Shining Armor had been next to his wife's side the whole time she was hospitalized. He even stayed in the ambulance with her when she came home to the Crystal Empire Castle. He had refused to move from that spot not knowing if it would be the last thing with her, "I'm sure you will be fine Cadence, you've overcome worse than this!" He said through slightly watery eyes.
"Shining Armor... there is no cure, no way to expel this either." Cadence said weakly, letting out a few coughs after. She had been diagnosed with a rare unknown disease that the doctors simply named... Black Wither. It is a disease that attacks the heart and lungs, slowly decomposing them until the bearer is dead and the organs are black. Not even Zecora was able to find a remedy and said that all they could do was make her last moments happy.
"I- I know... but there has to be a way!" Shining Armor replied, almost at the breaking point.
Cadence simply placed a hoof on her lover's mouth and shook her head, "Remember when we were in Canterlot High? How you had the biggest crush on me?"
"Yes... I remember." Shining Armor said while slowly starting to have a flashback.
~Canterlot Highschool (Past)~
Shining Armor had finished putting his math book away and reached up for the history book when Cadence giggled walking behind him. Being slightly distracted he looked away to watch Cadence walk with her two friends, Solar Flare and Midnight Bloom, causing his hoof to put too much pressure on the upper ledge, causing it to tip and cover him painfully with books. He poked his head out of the pile and shook it vigorously to relieve himself of his dizzy state, "Ow..." He heard the sound of laughter as he turned his head to see Cadence's friends laughing at him making him blush.
Cadence, however, was concerned so she walked over to Shining Armor and helped him out the pile, "Are you okay?" She asked, examining his body for any sign of injury.
"Yes i'm fine, thanks." He smiled nervously as he started using his horn to levitate some book back into his locker.
A pink glow suddenly surrounded the rest of the books as they levitated up and into the locker. "There we go!" She looked at Shining Armor with a smile, once again making him blush. "Be careful now, you don't want to get into any serious accidents." She giggled lightly before trotting over to her friends and walking away.
"She's so beautiful..." He whispered to himself as he watched her disappear around the corner of the hall. He managed to successfully grab the book on history allowing him to close his locker and walk to class.
~Crystal Castle, Princess Chambers (Present)~
Cadence giggled lightly remembering that moment in time, that's how Shining Armor and her met for the first time, "That was an awkward way of meeting each other." She said in loving tone.
Shining Armor nodded with a smile, "Yeah... I still wish we could have met in a different way but knowing me i'd be too shy to do anything." He chuckled lightly as Cadence smiled.
"The captain of the hoofball team was shy?" Cadence teased, "Now that is something to remember."
Shining Armor blushed with embarrassment as he shook his head and laughed, "Yeah... I remember that day you decided to watch one of my games too, what a surprise that was."
~Canterlot Highschool (Past)~
"Two, twenty-two! Hut hut hike!" Shining Armor shouted as he was passed the hoofball. He quickly grasped it with his hoof and started running on the remaining three, bobbing and weaving between the other team. After a few yards he saw the target in sight... just a few more yards. Unfortunately he took a glance at the audience to do his trademarked half grin when he spotted Cadence, making him lose focus and get tackled out of bounds. The hoofball flew up into the air and was caught by another teammate who made the winning touchdown.
Cadence saw the distraction she unwillingly gave to Shining Armor and giggled a bit at the situation. She waited for the team to finish their celebrations before meeting Shining Armor at the entranceway, "Hey there champion." She playfully winked at Shining Armor as she said this.
Shining Armor simply looked away, "Don't call me that, I messed up on the final touchdown... I never mess up!" He stomped a front hoof on the ground angrily before sighing, "Well... at least we won." He gave a small smile to Cadence who returned it.
"Sorry about making you look like a foal out there..." Cadence said apologetically.
"It's fine, I was the one who lost concentration and fumbled the ball." He chuckled lightly rubbing the back of his head.
~Crystal Castle, Princess Chambers (Present)~
Twilight then slowly peeked her head in, "Big brother? May we come in?" She nervously asked, now having the heads of the other 5 elements of harmony bearers peek through as well.
"Sure thing Twily, we were just remembering the days we had when we were young." Shining Armor responded, causing the mane six to enter, each with a get well soon card or a get well son balloon. Pinkie on the other hand had a bouquet of flowers, a dozen balloons, and even started singing a get well soon song.
"Hello, hello, hello! A real good day to you!
One day very soon you will feel as good as new,
I know you'll get much better, s-
She was then interrupted by Rainbow Dash, "Pinkie, nows not the time okay?" She looked at the pink pony who lowered her ears sadly and nodded her head in understanding.
"Just wanted to lighten the mood up a bit..."
"Well there's a time and place fer everythin' sugarcube." Applejack stated before walking over to Princess Cadence and bowing. "Ah'm mighty sorry about ma friend there yer highness."
Princess Cadence simply giggled as she nodded her head, "It's alright, the mood did need to be lifted a bit." She then looked over to Pinkie Pie and smiled, "Thank you Pinkie Pie."
This caused the pink pony to smile big and bounce up and down happily, "Your absolutely positively welcome!" She nearly shouted.
"Cadence... there has to be something that can be done! We have the greatest doctors and unicorns to ever exist in Canterlot! There is no way this can be untreatable... it just doesn't make sense!" Twilight exclaimed causing Cadence to shake her head.
"There are some things that can't be explained Twilight, like Pinkie Pie's Pinkie sense." Princess Celestia had said as she walked in, "Sorry for the intrusion Cadence."
Twilight simply went silent as she stared down at the ground sadly.
"No trouble at all, I like the company." Cadence responded.
Princess Celestia simply nodded her head as she walked over to Cadence and bowed, "How are you feeling this day?" She of course knew the answer but she figured it was still polite to ask.
"I am still in pain, but with all my friends here I feel slightly better." Cadence replied with a smile, and a cough.
Shining Armor held onto his wife's hoof lovingly when she coughed.
Celestia simply gave a small smile in return, "Princess Luna shall be here soon, she had to deal with a few last minute things."
Cadence nodded her head and looked at Shining Armor, "Doesn't this remind you of the time where we all were having a big sleepover?"
Shining Armor groaned slightly, "How could I ever forget that embarrassment?"
Cadence giggled upon hearing his response, "I believe it was me, you, and Twilight."
Twilight smiled when she ehard her name, she too remembered that day.
~Canterlot Castle (Past)~
Shining Armor was whistling a happy tune as he walked the halls of Canterlot Castle.
