Shining Armor Will Do ANYTHING for Prince Artemis
OR
Prince Artemis and Shining Armor Have Relationship Issues
(Forgive my poor title)
 
Chapter 2:
The Contrite Captain Part I
OR
Why is Thucy obsessed with long inner monologues and character development?
 
>Morning found Canterlot Castle as it usually did.
>Prince Solaris held court in his throne room after his usual paperwork following breakfast;
>The servants were performing their daily chores to ensure all was befitting the residence of royalty;
>And the Royal Guard kept its silent but watchful eye on all its activities.
>Everything was running like clockwork.
>Except for the thoughts of a certain white stallion in elaborate purple armor.
>Though he was certainly silent when not giving orders or evaluations to his subordinates, his bloodshot eyes were far from attentive.
>The events of the proceeding evening had resulted in a hurricane of emotional anxiety that left him restless all night, and it continued to prevent him from performing his utmost throughout his routine.
>Of course, aside from his appearance, it was difficult to tell that he was troubled; the disciplined nature of his occupation had conditioned him to fake it until he made it.
>But at the rate the storm inside was raging, he feared he might never be able to truly make it again.
>What in Tartarus is wrong with me? He scolded himself.
>Why in Equestria did I think he would be into me like that?
>How could I have thought attempted seduction was the best way to confess my feelings?
>Honestly! I practically molested him! I could be discharged for sexual harassment, or worse!
>Did I really think someone as mature and illustrious as Prince Artemis would abandon all sense of propriety to casually share a bed with me?
>Why did I think something quick and unprecedented would satisfy my self-doubt?
>I guess it’s just as well. I was willing to risk one of the greatest friendships of my life for a lust-driven tryst.
>I deserve to be alone.
>The poor guard was caught in a cycle of angry self-reproach and depressed low self-esteem.
>The only thing he had to be grateful for was the fact that Artemis hadn’t caught his drift.
>Or at least, he had seemed to not to.
>I’m lucky he didn’t understand my intentions. Shining thought.
>Unless he just pretended nothing was out of the ordinary because I threw him for a loop.
>It came so far out of left field, he may have had no idea how else to respond.
>Who knows what must have gone through his head?
>Gah! I bet he felt so betrayed!
>I’m one of his only friends, and I bet he now thinks I only acted nice to him because I wanted him!
>He must feel more alone than ever!
>Here he is, a thousand years away from all he ever knew, with only his brother-whom he must feel so guilty around because of his fall-and me as friends, and in less than five minutes I destroy one of the closet relationships he has!
>He must hate me, and he has every right to.
>Despite how often he had returned to so many of these thoughts, a new one suddenly struck him:
>What would Dusk Shine think of me if he found out?
>Just when the Captain of the Guard thought he could feel no worse, this thought made his mental haze darker.
 
>Just how disappointed would he be if he knew that his BBBFF, whom he had looked up to all his life, would so readily disregard the feelings of his friend, especially when that friend was only beginning to understand the magic of friendship again?
>Would he ever look at me the same way?
>Would he become disillusioned with the world once he learned how far I have fallen?
>…
>No! I can’t do this to myself. I made a mistake, yes, but all that proves is that I’m not perfect.
>It doesn’t mean I’m a bad pony.
>…
>It just means I’m a pony that unintentionally devastated his standing in the prince’s eyes.
>Arrgghh!
 
“Sigh.”
>Pull yourself together, Shining.
>You’re the captain of the Royal Guard.
>Even if things between you and Artemis aren’t going to be the same as they were, you can still try to make them better than you’ve left them.
>You owe him that much at least.