The position of Captain of Princess Celestia’s Royal Guard is a family legacy going back much further than merely Shining Armor.

A generation prior, his father, Night Light, is a young, single stallion in his first year as Captain, and unfortunately, his eager and devoted service to the crown has come at the expense of his now-strained friendships. Even the beautiful Twilight Velvet, the mare of his dreams, grows tired of being ignored in favor of serving his glorious Princess. But just as he begins to realize the job has run his personal relationships into the ground, his life is turned upside-down when Celestia heaves him a curveball he could never have seen coming.

After all, how can a pony be prepared for his most important duty… when it’s the most closely guarded secret in all of Equestria?

Proofing and editing by Ariamaki, AnonponyDASHIE, and DragonShadow.