//------------------------------// // Metal's Place // Story: The Brother and The Sitter // by Spike120812 //------------------------------// Metal's Place The summer sunlight beating down on the ground was perfectly balanced with the cool breeze blowing in the open space of one of the many parks in Canterlot. The grass swayed in a weird combination of disarray and harmony, and the blue sea of the sky was splotched white with clouds. Sitting by one of the benches, Shining Armor and Cadance were throwing rocks into the nearby lake in front of them. The pink alicorn was trying her hoof at stone skipping while Shining Armor sat there trying to teach her, holding her close with each motion he demonstrated. "Okay. First, find as flat of a rock as you can." He levitated two somewhat flat rocks from the lake shore into his and Cadance's hooves. "Then bring it back to your side at an angle." She did as she was told. "Aaaaaaand fling it." The stone left Shining Armor's hoof and met the lake with repeated splashes as it hopped across the water for a few seconds before finally sinking down into the mud at the bottom of the lake. Cadance watched the sight in awed silence. She looked to the stone in her outstretched hoof nervously, not wanting to mess up. Deciding to go for it, she flung the rock the way Shining Armor instructed and, to her surprise, saw it hop on the lake at least four times before descending into the water. She let out a few cheers and hugged her coltfriend tightly at her recent success. Coltfriend. That was a word that still filled her with joy, knowing that the kindest, funniest, and at times, goofiest colt she knew, was somepony she could call hers. Shining Armor himself was finding it hard to believe that Cadance was his marefriend now. A few days had passed since their kiss at Joe's, and every day since that night, Shining woke up feeling the same sense of joy and disbelief he felt the instant they had shared their first kiss. He held onto her and they both nuzzled each other affectionately. "You're so cute, you know that?" Shining Armor complimented playfully, earning a small laugh from Cadance. "You're pretty cute too," Cadance replied as she leaned into his shoulder, giving her a clear view of the park and the shining sun. It was beautiful, more so than normal. Celestia took extra care of today, and Cadance had a pretty good idea as to why. It was Shining's day off after all, so of course the two lovebirds would want to spend it together. Shining looked down to the pink mare on his shoulder and took notice of her beauty. The curls from a few nights ago settled back to Cadance's natural manestyle, and for the first time in a long time, he noticed a piece of royal jewelry around her neck, a gold necklace with a dark purple diamond encrusted within. Sweet Celestial she was beautiful. So many words could've been spoken, so many words of admiration could've been said, but those two didn't need them. Their silence as they leaned into each other was all they needed to let the other know how much they admired one another. Those two could've stayed that way all day, leaning onto each other side by side, but their stomachs had another plan. GURGLE GURGLE GURGLE A wave of hunger surged through Shining Armor's stomach, sounding off like a rabid dog. Cadance rose off Shining's shoulder and saw the weak smile he put on. She was about to say something until gurgles of her own arose, causing her to put on the same weak smile. "How long have we been out here?" Cadance asked. "I... have no idea," Shining Armor laughed. "Wanna go get something to eat?" "Can we go to Joe's?" Cadance asked with foal-like enthusiasm and a pleading grin. "Sure." Shining gave a slight bow and outstretched a hoof. "Shall we?" Cadance placed her gentle hoof into his inviting one. "Let's," she replied, eagerness oozing from her very being at the idea of getting more of those donuts she recently fell in love with. *************** The two teenage ponies happily strolled through the streets of Canterlot with their destination in mind; a site that will forever mean something special to them. As they walked through the streets, Shining Armor took notice of something new, something he really hadn't noticed before. Ponies were staring at him and Cadance as they walked by. With every pony they passed, he saw the same awestruck expression plastered on their faces. It was creeping him out a bit. "Ugh, Cadance?" "Yeah, Shining?" Cadance asked back. "Have you noticed that everypony is... staring at us?" Cadance began to look around and did in fact see a barrage of ponies eyeing her and Shining Armor. Just as Shining Armor saw, she too saw the awestruck expressions on their faces. "Oh, yeah," Cadance said with a tone like she just understood