Sometimes, Cadence wanted nothing more than to curse her auntie for raising the sun so darn early, and doing it so slowly and so precisely that it shone right in her eyes for just long enough to prevent her from ignoring it. It was on purpose, it just had to be. The angle at which Celestia would have to raise it and the time at which she let it sit there were far too exact to be happy coincidence.
That didn’t mean Cadence wouldn’t try to fight it. She squeezed her eyes shut and made to bury her muzzle in Shining’s mane, but he wasn’t there. Cracking open a bleary eye, Cadence found herself on the edge of the bed. The soft pink sheets were damp with sweat, the thick scent of their nightly activities hung in the air.
He had definitely been with her—the memory of both their date and afterward were vivid, even in her sleep muddled state.
Where did he… Shining wouldn’t just leave. Well, unless he needed to use the bathroom or something for his pain. Cadence made to get up and go find her wayward husband, but something shifted behind her, pulling her closer and nuzzling her mane. Oh. She smiled and leaned back to reciprocate Shining’s nuzzle. Oh, right. There you are.
Cadence closed her eyes, defying her ever-luminous nemesis just a bit longer in favor of time with him. The day ahead would be long and trying, no doubt, given that she had to meet with the Council of Shards to discuss that memo they sent.
Just the thought of it made her hair raise. She gave a weak ruffle of her wings and wrapped her hooves around the one Shining had around her waist. Not only did she have to deal with that old argument, she had to do it without him at her side.
He isn’t ready to hear it yet, not when he’s come so close to getting the recruits at least marching in form. They weren’t as well trained as the Royal Guard, but once Shining at least had them comfortable with the basics, he could let subordinates take over the rest of their training.
Once he had them ready, things would go back to the way they’d been in Canterlot. Shining would go back to a more traditional Captain’s role, disciplining insubordinate troops, organizing training, and doing periodic walkthroughs. He would be going on a run with them but once a month, rather than the current daily regimen.
Until then, she would grin and bear it. This is necessary for our safety here. What’s more, it is his job, his passion. I can’t just take that from him. Take away the guard lifestyle from Shining Armor meant taking the very thing that made that fire in his eyes burn brighter. From foalhood, to the day he first donned the helmet, to snoring in bed with his hoof around her.
It was a part of his soul—that gilded armor had been ingrained into his very being. Shining Armor was, and would always be, a soldier at heart.
No matter how much she wished that he could just flip a switch and be her prince.
Part of you will always be my loyal protector, she mused, thinking back to the old fairytales they used to read with Twilight. Particularly, those that spoke of the brave knight protecting the kingdom from the monsters lurking in the dark. A good guard always protects his princess and makes sure she lives happily ever after.
She gave a wry grin. Those stories influenced Shining far more than he cared to admit, which made it so fun to pull them out from time to time and reminisce.
Though, to be fair, doing so usually ended with him pulling out a few of her less-than-stellar moments. That time with 8-bit and that mare he really liked… A shudder ran down Cadence’s spine. I don’t think I’ll ever apologize enough for that one. And Shiny won’t let me forget it anytime in the near future.
Oh well. Such was the fun of having married her foalhood sweetheart. Beside, the pros outweighed the cons by a longshot.
Cadence’s tongue darted out to lick her lips, a wide grin spread across her face. Definitely a plus! she thought, her tail twitching as the memory of last night flashed before her eyes. Pushing herself up—sparing a slight wince for the jolt of pain between her legs—she turned to regard Shining’s slumbering form, greedily drinking in every inch of his body. Mmm, if we didn’t have things to do today!
Another day, perhaps. Or, if Shining was up for a repeat performance, that very evening. But until then, she had the regrettable duty of waking her beloved up so they could go about their respective duties.
She leaned down to nuzzle his ear. “Sweetie,” she cooed, “it’s time to get up.”
Shining mumbled incoherently and shifted, a smile crossed his muzzle as he turned his head into her ministrations.
