My Knight in Shining Armor

Chapter 3: My Sword, My Shield

“Shining Armor!” Princess Cadence exclaimed, galloping to his side. “What happened to you?”

Shining Armor’s tongue stuck out from his mouth, his unconscious expression covered by the sea of bandages. He swayed back and forth in a rhythmic manner.

“He got hurt, my princess,” the doctor said, “Very hurt.”

“Oh, Shining!” Cadence said, snuggling her face into his. “What exactly happened to him?” Her face full of worry faced towards the doctor.

He gave a very puzzled look and recollected the night before. “I apologize Princess Cadence, but we have no idea what happened last night.” A nearby nurse nodded her head in agreement. “We were just about to wrap up for the night in the infirmary, until one of the guards told us to get ready. Next thing you know, we had Captain Shining Armor with a cracked skull.”

“It’s okay baby, I’m here,” Cadence said, rubbing her face on him. She pecked a kiss on Shining Armor’s hoof. “How long until he recovers, doctor?” She asked.

“At least a few weeks, my princess. Even then, we can’t let him do any active activities.” The doctor explained. “It’ll be at least six months for a full recovery.”

“Six months?!” Shining Armor’s muffled voice exclaimed. “I thought you said five!”

“I said a few weeks to a five months and six months is only a step towards a full recovery, sir. And with all due respect, you should rest and let your wound heal. It will be for the best.” The doctor faced Princess Cadence. “You’re free to see him anytime while we’re not administering care, my princess. Now, excuse us.” The doctor and the two nurses gave her a respectful bow and left the room.

“What am I going to do here for a few months, Cadence?” Shining Armor exclaimed. “We were supposed to attend that royal meeting and go on our honeymoon afterwards!”

Cadence pressed her lips against Shining Armor’s bandaged face. “I can always wait,” she giggled and kissed him again. “I’ll always try to visit you when I can.”

Shining Armor gave a sad smile. He knew that Cadence was a very busy princess and won’t have any time in the end to attend to him. But he stayed optimistic. “I’m glad.” He smiled.

“But Shining,” Cadence said with worry, “With your injury, do you think you’ll be fit enough to attend the meeting?”

“Um, er, if I can’t, I’ll have Stronghoof to fill me in. He’s a reliable lieutenant. And I trust him,” Shining Armor said through his forced smile. He gave a small sigh, his role at the meeting to be at her side. It deeply saddened him. Cadence saw this and kissed him again.

“Oh Shining, don’t let that get to your head! Even if you’re off duty, you’ll always be my knight. You’ll always be my sword, my shield. And my husband. Nothing will ever change that, okay?” She gave a brilliant cheerful smile. It warmed Shining Armor from the heart, letting him to smile genuinely again.

“A platoon of our guards were wiped out last night during the defense,” a strong royal guard said, sitting next to Shining Armor. “But we have to thank the gods nopony was killed in the attack last night.”

“Nopony killed?” Shining Armor asked.

“Yes, sir,” Stronghoof replied with a firm nod and shuffled his papers. The tall, yellow, muscular guard held a strong composure. While he wasn’t a crystal pony, he was Shining Armor’s most trusted lieutenant. “Only minor scratches and bruises. We were very lucky.”

“I see, I see,” Shining Armor said, scratching his chin. “But are you sure you can handle being a substitute for me?” He asked with worry.

Stronghoof gave a strong nod in reply. “Yes sir, I am very sure. All the guards were just roughed up.” He paused and looked up from his papers. His golden eyes stared into his. “Except you of course.”

“It must’ve been that damn knight,” Shining Armor said through his teeth. “He wanted Cadence for some reason.”

“Princess Cadence, sir?” Stronghoof asked, a bit filled with surprise. He almost dropped his papers and recollected himself. “Shall I double the number of guards around the castle?”

Shining Armor shook his head. “No need, Stronghoof. However, remember the royal meeting that the princesses must gather for in Canterlot?” He asked.

“Yes sir, I do.”

“Due to my injuries, I trust you be keep Cadence safe and always be by her side,” Shining Armor said, rubbing his head. “I believe you know what to do.”

“Yes sir,” Stronghoof saluted, “I will do everything in my power and follow your orders.”

“Thank you, Stronghoof,” Shining Armor said with a smile. “I now know that she is safe.”

“I shall take my leave, Captain,” Stronghoof said with a small bow. “I have to prepare the soldiers and must leave you to rest.”

And just like that, Shining Armor was now alone again. He sighed and closed his eyes, feeling himself drift into the land of dreams. He recollected the moment he met Cadence and the day of the wedding. Shining Armor smiled and began to go into a slumber. “I’ll always serve you, my princess.”

“Atteeention!!” Stronghoof bellowed with a powerful voice. A large platoon of crystal pony guards saluted in unison. Each crystal pony sat at a desk with their helmet on the table in a very large room. Their coats sparkled with many colors along with their armor.

“At ease!” The crystal ponies placed their hooves down. Stronghoof stood at a stand and had a map of Canterlot out on a large board. “All of you may know that a royal meeting is taking place in Canterlot,” Stronghoof said, “And many of you wondering why I am briefing you instead of Captain Shining Armor.”

