>>30162223
>All is fine, until Anon calls him out for a night of tabletop games.
----
>Tonight's the big night.
>It's been a while since you've felt this happy.
>Your old high school buddy cum college roommate, Shining Armor was getting married tomorrow.
>The both of you have been planning his stag party for weeks.
>He's already got the green light from the missus.
>There's going to be snacks, drinks, Hyperspace Hyperwars, and that faggot Hoity that only plays Brothers of Battle.
>This is one of the rare social outings that you actually look forward to
>Picking up your cellphone, you dial Shining's house and wait.
>The receiver is picked up on the other end, and Shining's voice comes through.
>"Mi Amore residence, Shining speaking."
"Shining Armor. Are. You. Ready. To Partayyyyyy?"
>"Oh... Hi Anon."
>That doesn't sound good.
>"Anon, I..."
>His voice trails off on the other side.
>If you had to guess, he was being apprehensive about something.
"Hey, buddy, what's up?"
>Did something bad happen?
>Maybe Hoity cancelled?
>That's not likely, you talked to him yesterday.
>He was going on and on about how stupid the new primareis units were.
>Cold feet before the wedding?
>Unlikely, Shining always goes through with this descisions, for better or worse."
>"I don't think I'll be able to make it."
>Wait
>What?
"Whait? Bu- what? What happened?"
>"You know Cadence, right?
"Yeah I know Cadence. You're getting hitched to her tomorrow. What does that have to do with anything?"
>"Well, we, as a couple, came to the decision that I'm too old for those games.
>"It's about time I started acting like a proper husband. You know?
>"What was I thinking anyway, I'm getting married to a Princess. About time I grew out of my hobbies, right?"
>This is strange, just last week, Shining was all ready to kick some ass with his new Sludgenoid army.
"I'm sad to hear that. So what are you going to do tonight?"
>"Cadence called Gladmane and Blueblood over."
"Are you fuckin- Isn't Gladmane that faggot that beat you in the hallways and called you Swelling Armor?"
>"Yes, but Cadence promised me that he's changed, we're going to watch colt flicks and eat ice cream together."
"You don't like ice cream, and last I checked, you hate romance movies."
>"Well, ponies can change, Anon! Maybe I want to try new things!? Maybe I want to change myself!"
>Shocked by his outburst, you stay silent.
>"I'm... I'm sorry, I shouldn't have shouted."
"Can we at least play one last time?"
>"Blueblood and Gladmane are going to be here for the night, Anon. I don't think we'll have the chance."
"You can sneak out after Blueblood and Fagmane fall asleep. Please? For old times sake? Just the two of us."
>"..."
"Shining?"
>"I can't play Hyperwars anymore."
>The silence of those few seconds was deafening.
"What?"
>"Cadence... She donated all my stuff for me to the Manehatten House for Fillies.
>"I mean, it is for the best, you know? There's no way I would've let go of all that on my own.
>"A-And, It's for a good cause. Now those fillies can have toys.
>"I'm just a little sad she gave away my-my Sludgenoid D-Dominator too." Shining says, speaking between sniffles.
>"I spent so m-m-many hours painting the s-stupid thing after you gave it to m-me.
>"I w-w-wish she asked me about it before giv-giving it away.
>"But she said I would go ba- to my hobbies if I k-kept it.
>"And Cadence is always right." He says, breaking to tears on the other end of the phone.
>All these years of being his friend, you've come to learn that Shining was a tough as nails.
>He would stand up to bullies, take any sort of abuse and come out grinning, happy that he's done some good.
>That was what made you friends in the first place.
>You've never heard him cry before, and listening to him doing it now is surreal.
>It's the whiny, stretched out type of crying, accentuated by the occasional hiccup.
>Common amongst children.
>You hate it.
"Shining."
>"Yes." He asks, sniffling.
"Hold tight. I'm coming."
 
>Hanging up, you pocket you phone.
>"Was that Shining Armor?" You wife asks, flipping the page on her Nerds Monthly magazine.
"Yeah. Hey, Chryssi."
>"Uh huh?"
"You feeling up for an abduction?"
>"Ooh, you naughty boy. Who are we taking this time?"
"You'll have to go alone on this one. I'm going to Manehatten to grab some toys from orphans."