Her Shield, His Heart

Shining's duties hadn't ended nor lessened when he'd become a prince. As he surveyed the field of paperwork laid out before him  he sighed. No, his workload hadn't lessened. He was almost certain that it had increased. He was only a prince by marriage. By profession, he was still Captain of the Royal Guard. He loved being a guard. It was what he was meant for. He belonged on a battlefield or in a sparring ring with his recruits. He had developed many combat spells on the fly, creative spells like his city-wide shield that nopony else could do. His sister may have been the prodigy, but he was fully capable of coming up with some impressive spells of his own. Currently, he was writing a book of combat spells and in a (mostly friendly) contest with his sister to see who would get their spell book published first. So far they were both halfway done. He did not like paperwork. No, that wasn't true. He hated paperwork and avoided it when possible. Avoiding it didn't make it go away though. Rather, avoiding it only increased the workload. He sat down and solemnly vowed that he would no longer procrastinate. Before he started, he threw one longing glance outside the window. The recruits were running drills and he wished he was out there with him. Today, Lieutenant-Commander Strong Heart was training them.

Shining took another glance at the paperwork. It wasn't really that much. Thankfully, it was mostly guard rotations and recommendations. Somepony by the name of Flash Sentry was to be promoted to Lieutenant. After reading through his file Shining decided to approve it. He hesitated though, the stamp held in his magic. The name sounded vaguely familiar. Like Flash was somepony he should know. After thinking for a few moments nothing came to him and he shrugged the feeling off before approving the promotion. He signed off on several more recommendations.  Next came the guard rotations. He assigned the Pegasus Honorable Soldier (who named their kid that?) to the gardens. Someone had been sneaking in and stealing from the garden so it needed extra aerial surveillance.

Two hours passed and Shining was nearly three-quarters done. He had finished assigning the guards to be stationed around the castle. Now he just needed to assign the guards to be stationed inside the castle. It shouldn't take longer than an hour he decided and he would be done. His body was still sore from the sparring and training he'd done with Cadence yesterday. Maybe he'd take a swim. Just as he was about to get started his nose caught the delectable scent of lemon muffins. The scent was coming up the hallway and along with it, Cadence's scent. The alicorn bounded into the room with a basket of muffins held in her magic.

"Hi, Honey!" She greeted, planting a kiss on his lips. "I made you muffins!"

He kissed her back gratefully. "Lemon? My favorite." He levitated one up and relished the explosion of flavor as he bit into it. She set the basket on his desk.

"So, what have you been up to all day?" Shining asked.

"Oh, y'know...things..." Cadence said. "I took a fly around the city. It was nice. Then I decided to go to a meeting of Parliament. I know Auntie tells me I'm important and welcome there anytime, but my title feels empty. Auntie and Luna completely overshadow me. I'm not even real  Equestrian royalty, but my own nation...it's gone and not coming back."

Shining reached up a hoof and stroked her mane. She had told him of the Crystal Empire, her family's slaughter at Sombra's hands and her slip through time. Cadence held more pain in her than she ever talked about.

"I'm thinking about becoming a foal-sitter again." She announced, quickly changing the subject.

"Does that mean you won't have as much time to bake me muffins?"

"Oh right, I already have a foal." She teased then giggled.

"Say, why don't you open your own court if you really want something to do? Celestia has Day Court, Luna has Night Court, you could have...Love Court?"

"Om my Goddess! That's brilliant! Thanks Honey!" Cadence exclaimed, planting a kiss on Shining's cheek then galloping out of the room. Shining tried to return to his paperwork, but the smell of muffins was too tempting. He levitated another muffin and chomped down on it. Tomorrow he could exercise them off, but right now he had a basket of muffins to finish.

                                                                                                                                            ...

Cadence happily trotted down the halls and towards the kitchen. Celestia and Luna always had an afternoon tea together after a session of Parliament.  As always, the Two Sisters were in the kitchen with a pot of tea.

"Greetings, Dear Niece." Luna said, noticing her first.

"Hello, Cadence. Please, join us." Celestia said. The Solar Princess poured Cadence a cup of tea as the younger alicorn sat down. She sipped the tea and let the flavors dance on her tongue. It was jasmine and calmed her.

"So, how was Parliament? Did the tax cut go through?"

"Yes. I know you were hoping it would. You should have spoken for it. You've never spoken at Parliament even when I've invited you to."

"None of those noble prats ever listen to me. They only listen to you two. I'm just in your shadow."

Celestia and Luna shared a glance.

"Is that jealousy mine ears detect?" Luna asked. "That is a most treacherous and dangerous emotion. Are you feeling all right, my dear? Any nightmares? Inexplicable rage? Desire to bring about the end of all things?"

"No, nothing like that." Cadence said. "I've just been thinking that I need my own court."

