“Come on Twilight, just a few more steps.” Wanting to please, Twilight reached a purple hoof for the next step, the platform of wood seeming miles away. Her legs, unable to hold without the fourth supporting, gave way, allowing her to fall into a glowing bed of blue.

“You shouldn’t push her so hard Shining,” Cadence warned, cradling Twilight in her magic as the trio continued their ascent. “She’s still a young filly, and very tired at that.”

“I just want to help her get stronger,” Shining Armor replied defensively, trailing the pink rump upstairs, unable to stop his eyes from instinctively stealing glances. “It’s kinda disappointing that she hasn’t gotten her cutie mark yet, I want to help her along.”

Cadence stopped, twisting her neck to catch Shining’s eyes in a compromising position. A raised brow her only reaction. “I still don’t have my cutie mark,” She stated, her faux seriousness ruined by the hint of a smile. “Are you telling me that’s bad?”

“No,” Shining fidgeted nervously, failing to catch Cadence’s slip. His mind churned, trying to both satisfy Cadence’s question and defend his previous statement. “But that’s different. You’re an alicorn and your cutie mark will be special.”

“What makes you so sure Twilight’s cutie mark won’t be special as well?” Cadence questioned, managing to control her lips into a tight line. “For all you know she could be the next princess.” Shining’s lips mouthed silent words, his mind unable to formulate a response to push between them.

“Please don’t fight,” Twilight called from her cradle of blue, her tired voice catching the arguing pair’s attention. “It makes me sad to see you two fight over me.”

“Oh don’t worry sweetie we weren’t fighting,” Cadence’s face and tone transformed, warming up to the filly. “I was just teasing your brother. Why don’t we get you to bed?” Twilight nodded at the prospect, her glee too obvious to Shining.

“And no reading in the dark tonight,” He said, his hard tone drawing a moan from Twilight. “A growing filly needs her sleep.”

Finding Twilight’s pleading eyes turned on her, Cadence replied with a knowing look. “It’s true Twilight, you need rest,” She agreed, adopting a motherly tone.

“But I need to study magic,” Twilight begged, her eyes quavering, a bubble of light on her black pupils trembling.

Stepping past Cadence, Shining nosed open the door directly left of the stairs, revealing the organised chaos of his younger sister’s room. “You can read books all you want tomorrow, when it’s the weekend.” Giving Twilight no time to reply, Cadence levitated her through the doorway, dodging pillars of books to rest Twilight on the star cloaked bed.

Finding herself suddenly too tired to protest, Twilight stretched her jaw in a yawn, sleep pulling her eyes shut. Cadence and Shining pathed their way between the stacks, Twilight’s breathing already falling into a soft rhythm as the arrive at her bedside. Blue magic tucked the purple filly away, only her head still peeking out from under the nightsky.

“You are so lucky to have such a cute little sister Shining,” Cadence whispered, the pair backing away from the bed, careful, silent. “It sometimes makes me wish that I knew who my parents were.” An oak door now between her and the sleeping filly, Cadence allowed her voice to louden. “Just think, I could have a little sister out there somewhere, I could be putting her to bed right now.”

“But then you would miss out on me.” Filling his chest with air, Shining Armor looked half colt, half pool-toy.

“Oh don’t think I forgot you,” Cadence replied, her tone sending a shiver down Shining’s spine. “How long do we have till your parents arrive home?”

Shining released a breath, attempting to calm his flustered thoughts. “They said they’d be out all night,” He answered, finally able to pick the wanted thought from the sea of fantasies. “Something to do with an important pony taking them out for something.”

Pleased with the response, Cadence blew a breathy kiss to the blushing colt, chasing the projectile with a pink tongue peeking between her lips. “Why don’t we have some fun then?” Stepping through the door opposite Twilight’s, Cadence led the way over the spotless floor to rest on Shining’s double bed, Shining closing the door behind.

Stroking the satin sheets she had picked out herself, Cadence allowed her eyes to wander the room as Shining stumbled over slowly, a red fire burning at his cheeks. The room was one of Cadence’s pet projects. With her spending as much time in it as she did Canterlot Palace, she wanted it to look nice, not be filled with coltish posters and piles of rubbish.

The curtains were a special magical fabric that became more opaque in the moonlight, allowing her a view of the night through the room’s balcony window. A rug partially covers the wood-planked floor, one of its corners tucked underneath the bed.

The bed was specially designed, a springless mattress, cushioned magically, made to stay quiet during Shining and her late night ventures. Not wanting to overtake the room too much, Cadence had decided against a pink color scheme, instead matching the room to Shining’s mane and coat.

