Chapters 0-0-0-0-0
Do you know why older brothers are born first? It is because they were meant to protect their younger siblings.
Shining Armor bowed his head a little when he recalled his father’s words. The familiar clanking of the guard’s armor as they saluted him when he passed filled the halls, and he nodded to each of them as he did so. As previous captain of the royal guard, Shining’s habits ensured that each and every one of his guards were prepared for anything.
Ironically, Shining was rather tense due to being completely unprepared for his little sister’s admittance.
He shook his head again, her latest letter fresh in his mind, and turned a corner to start a bit more quickly down another long corridor. The massive pillars alongside the hall cast heavy shadows, and he passed over them just as silently as another shade. Shining needed to clear his head, firstly. Afterwards, he could focus more attentively on Twilight’s… attraction in the morning. He should have suspected when the letters she always sent him to the Crystal Empire began turning longer, more emotional.
He gave himself another shake, the setting sun throwing lights in his eyes as he turned the last corner toward the flight of crystal stairs that would lead to the royal chambers, where Cadence was no doubt waiting for him.
“Shiny.”
Shining Armor nearly jumped out of his skin at the sound of his sister’s voice.
To be fair, it was probably the last thing he would have expected to hear at this time of evening; or at all, considering the fact that Twilight was supposed to be in Ponyville.
Shining yelped, skittering backwards automatically when she spoke, his eyes flying to the dark crevices behind the pillars where his sister silently stood.
“Your highness!” he heard a couple of the guards speeding in his direction upon his shout, and the crystal pegasi came flying around the corner with their spears bared. “Your majesty, is it a threat?”
Shining cleared his throat and stood straight quickly, and shook his head. It was still so strange to him, being referred to as royalty. He didn’t even particularly care for being called ‘sir’ when he was captain of Celestia’s royal guard.
“N-nothing,” Shining lied, Twilight nowhere to be seen. “I, uh… I saw a spider.”
“I shall slay the foul beast for you, your highness!” one of the guards said proudly, stepping forward menacingly.
“Oh, no,” Shining blurted quickly. “I-I already killed it.”
“Then why did you yell?” the other guard asked. To be honest, it was a good question.
“It was a really big spider.”
The guards stared at him for a moment, before he cleared his throat loudly again.
“Well?” he barked, his training flying back to him in an instant. “Back to your posts – good work, carry on!”
“Yes, your highness!” both pegasi saluted immediately, returning to their previous positions in the adjacent hall.
Shining could have sworn he heard a faint snickering, though.
He let out a long, drawn out sigh after watching them leave, turning on the spot –
-and nearly bumped directly into the silently grinning Twilight Sparkle.
Shining didn’t shout this time, but he did lurch backwards. She finished removing her minor cloaking spell, ending it with a violet flourish before beaming breathlessly at him.
“Hi, Shiny!” Twilight exhaled excitedly, a bright pink tinge in her cheeks. “Did you miss me?”
“Twilight!” Shining Armor hissed, and for good reason. He threw a quick glance back over his shoulder, ensuring that they were indeed alone. “What the hay is going on with you?”
“Oh, Shining,” Twilight sighed, resting her head on his shoulder and giving him a little hug. “Can’t a baby sister miss her big brother now and then?”
“Don’t give me that,” he frowned, pushing her away gently. “I’m not stupid, Twily. Cadence has started asking questions about the letters.”
Twilight fidgeted uncomfortably beneath his steely gaze, ruffling her new wings awkwardly.
“She doesn’t deserve you,” Twilight grumbled. “Besides, they’re just harmless little letters.”
“… Twi,” Shining put a hoof on her shoulder quietly, his gaze softening. “You can’t say things like that in a letter and still call them ‘harmless’ little letters. We- we can’t do that anymore. I have a wife and city that need me.”
Twilight hung her head, the shadows of the hall feeling a little bit colder. Shining pulled her into a protective hug when her voice began to crack, but she didn’t stop speaking.
“Shiny, I don’t – I don’t care. Why can’t you just understand that I need you, too?”
Shining cringed, torn. It pulled at his heart to see the mare crying – he always loathed seeing tears on somepony’s face, but it hurt him even more to see Twilight in such despair. He tried to deny her, but as always, the words seemed to catch in his throat.
Stupid, Shining. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
“Twilight.”
Shining wiped her eyes kindly, tilting her head up to him with a sad little smile.
“… Yeah.”
