Amore

It turns out the ride in the carriage was purely ceremonial; as royalty, Cadance and I would receive our own quarters in one of the castle towers reserved for visiting royals, rather than stay at a suite in Canterlot. We could have easily walked, but I didn't bother questioning the decisions of girls when it came to weddings. Cadance wanted a storybook wedding, and I'm glad to give her that happiness after it came so close to ruin. She lays against my chest, eyes closed and enjoying the moment. I let one of my hooves gently stroke through her mane, and she smiles as she nestles in closer to me.

She does this, because you *are** Shining Armor.*

Cadance breaks the silence. "Something has been eating at you all day, dear. What is it?" Straight to the point, but in a delicate, caring tone.

I let out a sigh, looking out the window at the moon. "Everything's moving kinda fast... I'm just trying to wrap my head around it all."

"I'm really sorry about that honey." Cadance places a hoof against my cheek, her tones softening, nurturing me "I wish you didn't have to go straight from the hospital to the altar like that." She opens her eyes, and the hand against my cheek lightly boops me on the nose. "But," shattering her facade and chiding me with a teasing voice, "you insisted on rushing right over."

I let out a laugh, "Did I?" Another nervous little laugh, and I can't help but avert my eyes from her, gazing out the window once again. I place a hoof against my temple, propping my elbow against the armrest. "Sorry, I haven't really been feeling myself..."

"It's to be expected," Cadance quickly chimes back. She sits upright, shuffing in the seat and pressing against my side. "After all, Chrysalis stole nearly every bit of your love. So much, that not even Celestia or the Elements of Harmony could stop her." She rests a hoof on my thigh. "Having all of your love devoured would make anyone a completely different pony."

"That's the thing..." I let my free hand rest next to hers. I tilt my head so I'm looking back at her now. "I fear that it might have done that, Cadance."

I watch her eyes slowly close, and she gives a sad nod. It hangs in her voice as she speaks, "Truth is, I've noticed something different about you since I broke Chrysalis's spell on you." Her hoof lifts, wrapping around mine. This must be how ponies 'hold hands'. "But deep down, I know you're still the Shining Armor that I fell in love with. I wouldn't have walked down the aisle today if I didn't know that for sure. Chrysalis may have taken a part of you, but she didn't get all of you. With time, that wound will heal."

I go silent, and turn away, looking out the window at the moon. First it was Luna, and she said the same thing. She knew, for sure, that I was Shining Armor. I still don't understand what proof she has of that, but now Cadance too? She can sense my love for her. When she's supposed to be sensing Shining Armor's love.

She is sensing Shining Armor's love...

I. equal. Shining Armor. It's starting to aggravate me. This is the answer these two ponies have, but I can't make sense of how they came to such conclusion. I'm not seeing all the cards here. Yet the more I think about it, the more I start to accept that it might be true. Just because I can't understand the complex equation at work here, doesn't make it false.

I move upright and rub my forehead with my now free hoof. This is the one problem I do need to understand though. If I'm Shining Armor... I need to know how Shining Armor would actually think. I need his thoughts... his memories. I try to think back, but I return only hazy recollections of my human past. I try to remember the face of my parents, but all I can visualize are empty-faced mannequins. I can't even think of their names.

"Sweetie." Cadance's voice pulls me from my thoughts, and her hoof tilts my head to face hers. "The last few days have been especially hard on us both. You were brainwashed by a very powerful magic for several days, and I was locked in a cave underneath the castle. We both need to take a few days to recover from this." Her concerned look shifts to a bright smile, her tone picking up with excitement, "Luckily, we have just that; it's the start of our honeymoon!"

"Yeah..." I don't share her enthusiasm.

Just as quickly, the smile turns into a pout. "Look, no matter who you might think you are, you should at least know how to have a good time, right?"

Her accusation puts me on the defensive. I lift up in my seat, break the melancholy and answer back, "Of course I do, I--"

"Good," interrupting me with a look of satisfaction. "Then just do that. The rest of it should come naturally."

Our carriage draws to a halt. Outside her window is the entrance to one of the larger wings of the sprawling castle. These must be the royal quarters.

