Mother was contemplating bringing Corner Stone to Canterlot. Well, more like already making plans in designing a own home big enough to accommodate her. She wanted her on the palace grounds where she would also be near her magic school. Speaking of which, I had asked mother if I could learn more magic there. She has assured me that she can teach me better than all her professors.

Twilight and multiple medical ponies were examining our giant friend at the moment. Not wanting her to be exposed to modern diseases unprepared. Mother took this time fly us back to Canterlot, saying that we needed to do some things while we waited for our new friend to be checked over and prepared for what she was about to see outside of the canyon.

Back home she told me to close my eyes, and then put an arm about my barrel and led me through the palace to who-knew-where. I heard multiple whispers about us, and then I heard the unmistakable sound of the throne room doors opening. That heavy creak of season oak.

"Alright," she said with a giggle, "open your eyes, Gold."

I did just that, and gasped at what I saw. I looked at mother. She nodded.

"Put it on," she instructed me.

* * *

My armor had been finished. Some servants helped me put it on. First they laid a soft red blanket upon my back, lined with white fur. This acted as an insulative layer between the metal and my fur to avoid pinching and chaffing. As well as providing warmth. Next came the crinet, a thick leather guard on my neck and head, braced with metal bands for extra protection.

The crupper, I felt, was the heaviest part. hundred of individually shaped metal feathers, linked together underneath, creating an almost organic appearance as it was laid upon my back. The tail-guard was fashioned quite similarly, almost flowing with the crupper, while remaining its own individual piece. The front of the crupper latched about my neck like grand collar.

The peytral was like a mysterious bird of prey, locking to the collar to protect my chest. Now it seemed like the rest of the armor was an extension of its wings. Then came the most marvelous bit of engineering.

I want to call it flanchard, but it was also armor for my wings. It set upon my middle, strapping the rest of my armor down with it by thick leather belts. It was much more plate in design, mostly due to my wings being my most fragile bones. There was no squeak or stiffness in them as I flexed my wings experimentally.

As soon as my greaves were slipped on, flexibly jointed piece of plate metal, mother summoned a full length mirror so I could get a good look at myself. I looked awesome. It was gold though, but, it still looked awesome. It might have almost been mistaken for a second skin, as it matched my own fur so well.

It was studded with multiple rubies on every piece. The largest residing on my chest and wings. A tingling in my horn told me there were enchantments woven throughout it.

"Indeed, there are," mother informed me when I asked her. "Which is why I requested it be made of gold, as softer metals will retain enchantments easier and longer. I specifically designed it for flexibility and adjustments as you grow."

"It is very flexible," I moved, twisting this way and that. I loved watching it move with me, adding to the illusion it was a part of me. "Were it not so heavy, I'd barely notice it."

"Ah, yes, that's going to take some getting used to," she chuckled and she scratched my chin and laughed at my antics. "Which is why I invited a special guest to help train you in getting used to it."

"A guest?" I asked, tilting my head. "Who?"

As if on queue, then again, mother did love being dramatic, the doors opened and in came some very familiar faces.

"Hello, Gold Coast," Cadance said with a smile from atop her stud, who was decked out in his own heavy battle armor. I was about eye level with the large stallion, yet he was definitely much more experienced and likely stronger than me. I'm ashamed to say I gave a step back.

Cadance dismounted and kissed her mate's cheek. "Don't worry Gold, I'm not expecting you to fight each other. Your mother just requested that we visit for a month so Shiny here can show you some drills to getting used to armor. Though, yours does appear quite a bit lighter."

"Well, I did have the Captain's armor designed to face dragons," mother mused, looking at me. She shook her head. "No, you're far too young to be trained in that regard, Gold. Maybe when your older."

I dreaded to think what kind of training Shining had to go through to battle dragons. Though, perhaps, I was soon to get a taste of it.

* * *

A taste indeed. More like a mouthful. Even after a week, flying was so hard. Mother ensured I trained every day with the war stallion. He was deceptively fast in that armor of his. Most of the training consisted of me having to try and keep up with him as we ran around a track. Sometimes throwing some hurdles in our way for us to jump over. It was an absolute relief when I got to take a break.

I'm an alicorn, supposed to be the mightiest of beings. A mere colt before an middle aged unicorn. I kind of wanted to get back to Corner Stone and hear more stories. But mother was adamant about me getting used to the armor. The only time I could take it off was at night, when it would be cleaned and polished for the next day of hard work.

Meanwhile, I did get to catch glimpses Corner Stone's personal home being constructed on the palace grounds. But, I guess that was a story for later. Right now, my break was over and I had get back to work.

Author's Note

Gold armor, designed by https://www.deviantart.com/amalgamzakuhttps://sta.sh/01fpuxyeulm9
For whatever reason, I can't seem to upload a picture, please watch this while I figure it out.
Here's a speedpaint he made.