Cadance could easily have let the slight motions and the rhythmic clacking of the train car lull her to sleep during the long trip to the coast. She probably would have, if not for the two foals whose safety had been entrusted to her.

Twilight Sparkle was easy. As soon as they’d boarded the train, she’d set herself up in the corner of their little private cabin, cracked open an enormous book, and she’d been happily reading ever since.

Shining Armor, on the other hoof… Well, she couldn't entirely blame him. He was always an active, physical colt. Rambunctious. His idea of a good time almost always involved being outside… Being cooped up in this little train cabin for hours was obviously a strain on him. And, of course, that meant it was a strain on Cadance and Twilight as well.

Or, at least it was a strain on Cadance to prevent it from becoming a strain on Twilight. Whether Cadance was just excellent at her job or whether Twilight was just very practiced at ignoring him, Shining’s antics never seemed to interrupt the filly’s reading.

“Please don’t stand on the seat,” she told him … for probably the hundredth time today.

Right away, he sat back down. His rear hooves still fidgeted in place, but he was obviously forcing himself to be well-behaved, as much as it obviously pained him. He was handling it well. Shockingly well, actually. Despite still not having his cutie mark, Shining was really a lot more mature and level-headed now than when she’d first started foalsitting for him and Twilight – as a personal favor to their parents, who she’d also seen grow up before her eyes.

It was something she’d just have to get used to as an alicorn. To think, she’d played as a foal with Night Light and Twilight Velvet. Even then, she was older than her foal-like body would have suggested at the time. Alicorns age slowly, after all. Now the two of them had gone from blushing awkwardly at each other, to married with children, to celebrating their tenth anniversary with a weekend zeppelin cruise to Prance. But Cadance could still remember them looking even younger than Twilight and Shining did now. And in all that time, she’d barely aged to the point of passing for a teenager. How did Luna and Celestia handle it, all those centuries ago? They’d become alicorns even younger than Cadance … it must have taken them ages to grow up! She’d have to remember to ask them about it sometime. It’s such a strange feeling, watching over the foals of ponies she once knew as foals themselves. She didn’t feel – or look – much older than those days.

The bright side, though, was that instead of asking Cadance to watch over the two in familiar old Canterlot again, they’d offered their beachside vacation home in Horseshoe Bay. It only made sense, given that they had an entire long weekend to work with. It would give the kids something interesting to do. And it would give Cadance herself a much-needed bit of luxury and relaxation … or as much as she could get while still watching over these two. Though Night Light paid her handsomely for her foalsitting work, Twilight Velvet had insisted on giving this ‘vacation’ as a thank-you for always being there for them.

Honestly, it had never been much of a burden. Cadance loved spending time with Twilight and Shining. That was reward enough. But of course she wasn't going to turn down a free weekend at the beach, either! All expenses paid, too. They’d told her that the cabin would be fully stocked, and they’d even paid for the train tickets.

Shining was up and pacing between the two seats again.

“Tell me about this beach house,” she said to help distract him from the long train ride. “You and Twilight have been there a few times before with your parents, haven’t you? What’s it like?”

It did stop his anxious pacing. “Um… It’s way up on a hill in front of the beach. And it’s kind of small. Even smaller than our apartment in Canterlot. And it always kind of smells like lavender for some reason?”

“There’s a whole field of lavender plants in the neighbor’s yard,” Twilight said without looking up from her book.

“And there’s this little town nearby, but it’s nothing like Canterlot. It’s tiny, and only like ten ponies live there, so it gets really dark and quiet at night. Twilight really likes to go look at the stars – you can see them so much better there! And the town’s name is Hippogriff Harbor, but I’ve never seen a hippogriff there, and—”

“Nopony has seen a hippogriff in over four hundred years,” Twilight said. From the look in her eyes, she hadn’t even paused reading. She turned the page.

“Right, right. And it’s right next to the beach! We can go there and swim, right? It should be warm enough! But we have to watch out for jellyfish or else we—” He pressed his face against the window. “Look! It’s the Foal Mountains! We’re almost there!”

Cadance smiled. At least she’d managed to convert Shining’s excess physical energy into verbal energy. That was something. And Shining was right – if they were past the Foal Mountains already, the trip shouldn’t take much longer.

So she’d just listen to Shining gushing about their beach cabin. It seemed really important to him that she be impressed with it, that she’d like it as much as he did. Why? Shouldn’t he simply want to enjoy it himself? Why would he care so much what she thought of it? She was only their foalsitter, right? Or… Perhaps she’d become a bit more than just a foalsitter to these two. She’d certainly spent quite a lot of time with them.

And, to be honest with herself, these two had become much more to her than simply foals to take care of. Perhaps she shouldn’t begrudge Shining’s exuberance. How would she feel if she were taking them to one of her favorite childhood places? She might actually be worse when it came to hyping them up about it.

And so what if she’d seen beaches and beach-houses before? She’d seen many, many things before in her long life … but that didn’t have to make them any less enjoyable. She was looking forward to this weekend at the cabin. Maybe not as much as Shining, but his enthusiasm had a way of making her look at it with fresh eyes. Maybe that’s why she liked being around foals so much, and these two in particular. Maybe that’s why she kept foalsitting even though she was an alicorn now – a ‘Princess Apprentice’ as Auntie Celestia called her – and certainly didn’t need the money.

Cadance smiled at the young colt’s blabbering enthusiasm. Yes, there was nowhere else she’d rather be. It would be so easy to feel tired at her age, to feel empty inside when contemplating her long future as an alicorn. But not when she was around foals. Not when she had young Shining Armor gushing to her about ocean squalls, chasing seagulls around lighthouses, and long sandy stairways to the beach. That made it easier.

* * *

Shining Armor heaved all three suitcases up in front of the beach house’s door. He’d made quite a show of carrying all the luggage from the train station to the house. Even though he’d been using his magic most of the way, he made a point of heaving them the last little bit with brute physical strength.

Cadance smiled. Who was this silly little colt showing off for, huh? Maybe someday he’d be a big, burly stallion, but why be in such a hurry for that? Cadance had known him since he was in diapers. Surely he could relax and just take it easy around her, right? Though ... he did have some pretty well defined muscles for such a little colt, she had to admit. He'd probably be driving all the fillies crazy when he grew up.

She used her own magic to fish around in her saddlebags. Somewhere in there would be the scroll Twilight Velvet gave her, explaining everything about how to use their beach house … including the most immediately pertinent detail: where they’d hidden the key.

Just as she pulled out the scroll, though, Twilight lifted up one of several neglected-looking flowerpots around the front porch. “Here’s the key!” she said triumphantly.