Her door springs open, and she grabs my hoof, "Now come on, let's head on up to our room and relax!"

I drop my spaghetti. "W-W-Wait, you mean together?!" My face is bright red. I'm Shining Armor, but in my mind I haven't processed the fact that we're a married couple. Much farther than I have ever been in life, and completely skipping several important steps leading up. As far as I knew, the best we were before today was that of imaginary pony waifu and Anonymous husbando.

She rolls her eyes, pulling my arm with both hooves. "Of course I do. We're husband and wife now." I get up to keep myself from falling over, and I step to the ground after she exits the carriage. "We get to do all sorts of things together now."

My ears deceive me. There's no way I heard it the way I just did. I look back to her, incredulous, met only with a look of innocence from the princess. I can't even issue a response; my spaghetti cup runneth over.

"Oh sweet Celestia," her tone a teasing pity, caressing my burning cheek with her hoof, "you are adorable. No wonder I fell in love with you." She steps back, flourishing her dress as she strides towards the castle. Over her shoulder, grinning bright, "The knight rescued his princess, and they celebrated their wedding," eyelashes fluttering, "you know what happens next, right?"

"They... live happily ever after?" I don't stammer my response this time, but my tone is nearing a squeak. I feel my heart in my throat. All these lovey sensations... I didn't know what to do with them. I had no experience to go by from Earth. Surely... she must know this. The look she's wearing, she's enjoying the situation she's put me in.

Cadance eyes widen, and she busts out into a giggle, raising a hoof to her mouth. "Yes..." pausing for breath as her giggles subside. "That's exactly it, Shiny. Now, come on, lets head upstairs and unwind. We deserve this honeymoon."

She quickly trots off, letting the breeze carry her dress above the ground. Her mane, all pinned and set in place, unfurls as she breaks into a gallop down the cobble path, heading straight for the entrance hall. When she passes by the guards at the grand door, they snap into a sharp salute. Once inside, her pace slows, the flowing trails behind her gently fluttering down to the ground.

I follow after, but I don't dare try to break into a gallop. I've had plenty of time to get basic walking down during the wedding reception. Besides, Cadance was right... I was downright exhausted.

When I pass by the guards, they both salute again, but the one on the left speaks in a sharp, military tone. "Captain Shining Armor, sir!"

I stop mid-step. I have absolutely no idea what to make of this. Now I'm getting treated like I'm someone important? "Y-Yeah?" I manage to get out. Being put on the spot like this not only by Cadance, but the palace guards is unnerving.

If he takes notice of me, he doesn't acknowledge it. "Sir, Vice-Captain Steelhoof has assumed command of the royal guard. Princess Celestia wanted me to inform you that you'll be on two weeks convalescent leave starting tonight. She has instructed us to treat you as a Prince, and..." the guard's military bearing failing, his eyes looking behind me at the other guard.

The one behind me speaks up now, "Princess Celestia instructed all of us that under no circumstances were we to permit you to assume any of your official duties while on your honeymoon." When I turn my head to look at him, he too seems nervous, having spoken these words.

"A-Alright," I choke on my reply. I could barely comprehend their words. Sticking a working-class peon into the role of a commissioned officer, and royal prince no less? I may as well be Henry of Wales; the complete opposite end of the spectrum. "Tell her thanks, I guess?" I look to the center of the hall, where Cadance stood waiting and smiling at me. "That's nice of her to look after us like that..."

The two guards exchange glances, and snap one final salute and "Sir!"

I walk across the entrance hall with a genuine smile on my face, for the first time since this entire ordeal started. Honestly, my situation wasn't all that bad. Aside from the identity crisis... I had it made right now.

I'm a pony. In Equestria. It's a dream come true. Shining Armor may not have been my ideal choice for a body, but I'm far from regret. This body, with every muscle in it aching and tired, still puts my lazy, underused human body to shame. Even for a unicorn, it's as toned and developed as I'd expect the leader of the princess's royal guards. Not only that, I'm on top of the world: a Prince consort of Equestria. Aside from Blueblood, I sit as one of the most noble stallions in the pony world.

