To A Delicate Lily of a Mare
“But Auntie!” Cadence cried in protest.
“I really wish there was another option, Cadence…” Celestia sighed
“But-But what about Shiny?”
“I’m sorry Cadence.” Celestia put a hoof on her niece’s shoulder. “But this threat cannot be ignored. You will be wed to the Prince of the Changelings, Pharynx.”
“But Auntie, I’m engaged to Shiny!”
“I know. You’ll have to break things off with him.”
“I-I can’t!”
“Cadence… you know that it wouldn’t be right of me to do this to Twilight. She has enough to deal with as a bearer of the Elements of Harmony. Cadence, you are the Princess of Love. If anyone can make up for this, it’s you.”
“So I have to marry Chrysalis’ son?!”
“Cadence-”
“Auntie, I can’t be wed to Pharynx-”
“Cadence, he’s already agreed to this, and Chrysalis won’t let us back down.”
“But… but Shiny…”
“I’m sorry my niece.” Celestia touched her forehead to Cadence’s. “I wish it didn’t have to be this way.”
Cadence sighed and closed her eyes, accepting this.
Shining bit his bottom lip as he stared into the church. He’d been invited. But he couldn’t bear to watch it. Even knowing that neither of them wanted it didn’t help.
“Do you, Mi Amore Cadenza, take this changeling to be your lawfully wedded-”
Shining folded back his ears to block out Celestia’s words. He headed down the streets of Canterlot, moping. It was too late. Cadence would be married to Prince Pharynx of the Changeling Empire. Shining began trotting faster. He sighed and looked around the city.
Shining sighed heavily. His mind was clouded with thoughts of his broken engagement. He was so busy looking up at the city, he didn’t notice he was about to walk into somepony.
“Oof!”
Shining and the other pony fell down, and Shining rubbed his head.
“Oh Celestia, I’m sorry.” Shining said, standing up and offering his hoof to the pony.
The mare, a slender white coated unicorn with a pink mane, took his hoof. Shining took note of her violet eyes and cutie mark of three stylized flowers. Lilies, to be exact.
“Fleur? Fleur De Lis? What are you doing here, where’s Fancy Pants?”
“Watching the wedding no doubt.” she huffed. “I heard about you and Cadence, terribly sorry to hear the news.”
“Y-Yeah, uh… why aren’t you with Fancy?”
“Broke it off with him around the same time you and Cadence…” Fleur trailed off.
Shining sighed. Fleur placed a hoof on his shoulder.
“Are you alright?”
“D-Don’t worry about it…” Shining shook his head. “Look, how about I take you to get some coffee? As an apology for knocking you over?”
“Oh, Shining, you don’t have to.” Fleur said hurriedly.
“No, I insist.”
“Well… I suppose I have the time…” Fleur said slowly.
Shining nodded. “Yeah… same here. You know what, how about we just go get something to eat? I heard there’s a great new place on Restaurant Row.”
“Ooh, is it the Tasty Treat? I went there with my friends the other day, they have wonderful food.”
“Alright then.” Shining said, smiling for the first time in a while.
Shining led Fleur down Restaurant Row, to the restaurant. They entered and got a nice table and the waiter took their orders. Shining and Fleur sat awkwardly for a few minutes. When their food arrived, they began to eat.
“So… uh… if you don’t mind me asking… what happened between you and Fancy?” Shining asked
“Oh, not much. We were just… growing distant.” Fleur explained
Shining nodded. “I understand.”
“What? I thought this was because of the threat of the Changelings.”
“It was, really. But in all the stress of the engagement… Cadence and I hadn’t been having much time together.” Shining sighed, resting his chin on a hoof.
Fleur nodded sympathetically. “Well, I hope things turn out well for you, despite the broken engagement.”
“Things are looking up… I still get to keep my position, anyway… Celestia allowed it…” Shining said, ignoring the fact it was probably because she felt bad about what had happened.
“Well, I always admired you.” Fleur said softly. “Your position, and your attitude…”
Shining blushed and smiled. Fleur traced his shoulder.
“I was kind of jealous, you know… that Cadence got to you when she did back in High School…”
Shining blushed harder and chuckled sheepishly. “H-Hey Fleur, if you aren’t doing anything next week… I have a day off on Wednesday…”
Fleur smiled, eating the last of her food and standing. “Are you asking me out?”
“M-Maybe… w-we could just see where it goes…” Shining suggested
“I’d like that.” Fleur smiled, standing.
Shining placed some bits on the table. “Same time next Wednesday?”
Fleur nodded, mane falling over her eyes. “I’ll be waiting at Donut Joe’s.”
Shining smiled and held out his hoof. “Shall I walk you out?”
“Such a gentleman.” Fleur giggled, taking his hoof and letting him lead her out.
Soon, Fleur and Shining’s first date turned into a second. Then a third. They continued to go on dates, until they were colt and marefriend. And after five long months, Shining felt he was finally ready.
“The Tasty Treat?” Fleur asked as Shining led her down the street to the familiar restaurant.
“Heh, yeah.” Shining smiled at her. “You look lovely tonight.”
Fleur blushed. She was wearing one of Rarity’s designs, wanting to be beautiful for her stallion. Fleur had traveled all the way to Ponyville for it, but it was worth it. The dress was a violet off-the-shoulder whose color faded to white at the base of the skirt. She’d styled her mane with curls.
“Thank you Shining, you look very nice too.”
Shining chuckled, blushing as well. He was wearing his formal suit, the same one he’d been planning to wear at his wedding to Cadence. But he pushed down the sad memory and focused on his marefriend.
They entered the Tasty Treat, Shining making sure they sat at the same table as they had on their first date. Shining breathed nervously, smiling at Fleur.
“So why are we here?” Fleur asked “And why did you ask me to dress nice?”
“Well… Fleur, we had our first ‘date’ here five months ago… and I can honestly say I have never been happier.” Shining said, standing.
“I-I’ve never been happier either, Shining… but, what-?”
“Fleur, I want you to know I love you.” Shining said
“I-I love you too…” Fleur said, putting a hoof to her chest in surprise. Shining smiled and kneeled down.
“Fleur De Lis… you are the sweetest, kindest, most beautiful mare I have ever met.” Shining said, pulling a small black box out of his suit pocket.
“Sh-Shining, is that-?” Fleur gasped, putting a hoof on her muzzle, beginning to tear up.
Shining opened the box to reveal a beautiful ring. The band was golden, and the gem in the center was a beautiful amethyst cut like the lily from Fleur’s cutie mark.
“Fleur De Lis, will you marry me?” Shining asked, tearing up a bit himself.
“Oh, yes Shining! Yes yes yes yes!” Fleur cried, tearing up.
Fleur flung herself on him, hugging him tight. She cried into his suit as he cried as well. Shining kissed her, then pulled away and levitated the ring onto Fleur’s horn. Fleur smiled and kissed him again. Shining felt the happiest he’d been in a long time, finally feeling his pain from his broken engagement unravel.
Author's Note
This story was requested by Shadowpony300, to be clear, this exists in an alternate universe, and does not correlate with any of my other stories. I hope you liked it.
~Melody Song