Prologue: Heart of Darkness
“Just to let you know...” Shining Armor leaned forward and smiled conspiratorially. “I'll be receiving my promotion tomorrow during the ceremony.”
Jackdaw smiled in return. “That's wonderful news, sir. I'm sure you'll be putting a good word in for me once you're up at the top, yes?”
Shining sighed. “I was afraid you would mention that. I can't guarantee that there will be an opening in the ranks for you when all's said and done.”
Jackdaw bit his lip for a moment to hold back the first salvo of harsh words that came to him. Instead, he looked straight in Shining's eyes and said, “Who is it, then?”
“You wouldn't know him.” If Shining were surprised or upset that Jackdaw had read him like a book, he didn't show it. “He's in the pegasus division. Smart, younger colt, has a lot of potential.”
“I see.” There was no doubt in Jackdaw's mind who his usurper was. “Swift Wing's boy, then?”
“Flash, yes.” Shining stepped around his desk and placed a hoof on Jackdaw's shoulder. “Look, I know you're probably upset. I know how much you were waiting for this. But I also know you are a strong, wise stallion, and you'll understand why I'm doing this my way. I trust you, Jack. You'll have your own time soon enough.”
Jackdaw nodded and saluted. Once Shining had given the response, he turned and began to leave. At the threshold, Jackdaw said, “Of course I'm fine. It's not as though this is a defining moment for my character that will represent my conversion to the side of evil.”
“Sorry, what'd you say?” Shining asked.
“Oh, nothing~!” Jackdaw replied. But as soon as he turned the corner, his face fell, and he thought only of revenge.
“For his exceptional service with the Long Patrol, and for his bravery during the Battle of the Frozen North, we award Shining Armor the Emblem of the Sun, our highest medal of honor, and promote him to the rank of Captain of the Royal Guard!”
All the crowd gave Shining Armor a round of applause, save for Jackdaw, who stood at the back and glowered at his commanding officer. He scoffed, quietly enough that the ponies next to him could not hear him, then slipped out the door before Shining noticed his absence.
Shining Armor was a fool, a lunkhead. He wasn't fit to be a commander; he was more like a weapon, to be pointed at the enemy and let loose. This Jackdaw knew better than anypony else. He'd been serving under Shining's command for years, slaving away in the shadows that matched his coal-black coat in the hopes of riding Shining's coattails up to greatness. But now he'd been passed over, left behind, all his service and offerings forgotten in an instant.
And for what? For that useless moron Flash Sentry to take his place. Flash Sentry… Jackdaw scowled to think of him. There weren't enough mean words in the dictionary to describe Flash. He was dopey, maladroit, undisciplined, and a terrible flirt. Jackdaw suspected that there was something else going on: Flash Sentry was part of Shining Armor's Oubliettes & Ogres games, perhaps. The cause didn't matter, really. It was enough that Shining had chosen some nobody over such an important figure as himself.
He needed to go somewhere else, find someone who would commiserate with him about the injustice of it all. The White Stripe, Canterlot's premium salt lick pub, seemed the perfect kind of place at the moment. He went straight in, signaling to the mare behind the counter for two of “the usual.” She nodded and got on her way. He sat down next to a particularly angry-looking young stallion, turned to him, and asked, “So, what's got you down, guy?”
The stallion looked at Jackdaw as though he were an insect buzzing around his face. “I'm sorry, I'm afraid you've got the wrong impression. I'm not of your… persuasion.”
“What? No!” Jackdaw shook his head. “I'm not coming on to you! Truth is, I'm having a pretty bad day, myself, and I thought you looked like yours wasn't much better.”
The stallion sighed. “Not a day; try a life. I've been trying to court Princess Mi Amore Cadenza for months, but her 'aunt,' Princess Celestia, won't arrange it. She says Cadenza has a 'boyfriend' already.” He scoffed and tossed the notion aside. “What a ridiculous notion! He's not a prince like me, this much I know.”
