Shining all but flopped onto their bed, burying his muzzle in his pillow. “Dear Celestia, I forgot how slow it was sitting in court!”
“Oh, hush, you big foal!” Cadence tittered and poked him with a hoof. “I’ll bet it was just as bad back in Canterlot! At least you get to sit down here!”
He mumbled something lost in the pillow fluff, but nodded all the same. Slowly, he pushed himself up, his mane askew after having been ruffled by his silliness. “True enough, but they didn’t bow to me back then. Hay, I don’t even think half of them looked in my direction.” A wistful smile crossed his muzzle as he stared off into the distance. “I got away with so much daydreaming back then…”
“Mmm, yes, you did. In fact,” she said, bringing a hoof to her chin and humming to herself, “I seem to recall a certain guard pony getting quite the talking to from Captain Ironside. Something about shaving a rather odd hoof painting job on the side of his armor…”
“That was you!” He cried, turning and jabbing a hoof under her nose. “I don’t know when you did it, but I know you were behind that!”
Cadence threw back her head and laughed, singing her reply. “You’ll never prove it! Now, quit your grumping and get up!” She poked his side again. “I haven’t forgotten your promise, mister! You owe me dinner and dancing tonight!”
“Oh? I’m sorry, I must’ve been daydreaming when I—OW!” He yelped as his ear was tweaked by a blue aura. “All right, all right! I was only teasing!” Rubbing his ear, Shining gave her a rueful smile. “When do you want to leave, dear?”
“In a little bit.” She grinned, prancing in place and letting out a happy little squeal. “I want to put on one of my dresses! Get out of this regalia for a little bit!”
“Heh, careful! You might give somepony a heart attack, seeing their Princess outside her proper dress. Just think of the shock!”
She rolled her eyes, giving his ear another tweak before trotting toward the door. “I’m sure they’ll get over it. That said, you’re dressing nice too, Shiny. And I don’t mean that ceremonial uniform from our wedding day.” Cadence trotted out, pointedly ignoring his snickers and whatever parting shot he sent in her wake. Her mind was already on a nice night out with her stallion!
It had been difficult enough to keep it off to the side as long as she had. Eating dinner with him in the palace, stolen kisses whenever they met during the day, finishing with the day in each other’s hooves was a dream for any pony. She considered herself lucky to have a stallion who went out of his way to show her the love he felt every day.
But still, an evening out with Shining Armor was like using time magic to travel back to their younger years. Those days spent in his embrace, without a care in the world, all flashed through her mind’s eye.
I feel like it was just yesterday that I first kissed his cheek. She smiled, humming a tune as she approached an aquamarine-tinged crystal pony mare with a teal mane. “Tourmaline,” she greeted, nodding to her, “how’ve you been?”
“Very well, My Princess.” Tourmaline bowed, following proper protocol before immediately casting aside all pretense. Her violet eyes twinkled, a playful smile crossed her muzzle. “A little birdie tells me that somepony is planning a romantic dinner this evening.”
Cadence tilted her head and faked a gasp. “Oh, my! When ever did Prism grow wings? Does your mother know?”
The little mare giggled, shaking her head. “I’m afraid not, My Princess. She’ll be so surprised when we come over for her birthday to find that her oldest daughter is the first crystal birdie, though!”
“I’m sure she’ll be thrilled! Now, my mischievous little pony, would you mind helping me pick out a dress? Or would you rather stand around playing?”
“Why not both?” Tourmaline countered, nimbly dancing out of the way as Cadence gave a swipe of her wing.
Cadence harrumphed, glaring at the smaller mare. “You and your sister get cheekier by the day, I swear! Why, I wonder what happened to those two little mares who could barely look at Shiny and I without stammering and bowing!” She smirked as she trotted passed, giving a teasing wink. “Maybe I should’ve taken pictures… for memory’s sake, of course.” Her horn flashed blue, opening the door to her walk-in closet.
“Mmm, yes, such a shame. Now, what type of dress were you thinking, My Princess?” Tourmaline followed behind, forgoing her antics in favor of aiding Cadence.
Humming to herself, Cadence stepped in. Several glowstones hanging from the ceiling lit up, illuminating the room with a fluorescent glow. “I’m not quite sure yet,” she muttered, casually floating several dresses off their racks and bringing them close for inspection. “Something fancy, but not overly formal. So, the Imperial Ceremony dress is right out.” With a flick of her magic, she sent a magnificent sapphire dress, with vibrant red sash back to its place on the rack.