And then there's the horn. My eyes cross, looking to the white bone jutting from my skull. A horn that can do actual, real magic. If I got the powers to work on Earth, certainly the would here in an actual Equestria. Without hands, this thing is a godsend. I catch myself smiling, knowing that I've been granted a miracle amongst miracles. Flying might be great and all, but this is pure motherfuckin' magic...

My thoughts are interrupted by the sensation of someone staring at me. "You look awfully happy all of a sudden," Cadance beams at me, feeding off the energy I feel right now. "With how scrunchy your face has been all night, it's nice to see you really smile for once."

I move straight to her, wrapping a hoof behind her neck, pressing my lips against hers. It's brief; but in that moment... "I am happy. I thought about what you said... and I've decided to give it a try. Let's have a good time, Cadance."

This time, with a tear in her eye, she's the one kissing me, and she doesn't hold back at all.

***

It turns out our accommodations are in a private tower. The entrance hall connected to one of the many hallways that linked up the castle, but aside from that, the only other path is a coiled staircase leading up. As we ascend the staircase, the guards posted at the entrance to the castle shut and bar the entrance, and take up post at the base of our staircase.

When we push open the door, we're met with lavish accommodations. Truly, a honeymoon suite, beyond even five-star quality hotels on Earth.

I might have been a human for twenty years up until now. I might not have. I've been rejecting these changes ever since I got here. Assuming my last moments on Earth were just a dream, what did I have to look forward to with my human life? Living in a run-down apartment complex, surrounded by drugs and crime? Working a menial job making a dollar above minimum wage? Going home to smoke a bowl and jack it to a picture of Cadance? Falling asleep with nobody I could say 'I love you' too?

I spent the first few hours in disbelief of who and where I was. Why? My life, None of that really matters now, as I look into her eyes. Here, before me, is the living, breathing Cadance. My waifu. The one I would give the honored title, 'best pony'. We've kissed several times today--who knows what's happened in the past--but the sensation of 'this is my wife' hadn't really sunk in. Hell, I was still stuck on the fact she thought of me as her Shining Armor. One thing's for sure... I don't know anything about Shining Armor. It's sad; how can I be her Shining Armor, if I don't even know how they met? What their first date was?

"Cadance, you remember when we first met?" I ask her, putting on my best take on a romantic tone. I offer her a smile and lift my glass to her.

"Of course, sweetheart," comes her light-hearted giggle. She's already downed most of the champagne in her glass, as she reaches out for the bottle with her horn. "Buck Withers had no idea what he set into motion when he tripped you that day, did he?" She's blushing at me, already pressing her second glass to her lips. I'm not sure how much of the red on her cheeks was from the champagne.

I take her cue, and sip at it. . No wonder her cheeks are going red; I can feel it myself. I process what she's said to me...

It hits me. That's exactly how the comics played it out. How Shining Armor and Cadance met. Complete with all the 80s cliches and callbacks. Does this mean the comic canon is their history too?

"And the concert?" I place all my chips on this bet. If this worked, I may have a leg to stand on.

Cadance sighs the sigh of a devoted fangirl, pressing a hoof to her forehead as she sinks into the water. "I was such a sucker for it. To think you'd go to all that just for me..." Her eyes gaze back at me from over the tub's rim. This time, she's blushing for sure. "But why? What made you think of this?"

It came sooner than I had expected. I stall for time by taking a long, savoring sip of the champagne. I am going to get spoiled in this world if this is the kind of alcohol I can expect as royalty. My musings come to an end, as I find the bottom of my glass staring back at me empty.

"Do you think... Chrysalis's magic might have messed with my memories?" The bombshell. I can barely keep eye contact with her as I let slip the secret.

She's silent for a moment. Only when she rises from the tub, water cascading down her front, does she offer to speak, as her horn pours both me and herself another glass. "Love is a complicated... thing..." A chuckle escapes as she gets comfortable, resting her forelimbs along the edge of the tub, her chin on top of them. "The problem is, is that often times our strongest memories are about the things we love." Her gaze breaks from me, now focusing on the third-empty bottle of expensive bubbly. "This was my worst fear... when she took your love, did she take your memories, too?"

