Moon Guide My Dreams

Heading back to his room a couple of hours after waking up next to the Princess of the Night, Shining Armor felt a small bounce in his steps. There wasn’t anything on his mind that could have bugged him. He actually felt a little better about himself and even getting back to his room, seeing most of his things still unpacked, he set to work quickly to pack everything away. He had packed light and the last thing he wanted now was to let everything go by so quickly. His thoughts paused upon hearing the sound of knocking, coming from across the hall at his door.

“...please don’t let it be her.” he mumbled to himself.

“Shine? It’s me! I need to talk to you!” came the familiar and welcome voice of Amity. “Can I come in?”

Shining paused briefly before going to the door, looking around and slowly opening it. “Amity? What’s wrong?”

Amity pushed his way through the door without even waiting for Shining to open it fully. He had a very agitated expression on his face. “Shine… I… Okay, you know Flash Sentry, don’t you?”

Initially confused, Shining allowed him entrance and locked the door, getting the two of them to an area where they couldn’t be heard. “Yes, what about him? He’s on the Crystal Empire guard.”

Amity took a deep breath and, shakily, explained what had happened and what he had found out. He was very careful to not villainize Flash or Cadence, simply explaining the facts. Still, he watched Shining carefully to see how he would take this revelation, especially considering that he himself had slept with others despite being married. Still, it wasn’t as though he had gone and seduced someone with the explicit intent to hurt Cadence, rather it had been because he was hurting so badly and needed to get away. Because of all this, Amity couldn’t begin to guess how his friend would take it.

Shining had sat down next to Amity and had thought briefly before putting his words together.

“...so let me get this straight,” he started. “...my wife seduced Flash because she ‘wanted to be loved’ yet NEVER came to me on the premise that I didn’t love her anymore because of the way she was acting thus causing me to cheat on my wife with not just you but with Luna as well. And initially, you and I having sex was only a relief and not actually cheating in some bizarre way...but now we’ve both cheated on one another through other people and now it seems that if I hadn't done anything, Cadence would have just slept with anyone because she hadn’t gotten any regardless of me? I’m sorry, how does ANY of this make any sense!?”

“Wait wait wait a minute!” Amity interrupted. “Obviously I know I slept with you that one time, but what’s this about Princess Luna? I thought you two kept it to the dream realm?”

“...things sort of...happened,” Shining said, a hint of shame in his voice.

Amity gave him a concerned look. “Then… you did actually sneak behind Cadence’s back. Fully.” He didn’t sound judging or angry, but his tone was an odd mix of disappointed and confused. “I’m… not sure what to think of that. Still, it doesn’t make what happened with her and Sentry right either. She intended to hurt you, and just had to choose somepony she knew your little sister lik--” Amity stopped short, unsure if Shining had even known that.

Shining turned his head to look at him. “...are those two…?”

“...yes,” Amity muttered, his ears folding back. “But that’s not the issue here. The issue is that Cadence knew about the pair of them, and she actually used that as a bribery point to get to Flash. She wasn’t just hurting you this time, but your sister who is quite thoroughly an innocent bystander in all of this as well.” He paused a moment before continuing, “She’s nothing like the Cadence we knew in school.”

“Tell me about it,” he sighed. “So as it stands, she cheated on me...and I cheated on her before she did so with anyone…”

“This whole situation was fucked up even before it got to this point, but now it’s just reached levels of ridiculous,” Amity remarked. “...what are you going to do?”

“That’s the million dollar question isn’t it?” said Shining, raising his head up and then looking over to one of the drawers, going over to it and taking out the divorce paper. Amity looked over his shoulder and saw what he was holding. There was a brief pause before he spoke.

“You gonna go through with that?” he asked simply. “You’re gonna leave her?”

“...yes. Now that it’s reached this point, I don’t have any doubts,” he walked back and sat down, holding the paper tight in his hand. “How can two people be in a marriage when it seems like they don’t love one another and resort to cheating with others to satisfy their needs. What does that say for her and for me especially? Do you see how everyone in this whole mess is a hypocrite? And could you see how dangerous this mess could be if it were made public? This paper, if it gets signed, will stir up more drama than I can handle and it will put a bad stain on my family line as well as Cadence’s. At this point, it’s inevitable someone is going to get hurt. Twilight, Flash, Cadence...Luna...there’s no way there can be a happy ending for everyone. And I’m stuck at the center of this whole hurricane. I wish...I just wish I could run away from all of this. Start all over, say fuck it to everything and just...I don’t know. I don’t want to have to choose between Luna and Cadence.”

