A Rainy Hearts and Hooves
“Happy Hearts and hooves day.” Night Light smiled as he turned to his wife.
“Have fun Shining Armour.” Twilight Velvet gave her son a parting wave then draped her loose hoof over her husband’s shoulders.
The teenaged stallion rolled his eyes, “yeah.”
The front door closed as the older couple's eyes met.
Shining Armour glanced up at his small shield and the droplets that pinged off it. Rain.
Why did it have to rain today?
The street was wet, it was pouring like a mid winter storm and there was hardly any couple out and about. Would Cadance even want to leave the castle?
“Maybe I should just go back inside…” The young stallion turned, strode up to the front door then paused. Actually, if his parents had been that keen to be left alone, maybe inside might not be a great idea either.
The teenager’s mind wandered to the other evening when he had arrived home from school and met Cadance at the front door…
“Would you- I mean… maybe like to uh…” Shining Armour trailed off as he caught his father’s eyes. The stallion motioned for him to quickly continue. Yet the teenager’s mind was suddenly blank.
“Yes?” Cadence prompted, a light smile upon her lips.
With a deep breath, life returned to the frozen white unicorn. The vibrant purple eyes before him captivated his gaze. His mind raced, franticly searching for words. “Eyes…” No! Stupid brain!
Cadance giggled and batted her eyes.
Shining Armour’s heart just about exploded. He shook his head franticly. Great, now even little Twilight was looking. “Hooves and Hearts- I mean… Whatever. It’s tomorrow, would you like to- to… kinda go out with me?”
A squee of delight erupted and pink filled the teen colt’s vision. Cadance’s wings shot out and she glomped Shining Armour. The shocked colt found himself on the pavement, his legs up in the air and a delighted pink alicorn on his barrel. The princess even offered her date an excited nuzzle.
Suddenly Cadance realized there were others watching and froze mid nuzzle. With a flap and hurriedly stood. “Sorry!”
“No, it’s fine. I wasn’t sure you would say yes.” Shining Armour slowly picked himself up.
Another giggle escaped the happy young mare. “Silly! I thought you would never ask…”
Raindrops returned the teenager to the present. With a start, he realized his lapse in concentration had caused his shield to dissolve. With a burst of dark pink and a bubble, rain shield popped into existence once more over the unicorn.
Shining Armour shook his mane. It wasn’t damp enough to send water flying, but it did feel wet. An annoyed huff escaped. Great.
His hoof rose to the door and… locked. His parents had locked him out in the rain on Hearts and Hooves day.
The teenager glanced toward the castle. Inside, there was a dry young mare wanting for him. Nerves washed over the youngster like large waves at the beach.
“I can do this…” The young guard in training squared his shoulders, stood tall and marched toward the towering castle.
Cadance lit up at the sight of her date as he was led into the castle by two guards. The excited alicorn trotted up to him and couldn’t help but notice that he looked like a pony who had hit a raincloud. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” Shining Armor nodded.
“Did your shield umbrella not work?”
“It did. Of course. I- I mean… I kinda got distracted…” Shining nervously trailed off. He suddenly found the smooth floor and ornate walls to be most interesting, yes.
Cadance chuckled as she strode up to her date and tentatively returned his vision to herself. “Were you thinking about a certain pink pony?”
White cheeks burned red, “uh… maybe.”
An awkward silence fell on the pair and they realized the guards had disappeared and they were alone. Together.
“So…” Shining Armour began. “Still want to go on a date in the rain?”
“It is Hearts and Hooves day,” Cadance ventured. Her right foreleg lifted then froze as pink met white and she quickly withdrew. “I mean, yes. I would love to go on a date in the rain.”
The pink mare’s smile lit up the room for Shining Armour and he found his heart once again racing. He grinned, “great!”
“Do you want to dry off, or… might somepony get distracted again?”
Shining Armour bashfully scuffed his forehooves together. “Well… you are…really pretty…”
Cadance giggled. “You’re not bad for a wet stallion.”
“Heh… yeah. Uh… So… how's my little sister doing?”
The young mare simply looked at her date. Poor thing, he was clearly embarrassed and trying to change the course of the conversation. “She’s living in the library today. Each time Celestia or I stopped by we were pretty much ignored.”
That put a smile on the colt’s lips. “Sounds like Twily.”
A blue light erupted from Cadance’s horn and her date’s coat and mane began to glow.
“Woah!”
“It’s okay!’ Cadance quickly placed a wing over the startled stallion to calm him. “I’m just trying this spell out.”
“It’s supposed to make me warm?”
