To say that my sister’s inauguration ceremony was extravagant would’ve been an understatement, as Celestia absolutely spoiled her during the event. Cadance and I came down to visit after hearing what had happened, and I was completely beside myself once I saw her.

I knew that alicorn ascension was possible from what Cadance had told me, but I’d never imagined that Twilight would actually accomplish such a feat. It wasn’t as if I thought she wasn’t capable, but after what Cadance had said, I knew that the probability was incredibly low.

It had been a while since I’d been in Ponyville, but Pinkie Pie insisted that Cadance and I should attend the party that she had arranged at Sugarcube Corner. I was a little worn from the train ride over here, but I’d get over it with some rest.

Nevertheless, spending quality time with my sister was something I’d really been missing, and after one hoof-wrestle with Rainbow Dash, I asked Twilight a question that had been nagging me since I’d arrived.

“Twilight, what exactly are you going to do now that you’re an alicorn?” I questioned, doing my best to ignore Dash’s clamoring for a rematch. I’d won, even though she wouldn’t admit it.

Twilight gave me a sheepish grin as Dash huffed in frustration, “I’m not entirely sure, Shining. I don’t even know if I’m actually considered royalty or not, Princess Celestia hasn’t told me what I should expect to change.”

I gave her a small chuckle as I put my hoof back on the table, signalling for Dash to try again.

“Of course you’re royalty, Twilight! You know Celestia better than any noble in Canterlot, after all. Even Cadance wasn’t an alicorn originally, and she is the princess of an entire kingdom now! Not to mention she has a handsome prince to go with it,” I replied with a smirk on my face.

Twilight rolled her eyes at me in response, “She clearly hasn’t been married to you long enough to realize how much of a dork you are.”

“You’re one to talk, bookworm,” I retorted.

Our passive-aggressive argument caused me to fight back against Dash a little harder than I was before. To her chagrin, she had to concede a second or two after I had applied some extra force.

“Oh, come on!” Dash exclaimed, while slamming her hoof against the table, “You weren’t even focused!”

I gave her a sly smile as her face scrunched up in frustration, “A few of us have learned a particularly useful skill called ‘multitasking’, though you probably haven’t heard of it?”

I could almost see the steam rising from Rainbow Dash’s head as Twilight stifled a giggle, “I’ll beat you eventually, you’re just lucky you’re all upper-body strength!”

My chuckling eased up as I looked over at Twilight, “I’m not kidding around though, Twilight. You’re an actual figurehead now, so you’re going to attract a lot more attention, both the beneficial and the malicious kind.”

Twilight’s smile quickly dissipated from her face, leaving her frowning, “I can handle myself Shining, I’m stronger than you might think I am.”

Rainbow Dash looked as if she was becoming apprehensive; suspecting a potential argument to occur, Twilight and I stared at her as she stood up from her chair.

“I, uh, I think I’m going to go talk to Fluttershy. I’ll see you two later,” Rainbow Dash said as she made her hasty retreat.

So much for subtlety.

“It has nothing to do with you not being strong. You’re plenty strong, Twilight,” I explained in an even tone, “You just may want somepony else to keep watch over you, especially in an instance where you’re feeling particularly vulnerable.”

“I’m not a foal anymore, Shining,” Twilight insisted, “I know I’m your little sister, but that doesn’t mean you have to worry about me all the time.”

I gave a collected sigh as I felt my patience wearing thin, it wasn’t the first time she acted defensive like this. “Celestia is protected by a military force of at least a hundred-strong at any point in time,” I paused for a moment to look at Twilight’s expression, I’d gotten her attention, “If an alicorn like her is heavily protected the way she is, one who raises the bucking sun, then what does that say about you?”

Twilight cringed slightly at my language, “That I could use a guard around the library, too,” I could her her faintly mumble.

I was thinking several, but one will do for now.

I patted her on the shoulder, “I’m only doing this because I love you. You know that, Twily.”

I watched as a warm smile spread across her features, “Thanks, BBBFF. I know that you only want what’s best for me.”

I embraced her as I felt her new wings wrap around my frame. As I hugged Twilight, I noticed that Celestia and Cadance were being entertained by Pinkie Pie nearby, an idea formed in my head.

“Twilight, if you don’t mind, I’m going to talk to Celestia about heading back to Canterlot with her. I’m thinking about having a royal guard transfer to Ponyville soon, and I’m pretty sure I know just the right candidate.”

“Are you sure about this, Shining? I don’t want to be away from the Crystal Empire for any longer than I have to,” Cadance said as her eyes anxiously darted between Celestia and I.