a joke. "And you're not just the tiniest bit creeped out?" Shining said as he looked around. "When you're a princess of Equestria walking through the streets, you're bound to get some looks. After a certain amount of time, you just get used to it," Cadance explained as memories of the first few times she gained that kind of attention flashed through her mind. "How do you deal with it?" "Simple; smile, wave, and let them know everything's alright." As another pony across the street stopped to look at the two, Cadance caught his eyes. Just as she said, she smiled, waved, and gave a gentle nod. It may have seemed rehearsed due to the many times she's done this set of actions before, but it was genuine nonetheless. The pony across the street gave a small bow before resuming his trot through the streets and left Shining Armor and Cadance to do the same. Shining Armor walked beside his marefriend, completely awestruck at how calmly she handled all the eyes on them. He never knew just how strong she could be. For now, he just chalked it up on his ever-growing list of reasons he adored Cadance. The two continued their walk towards "Joe's Donuts," Shining Armor trying not to have a panic attack from the stares while Cadance handled it with her usual grace. Eventually, they were met with the fragrance of fresh baked dough and cocoa coming from the couple’s favorite donut shop. Cadance began to trot much faster towards the building once the scent of donuts and hot chocolate reached her nose. By the time Shining Armor caught up to her, he saw Cadance staring at a note stuck on the closed door. “Back in 15, -Joe” "Guess he's on break," Shining Armor suggested. "I guess..." Cadance began to pout. "SHINY!!!" called a familiar accented voice. "CADANCE!!!" it called again. Cadance and Shining Armor spun their heads to look across the street where they saw Stardust in a dead sprint towards the two. Before crashing into the couple, Stardust skidded to a stop mere inches away from their muzzles. She had what could probably go down as the largest smile in Canterlot on her face and her eyes were wide in excitement. "Street. Across. Restaurant. New. Come. Job. Perform!" Stardust spat out while waving her forehooves in the air. "Star, slow down." Shining Armor advised to his ecstatic friend. "No time!" Stardust exclaimed right before taking off. "C'Mon!" she called, already a good distance away. “Must be important,” Shining Armor mused to Cadance, “she isn’t the kind of mare to be in a rush for anything.” "What's this about?" Cadance asked. "I guess we're gonna find out," Shining Armor answered before he and Cadance began to follow the blue mare ahead of them. The two chased down the sprinting mare for about two streets from Joe’s until a brown wooden building came into view. Painted in electric blue, a flat stone sign at the top of the building read "Metal's Place,” and by the front of the wooden structure was Stardust, waving for Cadance and Shining Armor to come over. "Star, what's all this about?" Shining Armor asked once he met up with his friend. Instead of an answer, Stardust pointed a hoof at the window of "Metal's Place.” Inside was a flyer in big lettering. "Grand Opening of Metal's Place this Friday! Best veggie burgers and hay fries in Canterlot. Live music every night. Now hiring waiters/waitresses. Performers needed. Performers come in and show us your stuff! Waiter/Waitress applications can be picked up inside." "Ohhhh, you're gonna try out?" Shining asked after reading the flyer. "Even better!" Stardust squealed happily. She motioned for Shining Armor and Cadance to come into the new restaurant. They descended the small stairs into the interior to see an all wooden design. It was about as big as "Joe's Donuts" and nearly resembled that of a southern cattle house, but in the back stood a circular stage. Tables were scattered around and small stools circled each table. "There's my new girl!" called a voice from the cider/juice bar by the stage. Cadance and Shining Armor turned to see Stardust and a grey-coated unicorn colt, who looked no older than themselves, in a warm embrace. "Guys," Stardust began, "this is my new boss, Metal Wave." The colt known as Metal Wave went into a light bow upon seeing Cadance and let his blue and black bangs droop over his face. "Princess Cadance! It's such an honor to have you here!" Metal Wave gasped from his bowing position. "The pleasure is all mine, but there's no need for bowing. I'm just a regular pony," Cadance soothed. Metal Wave stood back up a little hesitantly at Cadance's casual tone. "If you say so, your majesty." "Just call me Cadance." "Okay... Cadance," Metal said with a tone a little too high for a colt his age. "Aaaaaany way," Stardust started, gaining the