Two Minds – 08 – Cadence

Anniversary Tomorrow…

Shining Armor slowly ease his own self to wake up, eyes heavy but gradually parting as his mind was starting up. He takes his time, body stiff and ache, as he moves a moment, before he feels the tight embrace of his wife. He looks down to his chest to see his wife, the Princess of the Crystal Empire, her head nest at his chest like a foal afraid that they would be alone when they let go.

A silent sigh escapes the stallion’s lips as he rests his head back and ease some movement to wake the rest of his body while his mind recollects what he saw last night, a surprise he was not sure how to diffuse as he was just as lost as to what he can do then.

~~~

After his shift or rather brother duties, Twilight arrives to greet him and Spike. They were both in the dining hall as they enjoyed the latest ice cream creation called a Frosty Crystal Berry flavored ice cream.

Spike was at first reluctant but after the first lick, Spike nearly ate the spoon when he gulped and gobbled the rest of the ice cream. Shining can only laugh at that and for Twilight to quickly scold the Dragon to show manners.

Being the brother, he diffuse both Twilight from her scolding of their adoptive little brother and Spike from either arguing with Twilight or pouting. He explained that since there are no royals or a formal event happening, Spike is in the Palace Cadence and he lives in which is a home for family.

Thankfully, that explanation cause the younger sibling to sigh and for Spike to hug his older brother. A ‘thank you’ from the dragon and a goodbye from the two later made his day. He heard the great news about Cadence’s condition. He was thrilled and worried they might spend the anniversary in bed through it all.

He makes his way back to their bedroom, hoping the good news to help his wife’s mood. As he approaches their door, instead of hearing a happy tone from inside, his face fell as he hears sobbing behind the door. Quickly, he enters to see Cadence crying down in front of the full length mirror her head behind her hooves as she hides her shame, for whatever reason.

Shining quickly make his way, worry in his voice asking her question after question, from ‘what happened?’ to ‘why?’. Cadence looks up to him, still crying, her makeup in a mess by her tears, the black streaming down on her cheeks. She looks up, crying still, pausing at times, as if trying to think of a plan.

She lied, not to him, but to Twilight. She used the best mending magic she had and lied to Twilight about her condition. Shining Armor was in shock but… hearing her reason for it, he knows it was a necessary lie. Cadence lied to Twilight because she was a mare who is linked closely to friendship and is an emotional pony. Shining can vouch for the many moments she became angry… and even sad that she used her magical potential subconsciously.

Cadence then hugs him tightly, surprising the stallion but sighs as he hugs her back. He can hear through her sobs, her worries and for him not to leave her. As a proper stallion and as her husband, he smiles and let her continue. Her sobs slowly diminish, but her eyes did not stop to water. A sigh escapes his lips for the coming long night, he escorts her towards their bed and both of them goes to sleep.

~~~

He looks back at Cadence, her still sleeping form a sight to behold, even with the dry tears and messy make up on her face. He sighs once again kissing the top of her head gently waiting for her to wake up. When he did leave a kiss, she stirs but not enough to wake her. He rests back to bed, thinking hard on what to do. Clearly, Cadence lied about her health, even against Twilight’s own expertise, but he chalked that up to Cadence being the more experienced pony between the two.

He wanted to leave and inform the current royal courts for today, tomorrow and the day after shall be suspended. He runs the idea through his mind, trying to sound reasonable and apologetic to the ponies. He tries to think of ways to appease them when the time comes. Of course, nothing is ever that simple.

He stares up into the ceiling until a familiar sensation overcomes his loins. He freezes as his morning wood finally made itself known making a very large tent that is getting the attention of a sleeping mare beside and atop him. He was blushing a bit as he has, in recent days been stopping himself from ever easing the sexual pressure to… keep their celebration special.

He stays put, thinking of ways out but he knows it is to stay put. As his plan works, he slowly removes himself from his spouse, kissing her face once more as he leaves her to bed, to rest. He is quick to get a shower and his cloths. Looking back to her, he feels sad about leaving her. But duty demands him to do his job. With that decision in his mind, he makes his way out as the palace hooves enter their room to ease the sleeping princess when she wakes up.