Her hoofmaiden quirked a brow and let her eyes roam over the dresses still hovering. “Hmm, are you just trying to look nice for Prince Armor? Or do you want something with a little more—“ she trailed off, rolling her hoof in a circle. “—Oomph, so to speak?”
“Oomph. Definitely oomph.” Cadence turned to fix Tourmaline with a sly smirk. “I want to remind Shiny exactly what he’s got. I want to see that cute little blush from the first time he showed up to Canterlot Palace to take me out to a movie!”
“That’s my mare! Well, if it’s to see our dear Prince Charming light up like the Crystal Heart, I say go with this one.” She gestured to a soft, cream colored dress with purple trim around the hem and slits going up either side, stopping just below where Cadence’s cutie mark would be. “If that doesn’t have him drooling, I’ll eat the darn thing!”
“My, my! With such emphatic endorsement, I can hardly say no to that one!” Sending the other dresses back to their rightful places, Cadence turned and trotted over to her vanity table and mirror. She held the dress up to her body, giving a cursory glance to her reflection. “Hmm, yes, this one does go well with my mane—I really must thank Rarity for the work she put into this!” A shark-like grin worked its way across her muzzle, the image of the white coat on Shining’s face going bright red flashing through her mind. “Definitely what I’m looking for!”
Tourmaline giggled as she trotted up to stand behind her. “Poor Prince Armor won’t know what hit him!”
“Heh, true enough. Speaking of which, did I ever tell you about the time he got so distracted that he poured maple syrup on himself?”
“No, but now you have to!”
Cadence laughed and began putting on the dress, using her magic to easily unfasten the ties. With practiced ease, she slipped into it as if she were just putting on a light jacket. And here I thought that I’d never thank Auntie for making me go to all those fancy dress parties. “Well, since you’re interested, it was back when Princess Twilight was young—I used to foalsit her then, which is how I met Shiny. There was a big storm scheduled and I completely forgot to check, so I ended up stuck at their house for the night.”
“Ooooh, I’m loving this set up already!” Tourmaline giggled, stepping forward to open a drawer and pull out the makeup kit. “Please, allow me, My Princess.” She took a brush in hoof and set about to touch up the work Cadence had done before court. “Just a little bit as usual?”
“Yes, please. No need to go overboard and make me more makeup than Cadence!”
“Perish the thought! Now, don’t hold out on me after that buildup! Tell Tourmie everything!”
“Of course! Let’s see, if I remember right... Little Shiny was about as excited as a foal on Hearth’s Warming—and about as good at hiding it too!” She closed her eyes, imagining a much younger, lankier Shining, with a broad toothy grin, completely shameless of the braces in his mouth. His ears were perked up and his two-toned tail wagged happily as though he were a little puppy. “Really, I could tease him silly with this one if I wanted. Subtlety and Shining Armor didn’t go together, especially when he tried so hard around me to fit that cool image that the popular colts at school always kept up.”
Tourmaline’s hooves stopped. “Oh, dear.” Her smile creased into a big, toothy grin at the implications. “We are talking about the same Prince Shining Armor, right? The one who still playacts whenever you bop him?”
Cadence smirked and quirked an eyebrow before shifting in her seat. She raised one hoof in the air and placed the other over her heart before reciting a pegasus oath. “Let my wings fall off if I’m lying! Shining Armor, Your Prince and Captain of the Guard, tried so hard to fit that silly look in front of me that day.”
“Perhaps it isn’t my place, but, teasing aside, I don’t see the point. Weren’t you two already friends by then?”
“Well, we knew each other from classes and me foalsitting, but we weren’t that close yet. He could never seem to talk to me without making an excuse to run away and I would just get caught up staring into his eyes.” She sighed, letting her mind wandering off. “He was such a dork—well, he’s still a dork, really. But, back then, he was always playing games with his friends or burying his nose in a book. That was his go to whenever I came over; stammer out some malarkey about a test that I knew neither of us had and then bolt up to his room and study.”
Tourmaline had to stop applying blush to Cadence’s cheeks, holding herself up on the vanity table while she snickered. “Oh, by the Crystal Heart, please tell me there are pictures!”
“I should have a few. Anyway, after I stayed the night, Velvet made pancakes for us. When we sat down—I swear they planned this—Shiny and I ended up next to one another. By that time, I’d hung out with him around campus and was trying to drop hints, but his head is as thick as his shields are strong.” She snickered, grinning slyly. “Well, ever the gentlecolt, before pouring syrup over his pancakes, Shiny offered to do so for me.”