Cadance put the scroll back into her saddlebag. Maybe she wouldn't need it after all. These two were getting older and more independent, that's for sure. If Twilight Velvet and Night Light had allowed it, Shining and Twilight could have made the whole trip on their own. Of course, somepony would have to come along just to make sure they didn’t get each other into too much trouble along the way.

“Come inside,” Twilight said, using her quickly improving control of magic to turn the key. “I can give you a tour of the house!”

“Nuh-uh!” Shining Challenged. “Let me give a tour of the house!”

Speaking of trouble… “Settle down, settle down,” she told them. “I know you’re both ready for a little excitement...” Too bad it was already evening, or she’d take them down to the beach to get some of that energy out. “Why don’t you show me the house together?”

The two of them were inside in a helter-skelter rush, almost leaving Cadance to haul the luggage inside herself ... before Shining came rushing back out, grinning sheepishly. “Whoops,” he said, “I'll get that.”

Grinning and shaking her head, she headed inside. Not as if it would have been any real strain on her magic anyway. Being an alicorn did have its benefits. And besides, ‘vacation’ or not, she was still the foalsitter here. She expected to have to do a few things for herself, after all. But it was still nice of him to help.

Inside, she immediately found herself in a quaint little kitchen. This beach house was ... efficient ... and finished in a rustic-looking gray wood. Rustic looking, but she could tell that it had been restored recently. It was a bit outdated, of course … but there was something charming about seeing the old architecture from the past.

She gestured for Shining to leave their baggage in the kitchen for now. It could wait. The two foals watching her eagerly obviously couldn't.

“Here’s the stairs up to the loft!” Shining said, pointing up a steep and narrow wooden stairway just on the other side of the kitchen.

Twilight, though, was vying for attention of her own now. She pointed the other way. “And this way’s the hallway that leads to both of the bedrooms!”

Only two bedrooms, hm? Twilight Velvet and Night Light hadn’t mentioned that. Then again, maybe they had. She hadn’t read that scroll all the way through yet. Maybe she should have. Oh well...

With both foals pointing different directions, Cadance had to make a choice. She told herself it didn’t matter which one of them pointed which way. She could never play favorites with these two. No, she made her decision mostly based on the long train ride and needing a little relief afterward. She followed Twilight down the hall and peeked into the room to her left. Small, but charming, and with a big window that looked out onto Horseshoe Bay. It would surely have quite a view for the sunrise. Very romantic. “I presume this is the room your parents normally stay in?”

Shining wasn't about to give up and let his sister take over the tour that easily, it seemed. He rushed past both of them, his little hooves clomping on the carpet, then pointed to the doors off either side of the hallway. “No, actually this is my room and—”

She blocked his path with her hoof. Not so fast. These foals would walk all over her if she didn’t set some boundaries. “And that room across the hall must be where you and Twilight stay?” A look in through the open door confirmed it. That room had separate single beds, instead of one big double.

Shining hung his head low. His silly little ruse wasn't working, and he knew it. “Um…” He laughed nervously. “Can’t blame me for trying though, right? I was really just, um… It was a pretty good joke, wasn't it?” He laughed nervously.

Cadance laughed at his antics. “Nice try, young stallion. But I wasn't born yesterday.”

He shrugged dismissively. “I’m almost as old as you are now!”

“You know I’m older than your mother, right?”

Shining tilted his head to the side, scrunching up his nose a little bit. “Wait, huh?”

“This is what you get for not doing your homework.” Twilight bopped him playfully right on the tip of his horn.

“Ow!” He reached up with a hoof to rub it.

“Settle down, you two,” Cadance told them, a hint of warning in her voice.

Twilight giggled. She’d timed it perfectly, getting Cadance to intervene before her brother had a chance to retaliate. Always a smart one, that filly. And always eager to show off her smarts, perhaps to excess. “Alicorns don’t age at the same rate as other ponies,” Twilight said in a lecturing tone that clashed terribly with her squeaky young voice. “They have really long lifespans, it can take dozens or even hundreds of years to age a single year.”

“Suffice it to say, I'm not as young as I look.” Cadance hoped that would settle it ... but of course Twilight loved to lecture...

“And Cadance became an alicorn when she was just starting to grow up, so yes, she’s older than Mom and Dad even. But it gets even better! Did you know that Princess Celestia and Princess Luna became alicorns when they were barely more than infants? The history books say that they were both well over a hundred years old before they even looked as old as you or I do!”

Would it really hurt to let him have the big bedroom and sleep with Twilight instead? Well … yes. Those beds were fairly small, and one of the unexpected downsides of growing even larger alicorn wings was trying to sleep with them. She needed all the bed space she could get, or she’d have sore wings in the morning for sure.

She patted Shining’s withers, hoping to cheer him up a little. Maybe if she let him finish the tour? “Actually, um, after that long train ride, the room I need most is the bathroom. Where’s that?”

She’d expected him to perk up and be excited that she’d asked him for this last vital part of the tour. But instead, he just blushed and stammered. Oh goodness … was the idea of her using the bathroom too much for him? He was getting old enough to get awkward around mares, wasn't he? But not old enough yet to get over that awkwardness. She had to smile. So cute!

Twilight, though, didn’t have any problem with that part. “It’s right down here at the end of the hallway!” she said, beaming with pride and importance. “But you can’t use it yet! We have to go around back and turn the water on first.”

Hm… Maybe that scroll would be useful after all. Letting Shining stew in the turbulent emotions of youth, she followed Twilight, off to get this house running and truly ready to use.

* * *

Cadance watched carefully over her saucepan as the cheesy rice stuffing for their stuffed peppers really started to simmer nicely. It was pretty thick, though, and she had to be careful to stir it constantly or it would start to burn and stick at the bottom.

That would have been a problem. After all, she also needed to open up all the sweet peppers and take the seeds and stems out. Maybe it was too ambitious a meal for their first night here after a long train ride, but when she’d seen all those beautiful peppers in the pantry, she hadn’t been able to resist. It all would have been a disaster and taken far too long … if not for Shining Armor’s help.

When he’d first offered to help, Cadance had almost turned him down. He was just a colt – would he really be helpful? She’d thought that he might only slow her down from constantly needing his hooves held through the entire process. But no. Actually, he’d been doing great. A little slow at it, maybe, but she’d only had to show him how to rip the core out of a bell pepper once before he was able to start doing it himself. The only little mistake she’d had to intervene with was reminding him to wash his hooves before he got started.

