Shining Armor bit into the buttered slice of bread and groaned in pleasure, his taste buds captivated by the flavor. It was different, but incredible, an instant favorite that he was already planning on getting next week when they baked more. He regretted getting only a couple of slices and yearned to go back in time and demand his previous self listen to the cashier.

Brushing that thought aside, the stallion gulped down the last of his breakfast and looked around. Only to find that he had actually reached his destination while he hadn't even been paying attention to his surroundings. Standing on the sidewalk in front of the prestigious magical college of upper Canterlot, Shining Armor looked on in wonder.

The building was an enormous four-story tall structure in the shape of a horseshoe, with a long walkway leading to the middle. Where two, mostly featureless alicorn statues stood sentinel on either side of the enormous double doors leading inward. They bore no plaque and had taken a beating from the passage of time yet still had an air of authority about them.

Much unlike the many students who excitedly entered the building, chatting excitedly amongst one another. They were also a good mix of male and female, without either gender outweighing the other for once. Why that was the case was fairly obvious to Shining Armor, as this college was the place to go for wannabe royal guards.

A path that attracted more males than the majority of other crafts. Putting them on an even playing field with the females who usually outnumbered them two to one. Shining Armor wondered how many of those present he would be gunning for the same position he was. Such considerations did not help the stallion, so he put them out of his mind and made his way towards the entrance.

As he did so, he caught sight of a familiar face standing awkwardly near a bush, his gaze downward. His golden eyes, partially covered by his swooping mane of greyish teal hair glanced this way and that, searching for something. Shining Armor knew immediately what he was looking for and made his way over to the light blue-furred male.

“Hey Knight, over here!” Shining Armor called, waving a forehoof.

Immediately the other male’s eyes lit up, and he all but sprinted up to Shining Armor, a grin on his face.

“Hey Shining! I didn't think you were going to make it!” Knight exclaimed in a slightly effeminate tone. “You’re not usually this late.”

Shining Armor rolled his eyes. “I am not late. We have over a half hour to get to our first class.”

“I know but what if we get lost, or get caught up talking to other ponies? You gotta factor these things into your plan!” Knight exclaimed.

“Knight night,” Shining Armor deadpanned. “It will be okay. Let's just go to class, yeah?”

“Err yeah,” Knight murmured.

The smaller, slimmer male fell in behind Shining Armor, taking position to the taller stallion’s right. A glance in his friend’s direction revealed this, and the demure male’s cutie mark of a drawn bow. Though a full head shorter than Shining Armor, Knight was surprisingly muscled despite his exceptionally wide hips. Gathered mainly around his forehooves, these patches of muscle were used primarily to help fire a longbow. Shining Armor felt his gaze linger a bit too long on the other pony, and quickly turned away, distracting himself.

To his surroundings, which were mostly other students piling into the enormous building through the central entrance. Once inside, the temperature dropped, and the sound of distant conversations dimmed. The distinct sensation of powerful magic briefly tickled his horn, making Shining Armor wonder just how many spells were placed on the school.

“Air conditioning, sound dampener, illumination, and…” Shining Armor’s attention trailed off, replaced by a sudden yelp of surprise when someone’s hoof fell across his shoulders.

“Hey, there you two are. I could have guessed Shiny over here was going to be late, but Knight? Now that's a surprise,” remarked a voice.

“We are not late,” Knight corrected. “We are still a half hour early.”

“But you gotta give extra time to scope out all the babes,” declared the mystery stallion.

Pushing him away, Shining Armor turned to find that he had indirectly found his other best friend. The side of the male’s rust-colored head was shaved short, leaving only a long, poorly maintained blue mohawk. His turquoise eyes bellied a hidden calm that his large frame and broad shoulders did much to clash against.

He was the complete opposite of Knight and sported large wings, as well as a powerful physique. Unlike the smaller male, this new arrival also wore not only saddlebags but a red and white scarf that hung loosely around his neck. His cutie mark did have a bit in common with Knight though, as it was of an array of spearheads bunched together.

