The ponies of Ponyville danced and shouted with joy as their princess made declaration that her most trusted student will be taking residence in the town. The news brought much of it's excitement to the citizens as well as it's mayor, who had already started to fill out the necessary paperwork for various reasons. Some were something simple such as requests for unlimited rail access for the young student. Others were more perplexing matters such as a variety of insurance claims, healthcare benefits for certain ponies and waivers that protected against lawsuits. Even the postal service was to get a few noticeable upgrades from it's current condition.

Meanwhile, Princess Celestia and newly-established bearers of the Elements of Harmony talked inside of a well-guarded tent. The six young mares giggled and jumped for joy as their princess sought to know each of them better.

"Now what were all of your names again?" Celestia asked.

"Rainbow Dash! OhMyGoshOhMyGosh!" Stated a cyan pegasus mare. She had a wind-weathered mane and tail that displayed all the colors of the rainbow. Her cutie mark was a lightning bolt that struck in three different colors from a white cloud. She had a set of rich, magenta eyes and spoke with a raspy voice that cracked into a feminine tone every now and then.

The other mare that spoke was an earth-pony that had a rosy-colored coat, a summer-pink, poofy mane and tail. Her cutie mark was three balloons clustered together. Her eyes were a bright sky blue. She was very active in her conversations. "Pinkamena Diane Pie! But mostly everypony calls me Pinkie Pie! Whee!!! I can't believe that the princess is actually talking to us! But what should we talk about? Oh I know! We can talk about cake! I love chocolate cake with vanilla frosting. I also like to lick the frosting off the cake sometimes. But I only lick it off it has a real nice buttery texture to it. You know what else I like? Pudding! I like all kinds of pudding. Vanilla pudding, chocolate pudding, strawberry pudding, banana pudding, figgy pudding, ap-"

"Uh sugarcube, Ah think the princess asked only fer ya name." Interrupted the other earth-pony mare with a strong, tangy southern accent. Her bright-blonde mane and tail were tied into long ponytails. Her coat resembled a burnt orange color that matched perfectly with the brown stetson on her head. She donned two sets of freckles on each cheek and a cutie mark of three apples clustered together. "Mah name is Applejack by the way. Honored ta be meetin' ya." She extended a hoof while taking her hat off out of respect, looking the princess in the eyes with her large bright green orbs.

The next mare was rather timid in her approach. "Um... my... my name is Fluttershy your highness. ~doh" The whimpering pegasus mare had a pale yellow coat as well as a long flowing pink mane that stretched out across her face, covering half of her face from the princess. She bore a cutie mark of three pink and mint-green butterflies clustered together. Her voice was rather delicate and her eyes carried a mix between green and blue.

The final mare to introduce herself was a unicorn mare, much like her student. Though she was a far cry from Twilight's appearance. While the lavender mare's appearance was more homely and simplistic, this mare was completely different. Her coat shone as white as the virgin snow in the midst of the sun. Her rich indigo mane twined and curled into a set of luxurious and extravagant curls. Her eyes glowed a sapphire blue and she donned thick eyelashes as well as a light touch of eye shadow that matched her tri-gem cutie mark. "Your... majesty. Forgive me for my lackluster appearance. If I had known that Twilight Sparkle was your actual student then I would've dressed for the occasion."

"My dear, you have nothing to fret over. But I do fear that you have yet to refresh me on what your name was." The princess stated as she smiled.

"My name is of little importance. Please, I am humbled to be in your presence."

"No. It is an honor to meet all of the element bearers, and under the circumstances on this momentous day no less. But once again, I wish to know your name."

"I'm so sorry, princess. My name is Rarity Andalusia Belle." The beautified diva pony answered finally.

"Rarity... That name is a bit familiar..." Princess Celestia remembered that name from an event that involved one of her guards a long time ago. It didn't take the wheels in her head to start spinning to remember exactly where she heard that name, and seen this very mare from. "Very well then. I shall be seeing all of you very shortly. In the meantime, please partake in the festivities you worked so hard to provide."

"Yourhighness." The six mares bowed to the princess before slowly walking outside. As the group took their leave, Celestia waved her hoof, signaling one of her guards to meet with her. The guard approaches her side and she starts to whisper inside of his ear. In the meantime, the six mares speak among each other outside before making their departure to the amusements that awaited them. Suddenly, a guard came out to meet with one of the mares.