“Ah, so you let him and then said something nice?”
“Better. You have to understand, this was after about a year or so of me dropping hints—I was convinced he was as thick as a brick! So, as he finished, I decided to give him a little kiss on the cheek, right then and there. Just a little one, lingering like a lover might.”
“Heh, Princess of Love already knew how to make her stallion feel like he was walking on sunshine, eh?”
“Oh, yes, I’d seen and helped enough couples… but it didn’t quite go as plan. It went better!” She all but cackled. “When I leaned in, Shiny turned to ask if that was enough. I ended up kissing him full on the lips in front of his family!”
Tourmaline’s laughter stopped, she slowly turned to gape at Cadence. “No…” she whispered. “What did you do?”
“Well, I was already kissing the lug, so I held it for a bit, pulled back and asked him out. That’s when he started pouring it all over his leg! Poor colt didn’t even notice until it started burning…”
“Oooh, not good!” Tourmaline winced, her hind legs crossing as though in pain. “And after?”
Cadence turned and raised an eyebrow. “After? You see ‘after’ every day, you silly filly! I said I’d tell you that story, not the whole thing!” She broke down into another fit of giggles at the pout Tourmaline directed at her. “Oh, don’t give me that! I told you what you wanted. Besides, that only works with cute, little foals; you’re only one of the two.”
“Meanie!” The mare huffed, smiling in spite of her wants being denied, and returning to putting makeup on Cadence. “Still, I don’t think I’ve seen a day where he doesn’t look at you like he’s a colt looking at his crush for the first time.” She shook her head, sighing. “I’m not sure who lucked out more, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little jealous. You two are just so adorable together!”
“Come now, you’ll find a special somepony soon enough. I should know.” Cadence gave a pointed nod to the image of the Crystal Heart emblazoned on her flank. “You’ve got a great capacity for love, Tourmaline, you just need to find the one who makes you feel—“ she broke off, shaking her head with a small smile. “—It’s not my place to say. You’ll know when that day comes.”
Her piece said, she looked at the reflection in the mirror, surveying Tourmaline’s work. Flawless, even-layered as always. Hmm, Shiny might just have a heart attack. She stood, taking stock of the full-finished product. So what if she preened in front of a mirror every now and again? There was a stallion in the next room that was just waiting to be rendered speechless.
Cadence turned to face Tourmaline, a playful grin crossing her muzzle as a thought occurred to her. “Go let that husband of mine know that I’m ready.”
“Oh, building up the suspense for him, are we? All right, let’s see if we can’t make the big bad Captain stammer again!” She sang, trotting off to do her princess’s bidding, slowing only to shoot a wink in her direction as she slipped out the door. “Ohhhh, Prince Armor!” Tourmaline called out, using that tone that always made Prism Shine groan and hide behind her clipboard.
“Hmm? What is it Tourmaline?” Shining’s voice reached her ears. Cadence crept toward the door, perking an ear up to wait for her chance. She heard him groan before speaking again, his voice tinged with amusement. “All right, I know that look. Who did you annoy, are they chasing you with pitchforks, and do I need to pay them off?”
“No, not this time. My Prince—though, I still owe you for keeping that shield up until Prism calmed down. I just can’t imagine why she was so furious…”
“Right.” Shining deadpanned, the sarcasm in his reply hanging thick in the air. “I’m sure it had nothing to do with the fact that you dumped cold water all over her. So, what can I help you with, then, if not protecting you from your rampaging sister?”
“Well,” Tourmaline drew out the ell sound, “a few things came for you today. Special delivery. I wanted to know where I should put them.”
“Uh… depends on what ‘they’ are. If they’re big, we should probably ask Cady. Last time I tried decorating our apartment, she just about wrung my neck!”
Ah, yes. Cadence grimaced at that memory; Shining Armor standing in the middle of a disheveled living room, furniture haphazardly arranged, grinning sheepishly at her as she silently fumed.
And that’s where the ‘never-leave-Shiny-alone-to-organize-new-furniture’ rule came from. Her grimace turned into a full-blown scowl as she heard the pair share a laugh at something, a joke shared between them, no doubt. Hey! This is supposed to be teasing Shiny time, not giggle about Cady being organized! Perhaps Prism Shine would be interested in finding out just who replaced all her inkwells with invisible ink.
No; that could be saved for later. Like the next time Tourmaline snitched to the Canterlot Royal Guards posted when Cadence slipped her detail and went out for a little stroll through the park in the Garnet Quarter.
