White Zinfandel

Cadance and Shining briskly walked down the halls as they watched many of the other guards passing through the halls of the palace. The clatter of armor and greaves sounded loudly as the two made their way to the Grand Hall. Upon their arrival, they ran into three others, that seemingly shared their concerns.

"Shining!" Longshot called out.

"You've heard?" The captain asked.

"Yeah we heard. Princess Celestia has placed us on full alert." Azure reported.

Poindexter had also submitted his report as more of the guards ran down the hall. "She even ordered the city to be on lockdown."

"And there are guards out now trying to establish an emergency curfew to all the citizens and it's visitors." Longshot added to the list.

Cadance tightened her grip on her fiancee's foreleg. "So I suppose that we'll be seeing an increase of security?"

"Your security, yes, as well as for all the others." Answered Shining, trying to comfort her as a voice rang out from inside of the Grand Hall.

"Captain!"

Recognizing that it was Celestia who called him, he separated himself from Cadance's powerful grip. "Sorry babe, duty calls."

As he started to walk off, Cadance latched herself onto him yet again. This time, she pulled him to her and refused to let him go. With determination shown in her eyes, she stood firm in her choice. "I'm coming with you. I feel that I am also responsible for the well being of Equestria and it's citizens."

Shining knew that there was no time to argue, especially with one who had power over him. With no hesitation, he pointed the princess into the throne room.

"Well in that case, this way, your highness."

The Grand Hall stood filled with the army of stallions that marshaled in mere minutes. Each one of them held a look of stone resolve as they watched their princesses enter. Celestia, Luna and Cadance entered into the room and stood before the throne. With a stern voice, Celestia broke the awaiting silence with her report.

"Thank you all for joining with us tonight. I have called you all here on a matter of grave importance. As some of you know, there was a threat recently made to us."

Luna stepped forward with a letter engulfed in her magic. With anger sat upon her face, she announced the contents of the letter. "This letter is the very evidence of the aforementioned threat. I shall read it aloud so that all of you may hear what it has to say."

To the sovereign of the establishment of Canterlot,

It has been many years since our past conflict has left our denizens on the brink of total desolation. I have written this as a message to say that our prior defeat twenty-six years ago will not go unanswered. Though it has been perceived by all of you that our species were extinct, I can assure you that the rumor of our total eradication has been greatly exaggerated.

We are far from death. In fact, we now marshal even greater numbers than that of the conflict in the past. But as you know, with an increase in population comes a shortage of supplies such as food, water, habitable shelter and land. We also run short on minerals used to mine out precious jewels, the jewels that was stolen from us many years prior. And normally we would try to negotiate a treaty to help stimulate our hive to grow.

But there is no negotiation for those who took from us what is rightfully ours. The southern lands that you call Appleloosa, the city of Dodge junction, the canyon that is called Ghastly Gorge, those and all of it's properties are rightfully ours to reclaim. Your conflict with us the previous time has driven us to the outer edges of the badlands, deep under surface, safe from the dragons that plague our lands.

We will not negotiate with thieves, nor will we waste any time in our decree. Your nation shall soon feel the wrath of a new era of rule. And with this declaration, we swear to take our liberation into the very heart of Canterlot itself. Assemble your defenses, it matters not. Your little empire will crumble before the glorious age that we, the Changelings, shall usher in.

Your days are numbered, Celestia, for a princess can hold nothing to a queen.

"This isn't a threat, this is a declaration of war." Azure mumbled.

"Welp, we're about to go out and kill us a bunch of changelings." Longshot answered, causing the princess Celestia to overhear.

"Nopony is killing anything. We must reason with them a matter of diplomacy. Though it is an answer that is easily executed, fighting is not always the answer."

"Sister, with all due respect," Interrupted Luna. "We cannot harbor any reservations with the likes of these barbarians."

Celestia turned her attention to her younger sibling and stood by on her position. "We cannot afford to lose yet more lives of young stallions. We've already lost enough the last time."

"They will not seek to negotiate!" The night princess reconfirmed, trying to reason with her sister.

"Then we will make them!"

"You are taking a fools errand, Celeste."

Celestia walked over to her sister and placed a hoof on her chin, trying to back her reasons being for the reluctance of going to war. "Luna, I am sure that the parliament would seek to negotiate for a solution rather than take up the call of violence."

Shoving the older alacorn mare's hoof away, Luna stood firm on her position in the matter. "You are a naive fool, Celestia. They will not agree to peace if we are threatened by them."

Cadance finally broke the argument, agreeing that sending her friends and her lover to a war they might not return from would be a bad idea. "I say that we should give peace a chance."

"Cadenza, surely you must not be so blind to see that this is a matter to which our only path is to play their little game." Luna said as she felt backed into a corner where no help awaited her.

