As The Sun Sets

Cadance was wide awake as the sun came up to fill Shining's childhood dream room with light. If she really bothered to go through with the mental exercises, she could probably convince herself that the glittering crystal was actually part of the Spire, of which her home currently firmly was.

The whole point of this is to get away from it all. Stop thinking about being back home.

The concept was easier said than done of course, especially with Cadance focusing on the disorganized workstation of sprawled out papers and leaflets spread out on her and her husband's shared bed. His light snoring had been accentuating her work for the past thirty minutes or so, which helped calm the brooding Alicorn as she worked. Despite most ponies being annoyed by such a noise, she had gone past losing sight of the value of things while she had them.

There'd be a day when she'd miss his snoring. She had simply elected to skip to the satisfaction of having him around without actually having to lose him first.

She tore mind away from the grim thought as she refocused on the papers in front of her.

Most of it was work orders, luckily; paperwork that had to cross past her desk and gain a signature before ponies could say they were allowed to do something. She had learned long ago what to look for when somepony was trying to slip something past her in text form; luckily that rarely reached her.

"Still need to give Amber a raise." She mumbled to herself, quietly enough that most of the words didn't actually come out, sounding more like: "mll to mber ah aise." She was talking to herself after all. No need to worry about something so silly as comprehensive language skills.

An hour passed with her doing her work until Shining Armor began to stir. Turning away from her now slightly more organized pile of work, she watched him reach over to where he assumed she was sleeping, his eyes still closed. She smiled as she watched him try to snuggle up with her. Unfortunately she was awake, and not where he thought. It took him a moment to realize such, eventually cracking open his eyes to spot her sitting up on the bed with the stack of papers, watching him.

"mornin'" He mumbled, a smile unwittingly coming to his face as he caught sight of her

It was little things like that made Cadance's heart soar.

I really did score the perfect husband

She leaned herself and then flopped down onto the bed next to him while levitating the papers off the bed and into two stacks, 'unfinished' and 'finished' on the stand next to the bed.

"Hey handsome."

"Not yet..." he mumbled, "I'm sleepy right now."

Cadance snorted and then reached out for him. They did their thing, shuffling about until they'd found a comfortable position to settle into. It didn't take long for Shining to pass out again, his light snoring muffled by the fluff on her chest.

mmmm... sleeping in... sounds like a good idea, wish I thought of it

She thought in annoyance to her own brain, and its constant reminders of her responsibilities.

She settled her head down on top of his and did her best to drown out her own thoughts.

Cadance followed Shining into the realm of sleep shortly after.

Shining Armor's Perspective

Shining let himself wake up. As a guard and a soldier with the experience of sleeping on command, and management of exhaustion. Sleep was a science to him, he wanted to wake up, and he did. It took him a few seconds to blink the sleep from his eyes, and his mind to click into gear. Once it did, he was for a lack of better description, 'up and at 'em'.

He took in his surroundings, noted the pink fluff lightly tickling his nose, and was careful to lift his head to the side first, rather than up, to avoid poking his wife in the neck with his horn.

Shining's head poked up from their position laying in the bed together, he noted the time and gave Cadance a once over; She was asleep.

Good. She needs rest.

Shining glanced at the stack of papers on the nightstand next to the bed and a sideways frown worked its way onto his features. In tandem, he levitated the papers off the nightstand, and lifted a section of the bed while sliding the papers underneath the frame.

Hopefully that will sort that out. What to do next though

He debated simply staying here with her, as through his life, no pillow had ever measured up to Cadance. He very simply decided upon something better though. Carefully extracting himself from her and the sheets, knowing she slept like a feather, he managed to carefully step onto the crystal floors without making a sound. He drew the curtains with his magic as he exited through the door, putting the room into a nice range of lit without being bright.

Once in the hallway, he allowed himself to trot without worry of being loud.

Time to rustle up some good ol' fashioned breakfast in bed for my princess.

