A Thousand Winters...

Chapter 2: The Prince and the Knight

"Its a big world out there..."

BOOOOONG

Shining almost burst into tears. That bell had become a death knell for him every day for the past week. Not even on Sunday was he free from the menace that was his charge. Blueblood had ordered that Shining Armour be brought in during his free time to perform a magical scan of his chambers to check for spiders. Shining half expected to be ordered to check under the bed for monsters.

Another thing which grated on Shining more than anything was Prince Blueblood's complete and total lack of appreciation for anything anypony did for him. In addition to Shining, the Prince had a day-maid, a night-maid, an entire team of cleaners, a manedresser, three spa specialists, a coach (rarely used), and four chariot chauffeurs. It never really occurred to Shining why Blueblood constantly insisted on calling on him to do most jobs however.

"Wakey wakey Shiny-Winey" chimed Razorwind sleepily. Shining flipped up a forehoof in a rude gesture in return. The coal black pegasus laughed, flexing his toned forelegs and wings as he stretched himself awake. The white unicorn stallion became just a little bit more alert as his eyes caught sight of Raze's rippling mus-

BOOOOONG

"For buck's sake we're awake!" howled Raze as he stumbled out of his bunk into the bathroom. Shining shook his head as his room-mate vanished into the shower. What the buck is wrong with you? Why d'you keep lookin' at stallions lately? Why not mares like you always have?

Breakfast was an unusually dull affair this particular morning. Amber Flare was nowhere to be seen. It didn't take long for Shining to find his room-mate Fire Star however.

"Oh you don't know do you", the red maned unicorn muttered, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, "Amber Flare's in the Medical Wing at the moment. He tried bucking the wall last night- said something about killing a training dummy tomorrow. Anyway, he actually managed to crack his hoof"

Shining grimaced, but couldn't help but smile afterwards. Poor, poor Amber Flare. Shining had a mental note to visit him later on that day.

For once during the entire time since being appointed as Blueblood's protector, Shining Armour didn't mind his job. He had been commanded no less, to stand by the edge of the tall clear windows that looked out onto the Prince's private balcony. The grand glass doors were wide open, letting in a refreshing breeze, the sounds of the city of Canterlot drifting in with it. Blueblood himself was currently having himself groomed for some kind of royal reception later that afternoon. His lack of presence allowed Shining to fully examine the Prince's royal chambers.

The chambers consisted of two rooms joined together by a wide curved archway. The ceiling was low, but still high enough for a marvellous crystal chandelier to hang without any obstruction. All the walls seemed to be of the same cream wood panelling, beautifully engraved with carvings of ships and the sea. A wide circular table sat at the end of the first room, covered with a wonderfully detailed map of Equestria and the outlying nations. Compasses and sextants, along with quills and measuring sticks were spread out in organised chaos over the map. It hadn't taken long for the blue maned guard pony to figure out that Blueblood's talent was cartography.

Apart from the elegantly carved 'wrong' wardrobe (as Shining had taken to calling it), a wide varnished bookcase stood next to the door. The Prince's bed lay in the second room, a massive four posted piece of furniture, a pair of leaping dolphins set into the headboard in gold. A luxurious couch covered in blue cushions lay opposite a magnificent fireplace, the hearth shaped like seahorses.

Damn, the rich sure know how to live. Shining's peace was interrupted as the Prince strutted into the room, his mane expertly brushed and styled. His hooves shone brightly in the sunlight and his coat was brushed to perfection. He also smelled of lavender oils. Something very odd suddenly stirred in Shining's chest upon seeing the dashing young Prince. Not even Shining could deny that Blueblood was a handsome stallion, but seeing him like this, almost perfect...

"What do you think Shining Shield? Don't I look sublime?"

Shining coughed. "Um, its Shining Armour your highness, and yes you do look very, um...sublime..." He scratched the back of his head awkwardly. the Prince shot him a bright smile as he examined himself in a full length nightwood frame mirror.

"Now do be a useful little pony and fetch me my Royal Reception Suit"

Shining gulped. he had almost worked out how the noblepony's suits were arranged, but not quite. What the buck was his Royal Reception Suit? Opening the armoire, Shining carefully traced his hoof along all the one which he knew were not said suit. That left a possible three choices. Blindly picking the one most to his right, Shining handed Blueblood the expensive clothing.

