Her Shield, His Heart

Cadence had the most comfortable bed in the world and the greatest husband in the world. Last night, after a vigorous preening session that left her wings feeling refreshed, they had fallen asleep in one another's hooves. They would have made love if they hadn't both been exhausted from the events of last night. She yawned and reached for her wonderful husband-only to discover he wasn't there. She frowned. She hated it when she wanted to snuggle somepony and nopony was there. She could try snuggling a guard, but Shining might get a tad miffed. He was the jealous sort after all. Besides, she had discovered as a young teen that most guards preferred not being snuggled when they were on duty. She stretched out, her wings flapping upwards. She gave them a few flaps. They were still feeling as lovely as they had last night. She felt as if she could fly for hours. She hadn't taken a good fly in a while, but that could wait. She needed to find her favorite snuggle partner.

Opening the door she walked out into the vast hallway of Canterlot Palace. It had been her home ever since her Aunt Celestia had adopted her. She was formerly an orphan and had become an alicorn after defeating a witch. That was when her life had changed. She had been taken in by Celestia and moved to Canterlot. The large city had overwhelmed her at first. To help her get used to it Celestia had suggested she get a job. Cadence had chosen to become a babysitter. That was how she'd ended up meeting Twilight. The eager, book-crazed filly had become something of a little sister to her. Her brother was nice and Cadence had almost immediately developed a crush on him. Those years dating him were among the happiest of her life.

'No, I think the happiest years of my life are yet to come.'

Looking around the halls she tried to figure out where her missing husband could be. He wasn't in the kitchen, nor in the baths. A guard told her he had seen him heading towards the training rooms. Cadence headed towards there and was greeted with the sight of Shining doing a training exercise. He hadn't noticed her and she half-hid behind the door. Shining grunted as he thrust out his spear. His muscles rippled as he went through the movements of the routine. After each thrust he moved back and moved his spear into a guarding position. He moved around the room, keeping his spear out and then thrusting towards an invisible enemy. The sweat moving down his face showed he had been at it for a long time. It had been a long time since she'd seen him practice and she enjoyed the spectacle. Still, he had taken to sleeping in. She wondered what had changed. He walked to the weapons rack and returned the spear.

"Good morning, Cadence."

"And I thought I was hiding." She said.

"I smelled you."

"Should I get a bath?"

"I like your scent."

She giggled and wrapped her hooves around his neck. He nuzzled her.

"So, what brings you out to training so early?"

"I'm out of practice. When I hit that guy last night he came back up. That never used to happen."

"Don't feel bad about that. There's always somepony tougher. Remember how Queen Bitchalys knocked out Auntie?"

He cracked a grin. "Bitchalys?"

"When you're trapped in a cave with somepony who want stop babbling about their evil plan you come up with some mean nicknames. That's not even my rudest."

"I still can't believe that happened to Celestia. How did it happen? Aren't alicorns indestructible?"

"Not hardly and not to another alicorn...which Chrysalis is. Somehow."

"Seriously?"

"That's another thing she wouldn't shut up about. She just went on and on about how she's the most advanced member of her race and her race is superior, nature's aristocracy, blah, blah, blah..."

"How much did she talk to you?"

"Too much. Constantly. Hours on end. I was a captive audience. I'm just sorry I wasn't strong enough to beat the crap out of her at the wedding. If she ever crosses my path again..."

"You won't be able to get to her if I get to her first."

Cadence tightened her grip around him and gave him a reassuring nuzzle. "But that's in the past. Besides, before the manager showed up I'm pretty sure you were winning."

Shining grinned. "Yeah, I was wasn't I? I think the guy was a boxer from how he was fighting. I just don't want to get weak. I'm still a guard so I have an obligation to be as strong as I can so I can protect the Kingdom."

Cadence's horn glowed and she picked up a spear. "Want a sparring partner?"

"You know I don't like sparring with you."

"Ugh. Stop treating me like I'm made of glass. It used to be sweet now it's getting annoying. I know how to handle a spear."  She gripped it with her hooves and moved into a charging stance. "Do your worst."

"Cadence, this isn't a good idea. Spears are dangerous weapons."

"I'm not a foal. Of course they're dangerous-they're designed to kill. Now, come at me. I can take you on."

Shining shook his head. "If you say so."

"I do say so. I command you to fight me."

"You can't command me."

"I can command anypony I want. Ooh, pretend I've gone evil and you have to take me down."

"This isn't one of our role plays."

"It COULD be." She said grinning.

