Shining’s Log-Entry: Date
Ok, maybe I shouldn’t have worried so much about asking Cadence out. After only some minor altercations, she agreed to go out with me. Huzzah! And our first date when fairly well. At least I think it did, she was a bit disappointed that our stargazing was cut short, but I think she was in good cheer when I dropped her off.Afterwards, the trot back to the barracks was a bit moist, but I didn’t really notice at the time. When I got back my friends ambushed me, and demanded to know every little detail of my date. Then they proceeded to tease me about the fact that I used to vigorously deny Cadence being my marefriend, and now we’re going out. Celestia save me from nosy friends.
In other news, I got my next assignment. I’m going to be posted as one of the guards at the palace. I’m really happy, because it means that I get to stay here in Canterlot, which means I’ll probably be able to spend time with my parents and Twily. Oh, and it also lets Cadence and I explore our relationship more. But on the other hoof, guard duty at the castle can be very boring. Although I guess dating Cadence is more than enough excitement for me, at the moment at least.
Shining Armor, Signing Off
The simple white walls of the palace were all that Shining Armor had to stare at. His post was a little traveled hallway which led to the guest wing of the palace. At that time, the guest wing was empty, but a guard still had to be posted, just to keep appearance. From the time he had relived the previous guard, Shining had seen nopony, but he had not slacked off, he still maintained a rigid stance, his armor gleaming and his spear at his side.
The silence of the empty corridor was interrupted by a soft clacking sound, coming from the direction of the populated part of the palace. Shining Armor shifted imperceptibly, but maintained his stance. Rounding the corner at the other end of the corridor was Princess Cadence, looking annoyed. She swiftly marched down the corridor, but did a double-take when she spotted Shining.
“Shiny!” she exclaimed, “I didn’t know you were down here.” Her countenance changed from annoyance to excitement at seeing her coltfriend. She quickly traversed the rest of the distance between them. “I really wanted to apologize for what happened the other night,” she said once she was standing in front of him.
Shining Armor, however, still maintained his rigid guard stance, although he smiled gently at her. “Your highness,” he stated politely, “I’m currently on duty. It would be inappropriate.” He relaxed his pose slightly, “Besides, you have nothing to apologize for. It was perfect as far as I was concerned.”
“Oh don’t give me that, Shiny,” Cadence replied, “I messed things up because I forgot to check the weather schedule. Right after I spent so long teasing you about not being able to plan ahead.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Shining assured her, “I honestly didn’t mind. One of us will just have to remember to check next time.” He stiffened his pose again. “So what brings you down here, your highness?”
“Oh,” Cadence breathed, before shaking her head with a smile, “Nothing too important, Sergeant Armor. I thought I’d check the guest rooms before that griffin delegation will be using next week. I’m just not sure if the rooms will be large enough for them. I don’t think we would want a diplomatic incident coming from having the ambassador suffer from claustrophobia because his room was too small.”
“I’m sure that’s very important. After all these rooms have only been used as guest lodging for centuries,” Shining replied with a faint smirk, “Have a good day, your highness.”
“Shining Armor, you dolt!” Cadence snorted, before continuing in a more refined voice, “I’m sure I’ll have a fine day, Sergeant Armor. After all, I don’t have to spend it looking down an empty corridor.” With that, she passed the guardspony and entered the guest wing proper.
---
Half an hour later, Shining Armor was still at his post, when a shout echoed through the corridor, “BBBFF!” A lavender unicorn filly ran down the corridor and jumped Shining Armor. He buckled under his sister’s weight, surprised.
“Twily?” Shining questioned, while trying to recover his dignity, “What are you doing here? And why did you jump me?”
Twilight picked herself up, and blushed. “Sorry, Shining,” she apologized, “I was just looking for Cadence, Princess Celestia wanted me to go over some of my studies with her.” She paused, before turning a stern look on her brother. “I didn’t expect to run into you though. Why didn’t you tell me you were assigned to the palace?”
Shining looked at Twilight surprised, “Didn’t you get my last letter? Or talk to Mom and Dad? I told you about this two weeks ago!”
“I, uh,” Twilight looked embarrassed, “I’ve been busy studying non-stop. It’s exam time again, and I don’t want to fail.” She looked thoughtful for a moment. “I think Mom might have mentioned something about it, but I was so busy studying for that history exam I don’t think I was paying attention.”
“Oh, Twily,” Shining sighed, “You’ve got to take breaks every now and then.”