The pink alicorn nodded briskly. “Since some pony didn’t seem to be in a hurry to dry off I wondered if this would help.”
“Thanks Cady.”
The blue light flickered out and the pink wing twitched. “What?”
Shining Armour stiffened up and a white forehoof shot up over his muzzle. “I meant Cadance.”
“It’s okay,” with a soft rustle of feathers pink once again fell upon white. “I didn’t know we were doing pet names already.”
“It just kinda slipped out, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, silly.” Cadance playfully ruffled her date’s mane with her wing. “Now please tell me you had plans outside the castle.”
“Well sure.” Shining Armour shrugged. “It might be a bit different in the rain… but- um. Yeah.”
Two teenagers walked through the Canterlot palace gardens with a dark pink bubble shield hovering two feet above them. The rainfall was light but constant. It was as though the pegasi had stacked clouds then left them. Due to the rain, there were no other ponies about. This gave the young couple the opportunity to wander at random. With the calming atmosphere, Shining Armor and Cadance shared moments of banter and plenty of silent moments where they simply enjoyed each other's presence.
Occasionally they would catch one others eye only to quickly glance away bashfully.
Then Shining Armour caught a glimpse of white ahead and hunkered down behind a nearby bush, pulling Cadance with him.
Cadance shot her date an annoyed glare. “Hey-”
“I think I saw Celestia…” The hushed reply caused the alicorn’s eyes to widen in surprise.
“Really?”
Shining nodded. “Keep close. I’m gonna take another look.”
Cadance nodded then did her best to quietly follow under the rain shield.
As two muzzles snuck around the edge of the greenery, two sets of eyes widened. Little over thirty yards away, Celestia strode through the rain, her head low. In her mouth, she held a beautiful bunch of flowers.
“What is she doing?” The young stallion whispered.
“I don’t know…”
As the monarch’s head turned toward the youngsters' location they both quickly retreated.
Time dragged on. Was Celestia coming closer? Or had she kept walking?
The two ponies shared a look. Both were hesitant, keen to not be found out in case their ruler was in the middle of something especially important.
Suddenly Cadance perked up. The young mare carefully poked her head around the corner in time to witness Celestia rear up on her hind legs and place the flowers in the outstretched hands of a serpentine statue with a dragon like head and small wings.
Shining Armour carefully peeked out, his muzzle quickly scrunched up in confusion. “Why is she doing that?”
“I don’t know…” Cadance replied quietly.
The mighty mare of the sun nuzzled the hard stone coil of the statue.
Cadance felt her senses tingle. “She has a lot of love for that statue…”
The young colt shot his date a cautious look. “Uh… really?”
Pink wings quivered as the filly nodded. "Let's go before she notices us…”
With one last glance, Shining Armour followed his date’s request and slipped away. The couple hurried through the trees, heading toward the exit. The shield fizzled out from above as they walked through the mighty archway that separated the high life of the city from the palace.
Cadance paused and glanced at her date. “Auntie was being funny.”
“Maybe you should ask her about that statue sometime.”
“But what if it was some creature important to her? I don’t want to bring back sad memories.”
At this, Shining’s gaze shifted. “So… can you really can sense other ponies love? Or did you just say that about loving the statue because she gave it a nuzzle?”
“I can feel other ponies love, yes.” A meek smile slipped across Cadance’s muzzle.
Shining Armour glanced back into the gardens. After a moment's contemplation, he returned his attention to his stunning date and found his breath taken away. “You- do you sense anything from me?”
“Well…. Maybe I don’t have to, to know that you like me.”
“But you can sense something.”
Cadance nodded briskly. “But you were also kinda an obvious dork too.”
“…Thanks.”
“I mean that in a nice… cute way.”
Cyan eyes flickered away, watching the rainfall. Shining Armour wandered a little closer toward the palace gardens till his muzzle was inches away from leaving their shelter.
“You don’t always have to be a tough guard pony to impress me you know.” Cadance took a few careful steps closer till she was within hugging distance.
“Yeah, but- I didn’t think I was all… cute and stuff.” Shining Amor side eyed his date. “And how does this sense work anyway, you can’t like… detect how I’m feeling or anything, can you?”
“No. Just love. Specifically romantic love. Like what couples share.”
“Oh. Okay. Is that why Twilight said you magically made two ponies stop arguing?”
The pink mare nodded. “I just reminded them how much they loved each other.”
“So it’s not like you could put a spell on me or anything?”
Cadance giggled. “No. Although I can try if you like.”
Shining Armour gave his mare a sideways glance. “Uh… no thanks. So… I guess the planned walk in the gardens didn’t go as planned.”
