outside the wall could apparently isolate them so completely that their incredible new inventions could not reach. 

If ponies weren’t so overconfident about all these fancy new technologies, maybe we’d have a few dragonfire scrolls left in the palace to send back for help. But she couldn’t find any, and so she abandoned any hope that rescue might come for them.

In the Crystal Empire, that meant only one thing: it was time for a party. In other times, she probably could’ve expected serious resistance from the quartermasters and petty city bureaucrats, who would demand an accounting of every bit she spent. But “Gleaming Shield” was an Alicorn princess, and she had saved the city when its actual ruler left with the whole army. 

There were even whispers that Cadance had known the army would come here, and had seized the chance to flee. For this claim Shining had no patience whatsoever. “There’s not a bucking chance,” she said, glowering at the soldier who had repeated the idea. “This is Flurry’s home as much as yours, and Cadance loves every creature in these walls. Anyone who repeats that in my presence again can’t come to the party.”

A pity she didn’t have any of Twilight’s friends around to throw the party. But while Shining didn’t have the special talent for it, she had been to college. Lay out enough booze, keep the kitchens busy and invite the most attractive locals, and she had a recipe for quite the celebration.

It began as a more somber feast, with a blazing pyre to the fallen soldiers outside the palace grounds. But as the flames began to rise and the ceremonial prayer was concluded, she turned towards the palace. “Every creature who lifted a hoof or claw to protect the Empire is invited to celebrate with us,” she called, amplifying her voice with some simple unicorn magic. It was amazing how much authority could come from just talking louder than everyone else.

The palace ballrooms had once hosted dignitaries from all over the world, dancing in delicate circles in their fine gowns. Now it was packed with drunk soldiers, singing rowdy marching songs and eating too much.

“You’re still wearing that armor?” Copperhorn asked, after the sun had gone down and the dancing was more energetic. Like most of the officers he’d changed into a cloth uniform, rather than just stripping down completely as the rank-and-file had done. “You can’t possibly be relaxed wearing all that.”

She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. It had been many years since Shining had been at a party like this—not since her marriage, really. “I’ll have to talk to the quartermaster about a uniform,” she said. “I couldn’t possibly take my armor off otherwise. The mares and stallions would…” 

“They’ll think you’re a pony like them?” Copperhorn suggested, grinning at her. “You must be, under all that. Even the bravest hero is a pony too, underneath.”

“I am too!” she insisted, jerking back from her seat. “Being an Alicorn is the change. I rose through the ranks like anypony else. I did my time digging latrines and patrolling waystops. I served three tours before I…”

She was getting too specific, any more and someone was going to put things together. Even if she was a mare now, it was a small miracle that nopony had recognized her yet. Even retired guard captains had statues. The big family portrait, including a much younger and more regal version of him, was still hanging near the entry stairs.

What am I going to do when somepony recognizes me?

“Is that so?” somepony else asked. Lantern Light, with the stench of alcohol on his breath. Apparently he’d wandered over during the conversation, along with several others. “The mystery Alicorn says she’s one of us. Join us for a dance then, Princess! Do the Winter Waltz.”

A few ponies gasped, others turned to stare. Another officer appeared from nearby, rushing to drag the drunk Lantern away. But the words were already out. Once spoken, Shining could hear the mutters starting.

“Alright.” She hesitated, her horn glowing brighter. Lantern recoiled, shielding his face with one hoof. As though that would’ve protected him from anything.

Shining teleported a few steps backward, without her armor. It held its shape empty for a fraction of a second, then crumbled to the ground. That alone elicited a gasp or two for its familiarity rather than the strangeness. Or… maybe they were just staring at Shining.

She tucked her tail slightly, but there was no backing down now. These ponies needed to know she could still be like them. The Heart had to last until rescue arrived.

Besides, it’s true. I’m no Alicorn princess. This wasn’t even supposed to happen.

As she approached the dance floor in the center of the room, the orchestra shifted. Slow strings transitioned to the drum and high brass of the Winter Waltz. 

Everypony was so big. Her wings opened and closed awkwardly at her sides, but she couldn’t do anything with them anyway. So long as she didn’t make a fool of herself, and they didn’t fall off, that would probably be enough.

Who could she dance with? Her face reddened at the thought. Normally he’d always picked the most attractive mare around and always ended up with his wife. But she wasn’t here. More importantly, the Waltz was an ancient dance, too old-fashioned to allow her a female partner. Anyway, she wasn’t quite sure the most attractive ponies here were mares. 

This is harder than fighting the Troggles, she thought. Ponies were muttering, practically half the room crowded close to stare. The longer she stood here acting shy, the weaker her case became. Some of them weren’t saying anything about her dancing… they were commenting about her looks.

