A Knight In Shining Armor

The next morning when Princess Cadence roused from her slumber, she looked over to see that Shining Armor had gotten up and left (for recruit training most likely), but in his place he had left her a surprise.  Princess Cadence reached her foreleg forward and wrapped her hoof around the most beautiful red rose she had ever seen, so beautiful in fact that the single flower matched the beauty of every flower, every bouquet of flowers that Champion had ever given her.  As Princess Cadence prepared for the day, she used her magic to gather the scissors that Shining Armor had used, and proceeded to cut the rose flower from the stem.  Entranced with the beauty of the flower, Princess Cadence sat the stem down on her desk’s top and placed the flower carefully, yet snugly into her mane.  She looked at herself in the mirror, and for the first time in a very long time, thought that she was just as beautiful as any other mare out there.

Satisfied that the rose was firmly placed enough in her mane, Princess Cadence walked over to the window and pulled the shades open.  She looked down to sure enough see Shining Armor walking through a row of recruits that were doing pushups.  Wiping some of the sweat from his brow from demonstration pushups, Shining Armor looked up and saw Princess Cadence looking at him from the upper window.  Princess Cadence smiled and waved down at him, Shining Armor acting in kind.  Princess Cadence continued to watch as Shining Armor got down on all fours and encouraged his troops, patting their steel helmets once or twice as he stood up and went on to the next trainee.  Champion had never been one to compliment his troops, in training or otherwise.

Princess Cadence placed her favorite blue bow in her mane and tail, and headed downstairs.  She didn’t want breakfast, she wanted to see Shining Armor.  Princess Cadence walked into the front courtyard of the palace and walked through the grove, smiling as she thought about the things that Shining Armor had done for her, had said to her.  Shining Armor was dismissing his troops as she walked around the hedge grove, saying “good job” as he clapped the back of their helmets encouragingly.  Princess Cadence stood silently to the side as he did so, but smiled and waved nervously as Shining Armor turned around and noticed her.  Shining Armor smiled easily at her, and as soon as all the guards-in-training had left them alone, he walked up to her.

“Good morning Pr…” was all Shining Armor got out before he saw Cadence pull the rose out of her mane and twirl it around close enough so that he could see it with a playful look of “what’s this for?” on her face.

Shining Armor blushed, looked away and said, “O…oh,” he laughed nervously “I left your room early for training and I saw it hidden in a hedge in the grove, and it reminded me of you, being so beautiful of course, so I picked it and…”

Princess Cadence placed the flower back into her mane and cut a nervously rambling Shining Armor off by kissing him softly ,,on the lips.  “Thank you,” she said, “it’s beautiful.”  Shining Armor blushed again and mumbled “D…don’t mention it,” quietly.

He then cleared his throat and said “It… It makes you look twice as beautiful.  Not a bad idea, putting it in your mane, if you don’t mind my saying.”

  Princess Cadence giggled and said, “It makes you seem twice as sweet.  I really can’t thank you enough, Shining Armor… for everything.”  They only smiled at each other now, but then Princess Cadence nervously asked “Are you… are you um… doing anything later?”

Shining Armor took a moment to make sure his ears were correct, and then replied, “Err… No, Miss Cadence.”

Princess Cadence placed her hoof behind her head and looked away as she asked. “Oh, well… then would you maybe like to…escort me through town?” Shining Armor was all too aware of what Princess Cadence meant by “escort”.

  Blushing, he replied “If... if it’s what you want me to do, then… I’ll do it.”  Shining Armor then ran his hoof gently down ,Cadence’s cheek as they smiled and locked eyes on each other.

Princess Cadence kissed Shining Armor on the cheek and said, “Thank you.”

  Either not caring or taking consequences to mind, Shining Armor kissed Princess Cadence back on the lips and said, “You’re welcome.”  With that, he stood directly beside Princess Cadence and allowed her to lead the way, his intentions simple: To give Cadence the best day he possibly could.  Princess Cadence quickly snuggled her head to him, and then led the way into town.  As they walked through the usual bustling streets, in a direction that was fairly familiar to Shining Armor, he heard Princess Cadence’s stomach growl.  Princess Cadence blushed as she tried to muffle the sound, not wanting to embarrass herself in front of her new date.  Shining Armor frowned, looked up and around quickly, and then commanded softly, “Come with me.”  Princess Cadence looked at him quizzically, but followed him without objection.  Shining Armor silently led them down and street, and over into one of Canterlot’s most expensive restaurants.