Shining climbed silently onto the bed alongside Cadence, his best attempt at a seductive look on his features. Giggling at Shining’s effort, Cadence mirrored the expression, quickly cracking Shining’s serious with laughter.

“What do you want to do tonight?” Shining voice was breathy as his hoof drew circles on the covers.

Pinching her lips thoughtfully, Cadence overviewed their past week’s sessions in her mind, trying to think of what was missing. The week had been an experimental one, involving a maid outfit, a wing massage and Shining’s horn getting wet.

Coming upon a decision, Cadence allowed her current expression to vanish, replacing it with cheeky eyes and a seductive smile. “Just follow my lead,” She breathed into Shining’s ear, sending a shiver down his neck.

Cadence’s lips followed the outline of Shining’s body, along the corner of his ear, down his neck, along his back, nipping, kissing, finally stopping on his cutie mark. “Roll over.” Shining obeyed eagerly, the length hidden beneath his stomach showing itself as he did so.

Taking the muscle in her magic, Cadence pulled it straight, running her tongue from the base to tip, eliciting twitches from Shining. When she reached the peak, Cadence tipped her mouth over it, encasing the tip between her cheeks.

Her soft tongue and wet lips worked along Shining’s shaft, sucking and swirling as Cadence slowly lowered herself down the length, stopping when she felt it against the back of her throat.
Up and down Cadence moved, working Shining like a pump, relishing in every twitch and groan of her lover.

All the while she kept a check on Shining’s base with her magic, searching for the muscle movement that signaled his coming release. Finding it, Cadence slowed her pace, bringing Shining as close as she could to finishing without allowing him.

Drawing herself from the shaft, Cadence played with the rock solid length as a filly would a helium balloon. Prodding and toying with it until Shining popped.

It came slow at first, the initial hint a speck of white on the tip. Shining’s shaft twitched with effort, pumping his seed through the length and out the top, turning the dribble into an intermittent fountain. The liquid spurted into the air, most of it falling back onto Shining’s shaft and chest, but some coating Cadence’s giggling grin in strings of white.

Cleaning herself as she watched the show, Cadence scooped the seed from her face with a hoof, tasting it with her tongue before lapping at it like a cat cleaning its paws. Shining filled the room with moans throughout his release, the strained expression on his face feeding Cadence’s laughter.

Shining finished and Cadence clean, the hungry alicorn moves to grooming the white belly before her, removing any sign of his explosion with her tongue. “I think that’s a new record,” She joked, squeezing the final drops from Shining’s length with her hooves.

Knowing how weary her lover had grown, Cadence pulls the covers from underneath his limp body, tucking them in together with her pink glow. Shining rolled over to face Cadence, a wide smile plastered across his face. “Thank you Cadence,” Were his final words before his eyelids drooped, his breathing slowing into that of sleep.

“Good night to you too Shining.”

“Wake up, wake up!”

Rolling away from the irritation, Shining scrunched his eyes tighter, fighting the eventual progress of waking.

“Come on lazy, wake up,” The voice requested again, this time joined by a ringing.

A warmth jerked at Shining’s eyelids, wrenching the windows of his mind open, flooding his thoughts with light. “Ow, ow, okay I’ll get up,” Shining called out as he rolled from the grip of sweaty sheets, fumbling for firm footing in his blindness.

The cool touch of china pressed against his lips, Shining felt the mug tipping, pouring boiling liquid into his open lips. Gulping down the hot pain, his eyes fluttered, managing to catch colors through the blinding wall of light. “Why the rush?” Shining managed with a burst of breath, his throat free to breathe.

“We have to get ready,” Cadence replied, words rushed. “I need to be at Canterlot Castle in half-an-hour, Celestia is waiting.”

His eyes finally adjusted, Shining noticed the orderly looking Cadence standing amongst the mess of his room. Her mane combed to fall into a point, no sign of the frizzle he remembered from last night’s blurry events. A tiara rested behind her pink horn.

The sunlight streaming into the room through half-pulled curtains captured her in a dawn-glow, highlighting her pink coat. “Why did you have to wake me up then?” Shining questioned blearily, his tongue numb with want of water.

“Because she want you to be there as well.” A white china plate held in blue followed Candace's explanation, the arrangement of fruits displayed somehow springing a leak in Shining’s desert of a mouth. “Now no more questions, if you aren’t ready in the next five minutes we’ll be late, and we don’t want to keep the Princess waiting.” With that Cadence turned, stepping carefully in the minefield of scattered clothes and abandoned armor.

“Why didn’t you wake me up earlier then?” Shining called after the pink rump as Cadence exited the room.

