Festivals and Unicorns

Two weeks of bliss had passed in Shining's life. Two weeks since that fateful night. Shining wasn't sure what to think about Cadence's behaviour. He was lost in thought for the remainder of the school days in the year. Come on calender, give me the last week and a half quickly., he would think. His constant thought of his new-found royal friend, made him a bit unpopular with his teachers.

"Mr. Armour. Perhaps you would like to share with the class the events of Nightmare Moon's banishment.", she said annoyed. Shit. "Well Ms. Bloom, Princess Lun-"

"Nightmare Moon, Mr. Armour."

"My bad, Nightmare moon, was displaying evil behaviour and tendencies, and because of that, Princess Celestia shot her up to the moon."

The class erupted into a small laughter, and Ms. Bloom look unamused.

"Mr Amour, would you like to share the correct events of those two years with us?" Double-shit. "I-I don't know Ms. Bloom."

"As I thought, well for the ones who also failed to pay attention, Nightmare Moon's banishment was a premeditated event. Princess Celestia and her council spent over two years deliberating on Nightmare Moon's fate. As they were going to vote, she launched a surprise attack on Canterlot Castle. A great and powerful battle ensued, and because of it, Nightmare Moon was wounded, and banished to the moon."

Shining took in the new information with an annoyed look on his face.

"So Mr. Armour, if you were paying attention, instead of ogling the back of your classmate's head, you would know this critical information.", she said. Ms. Bloom took notice of the look on Shining's face. "Well excuse me, Mr Armour! Did I offend you?", she snapped.

"Can I be honest with you?"

"Please! Enlighten the class with your wisdom."

"Why did you get all bent out of shape when I said 'Princess Luna', not 'Nightmare Moon'?"

"Because that's what she's been officially referred to for the last thousand years."

"But isn't that disrespectful? She was born as 'Princess Luna', so it would be like if I called you, I don't know, Teacher-Lady and not Ms. Bloom."

"Shining Armour, do you wish to against Princess Celestia?", she said with a softer tone.

"What?"

"That's what our Princess Celestia officially proclaimed her as. Anybody of royal birth or decadency would call her. For the hopeful future Captain of The Royal Guard, I would think that you would follow her word without question."

"You don't know shit about princesses", Shining mumbled.

"I'm sorry, what was that?"

"I said I'm sorry for not paying attention, and I'm sorry for disobeying Princess Celestia."

The class erupted into another chorus of laughter.

History class couldn't go any quicker. After his blunder, Shining decided to go the rest of class in silence. As if by Celestia's intervention, the final bell rang, and everybody went to head for home on this fine Thursday afternoon.

"Mr. Armour, come here please.", Ms. Bloom said as he was leaving. Triple-shit.. Shining stopped in his tracks, and a military about-face. "Yes Ms. Bloom?", he said to his least-favourite teacher. "As I'm sure you're aware, your teachers all know of your attempt to get into R.G.B.T."

"Yes I know."

"Well, me and your RGOTC instructor have decided to write you a recommendation, despite your new behaviour the last two weeks."

Shining's eyes went wide with shock. "Th-thank you so much, Ms. Bloom", he said.

"Don't worry about it. Now all you need to do is finish high school, and find a decent benefactor to fund your training.", she said.

"Y-yes, I promise I won't let you down!", Shining said as he left the room. "I'm not done, Mr. Armour!", she shouted. Shining turned back to face his teacher. "Perhaps I was being unfair with the whole 'Nightmare Moon' thing. I apologize for saying what I did.", she said. Shining couldn't believe his ears. His most hated teacher was sitting here apologizing for being wrong and giving him a recommendation!

"It's all okay Ms. Bloom! Thanks a ton!", Shining said as he ran out of the school. It was Thursday, and Shining was going to treat himself.

The tiny bell over the door rang as Shining walked into the pizzeria. "Hey extended family! I'm here!", Shining said as he entered. "Oh Shining! How are you!", a female voice said from behind the counter. The voice was Salvatore's wife, Maria.

"I'm all good Mrs. Maria."

