Laws, and the art of freaking out over them.

"Shining Armor Sparkle, put the black magic away now."

The silence was deafening. Slowly, the black magic energy fizzled out from Shining's horn. It was too late. She'd found her. The misty rape-preventing-shadow-form would not work if fear and hatred were unequal. Shining was scared out of his wits, and the hatred for it had all but died away upon the knowledge that there was no it. There was only Celestia. This wasn't it, this was her.

Celestia gazed down upon the emperor and his bad mane day, poised and ready to do something drastic should he have ran off. Shining's head was to the floor quicker than a bullet, and he nearly knocked himself out in the process. "Shining," She said. "I am quite disappointed in you. Not even your little sister screwed up this badly, and she had the common sense to understand she was misbehaving."

Shining gulped, daring not to move for fear of one false motion bringing down upon him a most unpleasant punishment. Celestia was mad at him, and he knew it.

Celestia sighed quietly, retracting from her "I'm gonna kick your butt" position to her "I'm not mad, just disappointed" position.(0) She lightly sat down, barely making any noise for her size, then stretched out her wings. "Shining, come here."

Shining stayed where he was, half defiant, half unable to move, but mostly because his legs locked, uncontrollable by his own will.

Celestia tried again, this time much more firm. "Shining Armor, come here." The command filled the unicorn's head, and his legs moved on their own, slowly bringing him towards the solar princess. She frowned when he came to a stop, using her wings to turn his head towards her eyes. "Oh Shining, you know I hate to use that tone of voice..." One wing nudged him closer. Uncomfortably closer. "I'm not mad at you, how can I stay mad at anypony? I'm just..."

"...Upset?...Disappointed?" Shining suggested, in vain hopes to delay the inevitable.

"Yes, disappointed... I've had you guarding the palace, so I know you're a good, brave and protective pony; but I just hoped you knew better than to try to use the dark arts. I can see that you're pretty guilty about it, so I suppose I can let it slide." With her wings, she pulled the unicorn closer to her, so that his neck touched her's. The gesture provided no comfort to him, however.

"S-so you're going to let me go...?"

"Of course not; I'm just thinking up a fitting punishment... I know! And we'll personally escort you there, too!" Shining's eyes narrowed to pinpricks. She was going to punish him! Shining heard a click as a gold color clamped around his neck, a golden chain linked to the princess' breastplate. Immediately he started thrashing against it. Celestia then held him still while Luna put a halter on him, with a similar silver chain attached to her own breastplate.(1) Shining panicked.

"No no! No no no no no no! No no no no no no no no no no no no no, please don't do this!"

"SILENCE YOU FOAL!" Luna shouted. "WE GROW TIRED OF THINE RESISTANCE OF JUSTICE!"

"Luna, please!" Celestia scolded as shining rubbed his ear. "He's scared enough already, and it's not like he's going on death-row!"

That's what worries me! Shining thought. He shot his hoof out towards his wife. "CADANCE, HELP ME!!"

No help came from Cadance that day as she simply smiled and said: "Don't worry, Shining! Just relax, and enjoy it!"

Dejectedly, shining bowed his head, turning around to face the very pony he ran away from all that time. "Princess... What's my sentence...?"

Celestia and Luna waited a moment while he shivered in the cold weather, then they both lay their wings over his body, squeezing closer together. Celestia spoke to him, her hot breath steaming in his ear.

"I think I'm going to make you my slave..."

"Wh...What kind of slave...?"

Celestia giggled. "Oh, It'd be no fun if you found out early, but I'll give you a hint: It starts with an 'S'."

Shining whimpered as he was walked to a chariot, all the while with the harness and collar uncomfortably tugging at him. The princesses sat him between them, huddling close. Cadance sat in the back, with a little smile on her face.(2)

"Don't worry yourself, Shining, I guarantee we're going to enjoy ourselves tonight." She teasingly licked his cheek.

Shining cringed, which only rewarded him with the two princesses moving up right next to him.

The trip to Canterlot, and subsequently Celestia's private chambers, lasted only a few hours. But for shining, it felt like days had passed since he disembarked. The thought of what Celestia would do to him did not help his nerves, only giving the scared little pony who called himself a prince a cold sweat; which was only made colder by the fact that they were so high up during the trip. He was a shivering mess.

When they arrived at the door to Celestia's private chambers, the doors opened to reveal a darkened room with a lone hearth-fire burning away; but the fire provided no warmth for shining. Everything was colored in red, yellow and brown, befitting for the princess of the sun.(3) A king sized bed sat close to the fire, plenty large enough for Celestia, and whoever else was unfortunately with her that evening. Luna released Shining's harness, and he turned for one last pleading look at his wife.

Cadance nuzzled her. "It'll be okay," she futilely assured him. "I liked it, you will too!"