Cadence’s neck twisted, shooting a deadly glare over her shoulder. “I did, twice,” She complained before disappearing down the hallway, the echos of her hoofsteps sounding down the stairs.

A yawn parting his lips, Shining Armor stretched the morning aches away, his hooves carrying him subconsciously into the hallway. The stairs at his left, Shining turned right, stepping down the short hallway into the bathroom. Remnants of a previous shower still showed, splashes of water on the white tiles, fog still coating the top of the shower’s glass door.

Closing and locking the wooden door behind with his magic, Shining twisted the shower’s tap to full, wanting to heat it up before daring to step in. Why would Celestia want me to meet with her? His mind wandered as he waited, contemplating the reasons for his early waking. Maybe she’s offering me a position as the head guard? A smile spread across his face as he pictured himself in the golden captain’s armor, other guards saluting as he marched past.

Shaking the fantasy away, Shining tested the stream of water with a white hoof, the boiling heat eliciting a gasp from him. Touching the temperature down to a suitable level, he stepped into the line of fire, drenching his sweat-soaked coat and mane.

But why would Cadence be coming then? Shining questioned his previous guess, deeming his promotion an unlikelihood. It must be something for both of us then, but what? Rushing to clean himself, Shining’s mind dwelt on the mystery, sorting through an empty list of possibilities.

His cleaning routine complete, Shining closed the water off with a push on the tap, stepping from the steamy glass box. I guess I’ll have to ask Cadence about it, surely she knows. He decided as he toweled off, leaving his blue mane still damp.

Cadance waited in the lounge, one hoof tapping impatiently as the other paged through a binder. Sharing the cushion, Twilight sat beside her, the curious filly leaning over the book, reading along. The sound of Shining’s hooves descending the wooden stairs lifted both ponies’ eyes.

“Good morning Shining,” Twilight greeted him first, a wide grin pushing her eyes into a squint. “Are you ready to meet the Princess?” Shining’s brow lifted at her question, a stare and twist of his lips questioning Cadence.

“We couldn’t just leave her,” Cadence answered, folding the binder shut as she stood. “And besides, seeing the Princess up close it something few ponies get to do, I’m sure she’ll love it.” Turning to Twilight, she helped the filly to her hooves. “Are you all ready?” An excited nod answered her. “Let’s go then.”

The halls of Canterlot Castle were a new world to Shining Armor. Stepping through the marble caverns left him awestruck on the inside, maintaining his calm exterior a difficulty. Twilight on the other hand allowed her excitement to show, her jaw hung low, eyes wide as she took in the beauty the trio walk within. The white walls held tapestries at regular intervals. Woven pictures told tales of Equestria’s past, many of which Twilight recognised.

As Shining attempted to keep up with Cadence’s brisk pace, he stole glances at the guards passing by, each politely bending their necks at the sight of Cadence. He subconsciously flexed his back, imagining the armor on him, escorting his princess through the castle.

“Oof!” A door broke Shining out of his fantasy, the collision leaving a red stripe across his eye and a glow on white cheeks.

“Come on Shining!” Cadence dragged the stunned colt into motion, her strides lengthening. “We were supposed to be meeting with Celestia a few minutes ago.” Twilight scampered after the pair, still taking note of each and every detail, mentally listing the positions of a few interesting looking tapestries for later viewing.

The heavy oak doors creaked at their arrival, being pulled open by a team of four unicorn guards in a mix of blue and gold glow. “Welcome Cadence and Shining Armor,” Celestia greeted them, her voice beckoning them forth. “I see you bought Twilight also.”

The welcome drew confusion to Shining’s face, “How do you know Twilight and I’s names?” He questioned, bringing a smile to Celestia’s lips.

“I have shared many conversations with Cadence about you,” Celestia explained. “She speaks very highly of both you and your sister. It is for that reason I asked you to join me here today. I have discussed my plans with your parents and they agree it would be a brilliant opportunity for you.” A white hoof directed the trio’s gaze to their left where Shining’s parents waited with warm smiles and waving hooves.

“What exactly is your plan?” Cadence stepped forth, question lining ber face.

“Yes, it would be best if I enlighten the two of you,” Celestia agreed, turning her head to the side. “We will move to another room to discuss this this, please follow me.”

They found themselves five, trailing Celestia through a small side entrance hidden by a sky-blue curtain, the doorway behind forcing Celestia to duck. The room beyond paled in comparison to the cavern of the throne room, its ceiling height comparable to Shining’s home.

A rainbow of cushions spread in a circle waited for them. Celestia took one for herself, waiting to the others to follow her lead.

