It was about half past five when Shining Armor was sitting that the wooden oak table, located in the guard barracks near the out outskirts of Canterlot castle. He went there sometimes to get a small meal of carrot and turnip soup when he got tired of the fancy stuff they served in the castle. That or when Cadence's Cousin Prince Blueblood kept making a mockery of his mane cut. It didn't matter that much anyway, considering he thought that Blueblood's mane cut made him look like a floor mop half the time.

Today he was happy just sitting at his old set, eating old food with his old guard friend. They were just catching up one old thing that wouldn't seem like that much of a bit deal to anybody apart from themselves but hay; it's what they enjoyed talking about.

The guard barrack's floor was made of a smooth light greyish stone that was sealed to the floor by thick concrete, while the walls were made of a much rougher stone. The tables and benches were all made of dark oak wood what were placed in a long line down the middle, with a couple of extra benches at the sides resting against the stone walls.

Shining Armor was sitting on the far end of the table next to the firer place. The warmth of the fire made the seats that Shining Armour was sitting at the best seats in the barracks. The royal guards always let him sit there as a sign of respect to his rank within the Guard, which he respected but also seemed unnecessary now that he spent most of his time in the royal dining hall.

His friends had not shown up on this particular winter’s day, probable because they were already starting to break off for the holidays. It's not like they were needed that much anymore really, the last time that guards were properly needed was when the changelings invaded.

As he sat there eating his warm soup a shadow seemed to block part of the light that was coming from the fire. He looked up to find one of his white earth pony guards standing over him, with a large smirk on his face. The guard captain examined the guard that was starting before him. He could tell that the guard was new because his lime and aqua mane looked to have been newly cut to fit the required length for a guard. He was a log smaller than the other guards as well, which was quite rear considering how big most of the other guard ponies were. He eye were also a shade green and were spread wide as could be, fixed on Shining Armor.

The guard leaned in forward to his captain right in the face, eyes only centimetres apart. He said in a ruff but creepy voice "Riddle me this and riddle me that. Who's the pony with the gold and purple hat?" When he was finished he leaned out and sat opposite Shining.

Shining Armor was just confused by this pony's out of nowhere statement. He noticed that the guard was now staring at Shining's helmet that was placed beside him next to his bowl of soup. "It's more of a helmet." He commented after looking back towards the strange guard, who gave him a couple of small nods. Shining got the answer, "Me." He answered giving the pony opposite him a strange look, tilting his head forward a little.

"Yes." He smile, seemed to be really happy that Shining had managed to get the very easy answer. "OK, now give me on. This is going to be so much fun." He put his hooves on the table, waiting patiently for his question. Shining didn't know what to make of this pony. Whoever let this one join, must have been a little out of it at the time. Even so Shining, having nothing else to do, decided to play along.

"You mean a riddle?" he asked, just to make sure that's what they were playing. This was met with several small nods from the guard. "OK, let’s see...I, errr....." Shining could seem to think of one off the top of his head. If only Twilight was here he thought to himself. She would know a couple of good ones .

That's when one hit him. He had remembers her telling him this when he was trying to guess what her cutie mark was, if only he could remember how it went. The pony next to him seemed to be getting bored or inpatient, as him smile started to fade. "That was it." Shining started remembered how it went. "At night they come without being fetched. By day they are lost without being stolen. What are they?" After he had spoken it he leaned backwards a bit and put his hooves behind his head. "That should take you a bit of ti..."

"Stars." The pony interrupted. "The answer is the stars at night. Please tell me I got it right." He once again leaned in, not caring about his captain's personal space.

"Yes your right." How could he had gotten that so quickly, it had taken him about twenty tries when Twilight asked him it. Shining had not idea were this was going but he still motioned with his hoof for the guard to go on and ask him his end riddle, which seemed to make the pony smile even more.

"I never was, am always to be. No one ever saw me, nor ever will. And yet I am the confidence of all, to live and breathe on this terrestrial ball. What am I?" This time the pony leaned back, mimicking what Shining had done a few moments ago.

