Cadence awoke to the sound of voices, muffled and distorted. She slowly opened her eyes but her vision was blurred all she could see was what appeared to be the outline of two ponies. Who they were she could not tell, everything blurred and grey. She tried moving her body to find she couldn't. She tried again to no avail. So she just laid there.

She could hear faint voices so she tried to focus, focus on anything but the pounding in her head. She calmed herself as the voices became more and more clear. She recognised one as Dr Reetro. The other she couldn't quite place.

“Will she be okay?” Mysterious Voice.

“I believe so yes...” Reetro answered rather nonchalantly.

“You Believe so or you know so?” The Mysterious pony raised his voice a tad higher but still Cadence couldn't recognise the voice.

“Physically yes. She will make a full recovery. Emotionally.... I am unsure” Reetro answered solemnly.

“Look Reetro, I am tired of this. You were appointed to look after Cadence because you are the best doctor around. You know her better than any pony, even Celestia, I thought you would have made more progress than this?” The pony raised his voice a little higher.

“Forgive me Capitan Armour, I am trying my best.” Reetro's voice still as calm as ever.

Capitan? So it must be Shining here huh, Cadence thought.

Why can't I see him. “Because you can't face him, you can't face what he'll say.” A voice resonated in the back of her mind.

Why can't I hear 'his' voice. “Because he's not the Shining who's all goofy and playful anymore. He's Capitan, he has to lead ponies. Protect them. Protect Twilight” The voice leered.

Cadence closed her eyes and breathed deep. She had broken him. The once kind colt she'd met that morning with a goofy smile and cheerful personality was gone. No longer was he 'Shining' the laughing bubbly colt who wanted to impress her. Now he was just 'Capitan Armour' a soldier who had been pushed to the limit. A tear fell through Cadences closed eyes.

Why can't I just die “Because you caused this, and all debts must be paid Cadence. Your debt is suffering.” The voice dripping thick with venom. Cadence breathed deep.

“Well your best isn't good enough Reetro!” Shining boomed. “I have had it up to bucking here with this nonsense. A year! A whole bucking year you've had to help her, with no success!. She tried to bucking kill herself last night, and you've done buck all!” Cadence heard the sound of smashing glass and metal being flung about. All this anger Shining had was because of her, because of what she'd done to Twilight, because of what she'd done to herself.

“I'm so sorry Shining” Cadence tried to say but her voice failed her all she would do was listen.

“I understand your anger Capitan but please calm down, this isn't helping Cadence” Reetro pleaded.

Cadence head Shining begin to cry softly. She wanted to hug him, tell she was sorry but she couldn't move. She was useless. Cadence opened her eyes and they began to clear a bit, she saw Shining leaned over a desk, head in his hooves sobbing. Cadence couldn't stand it. Reetro then walked over and softly placed a hoof on Shining's shoulder.

“I can't- I won't-” Shining choked on his words. “You have to help her Reetro. she could have died and I couldn't stop it. It's bad enough that Twi-” Shining breathed a heavy breath and Cadence flinched at the mention of Twilight's name. “But not Cadence as well. Please. Please! Save her!” He started to bawl.

“I am doing my best Shinning, I am going to monitor her here from now on. The body is easily fixed, the mind is not. She has to recover from this herself. All we can do is support her” Reetro stayed true to his professional self.

“How? How can we support her if she won't let anypony in!” Shining pounded the desk. “I should of- I could of- I should of been a better friend” Shining's eyes were pouring now.

“You been an amazing friend” Cadence tried to say again but failed.

“You have been a good friend Shining” Reetro stated. 'Thank you Reetro' Cadence thought.

“No-” Shining raised his head. “I haven’t. I've let her down. All this time I wanted to tell her. Tell her that I didn't Blame her for what happened to Twilight, but I couldn't. I left her to suffer. Let her blame herself and now she's dying, because I was a coward. She wanted Twilight to be happy. Make friends. She found her. Cuddled her. Protected her, and- and where was I?” Shining picked up the desk and threw it through a window. The glass shattering into a million pieces just like him.

“I'm sorry Cadence” He lowered his head in pain. “No I'm sorry” Cadence tried to say.

“I should have talked to you. Comforted you. I should- I should have helped you, but I didn't and now your like this and it's my fault. I did this.” He cried. “No I did” Cadence tried to speak, failing.

“I should have helped you, but I was angry. Not at you. Not at Celestia. Not even at the foals.” Shining fell on his haunches. “I was angry at myself, that I let it happen. So I pushed myself to become stronger, braver, better so it would never happen again.” He turned to Cadence and she froze. “But I in doing so I let you suffer. I left you to die” He looked down again not noticing she was awake. Shining stood up and began walking towards the door.

“Shining where are you going?!” Reetro pleaded.

“I still have a job to do Reetro, but I won't let her down. Not ever again.” He turned to look back at Reetro. “Find me when she wakes up” He turned and left. Cadence tried to scream. To shout, anything. Anything to bring him back but he was gone.

Cadence turned to Reetro who took of his glasses and sat down on a nearby chair rubbing his eyes.

“Oh Cadance if only you knew just how much you mean to every pony.” He said with a tint of pain in his voice. “Then maybe, you wouldn't be lying here right now” He stood up and began walking towards Cadence resting a hoof on her head. “Please Cadence” He whispered. “Please don't give up” A tear fell from his eye hitting Cadences muzzle. Cadence closed her eyes and breathed deep. 'I won't give up' she thought before sleep overcame her.

….....................................................................