“Cadence, you’ve spent your entire life here in Canterlot.” Celestia directed her speech at the pink princess while still sharing her gaze with the remainder of the circle, making sure to include each pony. “I think it would be best for you to travel Equestria before it comes a time where you are needed to rule. Meeting with other ponies and learning to communicate with them is an important part of being a princess, hopefully this experience can teach you what you need.”

She shifted her focus to Shining, taking the colt’s eyes with a smile. “You and Cadence are very close, yes?”

Blood rushed to Shining’s face at the question. A weak smile showing his teeth, he managed a nod.

“As I thought.” Celestia nodded, her warm voice holding a sly hint. “I know you have sufficient training in hoof-to-hoof combat as well as offensive magic to escort Cadence. Though I do not imagine you will come across any difficulty while travelling, it is always better to be safe.”

“I-I don’t know if I’m good enough to protect a princess,” Shining stammered, doubt clear across his face.

Celestia waved the complaint away with a hoof. “Do not trouble yourself too much about protection,” She comforted, a cheeky smile replacing her warm one. “It is more of an excuse for you to go rather than the reason. Think of this as a vacation, time for the two of you together.”

Both Shining and Cadence responded to the suggestion with mixed expressions, a mix of embarrassment and confusion on their faces.

“What about my parents?” Shining produced a question to hide his emotion, looking to his father and mother for an escape.

“We’re fine with you going,” Shining’s father answered, pride obvious on his features. “Your mother and I think it will be a great experience, and I’m sure Cadence will love your company.”

Twilight, ignorant of the situation, couldn’t help but stare at Celestia. The princess’s radiance a magnet to her eyes. Celestia sensed the attention and reached out of hoof to ruffle Twilight’s striped mane. “I’ll be watching over both of you the whole way,” Celestia convinced, her eyes still on Twilight.

“But,” Shining managed one word of protest before he realised his cup of excuses had been drunk dry, leaving him staring at the princess awkwardly.

“You haven’t spoken so far Cadence,” Celestia switched the focus of her words, knowing how stubborn young colts could be. “Why don’t you tell Shining what you think about this opportunity?”

“I,” Cadence stoppped herself, catching Shining’s eye, gauging his true feelings on the situation. Noting the smile in his eyes she continues. “I think it sounds like an amazing experience, and I know Shining thinks so too. I just have two questions, when do we leave and how long will we be gone for?”

Looking up from the playful filly at her hoof, Celestia smiled, relieved she managed to convince the adolescent pair. “I planned for you to leave before noon today, that is why I asked you here so early,” She explained, much to the shock of Cadence and Shining.

Noting their gaping jaws, Celestia clarified her plans. “Everything is prepared for you, an itinerary, enough bits to last you the journey, and I have notified officials around Equestria to prepare hospitality for your coming. As for the length of your journey, I hope for you to be back before your wedding, which is in five years time.”

Shining’s face faded a shade paler than it previously was, somehow whiter than white. Cadence cough, choking on the revelation. “Wedding?” Cadence breathed, her mind hoping she had heard wrong, her heart wishing for it to be true. “You mean between Shining and I?”

“Mmmm,” Celestia murmured her assent, her brow raising in mock-question. “You two aren’t against that I hope, maybe I assumed too much.” She feigned ignorance to Shining and Cadence's shared look, instead spending her attention petting Twilight. “Perhaps I could make Twilight here the next princess of Equestria instead,” Celestia joked, much to the horror of the stressed couple.

“No, no, that’s quite alright,” Shining quickly blurted, hoping to save his sister from this apparently crazy princess’s schemes. “We’d love to get married.”

“We would?” Cadence questioned, wondering if she had missed a previous conversation.

“Well maybe not right now,” Gritting his teeth, Shining attempted to clean up his accidental mess, each uncomfortable word spreading Celestia’s smile further. “But hey, five years is a long time. I’m sure we’ll be ready then.”

“Well I’m glad that’s all settled,” Celestia clapped her hooves together, warding off any further argument. “Do you wish to have a meal before you depart?”

Shining and Cadence shared a silent conversation, noting small movements of lips, creases around each others eyes. “No,” They answered simultaneously, both knowing the the other shared their uneasy stomach.

“Perfect,” Celestia said. A pop of magic in the centre of the circle producing a thick stack of paper, the first page stuffed with black ink. “This is your itinerary, it contains details on where you will be going, where to stay, some optional side ventures, anything you could want to know.” She dumped the pile before Shining and Cadence, a silver ring binding its corner stopping the pages from fluttering.

“Is this all?” Cadence questioned sarcastically, the roll of her eyes accentuating her intent. “It seems a little, light for travelling.”

