@Ertinax  
There is no way in hell Shining is less then five years older then Twilight. Common sense doesn’t support it and neither does canon. There is every indication that he was very nearly an adult, late teens, when she still needed a babysitter. He’s almost certainly closer to if not right about ten years her senior likely placing him somewhere in his early 30s depending on what age you pick to Twilight (I’d lean toward early 20s ‘college graduate’ age or there about).
 
Admittedly even at that age having him be captain of such an important unit seems to be pushing it, but then again fiction is loaded with such improbability. At some point you just have stop nitpicking, beside this is a land where a weaponized rainbow is the nations greatest resource in a time of crisis. Trying to apply modern promotion schemes and time tables to it’s military maybe somewhat suspect…

oh!  
Blessed Virgin Mary!

@Amber
 
I believe they’re 18-20, roughly, Fluttershy being canonically the oldest. That would make their older siblings (Big Mac, Shining) maybe 20-24. That’s still crazy young to be a major military figure like Captain of the Royal Guard. Sorry. I just don’t - can’t - buy this narrative, even if it is meant just as a joke and a homage to 80s movies.
 
Unless Jason shows up. That’s a whole other kettle of fish.

because this is the original, the “meme” tag “cadance was a vision” is not necessary.

@Ertinax
 
>who became basically a commissioned army officer at a crazy young age (just a few years older than Twilight)
 
That is if you are one of those people who believe Twilight and the rest of the main characters are teenagers,which they are not,they are adults.And even with that Shining Armor looked older that just a couple of years than her in Twi’s flashback.

Princess Mi Gesu Cadenza

@Poptard
 
Hey, diarrhea can be pretty smooth, and SA’s gonna be the smoothest bowel movement the school has ever seen.

Smooth as diharrhea.

Smooth as sandpaper

@Background Pony  
No it isn’t (at least so far it isn’t). All we know is Shining Armor’s friends want to help him woo her.

@KirbyfanNeox  
But it is.

>implying Shining Armor used to be a nerd  
>implying he stopped being a nerd to impress Cadance  
>implying you shouldn’t be yourself  
>etc.  
Parody of 80’s movies or not, this comic better not take that route or I will be pissed.

@Ertinax  
A few things; firstly, this arc is supposed to an homage/parody of 80s high school films, of course they’re gonna use the tropes from them.  
Secondly, what does being out of shape have to do with hobbies and interests? Yes, there’s that whole ‘neck beard’ stereotype, but quite frankly that doesn’t mean shit. And magic in-universe as been shown to require great amounts of study to master, so it’s not a stretch to think he might have his head in the books most of the time. To say nothing I’m pretty sure IRL, you have to study and take tests before heading to the military.  
And finally, how do you know what age Shining Armor is? It looks to me he’s way older than a few years.

@Ertinax  
Reading the pages that follow, I only get the impression that prior to Cadance, Shining was only a nerd in that he liked math and geek topics. There’s no indication he’s shy nor stuttering (outside of being lovestruck), just that he’s grown up with his circle of nerdy friends, and from this point, realized he’s fallen in love. Basically, he’s just not an alpha male, which arguably is true to his character in the show.

V Did you miss the part where this was supposed to be a parody of 80’s teen movies?

I still don’t buy this “Shining Armor was a nerd, guys, just like so many of you! Relate to him! DO IT FAGGOT.”  
Thing that the comic is penning. Not when this is the same guy - clearly not out of shape - who became basically a commissioned army officer at a crazy young age (just a few years older than Twilight) and who was some sort of master of shield magic. Yet we’re supposed to buy that he was a stuttering, shy, unpopular guy in some high school drama, getting picked on by jocks and crushing on this “out of my league” girl?
 
I call bullshit.

“Dur..”

Dur.

Smooth.
 
Like sand paper.

 
Forgot to add this one.

BLINDED BY THE LIIIIIGHT

Smooth as ice.
 
Vannila Ice to be specific.

We need a comic of how Cadance met Twilight!
 
I’m demanding it RIGHT NOW!

Yeah, Cadance does that to a guy.