"I believe in Princess Celestia. There has to be another way."

Luna scoffed and walked off of the platform where the throne stood. "You will find that there is no other way."

"Luna." Celestia whispered to her as she watched her sister walked through the cleared isle of guards that lined the entire room to the door. With a loud voice, she called out to her personal guardian.

"Azure, escort me to my chambers."

"Your highness." The guard answered, cringing at the volatile tensions that hung high in the air. With a nod to the other princesses, he took after the one that stormed out. Cadance offered to go after her, but was stopped by a tap on her shoulder.

"Let her go. My sister is frustrated. We will have to conclude our matters of diplomacy in an emergency meeting come tomorrow."

"I hope that the parliament will agree with you, auntie."

Celestia sighed at the possibility that her request would more than likely get shut down upon proposal and tried to hope for the best.

"I pray that they would as well."

The next day...

The parliament of a hundred nobles and delegates shouted at the princess to no end. Many of which have grown angry that such an open declaration of war against the country would go unanswered for this long. As they continued to scream out and shout to her to make a decision, Celestia pounded the wooden gavel onto the podium where she, Shining Armor and Cadance stood.

"Order! We will have order!" Shouted the ivory princess.

"No, we will have war!" A voice called out from the upper balcony of the room, causing the others around him to cheer him on.

"How dare they speak to uproot the very foundation of our society and threaten us. They should be purged!" Yet another senator shouted from the lower levels, gaining praise from his peers.

Cadance spoke loudly as she stood forward. "War is not the answer! I believe there is much ado to a peaceful resolution."

"And I'm pretty sure that you wouldn't mind being hugged up with another one of your guards. How's that for a peaceful resolution?" One of the nobles called out from the front of the room, causing the others to laugh and the presiding princess to silence him.

"You are out of order. Your speaking privileges has been revoked until further notice." She enforced, silencing the heckler for the remainder of the meeting. As the offended noble took his seat, Celestia continued her statements.

"As I was saying, we cannot offer the lives of our guards, of our families, so haplessly. They wouldn't mind dying for our country, but what future would we have if they were to die? Our mare-to-stallion ratio just recently improved from eight-to-one to seven-to-one. We can't just send out guards at a moment's notice because there are too few to go around."

A delegate stood up from the far right-side of the room. "Our guards are some of the best trained forces in all of Equestria. Our magic is some of the most powerful in all of existence. Our technology is only rivaled by the griffons. You speak nonsense."

"I will not use our advancements in modern society as a crutch to back a war we don't have the strength to fight." The princess rebutted angrily.

Another stood from the far-left of the chamber. "You are naive to think that your pleas of peace will be heard by an enemy who only hears the drums of battle. You cannot change that they are unwilling to negotiate. We must act now."

"Princess!" Called an unknown voice from the back of the room. As all eyes turned to the source, it was revealed to be a guard who ran up to the podium, disturbing the meeting that was already in progress. The princess wore an angry scowl on her face as she took upon herself to correct the interruption taking place.

"Why do you disturb us? We are in the middle of a meeting and you dare take the floor where you have no place to."

"Actually princess... I do."

The audience gasped at the sudden voice change as the guard started to glow a sickly green aura. His entire body became engulfed by green, eerie flames that burned away all of his appearance. And in his place stood a tall, alacorn-like figure who stood before the ponies, chuckling as her form revealed to them something sinister. Holes littered her insect-like wings and hooves. Her teeth were jagged and sharpened stakes that could pierce flesh and even break bone. Her eyes were large, jade orbs with predatory slits for pupils. Her body was a dark gray, close to black while her abdomen and back were as green as her eyes. Her horn was jagged and her mane and tail resembled that of lifeless green that flopped like seaweed on dry land.

"What is that!?"

"A monster!"

"Where is the guard?"

"Somepony do something!"

"SILENCE!!!" Celestia shouted as the members continued to panic. The dark figure started to make her approach to the podium.

"Thank you. At least your ruler has some sort of tact over the lot of you bumbling buffoons." She spoke in a dual-toned voice.

Wasting no time, Shining teleported before her, holding a sharpened spear to her neck. "You. Speak your name."

"Why hello there cutie." She said, taking pleasure over the captain's appearance and his magical strength.

Shining pressed the blade further into the tall equine-like creature's neck as his eyes narrowed, growling to her. "Name."

"I do believe that a gentlecolt is to share his name before a mare is to offer hers?" She joked as she slowly backed away and shifted the spearhead away from her neck.

"I'm not the intruder here. Now speak your name." He restated, letting the very tip of the weapon against her trachea.

"You first, you hunk."

Realizing that she was too stubborn for answers, he decided to answer her in hopes of moving on to the matter of her arrival. "Drrrgh... Shining Armor. Now speak!"

