In Canterlot’s University of Magic there studied a jet-black mare with a simply styled canary mane drawn back and draped down the side of her neck. Star Crystal’s cutie mark told of her newfound talent in jewelry with a crystal star connected to a few links of gold at the top point. It was a good fit for her who considered herself to be a fashionable pony that could appreciate a well cut gem that sparkled just right in the light. She knew a few of the other unicorns who served as her classmates. But she decided to strike up a conversation with an unfamiliar face during her first days. A classmate she ran into in a number of her general classes was studying sentinel and warding magic. His name and cutie mark hinted her toward his desired future of becoming a member of the Canterlot Guard. Shining Armor also had a talented sister who was once watched over by an alicorn needing hooves-on practice with foal psychology. His family had become so pleased and comfortable around the foal-sitter that the princess was unofficially adopted into the family. He shrugged when asked if he was particularly close to the princess. She could see a sparkle of interest in his eyes and faintly blushed muzzle. Maybe he felt an alicorn was out of his league.
They continued to meet between and even after their classes. You’d never think to put the two together, but they became fast friends. Sometimes all you need to do is move two bright hearts close together for those bonds of friendship to begin. Others might say that a choice stallion and an elegant mare can’t help but take interest in one another if encountered frequently enough. Really, their exchanges were innocent enough and their conversation quite normal. Time allowed for bonds of trust to form, small and large favors were exchanged such as overnight work on an emergency Mother’s Day gift or trip to the crystal caves below Canterlot when she needed the comfort of a friend to brave the dark and unknown.
Through their young adulthood, they were powerful and dependable supports for one another. Two events made this more apparent than others. Wanting to remain in Canterlot with her friend, she stayed with her mother after a heartbreaking divorce. Living with her was a small annoyance as she frequently told to avoid her mother’s mistake in falling for some middle class stallion who couldn’t support her expensive tastes and a lavishing lifestyle. She loved her father and it was hard hearing anypony speak that way about him. Her mother seemed happy with Armor and his family when she heard about an alicorn foal-sitter and a daughter gaining admittance to a very exclusive school for gifted fillies. So the situation wasn’t as bad as it could have been. Shining Armor provided the support he could, even if he was the one in need. His sister was the only pony closer to him than she was, and it was hard to see her sent away to live somewhere far away. She stood by him and promised that there would be chances to see her in the future. But as busy as he was becoming with entering the guard reserve, that time never really came. She could only push him to write his dear sister and be sure to stay in contact. She even did some writing to be sure Twilight Sparkle could go about Princess Celestia’s errand without worrying about her big brother.
The time came for them to pursue their separate dreams when their studies had ended. He past his examination with flying colors and was admitted into the lower ranks of the guard. He was stationed at the walls or the gates for his strength in ward and shield magic. She enjoyed surprising him at his post with snacks or a lunch to eat during the day. Their visits were permitted as long as she didn’t interfere with his position. This was made easy by some accommodating stallions who agreed to hold his post while the two took a moment’s time together. Luck passed her by as well when she found herself in conversation with an old master of her trade. She would be taken on as an apprentice to take the shop one day, after every secret had been passed on and the old master felt ready to give up his legacy. The pair couldn’t have been happier; nor with one another. It was during these happy days that the two took notice in how much of their life had been shared with the other. In these days, the caught themselves thinking on the other more and more.