Act:1 Episode: 1 The Dream
Hello there! Call me MBS! I am the host of the Golden Fiction! No that is not a stroke of ego my dear friend, it is a television show. In fact I am not the only host! I am one of several hundred esteemed narrators. I will explain another time… but come come, have a seat; have a drink and listen to the tale I will now tell you… in the form of a television of course!
You all know My Little Pony! We are no strangers to the show and neither are we to… well fanfiction. Here there are many a glorious tale to tell! Some that would fit the world… and others that are different in their own right. But this story I’m about to tell you is an alternate origin and universe of Chrysalis.
You know of Queen Chrysalis don’t you? Queen of the Changelings? Mistress of manipulation who commands a hive of deceptive bugs? The one who would had ruined poor princess Cadence’s wedding?
…
So you do know her! Excellent. This will be a bit easier.
The tale I am about to tell you is one of supernatural and paranormal happenings. Equestria is no stranger to such means. After all, magic inhabits the realm and dragons soar the skies! But why is this any different? Well what if I were to tell you that Chrysalis was foiled by our knight and shining armor before her deception under the guise of Cadence? What if I were to tell you the wedding proceeded as it did, with Twilight happily rejoicing for her friend and new found sister in law and big brother’s marriage? What if Chrysalis was a seducer of the finest fairer males?
In this story, we delve into Shining Armor’s life struggling with the Id and the Super Ego. Far into the setting where our poor prince is distanced from his loving wife due to political intrigue in the Crystal Empire, he finds himself in a distasteful situation where his inner Id starts to shape. Although he may have previously overcame Chrysalis’s plot her powers left its mark. A hidden lust stirs in the heart of our dear stallion and it grows every passing day he spends away from his love.
At the same time, he is also struggling with the Super Ego. Loneliness and passion has him struggling to control his actions, the actions of his wife whenever they are together and the struggles of his Id. Will he let go of control and fall into his basic instincts? Or will he become abstinent of all that makes him a loving understanding husband? Can our stallion find the Ego in his life? Can he find the balance? The Golden Fiction will reveal all. Let’s dive in.
Act: 1 Episode: 1 The Dream
The Pristine Caffeine was the best place in the Crystal Empire Shining Armor goes to for a nice cup of coffee to stave off the winter breeze and the stress of ruling… and separation. Today the coffee did not help with his stress. Cadence is to leave in the next few days to visit the Duke of Staliongrad… for a whole week. It is said that the Duke is a fine, handsome and stupendous young stallion, and an impeccable warrior who’s captured the hearts and minds of many. Why on all the days she has to go it be during the Hearts Warming Eve this week?
His eyes were strained, bloodshot from sleep depravity and stress. The news hit him hard. Why today when it was their time to spend together did she have to dump this on him now? He was choked up, lost for words. Several cups and noting. It was a bad dream coming true! Worst yet he couldn’t do anything about it.
“Shining? Shining Armor?” said a feminine voice. It took Shining Armor a moment to realize it was his wonderful wife’s voice. He looked up finally, noticing her leaning over the table. “Are you listening? I said are you okay?”
Oh Cadence… if ever there was a mare more beautiful than her, it wouldn’t matter. Her passionate, kind eyes pierced his, her gaze heavy with concern over her beloved. Nothing could match her sincerity and tenderness. So why couldn’t Shining Armor tell her what was bothering him? Why couldn’t he talk to her at all about his feelings with every time they distance themselves on political business?
“H-huh? Huh huh w-what? Ummm… yes?”
“Yes? You… answered my question with another question. Are you sure you are okay Shining? You know you can always talk to me.”
He calmed down a bit, taking a deep breath of air as he tries to come up with an excuse for his behavior. Sleep depravity yeah… yeah that works.
“Errr…. T-tired really. I’m… super tired. Been training with the new recruits from day break to midnight yesterday. T-they really… uhh… are dedicated to the force.”
Cadence looked at him, still hinted with concern. Then she sighs and bows her head before sitting back don in her booth. She turned her head to the right, looking out the window admiring her beautiful city. From the look in her eyes, Shining could see that Cadence was hesitant to go. Oh this could be it! He could convince her to stay!
“Uhh… s-so…soooo h-how… how about you? Err are you okay?”
She didn’t answer for a moment. Taking her time, she inspected every lamppost of the street she can count, the windows, the ponies, the smiles before finally answering him, “No Shining… I’m… I’m not.”
“Do… are you sure you want to go I mean?” he asked her.
