"Mister Doodle?"

Cranky looked up from… whatever fancy name there was for the bit of brown slathered on a cracker he had been given. And immediately he bowed his head again. "Your Highness."

Princess Celestia smiled - the one where the corner of her mouth turned up just slightly that told the observant she was wryly amused. "I suppose I earned that, Cranky."

The donkey's head rose back up - and he had a similar smile on his face. "You did, 'Tia." (There were a few whispered comments in the background of the party as Canterlot's various snide nobles wondered louder how a donkey got in, let alone how he was permitted to speak so candidly to the Princess. Those were the new and stupid ones.)

She had a small laugh - mostly at her own expense - before getting back to the conversation. "I would ask if you're enjoying yourself, but I expect I know the answer."

"Wine's not bad," he allowed. "The snacks, though…" Cranky shook his head and sighed. "This is what you get for hiring a griffon as your head chef."

Celestia laughed - not a delicate, polite one but a proper laugh. "I do so love your refreshing audacity, Cranky Doodle, even when I don't agree with you." The old donkey simply grumbled in response. "I also…" Another smile crossed Celestia's lips - this one holding back laughter from a joke only she understands. "Love surprising you."

Cranky grumbled sourly. "I'm not a fan of surprises."

"You'll like this one." Celestia stepped slightly to the side, revealing a teenage pink alicorn. "It is my pleasure to introduce my niece, the Princess Mi Amore Cadenza."

Cranky's eyebrow shot up like a rocket.

The unspoken question made Celestia blush. Just very slightly. "Adopted," she appended.

That was enough to satisfy Cranky. He bowed to the junior Princess. "Your Highness."

Perhaps it was her age, but Cadance didn't bow back. Instead she excitedly grabbed Cranky by the shoulders. "I've heard so much about you! But also not enough - you have to tell me everything!"

Cranky looked to Celestia in confusion. The Unconquered Sun - still smiling smugly - did her best to clarify things. "Mi Amore Cadenza is the newly minted Princess of Love."

The donkey's face rapidly cycled through emotions, starting at confusion, easing into shock, followed by understanding, and quickly reaching a finale in a rare look of hope.

"Tell me everything," Cadance repeated eagerly.

Before he answered her, however, Cranky turned first to Celestia. "Thank you."

The elder alicorn bowed her head. "Consider it payment for services rendered, my dear friend. I hope she can help with your noble quest." And she turned away, returning to the fray of the party.

Cadance and Cranky sat at a side table with two of the Royal Guard acting as bouncers to give them some privacy. Hours passed as the party ended and they spoke deep into the night. First about Matilda; then about Cranky's life; then about Cadance's own. Several times Cadance embraced Cranky - often in joy at hearing about his pursuit of love, but more than once to share tears at his hardships. As the evening ended, Cranky walked away with a lighter heart and an oath from Cadance to do everything in her power to aid him.

The next morning, he was summoned to Princess Celestia before he could set off on his journey once again.

Breakfast was had - a polite pause - before she dropped it on him over the last cup of tea. "I need to ask you a favor, my friend."

"So much for 'payment for services rendered'," he groused.

And Celestia laughed. "No, no - though it is related. This is a request, not a command." She waited for him to give an allowing nod before continuing. "Young Cadance needs your aid. As a Princess, she has a great many ponies seeking to curry favor and win influence. Chief among these is that she is being petitioned to commission her own order of knighthood - one to mirror my own Order of the Golden Sun. Having a retinue is part of being a Princess, so it will happen sooner or later - and it will be a position of considerable political influence. I would like to… defuse the issue. I want you to take the role as the first knight of her order."

"Road apples," Cranky pronounced. "I turned down the offer to join yours the last two times you made it, Tia, and I've got no interest in founding a new order."

"I don't request it to recognize your actions, Cranky, even if you've earned it. I ask because it will stop that young filly from being manipulated and gives her a close confidant who I know is both worthy and good-hearted." Celestia leaned forward, setting her now empty teacup aside. "I need you to protect her, Cranky. Please." She paused again, letting that sink in before she went for the final blow. "Cadance wants it to be you, as well. She called your love beautiful and said it was what she aspires to."

Cranky Doodle Donkey grumbled sourly at that.

And was given the title of Knight-Companion of the Order of the Heart the next week.

In truth, he was the only one so named - over the years, Cadance never found another who could fulfill her stringent criteria and meet the standards of her first knight. Even Shining Armor did not receive the title - though he was not given it more out of the politics of having the Captain of the Royal Guard loyal to Equestria rather than to a Princess.

Still, it was that Sir Cranky Doodle remained as Princess Cadance's oft-absent but closest confidante and ally. The two exchanged letters almost constantly as he roamed the world in search of his love, giving each other advice and support in each other's respective worlds. Her hope and his worldly experience supplemented each other until the day where both she and he found their respective loves.

The Order of the Heart was largely written off not long after. The Crystal Empire had no need for chivalric orders as the Crystal Guard acted as Cadance's praetorians; while Cranky himself retired to peace with his beloved Matilda. The letters between knight and princess ceased and became simply ones between old and close friends.

