Moon Guide My Dreams

He never had to face a choice like this. Not with so much on the line.

On one hand he could run away from everything and spend the rest of his life away from royalty, no longer shouldered with the responsibility of being in charge of anything or anyone anymore. He could live his life for himself, and be just a regular guy again.That was something he hadn’t had since before he became captain of the royal guard, and he couldn’t deny there were plenty of times he missed it.

He could just go back to the way things were in the Crystal Empire, but what would be accomplished from going back there? Bridges were going to be burned at any point regardless. Going home would result in nothing but depression and further crashing. The last thing he wanted was to not be happy. All that left was Luna as the logical choice, the choice that he had been looking at for quite some time. Even though he didn’t realize it, there wasn’t any turning back, He had to make a choice. Happiness, sacrifice, or normality. He sat there quietly, looking at the three items on the table before grabbing all three of them and heading out to the train station.

~!~!~!~

Cadence stood impatiently by their train, tapping her foot and waiting for her husband to get his flank down there so they could go home. She looked a short ways away, and noticed that Celestia and Luna were approaching her, escorted by Flash Sentry and Amity Faith. She frowned, suspecting they were about to give her one more lecture before she left.

“Was there anything else you two forgot to chastise me for?” she snapped as soon as they were within earshot. “Am I not leaving fast enough? Did I drop a quill on the way down here and you need to remind me how a princess must be clean and organized? Or perhaps this is about my marriage yet again?”

“...Cadence?” came a voice from just behind the sisters. The two stepped aside enough for Cadence to see that Twilight was with them, and she looked shocked at the venom pouring out of her sister-in-law’s mouth.

Cadence paused, then frowned and turned away from them. “Very kind of you two, to make me look bad in front of the one pony I have left who I can fully trust,” she snarled.

“We said and did nothing,” Luna answered, frowning right back at her. “We were just down here to say goodbye to you, nothing more. You were the one who attacked us the moment you saw us.”

“I don’t see what,” grumbled Cadence. “You said your goodbyes--”

“ENOUGH!” yelled Twilight, suddenly approaching the princess of love. “What is with your attitude!? How can you be acting like this? Why? What is wrong with you!?”

Cadence looked momentarily stunned. “...I don’t know what you’re--”

“YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT!” screeched Twilight. “I NEVER DID ANYTHING WRONG TO YOU AND YOU THINK IT’S PERFECTLY OKAY TO SLEEP WITH FLASH!? FOR WHAT!?”

“Twilight,” said Celestia. “It’s alright. This is still a public place.”

Realizing this, Twilight just simply sneered at her sister in law. “...I don’t ever want to see you again. Not here, not in Ponyville, and certainly not in the Crystal Empire. The only time you will ever see me there now is to see my brother. As far as I’m concerned, HE is family to me. YOU are not!!”

Cadence could barely believe what she was hearing. Twilight, of all ponies, was turning against her… This was inconceivable! Surely she should have understood her reasons for seducing Flash, and it wasn’t like she hadn’t made sure that Twilight and Flash were simply used and discarded!! She had promised to provide Flash with more than enough for the both of them to live not only comfortably, but borderline extravagantly, and she had every intention of keeping that promise if for no other reason than she did care a great deal about Twilight and her happiness… But then… Twilight had never been swayed by wealth… Perhaps…

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps. She turned around and saw Shining Armor headed their way. Her frown and anger returned full force as she glared at him.

“What took you so long?” she demanded.

“You’re not even going to respond to her, are you?” he asked. “You owe her an explanation.”

“... I’m sure Flash told her about the promise I made to take care of them both for it. There isn’t really anything else to say, is there?” Cadence responded.

“You cheated on me. All because I wasn’t doing what you wanted or working as hard as you. You’re not even sorry?”

“Why should I be? You did it first,” she said.

“Really? It was because of the way you were acting. You’ve turned into a completely different person and you’ve changed for the worse. Neither of us were right--”

“I changed?!” she screeched. “You’re the one who changed!!”

“Then why have you been hearing that exact same thing from everyone around you?” Celestia intervened. “Cadence, look around you. Look at what’s happened to the bonds you once cherished so deeply. Look at the things you have done in the name of your crown and your pride.”