ponies attention in the process, "guess who's the new regular performer at 'Metal's Place’." "I don't know... you?" Shining Armor answered back slyly. "BINGO!" Stardust exclaimed excitedly, “this is gonna be my first time performing for others that aren’t in my bedroom!” "This is also gonna be the first time you’ll be waitressing," Metal Wave added in. "Oh, yeah, that too," Stardust waved off, making the grey colt next to her a little nervous in his decision of her employment. "Wait, you're gonna be working here?" Shining Armor asked. "Oh, yeah. That was the other thing I wanted to tell you. To be a 'Regular Performer', you also gotta work here." Shining Armor took a moment to reel in this new information before he hesitantly asked his next question. "Does this mean you're not gonna work at the library anymore?" Noticing his change in tone, Stardust put on a reassuring smile. "Ah, don't worry, Shiny. You're still gonna see me around. Besides, this is like a dream for me. This is gonna be my first time performing for other ponies, and I don't wanna be a library assistant my whole life." Shining Armor really did understand. He knew Stardust had greater ambitions, and it was just a matter of time until she pursued them. Both were about to enter that age where a pony leaves home to pursue their dreams or destinies, and Stardust was no different. "Well, I'm happy for you, Star," Shining said genuinely. "Thanks, Shiny." The reassuring smile on Stardust's face turned into one of pure excitement. "I still can't believe it! In just a few days, I'm gonna perform for other ponies!" "And waitress," Metal Wave added. "Oh, that reminds me, you need to meet the other mare I hired. She's gonna be another regular performer and waitress." Stardust was caught off guard by Metal’s revelation, leading her to face him and put on a quizzical look. "Other mare?" "Yeah, she's helping my uncle with some of the electrical equipment for the stage in the back." Just as Metal Wave finished explaining, a large speaker and a microphone set encased in a magical aura floated from a room next to the stage in the back. Following the floating objects was a familiar amber-coated unicorn stallion wearing a baker's outfit and hat. "Well, well, if it ain't Shining Armor and Princess Cadance!" the stallion said with a small smile. "Joe!" Shining Armor exclaimed at the sight of his favorite donut pony. "What are you doing here?" "Just helpin' my nephew out with the opening of his new restaurant," Joe said as he was setting the mics and speaker on the stage. "Thanks again, Uncle Joe," Metal Wave spoke up. "No problem, Wavy." Shining Armor started to blink as he tried to force his brain to make the connection that Pony Joe and Metal Wave were related. The fact that they were both unicorns and had nearly the same shade of green in their eyes was enough for him to see the resemblance and enough for his brain to finally finish its connection. “Joe, you never told me you had a nephew,” Shining Armor spoke up. “I’ve got a lot of nephews. About an eighth of Manehatten’s restaurants are run by someone in my family,” Joe explained, earning a surprised expression from Shining Armor. “What? Big family.” “Anyways,” Metal interjected, focusing on the amber stallion, “where’s Sapphire? I thought she was helping you with the setup?” “I’m right here, Wave,” called a silvery voice from the room Joe exited a few minutes ago. Out from the room appeared a taller than average, pale golden-coated earth pony mare with a tangle of orange extension cords on her back. “Sorry, darling, I got tangled in all these cords when I tried to get them off the shelf.” Sapphire looked away from the cords on her back to see the five ponies in the room, and dropped into a bow upon seeing a certain pink alicorn. “Princess!” she gasped in a similar fashion as her boss. “Ya get this reaction a lot, don’t ya?” Stardust asked Cadance, already knowing the answer. “A little more than I’d like,” Cadance admitted before she went to the grounded mare and retold her what she told Metal Wave. “If you say so… Cadance,” Sapphire said with some uneasiness. Picking up on the unsure tone in Sapphire’s, Cadance tried to change the subject. “So, are you going to work here?” “Yes,” Sapphire answered lightly. “I’m actually going to be one of the waitresses and regular performers here.” “Ohhhhh, so you’re the one,” Stardust said as she approached the taller mare. “Excuse me?” Sapphire asked. She was met with an outstretched blue hoof and a friendly smile. “Stardust, another waitress/performer.” “Sapphire Shores, nice to meet you,” Sapphire beamed at her new coworker. “So, ya sing?” Stardust inquired Sapphire. “You know it, honey, since I was a filly.” “Can ya show us a bit?” Rather than a verbal answer, Sapphire