Amity was silent for a long time, just staring at Shining with worry etched on his face. Finally he pulled the stallion into a strong hug, as though trying to give strength to a lost, pain-filled soul.

“You know… there was another reason I came to see you,” he said quietly. He pulled away from Shine for a moment to reach into his pocket. “...you shouldn’t have to hurt and suffer like this anymore, and you’ve always stood to be the responsible one for everyone around you, carrying the weight on your shoulders without help. I think, for once, you should have a little relief from that burden.”

He pressed something into Shining’s hand. When the prince looked, he saw a pair of train tickets.

“...train tickets?”

“I… Look, I won’t lie to you. My feelings never changed, Shining. I still have feelings for you, and I still want to do whatever it takes to make you happy,” Amity confessed. “I could help you get away from everything and everyone. We could disappear and live a quiet life together, free of all the burdens and restrictions and responsibilities that have us both in choke holds. No more Cadence, Luna, Canterlot, Crystal Empire… you name it. Just a happy, worry-free life.”

Shining sat there, speechless at the thought. Though it was something he wanted...he had to comprehend exactly what Amity was offering.

“...you’d do that for me?” he asked. “Amity,I couldn’t ask that of you. It would put our lives in jeopardy.”

“You helped me come out, Shining,” Amity reminded him. “You helped me be comfortable with who I am, and protected me from others who weren’t. You’ve always taken care of me when I needed it.” He placed his hands on Shining’s. “For once, I want to take care of you.” Without a moment’s hesitation, he leaned over and laid a gentle kiss on Shining’s lips. “I won’t hold it against you if you say no, but at the very least, think about it. We both deserve to be happy, don’t we?”

Giving him a reassuring smile, Amity stood up and started to leave the room.

“Amity?” Amity had paused. “...what happens if I don’t choose you? Would you hold it against me?”

“Then I respect your choice, Shine, just like I did before,” Amity told him, turning around to look at him. “It is always your choice how you live your life, and no one else’s. If you choose either of them, then I’ll accept it and still try to be the best friend I can be for you, just like I always have. That is a soldier’s promise.”

~!~!~!~

Only moments after Shining Armor had left her room, Luna had laid back in her bed and started giggling happily, taking in the fact she had finally gotten to be intimate with her beloved. But the hours would pass and she soon dreaded the fact that he would indeed have to go. She was blissfully unaware of what Cadence, Flash, and Twilight had done and she wanted it to stay the way. As she got herself dressed and ready for raising the moon, she walked to her door and opened it up...only to see her sister walking towards her chamber doors.

“...Luna, we need to talk, and no, it cannot wait anymore,” Celestia said as gently as she was able.

“Wait?” she asked. “Dear sister, what are you--”

“Luna, please, you know what I’m here to speak to you about,” Celestia interrupted. “The stallion who has struck your fancy, Shining Armor.”

“...oh dear.” she sighed. “...exactly how much do you know so far? I swear, the events that happened, I didn’t mean for--”

Celestia held up a hand. “There is no call for excuses. I’ve seen for myself why Shining would have wandered away from Cadence in the first place. Still, it doesn’t make what you and he did right, and you know this.” She sighed. “I know your feelings for him are genuine, as are his for you. That is not in question. The problem is that someone is going to get hurt, and I don’t want that someone to be you, dear sister.”

“What else was I supposed to do?” she said. “He needed me. He needed someone that would help him, remind him that love is not a poison. He is suffering because of Cadence, their relationship is toxic to him! I didn’t expect to fall for him the way he fell for me but I feel that I can help him. I WANT to be with him...and I do love him. If someone has to get hurt, then so be it. It is inevitable. None of us can fix what’s happened.”