“Ah, so you're the legendary Prince Blueblood,” Jackdaw said.
“My reputation precedes me, then,” he said smugly.
“It does at that.” He neglected to mention just what sort of reputation that was, of course. Instead, he offered a hoof to shake. “My name is Jackdaw, and I'm currently the advisor to the new Captain of the Royal Guard.”
Blueblood shook the offered hoof, though he seemed confused. “I thought you said you were having a bad day.”
“He'd promised me my own squad if he got the promotion. But when it came time to, you know, give it to me, he picked somepony else, instead.”
“The nerve!” Blueblood shook his head. “I assume you're going to get him back for this shameful action?”
“Sure, sure. But let's talk about you.”Jackdaw leaned down and whispered over to Blueblood. “What's the name of this boyfriend of Cadance's?”
“Shining… something, I believe.”
“Armor?”
“Yes, that's it! Shining Armor! Do you know him?” Blueblood asked.
“I do. He's the Captain of the Royal Guard.”
Jackdaw gave Blueblood a few moments to put the pieces together. “But that would mean...”
“Yes, precisely. We have the same enemy, you and I.”
“How fortuitous!” said Blueblood. “We can kill two birds with one stone, as it were.”
“Yes. In fact, I think I know just how to do it,” Jackdaw said. “What greater revenge would there be for me than to see the love of his life stolen from him?”
“And how would we go about doing that?” Blueblood asked.
“You needn't worry about that. I consider myself a bit of an expert on love, after all.” Jackdaw smiled and tapped the bar with a hoof. “A little quid pro quo from yourself, and I don't doubt I can draw her out from Shining's hoof.”
“You'd do that for me?”
“Of course. We are on the same team, after all.” Jackdaw leaned over and hooked Blueblood in a hug. Reaching out with one hoof, he continued, “You and I, we're not meant to be just little creatures in the world. We're the players in a much bigger story than the rest of the world out there realizes. I think we have the power to destroy Shining Armor and get our happily ever afters.”
Blueblood was caught like a fly in a spiderweb. “You're absolutely correct, Mr. Daw. I'm sure you and I will see nothing but success from here on out.”
“I'm sure we will.”
-
“This had better work,” said Blueblood.
“It will. Trust me,” Jackdaw replied.
The two of them were standing outside Canterlot Castle, the chill of the night cutting through their meager cloaks. The last few months had not boded well for Blueblood. Despite Jackdaw's “help” (which consisted more of him pawning off the tacky jewelry he was supposed to be giving to Cadance), the lovesick prince hadn't received so much as a single return gesture of Cadance's affection. There were whispers going around that claimed that Shining Armor had proposed to Cadance recently; clearly, they needed to step up their game.
“Pardon me if I don't give you much leeway, Jackdaw,” Blueblood said. “I've demonstrated a great deal of faith towards you, and you've shown no results. You're a damn leech is what you are.”
“My, my. The elegant Prince Blueblood, resorting to namecalling? For shame.” It was fun to screw with Blueblood, since he got upset at even the slightest ruffled feather. “But I promise you, this will definitely work.” He hushed Blueblood with a gesture, then pulled him in close. “Have you ever heard of a creature by the name of Chrysalis?”
“...No, have you?”
“Indeed I have. She is the queen of a species known as the changelings. Vile, nasty things, they are. In any case, I've convinced her to come here under the pretense that she'll take over Canterlot. But what we're actually doing is using her as bait.”
Blueblood took this in for a moment. “...I don't follow.”
Jackdaw scoffed and rolled his eyes. “Changelings can shapeshift, Prince. She'll naturally choose to replace the dashing captain as a way to get in with the noble family. If somepony doesn't stop her, she'll surely defeat all of them so that she can invade with her army and take control of Canterlot. Oh, if only somepony knew of her evil scheme and could stop her in time!”
Blueblood was stupid, but he wasn't that stupid. “Ah, right! Me, of course!”