“No of not,” Celestia replied with complete sincerity. The sarcasm apparently lost or more likely ignored, by her. “Beyond the white door behind me a pair of saddlebags as well as a hefty bag of gold waits. Now off you go.” She shooed the pair with her hooves, the barest hint of impatience in her voice.

Knowing they’d gone too far to back out now, Cadence looped the binder ring over the tip of a pink wing before stepping for the white-stained door. Shining nuzzled a brief goodbye to his sister and accepted a hug from each of his parents before following.

The click her ear was listening for finally happening, Celestia turned her attention back to the remaining ponies. “Now they’re gone I want to ask one more thing of you two.” She leant forward as she spoke, her voice low. “I hear Twilight is studying magic.”

“The Princess sure is forward,” Shining commented as Cadence closed the door behind them, his unease fading as his distance from Celestia grew.

“I know it was a little, unexpected,” Cadence agreed in partial, not wanting to disrespect the elder alicorn. “But isn’t it something both of us want?”

The question set the gears of Shining’s mind in motion, pulling a memory of the previous night to the forefront. “I guess we’ve talked about it once or twice,” He said with a nod as distracted as his words, his mind still trawling through the recollection. Cadence’s sleepy smile as she kissed him to sleep a pleasant thought. “It’s just having the wish made so real is a little bit of a shock.”

“It is,” Cadence concurred, her eyes finding the promised goods waiting atop a stone bench carved into the white marble. “But I really lo-like you Shining.” Cadence’s slip up was lost on Shining, his mind still living a memory. “I’m sure it will be less of a shock in five years.”

The saddle bags appeared personally made, each bearing symbols akin to the couple’s cutie-mark, the fabric matching its color with their manes. Cadence shrugged on her own soft yellow bag with ease before slipping the itinerary inside. Turning, she found Shining still in a daze.

“Ow, what was that for?” Shining complained, rubbing his hurt snout, a faint hoofprint denting his white coat.

Rolling her eyes, Cadence responded to his question by tossing the dark blue pair of saddlebags at his head, forcing him to duck.

“Hey!” Shining’s attempt to dodge the clump of fabric allowed it to catch his horn, dragging the struggling unicorn to the ground. “What did I do wrong?”

“I guess getting lost in your thoughts runs in the family then?” Her comment met with confusion, Cadence elaborated, unable to hold back her smile. “Twilight does the same thing. She manages to be a lot cuter however.”

“Are you saying I’m not cute?” Shining struck a pose, twisting his face in his attempt at an enticing look.

The resulting mess only managed to evoke a breath of laughter from Cadence before she fixed the expression with a kiss. “Not when you do that,” She said, picking the mess of cloth from the floor in a blue glow, hanging across Shining’s withers. “Now I think we should stop messing around and get out of here.”

Another door, elm framed with gold, waited for them at the opposite end of the room. Taking the purse of coins as she past the bench, Cadence led Shining Armor, pushing the door open with her hoof.

Beyond lay the palace gardens, a airy tunnel of red rose bushes guiding them onto cobble.

Cadence halted, the sudden stop causing Shining to bump against her. Ignoring the contact, Cadence pulled open one of her bags, trading a sack of coins for a stack of paper. “Your first step,” She read aloud. “Is to find a way out of the castles maze. I hope you enjoy it.”

“This maze isn’t big, right?” Shining asked, a hint of worry in his voice.

“No, we’re actually quite close to the exit. Just follow me.” Still holding the collection of paper in her magic, Cadence strode away, Shining forced to leap a few steps to catch. Two right turns followed by a left allowed the couple freedom, the golden gates of the palace exit in sight.

“So where are we off to first?” Taking advantage of their stop, Shining leant close to Cadence, trying to read the itinerary

“It looks like….” Cadence trailed off, flipping a few pages of Celestia’s teasing before she found her goal. “Ponyville is our first destination. Apparently it’s a town whose residents are very down to earth, so it should be easy to mix and mingle. At least that’s what’s written.”

“So are we taking a train or chariot?” Shining questioned, eager to overcome the first nervous steps of their adventure.

Examining the page closely, Cadence found nothing. A few page flips forward followed by twice as many backwards finally revealed the information. “It seems we are to walk, apparently long walks together are a great bonding experience.”

While Cadence remained indifferent, Shining released an irritated breath. “More like a cheap experience.”

A pink hoof on his neck helped calm Shining’s frustration. “I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Cadence comforted, attempting to spread her smile. “We’ll get there soon enough.”

Unable to resist the contagious expression, Shining allowed himself to be swayed. “I guess so. Five years is a long time after all.”

Author's Notes:

If there are any issues with the tenses please tell me. I am slowly moving my style from present tense to past tense to allows myself more freedom when writing great periods of time into a few words.