Cadence looked at her aunt, whom she had looked up to from the day they met. She then looked at Twilight, her cherished little sister. She turned and looked at Shining Armor, her dear husband. All of them, turned against her, and for what? They acted like she was the enemy!

Shining stepped over to her and put a hand on her shoulder. “Cadence. Listen. I’ll admit it. I did cheat on you first.”

“THERE!! YOU SEE!!!” Cadence shrieked immediately. “I KNEW HE WAS--”

“Cadence!!” Shining interrupted. “Let me finish. Yes I cheated on you first, but since long before that, you had stopped treating me with any sort of love or even respect. I wasn’t your husband, I was your co-ruler. You can protest that all you want, but even if you intended to show me your affection, you never did. I felt very alone for a long time. I won’t deny that it doesn’t excuse what I did, but… Cadence… I don’t think you’ve loved me for a long time now. And I’m sorry...but I can’t be with you if this is what the future holds for us.”

SLAP!!!

Shining reeled back for a moment, stunned. Cadence had just… she had slapped him… right across the face. He looked at her, placing a hand on his now-red cheek. She was staring at her hand in utter shock, trembling.

“I… I just… I…” she stuttered, fully stupefied by what had just happened.

Shining looked down briefly, closing his eyes and trying to repress his anger. “...leave.”

“Sh-Shining Armor… I didn’t mean to…” she stammered.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the divorce papers and placed them against her shoulder firmly.

“...sign them. And leave with your little boy-toy.” he said, glaring at her. “I’m sorry. But I highly doubt you are…”

“I’m not going anywhere with Princess Cadence,” Flash said quietly. “...I’ve done far too much damage already. The very last thing I want is to make it any worse. I’m going to stay in Canterlot and do whatever it takes to redeem myself.” He turned to look at Twilight who immediately looked away in indifference. “Even if Princess Twilight never forgives me… which I wouldn’t blame her for…”

Cadence shook. This was really what was going to happen? But then… She looked at her hand again, still shocked. She had hit him. She had actually hit Shining Armor. No matter what he had done, she never thought that physical violence would ever hope to solve anything. It was only the coldest, most heartless of ponies who did things like that… and she had just done it. Cadence fell to her knees as she finally realized what it was the others were saying. A single moment of anger had lead her to strike her husband. Who knew how it would progress if it went back to how it was? What had happened to her that she would even consider such an action for even a second?

“...you’re right…” she whispered.

“What?” Shining said.

“You’re right, all of you…” Cadence replied. “I… I hit Shining Armor. I actually hit him. I can’t believe I would… What have I been doing? What have I been thinking that brought me to this point? Why… why didn’t I listen to the ponies I love instead of…?” She looked at the papers Shining had shoved at her, which were now laying on the ground next to her. “...this is what it’s come to, isn’t it? This is where I’ve lead us.”

“Cadence, we’ve both done things wrong,” Shining said again. “I should not have gone behind your back like I did. I should have had enough strength before to realize. We just don’t belong together anymore, Cadence. Neither one of us is the same pony we were in school, and… I can’t take the suffering anymore. We can’t be part of each other’s lives anymore. Do you want to keep living like this too? What happens if things get worse? I can’t wish that upon you nor do I want it. Please.”

Cadence stared blankly at the papers for several minutes before quietly saying, “I need a quill.”

Twilight was quick to retrieve a quill from her satchel, handing it hesitantly to her soon to be former sister in law. Cadence took it and silently signed the papers before dragging herself back to her feet and handing them to Shining Armor. Without another word and without looking back, she stepped onto the train.Shining said nothing as the conductor’s whistle blew and the train began to move out of the station. He watched quietly as it pulled out of the station, taking his previous life with it. After a few minutes, most of the station’s occupants began to depart, realizing there was nothing left to be said. Soon, only Shining, Luna, and Amity were left.

“...so,” Shining started, turning to look at both Amity and Luna...and then turning his attention to Amity. “...your train’s coming soon isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it is,” Amity replied with an understanding smile. “I’m guessing you won’t be on it with me then.”