Undeterred, Cadence kissed the tip of his ear, lingering enough to feel him shiver beneath her and let out a shuddering breath. “Come on, Shiny, we’ve got things to take care of.”
He grumbled and opened an eye to aim a halfhearted glare at her, ruined by his lingering grin. “Weren’t you the one who said we should stay in bed longer yesterday? Bit of a role reversal, isn’t it?”
“I’m quite certain that I’ve no idea what you’re talking about, sweetie! As a princess, I am the model of propriety and always put my duties before—"
“Pull the other one,” Shining cut her off, raising an eyebrow, “it’s got bells on it.”
Cadence rolled her eyes and kissed his cheek. “Jerk.”
“If the horseshoe fits, I guess I’ll wear it.” He shrugged as he slowly pushed himself up. His muzzle creased into a grimace, a hoof shot to his ribs.
“Still aching?”
“Yeah, a bit. But I’ll live.” Shining forced a smile and darted in to steal a kiss to her lips.“So, busy day or just getting me out of bed?”
“Bit of column A, bit of column B. I’ve got a session with the Council of Shards, so I need you to keep an eye on Court today. At least until I get back, that is.”
With a nod, Shining threw the covers off and tilted his head to the side, grimacing with each pop that sounded. “Aah! Nothing better!”
Cadence wrinkled her nose. “I really wish you wouldn’t do that. It sounds so… ew.” She shuddered, bringing her wings up as if to ward off the mere memory of it. “Just… isn’t right!”
“Don’t knock it ‘till you try it, Cady! Does a body wonders!”
“Mhmm, and I’m sure it’ll do you wonders when you’re old and wrinkled, complaining to me about your neck problems every morning.”
Shining snorted and gave a wry grin. “Oh, no, I already have those. Dang helmet is a lot heavier than it looks, you know.”
Shaking her head, Cadence rolled herself out of bed, flinching as her bare hooves touched the cold, crystal floor. Oooh! Never gonna get used to this! Note to self: we need to get a rug or something laid down. Preferably, before winter hits. Her tail swished, she shuffled her hooves against the floor to get a bit of warmth out of the friction.
“Feeling that chill?” he asked with a knowing grin. “You know, socks are always an option.”
She flicked her tail across his nose, rolling her eyes at the little eyebrow waggle he threw in. “Oh, I’m sure they are. Just like I’m sure it has nothing to do with your want to stare at my legs all day, hmm?” Turning her nose up, she regarded him out of the corner of her eye, as if looking down on him. “Pervert.”
“Wanting to see my wife in socks is hardly perverted. Unless...” Shining broke off, bringing a hoof to his chin, “asking me to put on my armor and give you a private parade counts as—" He lit up his horn, easily catching the pillow she sent his way and spinning it in his aura as he lifted the others off of the bed to join it. “Now, now, we both know how this is going to go, sweetie: I’ll pelt you with pillows, and you’ll shriek, cover your face with your wings, and leave yourself wide open for me to tickle you silly.”
As he said this, he climbed out of bed, advancing slowly upon his wife as though he were a predator stalking prey. Cadence backed away, her wings unfurling, ready to take flight. “Shiny, let’s be reasonable now! Y-You’ve got court and your, er, captain duties and I have my meeting, so—"
“Oh, it won’t take long, Cady, don’t you worry!” The pillows hovered higher, looming over her. “I’m thinking I’ll go for my record today!”
That tore it! Cadence turned tail and bolted, ducking as pillows soared overhead. She galloped toward the bathroom door, shrieking when a fluffy projectile smacked her in the rump as she made it through the doorway. Her horn lit up; her bright blue aura engulfed the door as she tried to slam it shut, but a flash of pink caught it in place and pushed it back. “No!” She scrambled back, her backside bumping against the top edge of the tub. “Shiny, wait! We have to get ready!”