The throne room is once more the loudest place in the palace, just next to the kitchen when cooking is underway. Slowly the assorted Crystal Ponies, who had seats to wait and line up now glanced towards the arrival of their Prince.

Shining Armor takes his time to get to his seat as the trumpeters play their instruments in announcing, “Prince Shining Armor!” They call out, making many of the ponies to rise to their hooves and bow. He takes this time to raise his hoof for the attention of his subjects.

“Good Morning my ponies but I must announce this now for the sake of many. Noteworthy please take this down as well.” He started and waited for the Crystal pony to do as told. “Now then, I am sorry to announce but as of today, tomorrow and the day after, the Royal court shall be postpone for the time being.” He said which caused many a pony to murmur amongst one another. “Do not worry all appointments will be move accordingly. The reason behind this is the fact that it is the wedding anniversary between me and Cadence tomorrow and we plan to have it as peaceful as possible.” He said which made many of the ponies to clap and stomp their hooves.

He smiles at their encouragement. “Thank you, and please know that court shall return as soon as these three days are up.” He says with a smile and bow to his subjects, they themselves returning the gesture as he leaves them, Noteworthy following as he has question of his own for their prince.

Back with Chrysalis,

Chrysalis has finally woken up from her slumber. A yawn escapes her lips as she lifts her top half from the bed. Her mind abuzz with how much ambient love was around, and how her body was feeling strong. She takes time but feels her face slightly chalky and dry. She reaches a hoof to her face, feeling over the dry tears on her pink fur. At the sight of her hoof and the feel of her coat, the memories return to her with such force that she freezes on the spot. Her mind against reviews what happen last night and from everything, only Shining Armor’s voice and comforting makes her feel safe and complete.

Shaking her head she pulls out that idea out of her mind. “That is CRAZY! I shouldn’t be falling for that buffoon of a pony.” She thinks out loud as she gets off the bed and makes her way to the full size mirror once more. She looks closely to herself, checking her face, the dry tears, the dry and messy make-up. She can only frown at herself as she glances at the door, the knocking of the castle hooves.

“Princess, are you awake? We have come to set and clean your room.” The one voice spoke muffled by the crystal door along with the rest of the mares who were talking to one another. Chrysalis took this time to use her magic, the door’s lock and knot glows in the magical aura and a quick click, locking the door but the display left Chrysalis to freeze once more.

“No! that’s not… right…” She whispered in a slow and disbelieving tone. Her ever being shivered and her core rocked with worry one more as she levitated item after item from the dresser. From the smallest lipstick to the large lamp by their own bedside drawer, her magical aura was the same, a kind and pony color of blue.

When she set every item down when she knew she could not, her every fiber of herself felt so distant. Her mind feels empty with dread as she slowly turns to the full size mirror. Remembering what happened last night and what she saw… her heart aches with a pain she could not fathom.

“No… no…” She slowly shakes her head in disbelief. Her body shivered and her eyes water once more. “I’m not Cadence… I’m not…” She whispered to herself as her legs feels ever so soft and numb. Her horns glow, with the tint of blue as she sparks it to life with magic. “I’m Chrysalis, not… her…” She says to herself with a slight hiccup and sobs as her magic sparks and cast her spell. The usual green fire, now blue, washed over her form and body only to leave no effect over her form.

At that Chrysalis panics within herself as her magic sparks to life and again, she casts her spell. Again and again, her magic, staying the kind blue and pony variation, casts the illusion spell and dispelling of her illusion. Her body shivers and her mind pausing at the sight before her. Her spell is not working and her body is still the same.

“I’m Chrysalis, Queen of the Changelings! I’m not Cadence!” She says through a sigh of her breath as her eyes water, slowly once more her body slumps against the bed as she could not fathom what is happening, her mind hurting with the unbelievable outcome, her heart heavy and stinging with pain at the revelation and quickly her ever being breaks as she sobs. “I’m not… I’m not…” She repeats between sobs as she buries her face on the sheets. Inside she knows she is crying as Chrysalis yet in the mirror the image stays the same, the Princess of the Crystal Empire is sobbing with sorrow.

