Sorry I took so long with this but now I've decided to make this a three chapter story. Enjoy what you see here.
Ch.2
After a couple passing hours, Starlight Glimmer and Spike (while still watching over Flurry Heart) were walking all over the Crystal Empire, hoping to find their depressing friend Twilight Sparkle. "You think she couldn't have gotten far?" Spike asked. "I don't know. Hopefully not." "Me too. I can't even begin to imagine how she's feeling." "I can. We witnessed what was close to being the end of Shining Armor and Cadence's relationship. I just hope that all we can do is convince Twilight to help them out more." "Yeah. But hey at least everypony else is a better mood today. Otherwise the Crystal Heart would break and we'd go through that blizzard mess again." "Uh…yeah, let's not focus on that right now and find-" Starlight was still holding Flurry Heart while she was playing with her hair, causing her to laugh a little. "Haha-okay, sweetie. That's cute but Auntie Starlight needs to find Auntie Twilight before we play, okay girl?" She smiled, and it caused Flurry to stop before she made a final giggle.
At least there was one thing around to make the purple filly and baby dragon smile. Meanwhile, they still looked around for Twilight until they soon spotted her by a small pond in a park. They quickly ran to her and at a moment closer they stopped out of hesitation.
So Spike approached her with the most considerate tone of voice. "Hey Twi, are feeling okay?" He waited for an answer but there was no answer. He only saw look at her reflection in the pond like a statue with tears. "Look Twilight, I know you're upset and you feel like you failed but you didn't and we both know that." Starlight came closer and said, "Yeah. Look, you did your best and everypony knows no one works harder than you do." "Plus, Shining Armor and Cadence aren't gonna be like this to each other from now on." "Every married couple argues now and again and then they soon come back and make amends to each other. Right now they're just going through a phase, and all we can do is trust they'll work through it and forgive each other in the—" Before she could finish, Twilight raised her hoof up, signifying her to stop.
She then breathed slowly and released before finally speaking. "Look, I appreciate what you're both trying to do but…I'm not disappointed. Not anymore anyway."
"Really?" Spike asked, not expecting that response.
"Yes. I just needed time to think, that's all. And yes I admit I'm still worried about my brother and Cadence. After seeing them at their wedding, I never once imagined them arguing with each other over how to take care of Flurry Heart." She sighed and despite what she said she still didn't know what to do. So Starlight and Spike sat next to her and even looked at their reflections.
Starlight asked her, "Are you sure you're actually feeling okay?"
"Yeah. I think after learning what I needed to from their wedding, the Storm King thing, and battling Tirek again, I think I know when to stop blaming myself. The only question I need to ask myself is what should I do?" She sighed again. She thought an idea would come to her, and thankfully it did when Flurry Heart got out of Starlight's grip, hovered, and landed on Twilight's back. Causing her to giggle. "Okay, okay, I think that's helping. Haha. Thanks Flurry." She took hold of her and hugged her. "I'm just glad you're still young. I'd hate to imagine how you would if you understood what your folks are going through right now."
"Hmm." Spike petted her head, "I wonder how much things could've been if there was Book about how to help with relationship arguments."
"There are, Spike." Starlight said.
"Really?"
"Yeah. For me and Sunburst, things between us have been good but…I've secretly been looking into therapy books on relationships just in case." The others looked at her strangely, which caused her to blush massively. "What? Like I said, just in case, and I think they help. Heck, if anything maybe the stuff I've read could help Cadence and Shining Armor. I could even loan them to 'em, if you want, Twilight?"
"Haha, thanks Starlight but for them I don't think a book will be good enough to…" She took a moment for she opened her eyes wide and stood up, realizing something important. "You know what? I think a book can help." She mumbled. "Guys! I've got an idea, I know how I can help my brother and Cadence forgive each other. But I need your help."
"Well okay." Starlight smiled and stood up ready to help.
"What do you need?" Spike asked, showing the same glad attitude.
"Alright, all we have to do is…" Twilight went over the plan with her friends, and by the look on their faces, it turned to be a brilliant one.
So they spent the next few minutes setting it up and after finishing it, they each had to do one last thing: find the patients for the therapy plan.