"Miss Twilight, the princess has asked you to speak with Princess Luna. I am sure that she will be most pleased to converse with you."

Twilight nods her head, confirming her task. "You can count on me, Princess."

As the lavender mare takes her leave, the guard addresses the young diva. "Miss Rarity, the princess has requested your presence. She wishes you to come alone."

The others look on with excitement as Rarity fumbles with her thoughts. "Me? Alone? WITH THE PRINCESS?"

The guard ignores her antics. This was practically apart of the job whenever it came to the princess. He urged the extravagantly groomed mare onward. "This way, miss."

"Well, I'll suppose I'll be meeting up with you girls in a moment. Do leave without me." Rarity speaks before disappearing into the tent once more.

As the guard and the fashionista entered, the princess awaited her on the other side of the room. She politely sipped a cup of tea before making her first statement.

"It's been a long time, miss Rarity."

Rarity looked at the princess as confused as the guard that looked that the mare he escorted in. "Excuse me... your highness?"

"You may have forgotten it as it was of a circumstance that wasn't within a pleasurable setting." She spoke, leaping over to her.

"I... don't recall."

"Your mother. Has her wounds healed since we last met?"

Rarity's eyes shot open as she finally remembered exactly what she was referring to. "Oh my goodness! Well she's doing quite well. In fact as of right now, I have a sibling that is eleven years shy of my age because of your healing spells."

"That is a relief to hear. I asked because I haven't heard much about your mother or you for that matter."

"My family cannot thank you nearly enough. Your spell was nothing shy of a miracle."

"It was nothing. A spell easily learned. You could even ask Twilight on the details."

"Well yes... how did Twilight become your student?"

"It was really more a happening of circumstance. Though I am pretty sure that you will find that out in due time."

Rarity pondered the meaning of what Celestia meant by she would find out in due time. Did she meant that it would be revealed to her by word of mouth, from Twilight herself, maybe from something that was coincidental? Rarity, however, was not one to stay on cryptic thoughts without a reason to delve any further. She took the answer as it was and bowed out of respect.

"Again, it is wonderful to see that you and your family is still in good health. But I am afraid that our parting will bear a bit of bad news."

Rarity looks up to the princess as she tries to figure out what the princess meant by 'bad news'. "Is there something the matter?"

"Yes. I'm afraid that I will be needing the element that you wear around your neck."

Rarity looked down at the purple jewel placed intricately on the center of the golden choker that rested on her neck. Her ears flopped to her head as she realized that the beautiful piece of jewelry would soon leave her possession. "I guess it was to good to be true to have something as beautiful as this on my neck. As heartbreaking as it would be, I have no other choice but to allow myself to part with it."

Rarity levitated the element off of her and into the hoof of the guard that stood beside her. Princess Celestia held a hoof to the chin of the crestfallen unicorn. "Do not fear, for you will have an opportunity to wear this element once more. As for now, I have to keep them sealed away for security reasons. Being that you are the chosen bearer of the Element of Generosity, I already place my trust into you. It is the other ponies that would grow jealous around you that I feel would be a threat."

"I understand." Rarity answered, looking up to the princess one last time before dismissing herself.

As Rarity made her exit, Princess Celestia levitated a purple and gold chest from underneath the table while gesturing to the guard.

"Sound Hoof, I need you to send after the others."

"CAPTAIN IS PRESENT! GUARDS, ATTENTION!"

"As you were."

The long line of armor clad ponies that lined the halls as Shining Armor walked through, took heed to their captain's order and proceeded perform their daily tasks. Shining Armor made his way through the long, carpeted corridor as he continued to inspect the security of the castle.

Under normal circumstances, Shining usually took advantage of his free time and made his way into the personal chambers of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza for a bit of fun. But with the knowledge that the sun took an unusual amount of time in order to rise and for it to take this long on the day most recognized for the extra hour of daylight, he knew that there was something amiss. His mind was more focused on finding out anything about his boss more than it was to pleasing his princess. Many of the guards could see the determination within his eyes and they acknowledged the fact that he was so determined to see that Princess Celestia was indeed safe and out of harm's way.