“Spearhead,” Shining Armor muttered. “What did I tell you about sneaking up on me?”

“That it was a fun, cool thing to do and I should do it more often?” Spearhead asked.

Knight chuckled silently behind his hoof while Shining Armor merely rolled his eyes.

“One of these days you are going to catch a hoof to the face and it will be your own damn fault,” Shining Armor grouched.

“Pfft whatever,” Spearhead dismissed. “Now let's go find our first class, I wanna see if we got a hot teacher.”

“I doubt it,” Knight remarked.

“Hey, ya never know,” Spearhead shot back.

“Yeah, nah. You were right, Knight,” Spearhead admitted.

The trio sat near the middle of the large auditorium, their books open and notes ready to be taken. The room was surprisingly sparse, with only a handful of other ponies having filed at that point in time. At the front of the class, seated beside a desk set off to the right, was an ancient stallion whose wrinkles had wrinkles. Upon the board were the words ‘magical theory 101’ written in stark white chalk.

“And with a name like Resonance Cascade too,” Spearhead grouched.

“What's so feminine about Resonance Cascade?” Knight questioned.

“Cascade, Cassy, it was kinda cute sounding at first,” Spearhead explained.

Shining Armor rolled his eyes, and ignored the back and forth going on to his left. With a hoof placed against his cheek, the stallion stared off into space, barely aware of his surroundings. That was until he noticed a pink shape appear next to him, one he immediately recognized.

“Cadance!” Shining Armor exclaimed with a smile.

A second later and a warm pair of lips met his own, causing Shining Armor to blush. Leaning forward, he kissed the other pony back before pulling away with a large, dopey smile on his face.

“Hey handsome,” Cadance whispered. “How's your first day going so far?”

“Well, it's barely even started, but so far so good,” Shining Armor stated.

“Would you mind spreading the sugar down here?” Spearhead called.

Knight slapped his friend in the shoulder while shaking his head in disgust.

“You’re lucky that Shining isn't the jealous type,” Cadance remarked, the young alicorn shooting Spearhead a smirk.

“Nah. I just know that she's so far out of you’re league that it will never happen,” Shining Armor exclaimed, sharing a laugh and a hoof bump with his girlfriend.

“Pfft, she's dating you!” Spearhead exclaimed.

“Yeah, and that still surprises me,” Shining Armor remarked.

“Hey don't be so down on yourself,” Cadance demanded, slapping Shining Armor on the shoulder. “You are a smart, kind, motivated, and handsome young stallion. You deserve someone.”

“But not someone as hot as you,” Shining Armor retorted with a grin.

The sound of a bell sounding over the intercom made everyone perk up, Cadance the most. The alicorn leaned forward, planted one last kiss on Shining Armor’s cheek and rose back up.

“I better get going. Aunty wanted to give me a few more lessons but don't worry. I’ll still be at you’re parents' place for dinner tonight,” Cadance whispered.

“See you soon, gorgeous,” Shining Armor replied.

Cadance shot her partner a wink before hastily trotting towards the room’s exit, leaving the students behind. Not before opening the door wide for another learner to enter the room, one who seemed a bit outside the norm. Sporting a piercing crimson gaze, dark grey fur, and a slightly curly mane of midnight black hair, the stallion looked out of place. Especially when one looked upon the jagged red horn that sprouted from the front of his head.

Though intimidating, he appeared the same age as most in the room and nodded politely to Cadance. Who smiled back before slipping away, vanishing while the newly arrived male trotted his way up the rows. To where Shining Armor sat, prompting the seated stallion to blink in surprise and gaze up at the stranger.

“Mind if I sit here?” asked the dark-furred male.

“Err yeah, of course,” Shining Armor mutely replied, gesturing to the open seat next to him.

“Thanks. Say, you wouldn't happen to be Shining Armor by chance?” inquired the stranger.

“Yeah, that's me,” Shining Armor muttered.

