//------------------------------// // 18. Lie In the Bed You've Made // Story: The Shield's Protector // by Carapace //------------------------------// Cadence’s cheeks ached, the false smile on her face taxed her so. Happy Cady, she told herself. You’re having a nice time out with your husband. Smile and be happy. While the little café Honeysuckle, Valiance, and Stout Heart swore by wasn’t quite the five star establishment she was used to dining at back in Canterlot, the setting was quite nice—a smaller space than she was used to, and they were seated at a plain little couples’ table off to the side rather than having a full setup with a pristine, white tablecloth, water glasses, and a pitcher to themselves. Still, it was something that made Shining happy. And if Shining was happy, she was happy. He deserved to be as comfortable as she. That said, even if it was a little plain in comparison and the food was about the same as what they’d have eaten in the shopping centers by his parents’ house, Cadence was determined to keep a smile on her muzzle and enjoy their little outing. Even if their waitress nearly tripped over herself whenever she came by the table, and the owner stopped by every few minutes to make sure there wasn’t anything he could do to make their stay more comfortable. Yes. If you could go right ahead and tell my husband that the Council wants him to cut his military career short while he’s in his prime, that would be just lovely. With a snort, she took a bite of her dandelion and daisy sandwich. Wrinkling her muzzle, she added a note to that thought, And somepony needs to check if these dandelions are fresh—they taste a bit bland. Cadence stopped in mid-chew and gave herself a little shake. Since when was she picky about little things like that? The sandwich was fine—tasteful, with their typical “kick” to the flavor, and fresh. The sandwich wasn’t the problem at all. Her problem began a few short days ago, and hadn’t left her alone since. Though she tried to push it back, the letter still weighed on her mind. Certainly, she couldn’t hold off much longer—Shining had to know what the Council kept prodding her to do. But how did she bring that up in conversation? Cadence’s mind wandered from the Imperial Carriage to Twilight’s letter—which still waited for her back at their suite. The words echoed in her head, taunting her with each passing second she spent with Shining Armor. “…Objectively, the Council does bring up several good points: between his injuries in the forest and the events that lead to Sombra’s regime—what we know, at least—there is a legitimate issue to be had with how Shiny takes care of himself. Or rather, how he doesn’t…” Shining nudged her with his shoulder. “Cady?” She jolted out of her thoughts. “Yes, Shiny?” “You awake in there?” he asked, a teasing smirk on his muzzle. “You look like you’re a million miles away. Everything okay?” No. “Of course!” she said with her false smile in place. “Sorry, just thinking through a couple things—Prism’s been harping on me to hurry up and tell her what we need to prepare for the griffins’ visit, even thought I’ve told her about fifty-odd times that we still need to wait for a reply before anything’s done.” Fortunately, he bought her bluff. “That mare.” He chuckled and shook his head. “If she weren’t so reverent of your aunts, I’ll bet she’d hop the train to Canterlot and tell them she’s got a better way of organizing when they raise the sun and moon!” She gave a weak laugh. Cadence kept her wings folded tight against her sides, lest the treacherous things droop and give her away. Floating her sandwich over again, she took a bite, using the chance to hide her failing smile and create a little gap in the conversation for herself. She chewed slowly, half-listening to Shining Armor while she mulled over the letter. How to address it? As the Council said, he was their prince and the highest military authority in the Empire—but that worked both ways. Leaving him on active duty in the field was a risk, but pulling him off without a suitable replacement ready left them vulnerable. Not to mention the impact it would have in private. She sighed. And this is the problem with the Royal Guard—I have authority over my own husband. Sending a letter to Celestia or Luna would only complicate the problem—that’d make it four princesses who knew of the issue before Shining Armor was even aware that his position had been brought into question. Either way, she had to face it soon. “Oh!” Shining’s voice brought her back to the present. “You remember how you mentioned Stout Heart and Tourmaline laughing it up in the hallway after training?” At her nod, he pressed on, a broad grin crossed his muzzle. “Well, Tourmie decided to corner me in the hallway the other day, and tried to read me the riot act—me!” Cadence’s ears pricked up, her attention finally pulled away from her troubles. “Really? What for?” “Heh, figures that would get your attention,” he quipped. “They had a little ‘outing’ together that night and he was beat after running all morning and then standing guard in Court.” Shining held his hooves out wide. “Apparently, I’m not allowed to discipline a subordinate if it conflicts with Little Miss Tourmie’s evening plans!” She hid a bout of laughter behind a hoof, a genuine smile played upon her lips. How very typical of her. “Never underestimate how much value a lady places in her plans, Shiny dear. Remember the day we were supposed to have a picnic by the lakeside?” “When I had to catch you in a bubble shield before you could go yell at my commanding officers for changing my shift at the last minute because Windy came down with feather flu?” “Yes, that