“Ug.” I groan and stretch my wings after hitting my back on the training mat. “This training armor is super effective.” I sarcastically remark. I may have higher endurance as an alicorn but pain still hurts.

“Not bad. You lasted longer than last time.” Shining armor laughed while levitating the training sword at his side in his dark pink magic.

“You like beating up younger colts don’t you?” I deadpan, still on my back and looking up at him as he walks over. My own sword had gone flying across the room when he got in a good hit on my chest.

Shining held a hoof out and I took it. “Only ones dating my little sister. Speaking of you better never break her heart.” He growled a bit while he spoke.

“So long as you’re good to Cadence.” I gave him a smug smile while straightening my feathers and using my wings to assist in getting up.

Cadence and I had both instinctively begun thinking of each other as family members after spending more time together over the previous holidays, something to do with being fellow alicorns.

He glared for another moment before chuckling. “Deal.” He shook my hoof. “Now pick your sword back up.”

“Why do we even need swords when we have these?” I pointed towards my horn with my right fore-hoof as it lit up with my own blueish magic to float my training sword back to my side.

“Some creatures, like dragons or hydras, are practically immune to direct magical attack, so a good blade helps.” He twirled his own training sword in his magical grip and got back into a fighting stance. “Also, if your magic is blocked or just low you can still hold it with your hoof or mouth, but we’ll practice with those styles later.”

“Guess that makes sense.” I mirrored his stance. “Ready when you are.”

Shining and I sparred a few more rounds until I was completely exhausted and my fur was slick with sweat. I might be an alicorn but age and practice still matters.

“Well, I think we’re done for today.” Shining was at least looking a bit winded. “You still need plenty of training but at least you’re as fit as most cadets.”

“Yeah, I knew gym class was good for something.” I chuckled and we both dropped into a comfortable silence as we began cleaning the sparring equipment before putting it away.

In the middle of cleaning I grabbed a towel to help dry off my mane and fur then took a drink from a water bottle.

“So how are things with my sister and the rest of your trial heard?” His question was so sudden I didn’t know how to respond. “Twilight mentioned something about going to visit them all soon.” Judging by his body language I could tell he had worked himself up trying to mention that bit.

“They’re good.” I put away the last piece of armor after cleaning it. “Twilight and Trixie have been getting along really well and Spike is getting the attention he needs from the three of us. Twilight and I have almost to much in common but Trixie helps keep us grounded by reminding us to take breaks.” I smile then shake my head. “It helps that they’re both cute. As for the Ponyville girls.” My ears instinctively droop a bit. “It’s rough not seeing them during school, but we write often enough. I’m actually really proud that Rainbow takes the time to.”

Shining playfully ruffled my mane with his magic. “Not much of a writer I take it?”

“Enope. But Fluttershy and Rarity do a great job helping her out.” Thinking about them all got my tail wagging a bit.

“Well five is a respectable herd you’ve got there. Can’t say I’m not glad my sister is your lead either.” Shining let out a huff and put away the last piece of his own equipment before we began heading towards the locker room. He also gained a bit of a thoughtful look.

Our conversation lulled again while washing up and drying off before it was my turn to look up at him and ask a question. “So what about you and Cadence?”

He almost stumbled as we walked out of the locker room. “Honestly?” He looked towards the ceiling and sighed. “We don’t get much time together since she has her work outside of Canterlot and I have mine here.” He shook his head and smiled down at me. “Not that training you isn’t important. But being a couple instead of having a herd for support isn’t always easy, but she’s the only mare for me.”

We continued walking along as I thought over what he said. Ponies really didn’t do well with being alone and it’s why herds were such a large part of society in the first place. Two herd members were typically always in close proximity just so nopony ended up without support.

Before I could eventually respond he ruffled my mane again with his hoof this time. “But that’s not something you need to worry about. Cadence won’t be gone forever.”

Figuring he didn’t want to talk about it anymore I asked. “So what’s on the rest of today’s schedule? I know we had sparring for the morning and I already had,” I stuck my tongue out, “political lessons, yesterday.”

Both our stomachs rumbled. “Well for now, I think it’s time for lunch.”

We laughed before I flared my wings. “Race you.” I shot off down the castle halls with Shining quickly following behind. As the two of us sped down the halls a few maids or guards had to jump out of our way. They either yelled after us or just shook their heads and got back to work.

“I win!” I yelled out and looked back down the hall. Shining Armor was nowhere in sight as I pressed a hoof on the dining hall doorway.

Suddenly the doors opened and Shining looked at me with a smug smile. “What took you so long?”

I looked up at him in shock and stammered out. “What? But… how?!?”

He shrugged and motioned me into the room. “I know a shortcut.”

I huffed and took up a spot at the table. “Cheater.”

He laughed at this as one of the staff came to take our orders. When the mare only took my order but not Shining’s he looked confused. “Excuse me Miss, what about me?”

“Oh, the prince already told me your orders. Did you want something extra sir Shining?” She did a cute head tilt that worked well with her maid outfit.

“No he’s fine.” I said while holding his mouth shut with a subtle sticking spell and politely waved her off with my wing.

“Oh, Of course your highness.” She carried on towards the kitchen after giving me a polite nod.

Once she was gone I undid the spell and Shining glared at me. “What did you order me?”

“You’ll see~.” I said in a playfully singsong voice.