It was spring. The sun was shining, flowers where blooming, birds where chirping an all that. Cadence still confined to the hospital bed started emptily out the window. It had been six months. Six months, since the event. Six months since she tried to kill herself. Things were getting better slowly but surely. She was recovering. The past six months were difficult to say the least. Reetro came in everyday to make sure she was sedated enough not to try anything. Spark came in everyday to make sure she ate. Celestia every week to make sure she was okay, and Reaper popped in once or twice a month to check up on her. Cadence thought, long and hard about them. The ponies who were doing everything they could just to save her, help her. Ponies that were trying hard to protect her from herself. She was thankful she was, but the only pony. The only pony not here was the one she wanted to see the most. “Twilight” Cadence sighed.

“You miss her huh?” Cadence jumped and looked towards the door. There in all his glory was non other than Shining Armour. 'Of course' Cadence thought. Ever since the day Shining broke down he'd been coming to see Cadence three times a day, before, in-between and after his duties. It was awkward to say the least. In the beginning, Shining would come and Cadence would pretend to be asleep, he would just sit there and wait, sometimes an hour, sometimes two, sometimes he'd fall asleep right next to her. After the first week Shining asked “How long are you going to ignore me cadence?” and Cadence knew the game was up. She had to face him sooner or later she knew that. She turned to face him, expecting to see anger in his eyes, pity, hatred everything negative, but surprisingly she was met with the same goofy smile she'd grown to love and hate over the years. They talked, and talked and talked, and Cadence didn't feel a burning hatred for herself after it, no windows smashed, no yelling. They talked and it was nice. Nice to have a friend back, to have him back.

Shining would come. He would talk. He would smile. Cadence would talk, and smile. It became easier to face each day. They talked about Twilight. Very rarely, Cadence still couldn't face her. Shining knew this, but still he tried. He hoped one day he'd see Cadence as Cadence again. So he came again and again, not leaving her side, ever again.

“That obvious huh?” Cadence smiled.

“Very. You talk in your sleep you know?” Shining took off his helmet and and headed towards the chair next to her bed.

“No I don't” Cadence looked towards him glaring.

“You do. You say her name and mine surprisingly” He smirked. That same smirk that filled Cadence with hope.

“Oh really?” Cadence raised an eyebrow.

“Yeh it's kind of cute to be honest” Shining laughed.

“Oh shut up” Cadence joined in.

“I'm making a coffee do you want one?” Shining stood up and walked toward the coffee machine at the end of the room.

“Sure white- Cadence stared before being interrupted.

“Three sugars I know.” Shining waved a dismissive hoof at her.

“Smart ass” Cadence whispered. Shining made the coffee and levitated one over to cadence.

“I passed by her room today.” Shining stated as Cadence took the mug.

“Really what does it look like?” Cadence stared out the window looking at nothing in particular.

“Really nerdy” Shining said which earned him a punch in the arm.

“Ouch!” He faked a pained expression.

“Don't be mean” Cadence laughed.

“Amazing to be honest. I've been in there, wall to wall bookcases. I swear she must sleep on books or something cause I’ve never seen a bed” He laughed as well.

“She probably doesn't. You know what she's like, always up or night reading” Cadence smiled.

“Yeh. Not good for her health if you ask me” Shining smirked.

“And being Capitan of the royal guard is?” Cadence turned towards him.

“Hey pays well and I get to meet some interesting ponies” He smiled that smile.

“Well it pays well for her she learns. The amount she's learned I bet she could wipe the floor with you” Cadence laughed.

“Yeh your probably right.” They both turned towards the window admiring the sunset.

“She asked for you again today.” Shining said calmly.

Cadence sucked in a breath and her mug wobbled but Shining steadied her.

“You okay?” He asked concerned.

“Yeh. Just thinking.” Cadence lowered her mug.

“About what?” Shining scooted closer.

“Nothing, everything.” Cadence dead panned.

“She loves her doll by the way.” Shining glanced towards the window. Cadence smiled.

“She named him Mr Smarty Pants” He smiled. Cadence laughed.

“That's Twilight for you” Cadence looked at shining.

“Yeh well I thought she'd be a bit more imaginative” He smiled.

“Well she is only seven years old what do you expect. Besides I like it.” Cadence looked away.

“I do too. She hasn't stopped playing with him since you gave her it” He smiled bigger.

“The last time I saw her.” Cadence frowned.

Shining ears fell and he scooted closer and held her hoof.

“She misses you ya know.” Cadence stared out the window. “She wanted to come see you but I told her you were busy.” Cadences ears fell as well. “Her birthday’s in two months what are you gonna get her?” Shining changed the subject trying to lighten to mood.

“Haven’t thought about it. Maybe a book?” She smiled.

“Really? Goddess knows she has plenty of those, too many to be honest, think harder” He chuckled.

“What would you suggest? It's not like I know her anymore” She tilted her head slightly towards Shining. His ears fell down and she removed her hoof form his.

“I dunno maybe you could paint her something, she loves your paintings” He smiled.

“Maybe” Cadence stared off into the distance. Shining grabbed her hoof again. She turned to look as him in the eyes.

“Cadence?” He squeezed her hoof. “Will you go see her?” He pleaded.

She turned away. “Not today” She looked at the sunset.

“Someday?” He asked in a quiet voice.

“Someday” She smiled. Someday.

Author's Note

Hello Fillies and GentalColts I thank you for you patience I've been a little busy and haven't had the time to post lately but rest assured this story is alive and well. God know why I'm updating at five in the morning but ah well. It's not exactly a valentines chapter but I wanted to post today all the same. I thank you for you dedicated and hope to see you all soon.

Your Regards

OnTheTrot