Today was Monday, and as anypony in the castle knew today was the start of important empire business for the week. Or at least it would have been, if the three nobles scheduled for the day hadn't all canceled their appointments. Apparently they had all been invited to a business expozay in Prance. Now that they were nobility they were wasting no time whatsoever establishing powerful connections to better their own lives. Shining was actually pleased to have some unexpected free time, Spike on the other hoof was absolutely livid.
Another thing Spike had picked up from Twilight was her frustration that made itself known when things interfered with the schedule too much. Spike was in charge of scheduling for the main branch of the empire's government, a hefty task that required much planning in advance. To have sudden changes imposed upon him meant he had to rearrange everything, and the only time-slots big enough to fit the new appointments were during Spike and Shining's date night or right after training.
Spike wasn't a dragon of many needs, but every now and again a break would have been nice. The empire was recovering, but there was still plenty of work to be done. Dates and training were the only times Spike could really cut loose, and more importantly be more than an adviser to Shining. The disgruntled dragon was currently using a large block of solid crystal as a punching bag, Shining was doing the smart thing and staying a safe distance away.
Spike needs to chill out. I wonder if I can help? Shining wondered to himself as he watched Spike abuse the building material. He played through various options in his head as he avoided the occasional piece of shrapnel.
I feel bad about picking those lousy nobles, I should make it up to him somehow. It should be something meaningful, private, and something we haven't done before. Shining continued, mentally kicking himself for not paying better attention to his duties.
Spike worked himself half to death picking up his slack without asking for much of anything in return. The stress seemed to be getting to him, he needed to do something to relieve it. Something came to mind, but it seemed out of the question. Although, it had been three years for Shining, and he had to admit he was curious about Spike's... proportions. After less debate than he'd like to admit Shining trotted over to Spike who had stopped for a breather.
"Hey Spike? I know things have gotten sort of messed up for the week, but I had an idea for something we could do in the mean time, ALONE." Shining said as he tried to emphasize the last bit while still being quiet enough for the guards outside the door to hear. There was a fair deal of blush in his cheeks, asking about sex openly wasn't something he had planned.
Spike's eyes went wide fast, his meaning wasn't hard to understand. He looked around the room, making sure nopony was within earshot.
"What the hay Shining!? We aren't even public yet! I won't deny the idea had crossed my mind, but I'd like us to save THAT for a special occasion ya know?" Spike replied in a loud whisper. Shining seemed just a little more guilty at Spike's words.
"Yeah sorry, you're right. I just felt bad about this being the only time we'd really get together this week. Those nobles were given their titles by me, I should have done more than used ponies from the old bloodlines." Shining said berating himself in front of Spike.
"Shining, you couldn't have known that they'd turn out like Blueblood given the chance. You need to stop beating yourself up over everything, things aren't going to get better unless you can trust yourself. You're young and relatively new at this, it'll get easier with time." Spike replied, placing a clawed hand on Shining's shoulder for reassurance.
"I know, but I let everypony down for three years Spike. I dunno if I can-" Shining was cut off by Spike who lifted into a kiss by grabbing him with a claw around the stallion's midsection.
Shining's eyes went wide at the surprise show of affection. He soon got into it, something Spike had only hoped would happen. They hadn't kissed more than a few times, usually after date night and some random pecks on the cheek. Neither were currently complaining about the change of pace however. The kiss lasted until the pair had to come up for air. They panted for a moment, though they wore smiles the whole time.
"Feeling better now?" Spike asked through both a chuckle and a huff.
"Better than I have in years." Shining replied happily.
"Good, because I think you just changed my mind about that offer." Spike added with a blush, he refused to look the stallion in the eyes however.
"You mean... ?" Shining questioned uncertainly.
"Yeah, but it's gonna need to be the study, dragon's have a tendency to, uh... roar." Spike explained thoroughly embarrassed.
"Nah, my bedroom is fine. Sombra had all the bedroom's soundproofed, he was super paranoid and he talked in his sleep." Shining replied.
Shining and Spike adjourned to the royal bedchambers after instructing the guards that there were important matters of state to be discussed. Nopony was to disturb them unless the safety of the empire or it's ponies was in question. Shining's loyal troops followed the order without question, the wing of the castle containing the bedroom would be nearly abandoned at this time of day. It was just the privacy the pair needed.
Nopony was any the wiser as to what was happening behind the enormous bedroom doors. The soundproofing enchantments held perfectly, though the doors visibly rattled every now and again from Spike's powerful roars. It seemed the couple was having quite the time in their own little world, completely unaware of what was going on in the rest of the castle.
-ELSEWHERE-
Flash Sentry was having an average day, he was posted at the castle doors as was normal for Monday through Wednesday. He didn't even have to check credentials or open the heavy doors for nobles, as they had cancelled for the day. Everything was going smoothly, all he had to do was stand there and watch for anyone who wanted entry. He didn't expect to see anyone though, most of the empire knew the gist of the castle schedule and that they had an opportunity to speak with the king on Thursdays. Today was going to be so easy, or so he thought right up until a purple flash of light caught him by surprise. It produced a powerful shock-wave that knocked him backwards and into the doors, he slid down onto his back with a groan.