“Precisely. You save the day, Cadance falls in love with your dashing bravery, and Shining Armor gets eaten up by a bug. Everypony wins!”
“Right. So that's why we're in front of the castle, then?”
“Indeed. Now, follow along closely. This is the hard part.” He took in a long deep breath, then released it slowly and shook out his hooves. Then he began jumping up and down in front of the nearest window, shouting, “Princess Luna! Wake up! It's an emergency! PRINCESS LUNA!!”
“What is it!?” The irate muzzle of Princess Luna appeared out of the window.
“Prince Blueblood has something important to tell you!”
“Wait, what?” But by this point, Jackdaw had stepped to the side and was now camouflaged among the lengthening shadows.
“Are you here about Cadenza again, Blueblood?” Luna called out. “If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times. I have no intention of helping you in your frankly disturbing obsession with her.”
“No, it's not about that!” Blueblood paused for a moment, then added, “Well, technically it is about her, but wait, don't go! It's about Shining Armor!”
“What about him?” Luna was clearly impatient at this point.
“He's, uh, not Shining Armor anymore! He's actually been replaced by, uh… Chrysolite!”
“Chrysalis,” Jackdaw hissed from the sideline.
“Yeah, Chrysalis. That's what I said.”
“Who's that with you?” she asked. Reluctantly, Jackdaw stepped out into her field of vision. “Ah, Jackdaw. I take it you're coaching Blueblood on this matter.”
“I am, Your Highness,” he said. “But only because I believed you would rather speak to a noble such as he than to a soldier such as myself.”
“So you have reason to believe Chrysalis has taken Shining Armor's form?”
“I do. Tracks of changeling mucus, a breach in the defensive sigils, love-drained colts and fillies along the beeline towards the castle. I will be sure to bring it all up at his trial. Or rather, Prince Blueblood will.”
“I see. Why won't you--” Luna sighed and put a hoof to her forehead. “Never mind. I'm sure it makes sense in your twisted little brain. I'll contact the Guard immediately to have him arrested.”
“That would be wonderful,” Jackdaw replied. Once Luna had disappeared behind her curtain, he sighed. That was a close one.
“Did she… did she really do all that?” Blueblood asked.
“A necessary sacrifice, I'm afraid. Don't worry, nothing too harmful.”
“How do you know for sure?”
“I know,” Jackdaw replied cryptically. “Now, shall we?”
“Yes, let's. I want to see the look on Shining Armor's face when he...” Blueblood turned around and noticed that Jackdaw had simply… vanished. “...Hello?”
-
It was a normal patrol for Shining Armor, but tonight, he was walking on air. The wedding was going to be in just a few days. Everything was set to go; he couldn't wait!
A messenger ran up to them, but when Shining hailed her, she darted to the side and went to his subordinate, Private Bronze Plate. Strange, he thought, they usually come to me first. He listened in to what they were saying.
“Oh!” Bronze said. “From Princess Luna?” Then he read the message, taking furtive looks at Shining Armor every so often. Then he replied, “Yes, mushrooms, no jalapenos, make it quick!” and the messenger shot off the way she came.
Shining walked over and gave Bronze a sidelong look. “I'm… pretty sure you switched who you were talking to back there.”
Bronze Plate laughed and tried not to look directly at his face. “Haha… funny, that.”
“And the pizza pony doesn't usually come to you first.”
“Well, I am a regular there, so...”
“You really tried to use the pizza code to hide it from me? The pizza code I invented?”
Bronze Plate facepalmed. “Of course you did, sir. I… was not aware of that, sir.”
“In any case, am I really that much of a threat?”
Bronze Plate started gasping. “Oh no, are you getting mad? I knew I should have added jalapenos!”
“It's not a real pizza!” Shining Armor shouted. When Bronze recoiled, Shining continued, “No, Bronze, I'm not getting angry. I just need to know what the hay is going on!”
