//------------------------------// // Fireworks by Fuzzyfurvert // Story: Magic of Love: A Twidance Prompt Collab // by ArguingPizza //------------------------------// by Fuzzyfurvert My Little Dynamite: Book One Part 4 ~~~ “Princess Luna should be in the throne room. If you’ll follow me, Princess?” “Twily…” Cadance rolled her eyes and smirked, “I remember how to get to the throne room. I grew up in this castle even more than you did!” “And I’m your guard, Princess. This is how it’s done!” Twilight looked back at Cadance as they walked up the short set of spiral stairs to the lowest royal level of the castle. “This is my first tour of duty and I don’t want to mess it up.” Cadance blew a raspberry back at Twilight. “You’ve been listening to your brother too much. How is Shining, by the way?” “Exasperating, as always.” Twilight sighed and stopped at the landing to let Cadance draw even with her. “The little squirt has rose in rank since last you saw him. He’s really grown into a imposing stallion. Handsome too...as far as a big sister can tell anyway.” Cadance grinned and fell into a relaxed pace next to Twilight. “Well, I hope I get to see him at least once before we leave.” “Well, you’re going to get your chance. He’s been transferred to Luna’s elite guard unit. You should see his face everytime they call him Shieldmaiden, Shining Armor!” Twilight giggled for a moment and then blinked. “Wait, we’re leaving? Where are we going?” Cadance chuckled nervously. “Sorry, Twily. Auntie Celestia said I couldn’t tell you until after we’ve talked to Luna.” “Really?” Cadnace nodded. “Yeah, national security and all that.” “B-but! I’m your security!” Twilight eye twitched. “Shouldn’t I know about this stuff too?” The Princess shrugged helplessly. “Sorry! But what’s this about Shining becoming a Shieldmaiden of Luna?” “I’ve petitioned Her Royal Highness Luna to change the name to something more gender neutral.” Shining sighed as he escorted the Princess and his sister into the main throne room. “She keeps putting it off, of course.” Twilight snicked. “Of course.” Cadance bit her lips to try and keep the smile off her face but she wasn’t very successful. It wasn’t a very good tactic to keep her giggling to herself either once Shining Armor had met them in full Shieldmaiden field dress, complete with a buckler fastened to his side and an armored skirt. Shining was his usual all business self and did his level best to ignore the mare’s reaction. “It’s still a prestigious position. Guarding one of the Princesses is a career defining duty. It’s only natural, after all, that I was promoted to Shieldmaiden; as my shielding magic is second to none! I’m here today to help Princess Luna during your meeting, so please try to not aggravate her too much. The doctors say she needs to keep her cool to fully heal.” Twilight steeled her face as they entered the room and crossed at a sedate pace to where the other diarch of Equestria sat at her work desk, her magic shuffling papers and pressing her stamp into them as they were read and placed aside. She glanced Cadance’s way and was relieved to see the pink alicorn was treating the meeting with the same level of seriousness. She was still curious about what Cadance knew about all this that she didn’t. Knowing the Royal Sisters as she did, it felt likely that Cadance only knew slightly more. Princess Luna looked up as they approached and Twilight could feel the tingle of a spell wash over her. Luna nodded to Shining and he lead them the last few meters to stand before her desk. “Ah, greetings, niece. You as well, Mage Twilight. Excuse me if I do not rise, but I find I have trouble doing so these days if not strictly required.” Luna nodded toward a waiting wheel chair harness by her desk. “Doctor’s orders, you understand.” Cadance gasped, one wing coming up to cover her mouth. “What happened?” Luna grinned mirthlessly and gestured a hoof toward Twilight. “Ask her when you have the time. This meeting must go quickly as your getaway is timed to the change in the guard shift.” “Princess,” Twilight moved a half-step forward, “What is going on? Please, Princess Celestia didn’t tell me anything either and I need to know what’s going on to protect Cadance!” “Be calm Mage, I will tell you what we know, but you must promise me that it will not leave your confidence.” “I promise.” “Good.” Luna smiled and lowered her voice slightly. “There is an assassin in the castle and we cannot be too careful. Whoever they are, they have been careful enough to evade capture so far. We have reason to believe they are a fairly powerful magic-user in their own right, if for no other reason than having avoided my magical scans. Cadance must be moved to a safer location but the best way to do that is to run a distraction. My sister did not tell you, Twilight, because we both know how you tend to get protective around us. She is the distraction, and if we are in luck the assassin will go after her while you two slip out the proverbial back.” “And if we aren’t in luck?” Twilight raised an eyebrow. “What then?” “Then you go to ground and you hide. Do not engage unless you have to. I’m sorry that you are only just now being brought up to speed, but we had to be certain in our plans and had to limit those in the know.” Luna sighed and glanced at the clock on her desk. “It’s almost time.” “What about Spike, Aunt Luna?” Cadance took a step forward and gently lay her wing across Twilight’s back. “He was going to meet us later.” “Spike has already been redirected to meet you elsewhere by my agents. Don’t worry, Mi Amore Cadenza, he will be safe until you are all rejoined. Let me instruct you on the steps you’ll need to take for our little bait and switch to work.” “Twily?” “Yes, Princess?” “I have been back in Canterlot for less than two hours after spending the better part of five years traveling around the world. I have been to and seen some breath taking locals. But nothing - absolutely nothing - compares to this.” Twilight chuckled sadly. “Sorry Cadance, if I had known…” “Yeah, yeah… I know.” Cadance stopped in her tracks and pressed herself even closer to Twilight than the tight quarters of the sewage tunnel required. “Just know that if was anypony else, I wouldn’t do this.” Twilight blushed and allowed herself to push gently back into Cadance. “Me either. You get me into all the best messes, you know that?” “So, since we’ve got the time and we’re alone, care to tell me about all the things I’ve missed in the last five years?” Twilight gulped and nodded as the first sounds of fireworks boomed from far overhead to announce the return of Princess Cadance while a disguised Princess Celestia waved to the crowds that had gathered to welcome Equestria’s wayward daughter home.