Pushing open the door to the kitchen Shining was greeted to a great sight.

"Spike!" He said in surprise tinged with joy

Spike looked up from his position on a stepping stool, chef hat and mixing bowl adorned as he used a wooden spoon to mix; he had little spots of flower on his scales. He equally looked up, and a little sparkle went through his eyes as he excitedly returned the greeting. "Shining!"

"What's up Spike?" Shining walked up to the dragon and held out a hoof.

Spike bumped his hoof with his fist, the mixing bowl forgotten for a moment. "Nothing at all. I'm just making breakfast, sorry I missed you guys yesterday, I was busy at the post office."

Shining's questions of breakfast died in confusion, "The post office?"

"Yeah, I've been helping out around there recently." He lifted a claw in-between their eyeline and wiggled his digits, "Claws are super useful when it comes to envelopes and tape." Spike's smile was wide and proud.

Shining returned his proud smile. "That's awesome Spike, are you getting paid and everything?"

He waved the claw in his eyeline, "Nah, just helping out. I don't exactly need the bits." He gestured out around to the massive crystal tree, enchanted to the nines.

"But it's a proper job Spike?"

It's crazy to think how fast he's grown up.

Spike returned to his mixing bowl as he spun the flower and egg around inside with the spoon while continuing. "Well yeah, I don't exactly have a title or anything." He leaned forwards over the counter and turned a nob near the sink, putting a little bit of water into the bowl before returning to stir. "It's something to keep me occupied when Twilight is busy; plus, the mail ponies know everything going on in town, and they're super friendly."

Shining chuckled, "You haven't picked up gossiping from Rarity have you?"

Spike mimicked a snooty face and lilted his voice to match the expression, "I shall neither confirm nor deny that."

They both chuckled. Shining said a bit softer, "It really is great to see you Spike, I'm sorry I've not been able to visit more often."

I'm sorry.

"It's alright Shining. I've got Twilight, and more friends than I can count."

Before apologizing again in his head, Shining shook it off, putting a smile back on his face, "Whatcha' making?"

Spike hefted the bowl, "Pancakes, once Twilight get's out of her 'research' mood, she'll need something to eat before crashing."

"She's still awake?" He said knowingly

Spike shrugged, "As far as I know, she was up when I got back last night, something about polymorphing. She'd torn the library apart finding the right references around when you were both sound asleep."

Shining shook his head with a weary smile.

Why do all the important mares in my life have to overwork themselves all the time?

"Can you make a few extra? And what's the ETA on those cakes?"

Spike nodded, "There's already a plate ready in the oven for Cadance, I was going to lure Twilight up here once this batch was ready."

Wait really?

Shining wrapped the oven handle in his telekinesis to ogle the healthy stack of pancakes warmed by the oven. As he did, Spike continued, "She'll only crash if I can get her away from work. If you bring the food to her, she'll just forget about it." Spike was rambling conspiratorially.

Definitely picked up gossiping

Shining mock saluted to Spike "I'll go get her down here while you're making the next batch."

Spike smiled and saluted back, Shining's mind instinctually analyzing the ways he did it wrong. "Good luck Captain Armor."

Without wasting time, Shining kept up the joke while marching his way out of the kitchen. After realizing he had no idea where he was going, he spun himself around and stuck his head back into the kitchen.

Spike looked up from what he was doing and they made eye contact.

Spike smiled and gestured with his claw as he spoke, "Follow the hall down fifteen doors, take the opening on the left, staircase, then you can't miss her lab."

Geez, fifteen doors.

"Thanks Spike." He pulled his head back out and walked along the directed path.

This place needs some guards... Or anyone... it's blaringly empty in here.

Once he got down the staircase he followed a short path to the side where the crystal colours deepened into a purple, a sign of denser crystal grown manually with unicorn magic. He came upon a wooden door locked into the wall of the slightly smaller than necessary hallway and magicked it open.

