Shining Armor waits for the train with Cadence until her bags are loaded. Her magic raises the basket that holds their daughter up to him and he leans in to kiss her softly. "Be careful you two." his face smiles, and he tries not to let the worry he feels delay her departure.
"We will," Cadence says lovingly, before looking up. "Is he not going to make it?" she asks.
Shining Armor turns and blinks looking to the far end of the platform where a unicorn is running up the stairs out of breath. "I'm here!" Sunburst calls out. "I'm here!" he skids to a stop beside them, trying to catch his breath. He holds out a hoof for them to wait as his magic pushes his glasses further up on his nose.
Shining Armor can only smile at him. "Easy there."
"I'm okay." He takes a deep breath and stands taller, recovered. "Ready to go ladies?"
Cadence nods gently. "Will you two be okay?"
Armor nods. "Sunny will keep me company and keep me on task."
Sunburst blushes slightly. "I'll try."
Cadence embraces them both and allows Sunburst a moment to coo and love at Flurryheart before the conductor calls for boarding. "I have to go." She turns to them once more, another hug, and then heads for the train.
"She's leaving us." Shining Armor says softly clearly frustrated by the fact his wife is leaving.
"For three days." Sunburst says "To visit her parents."
"Yeah..." Shining Armor smiles at him. "Glad I'm staying here." He waves to Cadence as the train begins to pull away from them. He turns motioning Sunburst along with him down the platform steps. "What took you?"
Sunburst looks embarrassed. "I was writing to Starlight actually."
Armor's brow raise. "Again? We should just invite her here." he waves a hoof out between them. "if you like her, you should really tell her."
Sunburst shakes his head. "That's just it," and there's an uncomfortable pause. "I don't."
Shining Armor's hooves stop dead in their stride. "Don't like her?"
"No," The wizard shrugs. "Not-not really. Not like that anyway." He swallows. "I am happy with you and Cadence, with what we have." he starts to walk ahead and Shining Armor catches up with him. "I don't want Starlight as a romantic partner."
"We are happy with you too." Shining Armor adds feeling like he needs to reassure the stallion at his side. "Sorry if that upset you," He sighs gently. "That was not my intention."
Sunburst's head shakes sagely. "I know it wasn't." they pause looking into each other's eyes a moment before they continue on back to the castle.
"So if you're not interested in Starlight, what is it that you two talk about?" He smiles at ponies that pass them, bowing his head as they bow to him, but Shining Armor keeps his attention to Sunburst.
"Magic mostly, spells, what Princess Twilight is up to."
"Twilie?" he smiles "What isn't she up to?" He waves a hoof. "For being the most introverted mare I ever knew she certainly is happy to be in everyone's business now." He chuckles, it's funny to him, how much she's grown.
"That's the truth." Sunburst agreed and seemed sincere about it. "Starlight is worried she might take it too far one day."
Shining Armor turned toward the castle with deliberate steps. "She might, but how is she going to learn anything unless she fails at some things."
It's Sunburst's turn to laugh now. "Have you been reading Cadence's parenting books?"
Armor isn't embarrassed when he says "Yes." He shrugs. "Grants perspective I didn't know I needed." They continue to walk. "I'm thinking hay burgers for dinner, at the cafe downtown. Those carrot fries."
"I'm game," Sunburst smirked at him. "If you want we can take them back to the castle."
"I was hoping you would stay." Shining Armor says.
Sunburst blinks "Stay?"
They continue down the path. "Stay with me tonight?" Shining Armor asks and nudges the wizard's arm gently.
Sunburst nods. "Guards are going to catch on soon."
Shining Armor nods and sighs. "One already does, asked me about all this." He shakes his head. "So I was at least honest."
"She isn't going to say anything to Celestia?" Sunburst blinks.
"If Luna hasn't." He shrugs. "I've seen Luna in my dreams walking the edges of my vision." he shrugs. "If she has said nothing I don't know anyone who would."
"She walks in the periphery of your mind?" Sunburst looked down. "She knows?"
Shining Armor stopped and put a hoof on his fore. "Does that bother you?"
Sunburst looked confused. "A bit." He shakes his head "Is she walking in mine?"
Armor shrugs. "It's hard to see her, it's like seeing something floating in your vision, if you look directly at her you miss her, you have to look away." he motions a hoof. "Like walking in a dark forest." he thinks hard. and you focus on one side or another to figure out what's around you." He shakes his head. "I can't explain it properly."
Sunburst's tick to push his glasses up his muzzle returns and he nods. "No, no I understand." He smiles brightly. "I just-" He makes a face that looks confused. "Don't have much pull in my dreams."
Shining Armor laughs and nudges the other stallion's shoulder. "You think I do?"
They Chuckle together as they walk up to the Cafe outside the castle. A few guards stop outside and Armor gives them an acknowledging nod, before holding the door for Sunburst who enters before him.
They eat at the castle in the private dining and kitchen area of the Royal Chambers. They laugh gently. "Oh, I know the feeling." Shining Armor speaks up. "I use to hate that as a colt." He chuckles and grabs a red apple from the table.
Sunburst shrugs. "It wasn't so bad." He admits. "I rather liked magic drills."
"Don't get me wrong." Shining Armor bites his apple and speaks between chews. "I love my magic." he chews a moment, hoof out for Sunburst to hold. He swallows and continues. "I just hated drills, and My dad was very ... adamant that I do them." He shrugs.
"So was mine," Sunburst said as they smiled at one another. Sunburst's eyes turn to the window. "It's getting dark."
"Afraid to fall asleep?" Shining Armor stands and goes to a small stove to turn it on. Pulling down a kettle he fills it with water. "Think she'll come a-calling?"
Sunburst faults. "I can't be sure she will, and I'm afraid that now that I expect it, it may not happen and I'll just be sitting on my nerves forever." Shining Armor laughs, but Sunburst seems less than amused. "It isn't funny Armor."
Shining Armor floats the kettle to the stove and sets it to boil and turns to the other stallion walking up to him, and nuzzling against his muzzle. "I'm sorry." he is still smiling. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings." He kisses the wizard softly, and then again. "Never mean to hurt you." Shining Armor says against his muzzle "I'm glad you're here." That much is true.
"I am glad I am here too." They pull into an embrace quietly and remain that way for a few long minutes. The kettle starts to stutter and scream and they part slightly. "I'll get the tea." Shining Armor says softly. "It will help you sleep." He turns his magic pulling the kettle off the burner and turning off the stove.
Suddenly armor's feet are frozen and he turns his head back, held fast in Sunburst's magic. "Something on your mind?" the smirk on his face is playful.
Sunburst nods and stands coming to him. "Perhaps," He swallows. "I do not wish to sleep."
Shining Armor's body is released from the magic and he turns and kisses the wizard again. The kettle is soon forgotten as Sunburst breaks away jumping back and trotting away, Shining Armor gives chase to the younger stallion. Magic is used to push chairs into his path, and other obstacles that just don't' stop the wizard.
"Come here!" Shining Armor laughs and Sunburst is out the door, and across the main room to the private chambers. The wizard pushes the doors open and runs inside coming to a stop near the bed, but Armor's brakes have stopped working and he slams into the wizard and they both end up on the large floor mattress.
They laugh, deeply, and soon it softens into nothing but their breath and soft touches. Sunburst's magic closes the chamber door, and they forget the tea and the outside world. It's just them, two-thirds of a whole.
The End.