I wrapped a hoof around her shoulder and smiled at her, “It’ll be fine, Cadance. We’re caught up from our backlog of work, we can afford to spend a day or two in Canterlot. That is, if Celestia will have us.”

“The pleasure would be mine, Shining. Though, if you don’t mind me asking, are you sure you’re not rushing this decision?” Celestia asked me.

I nodded, “I very well may be, Celestia. Don’t get me wrong, Twilight is a very strong mare, stronger than me even, but that just places her at even greater risk. Very few know that she has become an alicorn, but word may travel fast. I don’t want her to have to face that problem alone, if I have the option.”

I could see the troubled expression on her face, it was subtle, but it was there, “I can see your plight, Shining, and I’m content to agree with you on this. Though, maybe you should consult with Cadance before we head off to Canterlot?”

“If you think that this is a good idea, then I’ll trust your judgement, Shining,” Cadance responded before I had a chance to ask, "On the condition that we stay in the dungeo-, I mean the special suite, you know the one, ‘Tia," she said with a wink.

A playful smirk crossed her face, “That can be arranged.”

The sunset was easily visible over the horizon as we arrived in Canterlot. A sheen of gold and red washed over each street, basking the city in a heavenly glow.

“Now, I’ll have each available guard gather in the throne room, I’ll leave it up to you to decide who to choose,” Celestia explained to me as the three of us crossed the main hall of the east wing.

“I don’t think that’ll be necessary, Celestia. I already have a particular guard in mind,” I said as we approached the entrance to the throne room.

“Oh?”

“Do you remember the guard that helped me during Sombra’s invasion of the Crystal Empire?” I asked her.

Celestia paused in place for a moment, “His face, I remember it clearly. You’ll have to forgive me Shining, I have more than one captain among my rank.”

“He’s not a captain, at least, I don’t think he is,” I answered, becoming slightly puzzled at her response.

“Oh! I remember now! His name is Flash Sentry! He’s stationed within the castle right now, as a matter of fact,” Celestia said, a smile returning to her face.

“But, he’s not a captain. At least, not when I last talked to him,” I said incredulously.

He hasn’t been a part of the military for that long, how could he possibly be a captain?

Celestia’s ear twitched as the three of us heard somepony in armor approaching us, a cheeky grin formed across Cadance’s face, “Why don’t you ask him yourself?”

As fate would have it, the young stallion I so clearly remembered working with trotted up to us, wearing golden-clad captain’s armor, the insignia stamped on his left shoulder.

He gave the three of us a low bow, “It’s a pleasure to see you, Prince Armor.”

I gave him an amused chuckle, “I’ll have none of that, Flash. I may surpass your rank, but you're still a friend of mine.”

He didn’t give me a full smile, only a small smirk instead, “Glad to hear it. Why’d you decide to pay a visit to Canterlot?”

“Well, my sister has recently became an alicorn, so she’ll need a proper guard to watch over her. I figured you would suit the role quite well.”

“What?” Flash asked with a bemused expression, “How does somepony just ‘become’ an alicorn?”

“Through an unbelievable amount of dedication and self-actualization,” Celestia answered for me, “While I certainly knew Twilight was capable, I didn’t think she would accomplish a monumental achievement like this at such a young age. Even though I know how special she is, she never ceases to amaze me.”

“So you want me to be stationed in her castle and protect her instead?” Flash asked me, interrupting Celestia’s personal spiel.

“It’s not a castle, per se,” I said sheepishly, “She lives in a library, that’s also... a tree.”

Flash gave me a deadpan stare, “Are you pulling my leg? I don’t appreciate being toyed with, Prince Armor.”

I chuckled, “She has a baby dragon named Spike, too.”

I watched as his expression remained unchanged, “Assuming you aren’t messing with me, and that you’re giving me a choice in the matter, then I’ll accept your request. But only as a favor to you, Prince Armor. Between the three of us, I’d much rather stay in Canterlot Castle with Princess Celestia.”

I watched as a small blush spread across Celestia’s face, “While I am quite appreciative of your sentiment, Flash, I think it would be a good experience for you to meet Princess Twilight yourself. She’s quite like me, in a way.”

“I’ll be the judge of that, Princess,” Flash replied curtly. It looked as if he was becoming slightly irritated, and trying his best to be polite.

He never did like meeting new ponies, it took over a year for him to get used to Princess Celestia, and even then, he’s pretty distant towards everypony else.

“I have no doubt that you’ll perform excellently, captain,” Celestia responded with a warm smile, blatantly ignoring Flash’s slightly caustic tone.

Celestia understands Flash as well as I do, he means no offense to her, he just doesn’t do well when it comes to socializing. In the castle, he doesn’t have to chat with anypony, he just has to do his job.