“What a coincidence. I’m Crystal Throne,” exclaimed the disguised king Sombra, extending a hoof.

Shining Armor nodded and clopped his hoof against the other male’s. “You’re that foreign exchange student person that mom was hosting.”

“Yeah, sorry about that,” Sombra muttered. “I didn't want to put anyone out but my therapist was really insistent that I spend some time with a quote-unquote, real family.”

“Hey, it's no problem. I’m sure you’ll fit in-” Shining Armor began, only to be interrupted.

“Quiet!” shouted the elderly teacher. “We will now begin roll call!”

“We’ll talk later,” Shining Armor whispered.

“Looking forward to it,” Sombra replied.

“Well that was boring,” Spearhead deadpanned. “I knew like, ninety-nine percent of that crap, and the other percent was the syllabus.”

“They have to cover their bases and teach it in such a way that even us non-unicorns can learn it,” Knight Night remarked.

“I know it's important since we plan on joining the royal guard but it just seems silly to have us learning beside one another,” Spearhead continued as the group walked down the hall. “Like, if they split up casters and non-casters it would be easier to teach, ya know?”

“But that might cause resentment, or divide the class,” Shining Armor offered. “Keeping us together at least for the magical one oh one is a smart idea.”

“I think Spearhead is onto something,” Crystal Throne remarked. “Camaraderie can be built in many places, but here doesn't seem like the best of locations for such a thing.”

“Heck yeah, whoever you are,” Spearhead declared.

“It's Crystal Throne,” Sombra offered. “Sorry I didn't introduce myself earlier, I got a little lost in this maze you guys call a school.”

“I didn't think it was that confusing,” Knight remarked idly.

“It is when the biggest building you’ve ever seen before this one was the post office,” Crystal Throne exclaimed with a snort.

“Ha, fair,” Shining Armor muttered, only to perk up. “Oh yeah, this is my new, sort of roommate. He’s going to be staying with my family for the school year while he adapts to Canterlot.”

“It's a pleasure to meet you both,” Crystal Throne offered.

“Well at least he's got decent manners,” Knight murmured.

“Seems cool enough. Even if his horn is kinda freaky,” Spearhead declared.

Crystal Throne grit his teeth. “It is not, freaky. It is a rare birth defect and the source of much consternation.”

“Sorry dude, sometimes I speak before I think,” Spearhead apologized.

“So I can see,” Crystal Throne muttered.

“Don't worry about Spearhead, he's a dolt but he means well,” Shining Armor added.

“Hey!” Spearhead whined.

“Well he's not wrong,” Knight Night agreed.

“But here's the real question. Do you play Ogres and Oubliettes?” Shining Armor asked, jabbing Crystal Throne lightly in the side.

“I do in fact,” Crystal Throne answered. “It was one of the few games that my uncle knew how to play, even if it was mainly just me and him the majority of the time.”

“Were you a player or DM?” Knight inquired.

“Dungeon master mostly,” Crystal Throne replied. “My uncle was a great coach and roleplayer but didn't really have the imagination for world-building or plotting things out.”

“That is awesome!” Shining Armor gushed. “Not your uncle part, but the dungeon master part.”

“Oh?” Crystal Throne prompted.

“Yeah our last DM turned out to be a big creep so we’ve been without one for a while now,” Knight explained.

“Which is too bad because we made these awesome characters only for them never to get played again,” Spearhead muttered.

“Well then,” Crystal Throne began. “Perhaps I could whip up a game that reintroduces those characters.”

“That would be pretty awesome. I’ve got the character sheets at my house so you could work on it tonight even. If you felt so inclined to do so,” Shining Armor added.

“Depends on how much work hefted upon us by these so-called teachers,” Crystal Throne exclaimed.

“Ha, yeah. I doubt it will be much, but I hear Missus Crabtree is a real stickler for that kind of thing,” Spearhead remarked.

Knight huffed. “I don't think it will be that bad.”

“I can't believe we have to complete the first twenty pages of the runic arrays one oh one,” Crystal Throne muttered bitterly. “This kind of pressure is not conducive to proper learning.”