rushed onto the stage and stood by the microphone on set. After giving it a few taps to check the sound, she took in a breath and, in a voice bigger than life with some smokiness drizzled in, she let loose. "Baaaaaaaaabyyyyyy." She gave her body a quick jerk to one side in a diva-like fashion after she filled the room with her voice. She didn’t need any instruments to help her. She was just that good. "Seems like everywhere I go I seeeeeee you." She gave another diva jerk, letting her poofy blue mane and tail bounce with the movement. "From your eyes, your smile, it’s like I breeeeathe you." Everypony’s eyes grew to the size of plates upon seeing Sapphire on stage. She was killing it. "Helplessly I reminisce, don’t waaaaaant to." She lowered her eyes to the small awestruck crowd below her. "Compare nobody to you!" She ended her display with another diva jerk, and gained a barrage of applause from the ponies below. Cadance specifically was going nuts with applause. “Thank you!” Sapphire gave a quick bow before jumping off the stage to join the small crowd of ponies. “Daaaaaang,” Stardust exclaimed in awe. She definitely had some competition in her new workplace. “No wonder Metal hired you...” Sapphire let out some light laughs, clearly new to the positive feedback. “Thank you,” she replied shyly, completely contrasting her stage presence. Cadance went to Sapphire with starry eyes. “You were amazing! Awesome! Sensational!" “Sensational?” Sapphire repeated, that one word , that one word that tickled her lips with each syllable. “I like that. Thank you so much… Cadance.” Cadance responded with a huge smile and glimmering eyes before she turned her attention to Stardust. “Stardust, why don’t you go and show us something?” “Ehh, not today. Wait till Friday, I like surprising ponies,” she said in a way like she had some sort of plan brewing that no sane pony could comprehend. “OKAY!” Metal spoke up. “Surprises and performances aside, this place still needs to get set up! Stardust, Sapphire; I need you two to finish up with stage setup.” “Aye Aye, Captain!” Stardust gave a playful salute before taking off into the back room with Sapphire tailing her. “Uncle Joe, do you have the Hearth’s Warming lights?” “Behind the counter, Wavy.” Metal Wave took off to the juice bar and pulled out multiple strings of colorful lights, which tangled around his hooves like string. “Thanks, Uncle Joe,” he called from the bar. “Now if only I can just... get these... stupid... lights... un-freaking tangled!” Metal Wave was noticeably having a hard time with the strings of lights. Every motion he made only tightened the lights, and in the process, practically mummified himself in cords. As funny as the scene was, it had to end for the sake of the colt’s dignity. A light blue aura encased the now mummified Metal Wave, and with a flash of light, he was standing on all fours with a set of perfectly untangled cords of lights laid out in front of him. The confused colt looked around frantically until his eyes met the pink princess in front of him, her horn’s light blue glow slowly fading away. It was at that point that Metal Wave brought a hoof to his forehead very forcefully. “Riiiiight... magic,” he deadpanned, earning a small laugh from Cadance in the process. “Thank you, Prin... ugh... Cadance.” “No problem. Do you need any more help around here?” Cadance asked. “Oh, I couldn’t possibly ask you to—” “Oh c’mon, I insist,” Cadance interrupted, already taking hold of a few light strings in her magical aura. “Well ,if you want to...” Metal Wave was still a bit unsure of the whole situation. It wasn’t like a princess offered to help him set up every day, and it was a little less than unheard of for a princess to help out with something like this, but he needed the help nonetheless. He then remembered the white colt next to her. “And what about you?” The white colt in question lifted a few of the Hearth’s Warming light cords off the ground and held them in his own magical grip at his side. “Where do I start?” *************** “And here you two go.” From behind his counter back at “Joe’s Donuts,” Joe hoofed two half-wrapped donuts to Shining Armor and Cadance. Shining Armor was about to pull out a few bits but was met with a grey hoof in front of his face. “No charge, Shiny. You two helped a lot with Wavy’s place so these are on the house.” “Thanks, Joe.” “No problem. Hey, you guys gonna come for the grand opening?” The confectioner began to glow with childlike enthusiasm, and if listening closely, one could swear a small 'squee' was heard as he smiled. “Wouldn’t miss it,” Cadance answered. “Great!” he replied with a wide smile. Cadance and Shining Armor made their way to the exit and turned to wave off their favorite baker. “Bye, Joe,” Shining