Princess Cadence stared out the window of her room. The first rays of sun shined through, revealing the glamorous decorations and furnishings of her room. Her eyes wandered the world outside before she heard her door open slowly. One of the guards stepped in taking a bow then speaking.
"Princess, the morning ceremony is about to begin, the other Princesses require your presence." With another bow he left the left the room. Cadence gave a tiring sigh. Truthfully, she wasn't up to the high standards and royal stuff like ceremonies. All she ever wanted was to be a normal mare, treated like a normal mare, and not have others get down on their knees whenever she walked by,
Groggily, she walked to her wardrobe. Several dresses in many different colors and patterns hung in it. Cadence placed her hooves in the large assortment and began weaving through until she came upon a simple purple dress with tiny star-shaped images laced among the ends of the dress. Once she put it on, she walked to the mirror beside her bed. It was then she realized that the reason it stood out from the others is that it reminded her of that one little filly she'd foalsitted some years before. Though the name had evaded her at the moment which caused her great stress. Cadence began to pace back and forth through the room before hearing the morning ceremonies instrumental music, and turning outside her window,
"Oh no! I missed the-" Every part of her froze at that moment. Her eyes locked on a small, purple, filly unicorn. "Twilight." She managed to utter silently, then her gaze meeting a pony that stood beside Twilight. There he stood. The colt was saluting like the other guards around him. He was a unicorn, his white coat gleamed beautifully in the sunshine and his mane. Its two colored pattern reminded her of....Twilight? Suddenly, the door behind her slammed creaked open.
"Princess Mi Amore Cadenza." The calm gentle voice of Celestia entered the room. Cadence turned slowly to the alicorn, her Aunt Celestia. "I see you have missed out on the morning ceremony." Cadence gave a sheepish smile then turned her gaze downward.
"Sorry Auntie, I just got a little distracted." Just then, Celestia gave her a more serious look.
"By what?"
Cadence began to feel her face turn red. The sweat overloading the dam in her pores, ready to just break out and cause a flood. "Well err, I saw one of the fillies that I used to foalsit, Twilight Sparkle was her name."
"Oh yes, the young unicorn I understand. She's always so fond of her brother." The name struck Cadence like a lighting bolt. Dazed and dumbfounded, Cadence decided to wrap things up as she began for the door.
"Well Auntie, I'm really hungry and don't want to miss breakfast, so see ya later." With a wide grin, she left the room and began her way down the hall.
The Canterlot Castle Dining Hall was huge, with chandeliers hanging ever few feet from each other with brightly lit candles, day and night. Many high class ponies sat, along with royal family and other as such. Ponies that saw her bowed and when she walked by. Then she saw him once more. The colt, Twilight's brother, was chatting among some of the royal guards. He wasn't one of them yet, but she could easily imagine him in the golden armor and helmet.
Once again she began to get a nervous feeling, yet she ignored it at the moment as she approached him. All the guards gave a bow and departed the area, the strange thing was. Twilight's brother didn't bow. He just kept the smile he always kept on around friendly faces.
"Pardon me, but may I ask you your name?" Cadence asked in the most polite and regal of manner.
"Shining Armor is the name. May I ask yours?" He asked as kind and politely as Cadence had.
Cadence hesitated for a moment, would telling him of her identity change his feelings toward him? Just then he burst out.
"Oh how clumsy of me, how could I have not noticed your graceful wings. It's an honor to meet you, Princess Cadence." He said with a bow. So casual about it. Cadence thought to herself, yet still feared that his personality towards her would change, before Shining Armor began. "Forgive me Princess, but I must be on my way. Though the next time we meet, I might just be one of the royal guards." With one last glance to the Princess along with a quick grin, he trotted off, out of the dining hall, leaving Cadence feeling charmed and enchanted. She's never felt so happy to talk to somepony like that. The way Shining Armor showed her respect, yet at the same time treated her as an equal mystified her.
After a few seconds, Cadence realized that she still hadn't eaten. The smells of (hay)bacon strip filled her nose as she picked a seat and opened up the top of her plate. Steaming strips of (hay)bacon were neatly piled atop each other. Before digging in to the delicious feast, Cadence looked around. There were only about three ponies left, but most of them were leaving. And with that, she began eating like a pig.
Even the most regal of Princesses could be driven to this by hunger. Right? Cadence thought to herself as she belched openly for the world to hear. Luckily, there was nopony around except for the guards that chatted among themselves. With a sigh of relief and delight, Cadence got up from her seat and left the dining hall. So many thoughts and questions raced through her mind.
What did he think of her? When would they meet again? Will he become a Royal Guard? Will he even remember about her? Every thought, every picture in her mind, all based off of the colt of her dreams. Shining Armor.
