"Twilight!" Cadence was alarmed. "Who is that?" Twilight shouldn't have simply jumped at a random stranger like that. Even if he was incredibly cute.
"It's Shiny Ammo, Cadey! He's home early!" Twilight kissed the stallion's cheek ecstatically, making him blush slightly in embarrassment.
"I'm Shining Armour, Twilight's big brother. And I guess you're Princess Cadence? My parents told me they'd hired a new foalsitter."
Oh, sweet Celestia, he's cute. Was he talking to me? Yes. Okay, Cadence, you got this. Just act normal, 'kay? No tricks, Mr Brain. This is no time to be---
"Um, Princess Cadence? You there?" Shining Armour was giving her an odd look. "You, uh, are Princess Cadence, right?"
Okay, he's talking to you. ActnormalactnormalactnormalpleaseforCelestia'ssakeactnormal.
"Huh? Um, yes, that's me. I'm the, uh, the new foalsitter. P-pleasure to meet you." Thank you so much brain for not screwing this up.
"Yes, well, I've heard a lot about you. All of Twilight's calls are to tell me what a great time she had with the foalsitter. So when the Captain gave me the day off, I decided to come early and see this amazing foalsitter for myself. Now, um, can I come in? I have a ton of stuff to put down."
"Oh! Uh-of course! Sorry 'bout that." For the first time, Cadence noticed that the white stallion had an enormous saddlebag on his back. Embarrassed, she stepped out of the way. Shining Armour crossed in front of Cadence, dislodging Twilight from his neck and dropping her expertly on Cadence's back.
"See ya later, kiddo," he said to his sister. "I've got work to do."
Cadence watched him go with a stupidly dreamy look on her face. Twilight looked at her worriedly.
"Are you okay Cadey? You look funny."
"Yes, Twilight, I'm fine. Do you want to finish your drawing for Shiny Am--- Shining Armour?" Regaining her usual composure, Cadence carried the purple filly back to the sitting room to finish their project.
The rest of the day went by in a blur, with not much going on except Twilight chattering on about "Shiny Ammo." Cadence was about to leave without seeing Shining Armour again, but as she left he came running up to say goodbye.
"Hey! Uh, I just wanted to say that I think you have a great gift. It isn't easy to get Twilight to go to sleep. You should be proud of yourself." He looked nervously at the ground. This wasn't the reason he was here at all.
"Oh! Um, thanks, I guess."
"Okay. Bye then. See you soon."
"I hope so." Cadence said earnestly as her coach pulled up. "I gotta go. Bye!"
"Hey there, Princess!" Florence greeted her in the usual way, then said mischieviously, "Meet anyone special today?"
"What?! No. He-he's just a friend. He's Twilight's big brother." Cadence struggled not to blush, despite the fact that Florence couldn't see her.