//------------------------------//
// Faces New And Familiar 
// Story: Friendship is Shining: Clash of The Iron Mares 
// by Hopeful_Ink_Hoof 
//------------------------------//

	For Shining Armor, the night had been a little restless, but for a different -- more familiar -- reason than the last few.  This time it was because his mind was busy with planning.  He stayed up later than intended, staring at the ceiling as he thought of possible challenges for Applejack and Rainbow Dash.

When he fell asleep, it was pretty peaceful.  Also the dreams -- that he could remember -- were by no means as frightening.  Although he found them very interesting.  From what he could recall, they mostly were around running.  More specifically, Applejack and Rainbow Dash running.  If Shining Armor were in it at all, it was just behind the pair of mares.  The entire time, he basically saw nothing but their backsides, toned muscles flexing and shifting with each movement as they went.

It also left him with a slightly uncomfortable situation when he woke up that morning.  One that could have been very embarrassing if Spike or Twilight had come into his room to wake him up.  Fortunately, neither one of them did.

The morning went by quickly.  There was some sorting, reorganizing, a bit of inventory, and an attempt at some research.  There were some similar competitive events in the past, stories where to characters would resort to challenges instead of actual fights.  Unfortunately, most of the stories -- the actual historical stories at least -- did not give much in the way of specifics when it came to what the challenges were.

Still, he found some things that looked like they might be entertaining for what was now supposed to be an event with spectators, and hopefully provide a fair challenge to both Applejack and Rainbow Dash.

"Hey, Shiny Hiney," Pinkie Pie said from behind the stallion, causing him to yelp and jump.

"Pinkie!" Shining cried out.  "Where did you come from?"

"I thought you knew that already," Pinkie Pie replied moving to stand in front of the stallion.  "You see Shiny, when a mare and a stallion love each other very much--"

"NO!" Shining cut in, the start of the speech bringing back memories of his parents very awkwardly trying to explain it themselves.  "I mean..."  He sighed, shaking his head.  "Never mind.  What brings you here today?"

"Well..." Pinkie sat down.  "There's a new pony in town named Sonata Dusk, and she's a singer.  She just moved here so she doesn't have any friends besides me, and just left her sisters behind to come here.  It's a little sad and kind of reminds me of how I left behind my own sisters back on the rock farm when I first moved to Ponyville.  Two of them will actually be  coming to visit me this weekend.  They'll be able to see the Applejack and Rainbow Dash's competition, and will be participating in The Running of The Leaves.

"Anyway, Sonata could use a chance to perform, and an opportunity to make new friends now that she lives here in Ponyville.  Sooooooo... I was thinkiiinnng... Mmmaybe she could sing before Applejack and Rainbow Dash started their competition."

Leaning in close, she made her big blue eyes as wide as possible.

"Pleeeeeeaaaaase?" she asked.

Shining Armor looked at Pinkie Pie and her puppy dog eyes.  It was odd.  He knew that she was a full grown mare, but looking at her with that face made him see her as a little filly.  She was also really good at making that face.  Too good.  No grown-up should be that capable of making a puppy dog eyed pleading face.

"I suppose she can sing something while the ponies are gathering and waiting for the competition to start," he finally said.  Before he had finished talking, he was wrapped up in a Pinkie Pie hug.  He could hear his vertebrae popping as the moved under the pressure.

"Oh, thank you thank you thank you," Pinkie squealed out.  "You have no idea how much this will mean to Sonata.  I'll bet she'll be so happy, she'll want to be your friend too."  She let out a gasp.  "Maybe you'll really like each other and start dating, then get married and have foals of your own.  She could be like a big sister to Twiley, and think of all the parties I could throw for you."  Her brow furrowed.  "Although I don't think I'd do the bachelor party.  Last time I did that, I ended up eating the whole cake before I could jump out of it."

"Pinkie," Shining Armor wheezed out, "ribs."

"Sorry," Pinkie Pie said as she let go.  Stepping back, she let out an embarrassed laugh and rubbed at her puffy pink mane.  She suddenly let out a gasp.

