Her Shield, His Heart

It had been a few days since Cadence had opened up to Shining in their bedroom and she had returned to becoming open with her feelings. However, they still had an empire to help put back together. Both had promised to not leave the other out of their work. It wasn't exactly romantic, but every night before bed they shared what had happened during the day. The Imperial Army was slowly improving. The outdated tax code was becoming more streamlined. Cadence had begun to find candidates for a prime minister position. Unlike the more democratic system in Equestria, in the Crystal Empire it was the Empress's duty to handpick a governing council. Cadence found it a massive pain in the rear and was ready to switch to the Equestrian system as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the Crystal Ponies weren't quite ready for democracy. They were so used to being slaves how would they react to freedom? Many were terrified of Sombra's imminent return. Cadence herself was terrified of his return. That dark aura Shining had felt had only grown stronger.

"We need to do something about it." Shining said one night as they laid in bed. "It's obviously his actual aura or a remnant. Whatever it is, it's gathering strength."

"I agree. I'm thinking of a shield spell."

Shining shook his head. "I'm not sure my shield spell would be strong enough. The aura is so evil it makes Bitchalys look like a cute little puppy."

"If I recall correctly there are barriers all around the Imperial City specifically designed to keep out evil auras. Tomorrow I'll go looking for them."

"Good idea. It'll go easier if we both go looking for it."

"Er, actually no. The barrier points only respond to those of the royal line. If you go near it they'll kind of, well, kill you."

"Oh. Ouch. Well, I'll be taking the recruits on a march around the city then."

She yawned and laid a head on his shoulder. Stretching out her wing she wrapped it around him. He snuggled into it.

"Remember that conversation we had about sharing our problems?"

"Yeah?"

"You wanna explain that limp?" She asked. "The one you keep saying is nothing?"

"It's nothing."

She wrapped the wing tighter around him and stroked it down his side on a particularly ticklish spot. He jumped up.

"Will you at least tell me how you got it?" She asked, wrapping another wing around him. He was trapped in a warm, feathery prison. He wasn't entirely sure he wanted to be let go.

"Training accident."

She kissed his neck and he gasped as the kiss became a little bite.

"Come on, Mr. 'We-Have-To-Discuss-Our-Problems', Mr. 'We-Share-Our-Burdens.' I love you, but you sound like a Haymark Hearth's Warming Card half the time. Tell me what tomfoolery led to you winding up with a limp."

Shining groaned. He had walked in with the limp and she hadn't let it go. Was this what he was like when he was being overprotective to her? This was payback wasn't it? The sad part was that his leg really didn't hurt. When the incident had first occurred his leg felt like it was on fire. He was convinced that he had broken something. A quick trip to the medic told him that his leg was fine if a bit sprained. The nurse had bandaged it up, but there was still that dull ache.  Cadence certainly had a right to be concerned, Shining thought. And he did pester her remorselessly when something bothered her and she wouldn't talk about it.

"Do you ever think we need to see a marriage counselor? I mean, anytime we have a problem we solve it with rough sex. That can't be healthy. I know that can't be healthy."

"I'm not seeing the problem, Shiny."

"You wouldn't, Princess of Ropes and Paddles."

"Don't forget ball gags."

"Ball gags? When have we ever used ball gags?"

"New Years's party. Hard cider blew a hole in your memory."

"Ah. You know what I'd like? Socks."

"Socks?" She made a face. "That's just....weird."

"Socks are not weird!"

She kissed his ear. "We'll discuss it later. About your leg."

"Can I be the sub next time?"

"About your leg. Seriously, Shiny, I'm not going to be distracted."

"Well, it all started when I decided to teach the troops hoof-to-hoof combat. Did you know the Crystal Ponies practice a particularly brutal form of martial arts?"

"I didn't."

"Well, I decided to spar with the troops. See what they knew. Now, don't get mad. It was an an accident and he didn't mean to. I think the poor guy's hiding in his house convinced I'm going to send the guard after him."

"I'd never get angry about an accident. What happened?"

"Well I threw a kick, he caught it and twisted. I'm not sure what happened, but it sprained the leg pretty badly. Did I mention he apologized? Because he did. It was some sort of ritual apology too with lots of prostration."

Cadence removed her wings and walked towards the bathroom. When she returned she was holding a jar of ointment in her magic.

"Where does it most hurt?" She asked.

"Back of my thigh. Back left."

"Turn around."

He rolled around on his stomach. Using her magic she unwrapped the bandage. Then she spilled some of the ointment onto her hoof.

"This is made from crushed herbs of the Danielian Mountains. They can ease any pain."

She began to rub the thigh, caressing the oil into the tissue and muscles. The ointment spread into the leg leaving a feeling of coolness on his muscles.

"Hey, Shining?"

"Hmm?" He had buried his face into the pillows. The ointment left pleasant, tingly sensations all across his leg.

"I think I've figured out why we have so many arguments."

"Oh?"

"We're too alike."

She rubbed the oil into his muscles, spreading it all around. She could use her magic, but this was so much more intimate.

"What do you mean?" How could their compatibility be anything but a good thing?

"We're both strong. Or rather, we like being strong. I'm a princess. I used to be a foalsitter. You've led stallions into battle. We don't like giving up an inch. Too independent, too fierce. We like handling things ourselves."

"Yeah. Those are all good points. This feels really good."

The pain in his leg had slowly eased away.

"But, we're better when we work together. Neither your shield nor my love magic could repel the Changelings. We had to join forces."

He tried to formulate a response, but the feeling of her hoof massaging the oil on his thigh was drowning his mind in bliss.

"So, my point is, I'm not the only one who has a problem opening up or admitting when something's wrong." She continued.

It was a coolness spreading through his thigh muscles, easing the burning that had formerly been there. "Yeah, you're right. I think it had something to do with being raised in a military family. My dad never shows weakness. Nor did my grandfather. We've been a warrior clan since...I don't know, Dream Valley maybe?"

She chuckled. "You think that's bad? Just imagine not being able to throw a tantrum without it being front page news the next day. I'm never going to live that one down."

"I saw that story. I thought you looked cute."

"Did not."

"Everything you do is cute."

She just smiled and shook her head as she continued the massage.

"I understand what you're trying to say." Shining said as if he were going to add more to that thought. He laid his head back down on the pillow. The rhythmic feel of her hoof going up and down his thigh was slowly lulling him to sleep.

"Shiny? Shiny?" She shook his shoulder then laid a kiss on his head. "Goodnight, Shiny."

She put a cap on the oil and put it back in the bathroom counter. Then she lay down next to her stallion and was soon asleep. Sombra-or his shadow- was still out there. An empire needed to be restored. Tomorrow would bring many trials, but they would face them together.