one.” Her cheeks tinged a deep red at how she struggled against his shield, how he was able to adapt the spell at each turn to thwart her escape. “You made it a point to remind me of your talents.” Shining gave a little waggle of his ears. “Mhmm, and you tried promising me a few rather interesting things if I let you go.” He tapped a hoof against his chin in mock thought. “If I recall, one such thing was—“ Cadence quickly took his sandwich in her magic and jammed it into his mouth before he could finish. “Eat your sandwich, Shiny,” she deadpanned. “You don’t want to insult the owners.” The mischievous gleam in his eyes as he took a bite and chewed, grinning despite his filled mouth, only made her muzzle burn hotter, though she couldn’t help but smile in turn. That grin of his still so infectious. He swallowed the bite and cleared his throat. “Well, nice to see a real smile on you again—thought I was in trouble for something again.” “Oh?” she fought to keep the smile, reserving herself to a mental wince. “Have you done something that deserves being in trouble?” “Not that I can think of, but it’s nice to make sure I’ve not shot my mouth off.” Shining reached across the table and took her hoof in his. “Maybe you should take a couple days off, Cady. A couple weeks ago, you were miserable, now you’re spacing out mid-conversation.” Another cringe, and a mental hoof to her head. “I’m fine, Shiny. It’s just been a couple of rough weeks, and sleep isn’t coming quite as easy. I’m starting to see what Auntie Celestia meant when she told me the weight of the crown being more than a simple piece of metal all those years ago.” The little sideways bob of his head—almost a half nod, half mulling it over—brought a little smile to her muzzle. Good, playing a bit to his point while still making hers worked nicely. In the long run, it wouldn’t make things any easier, but it got him off her back for a little while longer. “The little filly in me wants her big brother safe, but also knows that being a guard is what Shiny dreamed about. And the Princess of Friendship knows that, as Captain, Shining Armor is vital to the security of the Crystal Empire and Equestria as a whole, but I can’t ignore his importance as a prince. Either way, somepony isn’t going to be happy with the final decision.” No matter how she looked at things, Cadence couldn’t please everypony. Either Shining Armor would rant and fume, or the Council would tie her up in meeting after meeting and pander to their districts. Still, the smile on her muzzle remained. I need to break it easy to him, she thought. Explain that it’s because everypony is worried about his health, and we can sit down for a talk with the Council to see if there’s some way to compromise—didn’t he mention something about lobbying for Lighthoof to get a promotion at some point? Yes, that was it! He was complaining about Hoofy not doing all the paperwork properly that day! Yes, that could work quite nicely. Bring the problem to his attention, then offer a possible solution. Perhaps, with a seasoned veteran taking charge, the Council could be appeased and Shining could still retain some semblance of his military role. Not necessarily in the field every day as he’d like, but certainly better than outright demanding that he turn in his armor permanently. She watched as he lifted his glass to guzzle the last remnants of his soda—in a manner that would’ve had Prism gaping incredulously and sputtering at how it was improper to crystal ponies to see their prince drink in such a manner. Not that she disagreed, especially when he placed the glass down with a none-too-gentle thud and sighed in content. “Ah, that hit the spot! Gotta say, Honey and Valiance had a point, this is like going back home again!” Shining glanced to her plate, tilting his head to the side as he caught sight of her half-finished sandwich. “Aren’t you going to finish?” Cadence shook her head. “I’m having one of those weird days. Felt like I could down a full orchard of apples, then started eating and filled right up, y’know?” “Ah. Yeah, I understand. Want me to ask for a to-go box? No reason to waste it, right?” “Yes, thank you.” She nodded. “That’d be much appreciated.” Taking hold of her plate in his magic, he stood and gave a sly smirk. “Now, let’s see how much of a heart attack we can give that poor waitress,” he muttered as he trotted off toward the counter. “And maybe the owner when I pay like a regular customer…” With a snort, she shook her head. The corners of her mouth tugged upward into a silly grin as she watched their waitress turn and walk straight into Shining Armor’s chest, jumping back with a squeak of surprised and stammering apologies as fast she she could. Cadence stifled a laugh with a hoof. Terrible, she thought, slowly standing and giving a little ruffle of her feathers when she caught sight of the owner scampering out from the kitchen. You’re a terrible tease, Shining Armor. And that’s coming from me of all ponies. Another shake of her head as she watched Shining float a bag of bits into view despite their protests. One of these days, his method of teaching through little jokes was going to end with one of their poor subjects breaking down in tears—and then, she’d have to clean up the mess while resisting the urge to smack him over the head. Still, he was happy, and doing his best to make sure they him for the pony he wanted to be rather than grumbling over their perceptions of the crown. Much better. Now, if only she could get herself to move forward and talk. “Please, Cady. Talk to him. Tell him what’s going on and why, so he doesn’t get blindsided with this by some politician. I don’t mean