//------------------------------//
// The Next Stop 
// Story: Ideas Entwined 
// by FanOfMostEverything 
//------------------------------//

Strictly speaking, Canterlot Central Terminal was only two of the three. Yes, it was in Canterlot and a rail line ended there, but the actual central hub of the Equestrian rail system lay at the base of the Canterhorn. The strategic value of being able to deploy disaster relief and defensive troops anywhere in the nation was a fantastic boon, but asking every train route to climb up the mountain was the sort of thing that could send engineers into hour-long rants.

“You okay, Shining?”

Shining Armor sighed as the question forced him out of his nice, distracting train of thought (heh) and back to the floor of Canterlot Central. He’d much rather think about military logistics than his feelings, but some topics were unavoidable when engaged to the Princess of Love. The pink wing spread over his withers helped ease the sting. “It’s just… I was the last to know in all of this.”

Cadence blinked, eyebrows raised. “Really?”

“I didn’t find out Twilight was leaving Canterlot until her chariot was already on the runway. Barely had time to say goodbye." Shining sighed, eyes on the past. "But I was actually proud of her.”

“Because she was pulling her head out of her books?”

Shining grinned. “Well, that and that’s how Princess Celestia usually sets up covert missions." He looked around. There were few other ponies hanging around the arrivals/departures board, but he still leaned in close to Cadence. "You hear it all the time from the spooks: ‘Hey, we’ve got a problem. Here’s a vague description of what’s going on, now go do this even more vaguely related task.'" He pulled back, grinning even wider. "But, you know, more regal.”

She tittered into a hoof. Just seeing her smile helped relieve some heartache. “And the vaguer it is, the more important the mission. That’s how it’s always worked for me." Cadence shook her head. "Remember the time she had me sit in front of a mirror for three days?”

“Officially speaking?" Shining straightened up, adopting a thousand-yard stare he'd refined over many night watches. "No, Your Highness. No, I do not.”

“And that’s why you’re captain of the guard.”

“Oh yeah. I don’t remember half of what I know.” Shining's smile faltered as his mind went back to the earlier topic. “But I really didn’t know Twily wouldn’t be coming back.”

That got him a nudge in his ribs. “You’re making it sound like she’s dead. Ponyville’s only eleven minutes away.”

“It’s still the furthest we’ve ever been from each other. You can’t just turn off being a big brother. Or a parent. Dad’s throwing himself into his work so he doesn’t have to think about his little filly living next to the Everfree.” Shining shuddered. Now that he'd said it, he was imagining what untold horrors Twily might encounter in her new home.

“What about Velvet?” asked Cadence.

“You kidding? Mom’s jealous. Probably wanted a piece of Nightmare Moon herself." Shining frowned. He'd arranged his worries in his mind like soldiers, and the next row in the parade came marching through. "And that’s the other thing; Twilight’s attuned to an Element of Harmony. That’s big Destiny stuff, with a capital D.”

“We always knew she was meant for great things.”

“Yeah, but I figured she’d just revolutionize magic in some lab where she’d be the biggest danger to herself. My little sister fighting monsters and mad princesses like some O&O adventurer?" Shining shook his head. "I never even imagined that.”

Cadence patted him on the withers. “Well, hopefully they’ll be few and far between. And you have to admit, going by the last letter she sent, she’s happier than she’s been in years.”

“It’s not like I was going to try to order her back home. I’m just getting used to her not being here anymore.”

That got a flat look and another poke in the ribs. “It’s been a moon, Shining.”

He could only shrug. “And it’ll be longer until I stop worrying.”

“You, your sister, your father…" Cadence sighed even as she smiled. "I’m marrying into a whole family of worrywarts.”

And there came the one problem recruit bringing up the rear. “That reminds me, you told her about the engagement, right?”

Cadence balked at Shining. “I thought you—“

The arrival board clattered as new information rolled into place, accompanied by a magically projected announcement. “11:32 local now arriving on Track 4.”

“That’s her train!” Shining galloped for the right platform.

He barely noticed the shout behind him. “Shining! Ugh, a whole family of crazy worrywarts.”