It’s a long road… the one that leads to glory at least that’s what the recruitment officer said to Shining Armor when he joined. Shining armor wasn’t much when he joined only enough to be a guard like he had wanted. It’s been 40 years since that day and while he could retire he recounts all the times he’s saved others knowing he’ll never quit.
“I’m beginning to think you just want to die out there Shining.” His wife said.
“It wouldn’t be wrong to.” He replied
“I’d like you to actually see your daughter's marriage and your grandchildren.” she snarked back.
“We’re not at war, Cadance, I’ll be ok.” he replied irritated
“You don’t know that… anything can happen out there.” she replied
“I’ll be back.” he said as he shut the door leaving their room.
Shining armor and Cadance had become more bitter over the years. Many believe it has to do with Shining refusing to retire but others think it has to do with him not wanting to settle down.
“She’s going to get really mad one day.” I said
“She gets more mad everyday.” Shining replied.
“Maybe do something about it?” I asked.
“Like what?” he asked in return.
“Well, slow down. I'm not saying quit, but maybe go out with her more and do less of these calls.” I told him.
“I don’t see how your advice could be sound.” He snarked.
“I’m only stating what’s obvious.” If he was going to be snarky I would be back.
“I think I know what’s going on in my marriage Shield.” He angrily replied.
“You asked for my help then you get mad when I try too?”
He didn’t respond which I didn't expect him to. Shining was a good stallion, no doubt about it, but I know something no one else does I don't think even Cadance knows. Shining was set to retire 5 years ago and he fully planned on it, however we had a small scale attack on the north end, and when we responded… it was too late. The damage had been done and innocent ponies died. This didn’t affect Shining too much until he saw a family similar to his own. This is what hurt him the most. Shining hardened his emotions, he lost his happiness, and became a micromanager. I don’t think he told anyone but maybe if he did they could help more than I can.
“Shining… have you told Cadance about what happened at the north side?” I asked him hoping he had but knowing he hadn’t.
“I started to but never finished.” He replied.
“If you finish telling her she might be able to help you.” I said, causing him to stop.
“You don’t understand, it’s not that simple.” I knew I wasn't able to make any more headway with this so I stopped. We were getting ready to leave the castle when I noticed his armor was loose around the chest.
“Your chest piece is loose.” I warned him
“If I tighten it to the next notch it’s too tight.” he replied.
“I’d rather it be too tight than too loose.” I retorted.
“Well we both know I’m not you.” he responded.
“What happened to you?” I mumbled. This caused him to turn around.
“You want to ask that again?” he asked harshly.
“I asked what happened to you. You used to be happy and cheerful but now you’re disgruntled and have a headache just being around you.”
“When you see it the way I see it you’ll understand how I feel!” he yelled.
“You’re right! I'm nothing like you because if I was in your situation I would have gone to my wife by now!” I yelled back at him.
“What’s going on out here?” Flash Sentry asked.
“It’s none of your business.” Shining said rather timidly.
“You’re making it my business with how loud you’re being about it.”
“Put your big ears into your own business and you won’t hear about mine.”
Flash Laughed and walked off.
“You’re on your own, I'm not going with you.” I said sternly.
“Good.” Shining retorted.
I walked away and back to his and Cadances room. If he wasn’t going to tell her I was. As I knocked on the door I wondered why Shining got so humbled at Flash’s appearance. My thought was cut off by Cadances voice.
“Oh hi Storm (to change) I didn’t expect to see you back so soon.”
“It’s about Shining. He's alright not injured but you and I both know he needs help.”
“Yeah, I know, but he won’t tell me anything and when I ask he just gets mad.”
“Well then I'll tell you.”
I told her everything I saw while I was with him.
“So that's what made him…
“Yep.”
“Why.”
“He didn't see a family, he saw his family.”
“I'll talk to him.” Cadance said.
“Don't bring up my name.”
“I won't.”
It was only 3 hours later that Shining came back.
“How did it go?”
“Why do you care?” he said as he walked by. He didn't even turn his head toward me.
I decided to try and find Flash. I had been curious as to why Shining became so timid when he spoke. He was usually in his barracks or the dining hall. However I was already at the dining hall and I didn't see him so I headed over to his barracks. Peering in he saw me before I saw him.
“What do you need, Storm?”
“Actually I had a question about earlier, why di-” he cut me off.
“Stop there. You're not going to get that answer from me. All I will say is we've known each other for longer than you've been around.”
“Alright then.”
“Oh and I hope you didn't tell Cadance anything that would upset him.
“Why?”
“You saw how quick he came to yelling today just over you trying to help imagine him actually mad at you.”
“I'd rather not.”
“I'll keep an eye on him.”
It was another whole day before I saw shining again.