Armor waved. “See ya, Shiny. See ya, Prin... ugh, Cadance.” “Bye, Joe,” Cadance called back. And with a swing of the door, they were out. By now, Canterlot had settled into it’s usual nighttime atmosphere. Street lights filled with fireflies glimmered, the shops that packed the streets only had a few lights on, and the sky was dotted with tiny stars that swirled around without a particular pattern. Shining Armor and Cadance walked in relative silence for a few minutes, mostly due to the stuffing of their faces with the donuts held in their magical grip. When the last bites were swallowed, they threw the wrapping away in a trashcan that they passed. “Still as good as ever,” Cadance sighed with delight before turning to her coltfriend. “Sorry that I kinda forced you to volunteer at the restaurant earlier.” “Hey, I wanted to help. Besides, I got to spend more time with you,” he finished off warmly, brushing his head next to hers. Cadance craned her neck to let their heads rest on each other. “You’re so good to me, Shining,” Cadance soothed with closed eyes. “You’re so good to me too, Cadance,” Shining replied before going into a warm nuzzle with Cadance. “So, when should I pick you up on Friday?” “I’ll just meet you when you get off work. How’s that sound?” “Sounds perfect. So, are you excited?” “YES!!!” Cadance answered with a jump nearly five feet in the air. “I’ve never heard music like that! Sapphire was amazing.” “She was, and we’ll get to see Star sing too. Wait, what do you mean you’ve never heard music like that?” Cadance’s mood took a tiny swing backwards as she recollected her memories. “What I mean is that all I’ve ever heard in my life is classical stuff. I’ve only heard orchestras. I’ve only heard what’s played at galas and other high-class events. A lot of ‘fancy stuff’,” she said with air quotes. “Don’t get me wrong it’s beautiful and all... but... like I said, it’s all I’ve ever known.” Shining Armor couldn’t form words for a few seconds after this bit of information. He never forgot about her being a princess. Truth be told, that little fact is what made his relationship with her seem more like a dream to him with each passing day. Which is how he came to understand why she never traveled that far from the castle, and why she didn’t know what a donut was. But this spoke new levels of how little Cadance was truly exposed to. “You’ve been kept from a lot, haven't you?” Cadance sighed a bit in defeat before she answered. “More than I’d like to admit.” She let out another sigh and hung her head a bit. “Well you knowwwww, I can fix that.” Cadance perked her head up rapidly to see a warm and inviting smile from Shining Armor as he took her hoof in his. “Cadance, you’ve made me so happy these last few days by just being around me, and letting me call you my marefriend, and I wanna show you just how much you mean to me. So, I’m gonna show you what you’ve been missing out on.” Cadance looked at Shining Armor for a few seconds, not entirely sure how to react. She didn’t really know how much she had missed before she met Shining. And how in Equestria he was gonna show her everything, she didn’t know. But one thing she did know was that she could trust him, and that fact alone is what made her smile return and her lips to land on Shining Armor’s. It was a surprise, but it was a very welcome one to Shining Armor. After a few seconds, Cadance broke away and gave her signature smile. “You really are just too good to me.” No response was needed from him. Just that smile on Shining Armor’s face was all it took for Cadance to know that what she said meant a lot to him. They continued their walk in silence with each others heads resting on the other. After a few minutes, they arrived at the front doors of Canterlot Castle. “Shining, you know you don’t have to walk me home every time,” Cadance brought up as she opened the doors with her magic. “I know, but I want to.” Wow, Cadance really did have a great colt with her. How she got so lucky, she didn’t know. “Good night, Shining Armor.” “Night, Cadance.” With the closing of doors, Shining Armor spun around and headed home, propelled by his tail as tiny hearts that surrounded him kept him afloat. Behind the doors, Cadance still bore her smile and was in the middle of sliding down the doors with a dreamy sigh. “Well, well, sounds like somepony had a nice day,” belled the motherly voice of Celestia from atop the stairwell. Cadance looked up to see her aunt, smiling as well. “I did, Aunt Celestia. I really did.” She let herself utter another dreamy sigh. “Ugh, Cadance?” Celestia asked after noticing something off about her niece's appearance. “You’re eyes are shaped like pink hearts again.” “Yeah, can you help me? All I see is pink right