It was all shining could do to keep himself from crying as the door closed behind them. This was it. Everything he fought to prevent happening to him was coming back for him at full force. Princess Celestia was going to have her way with him, and it was probably going to be quite messy.

A metal click signified the release of his collar, and Shining tried to make a break for it, only to find the doors locked. Celestia frowned. "Leaving so soon, Shining? I didn't get to tell you what kind of slave you are yet!"

Shining's head lightly and pitifully collided with the mahogany door.

Celestia sighed. "Well, now that we've gotten the 'no escape' thing out of the way, kindly help me remove my regalia."

Shining blinked.

"That was not a request."

Shining trudged towards the sun princess, carrying out what he was ordered to do, only as slowly as he possibly could. With one hoof, he grasped the end of Celestia's golden horseshoe, slowly dragging it off. Then he took that horseshoe in one hoof and placed it by her other effects. Returning at a slow crawl, he went and dragged the other horseshoe off, bringing that to her other effects. Afterwards--

"Shining, stop foaling around."

The regalia was completely removed and put away for the next morning in two seconds. Celestia smiled a big toothy grin.

"Thank you! I always have trouble doing it myself, that's one reason you're here! Now, you know how slavery works: I tell you what to do, you do what I tell you to, and no one has to be whipped, okay?" Shining gulped, nodding. She turned to the bed, which after his eyes had adjusted to the darkness, looked like a big mess. Probably from her previous "guest"... He shuddered. "But first," Celestia inquired, "I apparently never fixed the bed... please, help me out, would you?"

She's toying with me... Shining thought, as he simply did as he was told, fearing what kind of sadistic punishment would happen if he didn't. When the task was done, he was ordered on the bed.

"Thank you, Shining. Now here's where the real work begins..." She stopped short when she saw shining shivering. "Aww, you're shaking like a twig," She cooed. "are you cold?" A wing reached over to rest on Shining.

AAAHH DON'T TOUCH ME THERE!! Shining fell off the bed from jumping so high. Celestia gasped, catching him in her magic aura before he could hit the floor. (4)

"Are you alright?"

Shining nodded, despite the clear evidence that he was, in fact, not okay.  Celestia would probably disregard any pain on his part at any rate. "Good to hear," She said, bringing him close enough to her to plant a kiss on his forehead. "Don't worry about being cold; I'll keep you plenty warm tonight..."

Celestia leaned into his ear, barely whispering the words.

"...My little Snuggle Slave!"

Wait. Shining blanked for a moment, trying to process what he heard. "...Snuggle...Slave?"

Celestia giggled, brushing his mane. "Isn't it cute? Pinkie Pie thought it up after a rather wild pillow fight between her, my sister and I!" She sighed. "I really should invite her back for another sleepover party; that was the most fun I had in ages!"

Shining's eyes widened. Then he chuckled. Then he started giggling like a maniac, his cheeks almost splitting open from how wide his smile was. "Wow, look at me! Shining Armor, who had thought his aunt-in-law was hee hee... possesed by a succubus, and was going to rape him, as if the kind, gentle and pure Princess Celestia would ever do such a thing! Silly me! Ha ha ha!"

Celestia gasped in shock. "What?! You honestly thought I would... No, I thought you knew about the 41'st direct decree..."

"Ha ha hah! No, and it didn't even occur to me to ask! What a silly pony I was, just jumping to conclusions! You made the law so you could get cuddles! I can do cuddles! I LOVE cuddles, DO YOU??"

"No, Shining, Listen to me!" Two white hooves latched on to his head, forcing eyesight with the princess. Shining stopped giggling long enough for her to speak. "Shining, that law was made not only for me to drop suspicions of non-royalty, but so I could have a better relationship with my whole family!" Tears welled up in her eyes. "It was supposed to be a sign of the royal family's acceptance of you as my nephew! I'm so sorry Shining, I thought you knew!"

"And look where not asking got me!" Shining curled up on himself, giggling turning into a nervous, guilty laugh. "I jumped to conclusions, and used dark magic in an attempt to shroud the land in... eternal... darkness..." The nervous laughter stopped, replaced by tears. "But... I'm not officially your nephew! I'm only your nephew in law!"

Celestia pulled the prince into a tight hug. "Nephew in law, aunt in law; don't you see, shining? I am the law... and I'm so sorry..."

In short notice, there were two ponies wailing, on a bed of all things; one because of the grief he caused his princess over the course of the day, and the other for once again failing to take another pony's concerns seriously. There was much heartfelt nuzzling and hugging, with plenty of apologies to go around.

Then Luna kicked the door in, Cadance right behind her.

Luna was wearing a set of fluffy dark purple socks and an equally purple and fuzzy nightcap. It would have been cute, if it weren't for the red-faced anger that came along with the package. "SISTER! THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS MONTH THAT YOU BROKE DOWN CRYING, AND IT'S TEN AT NIGHT! WHAT IS THE MATTER!?"

