Shining Armor sat in front of a desk while Captain Hoofguard occupied the other side. The only sound that could be heard was the scratch of a quill as the captain filled out some paperwork. Shining sat quietly as he waited for his commanding officer to say something. He had already been in the office for twenty minutes and his professionalism was beginning to wain. He was used to guard duties, not sitting in an office for long periods of time.

Hoofguard put down his quill and leaned back. "You should know that I don't entirely agree with this assignment." Shining didn't move. He wasn't surprised by the statement. A new officer being asked to protect a princess? Shining's thoughts were pulled back to the office as Hoofguard continued. "I would be skeptical about having any of my guards on such an assignment. But you're not like most of my guards or officers. You've got a drive like I've never seen in our younger ranks. Hay, you've moved up faster than anypony before you." Shining nodded his thanks.

Hoofguard stood up and walked around the desk. "Don't believe for a second though that I think you can handle this on your own."

That broke Shining's concentration. He turned to the captain. "Sir?"

Hoofguard smirked. "You're good Armor, but one stallion isn't enough for royalty. Celestia has requested two more guards accompany you.

Shining narrowed his eyes. "Who?"

Hoofguard returned to the desk and opened a folder. "One spot's been left open for your own recommendation, but the other will be Lieutenant Spitfire."

Shining would have done a spit-take if he had had any water with him. He stared at his captain. "Spitfire? The Wonderbolt?" Hoofguard nodded. "She was recommended on her skills." Shining rolled his eyes and snorted.

Hoofguard stared him down and Shining reformed his expression. Hoofguard sat down and slid the folder to Shining. Shining looked at the file as the captain continued. "I know Wonderbolts aren't high on the chain of respect, but Spitfire went through basic training. She was one of the last traditionally trained Bolts before their academy was organized. The only reason she's not with the Guard is because of her...relaxed personality." Shining shook his head. Relaxed personality was right.

Shining stood on the platform of the train station. He glanced up at the clock. The train would be here any minute. He sat down and sighed. Why did he have to be the one to meet Spitfire at the station? He didn't have a problem with the Wonderbolts, but they were unorganized anytime they weren't showing off. The Guard had taught him that everypony had their place and responsibility. Wonderbolts didn't have that. They were show ponies. But according to Hoofguard, Spitfire had had the same basic training as Shining. From what little he had heard about the pegasus, it didn't sound like she applied her training at all.

A train whistle sounded and Shining looked down the tracks to see the approaching train. It pulled into the station and came to a stop. Ponies began to step out of the train cars and Shining began his search. Within a minute he had spotted Spitfire. He walked over to the mare and walked around to her front.

Shining held up a hoof in salute. "Lieutenant."

Spitfire looked him up and down and smiled. "We'll they didn't tell me I was being setup with a handsome stallion."

Shining rolled his eyes and turned away, calling over his shoulder. "We've got quarters setup for you at the barracks."

He led the way through Canterlot to the castle grounds. Neither he or Spitfire spoke a word. Spitfire did however, to Shining's annoyance, continuously bat her eyelashes at him. He did his best to ignore her as they arrived at the barracks. He motioned to the building in front of them. "You'll find an empty bunk just inside." He turned towards his own barrack and walked away.

"Nice meeting you!"

He didn't turn. He refused to acknowledge the mare, especially after her attempt at flirting with him. How was he going to survive a long-term trip with her as one of only four ponies? He reached his barrack and slipped inside. The officer's quarters were more upscale compared to the regular guards bunks. Each officer had a room they shared with one other officer. It was nicer than sleeping in an open room with fifty other stallions.

As Shining collapsed on his bunk, the door opened to reveal his roommate, Ensign Glasswing. The ensign was sporting a cast on his right wing. That made it the third one this year. Shining still wondered how the pegasus had made it through Basic without tearing that wing off completely.

Glasswing smiled up at Shining. "Hey! You didn't tell me you knew Spitfire!"

Shining pulled his pillow over his head. Great. His roommate was a Wonderbolts fan. He muttered into his pillow as Glasswing began rummaging through a trunk at the base of his own bunk. Shining peeked from under his pillow to catch Glasswing looking at a poster from one of the Wonderbolts shows from the previous year. Glasswing placed a hoof below the shot of Spitfire and let out a sigh. He looked up and saw Shining staring at him. He threw the poster back in the trunk and closed it.

Standing up, Glasswing let off another grin. "You wouldn't be able to introduce me, would you?"

Shining rolled his eyes for what seemed like the thousandth time that day. "Sorry. She's only visiting for a couple days. She'll be gone before you know it."

Glasswing sulked a bit. "Come on! I'm not asking you to plan a wedding here. I just want to meet her."

"Who's planning a wedding?"

Shining sat up at the voice. He glared down at the doorway where Spitfire was standing. She smiled up at Shining, completely ignoring the stars truck Glasswing. "Where's a girl got to go for some food?"

Shining wanted so badly to wipe that grin off her face, but he knew it would just grow back even more annoying than before. He sighed and jumped off his bunk. "Come on."

Spitfire stepped away from the doorway. "Cute ponies first."

Shining refused to move towards the door. Spitfire winked and walked away. Shining looked back at Glasswing. "She's crazy."

Glasswing shook his head. "And you're more crazy for not taking her hints."

Shining glared at his roommate. "You want the other wing in a cast?"

"You know it would help if you actually came along to show me where the mess hall is!"

Shining sighed. "Why did I take this assignment?" Next Chapter: The Recruit Estimated time remaining: 17 Minutes