The creature smiled as she looked up and down, analyzing his body and taking in the chiseled frame. "It is a pleasure meeting you, Sir Shining Armor. Do you happen to be single at the moment?"

"My fiancee is currently unavailable for dating. Now I do believe that you have yet to speak your name, intruder." Cadance answered for him, clarifying that he was off limits to her.

"Oh, where are my manners? To think I asked a stallion for dinner and a movie and not even offer my name in return. My subjects call me Queen, Queen Chrysalis. But you, Sir Shining Armor, may call me Chrissy."

Celestia grew impatient and shouted at her to end her little charade. "Enough! What do you want?"

"What I want is quite simple. I want what is the lands that was once ours to roam, and that fine stallion over there." She said as she pointed to the captain, causing Cadance's temper to stir.

"He's mine." She said calmly, trying to suppress her anger.

"For how long?"

"GUARDS!" Cadance shouted, finally letting the mare get to her. As some of the guards entered into the hall, the queen choked back a laugh as she shoved the weapon away from her neck.

"I believe that calling them in here to oust me would be a bad idea."

"Then make your demands and stop these childish games." Celestia warned her.

"My demands were as I said them, the return of the land my species once roamed, the guard that princess is holding and I would be seeking my revenge on an old friend I used to know. Her name is Twilight Velvet."

Shining held his spear with a crushing magical grip, so much that the wood started to creak and moan under the stress. Hearing his mother's name come out from the mare caused him to grow furious at her. "What's it to you? Why would you want her?"

"Oh... just a little revenge on her humiliating me and taking away what was rightfully mine to wed. And if you must know more details, then I will carry on."

The captain readied his spear for a direct collision with her neck as he scuffed his hoof, readying himself to charge. "I'm waiting."

"You see, Velvet and I was in a herd together. At the time I was called Gemstone, a green earth-pony with a dark green mane. We, as well as four others, all strove to shower him with our love and admiration. But you see, I was the least to be paid attention to. And with no notice whatsoever, my stallion dismissed me from all of their activities. I grew angry and took matters into my own hooves."

Still ready to strike, he finished the story. "And you killed every last member in your herd, with the exception of Twilight Velvet."

Chrysalis smiled as she lit her horn to hold the guard in place. Shining tried to barrel towards the insectoid mare but found himself unable to move. Looking down, he could see the green aura hold him against the carpet. "Quite the intelligent one, with a handsome physique to boot. But yes, she defeated me and cast me into the woods of Everfree, never to return. I could easily tell you what happened when I told my father of my failure, but I'm pretty sure that the war that followed should be enough evidence to back my testimony."

Trying to free himself, he spat at the queen his anger. "So, you came on behalf of a personal grudge? That's mighty selfish to throw away the lives of those who serve you just because daddy's little girl couldn't get what she wanted."

"Oh, I've had aspirations to take the throne of Canterlot long before you were even born. It's just that having a food source as a husband would be a nice touch." Chrysalis answered as she brought a hoof to his face, adoring every dimple and elevation of his features. Cadance boiled as she could do nothing but watch.

"If your terms come with the price of surrender, then I'm afraid that we will not be paying." Celestia stated firmly, opening her wings to make it an official decree.

The changeling queen turned her attention to the mare who stood at equal height to her. "Oh. Well then. I tried to extend the olive branch of peace, but it seems that crushing your pathetic little empire will have to do for now."

"I believe that your welcome has long expired." Shining levitated the blade inches away from the queen's face, this time making sure that she could see the trembling anger that racked his body.

"Pity. I thought that you were more open into polygamous relationships, but it seems that I will have to take you as well."

Letting his temper get the better of him, he reared the spear back and thrust it forward, aiming for her skull. "LEAVE, NOW!"

Side-stepping the weapon and quickly moving in to close the distance. In a fraction of a second, she stood directly in front of him, smiling as she used her magic to forcefully lift his chin. "At once, your sexiness."

Crushing his lips with the might of her own flesh, she cooed as she intensified her approach by forcing his jaw open and injecting her own organ inside of his mouth. Struggling to move, he inadvertently moved his tongue to push her out, only for her to savor in his strife.

"SHINING!" Cadance shouted, mortified that the sanctity of her relationship was violated before her very eyes. Pulling back, a trail of spittle bridged the gap between him and her as the green flames started to swallow her body.

"A good kisser, just like your father." She whispered low so that only he could hear her. Shining flinched in response to her statement.

"Halt!" One of the other guards shouted as the queen laughed and allow her body to turn into ashes. As the flames started to die down, her escape was assured with the ghost of her voice sounding through the dying flames.

"See you around, Shining Armor."

The flames withered into smoldering green cinders that radiated off of the disappearing ash pile. Cadance jumped off of the podium to check on her fiancee, but not before letting her anger surface.

