Much to Shining Armor’s relief, Cadance had recovered just fine from whatever had been wrong. She even entertained a visit from a couple of friends at his urging. Despite her exhaustion, she seemed to be much more relaxed. The two had shared a peaceful breakfast in the garden before he had to accompany Celestia to neutral territory for another summit with the griffins.
Shining Armor was still grinning from her goodbye kiss as he sat across from Celestia in her personal carriage. The summit party consisted of Celestia, himself and three other soldiers. They really were finalizing the details of what looked to be a peaceful and mutually beneficial alliance.
The Captain of the guard absently stared out of the window as he thought over all that was happening. In a week, he’d be married: an idea that frightened him as much as it excited him. He didn’t even notice the level of scrutiny his ruler regarded him with.
“I never got a chance to congratulate you, Captain.” The sound of the Sol Alicorn’s voice prompted him to blink as he turned to give her his attention.
“Uhh… thank-you, Princess.” He flushed despite the solemn expression on his face. Cerulean eyes searched her pristine features for any clue about the destination of the pending conversation.
Celestia’s expression gave nothing away. “You’ve made my niece very happy. I admit I had my doubts about the two of you, but watching you interact over the past few months has given me insight. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a couple so in-tune with each other over such a short period of time. So congratulations.” Shining Armor released a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding as he realized Celestia was giving him her blessing.
“Thank you, ma’am,” he managed.
Celestia smirked, “My sister would like to have a word with you as well.” His eyes widened making the other giggle. “You’re not out of the woods yet, but I don’t think she’ll scar you too badly. I don’t think Cadance would appreciate that too much.” She laughed at the expression on his face. “Relax, Captain, I’m teasing.” She assured with mirth filled eyes.
Shining Armor gave a nervous laugh as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah…”
Just as the atmosphere lightened, Celestia went into business mode. “However, there is something that I think needs to be brought to your attention. As Captain of the Royal Guard, I am entrusting this grave assignment to you. Equestria’s safety, as well as your wedding’s success rests solely upon your shoulders…”
*-*3333*-*
When Shining Armor had first mentioned Celestia's request to her, Chrysalis had been upset for a number of reasons.
"Who does she think she is?" She stormed bursting into her room.
Shining Armor raised a brow at his marefriend as he cautiously trailed behind her shutting the door. After returning from duty, he sought out his bride-to-be to inform her that he wouldn’t be able to help with much planning because of his latest assignment. Celestia wanted him to cast a defense spell that would serve as a barrier encompassing all of Canterlot.
"I'm pretty sure she's one of the rulers of Equestria... And your Aunt." He added as an afterthought.
Cadance whipped her head around to glare at the stallion. The fire that burned in her candy colored eyes stopped him from saying anything else. He'd never seen her so upset before.
"I don't care who she is, she can't just ask you to do something like that!" Chrysalis exhaled before trying to get her emotions underway. She was worried that something might have happened to Odonata. The thought of losing any of her hive bothered her, but Odonata was like a surrogate mother to her. After using the type of transportation spell that they had used, Jadzia and Kirai didn’t have enough energy to cast it a second time so close to the first, so her healer had to fly back home herself. "Did she at least say why?" She finally asked trying to calm her voice.
"Just that there'd been some weird sightings and that she'd rather be safe than sorry especially with the wedding."
"So no pony was hurt?" She asked after a while.
"No."
"Was any 'thing' hurt?" She persisted with shrewd eyes.
He sighed as he hoof faced. "Cadance you know I can't-"
"Was there?"
Another sigh. "No, there wasn't."
Chrysalis nodded as she took a deep breath. At least Odonata was safe, but that meant she wouldn't be able to communicate with the healer, or any of her children, as the force field would act as interference disrupting her magical connection to her home. Granted, there were physical restrictions on such a connection, but the shield muted her changeling senses to the point that she was no longer aware of their existence. Chrysalis trusted Odonata, but this raised the risk of being discovered. She would be cutoff with only Jadzia and Kirai to assist.
Shining Armor wanted to be annoyed, but the look on Cadance’s face as she chewed on her bottom lip made him soften. She was worried. "Cadance... don't worry about it. Everything's going to be fine." He reassured placing his hooves on her shoulders. "Nothing's going to get in the way of our wedding, okay?" Chrysalis couldn't help but cringe at the words 'our wedding.' She shrugged out of his grasp as she chose to focus on the topic at hand rather than her personal feelings about their upcoming nuptials.
"Cadance?" The stallion watched as she dropped her gaze.
"It’s not that," she relented some of the fire gone from her eyes as it was replaced with genuine concern. "It's just that's a lot to ask from any pony." She confessed to the other thing. She was also miffed that she had to all this wedding stuff by herself, but his health outweighed that. "You're strong, Shining Armor, but no pony's that strong. How could she possibly expect you to conjure a magical shield of that magnitude that can last from now till our wedding? It's ridiculous and not to mention dangerous!” They weren’t due to tie the knot for another week. “I'm just upset that she'd ask you to do something like that knowing what you mean to me."
"I'm Captain of the Guard Cadance, it's my job." He chuckled in disbelief. "Even if some other pony could, I'd still do it."
She loved how noble he was, most of the time, but today it only seemed to infuriate her. "That's because you're an oaf." She mumbled folding her forelegs across her chest sitting on her haunches. "You don't owe Canterlot. It's Celestia's city and if any pony could do it with no threat to their health- it'd be her. " She didn't mean to question his strength or loyalty, but by the expression on his face she could tell he took it as such.
"I'm going to do it, Cadance. Despite what you think, I'm fully capable of handling the situation."
She sighed as she rolled her eyes. "I didn't mean it like that... and you know it. You're not the only guard capable of producing defense spells." She softened reaching out to touch him, only for him to dodge her hoof. She pursed her lips, annoyed and hurt by the snuff as well as the expression on his face. "Can't you at least teach some pony else to help you?"