"Please! I told you not to use such formalities when you're with the family!"

"Oh! Right, I'm sorry, Maria."

"Good! I'll get Salvatore!"

She went back to the kitchen to get her busy husband. Shining leaned on the counter, and listened to the clamour coming from said kitchen. "Alright woman! I'm going to see the boy!", Salvatore said as he left the kitchen, "Ah-ha-ha! Il mio ragazzo, Brillante Armatura! How are you this fine Thursday?", he asked.

"Honestly Salvatore, I couldn't be better. Remember Ms. Bloom I told you about?"

"That puttana?"

"Si, Salvatore. You know what she did?"

"Tell me!"

"She and my RGOTC instructor wrote me a recommendation for basic training!"

"Shining! How fortunate for you! For that your order is on the house! Compliments of the family!"

"No, Salvatore, I can't do that. I'll pay."

Shining withdrew his wallet and took the fifteen he was going to owe, and slapped it on the counter. "Shining, you are a generous boy! Be right back.", Salvatore said as he disappeared into the kitchen again.

He came back out not five minutes later with Shining's usual order: two slices of Italian Sausage on mozzarella cheese pizza. Shining's mouth watered at the sight. Salvatore placed the order in front of Shining, and leaned on the counter as Shining ate.

"Tell me il mio ragazzo, how old are you now?"

"Sixteen, will be seventeen in a few months, why?"

"Well, you have been coming to my store since you entered high school, and are a part of my family..."

"And?"

"Would you be interested in a job here?"

Shining stopped eating his food, and even dropped his pizza back on his plate. "Gee, Salvatore, I-I don't know what to say.", he exclaimed. "Well say 'yes' stupid!", Salvatore said back.

"I'll take the job!"

Shining worked for Salvatore since school ended. He was a delivery boy, but made a decent pay: $9.75 an hour. One day Shining returned from a delivery, and was called to a faculty meeting. The entire staff, or more correctly, Family, was gathered in the large kitchen. Salvatore was in the middle of a large circle of people. "Okay people, I have something to say", he proclaimed to the family. The family grew jittery from anticipation. "Here," he said as he held up three rectangular pieces of paper. Shining looked closer at them, and realized that they were much more than that. They were three tickets to The Summer Sun Festival! "Are three tickets to The Summer Sun Festival!", he continued, "And I have no need for them. So I decided to give them away to the employee with the most points on our rating thingy."

Salvatore began to inspect a clipboard, and looked back up. "Shining Armour!", he shouted over the roar of the family, "congrats, they're yours!" He walked over to Shining, and handed the tickets to him. "Good job, and have fun!", he whispered to Shining, "All right! Back to work!"

Shining burst back into his house when his shift ended at 8:00. His father looked up from the television to look at his panting son. "Where's Twilie?", Shining asked his father.

"In the kitchen, why?", Nachtlicht asked.

"No time!"

Shining entered the kitchen, and spotted his sister reading.....The Notebook! "BBBFF, whats 'cheating'?", she asked innocently. Shining facepalmed, and grabbed the book from his sister. "Hey! I was reading that!", she protested. "Twilight, I told you that you are too young for that book! But forget that, I have something for you!", Shining beamed.

"Ooh! Ooh! A present?'

"Something like that."

"What is it? Gimmie! Gimme! Gimme!"

Shining presented the tickets to his sister. "BAM! Three tickets to The Summer Sun Festival!", he exclaimed. Twilight squealed out of joy. "Yay! I always wanted to go!", she said running around the room, but then she suddenly stopped. "Three? That's one for you, one for me, and one for...?", she questioned.

"Well, I was going to let you choose who you wanted."

"Anybody?"

"Yep, anyone you want!"

Twilight grabbed her doll, Smarty Pants off the table, and showed her to Shining. "I'll take Smarty Pants!"

"Smarty Pants doesn't need a ticket 'cause she's so smart!"

"Oh, how about Mommy or Daddy?"

"Oh, Twilight, why don't you choose one of your friends instead of us", her father said from the living room.

Twilight put her hand to her chin to imitate deep thought. Then her eyes lit up, and she smiled widely.