"You succubus, bug-flanked BITCH!"

"CADANCE! Control yourself." Celestia shouted as she scolded the younger princess for her vulgar comment.

"...Sorry."

The green aura that held Shining to the floor dissipated, allowing him the freedom of his limbs. Spitting and wiping his tongue, he continued to revel in disgust. "Bleugh! You saw it, I gave no consent."

One of the other senators rose from the front row and shouted to Celestia. "We all did, and just like she held no hesitation in defiling the captain's lips, we should show none in having her head! VOTE FOR WAR! VOTE NOW!"

"Hear hear!"

"Well said!"

"Vote now!"

The voices of the parliament sounded loudly as they all sought to tally in their votes. Celestia stood horrified over what was happening. The entire consensus started to chant as Celestia struggled to maintain order.

"VOTE NOW! VOTE NOW! VOTE NOW! VOTE NOW! VOTE NOW!"

"Order!"

"VOTE NOW! VOTE NOW! VOTE NOW! VOTE NOW! VOTE NOW!"

"I demand that we will have order!"

"VOTE NOW! VOTE NOW! VOTE NOW! VOTE NOW! VOTE NOW!"

Their persistence made her shudder in fear over what was going to happen. She knew that there would be no end to their chants if she was to dismiss the meeting and delay the decision. She also knew that if she allowed the vote, that they would agree on the very thing she sought to avoid. And as of now, she could only watch as Cadance inched herself closer to her fiancee, who was still recovering from the queen's assault. Feeling the pressure of her subjects crushing her, she decided that she would veto their motion as soon as it would pass. With a reluctant draw of breath, she pounded the gavel once more.

"The floor is open for a vote."

Another noble stood up from the higher levels and spoke loudly. "I hereby motion that the nation of Equestria shall march to war. Those who agree, stand."

The room rumbled with the sounds of ponies rising to their hooves. In droves, Celestia watched as they rose, row by row, until every last one of them stood in favor for it. She could bear to hold her tongue no longer. "You... selfish... hypocrites. You seek to go to war but you wouldn't dare to send your own sons out there! Your brothers! Your fathers, uncles, nephews!"

A few leaders started to feel guilty from hearing the princess' statements, but they felt an overwhelming pressure from their peers to stand in motion of war. To decline at a time such as this would allow them to come off as sympathizers of the enemy or worse; traitors to the state.

"The constituency has spoken, princess."

Slamming her hooves on the wood of her podium, she denied their answer. "Then I shall veto the decision."

"Those who vote to override, remain standing."

No pony in the room dared to sit as they all waited for the final word to be said on the matter. Celestia screamed helplessly as she thought about what this war would bring. "You can't do this!"

"It is unanimous once again. We will march to war!" Declared a delegate on the front row, causing the room to erupt in deafening cheers and thunderous applause. Celestia banged the gavel with disgust as she had no choice but to acknowledge the parliament's decision.

"Then so be it. Send your families to the front line, or what's left of them."

Cadance watched as her aunt lost all signs of hope. She could see the sadness in her eyes as Celestia started to storm out of the room. She called out to her, hoping to convince her to finish. "Princess-"

"This meeting is adjourned." She said as she hurried out of the room. The mutterings of the delegates, nobles and senators filled the room as Cadance clinched onto her fiancee's foreleg. She didn't want her future husband to go out to war. Hoping to hear some words of comfort, she looked to him.

"Shining, what do we do?"

He only had one answer, the only answer. "Fight."

Celestia angrily paced across her room. Her unsuccessful attempt for a peace offering was shut down as soon as her enemy practically declared war right in front of their faces. Not only was it humiliating, but it was also a hindrance to her pleas to the parliament. Whether she liked it or not, war was now at her doorstep, and today was the day it knocked.

"It's sickening! To think that they would be so careless to throw away lives that they have no affiliation with while they get to sit around, feast and be merry while our young soldiers go die in some Faust-forsaken trench!"

Luna sat on the opposite side of the room as she watched her older sister walk back and forth. "I tried to tell you, sister. The parliament only want to do what is convenient to them. If they want money, they'll resort to violence. If they want power, they'll resort to violence. If they need an easy way out of their job, they'll resort to violence. If they are threatened with violence, then you already know where I'm going with this."

"How convenient for them. 'I'll stop this violence the only way I know how; with more violence. But allow me to send this sixteen year old colt who just got a hold on life in my place so I can sit in my office and feast on fancy chocolates'."

Luna cringed at the thought of her eating some chocolate, just before she managed to return from the meeting. "To be fair, we almost do the same. Almost."

"But if I was threatened, then I would seek an alternative to bloodshed. It is so hard to choose a different path other than that which history has retold countless times?"