That was, until Thursday.

The mail always arrived roughly at 1:15 pm. This was because Cranky and Matilda's home was on the same route as Sugarcube Corner, and the mailmare was extremely punctual about getting her afternoon muffin. So when there was a knock on the door at 1:20, Cranky presumed it was a package.

It was not. It was a changeling.

This would have been perfectly normal if it were Kevin, but it was not. It was one of those new-fangled changelings - this one had a powder blue body with navy blue elytra and an eager look on his face that declared he was going to be a problem.

"Are you Lord Cranky Doodle Donkey?"

The title - incorrect and unwanted - confirmed it. Cranky glared for a moment, hoping that the force of his stare would dispel the interloper. When it did not? "What in Celestia's name is wrong with you?"

To his credit, the changeling winced. "My apologies. I must have the wrong address."

Cranky waited exactly four seconds - enough for the changeling to start to leave - before correcting him. "I'm Cranky Doodle, but I'm not lord of anything except my favorite chair."

He regretted saying that, because the changeling turned back around with a broad smile. With a kneeling bow, the changeling presented an envelope - one emblazoned with a very familiar crystal heart seal.

Cranky was… well, cranky as this was certain to be trouble, but he couldn't not open it.

Dear Cranky;
I know you're probably wondering what foolishness little Cadance has gotten herself mixed up in this time, what the changeling has to do with it, and why you should care. I also know you don't want me to waste your time talking about things you don't care about, so I'll get to the point.

The citizens of the Crystal Empire have been somewhat xenophobic since their return. While they're tentatively accepting of Equestrian ponies, they're far less trusting of other species that didn't really exist before they were removed from time. Changelings are one of those they fear the most, as a society based entirely on love has reason to be terrified of a species that once consumed love. (They're also afraid of the yaks, though for entirely different reasons.) In turn, the changelings have a significant problem with naivety. While they have been out in the world, they have never really been a part of it. King Thorax has told me of a number of awkward (bordering on dangerous) incidents where changelings simply didn't understand pony culture and ended up in trouble.

To try and address both problems at once, I've started a program to bring changelings to the Crystal Empire in public service roles. This both will ease the crystal ponies into things and give the changelings the opportunity to see the world. Unfortunately I was unable to convince the crystal ponies themselves to establish such a program through more conventional means. With few other options, I have decided to utilize the Order of the Heart and thus bypass the civilian government entirely. At the same time, I don't want to tarnish the concept of knighthood and feel I should maintain certain basic standards.

The changeling before you is Agape, the first volunteer in this program. I have sent him to you in the hopes that you can expose him to a bit of the wider world and teach him what he needs so that he can capably serve as a Knight of the Heart. He has a good heart, but like many changelings has a limited understanding beyond what Chrysalis' regime drilled into his head.

Thank you, my good friend.

Princess Cadance.

Yes. Cranky was correct. It was trouble. He eyed the changeling over top of the letter. "Agape, huh? Kinda an unusual name for a changeling."

"It isn't my original one," stated the changeling with pride. "I have taken on a new name to consecrate my life in service to Princess Cadance!"

There was a pause. "Ooooookay," Cranky said as he did his best to not visibly judge. Even though he did. "So. How'd Cadance talk you into this?"

Agape had a moment's hesitation when Cranky didn't use the Princess' title, but he pushed on none the less. He did so by drawing his sword and holding it high in the air. "I volunteered the moment I heard her call for changelings to take up her cause! All I wish in my life is to serve her - to be her blade when ever she needs it!"

It was a pretty sword. Obviously of Imperial make, made of silvered steel and far too decorative to be practical (as far as Cranky was concerned.) Reaching out, Cranky pushed the weapon down. "Put that away," he commanded with a grumble. "Look. Cadance doesn't need your sword. She's a Princess. Or Empress, I'm never sure which. Either way, she's got the whole Crystal Guard and her husband as a General. She can get a thousand spears anywhere she feels like. Your toothpick's nothing she cares about and I'm pretty sure she didn't send you to me for swordplay tips."

Rather than dissuading Agape, the scolding managed to excite him more - the changeling practically bounced. "No, she didn't! Princess Cadance wanted me to come here because she said you had the most pure and virtuous love she had ever seen! And that I should witness it to understand about love!"

To his credit, Cranky blushed a little at the praise. (Not from the changeling. But knowing Cadance said that - and the reminder of the jenny who was back in the house - made his heart flutter.) But quickly enough, he recomposed himself. "Kid, the fact that you're saying that tells me plenty about you and most of it ain't good." He glanced over his shoulder, mind now on Matilda. "I'll tell you what. You go get settled in town and tomorrow morning we'll get started. Be here at ten - I'm retired and don't get up at the crack of dawn anymore."

Agape beamed brightly. "As you command, Sir Cranky!"

Which led directly to another grumble and a door closing in the changeling's face.

Author's Note

As I do every year, a special thanks to Damaged, who found the exact time and date of my first FIMFiction publish so I could put another story up in the same time slot for my posting anniversary.