She wasn't sure why he’d suddenly offered to help when he’d never seemed interested in cooking before … but she wasn't about to turn down his help when she needed it so much. Maybe he was just becoming a little more mature and more willing to take responsibility for chores? He was really starting to grow up, wasn't he?

He was more helpful than his little sister, at any rate. She’d simply plopped down at the table with her book in front of her. That wasn't really anything to complain about, though. She was younger, after all. Maybe she’d take an interest in helping in the kitchen when she got a little older … though, knowing Twilight, she probably wouldn't.

“Hey BBBFF,” Twilight suddenly said, “did you know that Princess Celestia used to have a whole third cadre of guards who were all earth ponies?”

Shining didn’t respond, probably too busy with those peppers. Cadance kept a watchful eye on her saucepan.

Twilight made a little huffing sound. “I thought you were interested in this kind of stuff…?” She paused. Must have finally looked up from her book. “Hey! Why are you staring at Cadance’s butt? I’m trying to talk to you!”

“I … I wasn't staring!”

By the time Cadance looked over at Shining Armor, he wasn't staring. But he was working extremely diligently on those peppers, giving them far more concentration and attention than needed. And there was a deep red blush spreading on his cheeks. Oh … oh my… He was starting to grow up in more ways than one, wasn't he? Was that the reason he’d wanted to help, so he could be close behind where she was working?

She suppressed a little giggle. No need to embarrass the poor colt even more! She’d just have to remember to be a little more careful around him. Wouldn't want to corrupt the poor little guy. So she tried not to move quite as much while stirring the pot, and she kept her tail nice and low to cover herself.

Still, though, she couldn't help but feel a little pleased with herself. She knew she was quite the attractive mare, but to awaken feelings like that in a colt who didn’t even have his cutie mark yet … that was just on an entirely different level, wasn't it? Was she the very first mare he’d ever noticed like that? She had to hide the grin growing on her face, though there was little she could do to conceal her own slight blush. In a way, that was quite a compliment little Shining Armor had just inadvertently given her. Even with all the reasons for self-confidence in the world, a little validation now and then didn’t hurt!

And it didn’t stop there! Even with her holding her tail modestly low and trying not to make too much of a show as she stirred her pot, she kept catching him through the corner of her eye. My my, he was really staring at her, wasn't he?

Silly colt thought nobody was noticing it just because she wasn't looking directly at him. But of course she had pretty good peripheral vision, and she was more perceptive than he realized.

But she didn’t make any move to stop him or call him out on it. Twilight had already done that, and it obviously hadn’t changed anything. No point in embarrassing him even more. Besides, Cadance was willing to admit to a little vanity. It felt nice to be so blatantly admired from someone so guileless about it. So innocent, so honest... Shining’s gaze didn’t come with the kind of corrupt perversion she felt when stallions ogled her. He probably just thought she was pretty and didn’t even understand the feelings rushing through his young mind when he looked at her.

She smiled even more, allowing herself to wiggle her hips again as she stirred the saucepan. Oh, let him look. It was harmless enough.

“Shining!” Twilight called out. “Cadance, he’s doing it again!”

Startled by his sister’s outcry, Shining stumbled off the kitchen stool. One of his hooves hit the cutting board as he tried to catch himself, sending all of the precious peppers flying.

Cadance caught them – and Shining – just in time with her magic, hovering all the peppers and the blushing colt just barely above the floor. She wasn't sure which was redder – the peppers or his face.

Shining looked up at her with an oversized, forced smile. “I… I wasn't…” He looked down for a moment, then back. “Uh … nice catch!” Again, his smile wasn't entirely convincing. Poor colt must have been so embarrassed.

“Hm, looks like you’ve finished the peppers,” she said, tactfully ignoring the cause of the accident in the first place. She wondered how long ago he’d finished with them. Had he just been pretending to work on them as he stared at her backside? She placed the peppers back on the cutting board and placed Shining back down on the floor. “Well, I’d better get these filled and put in the oven. Hope you two are hungry!” She smiled at Shining. “And, thank you for helping me.”

Shining looked up at her as if he was about to say something, but then stopped.

What was he going to say? Did it bother him that she shrugged his staring off without comment? Was he relieved? Did he want to deny it again? No real way of telling, not without asking him, anyway, and the last thing she needed to do right now was ruin the mood of the evening even more by pressing the issue. Just let it slide. Maybe she’d talk to him after Twilight went to bed. Explain to him why it might be impolite to stare at mares like that. For now, it was time to simply focus on dinner. She was glad she was making something special for the first night of their little vacation. It made the day almost perfect.

* * *

Twilight, of course, had shot straight back to her room after dinner, to – as she put it – catch up on some light reading. Didn’t she get plenty of that on the train? Must be some book she was working her way through.

But Shining Armor stuck around. “Um, Cadance … can I talk to you?” he said after a few moments of quietly and nervously milling about.

She paused, turning off the sink. Could it have something to do with how he was staring at her earlier?

“What’s the matter, Shining?” She turned, looking at him and wondering if he wanted to talk about what she thought he wanted to talk about, or if it would just be some unrelated mundane thing.

For a long moment, he was quiet, his lips pursed. He shuffled awkwardly … glanced away.

He was blushing terribly. That confirmed what she’d thought, didn’t it? Why else would he be blushing like that? Was he really mature enough to come forward and talk about it on his own?

“I um … back when we were in the kitchen…”

Well, it was a start, but he just fizzled out after that. Maybe a little nudge to get him back on track? “We’re in the kitchen right now.”

“I mean back when we were cooking…” He grimaced, but this time he seemed to summon the internal fortitude to keep going. “Back when Twilight caught me looking at…” One more little gulp. “I … actually was.”

Cadance smiled. Ah, how nice of him to admit it, at least. “I noticed,” she said in what she hoped was a comforting tone. “You’re … not very good at hiding it, you know.”

That made his blush even worse, but at least her smile seemed to lighten his nervousness a little. He spoke more freely now: “I’m sorry. I know … I know I’m not supposed to stare. Not then … and not any of the other times I’ve done it. I … I kind of do it a lot, I guess. Is that bad?”

That wasn't exactly a surprise to her. It had been happening for quite some time now. As she’d said, he wasn't very good at hiding it. And Cadance had an eye for these things. It was part of her special talent, after all. Still, it was very brave of him to be honest about it with her. In all her long life, she was sure she’d never met any other colt his age who would be able to admit to such a secret. She’d thought she would have to confront him about it later and give him a talk … but here he was, freely admitting it, all on his own. And that was definitely something worth admiring. She was proud of him.