"Twilight?" He called into the room, immediately distracted as his instincts kicked into gear. He pushed with two left legs and twisted with his right to seemingly slide across the floor laterally as the enchanted bracelet flew out the door right past his head.

"No!" Came Twilight's cry of dismay from deeper in the lab. She came rushing out, and Shining only got a vague look at the interior before he had to backpedal to give Twilight room to get past him. Of course, that was only a feint, as he managed to take up enough of the hallway to look like she could squeeze past, but not enough for her to avoid getting grabbed as she tried to break into a gallop.

"Whoah! Twily!" She flailed for a moment in his grasp.

She's way stronger than I remember.

"Shining!" Twilight turned and shuffled away once she calmed down, now properly seeing Shining Armor as she mentally drew herself back into the current situation.

"What was that?" He tilted his head in the direction the bracelet flew. It had rounded the corner and flown itself up the stairs.

She started to ramble immediately, hours of thoughts and ideas all crammed up in her head came flowing out of her mouth as soon as there was someone within range to listen. On one rotation of her head, Shining carefully timed a puff of air as he blew in her face.

Her muzzle scrunched up from his morning breath.

"You okay?"

She didn't look very okay, the standard mix of sagging eyes and droopy ears. He curtailed her research fueled freak out, but that didn't mean she wasn't completely exhausted.

"Yeah..." She rubbed a hoof in her eyes as she sat back down.

"Silver's bracelet giving you trouble?" He smirked to accentuate the lighter mood he was trying to create

Twilight shook her head, "It's filled with countermeasures."

"Want pancakes?" He summarized.

Twilight sleepily nodded with an "Mhm."

Please never grow up Twily.

"C'mon, Spike should be nearly done by now."

"No, wait, we need to find the bracelet." She protested

Shining chuckled to himself, "If you couldn't pin it down in a whole night, you're not going to catch it now."

Twilight's ears twisted on her head as her wings folded up again, she walked up behind Shining as he led her to the stairs. He knew that so long as they were talking, she would unconsciously follow him wherever he went.

"Wait, what time is it?" She said, sounding embarrassed

Shining didn't answer. Well, he did, but the answer was a laugh.

Twilight pouted but followed him up the stairs. She continued her ramble as they wandered, "I didn't think so much complex magic could interlock without an aria, baring any actual complex defragmentation; most of them aren't even spells. I barely understand the runic programing, but the temporospatial claudication holds the majority of the spell form of the actual main. I just can't get at it without a specific orderic spoken runic order."

She looked up at Shining, "Did you know that you could speak runes? I sure didn't."

"Twilight. I don't understand anything you just said."

She snorted. Then inhaled deeply and hummed to herself. "mmmmpancakes." She mumbled, trotting forwards faster than Shining.

Alicorn sense of smell is crazy

With Twilight now on autopilot, Shining followed behind her quietly until they reached the kitchen. There was a pot of coffee and a plate of pancakes lathered with butter that Twilight had already approached and began to eat. As Shining stepped into the room, Spike's claw grabbed his forehoof from the spot he was hiding at from behind the door. He held a digit up to his mouth in a 'shush' gesture, then pointed at Twilight.

From her stool at the counter, she downed a quarter of the pot of coffee, then shoved an entire pancake into her mouth. Spike held up his hand, and started slowly putting digits down, one after another. Shining watched in fascination as she yawned once and then leaned forwards for a more comfortable sitting position which ended with her face down on the counter as Spike dropped his last finger.

Shining rolled his eyes as the light sound of breathy sleep sounded out from her spot at the counter.

Spike polished his claw on his chest scales and quietly said, "Decaf: works every time."

"You're the best Spike." Shining whispered

Thank you for being here for her.

He made his way over to the oven and extracted Cadance's pancakes, still warm to the touch, without being dehydrated from the heat. Spike had opened a cabinet under the sink with a pillow and blanket and was currently setting up Twilight for a prolonged nap at the counter.

I couldn't think of anyone better for the job.

