Chapter 3: Love Can Heal

"AAAAHHH!" Shining Armor screamed as he woke up tossing the bedsheets away and illuminating his horn with magic.

"Shining!" Cadance called immediately from the bed next to his.

Shining Armor looked at his wife's direction and saw her worried expression. His eyes then traveled down her body and behind her to find she was dressed in a large nightgown, her mane was pulled into a bun, her wings flexed on her back, and there were no traces of chains, shackles, bruises, burns, or scars anywhere. Shining's magic faded enough to just partially illuminate his wife and himself before he sighed in relief. Almost immediately after he punched his bed.

"Another damn nightmare," he said tiredly. "I'll have to speak with a Mind-Mender later, it seems. Damn it, it's been two weeks since my last-"

Shining was cut off when he felt his wife's embrace. She didn't seem to mind his damp fur or slightly trembling limbs.

"C-Cadance..."

"Shhhh, I'm here, Shiny," Cadance whispered in the dark.

"You... you're shaking..." Shining said with a raspy voice as if there was a lead ball in his throat.

Cadance didn't answer right away, instead, she shifted until they were both laying on the same bed with her head pressed against his chest hearing his rapidly beating heart and her arms embracing him tightly.

"It d-doesn't matter," Cadance said pressing herself more against her husband.

"Of course it matters," Shining rebuked. "I don't want you to feel... uncomfortable," Shining said in that same raspy tone.

"You're my husband. I'm your wife. We have each other," Cadance nuzzled his bare chest. "It was only a nightmare, Shining. I'm here. We're safe."

"I... I know," Shining replied as he slowly shifted himself until he was facing Cadance, his arms shakily around her back as hers were around his. "I'm scared."

"Me too."

"I don't want to lose you again."

"I don't want to lose you either."

"I'm sorry for waking you up."

"It's okay. I'm not really tired."

"You're too good for me, Cadance."

"And you are more than you give yourself credit for, Shining."

Seconds of silence passed for the couple and before long the magic on Shining's horn went off.

"I've missed this. You and me, like this."

"C-Cadance..."

"I... I know I'm asking too much... and I know I'm not fully ready... I don't know if I'll ever be. But... Shining, can we stay like this, at least for tonight?"

"...Yeah."

"A-are you sure?"

"Are you?"

"..."

"..."

"I think this may actually be good for us, Caddie."

"Caddie? You haven't called me that since our wedding." Cadance giggled.

Shining chuckled. "Oh sorry, I forgot you don't like that nickname."

"I used to. But I think it's kind of adorable now. Brings up memories when we started to date."

"Ha! I remember. We were so scared Celestia would find out about us we only saw each other during the night."

"Until Celestia saw us under the Oak tree. I can still feel my cheeks burning in shame!"

"I know! And it turned out that Celestia already knew we were seeing each other. She just wanted to tease us."

"That's Auntie Celestia." Cadance giggled again. "Shining... I think you're right. I think we both need this. We've been apart letting our fear control us for far too long."

"I just... I just don't want to hurt you again, Cadance."

"You've never hurt me, Shining. And you never will." Cadance shuffled. "Well, except for throwing me out of a balcony that one time."

"Hey now, that was your idea!"

The couple laughed for several moments until their room became silent once more.

"I love you, Mi Amore Cadenza. My wife. My love."

"And I love you, Shining Armor Sparkle. My husband. My love."

In the darkness of their room, the couple inched forward until their lips met in a shaky, nervous kiss. It lasted for scant seconds before they parted. A moment later their lips met again, this time with more confidence.

Many more followed until husband and wife fell asleep in each other's embrace. Safe, warm, secured, and most importantly, loved.

End.

Author's Note

Special thanks to anyone that read this!