"Cadence! We can go with Cadence!", she said.

Shining's jaw dropped in shock. He was blushing hotly from his sister's request. "Ca-Cadence?", he sputtered. Twilight pouted a little, and said, "You said anybody!" Shining sighed, and admitted defeat. "Fine, you're right. Let's call Cadence.", Shining mumbled.

The phone rang a few times before Cadence answered her cell. "Hello?", she said from the other side.

"Hey, it's Shining."

"What ever happened to the whole 'three days' thing? I gave you my number a month ago."

"Heheh, sorry, I guess I was a little scared. But that aside, you free Saturday?"

"Are you asking me on a date Shining Armour?"

"Kinda, but I'll let somebody else explain."

Shining handed the phone to his sister. She grabbed it with a smile, and began to talk to Cadence.

"Hi Cadence!"

"Twilight, is that you silly girl?"

"Yep! Guess what?"

"What silly?"

"Shining got me tickets to The Summer Sun Festival!"

"Wow really? Lucky you!"

"Yeah, but he had one extra, so he said I could take anyone I want, so I want to take you too!"

"Twilight, that's so nice! Thank you!"

"Yep, you can talk to Shining again!"

Twilight handed the phone back to her brother.

"So, free Saturday?"

"I'll be there."

Shining walked up to the ticket counter with his party of three. "Tickets?", some bored voice said from behind the glass. Shining handed the voice the tickets, and the bar blocking the entrance lifted up. 'Enjoy, sir."

Shining led his sister in to the festival, and watched her marvel at the sights. "Wow! This is so neat!", she shouted. Cadence walked up to them and giggled a little. "So, what's first?", she asked Twilight. Twilight looked around for a second, until she gasped at something in the distance. "Look! Look!", she said pointing to a booth in front of them, "Look at the unicorn!" Shining looked at her desired object. It was an odd shade of purple with navy hair that had streaks. The tail was the same colour, and on its flanks was a weird pink star. "Come on, Shining. Why not try to win it for her?", Cadence said into his ear. Shining shrugged, and walked his party over to the stand.

"Step right up, sir! Shoot the targets, win a prize!", a chubby man said to Shining. "Shoot? With what?", Shining asked as he examined the booth. "You over fifteen kid?", the chubby man said. Shining nodded in confirmation. The chubby man reached under the counter at the booth, and pulled out a black pistol. Shining pushed Twilight behind him, and adopted a state of rage. "What the Tartarus, man?", he shouted at the chubby man. "Easy kid, easy. It's an air-soft gun! You take this, shoot the targets way down there", he said pointing to the end of the long booth, "and win a prize." Cadence took Twilight, and Shining picked up the fake gun. "How do I get the purple unicorn?", Shining asked mellowly. "Easy, shoot all six bulls' eyes, and get the unicorn!"

Shining took a step back from the counter, and raised the gun with one hand. "You'll have an easier time with two hands, kid!", the chubby man suggested. "No. My way!", Shining muttered, and looked down his sights. He took a deep breath, and pulled the trigger six times. Shining heard six "thwaks!", and lowered the weapon. The chubby man went and checked the targets, and returned with a shocked face. "Dang kid! You ever shot a gun before?", he asked. "No. D-did I do good or something?", Shining lied. He didn't want to see how Cadence would react to the boy she liked being proficient in firearms. "I'll say! Six bulls' eyes! The unicorn is yours!", the chubby man said.

He took out a long hook, and removed the stuffed unicorn from the prize rack. Shining handed the prize to his little sister, and watched her laugh with happiness. Shining looked at Cadence, who wore a happy smile as well. She mouthed the word "damn" to Shining, and took Twilight to go explore some more. Shining felt good. Not only did he win a prize for his sister, but he just earned some major points with Cadence!

Author's Note

An about face is where you turn around 180 degrees without moving in military drill. YouTube it to see what it looks like.

R.G.B.T.=Royal Guard Basic Training.

RGOTC= Royal Guard Officer Training Corps.

ugh, I'm sorry this was so long!