The night princess shook her head. "It's is the easiest answer. And sadly, in this case, it is the only answer."

"I tried so hard, Luna. I wanted to be different. I wanted to give a third option aside from war or surrender."

"Yet you knew that there would be no other way. You only waste your time."

Celestia stood still for a moment when she heard her sister that her efforts were no more pointless than chasing her own shadow. With despair looming over her head, Celestia turned to her younger sister. "Am... I a good ruler?"

Luna rose from her seat, feeling uncomfortable to hear her sister ask such a question. "What?"

"I try to come up with alternatives, only to be fed with absolutes. I try for peace, yet I only have war. The last war of this kind was one that many families had to grieve over the loss of loved ones. I've seen the faces of the dead, Luna. I fought side by side with them. I did everything a good ruler was to do, but sometimes I feel as if I've come up short."

Luna walked beside her sister to comfort the demoralized mare. "You do more than they do, and you call yourself a bad ruler?"

"I've done nothing but embarrass myself and this nation in front of an enemy. How does that translate into one with power?"

Luna walked in front of her sister so that she could see her eye to eye. She may have been small in stature when compared to Celestia, but her words moved her all the more. "You've made sacrifices that no other could make. You offer your own life alongside those who will die serving you. You would even cast your personal feelings aside in favor of what is best for the future of Equestria. Is there a such thing as being an illegitimate ruler when you've put so much of yourself aside to lead your citizens?"

Finally feeling motivated to act, Celestia decided that there was no time to mope over the circumstances. With a humble smile, the elder sibling nodded to the younger with gratitude. "Thank you, Luna."

"You are a wonderful leader, and I will continue to serve you as long as you draw breath."

Celestia cradled Luna in a warm hug, satisfied that her sister had so much faith in her, but she felt odd in hearing that she would only see their rule as a one-sided affair. "I would rather think that we serve each other."

Separating from their embrace, Luna turned to the window to see a clear and peaceful sky. She thought that it was ironic that on a beautiful day, that they would have to resort to fortifying their city for a time of war. "Such are the words of my sister. Now come, there is much to plan for our defenses."

Moment's later, Shining Armor walked with purpose as he made his way to the courtyard. His meeting with the Princess Celestia had ended with an ultimatum. Prior to it were three choices. The first choice was to send out a group of stallions to patrol the outer boarders of Equestria. He argued that the spreading of their forces would prove too costly if there was a siege made upon the city. The second was a call to arms; every able-bodied colt and stallion would take up training for the sake of protecting the city. Both he and Celestia agreed that it would prove to be more costly than gathering their forces and taking them out to dragon territory to fight the Changeling Horde.

Their discussion left them to a third, yet dangerous, solution to the answer. And to start off with, it was one who's results would not even be assured. And the risks were, indeed, life threatening. The parents were notified of the meeting and his choice, if something should happen to him. Needless to say that they both were non-compliant to the decision.

"Shining dear, I can't allow you to cast that spell!" Cadance tried to persuade him to change his mind, but he refused to listen.

"Aegnus, I did not raise you to be disobedient!" Velvet said as she tried to convince him that he didn't need to do this. Shining continued to march forward.

"Dude, think about what you're doing here." Azure tried to reconcile with the captain, but found themselves in the center of the courtyard, standing in front of both Celestia and Luna. Shining spoke to all three of those who tried to ward him off.

"I've thought. Mind's made up. I'm doing this."

"No, you're not. This spell is very dangerous to cast over a large area such as a school campus, let alone an entire city and the mountainside." Velvet said as she stepped in between her son and the princesses.

"Sorry mom. But this is my job and my job requires me to do the dangerous to protect everypony I know and love."

Orion tried his hoof in coercing his son. "Shining, there are some things that are more important than your job. You need to consider that there is a risk when you do this."

"You may want to listen to your father, captain." Cadance stressed as she pulled on him to back away.

"Princess Celestia, I am here to perform my duty as Captain of the Royal Guard. What are your orders?"

Celestia stepped forward as she gave her answer. "Stop and think."

Surprised by the response, Shining could only blink. "Princess?"

"This spell is very dangerous to cast over a wide area. You are putting your own health at risk. If the spell is successful, then you will repel any changelings that come within the city limits. But if you fail, you would suffer from memory lapses, severe migraines, even suffer a stroke. You could very well die."

Shining took a few seconds to think it over. As he stood still, he could hear the whispers of his friends and loved ones telling him to choose a different option. But in his mind, he came to the conclusion that their safety was more important than the risks of his own health. It was his job to put his life on the line and now the opportunity has presented itself before him. With an exhale, he gave his answer.

"Then let's hope I get it right the first time."

Cadance walked beside him, more worried than before. "Shining, are you sure that you want to do this?"