“True.”
“Do you- uh… want to keep going with me?”
The pink teen giggled. “Of course. Lead on Shiny!”
“What did you call me?”
“Shiny. It’s cute. Just like you.”
The tough colt rolled his eyes. “Fine. Cady.”
A cheeky grin lit the young mare’s face up. “Bright Butt.”
“What did you call me?”
A giggle escaped the cheeky pink mare. “Sea mane.”
“Hey! That doesn’t even make sense.”
Cadance shrugged. “Yeah, that one sounded better in my head. Lead on, my personal guard in training.”
The aspiring guard pony caught the cheeky look. “Well… Princess…”
“I thought I told you and Twilight, no titles.”
“But you pulled called me your personal guard.”
Cadance shrugged.
A smile crept across Shining Armour’s face. “Okay. Well… this guard in training is going to cast his rain shield so that we can continue with our attempt at a Hearts and Hooves day date.”
Shining Armour and Cadance wandered down the streets of Canterlot side by side. It was lunch time and the posh cafes and restaurants were doing fine business with the many couples who had come seeking shelter and great food.
They paused outside the occasional good looking place but turned aside each time because of the sheer number of ponies inside and the numerous looks they received.
As they withdrew from yet another cafe, many stares followed the couple. Shining Armour had the impression the snooty patrons did not approve of his presence by Cadance’s side.
Walking under his rain bubble, the couple wandered.
“This wasn’t supposed to be so hard to find a place to eat…” Shining Armour complained.
“Why didn’t you make a booking?” Cadance wondered.
“Well… I kinda only asked you yesterday.”
“I know.”
The sound of the rain and the voices of strangers filled the air as both youngsters fell quiet for a moment.
“But-“ Cadance quickly claimed the attention of her date. “You’ve clearly thought this all out.”
"Well yeah… I’ve been trying to ask you out for- uh…”
“A few months?” A playful smirk crept across the young mare's muzzle.
“Yeah.”
“So,” Cadance slowed her pace, Shining and the bubble shield remained protectively close as she came to a halt in the middle of the road. “What happens if I know a place?”
“Well, sure. Lead on.”
“Feel like doughnuts?”
“Something sweet, with a sweet pony such as yourself? You sure you don’t want to give me cavities or an overdose?” Shining Armour joked.
Cadance perked up. “Oh, I’ve seen your sister high on sugar. Are you just as crazy?”
A light blush coloured the stallion’s cheeks. “Uh- I think that runs in the family actually.”
“Then you must come with me!”
The excited pink alicorn dragged her date along, much to the shock of the few unicorns who were outdoors.
A light amber colt placed the pack of doughnuts carefully on the table in front of the young couple. Shining and Cadance shared the corner table for two in Doughnut Moe’s.
“Thank you, Joe.” Cadance inhaled the sweet scent of the delicacies.
“Did you make these?” Shining Armour asked as he too eyed the contents of their little box.
“Dad did. But I helped!”
“Well, I think you did a great job.” Cadance smiled as she lifted one of the doughnuts up then took a dainty bite.
“Thanks!” With that, the colt rushed off to serve other customers.
“This place is busy. But at least there’s less ponies looking at us weird.” Shining Armour commented as he too levitated a doughnut out of the box.
“This is why auntie likes to come here sometimes too.” Cadance grinned then finished off her first tasty morsel.
“Really?”
Cadance nodded briskly.
Shining Armour eyed the box on the table. “Huh. Say… before we finish too many of these, how about I take you someplace?”
“What sort of place?”
“A beautiful place.”
Two young ponies with very wet hooves crested the hill that looked down over the waterfall outside Canterlot. Shining Armour’s grin fell away as he beheld a landscape shrouded with rain and grey clouds. The valley below was visible. However, the woods beyond faded slowly into a grey fuzz. They continued walking slowly till they drew near to the waterfall that cascaded into the valley below. Due to the rain, a small pond was filling up on the side of the river. Fast flowing waters kept slipping over the eroded bank side and adding a swirl of clear water to the mix. Now that they at least had a good view all the way down, the couple stopped. Cadance placed the half empty box of doughnuts before them then offered a quick nuzzle. A sigh left the strong white stallion.
“I was hopeful too. It’s okay.” Cadance murmured.
“I thought we would see at least to the nearby towns or something.” Huffed Shining Armour as he eyed the valley far below. He picked up a doughnut and ate.
Cadance carefully picked out one of the doughnuts. “I like the ran. Don’t you?”