"Cadence. That's an actual spear. We don't spar with live weapons-unless you're a pegasus and pegasii are nuts...oh wait, you WERE a pegasus."

"Sure was and still am." She proclaimed then pouted. "How do you forget something like that?"

"No offense, but you act like a Unicorn and you were raised by an Alicorn."

"Fair point. Celestia trained me how to act around nobles and that mean putting on Unicorn airs." She twirled the spear in her magic. "And I was trained how to use a spear and some hoof-to-hoof combat. Didn't I ever tell you? Princesses have to know that stuff. It's traditional from when our ancestors were warrior-chieftains during the Grazing Age."

"I did know that, but have you ever been in a real fight?"

"Well, no. I've been in a few spars though."

"And I've been in several actual, life-or-death fights."

She stomped a hoof. "You think I'm weak because I'm a mare."

"What? No! That has nothing to do with anything! I mean, it is true that mares are physically weaker than stallions, but-"

She charged him. He yelped, teleported out of the way and summoned his shield. She just grinned and slammed her spear against his shield.

"No magic, that's just not fair." She scolded.

"The Tartarus it ain't." He muttered.

She sent a bolt of magic that cracked his shield. He quickly repaired it and moved away. "You'll never break this thing. And how many times do I have to say I don't want to fight you?"

"Till you acknowledge that I'm not weak!"

"Okay, you're not weak! I've never thought that."

"Then spar me."

"Okay, okay. We're using practice spears though. I'm not going to risk hurting you."

"Fair enough."

"And you'll need armor."

"Alright." She levitated over a suit and put it on. Shining seemed impressed that she knew how.

The shield vanished and Shining levitated over two wooden practice spears. Cadence took one, Shining the other. Cadence levitated the real spear back to its place on the hook. They circled each other, both holding their spears out. They circled each other several times, both staring at the other. Both waiting for the other to make the first move.

Suddenly Cadence charged. Shining moved back, blocked the spear and thrust towards her. Cadence quickly moved out of the way. Shining charged again. She blocked his every thrust and began to suspect he was letting her. She charged again, this time towards a weak point in his chainmail. He swiftly blocked the charge and rushed forward. She yelped as she stumbled and fell back. The spear came up and he cried out as it whacked his face. After recovering, he helped the fallen Cadence get back on her hooves.

"One more round." She challenged. "I'll give you that one."

He twirled the spear. "I have to admit it was kind of fun."

She thrust forward. His block was too slow and she whacked his flank.  He spun the spear and lightly whacked her side. She pushed his spear aside with a flair of her wings and leapt towards him. He leapt away and teleported behind her. With a lascivious grin he whacked her rump, using the spear point like a paddle. She howled in outrage and turned around, twisting the spear so that it cracked his helmet which was sent flying away.

"Ow!" He complained then went to retrieve the helmet. While he was turned she whacked his rump.

"Oh, that is it." He said turning towards her and placing his helmet back where it belonged. He charged again, teleported and gave her rump another smack. She flew up and jumped behind him, slapping his butt. Soon, the spar devolved into a rump-smacking contest. Both spears were forgotten when Cadence pounced on him and brought him down to the floor. Shining lifted up and kissed her.

"I think you won."

She pushed him down. "Tell that to my rear end."

He placed an arm around her, drawing her close. Then he stroked her now darker rump.

"Your butt's okay right? I was just playing around. I didn't mean to hurt you."

"You didn't. Did I hurt you?"

"No and I don't  think you're weak. I know you can take care of yourself. I just...the thought of seeing you hurt makes me hurt inside."

"Aww. I feel the same way. When I saw you being mind-controlled at the wedding I wanted to stomp that bug queen's guts out. It made me so angry. You're MY Shining Armor and I don't want anypony to hurt you."

She leaned down and kissed him deeply. He returned the kiss. They kissed again and again as she began to straddle him.

"We're going to have to spar more often." Shining said as she trailed kisses along his neck.

"Ahem."

Both looked up. Celestia was standing in the doorway. Both jumped up.

"I assume you two want breakfast."

"Oh, yes Aunt Celestia. We just need to wash up."

"Of course. Breakfast will be done in half-an-hour."

Cadence winked at Shining. "Race you to the baths."

"You're on."

She galloped from the room and Shining chased after her. They made it to the baths together and Shining wrapped his hooves around her.

"Gotcha." He whispered, his breath tickling her ear.

"Only because I let you." She said, sticking out her tongue before they made their way to a tub.