“I’m sorry, Twilight.” He started weakly. “I can’t –”
He was promptly cut off when her lips met his own, feverishly mashing against him. Twilight tugged at his bottom lip in need, holding him for as long as she could while the burning urge to breathe fought against her.
Shining tried to speak again, and couldn’t quite seem to find his words. Twilight slowly pushed him back against the wall behind the pillar, her tongue darting in hungrily and dancing along with his. He froze for a long beat, silently berating himself for submitting to his baser desires once again. Shining met her heated movements with his own, wordlessly accepting her embrace with growing enthusiasm.
Stupid, Shining. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Twilight eventually pulled away, her breathing heavy as she did so. A single sliver of drool linked them for a bare moment, and she wiped it away with a grin.
“We’re going to get caught…!” Shining nearly whimpered, the rush of excitement mingling with fear of reprisal.
“Not if you stay quiet, Shiny,” Twilight whispered seductively, hoof sidling between his legs and toying with his already erect member. She rubbed the length with the tip of her hoof, sliding back and forth just beneath his tip and making it rise harder and higher.
“… Not-not here,” Shining begged, glancing around in paranoia again. “Please, Twily. Not here; just-just somewhere more –”
He clamped his jaws shut tightly at the sound of approaching guards, and tried to jerk away. Sensing his tension, Twilight gripped him with one hoof tightly, covering his mouth. Her eyes were just as wide as his own, and he dared not breath for fear of alerting them. She pulled her brother a little closer, slipping against the wall so that he was in front of her.
“So, then what?” Shining heard from behind the pillar as another pair of crystal guards passed. “Then what did he say?”
“I dunno,” a gruffer voice replied with a chortle. “But then, he goes ‘Eeeeek, a spider!’ and calls in Stone and Flare!”
“No way,” the other guard snorted as they painstakingly slowly continued past them, oblivious to the fact that Twilight was now pulling their ruler’s healthy-sized erection into herself. He wasn’t certain if it was his own hips quaveringly pumping into her, or if she was pulling him in. “Seriously?”
Twilight moaned beneath Shining, and this time it was his own hoof covering her pants of pleasure.
“Yeah, totally,” the voices finally began to fade. “Laughing his flank off when the barracks heard of –”
The pair at last trailed away on their rounds, and Shining breathed a outbreath of relief.
His next breath was one of sharp intake, Twilight’s tight walls squeezing around his length. He allowed himself a quiet sigh of desire, Twilight’s legs wrapping over his hips as he thrust harder and harder.
“S-Shi-Shinaah, yes! ” Twilight gasped, and Shining gripped her a little tighter for better leverage, his powerful sliding thrusts making her jitter and shake. She started to tilt his head toward hers, but he looked away.
“Shh, Twilight,” he mumbled, bowing his head and focusing. He was getting close. “Gonna… gonna get caught …!”
“Dammit – Shiny!” the alicorn panted in between the piston-like pumps. “You aren’t even looking at me anymore!”
“Twil-”
She pulled his head with one hoof, forcing him to look at her.
“Why?” she almost sobbed. “Is – is it because I don’t look like Cadence?”
Shining stopped in mid-thrust, holding her tightly against the wall.
“Twi…”
“I-I can look like she does!” Twilight insisted, holding him more closely with her legs. “Look, I can make sex-faces better than she does! Look !”
Twilight made a grotesque face, crossing her eyes and sticking her tongue out.
“Bleah!” she insisted. “Thee?”
“Twilight,” Shining looked at her seriously. “Stop.”
“I… I can’t,” she met his eyes with a sudden sense of bitterness, her sad tone pulling at his heart. Twilight kissed him again, her muzzle meeting his. She carefully pulled herself atop him, never allowing them to be separated, even for a moment. “I can’t, Shiny. I need you. I love you, Shining Armor.”
Even his own futile protests were lost in his ears as she rode him; and in time, he didn’t even bother with those anymore. Shining lost himself in sins of the flesh, holding his sister close to his chest. She gyrated and wound up against him, her soft body gently rising and falling over his coiled muscles.
Twilight came again, shivering in delight as she leaked all over his stiff stallionhood.
She breathed heavily, sweating and shaking in pleasure as she looked down at her brother. He almost seemed to be in pain from his expression, and from how tense and tight he was growing, she could tell that it was difficult for him to hold back.