Breaking out of his position of attention, he looked over to the pleading princess beside him and smiled. "With all due respect, princess. Just let me be awesome."

Celestia smiled at the level of confidence that he displayed but she also knew that the risk was far too great for failure. With a calm demeanor, she cleared her mind of any doubt of his abilities. "I have total faith and confidence that you will come out of this. Good luck."

"Luck is for the gambler, princess. Success is for the well-practiced."

Everyone started to clear the area from around him, leaving him a wide open space. Azure did his best to hold back the captain's father as she struggled to stop her son.

"Princess, stop my son! Remove him from this madness at once!"

Light of the heavens, guide us.

As Shining started the incantation, his horn glowed a warm magenta. In comparison to the wavy form that it would normally give off, it became more focused and concentrated to the very surface of his horn, causing the ridges to glow and for a melodic hum to sing out.

Grant us your illimitable mercy and surround us.

A circle formed beneath the caster and surrounded the stallion with a pillar of white light that turned his entire body black. His mane changed from the dual-toned blue to a mix of yellow and orange. His pupils, normally black, was now white.

Shield us from all iniquity and those that seek to do us harm.

His body took to the air as he slowly ascended the courtyard, causing the ponies all around to cower in fear. His eyes opened to reveal a magenta glow set in them.

Shine forth, light of the heavens and become our place of hiding.

At this moment, the very courtyard started to crackle with the sound of thunder and electricity buzzing through the air. Cadance looked on in horror as the stallion she loved was turned into something so foreign. The circle that stood beneath him expanded to five circles of various sizes as ancient runes circled his body. Each circle lit along with the corresponding set of runes. And with a mighty shout, Shining completed his incantation, calling the name of his spell.

Protegam: Sancta immaculatam!

Bolts of lightening sparked from his body scorching whatever they touched. Though it strayed from all forms of life, the energy fed from all over the courtyard. As the runes around his body latched onto his coat, a whirring screech sounded loudly throughout the area, causing many of the witnesses to close their ears in response. With a final muffled clap of thunder, the spell stopped.

Silence filled the courtyard as Shining floated in the center. The darkened figure that floated remained in place as his eyes continued to glow the color of his aura. But the light soon faded as well as the sound. Everything that was the stallion turned black and consumed him, leaving a darkened husk to float lifeless above the ground.

Suddenly, a marvelous blast of light surged forth, removing the dark taint from around the caster and into the luminous pillar of energy. A magenta ray shot high into the air and culminated far above the highest point of the city. Finally, the beam dispersed to reveal a ring that started to engulf the very city as well as the mountainside to which it stood. The sphere of light encased the city in a tint of the magic of it's caster.

Shining slowly floated to the ground, resting on all of his hooves. He opened his eyes to see the shield surrounding the city. With satisfaction in his mind, he expressed relief. Others cheered as his flashy performance provided them with some rather unique entertainment. Many shared hoof bumps throughout the crowd along with applause.

"Wow, now that was pretty awesome. Looks like one of Blueblood's fancy light shows." Azure said as he rooted for his friend.

"For your information, that is magic at the highest level." Velvet corrected him, smiling at the feat of her son.

"Shining! You did it!" Cadance screamed as she started to run over to him.

"Way to go, Shines!" Poindexter and Longshot shouted out to him.

"That's my boy!" Orion said proudly, proud of his son's work.

"Well done, captain." Congratulated Celestia as Luna stood amazed at his potential. But Luna looked at the captain and could see that something was terribly wrong.

"Captain?" Luna asked, causing Cadance to stop in her place.

"Shining?" The pink princess called to him, gaining no response.

Shining felt his body go limp as his vision blurred. Exhaustion hit him like a hammer to a forged blade. His eyes rolled back into his head and he stumbled forward, only to fall to his side in a lifeless thud. What once was all cheers was now gasps of shock and worry.

"AEGNUS!" Velvet called out to see her son fall before her. She ran to her son and held him as he laid motionless on the ground. Cadance felt her hooves give out from beneath her as the image of him processed into her mind. Orion called out to the crowd for assistance as Azure screamed to the other guards to make for a clear path to the palace. Celestia loomed over the fallen captain as she touched his warm body. He was still alive, but if unattended, he would not be for long.

"Somepony call a medic! Now!"

Cadance as well as Velvet stood before the door to Shining's room. Cadance held on closely to his mother as Velvet continued to pray in whispers. The sound was one that was uncomfortable as they awaited the diagnosis of Shining Armor. Azure, Poindexter, Longshot and Orion all stood on the other side of the room, nervous over what they were to hear. Soon, a doctor with a green coat and black mane walked out of the room, granting them entrance. Velvet was the first to ask. "How is he, doctor?"

