//------------------------------// // School, Mares and SHOPPING!! // Story: Captain of the Royal guards // by LunarLover //------------------------------// Shining Armour's loud thunderous footsteps echoed through the small home of Mr and Mrs Sparkle. Shining Armour thundered into the kitchen to grab a bite before dashing out with a small piece of toasted bread and jam in his mouth. He was late, It didn't matter about proper eating habits if you are late for school, unfortunately they don't accept the excuse of little sisters taking up the bathroom to brush their mane for eons on end. Shining shook his head, dashing out he sped through the streets of Canterlot going by his usual route towards his school, unlike his little sister who attended a school in the afternoon his school called for him to be there are eight sharp, leaving the house at 7:55 was not the greatest idea. Aw damn He cursed in his mind as the school gates were already closed. This mean't two things, he was late, and he would have to use the back door which is guarded in Twilights opinion and own words. A scoundrel and a rapscallion. Shining made a note to stop his sister from reading those pirate books. Slowly shuffling up to the gate he received a cold death stare before gaining entrance to his school. School to Shining Armour was fun, although he was not like his sister who could easily out talk half his classmates, he was a popular jock with a strong sense of morals, many of his friends even gave him the nickname of the Blue Knight due to his sapphire blue mane and his strong sense in what was wrong. Quickly storming to class he steadied himself before knocking politely. After the words 'Come in' were heard he quietly opened the door and was faced with a sea of eyes pointing in his general direction. "Ah Mr. Armour nice of you to finally join us, you can barge your way through three defenders and yet you still find trouble coming to school early." Going through the sea of sniggers and chuckles he took his usual spot and lessons went on as per-normal. Making his way into the yard for what they called P.E. he strutted to the starting line ready for the race, "Ready...Steady...GO!!" Instinctively he tensed his muscles and took in a deep breath of air. Lunging forward he felt the cold wind whip his mane as his muscles ached slowly as he ran faster and faster. Almost instantly his opponents were left in the dust. But the person Shining was challenging was not his friends but himself. The pain was starting to build, his muscles were aching and his big gulp of breath had been reduced to short bursts. But he went on, to pass his time limits had to be broken simple as that, the last stretch always slowed him down. But as his little sister said, he had to sprint at the last meters rather to lower his guard and relax. He closed his eyes and ran at full speed toward the thin white string. He felt alive, his whole body started to break down but that didn't matter, his horn hit the string first, easily slicing through the line he collapsed on the ground in a heap of laughter and self appraisement. Soon after his friends caught up and dragged him to the coach. "Coach he did it again." "I mean seriously whats the point of all of us on the team if Shining just beats all of us." The coach looked up from his check board. "Stop yer whining, good job Shining, we'll make a soldier of you yet. Now everyone DODGEBALL" The complaints turned to joy and everyone headed to the field for a good thirty minutes of raw painful slinging of brutal projectiles. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ School was over at last, the time was perfect for some sparring, Every stallions pastime was usually filled with spar matched around Canterlot, It required both endurance and magic so you couldn't simply win through brute strength, In the ring his nickname was the Impenetrable Armour. His natural gift at creating force fields of all sorts was only seconded by his little sisters ability to use all sorts of magic. But something stopped him, his friends had already invited him to go but somebody already made plans with him, specifically the one that all his friends constantly tease him about, it was Cadence. As childhood friends with an Alicorn Shining knew that a certain barrier of hierarchy and noble bloodline would always stand in the way of their relationship, although still friends (For now) Cadence entered a school for the rich and mighty, Luckily for Shining she kept to her child like ways and refused to grow up. "Shiny!" Immediately a pink blur slammed into the great stallions side forcing a large big embrace on her prey, The Male stallion simply stood there with a look of annoyance on his face. It had been forever since Cadence felt it was needed to spread love in the world, although it worked on many, Shining always felt a little awkward hugging her, nevertheless after many years of trying to fend her off he resigned to his fate of being hugged upon meetings, "Hello Cady." He mimicked her high pitch voice jokingly. "Would you mind allowing my lungs to gather air?" She stopped hugging him and bounced in glee. "Alright then lets go go go." Wrapping her fore hoof around his, she hopped jubilantly forward dragging the misfortunate young stallion towards certain doom. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Hows this?" It had been over two hours since they stopped at the mall, unlike more mares Cadence's age she didn't have a good Marefriend to go out to shop with due to aristocrats being in her opinion "Boring and snobby." The high mares were either conservative or very snooty and the stallions were no greater match. Shining felt like stabbing a stake through his heart. "Its fine Cadence." He sighed as she showed him the one hundredth dress she put on. "Is it really necessary to dress up for this shindig?." Cadence did a twirl before disappearing behind a mountain of tried on clothes to pick out a new one. "Unlike you Princess MI Amore Cadenza needs to look good or the tabloids will get me." Shining Armour shook his head. The life of a princess certainly was not easy. "And I need a good strong stallion to carry my ba- ah I mean tell me what looks good and what doesn't." Shining knew it wasn't mostly about clothes due to Cadence knowing that her friend was terrible at fashion. "Alright then lets see the next one" The words left his mouth as a dressed up Cadence approached him with her newest dress. It was a pure white with a golden rose on the front with gold lining for the sides. Shining's mouth could only say "Woah" Cadence rolled her eyes. "I can't wear this you know its a wedding dress." She stared back at the much entranced Stallion friend. "Do I look good?" She winked at him and laughed. Immediately Shining felt his face go hot when he realized his awkward stare. "Actually it makes your butt look big." His quick reaction timing was not ready for the flying three inch heel slamming into his face. The helper at the store shook her head. "Not something you want to be saying to your girlfriend." He froze at that word. "S..she's not my girlfriend just my...Best friend." Cadence had already disappeared behind the mound to grab another dress. "Sure thing, whatever floats your boat." The shopkeeper smiled and dived into the mountain to pull a drowning Alicorn out. "Alright I think I'll get the red one." Payment was unnecessary, Being princess does have it's pros. They wandered slowly through the shops, Rather Shining carried the bags whilst Cadence hopped from store to store looking for more things to buy. He wandered after the pink ball of madness silently taking his time. Cadence barely had time outside her royal duties to shop and every time she did Shining would suffer. Well he didn't suffer he liked hanging out with her, she was the only one he could be properly comfortable with. "Well if Cadence I really like your new servant, he seems really strong." Shining's thoughts were interrupted by a Noble pony with Cadence. Well snob alert. "Don't be silly, he's my best friend." She pulled him up. "Shining meet Sir Limeberry." She paused for dramatic affect. "Heir of the lime plantation on the outskirts of Canterlot ." "I'm pleased to meet your friend Princess." Shining felt a vein in his forehead pulse when he heard the tone when Limebreey said friend the nobility really expressed the word arrogant very well. "But more importantly who are you planning to take to the upcoming ball?" Cadence frowned at the question. It was a simple yet very political question at the same time. "I don't know yet haven't decided yet ." Limeberry face suddenly lit up into a large smile. "Well you should make your decisions fast, its coming up soon and you shouldn't be without a partner." He flattened out his already extremely waxed hair before looking back at her. Giving the world's most forced smile Cadence looked around for a way out. "Well alright I'll make my decision soon alright? Bye" She quickly waved him off and grabbed Shining Armour before dashing away like the wind. "Well I didn't think that nobles would go to such desperate measures to ask you out to prom." Cadence caught her breath and giggled. "Well whoever goes to prom with me usually gets fame and recognition." Her smile dropped "I feel like a prize." Shining felt now would be a good time to hug her. Surprised by it she swung around accidently elbowing him in the eye. His vision grew black before opening his eyes seconds later facing the ceiling. "OhMyGoshI'mSoSorry." A Stream of apologies poured out into his ear and Shining simply nursed his black eye and laughed. "Well then I didn't know hugging could be so dangerous." He calmed her down and she checked his eye. "Well it makes your face look better" She teased. It was his turn to roll his eyes. "All it needs is a healing kiss." Before he could repudiate she leaned in and gave him a small peck on the cheek. He wiped it off and fell onto his back. "W...what did you do that for, we aren't kids anymore." He rubbed his face and Cadence giggled at his childish need to get rid of invisible cooties. "Aww you're blushing." "Am not." "Am too." They would have continued their usual light hearted bickering until Shining checked the clock. He stood up quickly and picked up the fallen shopping bags. "A..anyway I gotta go home." Cadence hugged him one more time. "Its alright I'll get the guards to pick up the bags." As the words left her mouth two Lunar guards appeared from the shadows stealing the bags into the darkness. Shining's face fell. "What was the point in me carrying them then?" She smiled playfully. "Aww lighten up, whats the point of those muscles if you don't use them." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The walk home was uneventful, saying his goodbyes with Cadence he waved her off and headed into the house. "Hey guys hows it go-" His sentence was cut short by his little sister crying on the floor in the lap of his mother. "Whats going on?" "Your sister got bullied today by a bunch of stallions at school."