“Don’t worry,” she whispered in a sultry tone, leaning in next to his ear and riding him a bit faster. “Give it to me, Shiny. For old time’s sake. Give it to me.”
Shining gripped her forehooves, grunting loudly and thrusting hard without warning.
“Not inside, not inside!” Twilight panicked, Shining’s nearly boiling member plopping out of her wetly and spraying a hot line across her flank – followed by another, then another. It would seem that he had been a little pent up lately, and Twilight cherished this as she sidled up and down along his rod, grinning in satisfaction.
“Mmm,” Twilight hummed, licking his chin before resting her cheek on his chest again. “That was good , Shiny. Thank you.”
For a few seconds, he didn’t answer; only taking a couple of moments to catch his breath, and tiredly look back at her.
“Y-yeah. That – that was really good.”
“I love you, Shiny.”
“... I love you too, Twily.”
0-0-0-0-0
“It’s about time!”
Shining jerked when he heard the sound of his wife’s voice, again rubbing his red face with the towel and wiping away the heat of the bath. He nodded sheepishly, and she patted the bed impatiently.
“Sorry,” he mumbled lowly before clambering into bed next to Cadence. “Long… long day.”
“Shiny,” she nuzzled him, breathing deeply into his neck. “This workaholic stuff is going to break your back. Relax once in a while, hon,” Cadence smiled, kissing him lightly on the cheek.
“I will, I will,” Shining Armor said awkwardly, quickly snuffing out the candles. His eyes adjusted to the dark, and he slithered beneath the sheets as rapidly as he could.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa !” Cadence nickered, poking him in the ribs. “What do you think you’re doing, mister?”
“… Sleeping?” Shining replied innocently, tucking his chin beneath the sheets for emphasis. “You should try it sometime. It’s great.”
He snored loudly a couple of times, knowing for a fact that she didn’t buy it for an instant. Cadence deadpanned, and poked him in the ribs again. It took him a second to realize that their bedchambers weren’t quite as dark as before, as her horn was alight with a soft, pink glow.
“Aw…” Cadence nuzzled him again playfully. “Come on, Shiny. You aren’t leaving enough time for your favorite princess anymore.”
“I-I would, Cadence,” Shining started guiltily and rolling over. “But, well, uh… I’m… tired. Really tired. Too tired for that tonight.”
Cadence paused, sliding a single hoof over his side inch by inch.
“… Hey.”
“… Yeah, Cadence.”
“Do… you remember that thing-”
Suddenly, she had his complete attention.
Shining lay very, very still, with bated breath.
“You mean, from our honeymoon?”
“Yeah,” Cadence breathed with a snicker, sidling up closer to him. “From our honeymoon.”
“What about it?”
“Picture that, but with a different hole entirely.”
Too tired my ASS , Cadence grinned smugly to herself, the taste of victory not the only thing fresh on her lips.
0-0-0-0-0
“Your highness!”
Shining Armor fell out of bed, shouting incoherently as he struggled to free himself from his self-made blanket prison. A quick couple of pink bursts of magic later, Shining stood almost-regally in his nightwear before the staring guard.
“Yes?” he asked as if nothing had occurred.
If anything, Shining Armor had one hell of a poker face.
“You – I mean, well,” the crystal guard stuttered, unsure of how to proceed. “I mean, a visitor has come, requesting an audience with you specifically, your highness.”
“Who ‘zit?” Cadence mumbled from beneath the sheets, and rubbed her eyes. “It’s Shaturday. No royal shtuff on Shaturdaysh, I think – I think tha’ th’ rule,” she blubbered tiredly before falling back onto the pillows.
“… And?” Shining asked, behaving far more professionally than the gawking guard was. “What did you tell him?”
“Uh… her.”
“Her?”
“Her ,” Twilight peered devilishly around the corner of the bedroom, an electric jolt tingling up Shining’s spine.
“Twily!” Shining blurted, his eyes wide. Even Cadence forced herself up, quickly shaking her bedhead away and struggling to stand straight to find out what the ruckus at the door was about.
“Hiya, Shiny!” Twilight said on tenterhooks, enormous smile spread on her face as a small purple drake behind her grumpily dropped a couple of bags. “Guess who’s staying for a visit?”
Cadence, Spike, Twilight, the guard, and even Shining was rather surprised when he promptly passed out.
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“Oh, come on, Shiny. It’s really not that bad, is it?” Cadance asked cheerfully as she walked alongside him.