"He's going to be a little disoriented, but I believe he will manage to come out of it come sometime tomorrow afternoon. Though there is a chance that he could wake up by sometime tonight, that seem's very unlikely. That boy got some skill to be putting a large barrier over the city by himself. That's a job that would normally take both of the princesses to do and he pulled it off without killing himself."

Cadance felt a wave of relief douse her body as she heard the news. "So he's okay."

"He will have a few migraines and will continue to have them as long as he keeps putting up that shield. But he will be fully functional aside from that."

Velvet dismayed as she heard the news of the migraines, but remained optimistic with the prognosis. "Thank you, doctor."

"Anytime."

The boys, along with Orion started to make their way into the room to see Shining. As they entered, Poindexter was the first to speak. "Well then, I guess that he should be out sometime tomorrow."

"No shit, Sherlock." Longshot answered as the door closed behind them, leaving Velvet and Cadance outside.

"Are you okay?" Cadance asked the still-concerned mother.

"There's nopony else who can renew that barrier aside from him. And he's going to have migraines as long as he keeps putting up that shield."

"I know."

Velvet could feel the very air grow on her, threatening to crush her with the weight as she kept her eyes on the door. "Cadance, have you ever had to watch your child suffer in front of your eyes?"

The princess' ears fell as she responded to the question. "I wouldn't know how to answer that."

"It hurts you, the same it hurts them. Oh Shining, my dear baby."

Velvet brought a hoof to silence her gasps for air as she tried to hold back her tears. Her son was in pain and was going to experience more of it because of everything that happened. Cadance didn't know how it felt to be a mother in this situation, but she knew that Velvet was in a great amount of pain as she rocked herself back and forth. Cadance could only hold on to her as she watched her son rest in the hospital bed.

"I'm so sorry."

Later that night, Cadance laid on her bed as she stared at a portrait of her and Shining when they were in high school, or rather him. Her mind was clouded with what-ifs and what-would-happens as she stared at the stallion. Much has changed from then. Life then was still simple in comparison to what all transpired in the waking moments of the threat of war, a war that he could die in.

"Calm down Cadance. Shining's gonna be alright."

She comforted herself with those words as her eyes moved to yet another picture. This time, it was one of him in the earlier days before they started dating. At the time, she was considered as his friend and she was still plotting to have him become hers.

"Shining Armor, I remember the first day we met."

Her mind reeled back to the moment they bumped into each other. She was walking to class while he was trying to make his way over to his friends. He wasn't exactly speaking in complete sentences either.

"From that very moment, I knew that you were going to be special."

Then her memory flashed back to the night of the Spring Fling dance, where Blueblood almost killed him over a fit of rage and jealousy.

"But since I've managed to have you, all I've been was trouble. And despite that, you still found your way back to me."

She thought back to the time where he offered to apologize to her about his unawareness of her past. After that day, they've been together since.

"That's right, you did find your way back to me. And you would find your way back to me now. I know that you can overcome this."

Her memory flashed back to the very moment she saw him in the hospital bed, looking peaceful and at rest.

"It may be a bit of a stretch but I need you to keep fighting."

*Knock knock*

"Who is it?" She asked to the tall wooden door of her living quarters.

"Cadance, it's me."

The princess' ears perked up as soon as she heard the voice of the stallion through the door. "Shining!?"

Running from the comfort of her bed, she galloped to the door and opened it to see her fiancee standing before her. "Geez, it took you long enough to answer the door."

With a tight hug, she coiled him in her iron grip, making sure that he was real. "Don't scare me like that!"

"Sorry babe. I was only doing what I needed to do."

With a smile, she held on to him and leaned closer to him. "I'll forgive you if you give me a kiss."

"Okay."

"That's right, I want some sugar."

With a peck on the lips, they separated with a wet smack. Shining grinned as he levitated a bucket of ice and a bottle behind his back.

"You know, you're a pretty good kisser."

"Only the best, but you should know that by now."

Revealing his late-night gift, he made his way over to the bed. "Hey, I got us some champagne. You want a glass?"

"Sure!"

As Cadance, walked over to the other side of the room to remove her regalia, Shining poured the glasses full until the foam started to flow off of the edge. "You know, it's moment's like these I'll always cherish. Kisses, hugs, the crazy good sex, the cuddling afterwards."

"And you know what, we'll have many more years of it all. We'll even have our own foals, just like I promised you."

Shining levitated a glass over to the princess and gave a gentle grin. "A toast, to our love?"

Walking over to the bed, she held the glass in her arcane grip, making sure to tip the edge of his glass as she joined him. "To our future together. May we never grow apart."

The two soon-to-be-weds drank their glasses and took joy in the taste of the beverage.

"Ahh. Good stuff."

"Yeah! Where did you get this brand? It's a little strong."

