Survival Begins at Home

Shining made his way up the stairs of the hotel he was staying at. It was now after midnight, and Cadance was probably asleep. He'd had a long day, and what he needed now was rest. He didn't expect to find it, but all of today's excitement and running around had made him very tired. If he had one night where he would see a full eight hours, this was it. It had to be. The zebras would be coming back for certain.

He fumbled with the door handle a bit, then gently pushed the door open. The light next to the couch was on, and Cadance was sleeping under it. After briefly considering carrying her to the bedroom, he decided that it would be best not to wake her, and he brought out a blanket to cover her up, and a pillow to keep her neck from going stiff in the position she was in. It would have been nice to curl up next to her, but he was sure he would be best off in a bed. Hopefully, she would understand.

He moved into the bedroom and stripped off his armour, stopping only when he was down to his undergarments. It was fairly warm tonight, so he needed only a topsheet to cover himself. He slipped into bed alone, and fell asleep in mere minutes.

He climbed out of bed the next morning and had a quick shower. As he slipped into his armour, there was a knock at the door. He answered it to a salute from a soldier. "Captain Shining Armor, your presence is required at the docks, immediately. A princess is coming in, and she requests your protection, specifically."

Shining nodded. "Of course. I'll be right there." He gave Cadance a quick kiss and made his way out of the hotel and down to the docks. The ship coming in was elegant and beautiful, with pristine white sails carrying it safely into the harbor. Shining rushed forward, and was the first to grab a mooring line to tie the ship down. As the gangplank descended, he ordered two soldiers to form up on him and keep their eyes peeled.

"Prince Shining Armor, it's so nice to see you again!" called a voice. Shining looked up to see a beautiful lilac unicorn mare descending toward him. He wasn't sure if she was blocking the sun with her head, or if she was literally radiating a brilliant light everywhere she looked. A blush came to Shining's face as he was embarrassed to be around somepony so pretty. He hoped Cadance wouldn't see him like this and come up with the wrong idea.

Shining only bowed and listened, hoping somepony around him would say her name, but nopony ever did. He heard her shoes against the gangplank as she descended toward him. They were quiet, graceful little clops. As she stood next to him, she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Arise, my champion. You are supposed to escort me, and keep an eye out for anypony who might wish to harm me. You can't do either of those things on the ground like that."

Shining stood up and rubbed the back of his neck in ebarrassment. "My apologies miss...?"

"Miss?" The mare chuckled. "You know I'm a princess, Shiny."

"O-of course, Princess. My humblest of apologies. I must have forgotten."

"Apology accepted. Now, where should we go while we wait for this event?"

"My apologies, princess, but we're kind of in the middle of being attacked. I suggest we go somewhere safe, preferably around midtown, where we're less likely to be hit."

"Is there somewhere in midtown where we can sit down and have a meal? I'm rather famished."

Shining nodded and beckoned with his hand, commanding one of the other soldiers to lead and the princess to follow him. Shining himself would take a position behind the princess with the other guard walking backwards in front of him to make sure their rear was covered. After a few blocks, he spoke up. "It has been quite some time, Princess. It almost feels like a distant memory."

The princess let out a small, delicate laugh. "Oh, Shiny, you know you don't have to address me so formally. You can address me by my name, you silly stallion."

Shining swallowed hard. He didn't want to ask this, as it seemed rude to have waited so long, but it had to be done. "And what name is that, again?"

To his surprise, she wasn't mad. She laughed. "Oh, Shiny, don't ever change. You clearly remember how much I love your dumb jokes."

"Yeah," chuckled Shining nervously. "I just wanted to hear you speak a bit more. You have such a pleasant voice."

"But my name sounds much better rolling off of your tongue. Come on, Shiny, say my name. I want to hear it from you."

Shining had placed himself is a very uncomfortable predicament. She hadn't taken the bait, and he still didn't know her name, merely that she was a princess. It bothered him that he couldn't remember her. As he was about to admit his ignorance, the guard at the front stopped. Shining looked forward at him. They hadn't reached midtown Manehattan yet, so they definitely weren't at their destination. "Why are we stopping?"

"Something doesn't feel right," answered the guard. "I don't know what it is, but my gut is telling me something is wrong with this path. I think we should go back."

Shining stepped forward. "Hold your position. I want to have a quick--"

THUK!!

Shining turned around, and to his horror, the princess had an arrow sticking out of her throat. He rushed back and caught her as she fell to the ground, gasping for breath and drowning in her own blood. "Princess! Hold on!" He looked up at the guard covering the rear. "Bring me a medic, now!" He ran off as Shining turned to the other guard. "Open that door, we're taking her inside!"

As Shining pulled the princess inside the closest public building, a dance studio, he knew she wouldn't make it. Tears formed in his eyes as he watched, unable to do anything to help her. "Don't leave me, princess..."

"Don't worry, Shiny," she coughed, spraying him with what blood had made its way into her mouth. "Your little Twily will always love you." As her eyes glazed over, her coat fell from lilac to lavender, her wings unfurled from behind the bow of her dress, and her skirt fell aside to reveal her cutie mark. Princess Twilight died there in his arms.

Shining bolted upright with a scream. Holding his head in his hands, he let out a pitiful whimper. "It always ends the same way. It always ends the same..."

His outburst had awoken Cadance, and she rushed to his side. As she placed her hand on his shoulder to comfort him, he shrugged it off. He was sick and tired of hurting her. All he wanted for her was a good night's sleep, and he'd fucked it up with his inability to move forward. He couldn't live like this, and he couldn't just keep dragging her down as he had been. He made a promise to himself right then and there. Things were going to change. They had to.