The haughty unicorn took hold of the suit with his magic, a light blue glow wrapping itself around the black jacket.

"Ahhh, I see that you're learning. Good, it seems that you are not completely incompetent. Now, go fetch me those white diamond cuff links. They're on the bathroom dressing table"

Bathroom? There's a bathroom?

Shining trotted into the second room of the chambers. past the bed a door stood shut.

"Wow..." Shining breathed as he opened it. The bathroom as made entirely of white marble, silver swirls plated on the walls. A single massive bathtub lay in the centre of the room, wide enough for at least four ponies to lay in comfortably. A whitewood dressing table rested at the far end of the room, a wide wash basin next to it.

Spotting a small black box sitting next the elegant mirror, Shining started towards the dressing table. He jumped a bit when his bulky armour brushed against a tall vase standing on a stone pillar. The delicate container teetered, wobbling precariously. Shining's hoof shot out to catch the priceless relic before it fell, sighing with relief. Relief that soon disappeared when his tail brushed against a taller vase on the floor behind him, containing walking sticks and polished canes. The skilled unicorn's horn lit up to stop the falling rods...too late.

"Buck!" Shining swore as a glass topped sceptre smashed against the cold marble floor. Hundreds of tiny fragments of crystal clear glass ran in all directions. "Goddess-dammit", Shining let go of the vase and turned to the mess he had created. He let go too quickly. The porcelain container fell end first onto the marble, likewise shattering. Shining's blue eyes darted back and forth sheepishly. What have I done? Goddess help me!

"What was that?"

"Shit..."

The door opened further as Blueblood poked his head round the corner, eyes finally finding a rather skittish Shining. The guard pony's horn was ablaze with magenta light, struggling to hold the broken cane and vase floating behind him from the inquisitive Prince.

"What in Equestria is taking so long? And what exactly are you doing I might ask? What are you holding?" asked Blueblood with a suspicious raise of his eyebrow. Shining grinned stupidly, sweating slightly beneath his golden helmet.

"Um..."

"'Um'..?"

Shining's horn brightened slightly as he extended his magical reach to pick up the cuff links. He hovered the black box to the Prince, still trying to hold his ruined belongings behind him out of the Prince's view.

"Your cuff links, your highness"

Blueblood grinned his perfect grin as he took hold on the container in his own magic field.

"Ahh good! Now come along um...Shining, I want you to accompany me to the meeting. We'll become acquainted with several of the highest nobleponies from Neighpon, and I want you with me just in case"

"In case, your highness?"

Blueblood turned round, mouth agape in the expression of 'are you mad?'

"Those Neighponese guards carry swords with them. At all times! Whos to say they won't use them should the meeting turn sour? No, I want you with me to fend them off should they attack us"

Shining rolled his eyes. It was highly unlikely that the meeting would go that badly. Although with Blueblood as part of the welcoming commission it probably will. And it was highly unlikely that Princess Celestia would let such weapons be drawn in her presence. She was a goddess after all.

"What time is the meeting your highness?"

"Exactly eleven minutes time. Come on now, Aunt Celestia will be expecting me now"

Of all the dull things that Shining had experienced over the course of his life, nothing could compare in the levels of tediousness and sheer boredom that this reception had.

He had stood there still as a statue, not daring to even blink- for over three solid hours. The ambassadors from the mysterious eastern pony kingdom had been very honoured to have been greeted by the Princess herself, and the trade negotiations went rather smoothly. The massive time consuming act however was the formal 'courting' of the foreign dignitary's daughter, an elegantly dressed mare by the name of Lady Hi-No-Hana.

Blueblood had danced, dined, exchanged gifts, and finally bid the eastern noblepony goodbye with a kiss on her hoof. Shining restrained a yawn as his charge trotted away merrily, humming tunelessly.

"Well that was a truly enjoyable experience. Those Neighponese ponies were fascinating, not to mention regal. I though Canterlot was the jewel in the crown of Equestria, but if these stories of Neighpon are true, of blossoming trees and cloud ringed mountains- oh, it makes me almost want to just disappear off into the mist to see it all"

"No killings then?"