But that didn't stop a certain unicorn from walking the halls with another one of his herd in tow.

"Oh did the sun come out of hiding? I fear that Celestia is getting a little senile."

Many of the guards turned their heads in the direction of the prince who made the outlandish statement. Some of them bore looks of disbelief, others were just simply offended at the statement in general. Shining stepped forward and defended the solar princess' honor.

"So did the turn-tail prince come out of hiding? I fear that you're getting a tad bit useless."

Blueblood took his steps closer to the armored captain as he wore a scowl on his face. "I am the Prince of Magic and I will not tolerate disrespect, Captain."

"Princess Celestia is the sole princess who rules our lands, does our negotiations with other nations and countries, issues orders of a military objective, gets to know her subjects on a personal level, raises the sun and the moon, properly teaches little fillies in the ways of magic and she is a pony who would give her life for the sake of protecting all of us. You are a little colt that protects only what interests you and what ultimately gets you off. You don't respect your superiors nor do you respect anything that they stand for. You don't even have any power. The only thing that you carry is a title. But I'm so sorry, I didn't mean no disrespect sir prince."

"Oh please, Captain. If you think that I am offended by your banter, then you are sorely mistaken. Please feel free to fornicate with that slut-tease of a princess that you supposedly 'guard' every single night."

"Well you look offended, but please feel free to stick your dick inside of a mare that has some power over you-OH WAIT!"

Blueblood breathes heavily as he halts his approach, standing muzzle-to-muzzle with the guard who challenged him. "You would be wise to end our little playground exchange here and now."

"Oh what's the matter. Some kid took your lunch money and gave it to charity?"

"Those are words that instigate wars, sir Captain."

"And my dick instigate the sound of your dreams barfing up my cum. The only difference is that your dreams actually keep coming back for more. What a dirty bitch."

"YOU TAKE THAT BACK!" Blueblood screams.

"And she calls me daddy every time she swallows." Shining whispers.

Blueblood inches himself closer as he curls his hooves into the ground, furious that the captain dared to call him out. "I... am going... to end you."

"How? You don't have the authority. In fact, I'd see another pony walking into the damn castle and taking up what was your's sooner than Celestia giving you a second chance after your last inglorious fuck up. You have no power here, you whiny, self-absorbed, prissy, spoiled, pussy-lipped, two-faced, arrogant, self-serving, sexually-aggressive, racist, homophobe, misogynistic, cowardly, degenerate waste of pony hide."

"Are you done?"

"No, bitch... now I'm done."

Blueblood took a deep breath as he came to the conclusion that the only way to silence the boastful captain was to put him in his place. And it would be similar to how it had happened eight years past. "Then suppose you wish to engage in a duel. How about it? A rematch for redemption of that one night where my royal seed rained upon your face."

"You cheeky dickwaffle. You would like me to waste more of my time and indulge in more of your depraved fantasies, wouldn't you?"

"So you must be ready to take it to the hilt, you commo-"

"BOYS!" The two stallions halt their stand-off as another figure approaches from the end of the hall. Shining Armor bowed down to the figure who walked to them. Cadance acknowledge Shining's gesture of respect and allowed him to raise from his submissive posture. "Can you minimize your foreplay? I really don't think that you have the time to be engaging in Blue's ideals."

"Forgive me princess. I apologize for-"

"You'll also be punished for that little comment about the, quote-unquote, 'dick in authority'."

Shining closed his eyes in shame as the other guards oohed and chuckled in the background. Blueblood also took a laugh as the over-excited captain humbled himself. "I'm sorry, your majesty."

"Meaning that everypony in the castle knows that we're dating doesn't mean that you are allowed to disclose our more... private affairs." Cadance states as she slowly approaches the purple-armor clad stallion. The other guards in attendance whistle and whoo at the statement of the princess engaging, and openly admitting, that the captain and her were currently involved with each other.

"GUARDS! AT-TEN-TION!" Shining Armor shouted, causing every guard in the hall to line up and keep quiet. The young captain snorted as he grew annoyed at the lecture that he was going to receive.

"So how would you discipline your guard today, Cadenza?" Blueblood asked in a chortle, Cadance zipped her eyes to the ignorant prince.

