//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: Flurrysitting 101 // by TheGuineaPig45 //------------------------------// Shining Armor bit his lip. “Wait. Y-you want me to do it alone?” he asked with a certain shakiness in his voice. “It'll only be for a few hours, Shiny,” Princess Cadance replied, handing the sleeping foal to her husband as she put a book inside her backpack. “It's just that Princess Celestia has requested my presence in Canterlot for a meeting today, and I have to attend. We’re going to be discussing extremely important topics that could impact the future of Equestria. I don't know how long it's going to take, and I do not want to miss it.” “But I can't watch her alone,” Shining Armor protested, nervously scratching his head. “You know how much of a handful she can be sometimes. She's named Flurry Heart for a reason, remember?” "How could I forget?" Cadance chuckled. "But that was then, and this was now. Sunburst helped curb her powers. She's as harmless as any newborn foal now. You can handle her alone.” "No, I can't. You don't understand," he insisted, frowning at his daughter. "How am I supposed to do something like this when I wasn't even able to keep track of her in an empty library?" “Shining, what's wrong?" Cadance asked, pausing her packing. "Normally, you're always so willing to help care for Flurry Heart. Why are you suddenly so reluctant?" She paused for a moment, and stared directly into her husband's eyes. "Are you afraid of her?” Shining Armor sighed, then sat down on the purple couch that lay in the center of his and Cadance’s living room. “It's not her I'm afraid of,” he admitted, giving his daughter a little hug. “It’s how she's going to see me.” “What do you mean?” “I’ve never really been alone with Flurry Heart before, Cadance. This'll be the first time. She'll start getting her first impressions of who I am. I don't wanna screw it up and have her see me as a bad or uninteresting father.” Cadance smiled, then sat down next to her husband. “You'll be fine,” she assured, giving Shining Armor a small kiss on the cheek. “You're not a bad father, Shiny. You're a great stallion, and I'm sure Flurry will see that. As long as you take good care of her and keep her entertained, I know you'll do great.” The stallion sighed, then nodded his head. “Yeah, you're probably right,” he said, carefully placing Flurry Heart into her large, white crib. “I guess I can handle it.” “Great!” Cadance exclaimed, giving her husband a large hug and another kiss. “You'll do just fine, Shiny. Just remember that Flurry Heart’s mealtime is at two o'clock, and that she has be in bed by five o'clock. Otherwise, she'll refuse to go to sleep. Got all of that?” Shining Armor nodded his head. “Is there anything else I need to know?” “I don’t think so. But if you need any help, you can always ask Sunburst. He’s usually available at this time of day.” When she was done speaking, Cadance looked at the clock in the center of the room, then sighed. “Gotta run. I’d love to stay longer, honey, but it’s 11:15 and I really have to get going if I want to make it to Canterlot on time.” “I understand. Have a good trip, Cadance. I love you!” “I love you too, Shiny. Remember: you can do this. Have fun, and be careful, okay?” “I'll do my best.” The two shared their goodbyes and one last kiss before Princess Cadance flew out of the nearest window and headed toward the train station, leaving Shining Armor alone with the couple’s sleeping daughter. Cadance is right, he thought to himself as he stared down at his child. I'm not a bad father. I've helped save Equestria loads of times now. Taking care of my own baby for a few hours should be no problem… …right?