"Oh, um...well, not this time. But you never know. These eastern ponies have some very unusual customs. Who knows what kind of offenses and slights they may take"

Shining chuckled as he and the Prince ascended the carpeted flight of marble stairs that led back to the Cloud Wing. As stuck up as Blueblood could be, Shining had to admit that he was a completely different kind of pony when in his comfort zone of politics. The blond maned unicorn was courteous, polite, and very very charming. The guard pony also took an interest in watching him go about his funny little ways. Every morning, Blueblood would scribble in another coast, cove or inlet on the extensive map of Equestria he was creating.

"Your highness, may I be so bold as to ask a question?" Shining asked politely, remembered what happened the last time he had done so without permission. He had never seen a full grown stallion look so aghast in horror. 'Disrespectful' and 'impudent' were thrown around a lot.

"As long as its suitable for my talents, go right ahead dear fellow"

"Have you ever actually been away from Canterlot before, as in, to any other city or town in Equestria"

Blueblood stopped briefly in his tracks, lowering his head slightly before trotting forward back to his chambers in earnest.

"No...I regret to say I have never even left the Royal Palace, good guard. Only once do I remember being outside in the city. It was a long while ago, when Mother was still here"

Shining had never really wondered about the Prince's parentage. He knew that Princess Celestia was his aunt, but apart from the mythical Mare in the Moon, Luna, the sun goddess had no other siblings. The blue maned unicorn opened his mouth again.

"Who was your mother?"

Blueblood had arrived at the double mahogany doors to his chambers, but simply stopped. He turned his head to Shining briefly, his aqua eyes showing...what was it...regret? The haughty unicorn simply huffed, flicking his tail as he waited for his bodyguard to open the door. Drawing a brief blank, Shining's horn lit up before swinging the doors wide.

As soon as both ponies were inside, Blueblood snorted. He faced Shining Armour with a cold, but almost sorrowful stare.

"Do not ask that question again, lest I find a replacement for you. Preferably one who doesn't ask so many questions!"

Shining backed away a step or two.

"M-My apologies you highness, it won't happen again"

Blueblood's stare died as he sighed deeply, shaking his regal head slightly. He plodded over to one of the two wardrobes and opened it with his magic.

"No, you weren't to know. I can't really blame you, being a common pony"

Shining reeled internally at the comment. He was Canterlot born and bred, from one of the most esteemed magical families outside of the city's Highborn Aristocrats. The blue maned guard pony held his tongue however. It was a half apology he guessed.

Blueblood slipped out of his suit, slotting it perfectly back into its allocated place. The Prince trotted over to the balcony overlooking Canterlot. The summer wind stroked his golden mane from his face, and the royal pony let out a very mournful sigh. The sounds of the bustling capital flooded into Blueblood's chambers, the sun streaming through the balcony arch. With all the maritime décor and furnishings, Shining felt as if he was in the luxury home of a merchant or sea captain, the sounds outside those of a thriving port then Equestria's capital.

Tentatively, the guard took a step forward towards his charge before the Prince swirled round, a neutral expression stuck to his handsome face.

"I need to leave this Palace, Shining Armour. I need to see the wide world that everypony speaks of, to see the places that I draw on this map for myself. Canterlot has expended itself upon me, and I am tired of its mundane goings-on. Where is the interest in politics and business deals? I want to see the world."

Shining furrowed his brow slightly.

"Why don't you, Your Highness?"

"Because, my dear colt, I am a Prince. And Princes cannot simply go wherever they please, as everypony seems to think. Even my beloved Aunt Celestia cannot depart Canterlot without letting half of the City Council know."

Shining didn't like being called colt. He was older than the Prince anyway by a year. Blueblood wandered into his bed chambers and hauled his white form upon the four posted bed, leaving Shining standing alone in the adjoining room. Not knowing what further use he could be to the young stallion, the blue maned pony spoke up.

"Do you need anything else, Your Highness?"

He was answered by a very wistful:

"No...you can go for today..."