Beside the disguised male, walking along the same sidewalk in upper Canterlot was Shining Armor who chuckled. “Well, this is one of the top schools in the country for a reason. Almost everyone who applies ends up in the military in some capacity.”

“Really? Even that rather feminine friend of yours?” Crystal Throne asked.

“Ha, yeah,” Shining Armor exclaimed. “Knight’s quite the archer you know. None of us are more accurate or faster than he is when it comes to a bow.”

“Interesting. I may have judged him too quickly,” Crystal Throne admitted.

“He’s surprisingly strong and smarter than most,” Shining Armor added.

“Well, considering Spearhead is part of that competition it would be hard to end up in last,” Crystal Throne remarked.

Shining Armor snickered. “Yeah he can be a bit of a bonehead sometimes but get him interested in something and he’ll know everything about it inside a week.”

“Motivation is a tough thing to…” Crystal Throne stumbled to a stop, gazing up at a rather large house looming over them. “Wow, that is one big house.”

“I mean, there are others on the same street that are bigger,” Shining Armor retorted, the stallion pushing open the iron-wrought gate that barred their path. “Why the Moonlight’s house has a whole nother floor on top of that giant place of theirs.”

“I know, but this is… so old, and nice,” Crystal Throne murmured.

“It's been in the family for a few generations,” Shining Armor explained, gesturing towards the door. “Come on inside. I’ll give you the grand tour.”

Crystal Throne nodded to himself, the time-displaced king not needing to fake his reaction to the house before him. Standing at three stories tall, with more windows than a small palace, it was quite the abode. A large wrap-around deck extended all the way from the midway point of the home before disappearing around the side.

A well-maintained garden of local flowers and hedges were artfully arranged around the home, creating a welcoming environment. Made doubly strong by the soft, purples and blues that covered the exterior of the home that wasn't made of stone. It had to be several thousand square feet, and that was without taking the basement into consideration.

Following behind Shining Armor, Sombra approached the door to the home, pausing briefly at the step. Glancing into a mirror made of reflective colored glass, the stallion adjusted his bulging saddlebags, and pushed a few stray hairs back into place. He wanted to do more with his appearance, but there was little time, so the male ignored it.

“Ready to meet the family?” Shining Armor asked.

“Of course,” Crystal Throne declared.

Shining Armor smiled as he pushed open the door. “Then, welcome to the Sparkle family home.”

Crystal Throne stepped into the foyer and brushed his hooves off on the map, his gaze sweeping over the area. To his left was the den, which was inside a jut out of the homemade to resemble a tower, only one made mostly of windows. To his right was a living room, while in front of him were the stairs leading up and a hallway that went deeper into the home.

Everywhere he looked there were small, delicate flourishes of careful decoration. Complimenting the subdued, and homey furniture which could be seen everywhere. Nothing was grandiose, or expensive, with most everything being either well worn or clearly quite old.

It was the home of a family who didn't care about looking rich, or acting the part, but rather having things that fit them. Portraits of both color, as well as black and white, were visible along the stairs leading up while a wall of well-loved coats sat in front of him. Sombra found himself smiling despite his odd situation, as it was hard to feel nervous in a home such as this.

“Well hey there,” exclaimed a voice. “You must be Crystal Throne. Unless Shining Armor did the unthinkable and made the first new friend since grade five.”

Crystal Throne glanced over to where an aged stallion with a soft blue coat stood in the doorway. His curly mane of darker blue hair was combed to the left and hung a few inches down the male’s face. Clutched in one hoof was a rather large book sporting stars on its cover while upon his flanks was a moon inside of a second, smaller moon.

“And you must be mister Light,” Crystal Throne greeted, extending a hoof.

“Last I checked, though you can drop the mister part. My granddad always made me call him that so it makes me feel old,” Night Light retorted, clopping his hoof against Sombra’s.