“I know that. It’s beyond the point where it can end painlessly,” Celestia conceded. “But… Luna… understand something. With love, it is not about what you want. It is about what you both need. Sometimes, that is not always the same as what you both want. If I were to have my way, you two could marry without fear. Unfortunately, it is not so simple. You know what is at stake here, Luna. It goes beyond affecting simply the three of you. This will have repercussions on two kingdoms…”

“...didn’t you have to make a choice like this many years ago, Celie?” she asked. “There was someone you once loved as well. I know that choice was hard for you and I know you regret it. But please...understand that I only wish for his happiness and nothing more. I wish for him to be happy with whoever he chooses and even though it may hurt if he does not choose me, even to keep things stable with that venomous mare, then I will understand. But if he does choose me...and wishes to be part of my life on even the smallest level of a suitor, I ask for you to please not be ashamed of me or...think less of me for what I’ve done. I accept these consequences...but I beg of you to not think less of me, please…”

“I do not think less of you Luna,” she assured her. “Your actions were born of genuine concern, and that concern lead to love. I could never hold you in contempt or ill-opinion for that. I’m here out of concern, not out of contempt.”

Relieved, Luna grabbed her sister and pulled her into a tight hug, refusing to let her go. “Thank you...I didn’t mean for all this drama to stir up over wishing to help someone in need. I just hope people will understand. I WANT them to understand…”

~!~!~!~

There was no denying things at this point. He couldn’t pretend that he hadn’t jeopardized not just his relationship but also one of royalty. Flash Sentry had effectively started a chain of events that would lead to nothing short of a scandal. And as he sat in the middle of the royal garden, fidgeting nervously, struggling to figure out what to say, he could see Twilight flying towards him in the distance. It was time.

“Flash!” she called as she flew down to hug him tightly. “What’s the matter? Your message sounded pretty urgent. Did something happen? Or did you find out what’s going on with Shining and Cadence?”

Flash could feel butterflies in his stomach. “...m-more or less, yes…”

Twilight sat down next to him, looking worried. “Well, don’t leave me in suspense. What’s going on?”

Carefully putting his words together, he took one of her hands. “...I know what Cadence has been up to. She did cheat on Shining, I know this for a fact. She was cheating on him with a guard.”

“She… she cheated on him?!” Twilight yelped. “But… not the Cadence I know! She would never do that!! And with a guard?! I can’t believe it! What guard in his right mind would go along with such a heinous act?! Why in Equestria would he do something so despicable?! It’s something that could wreck a marriage!!”

He paused and shook his head. “...he did it because he made a deal. A deal that could benefit the future of himself and the one he loved.”

“What?” she replied. “...but… that’s still… wait a minute. How would you know something like that?”

“Twilight,” he started. “If someone was willing to go to that length, just to make a better future, please tell me you would still love them. They had good intentions and they never meant for things to become complicated...I never meant for things to happen like that.”

“...” Twilight was utterly silent, staring at him with a fully blank expression. Her complete lack of reaction was somehow even worse than her screaming and yelling, and Flash was even more terrified than he had been before. After several minutes of empty silence, Twilight finally stood up and started to walk away without a word. Out of sheer instinct, Flash went after her.

“Twilight, wait!” he reached out to touch her shoulder. “Just let me--”

“Don’t touch me,” she whispered. She turned back to him and his worst fear was confirmed: She wasn’t angry. She was crying quietly, looking more hurt and disappointed than anything else.

“...I was just trying to help us both, getting a better future. To where I can be closer to you, better pay, a choice--”

“By sleeping with my sister in law?” she asked quietly. “You could have earned it another way. You could have done something else, anything else… You could have not betrayed me… and my brother… and yourself.”

“I thought you would understand,” he said. “Her schedule is tough enough as it is, I wanted to be YOUR guard not hers. I just thought whatever stupid demands I had to go through would be worth it because I love you. I don’t love her, I couldn’t possibly love her. I did what I did to give us both a better future, why can’t you see what I’m trying to do for us. I know it could have been done another way but that would take years or who knows how long?”

“I would have waited, Flash,” Twilight said sadly. “I would have…” She turned away. “Go away, Flash Sentry.”

“Twilight, please don’t be like this.”

“...your reasons may have been right, but that doesn’t mean what you did was,” she answered. “Once you found out what Cadence was gonna do, you should have gotten out of there or called me. Instead you… Go away. I need to think about all of this. Leave me alone.”

Flash stared at her before sighing, realizing there was very little he could do. Taking to the sky, he realized he had a lot more to think about then he had known.