Author's Note
Ugh, I really wish they had a Coming-Of-Age type tag to put on this. I didn't want to put the Sad tag on here because I think it's debatable about whether it is sad in the end. I kind of thought it was weirdly beautiful.
Enjoy the feels, guys. Thanks to all of you following me. 
One Last Time
Change was in the air, so thick it could be cut with a knife. In the home of Shining Armor, his sister Twilight Sparkle, and his parents Twilight Velvet and Night Light, the change filled the air with so many different emotions. Fear, trepidation, excitement, hope, and sadness too. This was Shining Armor’s last night at home before he would go to Royal Guard Training. He was excited and nervous to be on his own for the first time, and yet a little frightened too. His sister was most definitely saddened by not having her BBBFF around, but was happy that he was following his dreams. His parents, especially his mother, seemed to share that sentiment. They covered their sadness with happy smiles- which he knew were genuine, but he could sense the sadness and definite fear beneath.
It was nearing his bedtime now. He hadn’t had an official bedtime in years, but had assigned one to himself the past two weeks so that he wouldn’t have trouble getting up on what was now the next morning. The feelings within him about the change, weaker as the day started, had grown to near-explosive sizes. He wanted to sing with his happiness and excitement, and yet hide from the world because of his sadness and fear. It was never easy to leave the life you’d always known and change it for the unknown future. His trepidation was understandable. He wanted to be a Royal Guard, and he wanted to go through with this. He just wished it didn’t mean changing everything that had brought him a sense of self over the years.
He stood in his bedroom, looking around it. Remnants of his childhood filled it. His comic book collection, steadily growing since the age of six, was on a desk. A train set he’d been given at age four by his favorite uncle was on the floor. The remnants of an ant farm he’d steadily cultivated from the age of eight still sat in it’s glass casing, though it hadn’t Been touched in a long while.
But the biggest and most important piece of his childhood sat on his bed still. Brutus Force- his childhood companion, his playmate before he could even have memories to recall, his protector from nightmares, and his harbinger of safety and memories- was laying against his pillow.
He sat on the bed, looking at Brutus and around his room. There was a sense of finality in this room tonight. Tomorrow, he would pack his bags, and be off to train for the Royal Guard. Childhood’s end was today, and adulthood beckoned on the horizon. It was rare for a pony to have such a clearly defined moment of passing into adulthood- somewhere in the back of his mind, he understood that- but in a way, that made it special. With this awareness, came the acknowledgement that he could enjoy childhood for however long remained of today. He picked up Brutus, suddenly, and gave him a hug. Of all the adventures they’d gone on together, this would be one he’d be going on alone. The sudden knowledge was as frightening as it was empowering. He took in the scent of his stuffed toy, and found that it hadn’t changed in all this time. Brutus still smelled like himself, with just a hint of his mother’s perfume that had never quite gone away after washes.
A memory he didn’t realize he had tugged at his mind, and he let it play on.
He was five years old, and a nightmare had woken him with tears. His mother had come rushing in, pulling him into a hug, and trying to calm him. Eventually, she’d succeeded and he had spoken about what he’d dreamt, and his mother had reassured him that he was safe- but he hadn’t felt that way. His mother had seemed to sense that, and asked if he wanted to sleep with her and his father. He’d said no, because he didn’t want to be a baby and sleep with them, but at the same time he didn’t want to be in his room alone. So, his mother had gotten a bottle of her signature perfume, and sprayed Brutus with it, that way he could still smell her as though she were near, and feel safe. And when he took in that scent, his fear seemed to melt away and sleep soon resurfaced in his mind. His mother had tucked him into bed again, and kissed him gently, as he’d fallen asleep with her scent and Brutus keeping him safe.
Remembering it now felt like looking at a scene from a movie in somepony else’s life. But he knew that the memory was true, because a bit of the evidence still clung to the smell of Brutus’ fur. He recalled that safe feeling, and how much it had calmed him, and wondered- albeit morbidly- if after his training he would ever feel that way again, after looking into the eyes of Royal Guards and seeing what they knew. He wanted that, suddenly, sharply, without any prompting.
Just then, a knock came at his door.
“Come in!” He called, setting Brutus down.
Twilight Velvet, his mother, poked her head in the door. “Almost ready for bed, Shiny?”
“Yeah, Mom.”
“I wanted to come in and say goodnight before the big day.” She smiled.
“Oh. Yeah, sure, come on in.” He said, a little distracted by the memory replaying in his head.
Velvet smiled and took a seat beside him on his bed, tucking a stray hair behind his ear affectionately. “You grew up so fast, you know that? It feels like just yesterday I was reading you bedtime stories and tucking you in and now you’re going off to live your dream. It goes by so fast… But I need you to know that I’m so proud of everything you’ve accomplished. I know you’re going to do amazing things, and I can’t wait to see them.” She said.
He nodded, wishing he felt as confident in himself at the moment as she sounded in him. “Thanks, Mom.”
Velvet gave him a kiss. “I just wanted to tell you how proud I am of you, and to say goodnight and tell you I love you.”
“I love you too, Mom.”
She smiled, nodded, and got up. “I’ll let you get to bed.” She said, starting for the door.
“Mom?” It came out without his permission, and Velvet turned to him.
“Yes, honey?”
For a brief moment, a thought entered through his mind that this was stupid to ask, but he shoved it aside. He had a feeling he may need this feeling in the weeks to come.
“Would you mind tucking me into bed? One last time?” He asked.
Velvet smiled, and her eyes brightened with simultaneous happiness and sorrow. “Of course.” She said. When she said it, he hopped off the bed, just as he had done all those years ago. Velvet pulled back the covers by hoof, wanting to make this tender moment as sweet as she could, and then looked to her son. “Climb in.” She said.
Shining climbed in, holding Brutus in his magic until he was inside before putting him in his hooves. Velvet smiled, and pulled the covers over him, giving him a kiss. “Goodnight, Shining.”
“Goodnight, Mom.” He said.
Velvet walked toward the door, and flicked the light off, taking one last smiling look at her son before she closed his door, grateful for the chance to have been able to have that moment with her son before he went away.
Shining Armor held Brutus in his hooves. Tomorrow, life would change forever. Tomorrow, he would be tested beyond measure and likely feel overwhelmed. Tomorrow, he would leave everything he knew behind and face the great unknown.
But tonight, he was safe at home and in his own bed. Tonight, he had given his mother a gift he hadn’t known she needed. And tonight, he would sleep well.