“Princess Luna sent out an All Points Bulletin claiming that you're secretly a changeling infiltrator… whatever that is. But it said you were potentially dangerous to engage and that I was not to let you know I was onto you… sir.”
“Well, that's just ridiculous. Where'd she get an idea like that?” Shining replied. “I'm definitely still me, no matter what anypony else might say.”
“That's, er… exactly what a changeling infiltrator would say, sir.”
“True.”
“Well, sir, I think you're still you,” came a voice from behind Shining. When he turned around, he saw Lieutenant Jackdaw slipping out from one of the nearby shadows. It always impressed Shining how Jackdaw blended into shadows like that. Most ponies didn't have the deep black coat Jackdaw did; it made him a prime candidate for the Equestrian Spy Agency rather than the Royal Guard. Shining was thinking of having him transferred.
“Oh! Well, that's a relief,” said Shining. “But I have a feeling it won't be as simple as just one pony's support.”
“You'd better come up with a defense quick, though, sir,” said Bronze Plate. “Princess Luna's arrived!”
Just as Bronze had said, the princess had arrived with a small detachment of guards (and Prince Blueblood next to her, oddly enough). She engaged Bronze Plate, saying, “I received your missive. You said he was armed, but not currently angered, yes?”
“That's right, Your Majesty,” Bronze said, giving his bow.
“Captain Armor, then,” Luna continued, “if that really is you. I need you to relinquish your weapon and come with me immediately. You must stand trial under accusation of being the changeling queen Chrysalis under cover of infiltration.”
“Should we fight them off?” Jackdaw asked. He jumped in front of Shining and charged his horn. “Give you cover while you run off as a fugitive? Private Plate and I will find all the evidence we need to prove your innocence!”
“Stop that.” Shining Armor pushed Jackdaw to the side and offered up his forehooves. “I'm willing to go quietly. I know I am innocent, and I'll prove it in court.”
“As they say, I will be the judge of that.” Princess Luna magicked up a pair of handcuffs around Shining's hooves and led him back to the castle for his trial to begin.
-
“I, Princess Luna, do call this court of law to order! The claim is this: that the Shining Armor before us is not the son of Night Light and Twilight Velvet, but the changeling queen Chrysalis. This is an unusual event; as such, I have determined to set the prior at .01%. Does anypony object?”
Nopony seemed to disagree, though that may have been due to how early it was. Princess Celestia and Princess Cadance had been hurriedly awoken and raced to the courtroom to attend. Other nobles had either witnessed Shining Armor's arrest or heard about it through the grapevine and had also slipped in to watch the proceedings. Among them were Shining Armor's parents, who watched tearfully on.
“No? Then we will proceed to preliminary evidence. What reason do I have to place this claim under consideration?”
Prince Blueblood took to the podium and began his carefully-rehearsed speech. “Your Majesty, within the last few days, the following have been observed. First, espionage units in the Western Wastes have reported movement by Chrysalis' swarm towards Canterlot. Second, border guards have recorded breaks in the defensive lines, traces of changeling mucus, and love-drained children as matching changeling attacks. Finally, there have been multiple sightings of a tall, sinewy alicorn during times when the two princesses matching that description were in known locations.”
“These suggest that Chrysalis is here, but not that she has taken Shining Armor's place,” Luna countered.
“Given that Chrysalis is here, her mission would require impersonating somepony in a position of power,” Blueblood replied. Jackdaw had prepared him for this exact possibility. “I believe this increases the probability of Shining Armor being Chrysalis' intended target to a sufficient level.”
Luna was silent for a moment. Then, with confidence, she said, “I calculate the probability at this time to be 28%. I am willing to consider this claim further.”
Some of the ponies in the crowd gasped, and Twilight Velvet began to sob into her husband's coat. Luna continued, “Shining Armor, your defense?”