As soon as they walked in the door, Shining Armor escorted Princess Cadence to a table and let her take her seat first.  After that, he magically gathered two menus from a waiter that passed by and placed one in front of himself, and the other in front of Cadence.  Princess Cadence instantly objected, “Oh no, Shining Armor.  I can’t ask you to do this, it’s way too much.”

Shining Armor laughed quietly and said, “No, it’s not.  Order anything you want Cadence, I’m buying…” he hesitated a moment, and then looked her in the eyes as he said, “You deserve to be treated this way.”  Princess Cadence blushed at having been told this and, at a loss for words, simply looked over her menu.  Unbeknownst to her, Shining Armor took the occasional glance at her, merely observing and admiring her great and majestic beauty, and unbeknownst to him, Princess Cadence was having to hold herself back from wanting to lurch across the table and hug him tightly.

The waiter came around, and the two ordered their simple, yet filling meal, Cadence of course ordering the cheapest thing she could find.  As they ate, Shining Armor all but flattered Princess Cadence with his silver tongue.  “I really can’t get over how beautiful your eyes are,” he complimented.

  Princess Cadence smiled at him and replied, “I really can’t get over how sweet you are.”  They took turns, it seemed like, as they complimented each other, and then they went to talking just about general things.  Shining Armor asked Princess Cadence if she enjoyed folasitting nearly every day, sparking a conversation between them.  Even after Princess Cadence had finished her extremely small salad (listed under the foal’s menu, no less), her stomach still grumbled.  Ever considerate, Shining Armor pushed his untouched salad across to Cadence who smiled up at him with a questioning look in her eye, asking if she really could take it.  It had almost seemed like Shining Armor had planned to give his food to Cadence from the start, like he knew she was going to order the smallest and cheapest thing.

Once Cadence had finished, Shining Armor paid the expensive bill and escorted Princess Cadence back out into the streets where she (much to his surprise) hugged and kissed him as a way of saying thanks.  “Now, it’s your turn to follow me,” Princess Cadence playfully said, and before Shining Armor could say a word, she set off in the same direction they had been travelling before Shining Armor had treated Cadence to brunch.  The path really was familiar to Shining Armor, but since joining the Royal Guard, he had never really had the time to take personal excursions into town; that time would be cut even more so, now that he was the head of the royal guard.  He made a mental note to himself to explore more of Canterlot as soon as the Royal Guard Commander’s Quarters, a house and semi-base of operations, was renovated and cleared of any indication of its previous owner.

Then, Shining Armor literally saw why the path was so familiar to him, for when Princess Cadence led him around the corner he looked up to see none other than his home, the home he had left what seemed like so many years ago, and he saw his mother, his father, and his little sister frolicking with each other in the small area which Shining Armor had helped build behind the house.  As Princess Cadence continued to lead them closer to the house, Shining Armor looked up at its two stories and smiled up at it, fond of all the happy memories that had taken place in it, but brought his attention back to Princess Cadence and his thoughts to the family that he was going to get to see again.  Princess Cadence smiled back at Shining Armor and held her right foreleg out, indicating for him to stop just behind the wall so that he would not be seen.

It wasn’t a surprise to the Sparkles’ when Princess Cadence knocked on the picket fence enclosure and smiled at the happy family.  Princess Cadence had become a friend of the Sparkle family and often stopped by to say hello to them, or to have dinner with them (they frequently invited her after a sitting session with Twilight), or even just to have an at home play-date with Twilight.  “Cadence, Cadence!” Twilight ran from her giggling parents arms excitedly to greet her foalsitter.

“I have somepony very special I want you to meet,” Princess Cadence said, as she rose from her embrace with Twilight.  The Sparkle’s walked over to join the two, and at about the time they reached Twilight, Princess Cadence turned her head to somepony hidden just out of their view and smiled, stepping aside as Shining Armor walked out from behind the wall.  Princess Cadence couldn’t help but smile at the surprised looked on all of their faces, Twilight’s in particular.

Instead of words being said, the family rushed to each other and embraced tightly.  Shining Armor sat down in the grass and laughed as Twilight jumped onto him, “Twily!” he exclaimed as he pulled her off of him and ruffled her mane and tickled her as she giggled and playfully scrambled.