“To the Duke? N-no… no I’m not,” she replied. “But… at the same time… I have to go. I got to, to ensure peace between us. The Duke’s not a cross man but he will not hesitate to attack us. He never tells us exactly what he wants only that he wants me to come and attend. I hate leaving my kingdom Shining… I hate to leave these ponies. I want to see their smiling faces during Hearts Warming Eve and I want to see you. I want to see you here… at the ball… one hoof guiding mines onto the dance floor. I want you in my arms, holding me close… whispering promises of love and happiness…
“I want to see each other again more. But my duties… as a princess... or queen in this matter, must come first. I have to keep everypony safe. Even you. If that means having to sacrifice this week in order to ensure you and the people of this kingdom have another day to smile then so be it.”
Now he really couldn’t tell her. The burden was so much on the poor princess. How could he be so demanding of her when for the first time he’s seen her open up about her problems? Biting his lip, he looks away, distracting himself with the view of the city as the time passes by. But he had to ask.
“Can’t I come with you?”
She shook her head. The feeling was even worse now. Even more so than her explanation.
“I can’t… The Duke asked for me explicitly. If anyone were to accompany me he’d take it as a sign of my distrust.”
It was enough to make him distrust this Duke himself the way he was so demanding of this. This is his wife! Does he know that? Does he know she’s married? Did he take it upon himself to woo the princess? Wait what was he thinking? Why would he think that? This isn’t a personal matter it was a political one.
“Uhhh oh… w-well whatever works in our favor really… ehhh peacefully that is. Ummm… yeah…”
So that was that. He waited the morning away with another coffee and silence. Time passed and the two did their duties respectfully while still trying to find the time to spend the remainder of it together.
Tick… tick… tick…
11:00PM
Shining woke up finally… finding himself in an unfamiliar place. The sky was black and cloudy, yet with no hint of rain, only giant, square green mazes that dot around this place. There were hedges as tall as the walls that surrounded the city! Everything was so alien, so dark and insipid. Rising to a stand he maneuvers around the corridors of the hedge.
“What the heck is going on here…?” he asked himself. Curiously he stuck one hoof out against the hedge, finding an invisible wall within the hedge. Was it some kind of magic? “What the heck is this?” he asked again. He had a feeling, maybe it was nothing but he couldn’t stop until he was sure. The stallion stepped around the corner finding a dead end. It was exactly as he feared. It was a closed hedge maze. How did he come here first of all? He asked himself so many questions: “how did I get here? Where is this place?!” Shining Armor started to panic, turning back the way he came. Then he went forward, passing the corridor he came from. He started to gallop, turning the next corridor until he came to a fork in the maze… or rather five ways. Two on each side and three ahead. Which one should he take? Why were they here?
His heart was racing, his body was sweating. Fear was starting to take over, even though he should handle this kind of situation after facing King Sombra. But… this was a dream correct? The stallion went in through each corridor one at a time, starting with the first two on his left and right. Each lead to a dead end, and taking a third one straight ahead, he came across a mirror. He saw himself with bug like wings, a disturbingly black horn and eyes tinted slightly green, though keeping much of its shape. One fortunate quality he recognized was his blue mane. “Holy crap! W-what’s going on!?” he backed up from the end and was back in the open fork.
An insidious snarl erupted from behind him. The stallion stood there motionless, clamming up with anxiety and desperation. It was a horrid sound, with a horrid smell to boot. Then there was a strained gurgling moan. Slowly he turned his head to face whatever creature was before him.
It looked like a pony, but it… had horrific qualities. It has an appearance of a changeling too, bug wings, crooked and broken horn but it looked like some sort of zombie he saw from one of those movies! It had blood red eyes, dark decaying black skin and fur, an open skull, an open stomach. True there was no blood emanating from the beast but the disturbing sight was all too much for him to handle.
He lets out a girlish scream and runs into the next corridor, with the zombie slowly stumbling towards his way. It continued to snarl and moan as it gave chase to him. Faster and faster Shining Armor galloped across the long corridor, heaving in fatigue. Then he crashed into something… or somepony it may seem. It was a changeling, a full blooded changeling! Only this one had a spot of blue hair as well, and its coat was tinted orange.
“Gah… whoa! W-watch where ya going man!” he exclaimed. It was an oddly familiar voice, yet changelings don’t talk. The creature caressed his head and looked up, gasping out loud when he saw Shining. “Ahhhh!!! Changeling! Get away from me!!!”
Shining stood up, looking back at the shifting changeling. A changeling calling him a changeling? He hardly looks the type at all after looking at the mirror! They wouldn’t act like he was either.
“Hey hey hey! Calm down, I’m no changeling! Even though… we… look exactly like them.” The guy didn’t buy it. Who wouldn’t? Though in this dream, this kind of crazy junk would happen. “Listen, we got to get out of here. I can’t very well explain it but something is chasing after me! I… don’t mean to sound like a complete nutcase when I say it but it’s a zombie.”
“Z—z-z-z-z-zombies?!” he exclaimed.
“Yeah and quiet down will ya? Do you want him to hear us? We gotta get out of here… like… right now! We should stick together if we are gonna make it through this.”