Shining Armor took his own place at the podium and began to speak. “I've thought about what might best prove my innocence. I considered my continued duty, my day-to-day interactions, even my choice to come in quietly. All of these, however, I believe an infiltrator could copy with sufficient preparation. Should more evidence come to light, I would have no defense.”
Yet despite the tense atmosphere, Shining began to smile. “But I am not afraid. I look around this courtroom, and I see all my friends and family, everypony I love. I know that, if you recall me, you will see me here and remember. You will know I am me.” He turned to his parents. “Mom, Dad, you'll see me when I joined the Guard, eyes shining with anticipation.” He turned to Bronze Plate. “Bronze, you'll see your Captain, who trained you during that rainstorm and met you late at night to do extra practice.” He turned to Mayor Fancy Pants. “Sir, you will see your loyal servant, who protected you during that meeting where you believed an assassin had joined your council.” At last, he turned to Cadance. “And Cadance, my love. You'll see me down on one knee, offering you my ring, saying, 'Will you be with me each day and night, each joy and sorrow, through every adventure?' And then you said in return...”
Cadance raised an eyebrow. “Err… 'Yes, I will?'”
“Right, then after that, you said...” Shining gestured to her to finish the prompt.
Cadance's gaze darted back and forth, as though she could pull the answer from the onlooker's eyes. “I… no, I know this, just… give me a second...” she began to back away, only to bump into the guard behind her.
Like a bizarre tennis match, all eyes turned towards Cadance. Ponies began to speak up.
“Cadance, when did you take care of my daughter?”
“Princess, who did you meet during our tea party?”
“Cadenza, why did you give me my necklace?”
With each new question, Cadance recoiled in pain. One pony all the way in back called out, “That's not Princess Cadenza!”
At this, she finally stopped retreating. Her face switched fluidly into a Cheshire grin. “Oh, you miserable foals,” she said in a wicked rasp, a voice utterly unlike her own.
Hearing this new voice, Shining Armor pressed a hoof to his mouth, aghast. “No...” He stumbled back, a stallion possessed. “Nonononono...”
“You were so easily played!” not-Cadance continued. “If I'd had my way, you'd all be so much fodder for my children to feed.”
“Your children?” Luna asked. “Reveal yourself, pretender!”
“Very well. Witness my true form!” She wrenched herself into an un-pony snap. A green flare of magic consumed her, eating away her healthy pink fur into a hole-ridden black carapace. Her wings melted into insectoid gauze, and her mane and tail wilted and died.
“Surprised to see me, my love?” Chrysalis said. Shining, now traumatized, could say nothing in response. “It was a delight, you know. Walking like her, talking like her, loving you like her. And her love for you!” She leaned in at him and made a series of slurping noises. “Utterly decadent!”
“I won't hear another word of this!” Celestia shot a beam of yellow light at Chrysalis, pinning her to the wall. In a swift movement, she pounced over and smashed a hoof beside her. “Where is my niece, Chrysalis?”
“Oh, I've tucked her away somewhere deep, dark, and utterly lonely. You'll never find her.” She laughed, slowly at first, then to full-blown cackling.
“That's quite enough.” Celestia placed a patch of magic of Chrysalis' mouth and changed the magic holding her to the wall into golden manacles. “You two, take her to the dungeon, right now. The rest of you--” she gestured to the other guards “--find Princess Cadance!” The guards dispersed, leaving a weary Celestia to fold onto the ground.
Luna surveyed the now disheveled and frightened courtroom. Perhaps in an attempt at levity, she said, “...In light of this new evidence, I revise the probability of Shining Armor being Queen Chrysalis to effectively zero and absolve him of all charges.”
The reaction was bittersweet. While most of Canterlot loved Shining Armor and were glad to see him freed, they also loved Cadance very dearly and feared for her safe return. Still, though, it was good to know that Shining Armor was truly innocent. On that, at least, they could be grateful.
-
The two guards forced Chrysalis down deeper into the castle's pits. When they reached the first floor, the guard on the left said to the other, “I'll take it from here.”