“Heh, fine.” Shining let his arsenal of pillows fall to the floor, his muzzle split into a grin as he trotted into the bathroom and kicked the door closed. “I’ll just save it for later!” He stopped just in front of her, stealing a quick nuzzle. “So, what sort of fun does the Council have in store today?”
His tone was casual enough, but Cadence caught the way his ears perked up and eyes locked onto hers, almost searching for something.
“Oh, the usual,” she replied, taking care to meet his gaze and hide anything that might make him suspicious. No need for him to worry about their little memos, she could take care of that herself. “They wanted to discuss some possible trade options to boost the economy. Lady Starburst actually suggested sending a request to the—" she stopped short, eyes going wide. “Oh, horseapples! I was supposed to talk to you about that!”
“Hmm? About Lady Starburst?”
“Not quite. She wants to see if we can’t contact the Lord of the Griffon Territories to schedule trade negotiations; I said that I’d talk to you since you’ve visited back when you were a part of Auntie’s guard detail.”
“Oh, really?” Shining’s eyes lit up, tail wagging behind him. His interest was captured, memories of his own interactions with the UGT’s military leadership no doubt fresh in his mind.
Ah, and now my Shiny is awake! “Yes, she wants to see if we can’t find a way to trade some of our crystal crafts in exchange for coal and steelworks. But, Saddle Arabia is my area of expertise in terms of diplomacy. All I know about the UGT is from either history books or you.”
He pulled back, looking off to the ceiling in thought. “Hmm, I’m not too sure they’d take much interest in crystal crafting, but I suppose it’s worth a try. We could always point to some of the uses in magical research, though… Hmm…” Shining trailed off and idly tapped his hoof against the floor, a smirk slowly making its way across his muzzle. “I wonder…”
“What is it?” Cadence pressed, turning his head back to her with a hoof. “I know that look, you crafty colt! You’ve got those wheels turning in your head and that gleam in your eyes! Out with it!”
“Well, crystals have some interesting magical properties. I can tell you a few, but I can’t go into incredible detail, you know? Not my field.”
“Right, understandably so. But what are you—oh!” She gasped, bringing a hoof to her mouth. “You want to have Twilight talk to them?”
Shining nodded once, his smirk broadening into a full-blown grin. “Think about it: Lord Alfons respects ability and loyalty to one’s subjects. Well, who better to discuss the properties and benefits of crystals in magical research than Twily?”
“That’s true. The only higher authority on magic would be Auntie Celestia. Though, we’d have to see how much Twilight knows about crystal magic before we made any promises. Not to mention, we have to see if this will even happen first.”
“One step at a time, then. First, let’s see if she’s open to it, then send a few samples and see what she comes back with. If she doesn’t have much in the way of information, we can ask if she’d be willing to look into it. Hey, we could probably see if the griffons would be open to a joint research project on the matter. I’d wager that I could get Twily in on it!”
“A joint research project with the Princess of Friendship?” Cadence smirked. “One might think you were trying to show off, husband of mine!”
He waggled his eyebrows. “One would be right, sweetie! Besides, can you tell me I’m wrong? If Twily says yes to just one of those proposals, it’ll get Lord Alfons’ attention.”
Humming, Cadence tapped a hoof against her chin. “I might have to run that one by the Council, just to see if they’d be open to it. You, uh, know how they can be about parting with crystals if they aren’t for craft working.” She paused to give him a chance to get his snickering under control, no doubt thinking of a few instances of crystal ponies protecting their crystals from Canterlot University thaumatology researchers.
“Fair enough,” he nodded. “If they give the go ahead, we can send out a letter to Twily and then send a request for negotiations to Lord Alfons. He, er, prefers to conduct his business face to face.”
“That sounds like a good plan.” She sighed and squeezed her eyes shut. Now comes the actual doing it. “We can talk more about that later. We’ve both got a long day ahead of us.”
