"Afterlife"
Captain of the Paladins' Office, Canterlot Castle, Canterlot, Equestria
Private Shining Armor and Captain Flash Sentry
Celestia's Paladins
August 1st, 2014, 8:00 A.M.
"So, you're leaving tomorrow?" Captain Sentry asked.
"Yeah, I already told Princess Celestia about it," the Private answered. As you can see, these two have different ranks. Why? The answer is pretty simple: "Celestia's Paladins" is a group that consists on four stallions and two mares that are under an elite training and they are better known for the saying "If the local officers can't do it, bring in the Paladins", making them corsairs under Celestia's order, although Luna's were known as the Assailants, and Twilight's were a group that guided themselves under the name of Lucifer (he who brings the light)'s Disciples.
"What did she say?"
"She took it pretty well, despite the events that happened in the past between Cadence and I. She let me retire since I had served under her order for several years and she told me that if I needed anything, that I just told her or Luna."
"Do you have any plans on the close future?"
"I'll probably explore the kingdoms that surround us."
"Why would you go and explore those places?"
"Strax and Katherine, rulers of the Gryphon Kingdom, invited me since they saw potential in me due to the way I went through the wars like a true Gryphon. Timaeus and Hermos, twin dragons that rule over the Draconic Territory, asked me to join them since we fought together back in the days of the Great War. Chrysalis invited me to the Badlands, probably to use me as a tool for obtaining love, although we turned into good friends, which would lead to Cadence thinking that I was cheating on her. Last but not least, Zecora recommended me to visit Zanzebra someday, or I could go back to sailing with Nautica and her crew."
"What about your plans after marauding through those kingdoms?"
"I'll probably settle down and find myself a nice mare, gryphon, dragoness, changeling, or a zebra and form a family with whichever I choose."
"So, Chrysalis..." Flash said, teasing his close friend.
"Shut up!" Shining answered, laughing along with Sentry, until a certain Unicorn prince many hate came in and said:
"Shining Armor, you are dismissed."
"Yes Bluey,' the Private said, mocking him.
Paladins' Barracks
8:05 A.M.
Our Unicorn protagonist entered the barracks and made sure he had his personal belongings packed.
Canterlot, you are such an amazing place, he thought to himself. He then saw the radio his father had given him back in the days he was dating Cadence, which brought a tear to his eye since his parents had passed away after Cadence divorced him. Quickly changing the topic, he turned the radio on, which rang a song that many are familiar with:
I wanna go hooommme hooommmmme hommme
Yoldle ay e oh, yodle ay e oh, yodle ay e oh, a lay-ee, yo lay-ee.
Shining Armor turned his horn on, and while turning the knob, asked:
"Who left it on this-"
KA-BOOM!
The Private flew a short distance and fell to the ground, with blood coming out of his mouth, and saw how Prince Blueblood got closer, charging his horn with power, aimed it at the fallen Private, and said:
"So long, Shining Armor."
ZAP!
A couple of seconds later, three of the Paladins went to catch Blueblood while Captain Sentry, along with Fleetfoot (which was the Medic of the Paladins) decided to check on Shining.
"We've lost him," Fleetfoot said, after checking his vital signs.
Throne Room, Crystal Castle, Crystal Empire
Several hours after Shining Armor's death
Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, or better known as Cadence, had a wonderful day: she ate her favorite breakfast, had the day off since there weren't any royal duties that day, and last but not least, she went to the castle's spa. All in all, Cadence was in total bliss...
"Hello Cadey."
... that is, until a Draconequus by the name of Eris (Discord's Daughter in this case, since he was on vacation) appeared.
"Yes Eris?"
"I was walking by until I decided to stop by and tell you the news."
"News, what news?"
"Oh, I must go, but remember, the clock strikes at six, and death is real quick," she said, before vanishing into thin air.