Liberated from his duties, Shining galloped to his dorm before placing his polished armour carefully back into the large trunk he kept under his bed. Razorwind was on patrol above the city, leaving the white unicorn all alone in his shared room. Shining smirked as he saw the two halves of his quarters. Razorwind's belongings were strewn across his unmade bed in a gigantic heap of general crap. There were leftover celery stalks and carrots that the black pegasus had smuggled out of the Great Hall, pieces of scrunched up paper, and sweaty gym wear.

Shining on the other hoof, had a pristine bed and desk, free from junk and refuse - a point that Shining was always polite enough to bother Razorwind with whenever he got the chance. This time was a particularly bad scene. A great pile of papers balanced precariously on the edge of his room mate's desk, all of them letters from friends and family. As he trotted into the bathroom to wash his mane, Shining's long tail caught the papers.

"Dammit!"

In a less destructive repeat of that morning, the white pony's clumsiness shone again. Cursing and muttering to himself, Shining began to sort out the fallen letters, carefully putting them into neat piles with his magic. As he diligently restored order to his side of the room, Shining's blue gaze fell upon a an open envelope. In his mind he knew that it wasn't his business to nose into his room mate's belongings, but curiosity drove him.

Shining ended up pulling out a small photograph of an attractive pegasus mare with a turquoise coat and a white-silver mane and tail. She was leaning over a bedstead, he eyes seductively looking at the unicorn. Her hind legs were crossed, covered with a pair of pink and purple stripy socks. She looked beautiful. The young stallion noticed small scribbled hoofwriting on the back of the photo, Shining laughed as he read:

Miss me baby?

It was Rain Flower, Razorwind's marefriend. The black stallion often boasted to Shining on the fact that he had a Very Special Somepony whilst he didn't, something which always grated on Shining. In his humble opinion, he wasn't a bad looking stallion. Back in school, more than a few mares had expressed interest in him.

But you don't think of mares any more do you?

Shining opened his mouth to snap back at the annoying voice in the back of his head, but turned his head to the floor. That annoying little voice was right. But he'd liked mares all his life, like any young stallion does. And yet...

The white unicorn huffed to himself in frustration.

The afternoon sun still beat down hotly as Shining made his way to the Medical Wing of the Royal Barracks. Around him, various guards made their way to their duty points in twos and threes, some occasionally nodding to the young Private. There were few clouds in the sky, and little shade was received when Shining made his way into the small hospital that comprised the entirety of the Barracks' South Wing.

High windows let in streams of sunlight, bathing the long cubicle lined hall with white light. Even in here, the heat was intense. Various nurses trotted to and fro from the few injured stallions that lay resting in the beds, either from training or accident. But all of them seemed to be blissfully ignorant of their pain as the mares around them winked and quipped suggestive remarks to them. Everypony knew they were only teasing, but that didn't stop poor Amber Flare from desperately trying to seduce Nurse Scarlett.

"I leave you alone for five minutes and you end up cracking a hoof...what am I going to do with you?" Shining chuckled as his friend beamed happily.

"It wasn't a cracked hoof, it was a moderate fracture! It's worth it if I can beat you at bucking. Take it Prince Prissy-Pants let you go free then?"

"Don't even talk about that. This morning consisted on standing still for three hours while he chatted up some Neighponese noblepony. They even got lunch. I haven't eaten yet" muttered the white unicorn as his stomach protested with a resounding grumble. Amber Flare smiled, shooting his brown gaze to his bandaged rear hooves.

"I'm fine by the way, thanks for asking"

"Sorry, I'm just stressed. Blueblood is...weird, to say the least."

"Anypony who has a suit for each day of the week is weird. Is it true he never leaves the Cloud Wing?" asked the crippled pony on the bed.

Shining let out a chuckle. "Yeah, but according to him, he's never left Canterlot, not even the Palace! He keeps going on about seeing the world or something like that. Nearly got in trouble today for mentioning his mother."

"Why?"

"No idea, but I've got a day off tomorrow. When you gonna be out and about again?"

Amber Flare let out a pained smile. "Not until next week. Nurse Scarlett said I gotta wait until the healing salves complete their stuff before walking on these again." He wiggled his rear hooves feebly. "And I'll listen to anything she tells me to do...anything"

Shining laughed.

"C'mon, like you wouldn't too?" the other unicorn said.

Shining just shrugged it off with another laugh.

No...I don't think I would...