Her wings sagged as she lit up her horn to turn the faucet. Cadence watched as the hot water streamed into the tub, letting her mind wander a bit to free herself from her daily burden. Specifically, the one piece of business she’d been dreading…
“Hey.” Shining touched her chin with a hoof and gently turned her head so he could look into her eyes. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, sweetie. Just tired and trying not to think about everything we have to do.” And how to keep you from finding out.
He hummed, drawing her in for a hug and laying his head atop hers. “You’ve been pushing yourself way too hard, you know that? One of these days I’m going to have to carry you out of the throne room on my back!”
Cadence cracked open an eye, leveling him with a teasing grin in spite of her mood. “Two things: one, don’t tempt me to make you do it. Two, pot, this is kettle, you’re black.”
“Heh, fair enough. Still… I worry about you sometimes.” Shining drew back and tilted her head up to lock eyes again. “Tell you what, after you finish up with the Council, just come back here and relax. I’ll handle court.”
“You? Handle an entire day of court alone?” She blanched, wrinkling her nose at the mere notion. “You’d go crazy sitting in the throne all day!”
“I’m sure I’ll find a way to cope, especially if it lets you get some time to unwind. In fact, I’ll sweeten the deal: you come back and rest, and when I get back, I’ll help you preen.”
Cadence’s ears perked up, her wings gave a happy little flutter. “R-Really?”
“I’ll even bring you tea afterward.”
She threw her hooves around his neck and peppered his muzzle with kisses. “Oh, you spoil me, Shiny! Soon, I’ll start expecting hoof rubs and flowers every day!”
Shining snorted and nuzzled against her nose. “I’ll get ready, then. For now, let’s just get through today. And then, I’ll happily wait on my Princess’s every whim, carefully preening those beautiful pink feathers! How’s that sound?”
Cadence didn’t reply verbally; she drew Shining into a deep kiss, subtly maneuvering herself to push him backward into the tub. He gave a little grunt as his backside came into contact with the crystal and awkwardly swung his legs over the edge, one at a time, and stepped in without breaking contact.
She drew back a moment and gave him a little shove back before nimbly hopping over the edge and landing with a little splash. She’d make it through the day, the incentive given was more than enough for that. Until her meeting, though, she could afford to live in the moment with her Shining Armor.
A nice, relaxing soak in the tub would do nicely.
Prior to Sombra’s takeover, the Council of Shards was comprised of dozens of districts, represented by a pony elected to advocate the interests and needs of those within their jurisdiction, and serve as advisors to the Crown. But during the dark times of his reign, when fear gripped the hearts and minds of the crystal ponies, those who dared stay true to the Council had been removed as enemies of the state.
As Cadence looked into the room, she felt a cold pang in her chest. A hall designed to hold sessions of parliament, nearly the size of Equestria’s own, was largely empty. The many districts had been consolidated into four the quarters of the outer ring and the central district—a mere five to represent the entirety of the last remaining city of the once mighty Crystal Empire.
Shining, Quartz, Beryl, and Garnet made up the outer ring of the city. Well, it was the “outer ring” in name only, nowadays. In the past, they had been the districts farthest from the palace, right up against the city limits. In modern times, they made up the four corners of the city around the central Kunzite district, the higher class neighborhoods surrounding the Crystal Palace.
Of course, “higher class” was a misnomer as well. They were only high class in their proximity to the palace itself. Monetarily, the residents of the Kunzite district were only slightly better off than the rest of their crystal brethren.
Patience, Cady, she scolded herself. Have a little faith, the economy will grow as we integrate with Equestria and its allies. The Empire will boom again soon enough. Smiling brightly, she stepped through the archway and approached the five ponies seated at the table.
As one, they stood and bowed to her, each gesturing to the ornate crystal throne, awaiting her to take her rightful place.
And the pomp and ceremony never dies. She took her seat and gestured for them to join her in sitting around the table. “Good morning, my friends,” she greeted, “I hope you’ve all been well since our last session.”