With a brotherly nod of responsibility shared between him and Spike, he wandered out of the kitchen and back across the several halls to the room Twilight had set up for him.

He smiled when he remembered where he was going. It was quite the blast from the past, and Cadance encouraging him to immerse himself in the nostalgia was a great feeling to boot. He'd not picked up a comic in years, much less even thought about all the other memories in the room.

As he came up to the door in question, he spotted the bracelet floating in the intersection, surrounded by a golden glow that reminded him of Celestia's aura. He trotted up to it, eyeing it warily.

"You're supposed to help my daughter one day, huh?" He asked, not so much suspicious as wanting it to think he was suspicious. It didn't respond, or at least, didn't visually respond.

"Well... You better." He summarized, walking past it as the door opened.

"Shining? Are you-" Cadance had pulled the door open and then glanced out into the hallway, "Were you talking to somepony?"

"Nah, just this thing." He stepped to the side and gestured at the floating bracelet that was on the move towards Cadance. She started stepping back but the thing didn't seem to be 'floating' aggressively, if an object could do such a thing.

Eventually it settled on her back, and the golden glow faded as the thing went inert.

Cadance glanced away from the thing and locked eyes with Shining, "Ignoring that, did you-" She interrupted herself, "Are those pancakes?"

"Yes. Go lay back down." He said, pushing his way through the door and into the room.

Cadance raised an eyebrow but took a few steps closer to the bed, before saying, "Did you do something with my paperwork?"

"Uhuh." He answered, smiling to himself.

Cadance waited for a moment to make it clear that he wasn't going to tell her before asking, "What did you do with it?" She said a bit more urgently.

"I'll tell you after you get back in bed." He answered, still being evasive.

Cadance rolled her eyes, but she couldn't hide her amusement from him.

She got back into bed, and then lifted the covers around her front, and then over her back, she smiled at him, giggling to herself. "Okay, I'm in bed now. Papers?"

Shining’s tone was clearly joking, "Nuh-uh, pretend like you're sleeping."

There was a sparkle of annoyance that crossed Cadance's features. "Shining."

Shining waggled his eyebrows at her. She scoffed and rolled her eyes again before leaning down and placing her head on the mattress and closing her eyes.

Shining took a step forwards and placed the pancakes on the bed in front of her. He poked her in the shoulder gently, "Hey Cadance, wake up." He said quietly.

"Oh wow... I'm awake now..." She mimed, as she slowly opened the eye facing Shining.

"Surprise! Breakfast in bed." He said jovially.

Cadance flared a wing and bapped him over the head lightly. "You're a goof." She said it, but she didn't move the blanket, or start getting up. She reached her hooves forwards and pulled the plate of pancakes within range to eat.

Shining didn't know why, but not only did Cadance not like anything on her pancakes, she also refused to use utensils or magic to eat them. The few times he asked, she simply claimed that that's just how she'd always done it, so... that's how she's always done it.

She mumbled around her fist bite, "Paperwork?"

"I hid it."

She rolled her eyes as she swallowed, "Where? And did you keep it all organized?"

He climbed up onto the bed and laid down next to her. She lifted a wing and pulled him close. "I'll tell you after we have a relaxing day in Ponyville. You were already halfway through what we brought by the time I woke up."

He quickly curtailed her response by kissing her on the cheek and saying, "And they're exactly how you left them. I didn't separate the stacks."

She levitated a pancake to his mouth and pushed it in. Shining made a quiet 'murmph' in protest, but elected to consume the pancake without further complaint.

"Fine." Cadance huffed. "Though I'll have you know that half finished paperwork is just as anxiety-inducing as not having started."

After Shining finished swallowing an entire pancake, he commented, "You and I both know that you wouldn't've been able to get work off your mind either way."

"mmmmmmmmm" She grumbled.

So long as I can keep her focused on paltry paperwork, everything else will fall by the wayside.