The clock strikes at six, and death is real quick. What does that mean? Cadence asked herself, while checking the clock tower. She saw that 15 minutes were missing until it was 6 o' clock, so she decided to wait in her throne room. Time passed by until the minute hand moved once more, and six consecutive chimes were heard. At the end of the sixth chime, Flash Sentry, Spitfire, Soarin', Fleetfoot and Big Macintosh, which were the remaining Paladins, entered the throne room. Spitfire then said:
"Princess Cadence, Private..."
"We regret to inform you, despite what happened between you two time ago, that Private Shining Armor passed away this morning after being bombed and shot by Prince Blueblood. We were sent here by the Royal Sisters and Princess Twilight Sparkle. We hope you have a good evening." Fleetfoot finished. After this, the Paladins looked at Cadence with anger written on their faces, and left. Once they were gone, Cadence broke down into tears, and asked herself: Why did I treat him like that? How could I be so jealous when he was saying the truth? In the end, Chrysalis and I ended up being the best of friends.
Shining Armor spawned into a home, which was inhabited by many pudgy, star-shaped beings.
"I don't know what in Tartarus you are, nor where in Tartarus I am, but if I don't get an answer right now, I'm going to-"
"Do what, exactly?" asked a female voice. The owner of that voice was nothing less than Rosalina, ruler of the Super Mario Galaxy:
"Umm, nothing?" he said, nervously?
"Perhaps a cup of tea would help," she said, while several Lumas came with a teapot, two tea cups with their plates and spoons, and a small bowl full of sugar cubes.
"Uh, thanks."
"Your welcome. Now, the questions you asked earlier have their answers. Those are Lumas, and I am their owner, but also the ruler of this galaxy."
"Really?"
"Yes, and the reason you're here is because the Afterlife Society has decided to give you a second chance."
"What is all that about?"
"Remember Spike? He was given a second chance, transferred to another dimension and now lives happily."
"Why didn't you bring him back?"
"He's much better over there, besides, he's already in a relationship with Alexis Rhodes."
"What about me?"
"As with Spike, you'll be turned into a Human, get used to your new body, and you'll be sent to another dimension to live a happy life."
"Wait, what?!"
"Relax, it'll be quick," she said, with a cute smile. "Besides, it won't hurt, and we're doing this for your own good."
"Well, if you say so."
As Rosalina tapped Shining Armor's head with her wand, he was covered in a white glow, a glow that grew so bright, that the Lumas covered their eyes, only for the now human to stand up. Rosalina rushed towards him since she saw that he was about to fall. Once she put him in a chair, she saw him: a light-skinned man whose term in the Military could be seen on his body. He had a white shirt with his Cutie Mark on it, some jeans and black-colored slip-on Vans as his attire, with hair that reached his shoulders, and his dark blue irises.
"Don't worry, you'll get used to being a human in a matter of days. I'll teach you how to use your new body correctly, and also show you what they eat." And with that, for the following days, our Unicorn-Blood protagonist got used to his new body and also the diet humans had (although eating meat was a challenge, since it was pretty much like trying to give a Vegetarian meat, which took them to inventing soy chorizo and stuff).
"Are you ready, Shining Armor?" Rosalina asked.
"Yeah, I think so," he answered.
"Good, before I send you to the new dimension, you're going to meet a woman by the name of Samus Aran. If she attacks you, tell her that I said hi, okay?"
"Okay."
"Good luck Shining Armor, for your journey begins here," she said, giving him a kiss on the cheek, which would make him blush. Hehe, he looks funny when he blushes, she thought to herself.
"How exactly am I going to reach my destination?"
"Just look at me and stay still," she said, while charging up her wand.
"Listen Rosalina, I don't think I'm ready to- ZAP!" and with that, he was gone.
Unknown Location
Shining Armor
August 11th, 2014, about 6:00 A.M.
"Boodooboodoo, banana bus, boodooboodoo, banana bus..." Shining Armor sang. Man, those Lumas have some catchy songs. He was in a room that had two doors: one in front of him, and one behind him. He checked the one behind him, and only saw several supplies. He left the room and headed for the other door, only to be kicked in the face when he opened the door.
"Who the hell are you?!" asked a blonde-haired woman.