“A good morning to you, My Princess,” Lady Starburst, a crystal pegasus of peach coat replied. “I’ve been quite well, thank you. Things have been well in the Beryl district as of late, just ironing out some of the finer details with a new school for crafting. We’re hoping to couple it with apprenticeship opportunities for top tier students.”
“Oh, I meant to ask about that,” Lord Sunstone, a crystal pony of deep goldenrod hue spoke up, raising a hoof. “Would you mind forwarding a summary of that proposal to me at some point? There has been some interest in a similar institution being made in the Quartz district and, if it’s not an issue, I’d like to present yours as a model.”
“Of course! I’ll make note of it and send a copy of the draft to your office.”
Cadence nodded to the pair. “It’s good to hear that the two of you are taking initiative in the education in your areas! I look forward to seeing how they progress!”
“Thank you, My Princess!” Both replied in stereo, ducking their heads to her.
A crystal unicorn seated to the left of Lord Sunstone raised an eyebrow. “While it’s good to see that we’re committed to education and the revival of our old culture, perhaps we should consider broadening our horizons a bit.” His comment sent the other four into a flurry of protests, each vying to make their own objections heard. He rolled his eyes and shook his head, turning his gaze to Cadence herself. Raising his voice, he spoke above his counterparts. “What would you say on the matter, My Princess?”
The objections stopped almost instantly as he invoked her title; a not-so-subtle reminder that they were in her presence. As much as she would’ve loved to have Shining at her side, Cadence could almost hear the annoyed grumblings of her ever-stubborn husband at the way the four in question pinned back their ears and bowed submissively, each murmuring apologies for their conduct.
Canterlot is similar in that sense, he’s just not used to it. She shook herself out of her daze. Focus! “Clear Cut does have a point. Given that we are in a… well, I’ll be blunt: the Empire is in a far different time than when last seen. The world has moved past the old days where a nation specialized in one area and dominated the market. Though, the Crystal Empire still has a high market with our crystals, given the quality and quantity we have.” She paused to nod to Clear. “However, to your point, it would be more beneficial to adapt to the modern Equestrian system in the long run, but that could take some time.”
“Something to phase in over time, then?” He hummed, idly drumming his hooves on the tabletop. “I’m sure we can discuss it at length, perhaps we could all collaborate on the project? I’m sure Our Princess is quite familiar with the Equestrian system, and there is room for consideration on cultural classes as well, if preservation of our old way is the issue.”
As he finished, Lady Ruby Shine of the Kunzite district raised her hoof. “If I might interject, My Princess,” she began, waiting for Cadence to nod before continuing, “speaking on behalf of Kunzite, I’d like to note that Lord Clear Cut’s proposal may encounter a bit of resistance if our culture is pushed to the side, so to speak.”
“I understand,” Cadence replied, “but, I don’t foresee too much difficulty accounting for that. Cloudsdale still teaches a separate course on the history of pegasi on top of the unified history, so we could adopt something similar. This might be best suited for an entire meeting devoted to the idea.”
There was a round of nods and scratching of quills as the respective Lords and Ladies made note, each no doubt eager to make sure that their respective districts’ voices were heard.
Very good. The more input, the more likely we’ll be able to satisfy their needs. And I’ll get a bit more insight to what exactly they expect out of Shiny and me. Cadence allowed herself a little smile, granting a point in her favor. Auntie Celestia would be pleased.
After a moment, she cleared her throat. “Is there anything else you’d like to bring up before we press on?”
“As a matter of fact, I was wondering about my proposal for a trade alliance with the UGT.” Lady Starlight put in. “Have you had a chance to consider or—"
“I need a bit more time on that, I’m afraid. I meant to talk with my husband about it, but…” she trailed off, ears pinning back at the way Lord Sunstone drew in a sharp breath. Oh, dear, here we go. Her feathers ruffled under his gaze, Cadence ducked her head low. “Well, some things came up, and it fell to the wayside. I discussed it briefly with him, and he recommends perhaps offering some of our crystals, both for crafting and magical research.”