"I almost forgot."  Reaching into her mane, she pulled out a five and one half by eight and one half piece of paper and passed it to Shining Armor.  "Here's a copy of the flyer for the competition."

On the flyer was a side view head shot of both Rainbow Dash and Applejack.  The pair were glaring each other, teeth bared and ears pulled back.  A jagged diagonal line separated the pair.  Across the top was printed "Clash of the Iron Mares! Applejack! VS Rainbow Dash!"  Along the bottom was the date and location of Sweet Apple Acres.

For some reason, Shining Armor turned the flyer over.  There on the back was "distraction!" written by a pony.

Shining looked up from the paper to ask about it, only to find that he was alone.

Pinkie Pie was gone.

It was not really much of a surprise.  Pinkie Pie did tend to do stuff like that pretty often.  It was still always a bit strange and confusing however.  Pinkie Pie was not exactly known for being subtle or quiet.  So it was always hard for Shining Armor to figure out how such a mare like that could sneak off without making a sound.

With a sigh, Shining Armor set the flyer aside.  Since his concentration had already been broken, he figured he may as well take a break.  There were other things he had to do around the library anyways.

Wait.  Did Pinkie say she was once in the cake of a bachelor party?

Well after lunch and an incident with the mail, Shining Armor continued on with his day and resumed his work.  This time there was the sound of a bell ringing, indicating that somepony had entered the library.  Considering how little the research was helping, the chance for a new distraction was welcoming.  Setting aside the current book he was reading -- a story of an earth pony that was supposedly super strong and had to perform seven "impossible" trials -- Shining Armor headed to the main room.

"Welcome to Golden Oaks Library," Shining said as he entered.  "Anything that I can help... you..."

Standing at the door was a white coated earth mare with a long, deep green mane and tail.  She was tall and lean, with hints of toned muscle underneath her coat.  Her green eyes narrowed as a small smirk tugged at her lips.  She stepped forward, those muscles flexing as it drew attention to her shapely flank and the heart shaped emerald cutie mark on it.

"Perhaps you can," the mare purred out as she moved closer.  "I'm staying in Ponyville for a few days, and could use something to read before... bed."  Her shoulder pressed against the stallion's, stroking along his side with her body.  Her flank did the same, sending a thrill through the Shining Armor.  Her tail gave a flick, teasing the tip of his nose.

"Do you have any romance novels?" she asked.  Her shoulder stroked across Shining's own flank before she pulled away.

"Ruh... Ro... Y... yes ma'am," Shining Armor managed to stutter out.  "We have quite a few actually, miss..."

"Crystal Heart," the mare answered with a smile as she looked over her shoulder.  "But please, call me Crissy."  She gave him a wink.

The act caused Shining Armor to blush.  Taking a step back, he turned to keep his gaze from focusing on the feminine backside.  With a cough, he tried to collect himself.

"Yes," he managed to say.  "Well, as I was saying, we have quite a few romance novels.  I can show the section with them if you'll just follow me."

"With pleasure," Crystal Heart said as Shining Armor started walking through the library.

Shining now found himself very much aware of his own backside, and the possibility of it being thoroughly watched by a rather flirtatious and attractive mare.

"I don't suppose you happen to know the content of the novels, do you?" Crystal Heart asked.

"Sorry, no," Shining answered.

"A shame," Crystal sighed out.  "My favorites are the one where a young stallion in the guard falls in love with the young princess.  Although... if there was one about a handsome librarian who finds himself infatuated with a mysterious new mare in town, I wouldn't mind giving it a... peruse."

Something about the way she had said that last word sent a thrill through Shining Armor.  Admittedly, he was not entirely certain how to react to the mare.  He was somewhat attracted to her, and the flirting had gotten his attention.  At the same time, he was also a little intimidated by how aggressive she was.  Plus, there was a little bit of doubt.  Maybe she was just this way with every pony she met.

Not to mention how he felt about some of the other mares in his life.

Pushing the thoughts of the new mare aside for now, Shining Armor led Crystal Heart to the shelf filled with romance novels.