“I guess. We need it for things to grow. But sunny days are nicer.”
The teenaged mare nodded as she enjoyed her food. Once she finished she spoke: “I like how fresh the rain makes everything smell. The grass is so green… the waterfall looks inviting and if you go high enough, you can sit on the rain clouds and enjoy the view from above.”
“Lucky for some.”
“I’m sure there is a spell or something to let you walk on clouds with me.”
Shining Armour shot his date an uncertain glance. “Uh… I dunno. I think I like my hooves on solid ground.”
Cadance smiled back, “Once we are all grown up, I want to take you up there. It really is worth it… I promise.”
“Yeah, okay.”
The couple fell into a peaceful silence, the roar of the water flying off the edge of the cliff drowned out all other sounds. The couple finished the box of doughnuts then sat side by side, their coats almost touching.
Cadance half lifted a wing then thought better of the gesture. It was only a first date after all. Shining Armour shifted half a hoof closer, caught the gaze of his mare then found himself lost in her eyes. Her purple eyes sparkled with faint green and flecks of blue from their surroundings. The roar of the water faded into the background as a white hoof slowly rose.
…Then returned to the grass as if it had never left. Shining Armour gave a cough and gazed out over the beautiful, rain covered surroundings.
A pink forehoof reached out and gently touched the now static foreleg.
With a start, Shining Armour stared at the alicorn who had touched him. She giggled.
“I think… somepony needs to relax.” Cadance’s forehoof rose and slipped across the broad shoulders of her date.
…Then with a woosh, her wings shot out, she wrapped her date in a hug and with two flaps, hurled the surprised stallion into the small pool of water beside the rushing river.
Shining Armour splashed down on his back and flailed around till he righted himself.
The airborne mare giggled at the ungainly display below.
With a quick shake of his mane, Shining Armour stared up, shocked. “You nearly threw me into the river!”
Cadance landed beside the now muddy water, her smile faded. “I thought it would be funny. And I was ready to use magic if something went wrong.”
“Yeah… well…” Shining Armour took a deep breath. His gaze fell to the small pool of water he sat in. It came up to his chest and was big enough to fit two or three ponies. Clear water from the fast flowing river was already attempting to purify the muddy mix. He briefly eyed the bank of land that blocked him from the main river. It did look like enough to stop a stallion from slipping out of this pool into the main river. Maybe it was fine after all.
Shining Armour’s gaze returned to his mare. Her expression had continued to sour as she waited for him to say something. The drenched stallion put on a sudden burst of speed and with an eruption of water, dragged his precious pony into the cold water to join the fun.
Cadance cried out in shock as she was dumped into the small body of water. She lay in front of her date, eyes wide and wings out.
Shining Armour laughed.
“You- meanie!” Cadance playfully buffeted her colt with a very fuzzy wing.
“You started it.” Shining retorted. The colt could not help but sink into the water, relaxing backward into the muddy bank, his gaze upon his angel. “Now we’re even.”
Cadance splashed her date.
The young stallion rubbed at his muddy face. He blew a raspberry then flicked water back. Due to sitting right next to each other, the water only splashed against the pink mare’s barrel.
With a giggle, she swirled her hoof around in the mud then placed her hoof on her reclining date’s chest. The muddy hoof print slowly began to sag as the rain impacted with it.
With a heave and a squelch, Shining Armor sat up. The grinning stallion ran his hoof along where his back had been then promptly rested his hoof against Cadance’s wet shoulder. White ran slowly down pink as he dragged the mud down her side. “I didn’t know you liked to play in the mud.”
"It’s different to being stuck in the castle.” Cadance smiled back then flicked a little more mud at her date.
With great precision, the grinning guard in training lent down, impaled the muddy bank with his horn then tugged it free. Mud began to slide down onto his head. He smirked at the stupefied look on her face and offered a nuzzle. Cadance flinched but then nuzzled him back. The white horn rubbed along the pink mare's head leaving a trail of mud, just as planned.
Cadance shifted to dislodge his mud bearing nuzzle and their horns lightly clacked together. The couple gave a start and looked up. A pink and blue heart drifted away from the impact zone. After a magical moment, it slowly dissipated into the rain. Two captivated young ponies continued to gaze after it.
“Wow…” Shining Armour breathed, his voice barely audible over the torrent of water nearby.
“I didn’t know we could do that.”
“Yeah. Now my horn feels weird. No wonder mom and dad always said not to bump horns.” Shining Armour rubbed at his tingling horn.
