//------------------------------//
// 21 Jockey Street 
// Story: Pony World Problems 
// by shortskirtsandexplosions 
//------------------------------//

	The Royal Crystal train hissed to a stop at the starlit train depot.

Not long after, the side door to the third car slid open.  Princess Cadance trotted out, glancing every which way.  At last, her eyes brightened.  Then, with a girlish grin, she held a hoof over her muzzle.  "Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!"

"Don't rub it in," Shining grumbled, carrying a dead-tired Flash Sentry slumped over his armored backside.  "I'm personally giving him five angry lectures when he wakes up in the morning."

"Shiniiiiing..."  Candance pouted, reaching in to ruffle the sleepy pegasus' mane.  "You will do no such thiiiiiing."

"Nnnngh..."  Shining stifled a yawn and smiled exhaustively.  "Okay, so maybe just two and a half angry lectures."

"Heeheehee..."

Shining Armor marched inside, folded a cot out from the cabin's wall, and laid Flash Sentry on his back.  He then placed the Lieutenant's helmet on the stallion's chest and folded his fetlocks around it.

"I'd give you a Viccolt Funeral, but you have to be dead before I set you on fire."

"Are we good to go?" Cadance asked.

"We've been good to go long before we got here," Shining said, shuffling across the car and slumping into a sofa with a groan.

Cadance knocked on the door to the engine car.  "All good to go!" she exclaimed.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The train hissed to life.  The outer door shut as the car chugged along.

Cadance glided over and squatted beside Shining on the couch.  "Poor thing.  You look exhausted."  She smiled, reaching over to caress his chin.  "Have a prosperous day protecting Ponyville in Twilight's place?"

"Meh."

"Shiniiiing..."  Cadance smirked, eyes thin.  "I can tell that you've been drinking, and you only drink when you're either sad or getting up the courage to read poetry to me, and I wasn't there.  So what happened?"

"Nothing happened," Shining grumbled.  "The Lieutenant and I were two bumps on a peaceful, harmonic log."

"Well, isn't it a good thing that you were able to maintain the status quo so easily?"

"What I wouldn't kill to... kill a hydra, at least."

"Huh?"

"Honestly, Cadance..."  Shining looked up, eyes dull and melancholic.  "How can I compare to the other Sparkle legend?"  He shrugged.  "Twilight saves the world ten times over and all I can do is march in line."

"Oh, this again?"  Cadance rolled her eyes and chuckled.  "You know, there was only ever one big, strong, handsome reason why I volunteered to look after the Sparkles' little filly to begin with."

"Mrmmmf..."  Shining's eyelids fluttered shut as he sleepily muttered, "Oh yeah?"

"Mmmhmmm..."  She leaned in, nuzzling his neck.  "Wanna know whyyyy?"

Mmmm... wh-why...?"

"Because it turns out he's sweet... thoughtful... loving... and on top of all that..."  She whispered in his ear.  "He turned out to be my hero.  My knight in shining armor."

"Mmmm..."  Shining's lips smiled as the train rolled and rocked along.  "For h-his princess..."

"You bet your sweet caboose."  She stroked his blue bangs back and kissed him on the lips.  "I love you, Shining."

"Mmmm..."  He slurred away into slumber.  "Love you too, Flash..."

Cadance blinked.  She looked at Shining, then broke into an uncontrollable fit of giggles, snuggling him close as the Crystal Express carried them north... and home.