“Yes, it is,” he murmured out of the corner of his mouth as the crystal guard walked ahead of them with an animatedly chatting Spike, who reclined lazily on Twilight’s back. “And the sooner that she goes home, the better.”
“I think that it’s swell to spend some time with family every now and then!” his wife nuzzled him lovingly as they made their way to the royal dining hall. “Or are you just afraid your little sister will try to interrupt our special alone time, hmm?”
“Twilight and special alone time are two things I’d like to keep separated,” Shining admitted quietly.
“Say my name?”
Shining jerked back in surprise, stunned at how swiftly Twilight had reappeared at his side. He could have sworn that barely a moment ago she had been ahead of them all.
“What? What? Uh, no!” Shining chortled awkwardly. “Just, uh – just thinking about breakfast, what about anypony else?”
“Since when do you not skip breakfast?” Cadance poked him in the shoulder playfully.
“Oh, you know…” he shrugged, hoping and praying that Cadance hadn’t noticed the coy look Twilight was giving him. “Just thought it would be a nice change of pace is all.”
“Now you’re getting into the spirit of it!” she giggled, giving him a swift peck on the cheek. “Ah, it’ll be great! By the way, did you get the chance to meet the new Zebrican chef? She’s a master with hay bacon, I wouldn’t even have imagined-”
Cadance’s voice was slowly filtered out as he thought, his brows furrowed deeply.
This was not a good thing.
This was most definitely not a good thing.
The fact alone that Twilight was hounding him already was bad enough, but now that she was trying to move in with them? It didn’t bode well to say the least. Their time was at an end, he had made it very clear to her about that. There were certain things that just couldn’t be if he wanted things to stay together, and if Twilight kept pushing like she was…
The memory of the day before nagged at him, disrupting his thoughts.
… She’s your sister, you twisted bastard-
-not like you didn’t want it-
-should have put a stop to it before, should have never started, your fault-
-don’t want to hurt Twily, have to-
-what would mom and dad say, it’s not right-
“Sorry, what?”
Shining Armor shook his head a couple times, blinking when something touched his leg.
“I said, accompaniment! ” Cadance frowned slightly, her dainty lips turned in such an unfamiliar fashion. “Honestly, haven’t you been listening to me at all?”
“Yeah, of course, of course!” he tried to sound as convincing as possible. “I’m just a little distracted is all, hon, that’s it. Just-just have my mind on work is all.”
Cadance sighed heavily through her nose as a mare carefully set a tray of freshly made delectable before her. Shining glanced around the expansive dining table, noting quietly that Twilight had opted to sit across from him and closer to Cadance. He pulled a bit closer to the table, thinking. He could have sworn that he felt something touch his leg.
“Not going to even touch your breakfast, Shiny?” Twilight ever so slowly levitated an empty spoon, licking the tip quickly so that just he could see.
He gave a humorless bark before digging in, his thoughts genuinely turning back to the duties he needed to set about performing.
For all of ten seconds.
It was then that Shining Armor discovered that something really was touching him underneath the table. It hadn’t just been his imagination, he could definitely feel it. Something soft and damp, almost uncomfortably warm just against his inner thigh. He resisted the urge to scratch at it as it tremblingly crawled upward, almost like-
He finally noticed Twilight sensually tonguing the spoon she was levitating, wrapping the pink tip just over the edge of the silver. Her every movement was mirrored by the invisible force under the table, creeping wetly up to his loins.
“And then,” Cadance laughed, blissfully unaware of the deed ongoing beside her. “Then, he takes the whole pineapple, right? But he still thinks his cousin is from Saddle Arabia, not even telling him… you alright, hon?”
Shining Armor forced a wide smile, trying to hide the sweat beads that were forming.
“Fine!” he grinned as the magically conjured lips wrapped tightly over his head. “Great, go on; so what happened with… that?”
“Oh, you know, disagreements happen now and then,” she nodded thoughtfully, poking at her oats. Shining bit back a hiss of pleasure as Twilight took his entire hard member into her mouth, tonguing the shaft left and right as she did so. He could feel every hot suck, every tugging sensation as she pulled him deeper. He could almost see an actual bulge in her throat across from him, her actions disguised by the levitating silverware. He wasn’t even listening any longer, focusing solely on his plate in hopes that nopony would see the look on his face. Shining wanted to tell her to stop, to get her to slow down at least, but it felt so good…
Even Cadance hadn’t done anything like that for him. Perhaps that it was this realization that it wasn’t Cadance doing it, that he was doing something so shameful right across from his own wife that excited him so. He saw Twilight gag when he came, almost like he were shooting his whole load right into her throat-
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Cadance patted the hacking Twilight hard on the back. Twilight coughed hard into her napkin, tears springing to her eyes from the force. “You’ve hardly touched your food, are you coming down with something?”
