Her Shining Paladin

Chapter Two: Introductions

The young stallion woke up in hospital bed. He let out a long moan as he began to open his eyes, everything becoming blurry. He slowly lifted his body up and put a hoof to his head as he looked around.

"Oh...what happened?" He groaned.

"Ah, you're awake!" A voice declared.

The stallion turned to see a unicorn doctor smiling at him.

"Uh... where am I?" He asked. He then grasped himself as pain surged through him.

"Oh, oh, be careful, lad." The doctor warned him. "You had a rough landing coming here. The guards that found you had to carry you in."

"Guards?" The stallion repeated, before his eyes widened in realization. "Wait, I must ask... is this... Canterlot?"

"Indeed." The doctor nodded. "In fact, you're in the castle's infirmary."

"Really? No fooling?" The stallion asked, his face lighting up like a foal on Heart and Hooves Day.

"Yes." The doctor replied, a tad confused by his enthusiasm. "However, I do want to know why a pegasus such as yourself was doing out in a storm like last night's?"

"I'm afraid I can't explain right now." The stallion declared. "Right now, I must request that I see the Princesses."

"Princesses?" The doctor repeated. "You mean Celestia and Luna? Whatever for?

"Can't tell you." The stallion told him." "I just need to see them-" The stallion tried to get out of bed, but he fell to the ground. "Ow."

"I'm afraid you're in no state to walk right now." The doctor told him "When you crash-landed last night, you bruised all your knees, suffered a mild concussion, and badly sprained both your wings."

The Pegasus looked at himself, and realized that his hooves were bandaged, his wings were tied to his body, and he had a bandage wrapped around his forehead.

"Yikes... I guess I got a little roughed up." He admitted, rubbing the back of his head, while his other front hoof felt for his necklace, quickly realizing it was gone. "My locket! Where's my locket?!"

"Relax, lad." The doctor said calmly. "We removed your locket when we were patching you up. It's on the bedside table."

The stallion glanced at the table; The locket was there. He let out a heavy sigh of relief as he grabbed it. He opened up the heart and glanced in at it before closing it and slipping the locket back on and slipped back into his bed.

Suddenly, the doors to the infirmary opened as Celestia and Luna entered the room.

The stallion's jaw dropped. He had heard a lot of things about the princesses back where he is from, but he had yet to see them in person. Needless to say, they were even more impressive than he had imagined, Celestia especially. He suddenly found it hard to keep his eyes off her.

"I see our guest is awake." Celestia smiled.

"How are you feeling, good sir?" Luna asked.

"Sore." The stallion groaned, tearing his vision away from Celestia.

"Well, I would assume so, especially with that tumble you had last night." Celestia stepped forward. "May we ask your name and why exactly you felt the need to plough the castle garden with your face?"

"Well, I uh..." The pegasus stuttered, flustered. "My name is Shine... Shine Paladin. I had come here to ask you something, your highness... something that is… well, personal."

"Well, you've clearly came a long way, and braved that storm outside, Mr. Paladin." Celestia nodded. "It must be important. Doctor, could you please give us a moment alone?"

"Of course, your highness." The doctor left the room.

"Now, what is it you wish to ask us?" Luna inquired.

"Well, it's... sort of a unique problem..." Shine declared. He forced himself off the bed, revealing a conspicuously blank flank. "I have no Cutie Mark."

"My word." Celestia gasped. "I've never heard of pony reaching adulthood and had yet to find their special talent."

"Truly an oddity." Luna agreed.

"Is there anything you can do to help me?" Shine asked. "For years, I have been trying everything I can think of to fix this, but I just can't get it to appear!"

"I'm sorry, Shine." Celestia shook her head. "There's nothing I can do."

"But... there must be!" Shine protested. "I mean, you two are princesses of Equestria! Surely, you can do something, anything!"

"Even our magic, great as it is, cannot force a Cutie Mark into being." Luna declared.

"But…" Shine was about to rebut… before letting out a defeated sigh.

"We are really sorry, Mr. Paladin." Celestia empathized, "I wished there was something we can do."

"No, no, I understand." Shine hung his head low, "I'm sorry for wasting your time." He then slowly slipped out of bed, ignoring the pain in his knees and wings, "I guess I'll just head back home."

Shine slowly clopped his way towards the door.

"Hold." Luna said suddenly.

Shine stopped in his tracks.

"Surely, you are tired from your long journey, and subsequent mishap." Luna declared. "You need to rest those damaged wings of yours. We'll have a room prepared for you to stay in until you are fully healed."

"Excuse me?" Shine asked, puzzled.

"Luna?" Celestia frowned.

"Oh, no... as much as I appreciate your offer, I don't want to be a bother..." Shine said awkwardly.

"It's no bother at all." Luna smiled. "Besides, you cannot travel far with sprained wings. It's the least we can do for one of our dear subjects."

"Oh, um... if you insist." Shine shrugged, feeling it wouldn't be smart to turn down a princess.

"Good." Luna smiled, "We shall leave you to rest in peace. I hope that you have a good night's rest."

"Thanks, I think I would like that." Shine sighed as he returned to his bed as Celestia and Luna turn to leave the room.

As Celestia and Luna left the room, Celestia turned to her sister.

"What was all that about, little sister?" Celestia asked. "Why are you so adamant on having Shine stay."

"I'm just helping out one of our dear subjects, sister." Luna smiled innocently. "Nothing more, nothing less."

Celestia was unconvinced. She knew her sister was up to something. But what?

To Be Continued...

(My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic and all associated characters are the property of Hasbro.)