Salvation

Shining Armor's dream and destiny was always to become a part of the royal guard. He started to train for his dream at the age of 16 and joined the army as a simple rookie in the age of 18. He crawled through the mud with his comrades, scaled the mountain Canterlot was built on, shed sweat and blood in liters, had several broken bones and missed his family every minute they were separated. But Shining always believed in what he was working for and went through the whole drill without complaining or even thinking about giving up.

He takes a seat behind the desk in his office and sighs in boredom and frustration. ”Maybe I trained too hard...” he mumbles to himself while he randomly signs some papers from the huge stack on his desk, staring at the golden helmet laying to his right. He still remembers like it was yesterday when he wore him for the first time on his graduation years ago. How he stood in line with the other graduates of his company while his instructors reached them the golden armor they trained so hard for, the proud face of his father and the tears from his mom and sister when he was honored for his special achievements by princess Celestia in person. He will never forget how excited he felt when they shook hooves.

A small squeak coming from the door brings him back to the reality and his eyes quickly fix the door. He could see how it closes again but it seems like that nopony entered the room. He scratches his forehead in confusion when suddenly somepony hugs him from the behind chair while his eyes get covered with a pair of hooves.

“Surprise!” the soft voice from a certain pink alicorn giggles in his ear while she places a kiss on on his cheek. He smiles and takes her hooves from his eyes. His head turns around and their lips meet in a passionate kiss. Shining immediately feels better and forgets about his boring and non-action-y job as a prince and captain of Canterlot's royal guard.

After a minute Cadance releases him from her embrace and looks him in the eyes while smiling like a filly who got her first kiss from the colt she has a crush on. ”We're happy today, aren't we?” he asks and smiles back.

“Of course!” she answers with excitement and with an even bigger smile than before. ”It's a special day after all.”

“Oh really? What is it? Did Celestia order banana muffins for the dinner or something?” he asks with the best serious expression he had in his arsenal. He scratches his chin to top his play off and holds back a cackle when he sees his play was successful.

“You don't know?” Cadance almost whimpers with a sadly look. Of course he knows what day it is, he would never forget it, but he would also never stop to tease his Cadie.

“Hmm... no, not really. Is it important?” he asks, not-laughing turning harder and harder.

“No... it's nothing...” Cadance answers with a bad fake-smile and starts to make her way towards the door “I'll let you do your work now...”

When she was about to leave he stands up and calls after her. “Cadie, I think you forgot something” Cadance turns her head around and sees her grinning husband with a nicely packaged present in his hoof. “Happy Anniversary, Cadie!” he says happily, but before he could finish the sentence she has already jumped over the desk, hugging him tightly and planting kisses all over his face.

“You really thought I would forget?” he chuckles while he strokes her mane when she leans  on his chest. ”You're so mean sometimes!” she moans and gives him a weak punch in the shoulder. They both start laughing.

“So, don't you want to open your present?” he says and points at the present, now laying on the desk. She shakes her head and smiles again. ”Later tonight, when I can give you your present...” she whispers in his ear with her slinky voice. Shining gulps loudly.

“And what have you...” he starts but a heavy knock on the door interrupts him, destroying the mood. Cadance releases him from her embrace as he sighs in annoyance.  ”Yes?!” he yells and the door opens. A white young stallion in a golden armor enters the room and quickly bows down in front of them without losing his straight face.

He gets back up and stands straight with his famous one-million-miles stare. “Sir, there's a problem down in Ponyville; we need your help. A coach is waiting for you outside.” he reports in a strict military tone.

“What's so important I've got to go to Ponyville all of a sudden?” Shining asks in annoyance. Yes, he wants more action in his job, but his anniversary with Cadance is more important than chasing some criminals or something.

The guard gives a short glimpse to Cadance and then back to him. ”Shall I speak freely, sir?” he asks with an unsettling look in his eyes. Shining sighs again and gives him a gesture to continue.

“We've got a jumper on the bell tower, a colt in the age of 15 or 17. A local sergeant is already talking with him, but he doesn't believe it'll all end well, the colt refuses to talk with anypony and seems to have mental problems.”

Shining quickly grabs his golden-purple breastplate and helmet from the retainer on the wall behind his desk as he hears the words jumper and colt. ”Lead on, I'm coming in 2 minutes.” he says while slipping into the breastplate. The guard salutes and leaves the room.

“Shiny, what does he mean with «he doesn't believe it will end well for him»?” Cadance asks with a worried look. Shining ignores the question, strapping the belt of his breastplate on and donning his helmet. “Shining?” Cadance asks again. He stops, looking into her eyes with the serious expression he uses only when he's in duty or something terrible happened.

“I'll explain everything later Cadie, I have to go now. Try to enjoy the evening, I'll see you later. Sorry.” He gives her a quick kiss on the forehead as he quickly rushes out of the room, leaving a worried and disappointed Cadance behind him.