"I think that's a lovely idea. I can set aside some space for you. What will you call it?"

"Love Court. I can help married couples or something."

"Oh...wow. How do I put this? You...um...you might not have enough experience..."

"I've been married three whole months!"

Luna disguised her laugh as a cough. Celestia placed a hoof on Cadence's shoulder.

"Look, Sweetie. I stopped presiding over divorce cases because they were making me cynical. I once had a stallion try to divorce his wife because she snored too loud. I refused to grant the divorce and told them to sleep in separate rooms. Six months later he was in court again on assault charges. He'd beaten her while she was sleeping."

"That's an extreme case." Cadence said, her voice coloured with uncertainty.

"Perhaps. There's also domestic violence, infidelity, petty cruelty. I just don't want you to turn into a cynic."

"You can't shield me from all the evil in the world."

"I would if I could." Celestia said, nuzzling her. "Very well. Tomorrow you can open your own court."

"Thanks, Auntie."

                                                                                                                                               ...

He was done. He was finally done. Shining stretched, yawned and wiped away some lemon crumbs from his desk. There was a knock at his door.

"Enter." Shining said.

A golden-maned guard, Lieutenant-Commander Strong Heart walked in and saluted.

"Good afternoon, Captain."

"Good afternoon, Strong Heart. What can I do for you?"

"Some of the younger recruits want to see some of your combat spells."

"Which ones?"

"Any. You're a living legend to them."

"I can show them a few things."

He followed Strong Heart outside to where some Unicorn recruits were lounging around. They stood at attention when they saw the captain.

"So, I heard some of you adorable foals want to see combat magic as demonstrated by a vastly superior stallion." Shining said. Posturing and humiliation were tradition, but Shining tried to never take it too far. They were building camaraderie not tearing each other down.

"Sir, yes Sir." One of the recruits said.

"What's your name, Recruit?"

"Steady Spear." The recruit answered.

"Spear, I want you to attack me."

"What?"

"It's combat magic. It's to be used in combat. Attack me."

The recruit pawed the ground and lowered his horn.

"Stop. That's instinctive behavior, but we're to rise above our instincts. No telegraphing your attacks."

"Sir, Yes Sir."

Steady Spear charged and Shining brought up his shield. Steady slammed into it and fell. After a few seconds he got back to his hooves.

"How did you do that...um, Sir?"

"Do you know shield spells?"

"Of course, but how do you get it around your body?"

"I'll show you. Bring up your shield."

Steady did. It was a shimmering wall, but unlike Shining's did not go around his body.

"How many strands of magic make up your shield?"'

"I...I don't know, Sir."

"Guess."

Steady closed his eyes as if in meditation. "Ten-thousand." He ventured when he opened them.

Shining nodded. "That sounds about right. Now focus on those strands. Try to expand them."

Steady breathed and tried to bring the shield around himself. He trembled as the shield began to encompass him. Then it shattered and the magic dissipated.

"Sorry, Sir." He said, his ears folding back as if in preparation for a scolding.

"Don't worry about it." Shining said. "Nopony gets it right the first time. What I want each one of you to do is go home and meditate. Magic requires focus and combat magic more focus than any other branch. Meditation will help you."

They all saluted and he dismissed them.

                                                                                                                                   ...

The next day, Love Court started. A town crier had been sent to announce the court of the newest princess. Cadence, strolled in. She was wearing her full regalia. Two Pegasii guards were at the door.

"Is anypony scheduled?" She asked as she sat down on her throne.

"Yes Your Highness, several. The first is Sir Fancy Pants and Lady Fleur De Lis."

Cadence's eyes widened. "I know those two. Send them in."

The blue-maned unicorn and his pink-maned wife trotted in. Both were standing at a distance from each other unlike the cuddly way they usually stood. Both bowed to the Princess.

"What has brought you to my court?" Cadence asked.

Both Unicorns began arguing and waving their hooves at each other.

Cadence banged her gavel. "Enough! Fleur-De-Lis, you first."

"My husband is a lazy ass!"

"My wife is a nagging bitch!"

"No profanity, please." Cadence ordered. "Lady Fleur, continue."

"He won't pick up after himself! He's never picked up after himself! He makes a snack, doesn't clean up crumbs, puts dish in sink for me to do!" Fleur shouted, her Prench accent slipping out.

"I happen to have an important job! I get tired! Besides, mares are supposed to clean up. My mother always cleaned up."

"Then go marry your sainted mother! If it wasn't illegal, you probably would!"

Fleur's white coat took on a crimson tone as he blushed. "That is QUITE inappropriate! And in front of the princess!"

"Anyway, Your Highness, will you please tell my husband to clean up?"

"Will you please tell my wife that I work and I'm too tired to clean up every speck of dirt?"

"Where do you work, Sir Fancy Pants?" Cadence asked. This was the first she'd ever heard of the aristocratic stallion having a job.