“Noted. I appreciate you housing me. I admit I am rather intrigued to see how you and you’re family act around one another,” Crystal Throne remarked, the disguised king doing his best to act awkward, and curious.

Which paid off in spades, as Night Light’s eyes gained an almost fatherly edge to them. “Well I can't say we are the best family in the world but everyone here loves one another immensely. Except for your mother. I don't think anything can take the number one place in her heart save for her daredevil desires.”

“I heard that!” shouted a female voice.

“I know!” Night Light yelled back with a smirk.

Shining Armor chuckled and motioned towards the living room. “Come on, let's say hi to my mom before heading upstairs.”

“What's up there?” Crystal Throne inquired.

“Bedrooms mostly, mine, Twilight's, and yours,” Shining Armor replied.

Sombra nodded slowly, merely following as they walked from the foyer into the living room. Comfortable, and intimate, the space was oddly relaxing and transitioned perfectly into a dining room. Though a sliding wall needed to be pulled back to reveal the long, mahogany table, and wall-to-wall painting of the Canterhorn before Canterlot had been built.

Sombra found himself struck by the painting, his hooves slowing as he inspected the remarkably detailed landscape. Each tree, bird, and bush was immaculately recreated, giving the impression that the painter had been there in person. Unlike the rest of the home he had seen from afar, this was new to him and made him curious.

“It was done by Jean, Baptiste, Corot,” Shining Armor remarked. “She was a minotaur who if you believe my great aunt Peartree, was adopted into our family nearly fifteen hundred years ago.”

“Such stunning attention to detail,” Crystal Throne murmured.

“The mare who adopted her was an enchanter by trade and loved this one so much that she dedicated her life to crafting the perfect preservation rune,” Shining Armor continued robotically as if he had explained this exact thing a dozen times. “As you can tell, it worked.”

“So I see. Please, proceed,” Crystal Throne offered.

Shining Armor stepped in through the small entryway to the kitchen, followed closely by Sombra. There they found the mare of the house pouring over a dozen books spread across a long granite-topped island. Reading glasses dangled from the tip of her greyish-white nose, emphasizing her bright teal eyes.

Upon hearing the clip-clop of hooves on her tiled floor, the mare turned to the newcomers and smiled. Her two-toned mane of white and lilac bounced slightly, the turn obscuring the three stars branded upon her flanks. Unlike her slim, bookish husband, Twilight Velvet was surprisingly well-muscled and downright eager.

“Good evening Missus Light,” Crystal Throne greeted, extending a hoof once more.

“Ahh there you are Crystal Throne,” Twilight Velvet exclaimed, rising from her chair. “It's good to finally meet you in person rather than simply reading your letters.”

“Yes well it's good to finally meet you-oof,” Crystal Throne muttered, cut off by the sudden crushing forelegs wrapped about his neck.

“No need for formalities here. Just call me Velvet, or mom if you so choose,” Twilight Velvet interrupted, giving the disguised stallion one last squeeze before stepping away.

“If that's what you wish,” Crystal Throne murmured, quickly gathering his bearings.

“Don't mind mom. She’s incorrigible,” Shining Armor whispered.

“Pish posh, dear. We should be doing everything we can to make our guest feel at home,” Twilight Velvet exclaimed enthusiastically.

“I appreciate it, Velvet. Coming to the city has been a… strange event for me,” Crystal Throne replied somewhat haltingly.

“It would be quite the change,” Twilight Velvet added before leaning towards her son. “Make sure you show our guest around and include him in your little game okay? No one should be without friends so far from home.”

“Way ahead of you mom,” Shining Armor declared.

“Atta boy,” Twilight Velvet congratulated. “Now why don't you finish showing Crystal around. I’m sure he wants to see his new room.”

“That would be nice,” Crystal Throne exclaimed.

“Come on. I’ll finish up the main floor first,” Shining Armor encouraged.

Sombra followed silently behind the other stallion as he lead him deeper into the home, describing the various rooms they passed through. From the kitchen, they briefly entered a covered patio overlooking a surprisingly large yard for a cramped city like Canterlot. Next was a family room, a carriage garage that had mostly been turned into a magical practice room as well as a library.