"I wronged my nephew..." Celestia whimpered.

"ARE YOU GOING INTO THAT SELF-LOATHING THING AGAIN?!"

"Sh-shut up!" Celestia cried. "You're not helping!

"CELESTIA, YOU MUST LEARN NOT TO TAKE BLAME FOR SMALL MISUNDERSTANDINGS-- Oh forget it. Don't move an inch; we're going to make you two happy ponies again." Luna and Cadance darted over to the bed, spreading their wings to wrap around the two very sad ponies. It was a long, soul-cleansing moment the four shared, each immensely relieved that the others had wholeheartedly forgave them. When everything was done, all that was left was Shining's happy, contented smile. The day had been a long one, and everything seemed to pay off in warm fuzzy cuddles.

And speaking of cuddles...

"You know, since we're all here," Shining requested, "Why don't we have a sleepover?"

Cadance shrugged and smiled. "Sure, why not?"

Shining was a happy colt. His relationship with Princess Celestia was restored that evening, and he learned an important lesson that day: Black smoke just doesn't get you cuddles. As he felt Celestia's wings wrap around him, and Cadance and Luna's gentle hugging from behind, he felt loved and honestly cared for. Not that he didn't before all this, but warm blankets, a soft pillow, a pretty fireplace, and alicorn princesses using a pony as a teddy bear definitely helped to that end. It was not too long before he became sleepy, and his eyes finally closed, safe in the knowledge that he would continue to be loved like this throughout his lifetime.

...

...

...

...

Shining's eyes snapped open in a moment of dawning comprehension. I have to pee!(5)

"Whoa, easy there, soldier!" Shining said after recovering from a minor collision with a royal guardpony who looked much different from the others present in the Crystal Empire's guard. "...Flash?"

"SIR! CAPTAIN SHINING ARMOR, SIR!" Flash made a quick salute, nervousness clearly present despite his supposedly emotionless expression.

Shining laughed, pulling him to his side. "At ease, Mister Sentry; I'm not your captain anymore!" He walked down the hall along with Flash Sentry. "So, how's everything going with Twilight?"

"Oh! Uh, well, you see..."

Shining saw a gold ring at the base of Flash's right wing. "Ahhh, so the cycle has gone full circle, hasn't it?"

"S-sir?"

"Why, you're my little sister's fiance! I know it started as a little crush, but how did you two get hooked up?"

"Twilight was foal-sitting my little sister, Shine Sentry." Flash chuckled. "I tried to have a proper conversation with her, and my voice simply gave up on me, I couldn't even breathe!"

"Really? Say, did your sister love you?"

"You kidding? No, she hated my guts."

Shining smirked. "Oh well, you can't have everything, can you? Well, now that you're marrying into the royal family, Celestia's going to want you in her private chambers."

Flash spluttered. "E-excuse me?!"

"Oh, is it because you find her presence intimidating?"

"Absolutely not! I just don't want to betray my love!"

"Flash, look at me!" Shining grabbed Flash's head, forcing eye-contact. "Tell me with a straight face that you don't want to cuddle with the princess, who most certainly loves you like a mother loves her son."

"I don't want to-- Wait, cuddling? Well, when you put it that way, it sounds insane not to be with her..."

"That's the spirit!" Shining, being the teasing big brother he is, grabbed flash in a noogie. "Well, I have to be on my way. I wish you and Twilight love and happiness..."

"Thank you, sir."

Shining grabbed Flash suddenly by his chest, glaring with deep, merciless eyes. "...And if you even think of hurting my little sister, I will rip your head off and impale it on a flag pole, but not before making you suffer fifty different methods of torture. Are we clear?"

Flash shivered. "A P-pinkie pie all-already made me promise n-not to hurt her..."

"ARE. WE. CLEAR?"

Flash gulped. "As crystal, sir."

"Good." Shining smiled, and let go of the stallion. "Ah, there's Celestia right now! I'll leave you to meat up with her. Take care now!"

Flash Sentry sat on his haunches, whimpering. The warmth of a wing across his back startled him out of his fear-driven stupor. Another white wing joined that one, and he eventually returned the gesture to the alicorn princess.

Celestia sighed. "If it helps, Flash, Shining has never hurt a single pony, intentionally or otherwise."

"That's what worries me..." Flash replied quietly.

Celestia nuzzled him. "You're sweet to her; you have nothing to worry about." She smiled. "I don't have anything to do today, since Hearthswarming is a royal holiday. Would you care to join me by my fireplace for some hot cocoa?"

Flash smiled, faking indecisiveness.

"We can share a blanket and the couch, and I'm sure Twilight would be eager to spend time with us."

Flash hugged the princess' neck. "Say no more, 'mother', I'd love to."

"'Mother'?"

"Just something Shining told me." He broke the hug, and Celestia lead the way.

Flash was a happy colt.