Shining Armor is on his way back to their bedroom to see how Cadence was doing until the sight of the Castle hooves crowding their door causes worry to build up within him. One of the castle hooves notice their prince and gallops towards the Prince.

“My Prince, the Princess is not well!” The Crystal mare announces with worry trailing her tone.

“What? When did this happen?” Shining Asks, alarm in his tone.

“Just as soon as she wakes, she locks the door and cries. We hear her murmuring but can't make out what she is saying.”

“I’ll handle it.” Shining says, with worry trailing but his dedication in full. The many ponies by the door part to allow the prince to get to the door. Shining Armor sighs hearing his wife’s cry, muffled behind the door. He takes a deep breath as he knocks on the door, an ear by it to hear her.

“Cadence? Cadence? Are you Okay?” He asks through the door with a soft but loud voice. He listens closely, hearing her shout back.

“GO AWAY!” She spoke with such force that nearly shook the door. Shining removes his ear for a second to clear the ringing.

“Honey, it’s Shining…” He answers back softly to her. As he listened in, the sobbing stops for a moment and silence came about.

“Shiny…?”

“Yes, it’s me. Can you please open the door and let me in?” Softly as he can to hear through the door. Then, there was a click and Shining slowly opens the door. Behind him, the many ponies that attracted attention were quick to look inside, to find their princess crying by the bed. He looks back to the crowd and stops them from entering.

“Okay, none of you enter, this is a sensitive matter.” He said to them, and when they did not believe him he gave his stern look at them, causing some of the mares to take a step back. Quickly the ponies nod to their prince and a step away as Shining enters the bedroom. Closing the door softly, his own magical aura locks the door behind him.

The sight pulled at his heart as Cadence was sobbing on the bed now, her head buried in her pillow. He softly makes his way towards her and sits on the bed. “Cadence?” he asks softly, a hoof at her shoulder.

Chrysalis was confused, heavily confused that when she thought of the things too hard, she could not tell which was right. Her mind was jumbled up and then suddenly, Shining Armor’s voice of concern snapped her out. As if a saving grace, Chrysalis stops sobbing as she feels his hoof by her shoulder.

She glances towards the white stallion, water still in her eyes as she looks at his worried face. At first she thought this cannot be right, sure he was food first but… as she looks at him, the heart within her felt at ease, her mind no longer buzzing with thoughts or confusion as she looks at him. Her body finally stops from shivering as she turns to her side to face him.

“Shiny, I’m…” Chrysalis started as Cadence’s voice still plays out for her. “I’m sorry, I… was…” But she could not finish as Shining Armor hugs her tightly. Her body could not respond. A familiar sensation passed by her as she had done so many times with other partners she has taken but a new and different sensation was over powering her need to just feed. She let the love from Shining to her be returned, an unknown for a love eating insect yet her body knew how.

“It’s okay Cadence, I’m here…” Shining’s voice was soothing to her ears as if finding what she had always wanted. Even though a tinge of pain to her heart came from being called Cadence, she knew that she would be taking her place anyway.

Her mind returns to confusion for just a second but one thing was clear. “I am Chrysalis, Queen of the Changelings… and… I am Cadence, Princess of the Crystal Empire.” She thought to herself as she knows where Cadence is and how desperate she was to let her take her role. She slowly returns Shining’s hug as something clicked within her. Maybe, just maybe, this is what Chrysalis was looking for… true love. Not just as food but as something to keep and cherish.

She cries more but smiles as maybe, this life would be something more than just feeding.

Author's Note

DAMN! Finally! I made a chapter. Sorry for the delay readers, life is annoying.

This is one confusing story and this uses excessive use of "...". I know it is a problem but I wanted it to have impact and to have some degree of emotional significance. If I have my notes right... There should be at the least 3 chapters left in this project of mine. Don't worry the clop is somewhere around Chapter 10.

But still, I REALLY NEED a pre-reader, editor or help on my stories. As for now, this is the latest I can work on.