The soldiers murmured quietly among them and then they quickly simmered down. “Captain Shining Armor is injured and cannot resume to his duties. Temporarily, I will be the head of organizing the security for Canterlot. We must make sure no changeling presses through ever since the royal wedding not too long ago. While our security has fortified and we have had no incident relating with changelings, I shall now begin our briefing on the Canterlot Castle itself.”

A gloomy aura penetrated through the air, a mist of green and black whispering out from a dank dark cave. Pods dripped in green and oozed out bright goo. Hooves of dark changelings pattered around the eggs, taking care of their young and guarding captured living things. A few muffled ponies in pods watched the beady cyan eyes of the changelings. All they wanted to do was go back home. All they wanted to do was go back to Canterlot.

The massive cave stretched for miles without end, as if it was an ever expansive maze. Changelings flew in droves high in the cave and also trotted on the cold damp floor. A couple of higher ranked soldiers, changelings with a tougher exterior patrolled the entrance of the caves. All changelings were trained to fight, some more than others. Deep within the cave, a decorated changeling with a dashing red color instead of the normal cyan walked through. “Captain Crimson Shell, do you deliver the news to the Queen?” A changeling soldier asked.

The captain shook his head. “Negative. However, I did see your report on your scouting, soldier. Very impressive,” he said with a smile. His smile then broke quickly. “It’s just that these damn caves are getting the better of me.”

“The Queen did say that this cave is only a temporary place to stay for the time being,” the changeling soldier explained. “The Queen’s chamber is just up ahead, sir.”

“Thank you, soldier.”

Crimson Shell continued, his hooves splashing into small puddles and bumping into small rocks. Very soon, he found himself at the mouth of the cave of his queen’s chamber. “My Queen, are you awake?”

A female voice murmured in reply. “Crimsoooon Sheeeelllll, is that you?”

“Oh fucking lord,” Crimson Shell recoiled with a sour expression. “My Queen, are you drinking again?” He jogged into the cave to see his beautiful queen under the influence of Canterlot’s alcohol. “Queen Chrysalis, while ponies’ liquor is a bliss, you must stay sober and keep up our morale!” He rushed to her side. Queen Chrysalis, the Queen of Changelings laid down in a dented boulder, drunk and smelly.

Crimson Shell made a face to sniff a pungent smell from his dear Queen. “My Queen, have you washed lately?”

“Crimson Shell!!” Queen Chrysalis said, falling out of her stone bed and onto the cave floor. With a large crash, she stumbled towards the captain. “H-Have you tried drinking any of this yeeeet?” She leaned into her guard, who was much smaller than her. Her breath reeked and stunk, making Crimson Shell almost hurl.

“My Queen, please, drink some water and sleep! We cannot let your subjects know that you’re drunk!” Queen Chrysalis’ blushing red face leaned into his own. “Oh, so you want to sleep with me!” She rubbed her hoof into Crimson Shell’s face. You dirty captain!” She purred, “Are you taking advantage of your own Queen?”

“We’ve been this over many times, my Queen, I have no interest in mating.” Crimson Shell said, trying to push his Queen off of her. While Crimson Shell’s size was only to that of a normal Changeling, he was the Captain of the Changeling Army and also Queen Chrysalis’ advisor. While she never acted like this, it was clear that she was weak to alcohol.

Queen Chrysalis purred even more and hugged Crimson Shell close. She then giggled. “Look, Crimson Shell! she exclaimed. One of her large hooves were inside of his holed legs. “I’m inside of you!” Then she got close to his ears. “Then you’ll be the one inside of me.”

“My Queen, please calm down. I shouldn’t have left you with a crate of alcohol in the first place. Besides, I came here to inform you of the upcoming meeting in Canterlot Castle,” he said, resisting her affection.

“That won’t be the only thing coming from you,” Queen Chrysalis teased, beginning to lick his hoof. “So, have a drink!” She said, shoving the tip of a bottle into Crimson Shell’s mouth with her magic. He sputtered and felt the alcohol burn his throat. Tears welled up in his before swatting the bottle away with his hooves. Queen Chrysalis’ magic caught the bottle and the erupting liquid from mid-air. The captain coughed and hacked, feeling the unbearable taste of alcohol over his tastebuds.

Queen Chrysalis placed the drink back into the bottle drip by drip and drop by drop. “Messy Crimson Shell! Don’t waste your food!” She said in a sternly teasing tone. She placed the open bottle on a nearby stone table.

“You’re too drunk,” he groaned, giving a face of disgust with the alcohol still on his tongue.

“I’m only drunk because of a celebration!” Queen Chrysalis said, using her magic to carry Crimson Shell back to her rock bed. “ Abaddon has already infiltrated and will deliver me news soon!” She said gleefully, lying down on the stone bed. She placed Crimson Shell next to him, who was surprised to hear the name, ‘Abaddon’.

“My Queen, don’t tell me that-”

“Shh, my dear Crimson Shell, be a good soldier and service your Queen,” she said, sticking her tongue out. “I know you adore the taste of me. That’s why I haven’t washed in a bit.” Crimson Shell felt that he was going to hurl from his Queen’s powerful musk. “Now, you know what to do, Crimson Shell. It’s an order.”

Crimson Shell pressed on and nodded. His Queen’s orders were absolute. Queen Chrysalis’ face turned into an expression of delight and pleasure as his face got closer and closer between her legs.