Just as she pictured the look of dismay flitting across Tourmaline’s muzzle, her hoofmaiden spoke up again, loud enough for her to hear. “Well, I had them brought in. They’re not too big, but we can’t just stash them in the closet. Would you mind taking a look? It’ll only take a second!”
“Well…” She heard Shining pause, no doubt wondering if he had time before she returned. Oh, won’t you be in for a surprise! “All right, just a quick look, though. I promised Cady we’d go out tonight and she wanted to get a move on.”
“I understand, My Prince. It won’t take but a moment.” Cadence heard her hooves clopping against the floor, getting nearer as she left Shining’s presence. Tourmaline poked her head around the doorway, grinning broadly. “Thank you for waiting!” she said, making a great show of annunciating for Shining’s sake. “Prince Armor is ready to see you now!”
Is he now? Her grin returned. Cadence tossed her mane and nodded to Tourmaline, waving her on to lead her in. She gave the mare a few steps head start before following along, taking slow, elegant strides to give Shining a full display of her figure.
As soon as she stepped through the doorway, Shining’s eyes went wide, looking her up and down to take in every inch of her. She turned a bit to the side to show off her dress, while taking the free chance to survey his choice in attire.
Dressed in a black suit, with a white dress shirt and blue striped tie that matched his mane perfectly, he looked the very picture of a suave, debonaire stallion, ready to take his lady out to dinner.
Mmm, very nice! Cadence hummed, letting her eyes wander hungrily over his form. Somepony had the same idea as me!
He blinked, staring wordlessly a moment before shaking himself. His ears stood erect as his tail wagged behind him, looking more like an excited puppy than a grown stallion. “I don’t know, Tourmaline,” Shining began, a goofy grin spreading across his face. “I’m not quite sure if these belong to me.”
Tourmaline gave a mock gasp, looking back and forth between the pair. “Oh, you’re right! Silly me! My Princess—” she turned to Cadence and addressed her without missing a beat “—I present to you an overly eager admirer with a penchant for utter silliness!”
Shining Armor huffed, making a show of turning his head and stomping a hoof. “I am not overly eager!”
At the sight of the stallion who sent young recruits diving for cover acting like a foal himself, Cadence was helpless to control a sudden bout of giggles. She took a moment to reign herself in before replying. “Of course not!” she agreed, nodding her head and schooling her expression into a wide-eyed look of pure innocence. “You’re not over eager at all.” As he nodded along with her, Cadence went in for the kill. “You’re just my big, cuddly, teddy bear of a husband.”
“Exactly, I’m just a big—Hey!” Shining narrowed his eyes. “Just for that, maybe I won’t dance with you tonight! Humph!” He made as though to walk away, but only managed a single step before a light blue aura caught his tail and jerked him back to stand at Cadence’s side.
Acting fast, she threw a wing across his withers, stealing a quick kiss to his cheek. “Oh, no you don’t, buster! You promised me dinner and dancing, and, by my Auntie’s crown, you’re not getting out of either.”
He nodded, chuckling to himself. “Yes, dear. Dinner, dancing, and, of course—“ a smirk played upon his lips, Shining turned and bumped their muzzles together, “—all of the mushy things.”
“You’re darn right, all of the mushy things. Though, hmm, I don’t see any roses, so I’ll have to take points off already. I hope you’ve brushed up on your dancing if you want to recover.”
“Don’t worry, I have,” he replied, waving her off. “I’ve perfected my ‘stepping on all four hooves’ technique and evolved it to a ‘step on all four hooves at once’. Twily will be quite jealous.”
The mares snickered, tales of his beloved ‘L.S.B.F.F.’ were a common fixture in the Crystal Palace, especially when he and Cadence reminisced over bygone days. Any story involving her dancing always made for a good time. “Hmm, maybe I do need my regalia.” Cadence mumbled. “It’ll at least save me from those behemoths you call hooves.”
Shining just rolled his eyes and stuck out his tongue. “Fine, I won’t show you my incomparable skills at dancing failure. I’ll be a good dancer—bleh! That just sounds so boring!” He pulled a face, screwing up his muzzle and pretending to gag.
“I’m sure you’ll survive, sweetie. Now, shall we?”
“Of course!” He dropped his playacting, bowing low and gesturing to the door with a hoof. “After you, m’lady.”
Cadence tittered, offering a curtsey in reply before pressing up against his side. They trotted out together, sparing a nod in Tourmaline’s direction before slipping out into the hallway toward the courtyard.