Throughout the years of training, honing the body and mind for protecting royalty, Shield had never thought that anything could have surprised him until being assigned to this alicorn.

"Sir Shield, what would you say about this one!" The Princess called out to him as she used her magic to open the dressing room curtain revealing her young daughter Flurry Heart with a baby blue bow tied neatly to her head, pulling a small tuft of hair up from her face. 'Cadance said you are quite stiff Shield, I am going to need you to loosen up, don't be so up tight' The command his superior gave him caused him to wince at the thought of allowing his senses to be dulled by distracting himself while working, but the command isn't only from his commanding officer but also the new Prince by marriage to her Majesty Princess Cadance. Forcing his scanning gaze to stop searching for threats and putting on his best smile Shield spoke,

"Absolutely stunning Your Highness". With a frown Princess Cadance changed her stance and shot a glance his direction.

"I don't appreciate the forced expression Shield, you need to be honest with me" The Princess stated with a huff before the curtain began to glow with the wisps of her magic closing the curtain again, causing Shield to note how useful magic would be for daily tasks before directing his attention elsewhere. Before Shield could continue his scan of the area Princess Cadance began to speak again.

"I am sure my husband spoke to you about my feeling towards your work ethic," The alicorn called out as the sounds of muffled attempts at dressing a young filly echoed from beyond the curtain of the parlor, "despite me asking him to not do that specific thing" she finishes as the sounds of fabric ruffling dampens the sound of a filly angrily fighting her mother.

"I do apologize for my innate worrisome nature" Shield calls out to The Princess quite matter of factually. The statement being met with a giggle from behind the colored fabric separating them.

"You don't need to apologize for being worrisome as a bodyguard Shield," Cadance laughs before popping her head through the curtain to peer in his direction, "I believe that side of you is the very reason you're the first earth pony to attain role of personal bodyguard to royalty" The princess said with a smile.

It's true, despite him not wanting to focus on it and plateau his career, Shield would be lying if attaining the highest honor of guarding royalty despite being an earth pony wasn't a point of pride to him. So fearful of failing to exceed expectations that he may have been a bit, overboard on protocols and caution. Although while other guards may have the ability to use magic to catch a knife mid strike or fly quickly to intervene with an attempt to kidnap royalty Shield didn't have that luxury. Being overprotective and watchful at all times is how he could level the playing field with those who have more options than himself.

"I hope that I didn't offend you Sir Shield" Princess Cadance speaks up noticing his silent demeanor, before breaking his focus internally causing him to stare blankly processing what she had said.

"Absolutely not Your Majesty," With a jump of realization Shield barked, "I took it as a compliment" before bowing his head and kneeling ever so slightly.

Princess Cadance watched him for a moment, before nodding and retreating back to the confines of the dressing room. Raising his head Shield turned his attention to the large mirror to his right and looked himself over. His brown and white fur kept trimmed and proper, and his short cut light brown hair made sure to be kept out from his eyes to ensure he could stay vigilant without distraction or obstruction. He saw an earth pony in over his head, somepony who was looking to prove a point to a ghost. All these years later and he finally made it, the highest qualifications a guard could attain and yet despite the overwhelming joy he felt when he was first told of his new position a feeling of dread overcame him when he was told who he would be guarding.

Quickly scanning the area before turning his attention back towards the jostling curtain Shield thought back. 'Ten years? Perhaps eleven' All that time ago he still remembered it clearly. Within his first year after joining the guard, training daily and studying constantly to ensure he was ready for anything. His ambition was met with disdain from his peers simply trying to find a easy post and live the easy life, being seen as a overachiever was a clear cut way to be marked an outcast. Then one day a special mission was given to all the green members of the guard, a group of royalty would be visiting the barracks on a trip to visit a high ranking officer. Everything had to be perfect.

A DECADE PRIOR

Shield had gotten up particularly early that morning and made sure everything was spotless, completing every task that the others were given to ensure that their incompetence doesn't cause issues to arise. As he was finishing cleaning up the last of the main entryway the doors had flung open, allowing the cool breeze of the morning air roll in. The sun hadn't even been lifted by Celestia before a beautiful pink alicorn walked through the doors. He turned towards her and immediately raised a hoof in salute to the royalty, he hadn't been told who would be visiting and he wasn't positive who this alicorn was but anypony alive knows if you see an alicorn they are most positively royal or close to it.

The alicorn jumped back in shock at the appearance of another being awake this early in the day aside from the night guards posted at the gates, but quickly softened her expression and smiled.

"Good morning young guard, ensuring the cleaning duties are taken care of I see" She giggled as her eyes inspected him closely. 'Young?' Shield thought to himself before quickly forming his reply.

"Of course madam, I hope the barracks are to your standards!" Shield said without breaking his salute.

Turning her gaze towards the rest of the hallway and interior rooms and noticing the sparkling from the tiles on the floor she turned back to him.

"I beleive this may even exceed them" She said with a smile, Shield could have sworn the sun had risen with how bright the room appeared to get as he stared at her. True he had heard that all the princesses were to be praised for their beauty but her... she was beyond even his wildest dreams. He had seen others he thought were attractive and finding a warmth in him for them, but this alicorn changed his perspective entirely. Being in her presence was akin to finding a bon fire after walking through miles of snow and ice and realizing you didn't know what warmth feels like. The small bits of it he felt before now felt like jumping into a frozen lake compared to how he felt looking at her.

Realizing he was staring too long at her he shifted his gaze outside the open doors, as he did the alicorn giggled a bit and continued to smile.

"I thank you good sir..." She lingered awaiting an answer.

"Shield" he stated while continuing to observe the darkness for movement.

"Sir Shield. It's a pleasure" she stated before beginning to walk off.

"Your name?" Shield called out reflexively, before realizing the brashness of his tone, "Your Majesty!" he added in a haste turning back to her.

"Cadance" she smiled, "Princess Cadance". As he turned the outside world began to light as the sun rose up through the sky causing the alicorn to be lit ablaze in color. Her pink fur and gorgeous mane refelcting the light flawlessly, as if the sun was created for the sole purpose of showing her beauty in the definition it deserved. She turned, nodded, and walked down the hall.

Author's Note

Heyo I am horrible at writing so please be gentle, if you find typos and errors please let me know! I will be writing this and continuing it as I can!!! :3