"It is not for you to know. Now please excuse yourself, this is my jurisdiction and I don't see that you are needed in the matter."

Blueblood rolled his eyes and groaned at Cadance's order. "Ugh, yes... princess."

As the verbally defeated royal angrily trotted down the hall, his trophy followed him while trying to stifle a laugh. Blueblood was embarrassed to the point where one of his own servants saw humor in his failure. Meanwhile, Cadance circled her captain as she tried to figure out exactly how she was going to chastise the boastful captain in front of his guard. Shining sweated nervously as the sounds of her hoofsteps wandered around him.

"Sticking your dick into some authority... I wonder what kind of punishment this would call for. Maybe I can take a page from Blue's notebook and tie you up to the wall and give you thirty lashes."

"I would deserve it, your highness, for my brash statements." He admitted, lobbying for mercy.

"...You would like that wouldn't you, you naughty little boy?"

Shining's eyes shot wide open at the princess's teasing. He kept his voice as low as possible as he urged her to stop playing with him. "Prinzezz, now iz not the time."

"It's never the time. But I do tend to make time for it, since you apparently have the freedom to do so. I mean, you have no literal duties that you are performing at the moment."

"Actually-"

"Oh, so you do have something to do that's more important than your marefriend?"

"Well... we're supposed to be trying to find Princess Celestia." Shining answered guiltily.

Cadance's tone suddenly changed from a flirty tone to a more serious one. "Then please inform to me why you managed to get distracted from your duties."

"No excuse, princess."

"Then stop trying to pick fights and do what it is that you are supposed to do." The pink princess orders to her captain as her attention immediately turns to the guards around them. "GUARDS, DISPERSE! I WANT YOU TO COMB ALL OF THE CENTRAL REGION OF EQUESTRIA! SHE COULDN'T HAVE GONE TOO FAR ON HER OWN!"

The roaring sound of dozens of the guards' clattering as they brought their forelegs to their head and saluted the princess' order. "YES, PRINCESS!"

And just like that, the dozens of guardsponies fled to various locations within the palace. Princess Cadance saw that the guards left and then turned her attention to her captain. He stood at attention as she walked up to him. If there was anything that Shining took into consideration, it was that no matter the fact that the princess was his marefriend, she was still his superior for the majority of the day. And it was his job to adhere to her every order.

"Shining... *sigh* Why did you let Blue get to you like that?"

"I'm sorry princess. It won't happen again."

"You've been saying that for a year now. And not once has it changed. I know that you despise him for all the strife that he put you through, but you have got to learn how to take a high road."

"But this time he insulte-"

"Okay, he may be a little bitter at the princess for sending him to do community service in Trottingham for almost five years. Let him be. His bitterness will only get him in even deeper trouble."

Shining groans at the idea of ignoring the taunts of the disrespectful prince. "Why does she allow him to stay? He shipped money to the Black Claw-"

"Indirectly. He was sending money to one of his griffon partners in the shady side of the royal business, who in turn sent that money to the terrorists, who then used it to stock up on weapons, uniforms and rations. True, auntie found out and sent him away for something that he was completely unaware of."

Shining rolled his eyes as he combated her argument. "He was not unaware. He knew what he was doing."

"Yet we couldn't find proof of his direct involvement." Cadance rebutted. "She could only take away his authority in the matters of the economy, which after a while started to do some serious damage to the rebel faction. And plus, she has a bit of favoritism for him."

"Like what, cause I don't see it."

"She was her first student to be instructed by her in many years and the only one that she directly instructed while being a mother figure to him. She treats him like her own. She wants to see him change back into the Blueblood that she raised to become a prince."

"But even you said that he didn't have much love in his heart, so couldn't it been nothing more than a ruse?"

"Maybe. But at least in those days, he was really really sincere to his studies and his principles."

"Power corrupts, Cadance."

Cadance took some offense to his statement and offered to prove him wrong. "So are you saying that I'm corrupt?"

Shining jumped back from his previous statement. He stuttered and fumbled his words as he tried to convince Cadance that she was not subject to his blunt assumption. "No... I'm not saying that at all."

"I understand your frustration. But put it this way, if you were to marry me one day then you would carry a title. How would you feel if ponies started calling you corrupt if you had the title of prince?"