  “We’ve missed you so much dear,” Shining Armor’s mother said, as she hugged him and kissed him on the head, making him blush as he saw that Cadence was watching and giggling quietly.

“I’ve missed you too mom,” he stopped his tickling and playing with Twilight to stand and hug his parents one more time.

“How’d you get the time to come out here and see your old stallion?” Shining Armor’s father asked.

Shining Armor smiled, and answered, “Well, Cadence here…” he smiled back at her, “thought we might make a little excursion.”  Princess Cadence smiled at the group.

“We, huh?” His father taunted him playfully, “she’s quite a mare.” He said loud enough to let Cadence hear and make Shining Armor blush.

“Please, come and sit for a while,” Shining Armor’s mother invited them to sit under the shaded balcony.

Princess Cadence and Shining Armor joined them and talked for a little while.  Shining Armor mostly just talked and caught up with his parents, but like Cadence did the entire time, left his seat to go play with his little sister.  Shining Armor told his parents about his recent promotion, and as expected they were ecstatic for him, seeing as how it would provide him with a nice home in town for a change of scenery, and would pull a considerable amount of bits in for him.  When asked how he had acquired the promotion, he simply said he had been awarded for his bravery and valor.  He didn’t want to tell even his parents about Cadence or the previous night for obvious reasons

Twilight ran past him and he ruffled her mane and said that as soon as they had finished with the headquarters and he had gotten himself moved in he would try visit them more often.  They talked just a little more of the Royal Guard in general, but then as soon as Princess Cadence and Twilight were out of earshot, far out into the enclosure, Shining Armor’s father asked, “So, Shining, are you and Cadence…you know?”  He winked at his son, but rubbed the back of his head as Mrs. Sparkle knocked him across the back of it.

“Oh leave him alone,” his mother smiled secretly at a gracious Shining Armor, “that’s his business.”

  His father replied, “Hey, hey, all I’m saying is that Princess Cadence is a really nice and beautiful mare, she’d be or she is perfect for you.  I think she wants to be wrapped around those forelegs…” he cut himself short and said, “I’d say more, but the look on your mother’s face is telling me otherwise.”  Mrs. Sparkle nodded her head when Mr. Sparkle leaned back in his chair, finished with his chattering.

The two of them had stayed at Shining Armor’s old home for at least a good two hours before they bade each other goodbye.  Twilight hugged her BBBFF (Big Brother Best Friend Forever) tightly as he left.  Shining Armor knelt down and ruffled her mane again and embraced her back as he said, “Don’t worry Twily, I’ll come back every chance I get OK?”  Twilight smiled up at her brother and then waved him off with her parents as Princess Cadence and Shining Armor disappeared back into the still living streets of Canterlot.

  “Thank you,” Shining Armor said.  Princess Cadence giggled and asked, “For what?”  Shining Armor smiled down at her and replied, “For…for letting me see my family again.  Oh, I haven’t seen them in so long,” Shining Armor smiled as he tried to tally up the number of years he had been in service for the palace, and, as such, separated from his family.

Princess Cadence smiled and looked down at the ground as she said, “You’re welcome, it was the least I could do.”  The two walked without direction through the streets quietly, not really knowing what else to say to the other.

Then, it was Shining Armor who broke the silence, “Can…Can I show you something?”  Princess Cadence caught Shining Armor’s gentle eye and replied, “Anything.”  Shining Armor saw the trust in Princess Cadence’s eyes.

“Follow me,” Shining Armor said softly, “it’s a bit of a walk, but it isn’t that far.  And if you get tired, you could always…” he hesitated.

“What?” Princess Cadence inquired curiously.

“Nothing, never mind,” he said, too embarrassed to finish what he had to say or offer.  Shining Armor silently led them away from the bustling streets where he led them to a dirt path that followed a long stone wall that was surrounded by miles of farmland and empty plains (trimmed to keep the beauty of Canterlot of course).  Shining Armor broke from the path to lead them along a smaller, makeshift path that lead them to the base of a hill.  Shining Armor began to climb the hill, helping Princess Cadence up as he did so, and when they reached the top he stopped walking.  Princes Cadence was literally stunned by the beauty of it all.  To the left of her, a perfect view of the castle, to her right, miles upon miles of farmland and scattered trees, the graceful mountains past that, behind her and to the right, was the most perfect view of Canterlot, and ahead of her, the most beautiful and serene looking sight ever.  Ahead of her lay a towering peach tree surrounded by the short, sunbaked grass and the blue sky up above.