“Madam,” one of the maids arrived at her side. “The ambassador is here to see you, Princess.”
“Again? ” she frowned. “Ohh – fine, tell him I’ll be there in a bit. Would one of you help Twilight to the infirmary, she isn’t-”
“Oh, no, I’m fine,” Twilight struggled not to cough a couple more times. “But I’m sure Shiny could show me where it is, he’d have no problem with it.”
“Whatever works best,” Cadance nodded as she rose. “Shining – oh dear, you’re looking pretty red, too. Did someone poison the tea or something?”
“No, no, I-I’m just a little warm,” Shining laughed unnecessarily hard, suddenly realizing that he had been silent throughout almost the entire ordeal. “No problem! No… problem at all.”
0-0-0-0-0
“Are you crazy? ” Shining Armor hissed, walking stiffly alongside his sister down the crystal corridor. “We could have been caught , what were you thinking? ”
“You didn’t seem to have too many complaints when I had your cock in my mouth,” Twilight purred, rubbing up against him.
“Not so loud! ” he glanced about nervously, ensuring that they were indeed alone.
“What’s the big deal with you lately, Shiny?” Twilight asked in a hurt tone. “Don’t you want me anymore?”
Shining heaved a sigh through his nostrils as they turned a corner, and he nervously checked to make sure they weren’t being followed.
“Of course I do, Twily,” he patted her softly on the head. “Of course I do. But… but you, you’ve got to understand… I mean, we just can’t do that anymore-”
“Why not?” Twilight asked huffily. “We used to have so much fun! There was hardly a day that went by that we didn’t, and now… now it-it feels like you just don’t l-love me anymore…”
Shining Armor guiltily rubbed the back of his neck, trying to find the best way to word it.
“Things have changed, Twily,” he said quietly. “I’m married now – that means I’m only supposed to do-do that with Cadance. Nopony else. She’d be… upset if she found out.”
“She doesn’t have to find out,” Twilight stopped him, one hoof seductively winding up his chest. “Nopony has to know except for you – and – me,” she kissed him fervently, adding another with each pause. She frowned when Shining shied away, heat rushing to his face.
“I-I can’t , Twilight,” he said seriously. “We just can’t .”
“Why not?” Twilight reiterated. “I could just stay here, and-and you could use me whenever you wanted-”
“Twily!” Shining gritted his teeth. “It won’t work, I’m telling you! Is that really what you want ?”
“I love you, Shining Armor,” Twilight hugged him tightly. After a moment, he hugged her back, holding the embrace.
“… I love you too, Twily. But this… we can’t be. We can’t have us . I’m sorry, Twilight.”
“… Yeah.”
Twilight tried very hard to hold her head up and hide her tears as she walked away, and Shining did the same.
0-0-0-0-0
“Yeesh, what’s up with you?”
Twilight groaned into the surprisingly comfortable pillows, thrashing mildly atop her guest bed.
“Aw, come on!” Spike clambered onto the bed. “Seriously, Twi, what’s up with you today? You didn’t even wake me up for breakfast!”
“You wouldn’t understand, Spike,” Twilight muttered darkly into her pillow, not bothering to even raise her head. “It’s grown up stuff.”
“Is it about the Crystal Empire?” Spike asked excitedly, oblivious to her worsening mood.
“Sort of,” she grunted. “Just leave me be for now, Spike. I’m thinking.”
Spike shrugged and hopped off the bed, rolling his shoulders.
“Hey, if that’s the case, do you mind if I go take a look at their sports field?” he pried eagerly. “I’ll be back really quickly, just one look at the stadium is all and I’ll be right back, you won’t even miss me-”
“Yes, Spike, fine,” Twilight answered suddenly. “Go on ahead.”
Spike whooped cheerfully before taking off, the door slamming shut behind him. Something had just clicked in her mind, washing her worry away.
Twilight wanted her brother.
Twilight wanted her brother to want her.
Twilight couldn’t be with her brother because he was with Cadance.
Cadance had to go.
