//------------------------------// // Shining Stars // Story: Operation Shield // by GJT_Productions //------------------------------// "What is the status of Princess Luna, Guard?" "Currently being groomed by her staff in her bathroom, Lieutenant Captain. She has informed us you are allowed access." "Understood, open the doors." "Yes, sir." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lieutenant Captain Shining Armor, still getting a chuckle of amusement regarding Aten's "challenge", passes between the two guards and through the opened doors into Princess Luna's royal suite. He knew that he had a little time to wait considering the rigor and precision of the royal grooming protocol, so he decides to do a quick once-over of the room. Shining hears the doors close behind him as he looks around at the decoration of the room, best described as "perpetual Nightmare Night party". He had heard rumors that only bat ponies could ever be fully comfortable in such an environment, and even he had to admit it wasn't just because most Guard members were still wary of being assigned anywhere near Luna. Shining sniffs a mixture of freshly brewed coffee - Luna had very quickly become as much as caffeine addict as her sister and most in Guard service were - and blackberries from a scented candle burning in the corner as he begins his pass around the room. After passing the gently percolating coffee maker at its station, his first stop is the stereo system with CDs neatly stacked beside it. Princess Luna had acquired an unusual mixed taste in music, as evidenced by the CDs in the stacks. Some were the pony equivalent to what humans called "Gregorian chanting" and some were ballads, both of which reminded Luna of the kind of music she had enjoyed before her thousand-year exile. Some were classical music, which Luna admired for its beauty and elegance. Some were the popular music of Shining's teenage years, the scratched and oft-played CDs still generating enough curiosity for him to donate them to her collection. Finally, there were a few "heavy metal" CDs in the mix, which Luna insisted were for "practice" - this invariably generated very strange looks from anypony that didn't already know about the "Royal Canterlot Voice" and a great deal of amusement from those that did know. Next to be inspected was the donated Neightendo Pony Entertainment System and game collection, which Shining Armor noticed had grown by a few new cartridges since the last time he checked - he chalked that up to Gaffer and 8-Bit, both of whom were now Upper Classes serving on the afternoon shift, trying to earn "brownie points" with Princess Luna by donating the cartridges. He was about to continue on when he noticed a distressing sight - the evidence of the previous night's binge gaming session was still laying around on the floor! Making a mental note to report the performance failure to the Captain, Shining began stowing away the half-eaten snack bags and half-empty bottles of soda, but was interrupted by the sound of an opening door nearby. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shining Armor turns to look at the source of the sound, which is the door into the bathroom of the suite. Two bat pony mares - part of Princess Luna's retaining service - emerge first, carrying with them the equipment and supplies used for the royal grooming. Then emerges Luna herself, stepping with practiced precision and regality and giving a gentle smile in Shining's direction. Shining was pleased to notice less rigidity in Luna's movements, a sign of progress in Luna's efforts to find a balance between regality and accessibility similar to the one Princess Celestia had learned ever since shedding the "unapproachable ruler" image. This was not just an effort to help Luna play catch up to her sister, but to make it easier for her to form friendships. Like with so many things, Luna hid her insecurities behind rigid adherence to protocol, so this evidence of relaxing was a good sign indeed. "Greetings, Lieutenant Captain." Princess Luna gently states to Shining Armor, who's expression is still somewhat spellbound by her beauty - frequently looking at the other alicorn princess did not reduce his appreciation for their appearance, after all. "Pardon, Your Majesty, I just was not certain if the stars twinkling in your mane and tail were real or a product of the grooming procedure." Shining replies, blushing a bit as he speaks. "Oh they are very much real Lieutenant Captain, the first sign in fact." Luna explains, her tone a cryptic excitement. "'The first sign'?" Shining Armor asks as his expression changes to puzzlement. Luna swishes her tail and flips her mane back as she answers: "The first sign of our powers returning. Both our sister and ourself had manes and tails of a single solid color in our youth. Our sister's mane and tail changed from solid pink to the rainbow you see now, while ours darkened and became populated with stars. Being reborn with such a low power level, we took on a much younger appearance than we would otherwise be. The stars mean the powers are beginning to return." "Well that's wonderful... isn't it?" Shining asks with a tentative smile. "Indeed. We cannot wait to share this news with the rest of Canterlot." Luna answers, her smile broadening into genuine joy. "We can start with the planning meeting for the Oubliettes & Ogres club. This needs to get cleaned up first, don't know why the morning shift didn't do it..." Shining mutters out, looking somewhat agitated as he tries to continue the pick up job he had started. "That is a fault of ours. We have been too touchy about items being moved while we are asleep. Please do inform the staff they are allowed to clean up the bags and bottles as appropriate." Luna states. "I certainly will, at the end of the shift..." Shining answers, looking left and right as he tries to see if he missed anything. A second later, there is a "squish" noise and Luna bursts out into giggles - obviously, he had missed something. Shining makes a mortified face as he looks back at his right hind leg, Luna's giggles continuing on. A sigh escapes his lips as he realizes he accidentally stepped in a half-eaten cheesecake that had been left on the floor, which meant he now needed to wash off what got on his leg and the armor shoe he wore on that hoof. "Excuse me Your Majesty, I'll need a few minutes to wash this off." Shining states in a deadpan tone as he tries to leave with an awkward three-legged hopping motion, hoping against hope he wouldn't get spotted on the way to the bathroom. "Take your time, Lieutenant Captain." Luna replies graciously, the giggling continuing on as she watches Shining's awkward exit...