Shining kissed her again, once his mouth was clear of pancakes. She tightened her wing around him and giggled, "Stop it you goober. You have morning mouth."

"Yeah, and now I have pancake mouth too." He kissed her on the cheek again, this time more forcefully.

"Shining." Cadance tried, leading him to applying more pressure, and adding more kisses, "Shining! Quit it!"

He went for the killing blow and pushed her over.

"Ahh! The pancakes! Shining!" Cadance squealed in laughter.

After his assault ended, they were laying together in an awkward yet comfortable hug next to a toppled stack of pancakes. Shining was wearing a triumphant look, and Cadance was no longer focused on pointless nonsense, that was Shining's true victory.

"You spilled the pancakes." She said, humorously and accusatorily.

"Totally worth it." He claimed from slightly on top of her.

She squeezed him again. "Thanks for breakfast. Even if it didn't make it." She rotated her head upwards from her spot on her back to look at the pancakes spread over their temporary bed.

"A sacrifice that will not be forgotten." He said sagely.

She rolled her eyes and levitated the pancakes back onto the plate. "Love you."

"I Love you more."

They shared a moment of warmth that was eventually interrupted by Cadance levitating another pancake to her hooves. She gave it a short inspection for dirt or other yuck before shrugging as best as she could from on her back and took a healthy bite of the thing.

Shining just watched, enamored as he was.

One day I'll figured out how she can look beautiful while eating a dirty pancake, upside down and tangled in sheets.

He chuckled to himself

Might just be a me thing...

"So what's on the agenda today?" Cadance asked as the mouthful of pancake disappeared.

Shining had already mentally prepared his answer for this. "No agenda. We're going to go outside, and see where the wind takes us."

Cadance raised an eyebrow, "So just go for a walk?"

"Until something catches our eye." He nodded in agreement.

She smiled, "Well okay... You're the boss." She joked

Hahaahahaha, No.

"How are the pancakes?" He said, asking for her opinion, rather than objective fact. She could probably tell from his tone.

Her response was finishing off the rest of the pancake she was currently holding. Around the mouthful she asked, "How's Twilight?" It sounded more like: "m-owz milithhf"

"She stayed up all night trying to work out the bracelet." He tilted his head at the spot it occupied on the nightstand, Cadance having telekinetically tossed it over there when Shining toppled her over.

"Classic." Cadance emptily commented as she levitated another pancake towards herself.

"Spike did some voodoo magic to get her to sleep."

Cadance snrked to herself, "Voodoo magic?"

"The potion involved decaffeinated coffee." He summarized, trying to keep his face straight.

Cadance flicked a hoof and said, "You're hilarious." sarcasm filling the comment; the real amusement clear in her smile. Cadance was glowing under Shining's attention. She could tell when he was focusing on her like this, with the jokes and the extra care. Her emotion sense lent her that skill.

She couldn't sense everything else going on in his head though.

They laid together in silence. Shining eventually rolling off of her and watching the sky from out the window. Cadance fed him another pancake at some point, but Shining was too busy decompressing himself for there to be any further conversation.

Thirty minutes passed before he felt Cadance rest her head on his back, just behind his neck.

He lifted a hoof and reached over to grab hers, both of them watching the window.

"Need anything before we go?" She asked

"Ready when you are Princess." He responded, using a particular tone when saying 'princess'

She flushed.

Glad she still likes that.

She lifted her head and jolted herself off the bed. "Alright then! Let's go have a relaxing day out in Ponyville!" She was working the blood into her legs subconsciously. Shining was visually drawn to her form, as husbands will be, as she stretched without knowing exactly what she was doing. The only reason Shining noticed was due to his expertise in physical sciences.

He climbed off the bed and joined her at the door. Opening it for her, "Shall we?"

She smiled wide, "We shall!" and excitedly rushed out the door. Shining followed after her with an equally sized smile from completing the first half of his mission once more.

Keep her happy now

He thought to himself with more stress and meaning then one would expect as they made their way out of the castle together.