It wasn’t long before the room was completely empty.
This was most definitely not a good thing.
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Cadance hummed a quiet tune to herself as she meandered down the hall, her mind abuzz with the day's excitement.
For all of his talk and bravado, the Zebrican ambassador really could be a pushover; all it took was a couple of pouted lips and puppy dog eyes and he seemingly forgot all about his irritation with the slowed trade caravans. She grinned a little, the flustered Zebra's face fresh in her mind. How anypony could go from incredibly crotchety to a mewling kitten baffled her, and it reminded her a bit of her Shiny.
Of course, she hadn't seen him for a while – in all likelihood the stallion was working himself to death, meaning she'd be lucky to hear him say much of anything that night before collapsing into bed. Cadance's grin faded a bit, but she refused to let her good mood be swayed. She continued down the empty hall, thinking. It took her a minute to realize just what was so off, but it finally occurred to her.
The hall was empty.
Where were all the guards...?
Cadance blinked, stopping mid-step. There were usually guards posted, however lax, on the Royalty floor, it was something that took her a long time to adjust to. The sudden lack of them threw her off. Then again, perhaps they were simply taking a break. Still, it didn't sit too well with her.
Cadance carried on, her wings a little tighter to her side. She pushed it to the back of her mind with her bedroom doors swinging open, the long day behind her at last.
She gave a small sigh of relief as she was left alone; although her pristine four poster bed awaited her, Cadance felt no urge to sleep.
You know what...? No.
“No,” she said aloud with determination, beginning to pace. “You know what? No.”
No, she wasn't going to let Shining lock himself up in that office of his again – she was more important than paperwork, she was his wife for crying out loud.
A plan already forming, Cadance magically grabbed the brush by her vanity mirror, making sure that she had no stray hairs from her mane. She gave a practice look to herself, gauging Shining's reaction; there was simply no way he'd be able to resist her, even if that meant she had to carry him back.
She gave a contented smile, throwing a small nod to her reflection.
Now, go get him.
Cadance's thoughts stopped right at that, too confused by Twilight's appearance behind her in the mirror to be startled. The mare froze dead in her tracks, their eyes meeting in the vanity mirror.
“Tw-” Cadance started, her words losing steam. A sharp stinging sensation burned at her throat, beginning almost like a very bad paper cut and growing more intense with each passing moment. Nothing came from her except a confused, pained gurgle, her body suddenly feeling very heavy as her knees buckled, sending her crashing to the floor.
The visage of Twilight in the mirror had been real. The pain in her throat felt real. The blood leaking down her throat must have been real. But the entire scenario refused to seem real at all, the empty faced mare standing over her with the levitating knife feeling much more like a dream, like it were happening to somepony else. It had to have been a dream, this entire situation was ridiculous , of course it was.
Twilight stared down at the confused, almost concerned look on Princess Cadance's face. She watched the mare that used to foalsit her struggle to speak again and again, the disbelief on her face overtaking all else.
And then she plunged the knife down again, and again, until Cadance stopped looking back.
Now he's mine.
Now he's mine.
Everything will be perfect, now he's mine.
Twilight repeated the mantra to herself over and over again, her trembling hooves shaking in the hot water. She watched the steam rise and fog the mirror before her, she felt it on her hooves, but she still felt cold – so cold that ice could have been running in her veins, like she was barely a pony at all. Her mind was feverish though, and the feeling would soon leave, just as soon as her brother warmed her up. He would be glad to, after she saved him.
It had to be done.
She was in the right, it had to be done to save her brother from her. Cadance would have kept him locked up all the time, would have kept him all to herself, but Shining was so much more than some mare's plaything; she wouldn't let him go to waste.
Now he's mine.
Twilight watched the rest of the blood circle down the drain, her head still feeling oddly woozy. The guards were out of the way on their 'early break', nopony would touch the 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the Princess's door, and Shining was still in that stuffy office where Cadance kept him locked up. But now she could free him and they would be together and everything would be perfect.
“Twilight?”
She paused, lips pursed so tightly that they had gone white, and she noted the colorless in her face before splashing more water on to ensure that no trace of Cadance remained on her. She didn't have time for interruptions, she needed to act quickly to save Shining and flee from the Crystal Empire before-
“Twi?”
Twilight flinched hard, forcing a quivering smile back at Spike, who stood stock still in the doorway.