“What is this place?” Princess Cadence asked in astonishment, still entranced by the beauty of it all.

“This is just a little place I discovered a couple years ago.  I like to sit under that tree over there and think or be to myself, and sometimes I’d come out here and look at the moon and stars at night,” Shining Armor blushed, “it’s a very important place to me.”

Shining Armor walked forward and followed Princess Cadence as she walked around the base of the tree and looked up at its many beautiful blooms and leaves as she said “I can see why.  It’s beautiful.”

  Princess Cadence stopped her walking and listened as Shining Armor explained “This tree,” he placed his hoof on the trunk “every hour of the day, it’ll never leave you without shade.  “W…would you like to sit down Princess?” he offered as he took a seat at the base of the tree.

Princess Cadence smiled down at him and said “I’d love to,” with that, she sat down and leaned her head against Shining Armor’s shoulder, just under his head.

“Thank you,” Princess Cadence whispered, not wanting to break the calming silence.  “For what?” Shining Armor asked as he glanced down and met her eyes.

“For showing me this,” she replied, “it’s just so beautiful, and…and it just makes me want to forget.”  Princess Cadence now moved her entire body closer to Shining Armor.  Princess Cadence kissed Shining Armor on the neck and asked “Where have you been Shining Armor?  Where have you been all of my life?”

Shining Armor kissed her back on the lips and said “I don’t know, Cadence, I don’t know where I’ve been, but… I’m here now,” he kissed her on the lips again, “I’m here now,” he said once more as he kissed her again.  Princess Cadence wrapped her hooves around Shining Armor and began to kiss him back, their kissing getting more and more rapid each and every time.

All but caught up in the moment, Shining Armor eased himself forward and Cadence fell down onto her back, the soft grass felt more like a mattress to her as Shining Armor crawled atop her.  Princess Cadence closed her eyes and then kissed Shining Armor again on the lips; he paid her back in kind.  Then, she went in for a kiss on his neck as she wrapped her hind legs up around his back.  “I’ve never felt this way about somepony before,” Princess Cadence said in between a kiss.

  “I haven’t either,” he kissed her softly on the lips.  Shining Armor kissed a giggling Cadence on the lips, but then he worked down to her neck and planted a kiss softly on each side of it, just as he was about to go a little lower, he jerked his head up in resistance.  He wanted to go further, but by Celestia, he was not going to hurt her!  Shining Armor backed off of her with little effort, and sat back down at the base of the tree.  “I am so sorry Cadence,” he apologized.

Princess Cadence smiled encouragingly at him and said “Don’t be.  I…I’ve never felt this way before.  That…That was magical.”

Shining Armor smiled down at her and as they both locked eyes, they couldn’t help but laugh.  “This is crazy isn’t it?” Shining Armor asked.

Princess Cadence smiled at him and said “Yes, but it doesn’t matter.  You’re the only thing that matters to me,” she stood up and then took a seat back beside Shining Armor, laying her head back down on his shoulder.

Unlike past government types, today it wasn’t strange at all for a Prince or Princess to have a relationship with a “commoner”, and not be forced to have one with a government head (Princess Celestia had even had a romantic relationship one time, though in the end it amounted to little).  It was true, Princess Cadence and Shining Armor had only just met not even twentyfour hours ago, but it was all too obvious to them both that they wanted each other.  Princess Cadence truly had never felt this way before about somepony.  She wasn’t exactly sure what it was, but something deep inside of Cadence’s heart told her that this was a true love, it also told her that this was the stallion she wanted to marry, it told her that this stallion was going to protect her, treat her right, and love her.  It was all the opposite of what her heart (and mind) had ever told her about Champion.

The two of them had been sitting under that tree and talking to each other even when the moon rose over their heads.  Shining Armor was right.  To Cadence, it seemed that if there ever was a perfect spot throughout all of Equestria, this was it. Shining Armor had laid down flat on his stomach, and Princess Cadence had done the same, though she laid her head down on Shining Armor’s back, the moon just at a perfect position for them each to see.  As the crickets chirped and the lightning bugs came out only to complete the beauty of the field, Shining Armor said “Cadence,” she looked down as he turned his head back, and then she looked deep into his eyes as he finished, “I love you.”