After that, he was led upstairs, where they briefly looked into the master bedroom and the unoccupied guest bedroom next to it. A study overlooked the bridge between the two wings, though it resembled an observatory. With only the kid’s wing left, the two stallions stopped outside of Twilight's room, where Shining Armor held up a hoof.

“Wait a sec,” he warned. “We gotta say hi to Twilight, but just be aware that she can get a bit over-enthusiastic okay? So just, have some patience with her.”

“I’m sure I can handle a child, Shining Armor,” Crystal Throne retorted.

“If I had a nickel for every babysitter who said that I’d be able to buy the Canterlot Broncos,” Shining Armor exclaimed.

“Oooh is that the foreign exchange student?” asked a voice.

The pair turned around to find that a small set of eyes was peering up at them through a crack in the door. Upon being spotted, Twilight Sparkle stepped out and immediately lit her horn, though she didn't cast a spell.

“How did your horn get that way? Is it because of dark magic, can I scan you?” Twilight rattled off, asking questions so fast Sombra couldn't ask the one that proceeded it.

“No,” Crystal Throne declared.

“Daww,” whined the high schooler.

“Just be glad she asked. It took years to get her to do that,” Shining Armor whispered.

Sombra clenched his jaw and bit back the remark he could feel building in the back of his throat. Pushing down the bile threatening to rise from his gullet, the male put on a wide, if a little fake, smile.

“But to answer your other questions yes, it got that way because of dark magic though I have never used such foul sorceries in my life,” Crystal Throne exclaimed.

Twilight Sparkle’s eyes went wide. “Thaumatergical corruption! You had a parent that used dark magic.”

“A great grandmother, actually,” Crystal Throne corrected. “She sought to save her partner from death and plunged the depths of dark magic to do so, only for her efforts to be in vain.”

“Pfft, yeah,” Twilight Sparkle declared with a dismissive snort. “Noone can hold back death forever.”

“I’m sure she realized that. In the end,” Crystal Throne replied, his jaw clenched tight.

“She must have used a whole heck of a lot of dark magic if it's still present in your family,” Twilight Sparkle explained, pacing back and forth in the doorway. “It's the same for our family, though not the dark magic part, but rather divination magic. Heck, I’m the first Twilight who doesn't have a natural gift for the school since great great great great great grandma Twilight Twinkle.”

“Fascinating,” Crystal Throne deadpanned.

“I know right?” Twilight Sparkle continued. “Any focus on a particular school alters the user, but it's only dark magic that has such profound physical effects. Though supposedly some of our ancestors actually grew a third eye in the middle of their foreheads.”

“That's great Twily,” Shining Armor interrupted. “But why don't you regal us with more useless facts at dinner? I think Crystal here wanted to see his room.’

“Oh yeah, have fun or whatever,” Twilight Sparkle muttered. “I’m going to go do some more reading about thaumaturgical radiation now.”

“You do that kiddo,” Shining Armor encouraged.

The large stallion hastily trotted back into the hallway, where he paused and put on an apologetic look.

“Sorry about that,” he whispered in a low tone. “Like I said, she's a bit over-enthusiastic.”

“Doesn't seem to have very good social skills either,” Crystal Throne pointed out.

“No, she sure doesn't. Brilliant, however. She’s graduating two years ahead of schedule, though it would have been more had she not skipped every single phys ed class since preschool,” Shining Armor continued.

Despite his irritation, Sombra couldn't help but chuckle. “That makes a lot of sense. It's not as though such a course would seem important to one with her predilections.”

“Yeah,” Shining Armor coughed into his hoof. “Right, so. Wanna see your room now?”

“After you,” Crystal Throne invited.

Author's Note

This is part of the 12 days of christmas, head over here to keep track of all the cool stuff coming down the pipes. If you want to ensure I can afford to keep doing stuff like this, consider backing me over on Subscribestar or Patreon.