“The heart was pretty,” Cadance commented as she too touched her pink horn. It felt as though inside it were sparkling. It was both weird but something compelled her to try for another contact with this colt. “I wonder if touching horns with other ponies would also make a heart?”
“You want to touch other ponies horns with yours?” Shining Armour tensed.
Cadance noticed the sudden onset of protective guard. She giggled. “No. Like if your parents did it. I was told it would hurt if I touched other ponies horns like that.”
The tough colt relaxed. “Maybe it’s because we’re special?”
“I can feel your love.” Cadance smiled as she cuddled up close. “It’s the sweetest I’ve ever encountered. Maybe us making a heart like that means something special. Like, true love.”
The young stallion grinned. Then the weight of her words hit him and he stared at her wide eyed. “Uh- Wuh- wha..? Love? Heh, isn’t that a bit much for a first date? I- I never said anything about-“
“Sssssh…” Cadance nuzzled her date. “I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I’m sorry.”
"It's... okay. I just..." Shining Armour wrapped his sodden date in a hug and relaxed into the cool muddy waters of their little pool. Shining closed his eyes and began to take deep breaths. Quick to notice his change, Cadance closed her eyes and snuggled up a little bit closer. The couple relaxed and allowed the rain to wash over their faces.
They continued to snuggle peacefully in the rain. It was a warm enough day and so far, neither pony felt the chill of the water to be cold enough to require an end to their little moment.
Shining Armour’s eyes opened to the sight of his slightly muddy angel. With her damp mane clinging to her shoulders she looked even more slender than normal. It filled him with a strong desire to protect and love her.
Cadance’s eyes fluttered open. She realized her companion had been admiring her and fluttered her eyes at him.
White cheeks tinted red and the young stallion quickly averted his gaze.
“Auntie is gonna love seeing me like this.” A giggle escaped.
A playful smile slipped across Shining Armour’s muzzle. “I’m sure I can make her love it even more.”
“I do want to see you again.”
“Long as you continue to foal sit Twily, I’m sure we can see each other somehow.”
“True. Although I would like my guard in training to continue to be on the shift that allows him to watch me.”
“You realize if I’m on guard duty I can’t fraternize with the mare I’m guarding?”
“No pony said anything about what I can’t do.” Cadance smiled.
A hefty blush settled across the white stallion’s face. “True.”
Cadance snuck in closer till her lips were within easy kissing reach of his chin. “I’m sure once you pass your training it could become more than once a week.” The pink alicorn gave her aspiring guard a quick nuzzle.
Shining Armour grinned. “Say… wanna go get cleaned up then hang out some more?”
“Hang out? Isn’t that reserved for friends? Or are you officially my coltfriend now?”
That got him flustered. “Well- uh… I thought-”
Cadance laughed, “I would love to be your fillyfriend.”
“You would? Great!” Shining Armour relaxed.
The couple continued to enjoy each other's close presence in the pool for another few moments.
All too soon, the waters chill made its way through their coats and Cadance gave a small shiver.
Shining Armour was quick to notice. “Alright. Time to go. Princess Celestia would kill me if I got you sick.”
Cadance extracted herself from the swirling pond. “Can we at least walk back along the riverside?”
Shining Armour was quick to stride into the shallow waters of the fast flowing river. “Sure. A little more off road fun can’t hurt.”
Excited, Cadance was quick to join her coltfriend on the bankside.
The damp, muddy couple wandered back to the palace paying no heed to the stares they received throughout the city. It was their day and it had been fun, regardless of the rain.
After a though cleaning, the couple were treated to dinner alongside Celestia. Twilight was also present, although the filly had her head in a book for most of the meal.
As evening fell, the rain ceased. All too soon, it was time for Shining Armour and Twilight to return home. Their parents met them right outside the palace. With a final hug, Cadance and Shining Armour parted. A grin was firmly planted on both young ponies faces. The whole way home Shining Armour felt as though he were walking on the clouds. The knowing smiles from his parents were enough to give him a lingering blush.
Twilight occasionally gave him a look as if to ask what was going on. The happy colt simply smiled back.
He had just enjoyed his first hearts and hooves day with the most wonderful mare in Equestria.
Cadance was perfect.
Was it love?
His heart gave a pleasant flutter and his mind drifted ever higher.
Maybe it was.
Author's Note
A late Hearts and Hooves day entry.
After a brief discussion with a friend, it was decided that these two were the perfect couple to write. As I've not written a story centred on Shining Armor and Cadance in my 9 years as part of the fandom, I thought I would give it a go.
This idea progressed from concept to completion in just over a day. Pretty fast for my writing.
If this story brightened up your day, it would be great to hear from you.