The changeling shook his head and stood up. “No way!” he exclaims. “I’m not going with you until I know you aren’t a threat! M-maybe if we meet each other a-again, but I rater I go alone if you don’t mind!”
Poor kid was scared out of his wits. Then again so was Shining. And the mention of zombies just made him feel worse. He was trembling, his legs about to give way, the tears flowing from his eyes. There is no way he could be a changeling. Maybe he is just like him in this case… only they appear as a changeling to others? Is this some test? A test of trust? Whatever it was, he couldn’t stop to talk about it because the kid galloped off. Hopefully he’ll open up to him if he recognizes him later. Now that he wasted time, that zombie must be somewhere close. He ran off into the general direction the changeling came from.
There were so many corridors, so much different paths it was a bit nauseating for him. The zombie was right on his trail. He reached further and further into the heart of the maze. The heat was intense, his nerves were shot, and only the blistering light that caught his eye when he reached the fifth opening caught his attention. Was it the way out? He wasted no time to question it. He had to choose which two corridors that were the closest in the general direction of the light. He took a moment to breathe, concentrating and debating on his decision. When he was sure of himself, he took the corridor on his left leading to the light.
The light grew brighter and brighter. There was a small clearing around the corner, and joy behold Shining Armor when he found a giant door protected by the vines of nature! He closed in on the door, watching the vines seep away as he extends his hoof forward to reach the knob. Grasping it firmly, he twists it clockwise and pushes it open. Light engulfed his vision, and it was a light of relief.
Tick…tick…tick…
Shining Armor jumped from his bed with a startled gasp! For a moment he feared he was still stuck in that nightmare. Fortunate for him, he was back home in the bed chambers of the castle. Sweat dripped form his head and… stains coated in one section of his bed between his legs. With a blink he lifts up the sheets to find that the stains… belonged to him. He sighed… both out of relief and shame. He hadn’t pissed the bed since he was in grade school. What would the guys think of this?
Normally Shining never visits the cider bars, but The Hard Blush was one he’d make an exception to. You got a daily glass of hard or regular apple cider. The latter usually served in the mornings while the former, the night. Shining felt he could do well with a hard cider. He could drink his problem away; that would solve that problem! Though he didn’t expect to see Flash Sentry or Twilight there. Or even High Five for that matter! Sure he’s got the bar maid Cider Crush to talk about his problems but never his friends or sister. Luckily they can keep a secret! Twilight will tease him about it though. High Five however is another matter. A red mane and red eyed young colt. New guy, quite nice, but he is bad at keeping secrets.
“Good morning everypony,” he said finally, taking a seat next to High Five. “And how are you all doing on this fine faithful day?”
“Better than I could say.” Said Flash. “But dang! By Celestia’s mane Shining you look TERRIBLE!”
Twilight even noticed the strange tired and frightened look on his brother’s face and inquired, “He’s right big bro. Look at you! You look like something a manticore chewed up and spit out.” She said.
Shining took a big heavy swig of his cider, gulping it all down until there was nothing left at the bottom of his mug. Then he planted it on the table with a heavy sigh. “Well… I wet the bed since my first time in grade school! So that’s a new record of nightmares for me!”
Everyone bursts out laughing. Especially Twilight, who made this cute little pig snorted laugh. She planted a hoof on her snout to stop her from snorting too much.
“Hey come on stop laughing! It was really damn scary!”
“AHahahhah! L-language big bro language! A-and sorry sorry but… NNngghhh ahhahaha! Seriously you did not just wet the bed! Oh boy what did Cadence say?!” exclaimed Twilight.
“Ahhh… she didn’t go to bed that night. She was up late making arrangements to Staliongrad. I really wish she didn’t have to go. I think all this stress over her departure is what set off that horrible nightmare in the first place.”
“It couldn’t have been that bad! There was no way you would piss your sheets over a dream!” said High Five. “I mean come on, you are a full grown Stallion! AND captain of the guard at that!”
Way to hit it where it hurts.
“Come on… it was a real bad nightmare!” said Shining. “I was stuck in this gigantic hedge mage for about an hour! I’ve been chased by this rotting, smelling zombie who wanted to have my brains for lunch! The sky was always dark, always cloudy, with several other hedge mazes dotting the place! Now you can’t tell me that isn’t scary, especially when that zombie chasing you around the maze. Oh and the fact that I looked almost like a changeling and seeing other changelings also freaked me out. There’s no way that makes sense though! I can’t make any connections.”
Flash whistles and leans on his hoof. “woooow… now that IS scary. I always hated zombies myself. Deathly afraid of them! Spent all night watching them movies as a kid despite the fact my parents told me not to,” he said. “Morbid curiosity got the better of me and lemme tell you, I cried like a foal all night!”