to guilt trip you, but, for his services, he’s owed that much.” A curse was fresh on her tongue, ready to slip out, but she managed to swallow it and mask it behind her smile. She grimaced, wrinkling her muzzle at that portion of Twilight’s letter—almost a parting shot across the bow. Of course he deserved to hear it from her, and no pony else—that none of the Councilponies asked him to join for a session to bring it to his attention, or simply ask if he had a replacement in mind had been a stroke of good fortune. They were at least giving her the time to do so. Whether that was out of sympathy for the tough spot they’d put her in or reverence of her status and deeds in defending the Empire, she had no idea. In either case, her fortune was incredible. But good fortune would only last so long, and wouldn’t get her any closer to saying it. Tonight. I’ll tell him once we get home and settled in. Cadence stood as he walked toward her, the telltale twinkle in his eyes and the stunned ponies he left in his wake a confirmation that his little play had gone well in his favor. “Ready to go, honey?” he asked, a seemingly casual tone to his voice, betrayed by the little wag of his tail and poorly-hidden grin. With a roll of her eyes, she brushed a wing against his side, earning a little wince and quick hop away from her teasing feathers. “Yes, you big goofball, I’m ready. Let’s go before you really do cause a heart attack!”                                                                                                     Nothing could wipe the grin off Shining Armor’s muzzle. Sure, Cadence had been a bit distant, and that smile of hers was more fake than a vegetarian restaurant in the Griffin Territories, but she’d finally loosened up a bit toward the end. Something’s on her mind. Maybe not as stressful as a couple weeks ago, but she’s definitely playing up the act. He hummed a few notes, idly drumming his hooves against Cadence’s desk while he waited for her to have a chat with Tourmaline about her regalia. Why she felt need to keep him out of those conversations, he didn’t quite understand. She looked wonderful in it, as always, and he’d seen her in much more… intimate attire. A certain dress from their night at the Iridescent flashed before his eyes. Definitely not so innocent, he thought with a grin, giving a little swish of his tail. That night had certainly been one to remember—a wonderful dinner, dancing the night away like they had at the clubs and well-to-do restaurants and parties in Canterlot, and a night alone with her. Not to mention the impromptu moment together on the couch after a rough day at work, then migrating to the bedroom for the rest of the evening… Shining took a deep breath in through his snout, and let it out in a happy sigh. They’d both been running around for so long—him with the Imperial Guard and security, and her with Crystal Court, meeting after meeting with the Council, and general running the Empire. I really don’t envy her on that front. He blanched, sticking out his tongue as if tasting something bitter. Give me a day with a pissed off Captain Iron Hoof than sit on a throne all day and try to play the political game—in fact, give me two Iron Hoofs. Idly, he began shifting a few papers around on her desk. He hummed an old guard tune as he floated a quill from the side of her desk, odd, given her habits—at best, she was only slightly less obsessive with her desk space as Twily. Quills, inkwells, pencils, and paper always went in the top drawer, organized into neat little sections. “If I leave this, she’ll probably get twitchy,” he mused. “And if I move it, she’ll notice something out of place from where she left things. Ah, well.” With a shrug, he opened the drawer and floated the quill into the little cup she’d placed within. As he made to close it up, he noticed something out of place: An envelope in between the stack of papers and cup of quills, stood on its side to fit in. Shining raised a brow. That’s not where you go either, he thought as he wrapped his magic around the offending article. Cady really has been running about if she’s just tossing things into drawers. Lifting the letter out, he closed the top drawer and looked over the face of the letter for sender information—personal letters always went in the upper right corner of her workspace so she didn’t forget to reply, and business letters always went in the file holder on the left, in one of the various dividers. His eyes flitted to the face of the letter, toward the top left corner to read the sender’s name. “Twily?” He blinked, tilting his head to the side. Why in Equestria would Cadence toss a letter from Twilight so carelessly into a drawer? “She probably got tired and just tossed it in there without thinking.” Shining shook his head, frowning when he noticed the tear in the top. “Huh, already open. Must’ve just forgotten about it.” He gave a little snort of laughter. Probably a progress report on her research. Well, Twily, let’s see what you’ve got. Shining snaked his magic inside the envelope and slid out the letter, letting it hover in front of him as he unfolded it and began reading. Slowly, the smile slid off his face, a cold weight dropped into the pit of his stomach. His right forehoof twitched as if ready to slam down onto the desk. It couldn’t be right. One injury couldn’t possibly be enough to warrant something like that. He scanned the letter a second time. A third. A fourth. The words remained the same. With each time he read through his world seemed to collapse in on itself. Shining closed his eyes tight and took a deep, shuddering breath, fighting down the burning fury within. She lied to me.