From the flash of light emerged Twilight Sparkle, Equestria's princess of friendship. Flash managed to get to his hooves, clutching his head that now throbbed slightly from the impact. His eyes came to rest on the normally cheery alicorn who was currently glaring daggers at him. This was the moment Flash's good day burst into flames.
Twilight Sparkle had once taken an interest in him on a romantic level. Things had gone well, right up until she told him about the magic mirrror world and the humans with an alternate version of himself. He called the story insane, as it sounded too ridiculous to be true. She proved the story to him, and he apologized and things went back to normal, but they weren't as close as before. Then he accidentally lost a rare book he had borrowed from her, just as things were looking up. She dumped him soon after, he was her first coltfriend and she hadn't dated since.
"Flash Sentry, would you care to tell me why you were laying down on the job as I arrived?" The irritated purple pony princess questioned with a voice absolutely dripping with resentment.
He had had several ex-marefriends before, some were still friends, some resented him. Twilight Sparkle however, was the only angry demigoddess on the list. He was going to need to be especially careful right now. She had a lot of pull towards both the king and Spike, he would be cleaning latrines until he retired if he spoke out of term.
"Well, I was standing here on guard, but this purple light appeared and knocked me backwards. I don't want to presume anything, I mean I am a pegasus after all, what do I know about magic? But I think it may have been from your teleportation?" Flash said weakly. Twilight evaluated the situation, and reluctantly put on an expression of professionalism.
"I suppose that's possible, I was trying out a new form of teleportation. I was standing in my throne room just a minute ago, and Celestia warned me it might have a shock-wave depending on the distance. I believe I owe you an apology Flash." Twilight replied in a tone holding no emotion whatsoever.
"Oh, no Princess Twilight. It's-" Flash was silenced by Twilight raising a hoof in the air, telling him to be quiet.
"As such, you will receive an apology just as soon as you give me a mint, first edition copy of Discord's Inferno signed by the author. The book you owe me." Twilight finished before magically opening the doors for herself.
She walked into the castle without another word, leaving Flash grumbling to himself as he resumed his post. Twilight slammed the doors behind herself, leaving the disgruntled pegasus in the dust that kicked up from it's force.
Could today get any worse? Flash thought to himself.
Right on cue the sky darkened and thunder boomed overhead. A few seconds later it began to pour, drenching the armored stallion. He cursing everything under Celestia's life-giving sun under his breath as he was soaked to the bone.
Twilight quickly regained her pleasant mood, as soon as the stallion was out of sight he was out of mind. She walked through the entrance hall and into the throne room hoping to find Spike and her brother. To her surprise she found neither, only a few guards sparsely spread throughout the room. She approached the stallion nearest her, the guard bowed in respect.
"Greetings Princess Sparkle, we were not informed of your visit. We would have made arrangements had we known of your visit. The guard said as he saluted and rose to his hooves.
"No it's quite alright, I came unannounced. I wanted to surprise my brother, where exactly is King Armor at the moment? The schedule Spike posted to the Equestrian royal planners said that they would be meeting with nobility in the throne room today." Twilight asked the uptight stallion.
"Yes Ma'am the king would normally be doing so, but the nobility have cancelled their appointments for the day. The king informed us an important matter had come to his attention, he said he would be discussing it with Sir Spike in his private chambers. We were instructed to leave them to it unless there was a matter of great urgency." He replied.
"Really? Alright then, thank you sir. You are dismissed." Twilight informed the guard.
Twilight made her way to the royal chambers with little difficulty. Despite not being here since Cadence's untimely death she remembered the layout of the castle well. She came to the needlessly large doors belonging to the ruler of the empire's chambers. She took a moment to collect herself, she was practically bursting with joy at the thought of seeing her brother again. She was about to knock, but the doors shook before her hoof could reach the door. she jumped back in surprise, but kept her eyes on the doors.
"Something isn't right. Hold on guy's I'm coming!" She said as she steeled her nerves, scratching the floor with her hoof readying herself for a charge. She flung the doors open with her magic and ran into the room at full speed. She stopped in the center of the room, looking around for the source of the unknown disturbance. What she found was a very startled dragon and stallion sitting atop a massive bed. They were covering themselves with the bedsheets in an attempt to stay decent.
Twilight did her best to piece together what she was seeing. Shining's uniform lay discarded on the floor, a lamp that presumably had been on the nightstand near the bed lay broken on the floor alongside a tube of lotion. These facts coupled with the pair on the bed led Twilight to an obvious, but disturbing conclusion.
"Twily, hey... Good to see you?" Shining Armor said awkwardly.