//------------------------------//
// 12:00-12:30 "The Last, and then the First" 
// Story: Ponies All Day-Writing Challenge 
// by ThunderTempest 
//------------------------------//

Shining Armor stared vacantly down the aisle, dressed up in his formal dress uniform, barely noticing Twilight adjust his breast sash.

“Hey, BBBFF, You aren’t still controlled by the changeling queen, are you?”

“Shut up, Twily.”

“Because I can check, you know. Princess Celestia lent me a book on how to detect mind control. I’m dying to test it out.”

“Later, maybe,” said Shining, a grin spreading over his face, “Now quiet. Here comes your new sister in law.”

That shut Twilight up, as Fluttershy’s songbird choir started the main refrain for the wedding, and the towering doors were magicked open seamlessly. Three little fillies skipped down the aisle, spreading flower petals with each bounce, and then there she was. It was like the rest of the world ceased to exist for Shining Armor. He watched her gently trot down the red carpet, all elegance and grace, exactly like a Princess should. As she stopped besides her bridesmaids, compromised of Twily’s Ponyville friends, Shining could feel his heart pounding against his ribcage. He only barely registered Princess Celestia beginning the ceremonies, and had to force himself to widen his focus once more.

They made their vows, and then came the fateful moment.

“Shining Armor, you may kiss the bride.”

This was it. One step. The last step. Shining turned from Celestia to face his wife in all but deed now. His heart hammered out a staccato beat against his chest, he could hear the blood rushing through his ears, feel each breath that he took.
‘I guess this Knight gets his happy ending, after all,’ he thought to himself, and then he lifted his front hoof, and took one step towards Cadence, and kissed her with all his being.

The journey here was now complete. Shining opened his eyes, though he didn’t remember closing them, and took one step back from Cadence. The first step of another 1 000 mile journey, though they’d be facing this one together.