“Well, maybe it’s a little bad. Other mares might get pretty offended if you look at them like that.” Why wasn't she offended? Maybe she should have been, but she’d been around long enough to know there’s nothing that will stop young colts from looking. Not like it was hurting her in any way. “But I’m sure someday soon you’ll meet a very special filly to be your special somepony. You should probably save the looking for her, okay?”

“But that’s just it! I…” He bit his lip. “I’m, um… Cadance, I…”

Uh-oh. He’d gotten a little tongue-tied again, hadn’t he? “It’s okay, Shining. You can tell me. I promise to keep it a secret if you want. Have you already met your special filly?”

He nodded. Rather urgently.

Aha! So that was the problem! She smiled, ready to give him the best relationship advice anypony in Equestria could offer. It was her special talent, after all. “Who’s the lucky filly?”

“It’s…” he looked up at her desperately.

“Mm-hm?”

“It’s you! I really really like you!”

What? No, that couldn't be.

He crouched down, hiding his face and closing his eyes as if he expected to be struck by lightning for such impertinence. And only after several moments passed without any such divine smiting did he finally crack open one eye and peek up at her.

Cadance was still processing this revelation. So wrong. Even if she were only her apparent age, she’d still be a fair bit too old for him. At her actual age, that was … that was ridiculous. Unthinkable! Then again, she was quickly approaching the point where that would be true of anypony … unless she wanted to go around dating wrinkled old grandfathers ‘til the end of time, which she was absolutely not going to do. Finally, she managed to say, “Me? You’re … you’re sure?”

“Uh-huh!” He perked right up, a huge smile on his face and his eyes big and glittering. “You’re the most amazing pony ever! You’re beautiful, you’re caring, you’re kind—”

“But Shining…” She stopped him. “Don’t you… Wouldn't you rather have somepony your own age? Some nice filly from school maybe?”

Shining Armor shook his head vehemently. “They’re … they’re not like you! They’re just…” He shook his head again. “How am I supposed to like them when I know a mare as amazing as you?”

Wow… He’d developed quite a crush, hadn’t he? This was serious. “Well, Shining,” she started, “I’m glad you were brave enough to tell me about this, but—”

“Cadance!” Twilight came trotting into the kitchen, a storybook held up in her magic. “Can you read me a bedtime story?”

Cadance rolled her eyes a little. “But you enjoy reading so much. Don’t you want to read it yourself?”

“It’s a bedtime story. It wouldn’t be the same!”

With a shrug, Cadance put the dishes aside and followed Twilight toward the doorway. She glanced at Shining as they walked by. “Just a few minutes,” she told him softly. He nodded and went to finish cleaning the dishes for her. That was a nice touch.

Honestly, it was probably for the best. Give him a little while to cool down and come to his senses. He was really worked up right now. After she tucked Twilight in to bed – her bedtime was an hour before Shining’s, since she was younger – then she could talk Shining out of his little crush on her. It was flattering, sure, but it wasn't right for a young colt like him to be with an older mare like her. She’d just have to explain that … and maybe use a little of her love magic to find him a more age-appropriate special somepony among his classmates… Ooh, wouldn't that be fun? She did really enjoy matchmaking, after all!

* * *

When she got back from Twilight's bedtime story, Shining was nowhere to be found, at least at first. The dishes that had been in the sink were finished, but he hadn’t put a towel down to prevent the water from dripping from the countertop to the floor. She didn’t find him until she checked in the loft upstairs, where she found him sitting quietly on the couch, looking out the windows.

He was never one to sit still for long. This wasn't a good sign. He wasn't taking her reaction, or lack of reaction, to his proposition well, was he?

She couldn't be his marefriend, but maybe she could still cheer him up a little. And Cadance knew just how to do it. “How about a little game of Ramparts and Machicolations?” She knew she had the board game in her baggage – brought just in case of a rainy day – and she knew it just happened to be Shining’s favorite game.

His face lit up. He smiled.

Yeah, this was the right move. They could set it up right here on the coffee table in front of the couch. It would be the perfect way to keep him distracted and occupied with other thoughts while she worked on the idea of finding him a more age-appropriate special somepony!

By the time they set the board up, Shining Armor was already in high spirits again. She even had to remind him to stay quiet while his sister was trying to sleep downstairs. She had him sit down on the couch next to her. After all, the game was almost ready to play.

* * *

As soon as the dice hit the coffee table, Shining barked a little laugh. “Ha – machicolation!” Not even waiting for her to do it, he moved her game piece – a little pink wooden pony – back down to the previous row.

It was perhaps a bit rude of him to move it for her, and to laugh at her for the bad roll, but Cadance let it slide. She had bigger concerns. Besides, he’d had a run of bad luck trying to get past the moat in the beginning and had been way behind for most of the game. With this new bad roll of hers, he might finally pass her, especially if his next roll got him a rampart.

He picked up the dice, shaking them in his hooves while grinning up at her. He definitely was looking forward to passing her.

Well, maybe now that he was in a good mood … maybe it was time to finally bring certain things up. “You know, Shining, there are some really cute fillies in your class at school.”

He froze just as he was about to roll the dice, looked up at her, bit his lip a little. When he finally dropped the dice on the table, he barely looked at them. Just a four. Okay progress, but no rampart and no machicolation. His blue wooden pony got a bit closer to her playing piece, but that was all.

“I met some of them, remember – that time both your mom and dad were both sick and I had to take you to school?”

It was quite a while ago, and she’d only met them once. She wished she remembered them all, but she’d have to make the best she could of the couple she could remember. Who knew, maybe one of them would spark Shining’s fancy?

He passed the dice to her with his fledgling magic, but she didn’t roll them yet. “What about Honey Doo? She’s a unicorn like you, and she’s pretty cute, isn’t she? I wonder if she’s as sweet as her name?” She was white with a pale green mane, the two of them really would look cute together…

“She eats her own boogers.” Shining shook his head with a little shudder. “No way! Just roll the dice.”

Oh… Cadance did roll. And she also got a four, keeping their progress equal for now. Hm… the only other one who’d stood out to her enough for her to remember now was a little gray filly who’d seemed very composed and mature for her age. Maybe she would be the one for Shining... “What about Octavia? I’m sure she wouldn't do anything as disgusting as that!”

Shining held the dice but didn’t roll. “All Octavia cares about is music. She never talks about anything else.”

Hm… Two down, and Cadance seemed to be falling flat so far. She wished she remembered more of the fillies from Shining’s class. Surely out of twenty or thirty young ponies there would be somepony there who’d be a perfect fit for him!