"Oh, just the cellar. Nothing's different about it."

"Really? Because I don't recall champagne having such a kick."

Shining pulled her down to the bed and turned himself on top of her, leaning into her. "Mmmm. You look so beautiful. I wanna run you through all night."

As willing as she was, Cadance felt a little fatigued from the day's events, and the drink's strength was doing more harm than help. "Uuugh. Shining, I don't feel so great. I need to get some sleep."

"Oh... Well go on ahead. The day might have been a little exhausting."

Cadance closed her eyes and waited for her dreams to take her. "Yeah, I... feel... we...ak."

Shining stood watch over her body as she surrendered to slumber. A wide grin formed on his face as he rubbed a hoof on the gentle features of her face.

"Just as planned."

Cadance awoke to find herself no longer in the comfort of her bed. Instead, the surface she rested on was cold, craggy and uncomfortable. "Where am I?"

More of the questions started to surface as she rose from her resting place. "What's going on?"

She tried to find herself a light source, but came up empty as she failed to find her lamp. "Why is it so dark?"

Using her magic to illuminate the room, she found herself to be in an unfamiliar place. There were crystals and gems everywhere she looked. She called out to the empty space, hoping to find someone. "Hello?"

"Hello to you."

She started to panic as she heard the voice call out to her, but found no one answering her. "What is this? Who are you? Show yourself!"

One of the walls started to glow and show the face of the queen that mocked her just earlier in the day. "Oh it's only the one you called a succubus, bug-flanked bitch."

"YOU!" Cadance shouted loudly, even more angry that the one who stole a kiss from her beloved was the one who placed her there.

"Oh give it up Cadenza. She's got us for a ride." An elderly, yet familiar voice sounded out from the crystal.

"No way. This can't be! Blue, is that you?"

As Chrysalis stood over the elder pony's body she wore a toothy grin and leaned over him, smelling him as he spoke. "My time has come. The queen has captured me and will devour my essence, or what's left of it. Soon she will do the same to you, then to Shining Armor, and finally to Celestia."

Cadance knew that he was far from innocent, but he was also far from deserving to be devoured by the likes of the insectoid queen. Being aged to impotence, deprived of his magic and banished to the wild was more than enough for punishment. She battered at the crystal wall that showed his shrived body and his pleaded with his wrinkled appearance. "Blueblood, just hang on. I can find my way out of here. I can save you!"

Chrysalis laughed at Blueblood and held him with her magic, inching her hoof against his jugular vein. "What a poor choice of last words. I was expecting something along the lines of 'I always loved you' or 'I would've died happily knowing that I saw your face once again'. Instead, you choose to warn a mare, who can't even get out of her crystal cell, about something that she wouldn't even live long enough to see."

"You leave him alone, you monster!"

Blueblood wore a distanced expression on his face as he came to terms of what was going to happen to him. "Cadance, just accept what is absolute. I know that I have."

"Blue, no."

Chrysalis sank her fangs into his body, sucking at the blood that exited from his body. He struggled against her, flailing his limbs as she chomped down on his neck a second time.

"BLUEBLOOD!"

As the seconds ticked away, Cadance watched as his body fell limp and his eyes glaze over. His entire body, which was already an off-white color from poor hygiene, turned black and his entire coat sink further against the bones in his body. The former prince stared lifelessly at nothing as his limp body fell to the ground below.

"What a horrid taste. There was no love in him at all. Completely bitter." Said the queen who finished feeding off of her victim.

"You will pay for this!"

"Will I? I know one thing, and that is when my sweet little Shining Armor awakens from his little slumber, I will be around to rock his world."

Cadance banged at the crystal wall that displayed the image of the queen, trying to stop her from following through on her plot. But she did so to no avail. "Don't you touch my Shining Armor!"

"Oh, and the way my magic works, if you can see me now, then I assure you that you will see both me and him falling into primordial lust with each other. I will feed off of his love, and I will make you watch as every last drop is taken from him."

"YOU CAN'T DO THIS!"

"Oh? And how can a lowly princess tell a queen what to do? If anything, you should enjoy the final moments you see your beloved."

Cadance felt her heart sink as she knew that if she couldn't escape, then she would never see him again. She wish she could warn him, but found herself whispering to a wall. "Shining, please-"

"Don't wake up? I'm more than sure that he will be up and active come tomorrow. After all..."

Cadance looked on in horror as she took the form of the very doctor that looked after him. "No."

"I am the one who gave his prognosis."

She screamed and cried at the wall as the changeling changed her form once more. "NO!"

"Now if you excuse me..."

"STOP IT, PLEASE!" She begged, watching in complete horror as the queen transformed into the one thing that she feared the most.

"I'm going to reschedule our wedding for an earlier date.