“Yes, Spike?” she asked quickly. “I was just about to go looking for you, you need to pack up; something's come up and we're needed back at Ponyville, pronto.”
“Oh!” his little eyes widened, and he lowered the envelope he'd been holding onto. “Uh, okay. I was wondering-”
“Mail?” Twilight turned to face him at last, magically drying herself with one of the luxurious towels they were provided with.
“Twi?” Spike frowned, his voice tinged with worry. “Are you okay? You look like you're gonna be sick or-”
“Everything's fine, Spike!” she replied a little too quickly, her forced smile feeling plastic on her lips. “Now go pack up and make it quick, okay?”
“Alright, alright!” he held up his claws defensively as she took the letter from him. “Jeez, take it easy.”
Twilight ensured that he was well and busy before turning her attention to the unopened envelope, her befuddlement growing.
The white envelope was decorated with the Crystal Empire's seal, and felt very light – upon opening she discovered that it held only a small, slightly crumpled sheet of paper, bearing Shining Armor's writing.
I love you very much. I'm sorry.
There was nothing else aside from Shining's signature on the apology at all.
Twilight's heart raced even faster, her hooves beginning to tremble again.
It was about time he'd come to his senses!
She almost felt like giggling, striding out with purpose and leaving the grumbling Spike behind. Shining's 'office' wasn't too far away, just up the hall; he would understand when she explained everything to him, she'd been over the scene a hundred times in her head. The letter from her brother was just more proof that he needed her now more than ever, that everything was going to be perfect now.
Don't you worry a bit, Shining, I'm coming to save you.
Twilight rounded the corner, smile vanishing instantly from her lips.
The same crystalline guards from before were trotting slowly ahead, right in her direction – in the same direction as Princess Cadance's and her brother's bedroom.
The room with the body.
The situation came crashing down on Twilight's head, a sudden sickness violently thrashing in her belly.
She was going to be found out.
They were going to find her before she could get away with Shining and then everything would be for nothing...!
“Er, excuse me!” Twilight dashed ahead to the chatting guards, cutting off their access by throwing her wings out to the side.
“Your highness!” one of the guards saluted. “Returning for duty, we-”
“No, no!” she cut him off with a horribly false feeling laugh. “That's not necessary!”
“But-” he started again, only to be interrupted.
“Princess Cadance has specifically requested that this floor be, er, vacated!” she lied swiftly, sweat beading on her brow. She could feel her heartbeat in her ears, the sudden feat that they could hear it too and detect her lies rumbling up. “Vacated, at once! No guards, nopony, royal order!”
For a painfully long moment, Twilight was so afraid that she felt she were going to be ill; neither of the guards responded, each horribly stretching milisecond feeling like an hour.
“R-right away, your highness!” they bowed out at last, an intense feeling of relief overwhelming Twilight as they promptly turned back to the enormous stairway. Twilight had to fight back to keep the sigh from being heard, as well as a sudden urge to giggle.
Back to business.
Twilight made straight for Shining Armor, the clopping of her hooves sounding like miniature cannons in the deserted hall.
“Shiny?” she rapped quietly at the polished oak door. “Shiny, it's me, I'm back!”
There was no answer, but she was certain he was there – she had watched him from the shadows behind the hall's pillars only a bit ago, and there was no way he'd abandon the stack of paperwork on his desk unless it was especially for her.
“Shining!” she knocked again, jiggling the doorknob only to find it locked. “Hey! It's me, I got your letter! There's – there's something I need to tell you, it's really important. Open up!”
Still no answer.
A chill began to creep up Twilight's spine, the uneasy feeling in her gut rising again. It took only a moment to magically unlock the door from within, only a moment longer to adjust to the darkness of his tidy little office.
For what she witnessed would likely take her the rest of her life.
The office itself was small, barely large enough for a single stallion – how Cadance had the guts to keep him locked up here was beyond Twilight. The mahogany desk took up most of the space, the file cabinet blocking out the rays of the setting sun before the window. Even the ceiling fan above was painfully still, just the same as Twilight, as stiff and frozen as her heart and body.
Just the same as her brother, still swinging in complete and utter silence.
Her hoof clapped noiselessly to her mouth in horror, the ever so faint scent of blood still stuck to her body. She could hear the guards returning, but even then she couldn't bring herself to move. The ice in her veins has frozen her solid to the spot in the doorway, and even her tears felt chilled as they rolled down her cheeks.
In all her life, she'd never felt so cold.
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