The riddle felt Shining's in a muddle. I never was, am always will be he repeated in his mind. He was shore the pony meant and always but he let it slip by for now. He couple for the life of him find the answer, it didn't make sense really but he guessed that was one of the main points in riddles really. He would have to accept defeat and look it up tomorrow.

"Tomorrow." He spoke. "It has to be tomorrow, or the future. Am I right?" Shining was now the one with a smile on his face. He had got the answer in at the very last second.

"Well done captain, I must say. But you must tell me another all the same." He replied as with moved his front legs on the table, resting his chin on his hooves.

"What is in seasons, seconds, centuries and minutes but not in decades, years or days?" Shining blurted out, not really thinking of what he saying. He had heard the riddle when he was watching Cadence talk to a fortune teller a couple of months ago when they visited the Ponyville fair a couple of months back.

The guard seemed to be in beep thought about this one, which surprised Shining Armor considering how fast he got the last one. "The letter N" He answers, getting the answer right once again.

"Good guess." Shining was starting to get tired of the game, so he decided to call it a day. "Well it was fun to meet you and I had a bit of fun but I must be going." He explained as he lazily got up and turned to walk to the door.

They Guard was now once again face to face with him, still holding that large smile he had on his face. Shining looked about to where he was sitting to find that no pony was there. He was now every confused but really didn't want to go into this situation. He tried to step to the side of the pony only for the small guard to block him off. "My turn. The more you have of it, the less you see. What is it?" He answered.

"I don't know... time." He blurred out, not really caring for what answer he gave.

"Nope the answers darkness. Your turn" He continued to lean in closer face to face once more, by somehow balancing on his front legs as though he was a Pegasus.

"I got the answer wrong." By the change in Shining's voice most ponies could tell he was getting angry, but this earth pony seemed to be completely oblivious to his change in emotion. "I lost, go away." Shining managed to push past and did a fast trot to the door.

The got to the door a moment later, clutched the doorknob with his magic and pulled the door open. Once again the guard was standing happily in front of him. The smaller pony lifted his right hoof up revealing that he was holding Shining's purple and golden captain's helmet, which Shining quickly snatched off of him and placed it on his head. "Thank you, now go home."

"It's best three out of five, then I leave." he explained as he blocked his captains way.

Shining thought about this for a moment. If it was best three out of five then the guard would leave him along, so Shining started to think of a really easy riddle, one that even a small child would get. "What's black, white and read all over?" He was bound to know this one.

"I do not know that answer to that one." He smile, which just made Shining even more angry.

"Your just trying to annoy me knows aren't you?" He growled as he gritted his teeth. "Let me guess, my turn." Which the guard responded by giving him another couple of cheerful nods.

"What's black when you get it, red when you use it, and white when you're all through with it?" He asked.

"Charcoal, that's an easy one." He answered.

"We seem to be at the tie, so I wonder what the futures lies." Shining was getting sick of his rhymes and riddle, which the small one seemed to be finally catching onto. "OK, you answer me this one, and I will end my fun." Shining had it get this one right, for he didn't think his sanity could take anymore. "I live under a bridge. I have fingers and toes, and I have rivers of snot coming out of my nose. What am I?"

What kind of riddle was that? "You’re a troll." He answer towering over the smaller pony, which great rage in his eye that would send the most bravest of ponies running home to their mothers.

"Ha, I sure am." The pony burst out laughing and ran away into the bushes.

Shining Armour just stood there in complete shock for about thirty seconds, completely stunned by what had just accursed in the last five minutes. Every muscles not daring to move an inch as he just stood there. The wind started to blow ever so slightly as his mane it the side of his face.

Wait, I'm wearing my helmet he quickly noted, taking it off and seeing what had been hitting him in the face. He looked around the purple plated piece of protection and noticed that attached to was a small piece of paper that he hadn't noticed in his moment of rage. Written on the small piece of clear white paper was scribbled.

U MAD BRO... =P

Author's Note

Well... I hope you enjoy this every stupid idea I made in about five seconds. Thank you for your time. Like always please point out mistakes, even though I'm probable not going to do anything about this on, cos I don't really care about this fic. Hope you enjoyed.
=D