Shining thought about his friends calling him an evil politician or a shady captain in this case. His ears folded into his skull at the thought of being hated by everyone. "...Not too well."

"You already carry the title of Captain of the Royal Guard. You don't need to be royalty for others to call you corrupt."

"But-"

"Power corrupts, Shining Armor. But it can be controlled if one's heart is pure and sincere. Even my heart may not be all pure, but I've learn to control it."

"But you've been in power and was taken advantage of by those who had power under you."

"Yes. But does that mean that I have to be vindictive in return?"

"...No."

Cadance walked up to her captain, firmly grasped his chin and planted her lips into his. She stayed long enough to give him some time to consider her argument. As she pulled back, their lips separate with with the sound of an audible smack. "Shining, I love you. You know this. If I had any corruption inside of me, then do you think I would've just let you go the first time?"

Shining giggled at the thought of her being so selfish that she would devise some master plan to get him back against his will. It amused him because she didn't have a need to at this point. He came back to her by his own choice. "No."

"Then do you believe me when I say that power can be controlled rather than it being in control?"

"Okay, I give up."

Cadance wrapped her hooves around the neck of the young captain, rallying him to close the distance between them. "Shining. I know that Blue can be a total dick sometimes, but I really need you to learn to not feed him any attention."

Shining nods in agreement. "Okay."

"Good. Now c'mere and kiss me."

He softly presses his lips into hers and shifted his angle slightly to give him some room to welcome her inside. Before his tongue made it's appearance, he whispered to her. "Yes, my princess."

Cadance slowly bit her lip, allowing it to gradually slide from her grasp as the enchanting breaths of her coltfriend started to stir within her a desire most lewd. She pulls him in, disallowing any form of retreat from her captain. He follows her every non-verbal command and pulls his mouth into hers. His tongue sinks against hers as she gasps in yearning of his attentive organ to touch every place within her body. Her hindquarters grew warmer with every time his hoof came around to caress her, stroking ever closer to her succulent flank.

"CAPTAIN! PRINCESS CELESTIA HAS RETURNED!"

"Fuck!" Cadance spurts out, irritated that their romantic moment was interrupted by the announcement.

"Gotta go, Cadie. Duty calls." He states to her, giving her one final peck on the lips before dashing down the hallway. Cadance shifts her hind legs as she feels the increased moisture beginning to seep out from her hidden folds. Cadance growls before she screams out to the galloping stallion.

"YOU ARE FINISHING WHAT YOU'VE STARTED WHEN YOU GET BACK, DO YOU HEAR ME!?"

Princess Celestia as well as her younger sister, Princess Luna walks down the halls of the Palace as the many servants and guards line up along the sides of them. Many of course are silent out of respect, however few question the strange blue alacorn mare that walks alongside her. Judging from the stature of the blue mare, they assumed that she was still a child in comparison to even Cadance. As they arrive, the Captain of the Guard dashes in front of the two winged unicorns. He holds his head low while addressing the ivory princess.

"Princess Celestia, it is of a great relief that you would return to us unharmed."

"Captain Shining Armor, I do apologize for my sudden leave. But I have returned with most excellent news."

Shining looks at the towering figure of his princess and saw that she wore a smile unlike any other that he has seen. "I can see that you are in high spirits, princess. Please share with us your findings."

Princess Celestia urges the bowing stallion to rise as she makes her announcement. Clearing her throat, she stands proudly as her wings unfurl and extends to their optimum lengths. Her voice brimmed with cheer as she spoke.

"My dearest subjects. Today is a day unlike any other. I have left in a search of one's self and have come back with more news than what could have been anticipated. As you all know, I have made a declaration on the first day of this very year, Year Zero of the Sisterhood Reunited, that this will be herald as the dawn of a new age. An age that has never been seen since the passing of a thousand years. Year Four-Hundred Sixty-Two of the Two Sisters, a day that I proclaimed that the year will hold to the title known to be the era of Celeste Delanise Valkyrie, came the banishing of Nightmare Moon and the dawn of the Summer Sun Celebration."

The ponies remain silent as Celestia resumed with her decree.