They laughed again. The intensity slowly vanishing from the young stallion as he was able to laugh and talk it off. Cider Crush came around the table and poured Shining a refill. “And one from the house for the prince! Pray don’t let the nightmare get the best of you Shining. Dreams are dreams after all! It’s not like you could die from it.” She said and trotted her way to the next table.
“Crush is right Shining, you can’t let it get to ya like this,” said Twilight. “Maybe you should talk to cadence. Maybe all this stress has you over the edge that you conjured up this nightmare. I know a few good ponies who can help you if you still have them.” She taps her hoof. “hmmm maybe Zecora has a few potions for an easy bed rest.”
“Nah… I don’t think potions may work this time around. Ahhh anyways, are you guys doing anything today?”
High Five shrugs and leans back. “I’m staying here for a bit. I haven’t had my cider coffee yet. And besides, someone has to stop you from getting drunk on hard cider right?” He looks over at Twilight and Flash and smiles.
“Hahhaha. Knowing the dream he had I think you should stick around him Five. Anyways Flash and I are going on a date! I wanted to tell you sooner big bro but you were always so busy.”
Shining blinks a few times and slowly gazes over to Flash. The young orange colt started to blush, sheepishly reeling back into his seat in embarrassment. “Errr… well y-yeah… we are…” he said.
Shining Armor continued to stare at him for a bit. Then he lets out a sigh and shakes his head. “Errr… well… I guess I can allow it. I’m not in the mood to play the ‘overprotective big brother’ part this morning anyways.” He said with a laughter.
Flash sighs in relief and slouches on the chair. Twilight giggled and playfully pushes on Flash’s shoulder to get him to move. “We gotta go now Flash.” She said. “Celestia needs me for an urgent matter and I don’t want to keep her waiting!”
And just like that the two left with only Shining, High Five and Crush hanging around in the bar.
“So… Mr. Armor… have you seen the news?” he asked him.
“Ehhh not really, I don’t pay attention to much of the headlines these days.” He replied.
Five reached over and pulled a radio from the top counter by their table and tuned into the Crystal Times. At first it sounded nothing like rabble until it got to a rather peculiar part.
“Night terrors or foul play? A young colt by the name of Slouch, age twenty two was found this morning in a comatose state! The circumstances around his condition are peculiar at best! Crystal Police suspects that no use of magic was involved considering the condition of the room was spotless upon investigation. The windows were locked, and so was the door to his room! The colt’s mother made the call after her son refused to answer or open his door! At first glance the colt was suspected to be dead, but upon further examination he is very well alive. There is no cause yet and there are no signs of this being an attempted suicide. The police are stuck and some are calling forth a special investigator on the case! Some say the result could have been from a night terror which has become strangely common these past couple months.”
Night terrors? Comatose? Common? Shining Armor paid close attention to the radio. The whole circumstance around this was too coincidental. If he was fine the one night and ended up like a vegetable the next morning, what was the cause? Then he remembered his nightmare from last night. Maybe he wasn’t the only one who had it. If that’s true then how come he never saw him? All he saw was that changeling and only one pony could fit the description of his tint and mane. It couldn’t have been Flash though, but it couldn’t have been this other colt. Then it hit him, the other mazes in the sky! Maybe they had other ponies in them trapped in the maze?
Already he was sweating head to hoof. It was like the nightmare was happening all over again! It only took High Five to knock him out of his trance with a pat on his shoulder. “Hey are you okay?” he asked.
“Huh huh what?! What? Oh … oh I… actually… I don’t know… I think… I don’t know but I might have been in my predicament.” Said Shining.
“You mean the nightmare?”
“That’s what I am guessing. I don’t know Five but… I think I need another hard cider… or five.” Shining emerged from his seat and trotted over towards the counter. He waved towards Bernard, the owner of The Hard Blush for a few glasses. For the next few hours Shining drowned his worries away with hard cider, talking to passing byers until noon came. Soon in a drunken stupor, the horrors finally left his system. He was just about to leave the establishment until he was approached by a tall, cute, pink coated and blond mane mare.
“Room for one more?” she said in the cutest high pitch noise.
“This IS a counter you know? I don’t mean to be rude little missy but there are other stools here. Why bother yourself over a drunken mess like me?” he replied.
He turned to meet her gaze finally. She had a beautiful emerald color to her iris. It was oddly familiar. He was stuck on stupid, staring at her with such intense blush to his cheeks. She was a doll! Her voice broke his concentration. “I know but you looked like you could use the company!” she spoke and smiled.
Shining Armor smiled and gestured her a stool for her to sit. She hopped on without ease. She was a cute unicorn, if yet tall for someone of her stature. Maybe it was the drinks but he expected a girl like her to be… somewhat small. Then again there is Cadence who is pretty and pink.
“So what’s your name sweetie? My name is Shining Armor.” He spoke.
“Name’s Chrys! It’s nice to meet you Mr. Armor!”