“Well, tell me about the other fillies in your class. Which one do you think is the prettiest?” Okay, maybe a little shallow, but she needed some names to work from. Once she had that, she could ask him more and find out what other qualities the pretty filly might have for him…

“I don’t know…” He shrugged and rolled the dice. “Ten! That’s … that’s a rampart! I passed you! Yes!”

“Oh yeah?” She picked up the dice. “Well we’ll just see about that!” Without realizing it, she’d moved a little closer in order to reach the dice. Their legs were touching. She thought nothing of it, but it would soon become more important than she realized.

A four. Another four. Well, she was officially running behind now. Maybe Shining would win after all. This game was pretty much purely luck-based, but Shining always seemed to win at it somehow.

Well, that was okay, because Cadance was really playing a quite different game here – a game she always won.

Shining obviously wasn't fully appreciating the fillies in his class, so she’d just have to see if she couldn't spark his interest a little.

“I know you want me, but you really do deserve a filly your own age. Just imagine, somepony you could go on dates with and, you know, hold hooves with.” She rolled the dice again. An eight. Not too bad.

But when Shining rolled, he got an eleven. Wow, really getting lucky now, wasn’t he?

Cadance rolled again. Only a five. But she did get a rampart with that roll, which just barely put her ahead of Shining again. “She’d probably have her very first kiss with you, can you imagine doing that?”

He didn’t respond. He was looking away.

“And maybe, when your parents aren’t looking, you could even sneak off with her and have a few other firsts, hm?” She leaned even closer. “Have you ever touched a filly before, Shining?”

He shook his head and rolled again. A nine. Only one space behind her now!

“You could take her out for a dance, watch the stars together, and one thing leads to another. Doesn’t that sound nice?” She rolled again. A perfect twelve! That would put her way ahead of him, almost at the finish line of the game! Except … that her twelve landed her on a machicolation, sending her right back to the next row down, far behind.

She looked over at him, hoping to see that her words of encouragement were having the desired effect. Or at least to see him perking up now that he was almost certain to win. Her jaw dropped when she saw it. Maybe her words, and her hips being right up against his, were having too much of an effect. There was Shining’s cute little cock, standing tall and proud between his legs. Not quite the sort of perking up she was trying for. Oh dear…

Shining followed the direction of her eyes. He ended up looking at his own lap.

He gasped. “Oh, no! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” For a brief moment, he looked around in pure panic … before spotting the table cloth the game board was sitting on. Shining yanked the corner up toward his crotch, moving the game board and knocking the pieces out of place.. “Um, that’s just, uh…” He was blushing so red she thought he might burst from the pressure inside. He squirmed against the couch, turning around to hide more of himself from her. “I wasn't… It just does that sometimes when I think about you and stuff.”

With her magic, Cadance began collecting up the scattered game pieces and dice. Such minor messes were routine when foalsitting; tidying them was something she did thoughtlessly and automatically at this point. She smiled to him as she did it, hoping to comfort him. “Don’t worry, it’s okay.” She placed the game back in its box, then the game board on top, forming the box’s lid. “It’s nothing I haven’t seen before, and it’s perfectly natural.”

Shining was still sitting there with his hind legs clenched tightly, the tablecloth clutched against his body. He was as far away from her as he could go without getting up off of the sofa, which might have risked exposing him again.

Poor thing. He must have been so mortified! She couldn't let him suffer like that. “Why don’t you let me help take care of it?” She touched the edge of the tablecloth, but didn’t pull it away yet.

His eyes went wide. His lips quivered a bit. “T-take care of it?”

Cadance felt something pulse through the tablecloth. Goodness! Was that his tip, all the way up there? Not bad for a colt his age, not bad at all. By take care of it, she’d meant coaching him through how to take care of himself, of course. With only minimal assistance at most. But now…

No, she would not allow herself a single lustful thought about a young colt entrusted in her care! Unthinkable! No, the reason she started running her hoof up and down that sizable bulge in the tablecloth was that … ah, yes! Maybe having a little bit of experience now would be just the thing to help get him over his crush on her. Once he’d ‘been there and done that’, so to speak, then surely he’d be ready to move on to some more age-appropriate love interests. She stroked him slowly but firmly through the tablecloth.

“Cadie … I…”

Cadance looked up at his face, rather than where she’d been looking before.

His eyes were huge. Brimming with the light of wonderful new experiences opening up to him, but also a rumbling mountain of nervous trepidation waiting to break free.

“Is this okay?” she asked, vowing to herself that she’d stop if he wanted her to. Of course she would.

He nodded. Short, jerky, barely controlled movements of his head. It made his blue mane go even more out of place than usual.

Cadance smiled. Hooked her hoof against the edge of the tablecloth and pulled it down out of the way. “Let me come a little closer, Shining. I’ll help this little problem of yours go away.”

Shining moved stiffly, woodenly as she scooched closer to him. And not just the part of him that was supposed to be stiff. He looked like he was constantly worried that he might ruin the whole situation by happening to do the wrong thing at the wrong moment. But at least that did make him very cooperative. When she moved right up next to him, he looked up at her as if he still wasn't sure if she was quite real.

Well, there was one easy way to prove to him how real this was. She grinned reached down, spreading his hind legs apart.

There he was, in all his newly budding glory. His pink-mottled shaft was bit above average for his age, matched by an adorably tight little ballsack just beneath, so smooth and innocent-looking. For the first time, she stroked him without anything in the way.

Shining gasped sharply the moment her hoof first made contact.

She froze. “Are you okay?”

He nodded fervently, his lips squeezed shut as if he was afraid of what he might say.

Oh, he’d calm down soon enough. It was only natural to be nervous for his first time. He was lucky to have a foalsitter who happened to have a special talent for love, wasn't he? Gently, starting him off with something that wouldn't overwhelm him too much, Cadance started stroking her hoof up and down his cock, cradling his shaft with the soft, fluffy fur just behind the last joint of her foreleg.

The effect on him was dramatic. His entire little body tensed. He squirmed against the sofa. His hips pressed upward, humping his cock up against her hoof. And the whole time, he stared into her eyes as if he was getting lost in them.

Well well, he did have a way of making a mare feel special, didn’t he? Usually Cadance had to do a lot more than a gentle hoofjob to get stallions to look at her like that.

She leaned closer, looking down at his cute little tip, already beading with pre-cum. Oh he was so excited, wasn't he?

Cadance found herself drawing closer and closer down toward his cock as she stroked him. Was she really going to…? With a young colt like Shining? She truly shouldn’t. And yet … would it hurt just to taste that little dollop of pre on his tip? Surely not. After all, she’d already crossed certain lines, and she was sure he wouldn't mind.