"A thousand years has long passed as this day has finally come. For today we celebrate in honor of three miraculous events. The first of these events is that of the annual Summer Sun Celebration and also of it's newest opposite. Let it be decreed that the date of December the Twenty-First shall be proclaimed as the Wintertide Moon Festival, when the night shall hold the extra hour of darkness."

The mass of maids and guards applaud their princess upon her decree as she allows them to finish before carrying on her decree.

"Secondly, it shall be known that my dear student, Twilight Sparkle will no longer be with us for the moment to carry on her studies abroad. Her reason being is that she has found the new bearers of the Elements of Harmony. Bearers are as named to their element as followed. Jacqueline Samantha Apple, known to the name of Applejack, is the bearer of the Element of Honesty. Prisma Ricarda Dash, known to the name of Rainbow Dash, shall bear the Element of Loyalty. Pinkamena Diane Pie, known to the name of Pinkie Pie, shall bear the Element of Laughter. Filomena Silvana Abelie, known to the name of Fluttershy, shall bear the Element of Kindness."

The ponies continued to applaud as the names were called out.

"Rarity Andalusia Belle, known to the name of Rarity, shall bear the Element of Generosity."

Shining's ears perked at that name. It wasn't just a name that he remembered over the passage of time, it was a name that was engraved into his memory. He held his tongue as the princess called the final name of the last bearer.

"Twilight Violet Arcana Sparkle, known to all of you as Twilight Sparkle, shall bear the Judge Element, the Element of Magic."

At that point, Shining Armor lost most of his composure. He cleared his throat as he screamed internally at his little sister's big accomplishment. The others continued to applaud loudly. Celestia carried on to her final portion of her decree.

"Last but certainly never the least. Nightmare Moon has been vanquished once again, this time permanently. As her dark magics pulled away and dispersed into the light of the elements, a new princess returns to all of you. Fillies and Gentlecolts, it is with much joy that I finally introduce to you, for the first time in one-thousand years, Princess Luneste Seline Valkyrie, my dearest little sister."

And Shining could no longer hold his discipline. "SAY WHAT!!!"

Gasps and awes come from the audience that had assembled in the halls of Canterlot. Many of them are unsure as to what to think of their princess having a younger sister. Even some of the guards started to question on what was going to happen now. How would the chain of command change now that there was another princess among them? Only time could tell.

"Princess Luna shall hold the title of the Princess of the Night, meaning that she shall resume her duties of raising and lowering the moon, commander-in-chief of the nightly guard, and also the guardian of dreams. These are all the tidings of good news that I have to offer. And just as you would treat me, I do expect you to treat her with the same warm-heartedness that you show unto me. Thank you all for your commendable service, and let us join for a mighty feast tonight in her honor. I bid you farewell until the festivities tonight."

Shining and the other ponies remained standing in place as the shock of the situation started to set in. The two princesses walked side by side as they conversed with one another.

"Dear captain." Luna called to the shocked and now even more surprised Shining Armor.

"Y-y-yes, p-p-princess?"

"Would you so kindly escort me and my elder sister to our quarters? I fear that we have much to catch up on." She asked with a juvenile, yet soothing voice.

"At once, princess."

Shining galloped to the side of the princesses as he left the hall of babbling ponies as they talked about the changes that would soon hit them. There was much on his mind that matched their conversations word-for-word. But sadly he would not have the time to partake in them.

He still had a job to do.

"I don't see what makes the guard of today so special over the guard of our time, dear sister." Luna says as she looks at the long line of guards posted on each side of the grand hall.

"You shall see for yourself. The guards these days are more attuned to the safety of our citizens equally as they are to us. They are no longer pretentious to the point where only the nobles would be paramount to the common pony." Celestia states in their defense.

"But even the captain could not withhold his enthusiasm as my name was announced."

"Could you if you were in his position?" Celestia asks. "He just found out that one; you are my sister, two; his sister is now a bearer of an Element of Harmony, and three; he has heard of the name of the mare who once pined for him in their youth."

"The captain does seem a little young for this position, dear sister." Luna admits to Shining's surprise. He feels a little offended that he would be referenced to be 'too young' to be in this position. But at the same time, he was proud of that facet of his job. He was the youngest to ever achieve it.