“Are you sure?” he said. “She seems pretty dangerous.”
“In these chains? Not a chance. You go and look for Cadeance, okay? Try the caves, maybe.”
“R-right!” And off the guard ran, leaving Chrysalis with a single guard watching her.
After a few moments, the guard sighed and disenchanted the manacles binding her, then took off his helmet. The color enchantment on his head faded, revealing him to be Jackdaw. “What the hell are you doing?” he asked. “I thought we were clear that you were supposed to replace Shining Armor.”
“You idiot,” Chrysalis replied, “he's a guard! He's constantly around other well-armed ponies. How in Equestria am I supposed to replace him?”
“But he has immediate access to everything: the defenses, Celestia and her student, the trains, everything!”
“So does Cadance, either on her own or through Shining Armor himself, and what's more, she takes walks through the park alone. Makes it easy to kidnap and take her to the underground.” She took a moment and smacked Jackdaw across the head. “Speaking of which, thank you ever so much, you clod, for telling that other guard where I hid her. I had hoped they'd find her either starved to death or ravaged by madness.”
“Cadance is a national icon. She's one of three alicorns, and the youngest to boot. If she'd died, or worse, Celestia would have stopped at nothing to kill you and all your kind. Shining Armor was much more disposable, which is why I asked you to replace him!”
“Ugh. Maybe next time, then.” She sighed and rubbed the places where her manacles had touched her hooves. “Still, I'm grateful you're letting me go. We'll make a better go of it next time, right?”
“Right.” He shook his head. “Well, anyway. Take the form of Fleur de Lis. She's gone this weekend at her mother's, but most ponies don't know that. Stay away from Fancy Pants, though, they're--”
“Engaged, I know.” She burst into her green changeling magic again and appeared as the svelte, girlish Fleur. “I swear, it's like you think I've never been here before.”
“We can never be too careful,” he replied. “Now go.”
Once she was gone, he slipped into the armory and located his lieutenant uniform, which lacked the same enchantments. With the rest of his armor off, he looked like an entirely different pony. Now cleared of any suspicion, he headed down to the dungeons and set his trap. “Excuse me,” he said to the dungeon master, “have the guards bringing Queen Chrysalis arrived yet?”
“...No, sir. Should they have?”
“Oh, dear...” Jackdaw gasped and ran up to the dungeon master. “Send a message immediately. Queen Chrysalis must have escaped!”
“Right away, sir!” His horn lit up as he grabbed a quill, paper, and an inkwell, then dashed up the
stairs, hurriedly writing.
After a few moments, Shining Armor came charging down the steps. “Is it true?” he said. “I heard from the dungeon master. Chrysalis has escaped?”
“I'm afraid so, Shining,” Jackdaw answered him. “She should have been here a while ago, but she never made it. I can only imagine she defeated her guards and managed to break out of her chains.”
Shining Armor, meanwhile, had fallen back into his anxious muttering. “No, I can't deal with this. I don't know what to do with a shapeshifter; I was never trained for this. And if she replaces Cadance again...”
“It's okay; none of us were trained for this,” Jackdaw soothed him. “I'm sure we can work up some identification protocols or such the like. And as to Cadance, the real Cadance, she'll be fine. I heard they got a really good lead on her location. Once they find her, I'm sure she'll get a ton of security in the next few days.”
Shining Armor sniffed quietly. “Thank you, Jackdaw.” He smiled. “I've never known a pony so firmly loyal as you. And after what you did last night, with me and Blueblood--”
“What about Blueblood?” Jackdaw said, a bit too quickly.
“Oh, he's been nothing but boasting about how he knew Chrysalis was here. Said you were the one who told him. And yet,” Shining Armor added, “you knew I was innocent, and you stood by me.”
“Ah, yes, of course,” Jackdaw said. “You're welcome.”
“I was wondering...” Shining said after a moment. “You mentioned that Cadance would get more security. I would really owe you if you could take the lead for that.”