"I head a successful marketing firm."

"I see."

"And I come home exhausted most days. I sometimes come in late-very late. My sleep schedule is erratic at best."

"I suppose that's true." Fleur conceded. "But couldn't you put just a little effort into helping me around the house?"

"She's right. Although, Lady Fleur, maybe you could lay off him just a bit? As long as you, Sir Fancy Pants, tried to clean up after yourself a little more?"

"I suppose I could." Fancy Pants said.

"Is this agreement acceptable?"

"Yes." Both said.

"And next time you have a dispute, try to listen to the other pony instead of screaming obscenities."

"Understood, Your Highness." Fleur De Lis said. "Thank you."

Both bowed and left.

"That was easy." Cadence said. "Send in the next couple."

"Announcing Bruiser and Melody."

A brawny Unicorn stallion with a tan coat and mane practically stomped in followed by a delicate, green-and-white Uniciorn mare.

"What has brought you to my court?"

"We want a divorce." Both ponies said.

"In general, I try to resolve disputes between couples. If you wish for a divorce I can grant it, but I would like to hear the causes so that I might be able to at least attempt to reconcile you."

"That can't be done." Bruiser said. "I'm done. Melody can go shack up with Iron."

Cadence looked to Melody.

"At least Iron is a gentleman." Melody snapped.

"Iron is..."

"My boyfriend."

"Oh."

Cadence had always had a special dislike for cheaters, but kept her face impassive. "At some point you two must have loved each other, right?"

"Sure we did." Melody said. "But that's before he turned cold."

"Cold!" Bruiser exploded. "I'm not the cold one! I ain't gotten so much as a kiss from you in years!"

"What mare would want to kiss you! You won't talk to me!"

"You won't shut up!"

"Ahem!" Cadence banged her gavel. She liked the sound it made. "Melody, why did you seek somepony outside your marriage?"

"Because Iron is a gentleman. He's a guard. You know what they're like, you're married to one."

Iron, Iron...Iron Sight? Iron Spear?

"I admit, they can spoil you." Cadence finally said.

That was no exaggeration. Shining had ruined her for any other stallion.

"Iron opens doors for me. Bruiser doesn't."

"You can open doors your own danged self. The real problem is she expects too much. When we were first dating, sure I opened doors for her. I guess I just don't do that anymore, but it doesn't really matter." Bruiser said.

"I want a stallion that's going to open doors for me."

"Excuse me, but what exactly are you arguing about? How long have you been married?" Cadence asked. This was simply getting nonsensical.

"Twelve years." Bruiser answered.

"Thirteen." Melody corrected.

They can't even agree on how long they've been married?

"He doesn't care. He just doesn't care." Melody lamented. "He doesn't love me anymore."

Cadence closed her eyes and summoned her love magic, spreading it over the room. Nothing. The two continued to glare at each other. There was no love left in their hearts for one another.

"You two can't reconcile?"

Both shook their heads.

"Then..." Cadence took up the gavel in her magic. "By Authority of the Crown I declare...I declare...really you can't work it out? Have you tried marriage counseling? I know this really great counselor, Dr. Wolf."

"We've tried a counselor. She recommended we get divorced." Melody said.

"Then, by Authority of the Crown, I declare your marriage dissolved." She said, though it felt wrong on every level.

Satisfied, the couple left. The guard let in a new couple.

                                                                                                                                        ...

Shining Armor was waiting for her outside of court. She collapsed into his arms.

"Cady? You okay?"

"Yeah. No. I divorced two couples. I had fifteen appointments. Ponies cheating, being mean, being vicious and cruel, fighting over money. One mare spent all her savings on betting at the races. Her husband was an alcoholic. I was able to get them to reconcile. Some of them probably should have gotten divorced. Make love to me."

"Well, that came out of nowhere." Shining responded.

"Take me to our bedroom, lay me out on the bed and make love to me." She ordered.

"Are you alright?"

"No. No I am not."

He scooped her up and teleported to their bedroom. She knocked him onto the bed and straddled him. It was furious and sensual. They covered each other in kisses. Sex with Cadence had always been like a religious experience and this was no different, except it was a bit rougher. She squeezed him tight, pulled him into herself. When they were finished they lay side-by side. He held her. She clinged to him and he realized she was crying.

"Honey? What's wrong?"

"Promise me we'll never end up like that. Bitter and angry and hating each other."

He kissed her. "I promise you. I will always love you."

She nestled into his embrace. "So, how was your day?"

"Boring. Too much paperwork. I did spend some time training the recruits though. That was fun. So, are you going to open Court again tomorrow?"

"You know what? I think I will. As stressful as it was it was nice helping other ponies."

His stomach growled. "You hungry?"

"Starving."

"Why don't we go out? I promise I'll be good this time."

"Sounds nice."