There was only one choice. Her eyes settled on Copperhorn, still lingering by the table. She lifted one hoof to him, expectant. “Copperhorn,” she called. “You’re the most senior officer here. Come and dance with me.”

He did, though he didn’t meet her eyes as he finally took her hoof. Just a light touch, and they spun once around each other, beginning the relatively simple performance. Except that nopony in the ballroom was dancing along. They were all staring.

“I’m… sorry,” he stammered, face pale. “I didn’t mean to imply I had the authority to… This is how I ended up commanding the reserve in the first place.”

Shining shrugged. “I wouldn’t do it during peacetime. But I’ll forgive you.” She was hardly the best performer—once she twitched out of line, beginning the stallion’s part before she realized what she was doing. She missed a required bow necessary for any pegasus (or Alicorn). But it seemed everypony was too drunk to care.

When she finally finished with the last bow, the room shook with cheers again.

Shining might wish she could forget some of the things she heard whispered about her that night—but most of it just made her chest feel light and her face warm. Equestria had always had some of the most beautiful rulers. Why should she expect to be any different?




The city was still celebrating several days later, when the Royal Guard finally arrived in the city, announcing the final destruction of the Monster King. Shining was at the palace steps with Captain Copperhorn and the ragtag survivors of the battle, watching as Cadance’s carriage touched down. Her wife had never been much of a fighter, but she'd come with the first wave anyway. She wants to make sure I'm okay.

"We weren't sure there would be anyone left," said one of the pegasi, looking around the palace grounds with visible relief. "The Monster King wasn't supposed to send half its forces north."

Shining nodded absently. "I don't know enough about this enemy to speculate. Maybe it was just aiming for maximum destruction, and it didn't care about accomplishing any specific goal. Maybe it made a tactical misjudgment, and thought it could catch Princess Cadance alone up here. Either way..." She shrugged both wings. Even after just a few days, she was getting used to the basic movements. Probably wouldn't be jumping out of any more buildings anytime soon, but...

Princess Cadance stepped out of her carriage, and Shining’s mouth fell open. Her wife had dressed in some armor of her own, though it bore little resemblance to anything Shining was wearing. While Shining's gear was practical and strong, Cadance wore thin silver metal cut to accentuate her beauty. 

It worked. I'm allowed to stare. She's my wife. 

The Alicorn finally turned, seeming to notice Shining at last. She jerked once, wiping at her eyes with one hoof. Shining grinned stupidly back at her, the way he had so many times before.

Her escort seemed entirely oblivious to their brief exchange. "Apparently she hadn't left it defenseless," the pegasus continued. "We had a secret Alicorn protecting us this whole time. How could that be?"

"That's for the princess to tell you. We made it, that's the important thing. The Crystal Empire is safe."

Cadance slowed as she approached, rather than meeting her in one of their characteristically public hugs. She towered over Shining now, the same way she did over everypony else around. Shining was practically the shortest pony on the landing platform.

Her tail began to swish back and forth in her frustration, but she bit her lip, biting back the worst of her embarrassment. 

The soldiers began to stare, confused as what should've been a joyful reunion became suddenly tense. Cadance’s wings twitched, each one covered with entirely impractical feather armor. But it sure did make her look imposing. "You're awake," she finally said. "I was beginning to worry you never would."

How much can I say with all these ponies around? She had no desire to share Empire secrets with everypony—they would probably be better off the less they knew. But she hadn't become a soldier because she was diplomatic. "I'd say 'me too,' but nopony told me I was going to be asleep. How long have I been gone?"

Soldiers muttered all around them. Shining could guess what they were whispering without having to hear it. 

Through her thin helmet, Shining could see tears begin to streak down her face. Cadance shoved past her escort, embracing Shining with all the earth-pony force she was accustomed to. Only this time her joints didn't protest, and she didn't bite her tongue with the pain that would show just how old she was becoming.

Being the shorter of the two wasn't new for her, but being smaller was a little harder. Even while fully armored herself, Shining felt like Cadance could probably crush her if she wanted. Or pick her up and carry her off to... wherever she wanted.

So maybe that wasn't so different either.

"I thought I'd lost you again," Cadance whispered. "When the scouts said the Troggles had come north, I couldn't think of anything but you locked up in the palace. They would find you, and... all this waiting would be for nothing."

She was crying too. A strange feeling—Shining hadn't cried since Applejack's wedding. But she couldn't stop the tears. She might be different, but Cadance was the same mare she'd always dreamed about. The same smell, the same voice, the same strength. It was only Shining who had become less.

But this time, for a purpose. This time I can get it all back. "Did you know it would happen?" she asked. The pain had ached at her chest since her first moments awake. "Please, tell me the truth. I need to know."