"No." He insisted as he narrowed his gaze. "You're acting like a spoiled filly, Princess. Grow up! "
Candy colored eyes widened in offense before hardening. "I don't care," Chrysalis returned fiercely. "If caring about you makes me a selfish a witch, then color me green because there's nothing you can say to make me go along with this."
"Last I checked I didn't need your permission, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza." His eyes were hard as his words stunned her like a slap in the face.
"Fine," She muttered. “You’re dismissed, then.”
At first it was easy to be mad at him. She was just conveying her concern. It wasn't her fault he was being over-sensitive. The changeling found herself away from the castle more and more. She even spoke with Shade a bit in regards to her findings. But despite having the extra time to herself, she couldn't focus on anything else as her thoughts would stray to the white stallion she was supposed to be marrying in a week’s time. She missed him, but her pride would not allow her to bend and apologize.
She was going to his room to talk when she'd found him passed out on the floor. It was her worst case scenario come true.
"Shining!" She cried voice saturated with concern as she dashed to his side urging him to respond. "Shining Armor, wake up!"
The stallion in question moaned before his hazy vision settled on his wife-to-be. " Cadance... I- what happened?"
"I’m not sure, but I bet I have a good idea." She answered as her purple colored eyes flashed with anger. "What do you remember last?"
"The shield... I-" He groaned softly as he tried to push himself up. His head was killing him.
"Don't try to stand..." she instructed, pushing him back down as an idea flashed into her mind. Being a changeling Queen made her privy to all kinds of spells. An energy transfer wouldn't completely fill his magic reserves, but it'd give him a boost and help with his migraines until he was able to get some rest. "I'm going to try something, okay?"
"Okay..."
Charging her horn, she allowed her magic to bathe him in green light as she transferred the energy that would make him feel better. After a couple of minutes she stared at him with a hopeful expression in her eyes. "Better?" She asked.
"Much," he whispered with a grateful smile on his muzzle. "What did you do?"
She sighed in relief. "I gave you a magic boost, but you need to rest." She fussed over him as he allowed her to help him stand.
"About earlier."
Cadance silenced him with a kiss. "I don't want to think about it," she breathed against his mouth. "These past two days have been torture being mad at you, but seeing you like that... I'm afraid if I think about it anymore me and my 'Aunty' might have a falling out of sorts."
"Cadie," Shining Armor chuckled with tired eyes. "You don't mean that." Candy colored eyes bore into his unrepentantly. "So you do..." Her concern was touching if not a little scary. "Having my fiancé ready to mouth off at Princess Celestia on my behalf is actually kinda sweet." She rolled her eyes. "Have I told you lately that I love you?"
"No..." She blushed, "but I know a way you could show me." She teased suggestively trying to regain control of her emotions. She melted every time he said the words.
"Cadance," he moaned mirthfully. "You just found me passed out on the floor."
She gave him a mock pout, before pressing a quick kiss to his mouth. "I know, but I have just the thing to make you feel better."
Twenty minutes later, the duo found themselves in the more secluded parts of the royal garden with a giant cauldron filled with steaming hot water. The night was cool and calm as the moon shined over the city of Canterlot.
"A rustic styled bubble bath? In the middle of the garden?"
Chrysalis smiled as she sprinkled a generous amount of lavender in the water swirling the petals around until the scent wafted up to her nose. "Scared?" she asked playfully.
"Cadance, anyone can see!" He made it sound so scandalous.
"So... let them. It’s not as if we're doing something wrong. I'm sure Luna has better things to watch than you bathing."
Shining Armor stared wide eyed at his fiancé as a fierce blush fanned over his face.
"Wait..." she trailed amused by his embarrassment. “Should I be jealous?" Chrysalis appeared thoughtful as she folded a hoof across her chest and brought the other to her chin. "She is gorgeous though. I didn't know you liked dark and mysterious..." She continued with a wink which made him flush harder as he stuttered some change of subject.
"Cadance, I'm a stallion and stallions do not take bubble baths." He wrinkled his nose at the thought of staining his masculinity with such an offense.
The changeling disguised alicorn rolled her eyes at her fiancé’s display. "Yes you do. You'll like it, I promise."
"How do you know?"
"Because I know everything."
Using her magic, she lifted the protesting stallion in the air before dropping him in the hot bath. She smirked as she watched the lavender take effect over his senses. A goofy expression of contentment found its way on his face as the hot water infused with the purple flower soothed his aching muscles and lulled him into relaxation. A moment later, he closed his eyes and Chrysalis wasted no time slipping in with him.
"I told you..." she hummed before engaging him in a tender coupling of lips.
"Mmmm... Cadie, I thought we agreed," he breathed after she'd kissed him opening tired blue eyes.
"I know..." she relented as she moved to grab a cleaning clothe on the side of the cauldron, "But that doesn't mean I can't take care of you. Trust me?" He nodded. Chrysalis' touch had just the right amount of pressure as she took her time cleaning the stallion. Every now and again, she would press a kiss to his mouth, giggling when he'd run his hooves down her body when desire struck him.
When the two were done, Shining Armor was almost asleep. So instead of disturbing the stallion, she teleported them back to his room so she could dry him off and brush the tangles out of his mane as he lay in bed. She'd clean up the cauldron later.
"Cadance," he mumbled as she continued to brush his cerulean mane.
She hummed in acknowledgement.
"Don't paint yourself green."
His words made her laugh as he referenced her comment from their squabble. "My concern for you knows no bounds. But I think you're right... Green is most definitely not this body's color." She stopped her brushing and crawled into bed beside him, cuddling against his backside. "I'm sorry..." She whispered after a while.
"Me too..."