Already extending her tongue in anticipation, she bent down to close the last little distance and finally get her taste.

Shining’s tip flared. In the space between one stroke and the next, he came.

Oh goodness! It just came so quickly! Before she knew it, a gooey white strand plapped across her muzzle. And another right into her open mouth. A smaller third one fell short of her face and dripped back down onto Shining himself. She leaned into it, enjoying the feeling of its warmth soaking into her fur, trying to catch all she could. This was always one of her favorite moments...

“Oh no! I’m sorry!” Shining covered his fiercely blushing face with his hooves. “I didn’t—”

Cadance placed her hoof against his thigh. “Ssh. It’s alright. It happens more often than you’d think.” With her magic, she brought the tablecloth over and wiped her face with it. She’d have to remember to put that in the laundry before Twilight woke up in the morning… “I guess I still give pretty good hoof-jobs, don’t I?” She giggled to herself a little. Why … she hadn’t given a hoof-job all the way to completion since when, Flight Camp? It was nice to enjoy the simple things again from time to time, wasn't it?

“I’m sorry! I… I don’t know why I’m so bad at this! It was just so—”

“It’s okay. Really, it is.” Cadance moved the tablecloth down to his thighs, getting the little bit of cum that had wound up there. “You didn’t do anything wrong – you’re perfect just the way you are.”

Before she was even done wiping up his cum, Shining’s cock had already begun to recover. Though it had wilted, of course, immediately after he came, it was already rising back up twitch by twitch, almost as if it was in time with his little heartbeat. Now it was almost completely hard again. The blessing of youth, she supposed. Or perhaps the curse, depending on how one looked at it.

Still … she couldn't allow his very first time to be a disappointment, could she? What sort of Princess of Love would she become if she let it end like that? The poor colt would probably end up with some kind of anxiety complex. He’d never be able to get together with a filly his own age if he was constantly worried about blowing it prematurely like that. She’d better show him a nicer time of it, show him what it’s supposed to be like…

Slowly, she came closer to him, sliding down into a lying position until her muzzle was almost against his cock. And she looked up into his eyes. “Do you want me to keep going?”

Shining nodded so eagerly that she thought his horn might fly off!

“Okay. Try to last a little longer this time. The longer you last, the more you get.”

He nodded again. Solemnly this time. His best ‘I want to be a Royal Guard someday’ face. So cute!

That sternly controlled demeanor on his face quickly vanished, though, when Cadance lowered her head a little and took the tip of his cock into her mouth. Shining gasped. His whole body jerked a little, and his mouth opened into a huge ‘O’ of surprise.

She took the still-dripping head of his cock into her mouth and plunged down on it, easily taking his small length all the way down to his sheath. But that was only the beginning, of course. Humming contentedly to herself as she worked, Cadance twisted her head slightly, while running her lips around the rim of his sheath and licking absolutely everything she could reach with her tongue, both inside and out. One of her hooves played with his adorable little ballsack as much for her enjoyment of that tight little pouch as for making him feel good. And her other hoof … well, that hoof was busy between her own hind legs. Just because she wasn't supposed to be enjoying this didn’t mean she shouldn’t enjoy it – if she was doing it anyway, why shouldn’t she have a little fun of her own?

And Shining Armor? He was being a real trooper about it! His cock flared in the back of her throat after only a few minutes of giving him her full attention, and she’d been worried that he was going to blow right away again … but no. His whole body tensed and strained, but he did not let himself go.

It was admirable, really, especially given that she knew just how hard he was trying. She’d known plenty of experienced stallions who wouldn't be able to keep up that kind of self-restraint. Not bad, little colt…

Not to mention, of course, it was fun to feel his flared tip punching its way in and out of her throat as she bobbed her head on him. With a full-grown stallion, even a mare as talented as her wouldn't have been able to keep going like this after he was completely flared … but with little Shining, she could enjoy him to the fullest. And she certainly did. The hoof working between her hind legs was getting so soaked now…

“Cadie! It’s … it’s so…” Shining moaned, his hind hooves trembling against the sofa. “I can’t…”

She paused at the very tip of his cock and looked up into his eyes, silently giving him permission.

One little squeeze of his cute little balls later, and the inevitable happened.

It came quickly, and it came abundantly. The series of long, jetting spurts of cum that splashed into her mouth would have been something to be proud of for any stallion, much less such a young colt! With her mouth quickly filling up, she actually had to swallow some before he was even finished! Having to hold himself back like that must have really done wonders – Cadance was truly impressed. Oh, to think what he might be capable of once he grew up! She rubbed herself furiously with her hoof. Mmm… So nice…

In the interest of giving him the best experience possible, she held her mouth open for him as his orgasm finally stopped, showing him the pool of cum inside.

“Cadie,” he said between labored breaths, “you’re … you’re amazing! I never thought…”

Slowly, provocatively, she closed her mouth and swallowed. It took a moment to get the gooey mass of it down, but she did it. She had a reputation to uphold. “There. Now that you’ve had me, you’re ready to think about other fillies now, right? Just think about how they could make you feel!” She wasn't even sure if she was convincing herself at this point. Her hoof was still moving behind her. Goddess, why did his little cock have to be so cute, even when it was softening, dribbling out the last of his cum, and shrinking back into his sheath?

She’d expected him to say something about how he still only wanted her – maybe because she’d done too good of a job with that blowjob? – but what he actually said took her entirely by surprise: “Um… You helped me. Can I help you?”

That gave her pause. Her hoof actually stopped moving.

“I’m… I know I’m probably not very good at it, but I want to make you feel good too.”

Oh goodness! Why was that making her feel so fluttery inside? And was she … was she blushing? She hadn’t truly blushed in years. There wasn't much that could still do that to her. “Oh my,” she said. “What a gentlecolt!”

He looked at her earnestly. Gulped. He was obviously trying to be brave, but there was a tremor of nervousness in his eyes. Oh, it would just crush him if she said no, wouldn't it?

She couldn't do that to him. What kind of foalsitter would that make her?

And besides … she really could use it, couldn't she? Her pussy winked hard, seemingly upset that her hoof was slacking off. It wouldn't really be that bad to have a little fun with him … not after all she’d already done. And, of course, she’d want to encourage such thoughtfulness in the colt. What kind of lesson would he take from this if she declined his generous offer? He’d probably grow up to be one of the already far too many stallions who thought such a thing was beneath them…

“Scoot over,” she told him. “And get ready to do it just how I say.”

Shining instantly jumped to the side of the couch, giving her lots of room. His little face looked so serious and earnest!