Cadance lifts her eyes, and reaches out a hoof to press against my shoulder. I rotate in the tub, resting on my side, and use my free forehoof to brush against hers. All she can offer is a sad little smile, tears in her eyes, as she speaks. "How bad is it?"

I sigh, and take to my glass again. The warmth it brings really helps in a tough time like this. "Pretty bad. I think I remember how we met. After the concert... you went to the Fall Formal with Buck..."

She gives an audible retch, pointing to her throat with a hoof. "He kept hassling me the entire night after I dumped him."

"Right up until you stole his crown and gave it to me," folding my arms and wearing a smug look of pride.

A hoof boops my nose, "That implies he actually earned it."

My giddy mood has faded... because that was the end of the comic strip. "Then there was King and Queen's first dance... but after that..." I press a hoof to my forehead. There was a giant hole, obviously, because the next thing I remember as Shining Armor, is his first appearance in the show during the wedding episode. That's all the material that was produced about him.

The hoof at my nose brushes aside my hoof, instead pressing her's to my forehead. "I'm thankful you can remember that much at least. It's a good start."

"But what about the rest of my memories?" Of course, I mean Shining Armor's memories. But I don't say that much. I couldn't exactly explain that all of his memories were instead replaced with...

...my memories? I remember the carriage ride earlier. I couldn't remember my parent's faces, much less their actual names. I take a deep breath. Cadance looks ready to answer, but watches silently instead as I close my eyes.

Parents. Immediately the image of Twilight Velvet and Night Light appear in my head...

...Who? Those were Twilight's parents. I focus again, this time on my human parents. I can't even picture a human shape that well anymore. I skip over my parents, trying to remember anything, anything at all from my childhood...

...but I'm greeted with nothing. Like Shining Armor, there's a mental wall starting from a few days ago, when I sat down to watch the Canterlot Wedding episode. That can't be right though. I remember what the other episodes were about. I knew who all the ponies were. Forget ponies, I had a job. I knew my coworkers. There was my boss... and that one guy I talked to a lot...

...but who were they, really? Not even the faintest guess at a name comes up. I try to focus on their faces, and I'm met with amorphous peach-colored blobs, absent of any definitive features. Panic seeps into my mind. I had a sister too, right? I try to picture her, and a peach-colored blob gives way to the image of Twilight Sparkle... but that's not my sister!

Who is my human sister? Who are my human parents? My human coworkers? My neighbors? Why can't I remember any names? I try to recall anything about my past, but all I get are glimpses of myself and Twilight Sparkle together. Rapidly flying snippets of life. Sharing an apple together. Watching her levitate a book with magic. Flying a kite together. More and more, bits and pieces flashing past with the beat of my heart, now pacing as I realize that I--

A painful spark shoots throughout my body, from horn to tail. I'm brought back to reality by Cadance, a teal aura engulfed around her horn as it separates from mine. Her hooves rest at the base of my neck, stroking softly. Comfortingly. As a wife would do a troubled husband...

"I'm not even sure if Twilight could explain to the both of us how memories work. But if a memory that's full of love is drained of all that love, you'd be left with a broken mess." She snags my glass from the table, and pours me another full glass of that dangerous champagne. "Don't force yourself honey," nudging my lips with the levitated glass. I oblige her and part my lips, taking control of the glass.

Cadance smiles as I tip back the contents. "Remember what I said? Rest and relaxation." Satisfied that I've calmed down, she leans back in her tub, draping a warm cloth over her face. Through the cloth, she continues. "Tomorrow, Princess Celestia and I are going to enjoy a ladies day at one of Canterlot's finest spas. I'll bring up the subject with her, and we'll see what we can come up with."

Immediately I raise a brow, "What about Twilight? She's the bookworm after all."

"Yes, dear, I'm well aware of your sister's incredible talent for magic... but who do you think teaches her?" Cadance winks to me. "After all, Celestia herself learned from Starswirl the Bearded. She might know something about the changeling's strange magic."

I remain skeptical. Celestia saw little airtime in the series, so I have no idea what to make of her capabilities. "You seem pretty confident of that. If you're gonna be gone tomorrow with her, maybe I'll sit down with Twilight and talk to her over lunch or something?"

"That's a real good idea honey. The two of you haven't had a chance to do something like this in ages."