now.” *************** There was that feeling again, “floating.” Throughout his semi-airborne trip back home brought about by tiny hearts, Shining Armor was in that blissful state once again. He didn’t even notice the shocked glances he was receiving on account of a floating unicorn. It was thanks to this blissful state that Shining Armor’s trip back home seemed shorter than ever as he floated over his porch steps and landed next to the door. It couldn’t have been less than a second that he opened the door that he was pounced to the ground by a small lavender blur. When he looked up, he saw Twilight standing on top of him wearing what could only be described as the largest smile in Equestria. “So I’m guessing something good happ—” “Shining! PrincessCelestiagavemeatesttodayandIpassedandthensaidthatIgettoadvancetostrongermagicandinvited metostayatthecastle!!!” Twilight managed to say in one breath. “Twi, slow down, and can you get off my ribs?” “Oh, sorry Shining.” Twilight quickly hopped off Shining Armor and helped him up onto his hooves. “So what did the Princess say?” Shining Armor asked his sister. “What your sister was trying to say,” Night Light started, coming from the living room to the doorway where Shining just stepped through, “is that Princess Celestia invited her to live in the castle while she studies with her.” “And we said yes,” Twilight Velvet finished off, going to her husband’s side and choking down another sob. “My baby girl’s leaving home.” Twilight found herself gripped between her mother’s forehooves in a rib-snapping hug. “My baby girl’s leaving home!” Velvet cried out again in a mix of joy and sorrow. “It’s like college but better! My Twilight. My little Sparkle!” “Mom!” Twilight managed to say through her mother’s grey chest. “Choking! Not breathing!” Quickly but hesitantly, Twilight Velvet released her little filly and watched her return to her normal breathing patterns. “I’m sorry, honey. It’s just that I imagined you moving out in another ten years or so.” New tears began to form in Velvet’s eyes as she visibly tried to subdue another sob. “Now you’re going off to the castle with the Princess.” Velvet put a hoof to her mouth and let out another sob, but kept a small smile. “And I’m so proud of you, Twilight.” “We both are,” Night Light added. Twilight stood there, nearly on the verge of her own tears before she ran up to her parents and jumped into their hooves. “Thanks, Mom. Thanks, Dad.” Another set of hooves joined the family hug as Shining Armor wrapped his forelimbs around his little sister. “Twi-Lee, I’m so proud of you. Pretty soon you’ll be the most powerful unicorn in Equestria.” “Awww c’mon, Shining. I’m not that good.” “I say this calls for a little celebration,” Night Light spoke up, breaking the hug. “Twilight, what do you wanna do?” “Can we go to the bookstore?” Twilight voiced out immediately with a large pleading smile. “Of course, Twilight,” Velvet assured before turning her attention to Shining Armor. “Shining, could you go and get Spike? This is something the whole family needs to celebrate. He’s asleep in your room.” “On it, Mom.” With a small salute, Shining Armor took off upstairs towards his room. Sure enough, there he was, a small sleeping bundle of purple and green. “Wakey, wakey, Sleeping Beauty,” Shining Armor whispered softly as he lifted Spike off of the bed with his magical grip and onto his back. The change of feel from the bed to Shining Armor’s fur caused the little baby drake to flutter his eyes open and let out a soft yawn. As annoying as Spike’s draconic traits could be for Shining Armor, that little yawn from his little brother was something he always found adorable. It got him wondering whether or not Spike would stay home or go off with Twilight when the time came for her to move into the castle. The thought of both his siblings moving away started to shake him up, but at the same time he knew that he wouldn’t want Twilight to be kept from what could be the greatest opportunity of her life, and if she wanted to take Spike along, it only made sense. She did hatch him after all. ‘Twilight’s moving out.’ That one thought started to remind Shining Armor of something he realized during the day. ‘Everypony around me is starting to do something with themselves.’ And it was true. Stardust was pursuing some form of music performance. Twilight was taking her studies to the next level in the best way possible. Cadance would always be a princess. Even two ponies he just met today seemed to be making something of themselves. Metal Wave with his restaurant, and Sapphire taking the same road as Stardust. And where was he? Stuck as a library assistant. “What do I do now?” *************** ‘What do I do now?’ It was a question that Shining Armor tried not to think about the night before for the sake of making sure the night stayed focused on Twilight, but with a new day came another shift at the library, and that one question was banging on his head mercilessly. Shining Armor found himself situated with another stack of books to shelve by the “Self Help” section of the library. Instead of shelving, Shining Armor was glancing through some of the books in the section, hoping to find some way to answer that lingering question in his head. “‘Sup, Shiny,” came the voice of his soon to be ex-coworker. Shining Armor looked up to see Stardust leaning against one of the shelves. “Hey, Star. Did you tell Ms. Paiges about your new job?” “Yeah.” “How’d the old girl take it?” “Oh, ya know. Wished me well, said she’ll miss me, and then she gave me this as a parting gift.” In her green magical aura, Stardust hovered a relatively thick blue book in front of Shining Armor’s face. A Loud Mare's Guide to Getting a Colt “I’m not loud. Am I?” Shining Armor looked away, darting his eyes anywhere but his friend’s face. “Uggghhhh,” he stalled. “Oh, shut up.” Stardust put her book aside and then took notice of the one in Shining Armor’s hooves. “What’cha readin’?” Shining Armor turned the book over to let Stardust see the title. Career Searching for Dumb Dumbs “Mind elaborating?” “It’s like you said, you don’t want to be a library assistant for the rest of your life, and neither do I. But I still have no idea what I want to do. Meanwhile, everypony around me seems to be moving onto something better. You, Twilight. Hay, even Metal Wave and Sapphire.” “Shiny, ya don’t need to make a huge deal of this right now. A bunch of ponies our age feel like ya do, but I know that you’ll figure something out. Ya always do,” Stardust reassured as she gave a few pats onto Shining Armor’s back. “You really think so?” “I know so, Shiny. Now let’s get these books shelved. Last two days until I start my new job,” she finished off in a sing-song tone. “Okay, Star.” ‘She always knows what to say.’ *************** “I saw that colt again, Jet Set!” sounded the stuffy voice of an olive-coated mare. “You did? Do tell, dear,” replied the mare’s husband. “He and Princess Cadance were sitting at the park together. I wanted to get closer to see this colt, but the pollen that day simply aggravated my allergies and I got very congested.” “Oh, Upper Crust, that’s fine, but that does still raise the question as to who this colt is. Somepony who can get away with squirting a princess with whatever that ghastly looking food was must be very important.” Upper Crust nodded in agreement as she and Jet Set made their way through the streets of Canterlot. “So, why do you need to go to the library, dear?” Jet Set asked his wife. “Pish Posh asked me to pick up a book on fine art for her next art gallery opening. I do hope this one goes well,” Upper Crust answered, nearing the steps of the library. The couple trotted up the stairs and into the vast building of books, where they saw an old mare filing some check out and return records behind a desk. Ms. Paiges looked up from her work to see the two posh ponies near her work area. “Can I help you two?” she asked kindly. “Yes, can you tell us where the fine art section is?” Upper Crust replied. “Oh, hold one second,” the old mare said before reaching over her desk. “Shining Armor!” she called ahead of her. “Can you come here please?” No less than two seconds later, Shining Armor was by his boss’s side. “Yes, Ms. Paiges?” “Can you show these two to the fine art section?” Ms. Paiges requested, showing Shining the two waiting ponies. “Right this way,” Shining Armor gestured with a hoof, taking lead towards one part of the library. “Jet Set, is that him?” Upper Crust whispered to her side. “It couldn’t be. What would a princess see in some library assistant?” “And here we are,” Shining Armor said with a smile. “If you need any more help, just let me know.” “Actually,” Jet Set began, “there’s something I must ask you.” “Yes?” “Were you at a restaurant called Lumière des Ètoiles a few nights ago with Princess Cadance?” “Yes,” Shining answered simply. “And were you with her again just yesterday at a park?” Upper Crust cut in, desperate for information. “Yes?” Shining answered a little more nervously at the sudden inquiry of his romantic life. Jet Set and Upper Crust exchanged amused glances that turned sour in a matter of nanoseconds. “And you’re a... library assistant?” Jet Set asked again, the disgust in his voice thinly covered. “Uh-huh,” Shining replied, causing the two ponies by him to look at each other again with a disgusted look on their faces. “A little warning, kid,” Upper Crust sneered at Shining Armor before letting her husband take over. “Stick to mares of your own class.”