The Prince's Predicament 2: The Princess's Predicament

Cadance was very impressed. There were several issues brought before them today that she could have, and would have, easily solved with a quick spell from her horn, but at every turn, Shining Armor had stopped her and solved the issue organically. Some of these problems, she wasn't even sure she could solve without a love spell, but he'd fixed the problems at their roots, or at least treated to the roots, allowing the ponies leaving to be capable of solving their own problems.

"I had no idea you were so skilled at fixing problems with ponies' love," she chuckled as they were walking back to their room. "Where'd you pick that up?"

"Somepony had to fill in while you were gone," he noted dryly. "If I wasn't good at it, I'd have found somepony else that was better at it to assist."

"I thought for sure you'd let me fix that one with that mare who couldn't decide on her prom date, but you pulled it off. I can't believe you managed it!"

"The trick is to outline their options and let them take a step back and see themselves from a different perspective. Rather than fixing their problems for them, you give them the tools to fix their own problems. That way, if the problem comes back, they don't always have to ask for help to fix it. These ponies are smart; you just have to give them a prompt to think about, and they can work it out."

They arrived at the royal bedchamber, and Shining opened the door, waving for Cadance to enter. She very nearly did, but stopped short of the door. "How do I know you're not going to just say goodnight, close the door, and then go off to have sex with some guards in another room?" she asked.

"Because I promise it's not true," he answered.

With a nod, Cadance walked into her bedchambers.

"Good night," replied Shining, closing the door behind her. It didn't swing all the way shut, as she blocked it with her hoof.

"I thought you just promised that you wouldn't do that."

"No, I promised that your assertion of tonight's activities wasn't true."

"But it was."

"It was not."

Cadance raised an eyebrow. "How was it not true?"

Shining shook his head. "I was planning on sleeping alone, if the cook changed his mind."

Cadance grabbed his hoof, feeling it jerk away at first, but he stopped pulling after a few seconds. "Shiny, you know I didn't mean for it to go as far as it did. I know what I did was wrong, and I spent a few years paying for it. I've satisfied my debt to the legal system, and now I want to make things right with you."

Shining sighed. For awhile, he said nothing, and then with another, shorter sigh, "I'm still not there yet."

"And you're not going to be if you don't let me help fix it. I love you, Shiny. I want to be with you."

Shining shook his head. "If you loved me then, why would you try to change me by force?"

"That was a mistake."

"Mistakes are accidental. You knew what you were trying to do."

She took a deep breath. "Yes, I know. I regret it. You have to believe that, at least?"

Shining nodded. "I do."

She slid her hoof forward and took his elbow. "Look, just... Come lie down with me for a bit. If you're still mad in ten minutes, you can go sleep with the cook. I won't be mad."

After considering his options, Shining stepped into the room. "I will sit with you for a few minutes."

That was good enough. Cadance closed the doors, locking them behind her. The latch was on their side, so if Shining Armor wanted to leave, he could, but they would not be disturbed. She then sat next to Shining, both of them gazing at their wedding portrait, now hanging on the wall where there had previously just been a faded spot.

The painting was a modification of a photograph that was taken to just include the couple. The photograph was fairly small, and had captured Celestia and Pinkie Pie stuffing their faces with wedding cake in the background; the painting was enlarged and had removed them. It only showed Shining Armor kissing Cadance on the cheek and her blushing in return. As a couple, they had adored the painting, hanging it in the bedroom to remind them of their love for each other. Cadance could see why Shining had taken it down, and why he'd had it dusted and brought back up when she returned.

"I didn't intend for it to go as far as it did," admitted Cadance. "Yes, I'll admit that I did it willfully, but I just meant for it to be a nudge, nothing more."

"But you still did it."

"You have to believe that it wasn't my intent to hurt you."

"But you knew it would."

"But in a way I thought you'd recover from. Like when we used those paddles."

"I did enjoy those," smirked Shining.

"And you thought you wouldn't," assured Cadance. "I thought you might develop less hatred for the idea of letting stallions into our bed. First and foremost, letting them help you, and then slowly working it up so that you would try to be involved with them."

Shining was silent.

"You know now how wonderful it is to be filled," she continued. "I wanted to share that with you. I wanted that to be an open door to bring us closer together. You can believe that, right?"

Shining sighed. "I can believe a lot of things. I can even believe that you had the best of intentions going into this. But even with all of the good things that happened, it still hurt. Can't we have talked about this, first?"

"I tried!" answered Cadance. "You didn't want anything to do with it!"

Shining rubbed the back of his neck. "I was a different pony."

"You were," she agreed. "And now, you're so okay with it, you were going to sleep with another stallion tonight! That's huge progress!"

With a deep breath, Shining stood up and walked to the door. "Are you familiar with the saying that "the ends do not always justify the means?""

"I am."

Shining unlatched the door and opened it. "I need to go into town tomorrow. Try to think about our conversation tonight while you're holding court tomorrow."