"He is the youngest to achieve that honor. His combat prowess, his magical skill and his physical strength is quite unusual in terms of the unicorn standard. He takes after his father very well."

"So he is of a legacy?"

"Actually, he's the beginning of one."

Shining feels a little nervous that the princess are speaking about him so openly. Though he can only remain silent as he continues his task of escorting the two princesses to their private quarters.

"So what was his name again, Celestia dear sister?"

"Shining Armor Aegnus Sparkle, more commonly known to be Shining Armor. Shining by those who are acquainted with him."

"I see... So Sir Shining, do you enjoy being in my sister's company?"

Shining takes a deep breath in order to calm down. He raises his head and answers the younger princess quickly. "It is an honor your majesty. And it will be an honor to serve you as well."

Luna smiled at the kind words of the young captain. "Your warm words of welcome pleases your princess. Pray tell, how young are you?"

Shining starts to sweat bullets. Princess Celestia's younger sister had asked him about his age. What else did she want to know about him? He once again answered her quickly. "Twenty-Five, princess. Forgive my for asking so harshly, but what fuels your desire to know of it?"

"Your voice is a soothing whisper. A rich tenor that can sing to me many psalms of virtue. You speak with an eager ambition yet shy in it's approach. It is adolescent in it's nature. And your current appearance does not even resemble the age you gave to me. In fact, you look far younger than you lead on to be."

Shining was confused on whether she was describing him from a novel's perspective or if she was hitting on him. "Your majesty, how old do I look?"

"Hmmm... From the time period that I have grown accustomed to, I would say around fourteen to sixteen years of age."

The princess just told him that he was a full ten years younger than what she had originally anticipated. Shining blushed at the fact that the princess perceived to be so young. "Um... thanks?"

"Luna, most colts now and days look like this because of their nutritious diets and healthy standards of living. The life expectancy has doubled, nearly tripled for ponies everywhere. Now they all grow faster than they lead on to be and they look far younger for far longer." Celestia stated. Shining Armor sighed to himself as the elder princess made him seem a lot more insignificant. He at least wanted to bask in the praise of her little sister for a little while longer.

"Another thing, dear sister. Do stallions still... you know... court?" Luna asked.

"I do recall it being called 'dating' nowadays, but yes. In fact, they are more open to it than ever."

"So does this captain have one that he may court for himself?"

Shining freezes as the other guards in the hall shift their eyes to the three ponies in the middle of the hallway. Luckily, Celestia comes to his aid before he was forced to answer that question for himself. "Yes actually. He is currently engaged to another princess for the time being. Her name is Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, though she prefers the name Cadance."

"Oh... Well I suppose that the other guards aren't allowed to engage in the courting practices." Luna states with a softened tone, seemingly upset.

"Actually, many of the guards here do date mares to their liking. But I-"

"THEY DOST!?" Luna exclaims, rumbling the halls of the palace with the sound of her tri-harmonic voice. Shining covers his ears as the surging decibels causes him pain. Most of the other guards feel the same pain as an eager Luna runs to a nearby guard, picking him out of the crowd of others.

"Luna dear, I don't think that's how it quite wo-"

"You. What is your name?" She asks to an armored unicorn stallion with a midnight-blue coat and a silver mane. His green eyes shrank to tiny dimes as the exuberant princess demanded his name.

"A-A-Azure... S-Sword... princess." He answered shaking with nervousness.

"Hmm... You seem to be around the age of our fair captain here." She said as she looked up to the surprised guard.

"Well... we did attend high school together... princess." He admitted, still trembling a bit.

"So it would seem that not only are these guards well-nourished and groomed, but that they are also very well-educated." Luna spoke to her older sister who stood side by side with Shining Armor.

"It would appear that way." Celestia returned her sisters sentiment. Luna smiled as she took in the knowledge that the guard was something that was similar to her interests.

"Very well then. I will have him escort me to the banquet tonight, and he shall become my watch for the evening hour. I expect him to be at my door at around six. And I also pray that he has no further plans for he shall spend the night with me."

Her statement caused three voices to erupt simultaneously as the other guards gasped in surprise.

"WHAT!" Shining Armor shouted as his jaw fell to the floor.

"PRINCESS!" Azure exclaimed as he couldn't believe that she bluntly placed him on the duties of being nothing more than trophy.