“Magical research?” Sunstone repeated. “Forgive me, Princess, but what use would Lord Alfons of the High Winds have for that? The griffons cannot perform magic as unicorns can.”
“With respect, neither can earth ponies or pegasi. Each race holds its own form of magic, Lady Sunstone—the earth ponies possess an innate connection to the earth and plants, pegasi can manipulate weather and read air currents, and, of course, crystal ponies possess a link with the Crystal Heart, the very embodiment of love.”
Ruby Shine hummed. “I see where you’re going, Princess, but I’m not quite sure I understand the notion of griffon magic. Granted, my knowledge is about a millennium out of date,” she paused, smiling wryly at the snickers that went around. “But I’ve heard nothing that suggests any use of magic in griffons.”
“In that case, let me ask you this: have you ever heard of the UGT requesting pegasus aid in controlling their weather?” She let the silence carry through, smiling inwardly as she watched the respective Lords and Ladies scratch their heads. “I’m sorry, that was meant to be rhetorical. They’ve never sought our help, because they don’t need it. griffon magic is similar in nature to pegasus magic—they can stand on clouds, manipulate weather, and, in some cases, fly at higher altitudes. Unfortunately, that’s about the extent of my knowledge of them. My husband knows their culture quite well, so his input will be invaluable.”
“A fair point, My Princess. But, as you say, no pony present is as familiar with their magic outside of your knowledge. Isn’t it possible that they might not place as much value on researching our crystals?”
Cadence raised a hoof. “To be fair, Shining and I wanted to contact Lord Alfons to gauge his interest. Though, we may have something that might tempt him—or, at least, the griffon scholars.”
Clear Cut leaned forward. “What might that be, Princess?”
“You may recall that my husband’s sister, Princess Twilight Sparkle, was formerly Princess Celestia’s personal student.” She broke off, surveying the matching looks of comprehension dawning on their faces. “One thing my husband made mention of was that the griffons take respect very seriously. What better way to show that a research project might have merit than the endorsement of Princess Twilight herself? Or, should she express an interest, a joint project?”
Drumming his hooves on the tabletop, Clear Cut spoke slowly. “I’m not quite sure that I feel as comfortable with that… but, the Empire is a protectorate of Equestria, so I suppose it would make sense that we act in some semblance of unity.”
Game, set, match. “I’m glad you understand. Now, if there aren’t any objections, I’d like to send letters to both parties as soon as possible.”
Silence reigned over the Council, no hooves raised to offer opposition to her proposal. Perfect. Maybe, for once, a Council session would go smoothly, with as little nitpicking as possible.
“I think,” Clear Cut began, “that I speak for all of us when I say that we will defer to your judgement on the matter, as well as Prince Armor’s. If Lord Alfons and Princess Twilight both agree, then this could prove quite beneficial to the Empire.” He broke off, his lips curving down into a small frown. “However, I must draw attention to the ‘things’ that you mentioned coming up, My Princess. Would I be correct in presuming that refers to the injuries that Our Prince suffered on a recent training run?”
“W-Well, yes,” Cadence shifted in place, her wings coming up as if to protectively wrap around her body. “He was trying to protect a few recruits from a bear mauling and, well, he ended up getting himself injured in the process.”
“If I might be blunt, Princess. How exactly did that happen?” Starburst asked, her hooves steepled together. “Prince Armor specializes in shield spells, doesn’t he? Based on the official report, protection from a bear, of all things, should’ve been a simple matter for him to handle.”
“Yes, I do concede that. My husband informed me that he started with a low level spell at first, thinking that it would be best suited to protect himself and avoid injuring the mother bear.” She placed a hoof on the table, giving each a firm gaze. “I assure you, I have spoken with him on the matter and told him that he is not to use any low level spell in such a situation again.”