“Well,” Flash said with a soft huff, “I suppose I’ll start to pack my equipment then. When do I leave? And where am I going?”

“I’ll have a carriage take you to Ponyville in the morning, Flash,” Celestia answered. “It’d be best not to dawdle, right?”

Captain Flash Sentry stared out of a balcony window, admiring the sunset, “No, I suppose this is for the best. You owe me a drink though, Prince Armor.”

I nodded, “I’m a stallion of my word, Flash, but please, call me Shining.”

A younger Shining Armor stood silently in the market, taking in the scene around him. Had he been a lesser stallion, he may have been overwhelmed by the inundating sense of information.

The market was bustling with a cacophony of commotion, but Shining was only interested in one thing. He was working undercover. There had been more than one reported incident of larceny in the marketplace, but he wasn’t going to catch anypony while wearing his armor.

Still a low-ranking guard, Shining had very little combative experience, but he knew a thing or two about apprehending a thief. Since this one hadn’t been caught yet, he needed to take a more clandestine approach.

Everything was a distraction that subconsciously tempted him, but Shining was at work, and he had a duty to perform. Thus, he waited for his moment to strike, when he felt the activity of the marketplace would be at its apex.

Not a minute had passed before Shining spotted a rather conspicuous-looking pony among the crowd, a scrawny younger colt with a ragged mane of bisecting blues.

He doesn’t look like a criminal to me, I can almost see bone jutting through the skin of his coat.

Shining slowly weaved through the crowd, being careful not to attract the attention of his suspect. The colt was being cautious, but failed to see Shining approaching him from his blindspot.

Shining tapped him on the shoulder as the colt swiped an apple away from a stand and quickly stuffed it in his satchel, making sure to avoid eye contact with the street vendor.

“Excuse me kid, I don’t think that belo-,” Shining began to say, before the colt barreled past him and took off into the side-winding street.

So we’re doing this the hard way, then?

Shining broke into a gallop as he pursued the pegasus. He’d hate to admit it, but this kid was fast.

The colt made several hard turns in an attempt to disorient Shining, but he had the city memorized like the back of his hoof. Lagging behind a bit, Shining waited for the colt to think that he had lost him, before teleporting right next to him in the adjacent alley.

Quickly acting, the colt brought a hoof across Shining’s jaw, but screamed in pain as his hoof hit something very solid.

“My specialty is in shield-magic, colt,” Shining said as the aura around his face vanished, “It would do you well if you stopped resisting arrest.”

Shining Armor pinned the colt to the ground as he winced from landing on concrete, “What’s your name, boy?”

“The name’s Flash Sentry,” Flash said as he breathed in heavily, “What are you going to do? Turn me in?”

“I was actually planning on arresting you,” Shining said as a look of horror began to spread across Flash’s face, “I’m with Canterlot’s Royal Guard, after all.”

“I just wanted some food, asshole,” Flash said while grinding his teeth.

“So, you broke the law. Look, I get it, you probably have no money of your own. But... I have a proposition for you,” Shining said.

“What?” Flash said, wiggling out from underneath Shining. He likely wasn’t in any condition to take off again.

“The Equestrian Military is a bit short-staffed right now, we could use all the help we can get,” Shining stated, “You’re an adult, and I’m assuming that you want to be independent. You’ll be paid, fed and cared for while you’re being trained.”

“I…” Flash looked down at the pavement, his hoof scratching roughly against it. “Do I have to tell anypony that I’m enlisting?”

“Not unless you want to. If you do this, we can forget this ever happened. I’m offering you this opportunity because I think that you could do better than this.”

Flash let out a short breath, “Thank you.”

Shining Armor gave him a small smirk, “My name is Shining Armor, and you’re welcome.”

I felt Cadance nudge me as I opened my eyes, she was looking at me with a curious expression on her face.

“Need something, Cady?”

“You looked like you were thinking about something,” Cadance said as she ran a hoof through my mane, “I hope it doesn’t have to do with that rude guard we were talking to earlier today.”

I let out a small sigh, “It’s not really… his fault. He’s always been like that, he hasn’t exactly had the best upbringing.”

“Oh?”

I felt a smile cross my face as I began to caress her with my hooves, “I might talk about it later. Right now, I think I just want to unwind for the night.”

She gave me a seductive giggle and elicited a gasp as I touched her neck, “We wouldn’t want the stress to pile on, would we? Why don’t you let me help you with that?.”

...

Tonight was going to be a good night.

Author's Note

That's right, Jack has finally written something again.

Don't forget to let me know in the comments what you thought, and to follow me if you like what you see and want to see more.