Cadance turned around on the couch in a much more leisurely way, even though she was actually feeling a bit nervous herself. Was she doing the right thing here? She hadn’t been with a colt this small since she was the same size. And she was pretty clearly going well beyond her duties as a foalsitter here, even given the flimsy justifications she’d invented for herself already. What would happen if Twilight woke up and saw them like this? What would happen if somepony else somehow found out?

Even as she laid herself down on her back in front of Shining, she was just about to call the whole thing off, having convinced herself that it was a horribly wrong idea…

But then she saw the way his face lit up when her hind legs spread open for him. Her pussy was clearly the most wonderful thing he’d ever seen in his whole life. He didn’t need to say it – it was clear from the look on his face alone. Such wide-eyed longing!

“C-can I?” he asked, already quivering.

She smiled. “Come here.” He was just too cute!

Instantly, he was down there between her hind legs. “Here?” he asked, basically talking to her pussy, not her.

“Mm-hm. You’ve… You’ve never seen one so close, have you?”

He licked his lips. “It’s … it’s so pretty! You’re pretty, Cadie!”

Oh, she knew. But it was nice to have a little reminder now and then. She wiggled a little against the sofa cushions, just luxuriating in the compliment … and also showing off a little.

“Woah! It … it opened up, all on its own!”

He really didn’t have any idea what he was doing, did he? “That’s called a wink,” she told him. “When you see a filly do that, it means she’s excited and she wants to be touched there.”

“You’re…” For a brief flash, he actually looked away from her pussy and up into her eyes. “You really want me to touch you there?”

“But sometimes it can do that all on its own, so just because you see a wink doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want with her. You still have to ask her and make sure you have permission to touch her in places like that. It’s very important – don’t forget that!”

He nodded solemnly, not taking his eyes off her in the slightest. “Can I have permission to touch your, your um…”

“My pussy.”

“Can I touch your … pussy, Cadie?” It was obviously such an effort for him to actually say it, and yet so surprisingly heartfelt. So sweet!

“Just be gentle.”

When the first touch of Shining’s hoof finally came, it was so feather light that it sent tingles all through Cadance’s body. If only he knew what it was doing to her! She gasped – maybe that would be enough for him to guess.

“Was that… Was that okay?”

“Oh that was very okay.” Cadance smiled down at him. “Try it again.”

This time, he traced the whole contour of her pussy lips, from top to bottom, making her shudder and moan a little. Her pussy winked for him again … but alas, he wasn't brave enough yet to touch her clit as it jumped outward to meet him.

“Can I…?”

“You can try being a little firmer.” This teasing was starting to be too much. She needed more! “Go ahead and explore. I want you to find out what a mare is like, okay?”

Shining was still quite gentle. To a fault. It was like he was worried that he was going to break her. But he did actually start touching her enough that he’d be able to feel the softness of her pussy lips. He even pulled those lips to the side a little, opening her slightly so that he could see inside. Her pussy winked again, inviting him to do more than just look, but he still seemed scared of touching any of her needy inner flesh.

She propped herself up a little, looking down at him. “Why don’t you try…”

And that’s when she saw it. No … impossible! Was he really hard again? Already? But there it was, Shining’s little cock, bobbing stiffly beneath him, quite visible down there between his forelegs.

“Are you okay? Did you want me to … um…?”

She still couldn't quite believe his cock was ready to go again so soon … but since it was… Could she really take advantage of that? Was she prepared to do that with him? It was tempting. It would be so much easier to get satisfaction from feeling his oh-so-eager little cock inside her than to try and coach such an inexperienced colt through proper cunnilingus…

What was she thinking? No! She couldn't do that! Unless… Well, if she was only making sure his first time was completely fulfilling … she couldn't just leave him like that could she? He was only like that because he’d tried to help her in return. How could she deny him now? That would be a terrible thing to do to a colt on his very first time!

“Actually,” she said, still not quite believing the words were coming out of her mouth, “why don’t you try putting your cock inside me?”

Shining’s mouth dropped open. “Huh?”

“You know, your privates. Your penis.”

“I… I know what it is! I know what cock means!”

Oh… Well now, where had he learned that word? She’d have to remember to ask him sometime. But not now. It might ruin the moment.

“You … you want me to put it…?” Shining looked down at her pussy, apparently unable to bring himself to say that particular word.

“Only if you truly want to.”

He nodded fervently, desperately. Poor little colt, he wanted her so badly!

“Well come on, then,” she said, spreading her hind legs a little wider for him. Oh, she was really going too far now, wasn't she? But it would be so rude of her to rescind an offer like that after already making it. And besides … it was for his own good, right? Once he got over her and realized she was just like any other mare, maybe she’d finally be able to get him interested in some fillies his own age…

Shining moved toward her almost as if floating. If it weren’t for the lack of sparkling light around his horn, she might have thought he was levitating himself with magic. He seemed magnetically drawn to her, as if it was a force of nature bringing the two of them together.

Maybe it was? When was her last cycle? Oh goodness! He was already there, already pressing his tip against her pussy lips! Quickly, Cadance fired off one of her most practiced and well-rehearsed spells: simple contraception.

And not a moment too soon. Because it seemed that Shining hadn’t quite gotten over his hair-trigger issues yet. On his very first thrust – just as he slid his cock snugly into her pussy – he flared.

Gamely, the little colt kept going, keeping himself from climaxing by sheer willpower alone. With little grunts of straining effort, he kept pushing in and out of her as long as he could ... but that wasn't very long. After only a dozen thrusts or so, nature took its inevitable course.

Cadance gasped a little in surprise, but it was unmistakable: the way his little cock throbbed and pulsed inside her, the way he trembled and panted against her body, the subtle feeling of creamy warmth spreading inside her. It seemed like a good deal less than what he’d pumped into her mouth. Probably the last he had left to give.

“Mmm, there you go,” she said reaching down a little to pet his mane. “Let it all out for me, Shiny.”

Well, so much for her getting the satisfaction she was looking for. She should have known better than to play around with such a young colt, no matter how adorably charming he was. He collapsed against her, his cock beginning to soften inside her. He’d really spent himself, hadn’t he? Three times in a row…

Still, she wanted to make sure he had a good experience. “You felt so good inside me, Shiny,” she told him. It was true. That one brief thrust had felt pretty good. Her body had been screaming for something like that … just a lot more of it. “I’m so glad you gave your virginity to me. I know how special that is.”

Inside herself, she felt a little twitch … a slight swelling. Could it be? No … he couldn't have another one in him … could he?