It wasn’t long before she came back out with a cart carrying a large pizza and some sodas. After she laid out everything and I gave her my thanks, she left with a smile and a slight bounce from a job well done. Ponies are so cute. I internally held my hands to my cheeks.

“Pizza?” Shining grabbed a slice in his magic and brought it to his plate. The comment also brought me back to the present. “That’s not so bad.”

“What, were you expecting a prank?” I happily wagged my tail while grabbing my own slice and took a big sniff. Mmm bacon, spinach, and mushroom.

“Honestly? Yeah.” He took a big bite and his eyes went wide. “This is great!”

“Good.” I gave a sly smile and dug into my own portion with a happy moan. Ever since learning I could order small amounts of meat without question, being an alicorn and all, I would get some for lunch on rare occasions.

After Shining finished his second piece and washed it down with some soda he finally asked the question. “So what’s on this anyway? It’s really good but there’s some crunchy stuff I don’t recognize and I might want to order it again.”

“Oh just mushrooms, spinach,” I paused for dramatic effect by taking another bite, “and bacon gives that crunch.”

“Really? That’s nic…” he suddenly looked at the third slice and dropped it on his plate in a panic before his eyes went wide. “Bacon!” He shot a shocked look my way. “As in pig meat?”

“Yep. Good right?” I finished chewing. “The castle always has some meat for the griffins, thestrals, and other races that eat it. Bacon is my favorite.” My teeth got a bit sharp as I spoke.

Once Shining calmed down he hesitantly picked the slice back up and looked at it. “I know you’re an alicorn but can normal ponies even eat this stuff?”

“Oh sure. As a unicorn you wouldn’t want to eat it more than once a week else you might get sick but it’s great for protein and other nutrients. Spike needs a little bit daily.” I shrugged.

“Huh.” I watched Shining slowly took another bite and quietly asked himself. “Why does it taste so good?”

“So let me get this straight. He ate meat for the first time today?” Dr. Horse asked while he examined a passed out Shining Armor with his magic.

I nodded with my ears pinned and tail tucked between my legs. Celestia had shown up once she heard the news so was also getting the explanation from me. “Yeah. We had bacon on our pizza today. I know non alicorn ponies can eat it in moderation so figured it would be fine if he shared it with me, partially as a prank, but then he started feeling sick about an hour after lunch. Then he threw up and started feeling really tired and woozy.”

Dr. Horse sighed. “While it’s normally true that ponies can eat meat, Shining Armor here just happened to get unlucky and doesn’t have the necessary gut bacteria to digest it. Probably from his family not eating it either for a few generations.”

“But Twilight can eat it just fine.” I scratched at the floor.

“Dawn. Why is Twilight eating meat?” Celestia asked in a disappointed tone.

“Well she wanted to try it when she noticed me feeding some to Spike at breakfast a while back.” I gave a her a slight smile. “She really likes bacon, same as me.”

“Then Doctor, why hasn’t Twilight gotten sick while Shining armor has?” Celestia focused back on their patient.

Dr. Horse tapped his chin then asked. “Dawn. Have you and Ms. Twilight kissed already?”

“Well yeah.” I tilted my head. “She’s my filly friend so why wouldn’t we kiss?”

“Well that explains it then.” The Doctor nodded knowingly while Celestia looked a bit puzzled. “You two have already been swapping bacteria through kissing so she’s just fine while her brother is like this.” He motioned towards Shining who groaned in his sleep.

“But what about him and Cadence? She’s also an alicorn and they do way more than kiss.” I huffed.

“Interesting thought, however I know for a fact Princess Cadence actively avoids eating meat, unlike you, so her bacterial levels are probably so low she can’t share them.” The doctor replied.

“Good to know, how does that help us now?” Celestia was on the brink of face hoofing.

“Oh just a simple injection and a pro-biotic suppository will clear him right up in a few days.” The Doctor waved his hoof. “This has happened to our ambassadors for the griffins more than a few times. I’ll go get a nurse to administer it. I’m sure quite a few wouldn’t mind considering who the patient is.” He chuckled to himself and left the room.

“Dawn I know you didn’t do this maliciously but no more feeding our little ponies bacon.” Celestia waved me out of the room as a nurse stepped inside. “As punishment you get to sit in court with me for the rest of the day.”

“Not court.” I neighed in mock horror. She chuckled and I let her lead me through the castle to the throne room then sat next to her throne on a cushion kindly provided by one of the changeling maids in disguise.

Celestia took her time adjusting herself in her throne as the nobles waited. “Sorry about the interruption everypony Dawn’s assigned guard is just a bit under the weather so I needed to retrieve him.” What a wonderful excuse to get away for a bit.To bad it’s because our niece’s favorite guard is sick. “Let’s move on to the next petitioner.”

Author's Note

Here are some current ages so far along with other info. Yes the age gaps are a bit strange but keep in mind they’re ponies who don’t care as much about numerical age and as they got older it’s not as noticeable with how long they all live. I decided to go with 504 days in a year. So that’s 126 days per season or 18 weeks with 7 days each week.

Rarity:17
Cheese Sandwich, Mango, and Star Song: 15
Pinkie:14
Rainbow, Fluttershy, and Applejack:13
sunburst:12
Dawn, Starlight Trixie, and Twilight:11
Spike & the CMC: 3
The changeling sisters: 2