“Sir, nothing would please me more,” Jackdaw replied, all wicked grin.
“Great! So it'll be you and Spell Take in charge of the unicorn division, and Flash and Light Kicker with the pegasi.”
Jackdaw bit back a scathing groan at the mention of Flash Sentry, but he wisely held his tongue. “That sounds like a plan,” he said. “When do we start?”
“Captain Armor!” came the sound of a messenger at the top of the stairs. “The Princess has been found, and one of the guards watching Chrysalis was with her!”
“Stay here and wait for the dungeon master to return; I'll take care of this,” Shining Armor said.
“Very well,” said Jackdaw. Once Shining Armor was gone, he could only smile at his fortune. If he was on Cadance's security team, he'd have regular interaction with Shining Armor, wherever he went. It was the perfect arrangement to plan the ultimate revenge. With Chrysalis' blunder, however, he'd need some new idea to get Shining Armor. For the moment, though, he could simply watch and wait for the perfect moment.
-
“How could you not tell me about something as big as your wedding?”
Cadance laughed to herself as she recalled the day before. Twilight had been called up from Ponyville to take part in the wedding rehearsal, but rather than be excited for the big day, she'd been upset at Shining Armor. Apparently, he'd completely forgotten to tell her about the engagement, or even that he and Cadance were even dating! Luckily, Cadance had come walking by and had quickly defused the situation.
“Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake!”
“Clap your hooves and do a little shake!”
“Cadance! It really is you...”
They'd caught up together, forgiven each other, and got to work on the wedding. The wedding itself had been nothing less than beautiful (Twilight's friend Rainbow Dash had even done the fabled Sonic Rainboom—a trick she'd wanted to see ever since she was a filly), and now they were partying at the reception.
“Dear,” Shining Armor said, “I've really got to sit down. I'm not much of a dancer.” He wiped the sweat from his brow and eased into a nearby chair.
“May I have this dance, then?” Cadance didn't recognize the stallion, but he was wearing royal armor, so he was most likely one of Shining Armor's compatriots. Seeing her confusion, he added, “I'm Flash, by the way. Flash Sentry.”
“Ah, of course! Shining's O&O friend! I'd love to!” She took him by the hoof and began to swing around the dance floor. The rest of the crowd followed suit, and soon they had a full-on waltz going.
Flash Sentry gasped as he tried to keep up. “I-Isn't the st-stallion supposed to l-lead, milady?” he asked.
Cadance laughed. “Maybe so, but this is me we're talking about. You can certainly try,” she added with a gleam in her eye. She laughed again and spun him about on one hoof while he held on for dear life.
“Please, Cadance. You'll wear the poor stallion out.” Celestia stepped in and prised Flash from his death grip. She took Cadance's hooves instead, then gently but firmly led her about the dance floor. She quipped, “You know, when they say to settle down and get married, they usually don't emphasize the first part.”
“Oh, please, aunty, we're fine. We're still young, we still have our lives ahead of us. He'll still be the Captain of the Guard, I'll stay the Princess of Love… Really, it's not too much responsibility.”
“Hmm.” Celestia navigated them through a patch of dancing couples. “Are you considering having foals?”
“Maybe. Shining and I have talked baby names. He's partial to Starglow and Skyla, while I prefer Heartlight and Pianissima.”
“I see. Well, you won't know for sure until she's born, after all.” Celestia winked at her.
“She?!” Cadance sputtered, but Celestia deftly changed the subject.
“So, did you have any plans for the honeymoon?”
Cadance laughed. “Not as such, no. We were thinking of doing a 'stay-cation,' in a sense.” Celestia quirked an eyebrow, so Cadance explained. “Just take some time off, hit the local sights. It's been a while since I've gone to see the Bells, and--”
“I'm sending Shining Armor back to the Frozen North,” Celestia said. “Perhaps you'd like to go with him. All expenses paid.”