Well, it wouldn't hurt to find out, would it? “Are you … are you sure you’re done, Shining Armor? I could keep going, if you’ve got more for me…”

His head whipped up. He looked straight at her. The hazy exhaustion in his eyes instantly cleared into a steely resolve. Oh goodness! Just what had she awoken in him? Gritting his teeth, he started pushing his half-withered cock against her again in long, deep thrusts.

His body, though, couldn't quite keep up with his determination, it seemed. His cock was still too soft for that kind of play. It bent instead of sliding inwards, and after only a couple thrusts like that, it popped out completely, smearing colt cum over her inner thigh on its way out.

That wasn't about to deter Cadance, though. She knew he was getting hard again … he just needed a little help and guidance. He just didn’t quite know how to handle himself, did he?

With her magic, she took hold of his gradually recovering cock and lined it up with her winking, dripping pussy lips again. “Take it nice and slow at first,” she told him. “We have all night. Don’t try to rush it. Here, let me get you back inside.” She moaned a little as his cock re-entered her. It was already starting to feel like a familiar and very welcome guest! “Now don’t pull out so far again until you’re nice and hard, okay?”

Shining nodded, and this time when he started thrusting again, he was much slower and more careful about it. The poor little guy was already getting pretty sweaty and gross, and she could feel him shaking – no longer the trembling of nervousness, this was the tremors of muscles being asked to do more than they were truly capable of. Was she pushing him too hard? No … he was pushing himself. Something she’d said must have awoken his competitive spirit, made him take it as a challenge … or maybe he was just trying to impress her.

Well, it was working. It felt lovely to have his little cock working inside her again, especially now that he was starting to get fully hard again. And it felt even better to know that he was that dedicated to making her happy.

She leaned back into the couch, raising her legs a little and propping them against the side rest in order to give Shining a better angle, so he could push into her even deeper. This way, he’d be able to use every last little bit of what length he had to work with. This way, she could easily watch him as he humped doggedly into her. It was a nice change from most stallions’ usual mounting position.

It was a little thrilling, too, seeing him so earnest about it, putting absolutely everything he had into it. He looked up at her with such blissful desperation in his eyes!

Cadance had to admit that this little colt’s stamina and determination were impressive. Honestly, that fact alone was really starting to turn her on. What a little stud! She was so lucky to have him! Or maybe it was the way he trembled a little bit each time he pushed himself as far inside her as she could reach. That did feel awfully nice…

She was … she was actually getting kind of close! If only she could keep him going a little longer… Time to test the limits of that impressive stamina of his! “Come on,” she whispered between her soft moans, “show me what you’ve got.”

“Cadance, I…”

“Don’t quit on me now, Shiny! I’m so close! You’re such an amazing little stud! You’re doing so good! Show me what you can do, little guy…” She could barely focus as her peak approached closer and closer.

He pushed himself all the way inside her, hugging her body tightly as his whole body shook. “C-c-c… Cadance!”

His little cock spasmed inside her. She could tell that hardly anything was coming out of it – the poor colt was just too spent for that – but he was orgasming all the same. His modest length kicked and pulsed against her inner walls.

Oh she was so close! “Come on, just a little more! I’m almost there…”

But it was no use. After the last twitches of his cock, Shining collapsed against her belly, completely limp. He felt almost lifeless. Oh dear, had she really drained him that badly? The poor thing, his eyes were already drooping as he looked woozily up at her. “I’m … I’m so tired…”

“Don’t worry. It’s okay.” She petted his mane as she guided his head down to rest against her body. “It’s perfectly fine. I know you did your very best, and that’s all that anypony could ask.” Besides, it was to be expected, right? A colt as young and inexperienced as him? A mare as beautiful as herself? She really shouldn’t have gotten herself so worked up expecting an orgasm of her own. “As long as you had fun on your first time, I’m happy.”

And she was happy about it … even though it did leave her feeling pretty pent-up. Her pussy winked incessantly, demanding more as Shining’s softening cock slipped out of her, spilling his cum onto the couch. But there was no more to be had. Shining was absolutely spent. He didn’t have a single drop left to give, and he’d certainly already over-exerted himself to the point where the poor little colt was going to be sore in the morning.

“I'm ... I'm sorry I don't have a ring for you...” He could barely keep himself awake as he mumbled against her fur.

She petted him some more, wrapping her hind hooves around him to hold him tight. “Don’t worry. I’ll be here tomorrow night too.”

For a long while, the two of them cuddled together like that. Cadance breathed deeply as Shining slept and twitched. Oh goodness, what had she gotten herself into now?

She’d have to have a talk with him, ask him very nicely not to ever tell anypony about this. Though she was sure she hadn’t really done anything that would truly harm him in the long run – quite the contrary, most likely – it still would not look good at all if Twilight Velvet and Night Light found out about it. Or anypony else for that matter.

And, of course, there would be cleaning up to do. Both here at the upstairs couch and in the kitchen downstairs that she had never quite finished.

She’d have enough time for all of that, of course. As long as she settled for getting a little less sleep. That was a common enough problem when foalsitting, even without anything like what had happened tonight. It did mean she’d have to get up and get Shining into his own bed soon, or she’d really be missing a lot of sleep tonight.

“Okay, Shiny,” she said, lifting his chin up with her hoof. “I think it’s past your bedtime, isn’t it?” Carefully, she eased herself out from underneath him and propped him up on the couch. Hopefully she wouldn't have to carry him…

At first when Shining went into a kneeling position there on the couch cushions, she thought it meant he would need to be carried … but he had something else in mind. He held his hoof out to her, empty, and drowsily said, “Cadance, will you marry me?”

Oh goodness! What silly little ideas of chivalry or honor had made him think he had to do that?

She laughed a little, hoping it didn't sound too impolite. “Easy there, stud. Come on, let’s get you to bed. We can worry about that when you’re a little older, okay?”

“So … no?” He looked almost on the verge of tears.

Cadance kissed him on the forehead. “Think of it more as a ‘maybe later’. Why don’t you sleep on it first and make sure you really want to. You’re too sleepy right now to be making such important decisions.” Hopefully, he’d forget about that silly little idea by the morning.

With a drowsy nod, Shining shakily picked himself up and followed her down the stairs to the bedrooms.

He looked up at her dreamily as she tucked him into bed. He obviously could barely keep his eyes open, but he managed to softly say, “I love you, Cadie.”

She stroked his mane. “Ssh. You don’t want your sister to hear us, do you? But you really are such a sweet little colt.” His eyes were closed. He was probably already asleep. “Goodnight, Shining Armor,” she whispered as she turned to go.

Author's Note

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