“With respect, My Princess,” Clear Cut interjected, “we’re talking about the stallion who blanketed all of Canterlot in his magic. Low level spell or not, the fact that he put himself in harm’s way in this manner is… most troubling.” He sighed, brushing a hoof through his mane. “You received our last memo, correct?”
“Yes, I did. I thought we’d discussed this and come to an agreement that we would let Shining finish training them before I spoke with him.”
“We did, but this isn’t something that can be ignored. Before, we just wanted to bring our concerns to your attention, now… My Princess, I’m sorry, but this only gives credence to that.”
“Indeed,” Lady Sapphire of the Sparkling Quarter spoke up for the first time, her hooves folded one over the other. “Please understand, we don’t mean to do this out of any desire to be difficult or cause undue stress, My Princess. But Prince Armor is more to the Empire than just a soldier; he is our foremost military mind, the leader of the Guard, and your husband. If, may the Royal Sisters forbid, the worst were to happen, we would lose a very important figure in our city.”
“The city? Try Equestria as a whole!” Clear Cut cried. “To my knowledge, Princess Celestia has yet to name a replacement to Prince Armor as Captain of the Royal Guard! He is, technically, the ranking officer of two military units! It’s his division that’s slowly been transferring in.”
“Indeed.” Sapphire nodded. “Of course there’s also the elephant in the room: the Crystal Throne has no heir.”
A heavy silence fell over the group as Cadence visibly tensed, drawing in a slow breath. Deep breath in, deep breath out. Relax. She let it out slowly, closing her eyes to block out the world around her. “That,” she began, straining to keep her tone level, “is between Prince Shining Armor and myself, Lady Sapphire.”
Lady Sapphire made to speak, but Lord Sunstone stopped her with a wave of his hoof. “My Princess, fellow members of the Council, let’s all take a moment to calm ourselves. It’s true, tradition dictates that the Crystal Throne have an heir and a spare as soon as possible.” He broke off, giving his fellow members a chance to nod or echo “Hear, hear!” in reply before continuing on. “Before the Empire’s fall, the princess at the time asked us to let her delay in providing a proper heir. She didn’t feel that she was ready, that it was a matter between herself and her husband. Tragically, they passed on before they could, and the Throne stayed vacant until he came.”
Cadence nodded, but stayed silent. The fear remained strong in them, even though Sombra had been utterly decimated by the power of the Crystal Heart. His name stayed taboo, the memory of his terrible reign still fresh in their minds. “Be that as it may, Shining Armor and I are our own ponies. Parenthood is something… to be discussed.”
“To be—Princess, please,” Lady Ruby Shine took up his banner. “Your regime has given our ponies hope of a bright future, despite the hiccups that have come with the change. But, therein lies our worry: both you and Prince Armor have given us hope. The two of you are symbols to our ponies; kind, thoughtful rulers who have gone the extra mile to help us out of the darkness. The continuation of your line, your way, is vital to the Empire’s interests!”
Lord Clear Cut stood, bowing to Cadence. “As Lady Sapphire said, we do this out of concern, not a desire to be difficult. For the reasons given by my fellow members, and in accordance with the desires of the residents of the Garnet Quarter, I must ask again.” He raised his head, looking her dead in the eyes. “Please, talk with Prince Armor, convince him to come off of active duty as soon as possible and help train a new captain so that he might transition into a role befitting his status as Our Prince.”
One by one, each representative stood, repeating his sentiments verbatim, adding their own snippets of sentiment from their respective districts.
But Cadence was all but deaf to them, her wings drooped low. She let her back thud against her throne and closed her eyes. Before, it had only been a notion, nothing more than a few advisors making point that Shining should, by right, be in an office, filing papers, giving orders through subordinates, and maintaining the Guard as a normal captain would.
With his injuries, with his misstep in self-preservation, Shining had unwittingly set the public into worry over his wellbeing. He had given the Council all the justification they needed.