“A freezing-cold military outpost wasn't exactly my idea of a holiday excursion,” Cadance said slowly.
“Oh, I think you might be surprised when you get there. I'm expecting something very special around the time you arrive.”
“What might that be?” Cadance asked.
“You'll know it when you see it.” Celestia winked and effortlessly switched partners with the pony next to her, leaving a surprised Twilight dancing with Cadance.
“What was that?” Twilight asked. She tried to slip back into the pattern, but she wasn't nearly as good a dancer as Celestia, so Cadance decided to ease into a slow dance instead.
“Oh, just Aunty Celestia being mysterious,” Cadance replied. “You wouldn't by chance know what's happening in the Frozen North in the next few days?”
Twilight shrugged. “I don't know. I believe the weatherponies are setting up a controlled blizzard around that time, but other than that...”
“That's okay. She said Shining Armor and I would know it when we see it… whatever 'it' is.”
“What? You're leaving? Just like that?” Twilight frowned and looked about the dance hall. “My friends and I were gonna stay here in Canterlot for a few days to spend some time with you!”
“Sorry. Celestia's sending Shining out to the Frozen North, so our hooves are tied.”
“Okay.” Twilight sighed and looked down at her hooves. “At least I got to see you today. It's been a while.”
“I know. I still want to hear all about what you've been up to. You moved to Ponyville! How exciting!” She clapped her hooves, then grinned. “So have you met any lucky stallions in Ponyville?”
“Cadance!” She gasped and put a hoof over her mouth. “That's private!” she said more quietly.
“Come on, I want to hear how my little ladybug is doing with all the eligible bachelors,” she joked.
“How do you know I don't like—the Princess of Love. Should have figured,” Twilight said. “But no, I haven't been looking. Too busy with my studies to try.”
Cadance sighed. “I taught you better than that. There's gotta be somepony. At least a crush, right?”
At the words “a crush,” Twilight blushed like a Hearth's Warming Tree and looked behind herself. “N-n-no, of course not!”
“Aha, I knew it! I knew you weren't a complete bookworm. Is it somepony in Ponyville? No? Somepony here?” Twilight cringed, so Cadance knew she was on to something. “Ooh, somepony here. Who could it be?” She scanned the crowd bit by bit. “What kind of stallion would catch little Twily's heart?”
“...one of...”
“Hmm? I can't hear you,” said Cadance.
“...one of the guard...”
“Why am I not surprised?” Cadance laughed and waved at Shining Armor. “Mares love a stallion in uniform.”
“Eep!” Twilight blushed even more and did a passable Fluttershy impression into her mane.
“Come on. I'm just teasing. I'm sure you'd hit it off well. What does he look like?”
“Orange… with a blue mane… kinda tall… with perfect… blue… eyes...”
“Abort, abort! You're gonna explode if you keep going!” She laughed, while Twilight squeaked and tried not to notice all the other ponies staring at them. “But hey, I just met him not five minutes ago! He’s Shining Armor’s old Ogres & Oubliettes friend!” Cadance gasped. “Hey! I know what we should do. I should hook you two up!”
“Oh no...” Twilight groaned and tried to go anywhere else.
“I promise, this isn’t going to be anything like your tenth birthday. I’ll talk with Shining, see if we can arrange something with you and Fl--”
“What was that about me?” Shining said. He’d come up by them while they were talking. “I saw you wave. What are you two talking about?”
“Oh, nothing!” Cadance pushed Twilight to the side and mouthed “it’ll be great” to her. While Twilight took her opportunity to leave, Cadance asked Shining, “Did you hear from Aunt Celestia?”
“Off to the Frozen North, I guess.” Shining Armor groaned. “She claimed that it was because I have experience up north, but I have a sneaking suspicion there’s more to it than that.”
“I assume it has something to do with the surprise.”
“Probably. Well, let’s enjoy the party for now. We’ll head out in the morning.”