Shining Armor. He was on one side of the empire at another pond, looking at himself in the reflection and thinking about the same thing that his bright little sister was thinking about. He pondered on everything that his wife said to him, and instead of just arguing with himself, he mentally said, "Maybe she's right. Maybe I'm not the world's best dad like I thought I was. And the way she snapped at me like that…I can't tell if I should be mad at her or myself. I just know what to do except hope. Hope that she can forgive me, and that I can try to better father…and husband. Please take me back, Cadence. I don't know what I would do without you." The poor guy felt like making a silent sob until he heard a voice come from behind him. "Shining Armor!" "Spike? What do you want?" He stood up and faced him. "Uh…I know you said you wanted to be left alone but Twi and Starlight are having a problem with Flurry Heart and they need your help." "What? Don't worry, I'll…" Without thinking he wanted to go straight to them. But hesitated at the next second. "…stay here. I think you guys would be okay if Cadence helped." "What? No, no. We really need you. This is only something that you can do." "That only I can do? Spike, I don't know if you've noticed, I haven't exactly been the most respectful pony in the family today. Cadence would do much better." "Maybe, but right now Flurry Heart is wanting her father to come, so will you? She knows that you are a great dad. In fact, even after what Cadence said I'm sure she does too. You know that she cares about you and that you care about her too. But do you want to prove her wrong?" Those words were seriously effective to Shining. So after taking a moment to think, he knew what choice to make.
The same thing almost went for Cadence. She too was at another lake, looking at her reflection and pondering on the situation. Until Starlight came to her and explained what she needed. "Your majesty, please come quickly! Flurry Heart needs her mother right now." "What? (Sigh)…Starlight, thank you for informing me but I'm afraid this is something that my husband can take care of." "Really? Do you think that, even after what you said?" She felt like retracting that question but Cadence didn't make a fuss. Just a chance to speak and quickly dropping it until "Yes. Look I don't know what I came over me earlier but I was just being stubborn while my Shining Armor was trying to show more care. I don't think I'm the best pony for my husband and daughter to see right now." "Maybe. But right now they actually need you. Flurry Heart needs you and I know Shining Armor wants you to understand that you both are good parents. You're not just gonna prove him wrong, are you?" She had the same moment of processing.
So both ponies made the right choice and follow their friends to Flurry Heart. Spike quickly lead Shining Armor to the castle, and Starlight lead Cadence to the same place, while each group made it at a different time as planned.
Both were still heading to the same place, and in the hallways it was dark, but Shining Armor and Cadence didn't care for they headed to the same place: Flurry's room.
"Okay, this is it. I gonna help my daughter and makeup for what I did to my princess."
"Okay, this is it. I gonna help my daughter and makeup for what I did to my shining armor."
They were both in the hallway, not seeing a thing but knew where the room, and as they headed straight to it they never that…BAM! "Oomph!" "Ouch!" "Huh?!" They accidentally bopped each other in the head. Thankfully not close enough to turn their horns into daggers. They say in pain and dizziness, and after taking a moment, their heads clear and they noticed each other. "Shining Armor?" "Cadence?" "What are you doing here?" "I'm here for Flurry Heart." "Me too…" They blushed and looked away from each other. Things for them were still low inside, and feared for only the worst. But despite that, a part of them still wanted to apologize and earn the love back. "Uh…Cadence look, I…" "Stop, please. Shining Armor, I know we have a bit to talk about but can we take care of our daughter first?" "Of course." Shining said without a sign of pride, which surprised Cadence. So they stopped talking and Cadence opened the door, with many swirling thoughts, both of them expecting to maybe see Twilight having trouble with Flurry but instead…they just saw Flurry alone on her bed, laughing and messing around with some book.
However, Twilight was around, but sitting behind the door at the dark spot unnoticed. The two ponies were confused as they saw what they didn't realize.
"What's going on?" Shining asked.
"I don't know. Starlight told me that Flurry needed my help."
"Funny, Spike said she needed my help."
"Maybe…hmm." Cadence began walking to where Flurry. "Maybe Twilight set this up so we could be together and talk."
"Well…In way it worked."
"Well, I…oh my gosh." She noticed something shockingly familiar.
"What is it?"
"Shining Armor, look." She told him to come and once he did, he gave the same expression. "Oh my gosh. Cadence, is that—?" "Yes. It is." They saw what Flurry Heart was messing with, and it was just some book. It was something very special to both her parents. "Hey Flurry." Shining spoke to his daughter, while trying to hold her. "Sweetie, look. What you see here is something that brought me and your mother together." "Yes. Flurry, I think you would love to hear about this story."
Shining Armor and Cadence smiled, forgetting about their issues as they began to tell the story of the book and how it made their love for each other increase.
The next one will be the final one, promise.
And I know I said I'd pull up the upcoming chapters on my profile but I've decided to it here in my chapters until 2018 is over.
• A Royal Marriage Problem (Cont'd) - Ch.3
• Ask C (almost) Anything - Something Timeless
• Ask C (almost) Anything - Another Day Out with the Girls
Hope you look forward to it all.