For the hundredth time since this perfect night began, Shining Armor had to resist the urge to pinch himself to make sure that he wasn't dreaming.

"I usually go for Conjuration spells, but I've had fun with Transmutation too." Standing right next to him, close enough that their coats occasionally rubbed together as they walked, was Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, Empress of the Crystal Empire.

It'd taken three tries before Her Most Serene Highness had managed to convince Shining that she'd really asked him on date, but she'd eventually gotten him to have dinner with her at his favorite restaurant.

Said dinner had been absolutely wonderful, and he'd quickly found Princess Mi Amore – [i]Cadance[/i] – to be a wonderfully charming mare with a kind heart, a sharp wit, and a beauty beyond compare both within and without.

He'd gotten so comfortable around her that he'd accidentally started talking about his latest Oubliettes and Ogres game, which, if his gaming group were to be believed, was a surefire way to ensure that a second date never happened. Instead…

"Did you know that Glibness is a level three spell? I used the plus-thirty bluff bonus to talk an Adult Dragon into giving me his whole hoard once. At level three." Cadance let out a delicate giggle, like the tinkling of wind chimes on a warm summer day.

"You play a lot of O-and-O?"

"Not that much, but I have a... friend who really likes to play, so I try to make time for some games."

They reached the Palace, where Cadance was staying while she was in Canterlot, and Shining knew that even if it was real, this dream was about to end. "I guess this is where I say good night, right?"

"No, this is the part where you give me a good night kiss." Cadance leaned over and captured his lips with her own, her tongue moving with expert precision against his. A hoof trailed up his barrel, stroking lightly at a sensitive spot around his withers that Shining didn't even know he had and making the stallion shiver with delight. "I hope you had fun tonight, Shiny."

Shining nodded until he thought his head might come off. "This d-date was perfect," he said, stumbling a little over the word that he couldn't quite bring himself to accept. "I feel like we've known each other for so long, even though this is only our first time. You certainly seem to know what I like."

"I [i]am[/i] the Princess of Love," Cadance said. "Planning a perfect date is just one of the many things I've studied." She leaned in closer to Shining, her next words coming out low and sultry. "Do you want to come in and see what [i]else[/i] I've been studying when it comes to love? I'm sure I can sneak you past my aunts."

Shining gulped. Yep, he was definitely the luckiest stallion in the world. Either that, or his sister was using her position as a Princess to help her brother out. He wasn't going to question it, not when he'd just been propositioned by the most beautiful mare in the world. "S-Sure," he replied, and congratulated himself for only stammering a little.

[hr]

Shining Armor woke a few seconds before dawn out of habit. As such, the first thing he saw was the sun rising from a window on the other side of the room.

At the same time, a nondescript rock sitting on Cadance's end table flashed with arcane light, and Shining armor froze in place, the bed covers still clutched in his hooves. His eyes unfocused as they were surrounded in a powder-blue light before returning to normal.

"Good morning, sleepyhead."

Shining Armor turned to face his wife. "Good morning, honey. Did you sleep well?"

"Mhm." A hoof reached out to stroke him softly on the withers. "Did you have fun on our date last night?"

"Uh huh." Shining leaned over to give her a quick peck on the nose. "Giving you the chance to make me fall in love with you all over again is the best idea you've ever had. I can't wait for next week."

"Me too. Remind me to recalibrate the Memory Stone Version Two to work on me instead of you."

"Of course." As he drew his beloved wife into his embrace, he let out a sigh of pure contentment. "I can't wait you take you on the perfect first date."