"LUNESTE!" Screamed the elder sister at her younger sibling's statement to have him spend the night.

"What?" Luna asked as she looked at the two ponies that stood behind her. "It won't be as if we'll be engaging in any lustrous activities. Now let us trek onward."

Celestia and Shining Armor shook themselves out of shock and started to make their way to the final hall of their journey. Shining started to trot onward before Celestia stopped him cold. "A moment, Captain. Allow our young guard here to accompany us to the room as well. Also please feel free to call off the escort party if you will."

Shining knew exactly what this was. He been through it less than eight years ago when he started dating Cadance all over again. He just chuckled at the the princess' command and followed through on it.

"COMPANY, DISMISSED!"

The other guards turned to the end of the hall as the unison sound of armor and hooves slammed and cracked loudly throughout the halls. The long line of guards made themselves scarce as the four ponies walked down the hall, made a right turn and stopped at a set of two doors. To Shining it was of no surprise to see the doors as he had escorted the princess to this area many times before, but what did surprise him was the fact that the insignia on the dark blue door resembled the cutie mark of the small-framed blue alacorn. To Azure, this was a complete surprise. He didn't even know that this hall had even existed.

"Shining Armor, can you show Princess Luna to her living arrangements?" Celestia asked.

Shining nodded as he guided the princess of the night into her new bedroom. "This way, princess."

Azure offered to follow them but found an ivory-colored hoof clad in gold holding him back from entering. Celestia smiled eerily as she walked slowly in front of the bewildered guard.

"I see that Luna has requested your presence to the banquet tonight." Celestia sounded off with a cheery tone. Azure started to get comfortable in seeing his ruler smile.

"I honestly didn't know that she would choose me your majesty. I am more than humbled to escort Princess Luna to the banquet." Azure says with confidence building in his heart.

"Good. I hope that my sister will be treated to the best night of her life while she is with you." And then the sun came out. "Because if you don't..."

Azure swore he could have heard the distinctive sound of a wine glass shattering in an empty room as Celestia seemed to tower above his trembling form. Celestia slowly descended her head to the ear of a now-scared Azure, letting her scalding exhales kiss his neck as he imagined the multitude of the consequences. She raised a hoof to the back of his head and spoke softly as Azure's hope for escape dwindled down to nothing more than that of an eye of a sewing needle.

"...I will find a suitable place for you on the sun. Luna is my little sister and I don't want to see her hurt after all these years. So if you burn her..." She slowly cradles his head closer to her as her muzzle closes in on his ear, letting him feel the searing heat of her words brand into his brain. "I'll burn you."

She gives him a slow peck on the cheek as her soft lips presses against him, showering it with the intensity of an oven set to broil. As she retreats, Azure is left to a bumbling incoherent mess. Before anything else could be said, Shining Armor calls out to the princess.

"Princess Celestia, Princess Luna sends for you."

Celestia regains her regality and trots to the room of her younger sister. "Very well, Captain. You and your guard are dismissed for the time being. Oh and Azure... Do try to be on time. Punctuality is a valuable asset to the life of a guard."

The doors close with a resounding boom as the two guards are left in silence. Shining Armor starts to chuckle as he looks at the current state of his friend.

"W-what's so funny?" Azure asks as he looks to his laughing friend.

"Nothing... So is Celestia's lips a little hotter than normal or is it just me?"

"YOU KNEW THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN!?" Azure shouted as Shining urged him to use his inside voice.

"Well, I'm dating Cadance, her niece." Shining said with a smug look.

"Oh... right. So what do I do now?" Azure asks before Shining walks off in a fit of laughter. Of course, Azure doesn't seem to know what the joke was exactly. "No. I being serious. C'mon. Please say something."

Shining laughed some more as he shook his head, remembering that this was all a part of his trials with Cadance. He placed a hoof around Azure's neck and said in a mumble.

"Azure... I think you're going to have a few problems buddy."

Author's Note

I had to look up names and their meanings in order to get this right. But luckily the names won't be a reoccurring thing unless there were weddings involved. But either way, this should prove to be an interesting setup for future shenanigans. Hope that the chapter was half decent. Now if you excuse me, I'll be out of commission due to Comcast being an asshole on internet usage.