“I take breaks!” Twilight protested, “I occasionally read a book because I wanted to, and not for one class or another.”
“That isn’t what I meant, little sis,” Shining remanded softly, “I meant, a break where you don’t pick up a book, and instead go outside and spend some time with other ponies.”
“But there’s so much to learn!”
“And you can learn it,” Shining replied immediately, “but every now and then you need to take a break. Otherwise you might burn yourself out.” He paused and thought for a moment. “I’ll tell you what, on my next day off, this Saturday, I’ll take you out to the park. We’ll enjoy the sunny day, and afterwards well go to an ice cream parlor. Does that sound nice?”
“But Shiny,” Twilight protested, “I have another test on Monday. I have to study for it, or else-“
“-Or else nothing, Twily,” Shining interrupted, “You need a break. And I’m going to make sure you take one. Even if I have to march right home and force you away from your books. Besides-” he winked at her, “-I’m sure you’ll pass the test with flying colors, even if you miss one day of studying.”
“Oh all right,” Twilight acceded, “I suppose one day won’t hurt.”
After a moment of silence between the two, Shining spoke up, “So what brought you down here anyway?”
“That right!” Twilight exclaimed, “I was supposed to find Cadence so she could explain Thaumic conversions to me. I don’t suppose you’ve seen her, big brother? Some of the ponies I questioned earlier said she was heading this way.”
“Yes,” Shining replied with a smile, “She’s in this wing, something about checking to make sure the rooms were large enough for the griffin ambassador.”
“Great,” Twilight chirped, “I better get going then. See you Saturday, Shiny!”
“See you, Twily!” Shining replied with a grin. With that exchange complete, Twilight moved on in search of Cadence.
Shining Armor resumed his guard position at the door to the guest wing. Five minutes after Twilight left, he heard the soft clacking of hooves again, this time from inside the wing. Only hearing a single pony, he spoke, “So did you find her Twily? I’m sure that Cadence is still there, given that she hasn’t passed me yet.”
“Oh, I’m sure your sister won’t have any problems finding Princess Cadence, Sergeant Armor,” a voice which definitely wasn’t Twilight’s or Cadence’s stated.
Turning around at the unexpected voice, Shining Armor was stunned. “Princess Celestia,” he apologized quickly, bowing deeply, “My apologies, I thought you were-,”
“-Your sister,” Celestia interrupted with a faint smile, “I know. I just saw her. She said something about you making sure she took some time off.”
“Ah, yes, your majesty,” he admitted sheepishly, “I thought she might be overworking herself, and since I’m in town…”
“You thought it would be best if you took matters into your own hooves,” Celestia finished for him. She smiled broadly, “I approve. I was actually thinking of making arrangements myself. Your sister is very dedicated, but she seems to have some trouble identifying her own limits.”
“I have complete faith in Twily,” Shining replied, “I’m really happy that she likes to learn so much. But I think she should enjoy her fillyhood and she won’t get a chance to if she reads all day.”
“Your concern does you credit,” Celestia replied, “and I agree completely.” She paused and her smile faded, and a serious look crossed her face. “Now, I was actually hoping to get a chance to talk to you, Sergeant Armor. You see I have some concerns I wanted to talk to you about.”
Shining’s ears flattened, and he started sweating. “Y-yes, your majesty?” he queried uncertainly.
“It’s about you and my niece…”
Shining’s Log-Entry: The Talk
I don’t believe it; Princess Celestia just gave me The Talk. About dating Cadence. The ruler of Equestria, wanted to talk to me, because I’m dating her niece. The god-like being who regularly moves around the sun and the moon, shared her concerns about my relationship… I really should have seen that one coming.She was very polite about it, but to be honest, the entire time I was nearly out of my mind. You don’t have to be specific about what you’d do when you are displeased if you’re the ruler of the kingdom. I’m fairly certain that she didn’t need to say that if I mess things up between Cadence and I, then I’ll find myself with the worst postings imaginable, if I even get to stay in the guard at all.
But once we moved on from that, The Talk was actually somewhat pleasant. Celestia talked a bit about how pleased she was that I could make Cadence happy. She even offered some suggestions about which locations might work well for a picnic, or a romantic get together. Although, she laughed when I told her that she should talk to Cadence, because she’s the one who plans out our dates. At the end of the conversation, she even told me that I have her blessings. Which I guess is a big thing, I have the blessings of my marefriend’s closest relative. So I guess things could have gone worse.
Shining Armor, Signing Off