The unicorn had to think for a moment before smiling. “...you and I, we’ve always been best friends. I guess it was alright that were fuck buddies for awhile but...I don’t think I’d want to lie to myself to be with you just to get out of a bad relationship. That wouldn’t be right to you or myself. Or Luna.”

Amity nodded, the smile never leaving his face. “I figured, and I understand entirely Shine. Princess Luna is very lucky. I guess you’re just unlucky that you won’t get to have some good hard ass-banging from me now.” He winked, chuckling. Luna giggled as well.

“I think it’s better I just stick to one person from now on,” he said. “It doesn’t mean I won’t keep in touch with you on your vacation.”

“You damn well better,” Amity threatened jokingly. “If you don’t, I’ll just have to come and kidnap you and Luna and take you both out of here with me. I’m not gonna lost touch with my best buddy again.” He gave Shining Armor a tight hug. “I need to go get my stuff before my train gets here, so I’ll see you when I get back, okay?”

“Of course,” Shining replied, hugging him back.

Amity turned to leave the station, but not before saying quietly to Luna, “Take care of him, princess. He really is a knight in shining armor.”

“I know, and I promise,” Luna replied, nodding at him as he left. She turned back to Shining with a joyous smile. “Shining Armor.”

Shining smiled back at her and kneeled. “Princess Luna.”

He rose back to his feet, and Luna ran at him, throwing herself into his arms and kissing him senseless. Taken aback by the notion, he shook it off and embraced her, kissing her back with as much passion. It had finally happened.. And it couldn’t have happened any sooner.

~!~ONE YEAR LATER…~!~

“Ugh. Dammit, I can never get this stupid sash to sit right on my shoulder,” Shining Armor complained as he tried again to adjust his dress uniform. “Why do they even have these?”

“It’s to show all your honors, you silly boy,” Luna teased as she came up behind him. “You have a lot of them. That’s why you’re having so much trouble adjusting this thing. Hold still a moment.” Her horn glowed softly and she shifted the sash just right so it finally sat properly.

Shining felt the sash set itself and turned around to see her and he felt his jaw drop. “Holy damn… When did you get that dress?”

Luna giggled. She was wearing a somewhat form-fitting velvet blue dress with a mermaid flare at the bottom and glittering beading along the fabric. Her flowing, glittering hair was pulled up into an elegant bun with some loose curls framing her face. She looked absolutely stunning.

“Why Shining Armor, one would think you haven’t seen a princess before” she teased.

“Not one as radiant as you in quite awhile.” he chuckled, resting his hands gently upon her shoulders. “I think you’ve outdone yourself, love.”

Luna blushed softly, smiling. “Tonight’s the night. Are you sure you’re ready for the kingdom to know?”

“About us?”

“Well, that too, but… I figured you were still angry at Flash over what happened. You weren’t exactly pleased when Twilight did eventually forgive him, and now that they’re publicly revealing their relationship, and us ours…”

Shining frowned for a moment but took in a deep breath, shaking his head. “As long as my sister is happy, then I have nothing to complain about. Though I’m not really that into them dating seeing as what happened before...I won’t pull the big overprotective brother card. It just wouldn’t be right.”

“Your mouth says that, but I can see that look in your eyes,” Luna teased. “You’re ready to run him through with your sword if he messes up again.”

“Now THAT is the overprotective side of me,” he chuckled, leaning his head down to kiss her gently. “There’s better ways to punish him. But he’s not on my mind. Right now I have this gorgeous princess in front of me who desires my undivided attention…”

“And you know how poor of an idea it is to make your princess wait,” Luna replied, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“True...but then again, we could always keep them waiting a half an hour or so…” the prince said, a devilish smirk appearing on his face before he chuckled. “I’m just kidding. Come on, we have guests to entertain.”

Luna also laughed, looping her arm through her beloved’s as they headed out the door to face the public together. As the two made their way to the balcony, they were surprised to be greeted with a roaring applause. Shining looked confused but politely waved to everyone, trying to notice any familiar faces in the crowd. With his arm around Luna’s, he looked around briefly before looking to Luna.

“They seem to like us.”

“I’m glad they do, because like it or lump it, I’m staying by your side,” she replied.

And that’s all I could ever ask for…