Cadance pulled away, straightening her armor with a quick flash of magic. She gave Shining a meaningful look, then raised her voice a little so the others could hear. "Alicorns have always arrived when they were most needed. We aren't just unicorns who can fly. I am incredibly grateful to see a... daughter of the Crystal Empire rising to protect us in our time of need."

Of course. How hadn't she seen it? Her sister had seemed so sad—and Flurry didn't have to be there to ask him to change into a mare. They'd been afraid they were saying goodbye. You can't just make an Alicorn princess. Fate matters too. You had to wait until there was a place for me.

"Gleaming Shield brought honor to the Empire!" said Copperhorn from beside her, helpfully. "She fought like the old blood, Princess. I've never seen a warrior so experienced at her age."

Cadance’s eyebrows went up. "Gleaming Shield is wiser than she looks," she said. "And stronger too, it seems. Equestria will need her strength in the years ahead."

The next few hours passed in a blur after that. She toured the city with Cadance, explaining everything they'd done to protect the city and their efforts to rebuild already begun. Cadance listened closely, apparently unsurprised by Shining's strategies. She had fought before, and knew how to direct the army. 

"I wasn't sure how long this engagement would continue," she explained, as they finally reached the barracks. "But I've replaced the reserve program with something that should make sure its ponies are prepared if they have to fight again." She hesitated, eyebrows going up. "Will we have to fight again? I never thought I'd see the day Equestria was invaded again, but..."

Princess Cadance watched her. She'd been giving her that same look whenever she thought Shining wasn't paying attention. She still hadn't figured out what it meant. Mostly she wanted some time alone with her wife to catch up after everything, but her duty to the Empire came first. As frustrating as it could sometimes be...

"Grogar the Monster King is gone," she said. "Another statue for the Canterlot Gardens. But the world is a big place. Princess Twilight has been suggesting an active expansion of Equestria into lands long abandoned. The more of us there are, the harder we are to conquer." 

She turned away from the training ground, and the spear-drill taking place down below. "Join me in the carriage, Gleaming Shield. We have a lot to talk about."

She followed her, leaving their escort of soldiers behind. Part of Shining's old instincts protested to leave the garrison without a proper command. Copperhorn wasn't really cut out for this yet. But he would be, with a few more months of instruction. There were plenty of good ponies in the reserve, though they'd all washed up and washed out for one reason or another. Shining didn't need the finest raw materials so long as they cared about their country.

Only when the carriage doors were shut, and they were up into the air again did Cadance finally speak. "I'm glad I got that armor made. You look even prettier in it than I imagined you would." 

Shining reacted instantly, pressing her legs together. Her face flushed, ears tilting backwards. "I don't..." She winced. I risked my life fighting monsters, but I can't tell my wife how I feel? She cleared her throat and started over. "I understand why I... feel the same way about you. You're the same mare I've always loved. Maybe a little taller, but that only..." she swallowed "...helps. But I'm nothing like I used to be. If you couldn't see my cutie mark, you probably wouldn't recognize me."

Cadance's horn glowed, and something lifted Shining right up off the seat, settling her beside Cadance. She wrapped one wing around her shoulder, giggling with laughter. "Now I know for sure you must be my Shiny. He's the only stallion I can think of who would ask the Princess of Love if she could still feel attracted to the pony she fell in love with, just because she's a mare now."

She reached down, running one hoof through Shining's mane, the same way he used to do for her. "I knew from the moment I fell in love with you that something would have to change sooner or later. Alicorns live a long time, and regular ponies... don't. This is leagues better than I could've imagined."

She reached back, levitating her own helmet down onto the seat beside her. Before she could say anything, a hoof banged on the front of the carriage, loud enough that they both jumped.

"We're approaching the palace now, Princess...es. Where should we land?"

"Do a few more circuits," Cadance called, her voice instantly returning to its usual regal, commanding tone. "I'll let you know when we're ready to land."

She twisted sideways, pulling Shining up to her chest. "I've been waiting for years for you to wake up, Shiny. All this time I've wondered what it would be like when you did. I was afraid you'd be different... that you wouldn't want me anymore. Maybe you'd be some soft little puff of feathers who wanted to hide in towers somewhere."

"Never," Shining exclaimed. Armor might separate them, but she hardly even cared. Shining hadn't fought so desperately to save an empty palace. She fought for her family. For this moment. "You might have to go a little easy on me," she admitted. "I might look... different. But I don't feel different. I'm not going to be graceful and pretty just because I'm an Alicorn."

"You might be surprised," Cadance said. "I always loved a mare in uniform." Then she kissed her.