(Short Story Chronicles 3) Cracked Armor

by SaiyanUltima

Rating: teen
Tags: Romance, Princess Luna, Queen Chrysalis, Shining Armor, Princess Celestia, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Princess Cadance, Dark, Alternate Universe, Sad
Length: 10831

There are lies amongst friends and families, and they always hit the one who is lied to the hardest. Shining Armor is that victim, and now he wants nothing to do with them. He, especially, wants nothing to do with the mare he married.

We all know Shining Armor to be the hero that gets thrown around and beaten by the abnormal enemies of Equestria.

We know him to be the good guy that keeps going headstrong in a fight.

He's done it with Sombra.

He's done it with Tirek.

This new challenge, however, is going to be his most difficult one ever. He is alone and broken by the lies his friends and family have used to keep him in the dark.

Now that his loved one have brought the truth to the light, there are going to be consequences to lying about what has happened with Cadance' pregnancy.

Shining Armor is not going to understand for them. But they will understand this. . .

He is hurt.

He is angry.

He is done with his friends and family, especially Cadance.

Author Notes

Inspired by Zamairiac. Thank you by the way. :pinkiehappy:

A Semi-Dark Short Story to the alternate universe of Shining Armor and Cadance having a screw-up in their marriage. And by "Screw-Up" I mean they are both in the wrong of what has put the gap in their love.

No, there is no rape or gore in this story. The twist of their conflict, however, is going to be a little messed up.

Published 2015-09-10 06:20:02 UTC
Last updated 2015-10-15 21:03:13 UTC

Ch.1

Running from The Lies

My friends and family betrayed me.

There isn't another way to be so blunt with my statement.

It was all because of that bucking monster feeding them the sob story of her species on the verge of extinction. She manipulated them, thus took my only chance to have a family of my own.

I can never forgive her for this. I will never forgive my loved ones, not even my wife.

They did this to me!

Ever since I saw Cadance give birth to the egg, ever since I realized how much hatred I have for that bug. . .ever since I threw away my life, everything that makes me who I am has been shattered.

I should have known, I should have seen the signs, but I failed. How could I have been so blind by Cadance reason to not start a family?

. . .Why did she do this to me?

I guess I should start back to the day I found out my wife cheated on me. It was then that she and her fellow princesses drove me to the brink of exile. . .the one thing I never expected to do. I wished there was some other way to fix this. . .but there isn't.

No. . .no, there is no way to repair the damage that has been done. How could I possibly think that there is a way to make things right?

How could I have ever thought that my beloved wife was actually a skilled deceiver when it came to such drastic measures?

Why did she do this to me?

. . .

I opened my eyes to find myself lying in front of the fire I made a few hours ago. Looking at my satchel I counted the remainder of my rations, torturing myself with how little I have.

"I have to be past the borders of Equestria by nightfall or the princesses will have gained enough ground to block my route."

I slowly clambered to my hooves and began packing my stuff sluggishly, feeling just how exhausted I was from the long day of running.

Geez. . .Should've waited drinking the last of my whiskey when I got past the border. . ."

As I put the fire out and waited for the first bit of Celestia's sunlight to come over the horizon, I quickly realized there was no wildlife moving around me. I could not hear a single twig or leaf crunching underneath an animal. There was no wind, and I just slept through the nastiest gusts. There should be something.

In fact as I listened for the first sound of the Mist Forest I quickly concluded there was powerful magic approaching me. By powerful I mean it had me fighting for breath.

But there was a big problem to that. . .

The one releasing so much magic had her eyes on me. She watched in the darkness as I controlled my breathing. I had never felt this much power ignite in a pony, but this is a bucking goddess I'm talking about. She has enough magic to wipe out an entire city and not break a sweat doing it.

I knew I was in trouble, but I had to fight back. I had to get away from her before the others follow her trail.

That had to be the reason why she was crushing me with her magic pressure, to signal the others that she has found me.

All of a sudden I heard multiple voices screaming "the princess has found him." But before I could do anything, a small cage of yellow energy fell over me and shrunk to where I had little breathing space.

The maker of this cage stepped into the light of the sun. . .her sun. She looked sad. . .conflicted. . .but that cannot be right. She had no sadness for when my heart was broken by her and every one of those bucking traitors I call my friends and family.

The alicorn noticed me struggling to break free, her angelic voice irritating me.

"Shining Armor, just stop this already." she whispered, her voice balanced between disappointment and anger.

"Buck you," I concentrated all of my magic into the one spell she would never expect me to have mastered. "I'm not going back to the Crystal Empire, nor Canterlot. If you want me to go back YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO KILL ME!"

Her eyes widened in shock at this, but before she could say or do something else I found my focus point at the highest peek of the forest and pulled myself towards it. My body felt as if it were on fire when I broke down into millions of particles and reanimated myself at the hill. If it wasn't for the many years of enduring pain I would have screamed like a filly.

"Twilight told me teleportation is easy, but that bucking hurt!"

I leapt up from the dry mud I landed in and shook my body of the tingling that came with teleporting. My stomach felt as if somepony twisted it into knots. I wanted to throw up, but everyone saw me just now. Twilight and her friends. Princess Luna. Spike. . .

Even her. . .

"Shiny!" Cadance screamed while taking flight, her horn sparkling a deep blue as she chanted.

Before she could lay out a rune that would ensnare me, I aimed and unleashed a heavy kinetic force spell that knocked the wind out of her, her eyes widening as I took this moment to run deeper into the Mist Forest.

Upon hearing Cadance scream in pain I felt my chest compress and my heart collapse in shame. I vowed to never harm the love of my life, I swore to Celestia that I would never cause her niece any pain. It was the only thing I had left to call myself a good stallion. I could not protect anyone from our enemies, not even my own sister. And now I have nothing for honor.

I hurt my wife. . .No, I hurt the mare that hurt me. I made her feel what it is like to have lost again what was so close to your grasp that you can almost feel it snuggling in your hooves. I made her feel my pain.

"Shining, please stop!" somepony screeched through the forest. "We did not mean to hurt you!"

All of them were possibly horrified or disgusted for my assault on Cadance, but she deserved it.

I know that is wrong of me to say, but she really deserved it.

They seemed to snap out of their bewilderment when I turned away and ran over the hill to my next destination. As if some mystical force took over my body, every fiber of my being accelerated and did not stop; even though I was thinking differently, something was making this happen.

I ran and never looked back, because that would show weakness.

"G-gotta get to t-the border," I stammered between deep breaths. "If-if I can reach t-the border I-I will be home free. Celestia and L-Luna will not dare cross borders to retrieve me."

All of the daylight was quite blinding as I darted around trees and bushes. I felt my eyes dry out with each second of the mountain wind and sunlight burning in them without mercy.

"Where? Where is the town?" I asked myself, trying my utmost to stay focused and calm.

"Shining Armor, cease your running at once." As if I ever needed to guess who that is. I looked to my right for a surprise attack by the Princess of Night. She dove through the trees with her magic flared, her eyes burning with anger.

"She sure is persistent. Celestia chose her right for this." I slid under a broken tree, dodging Luna's sweeping tackle to my side. I'm not sure what happened next, but the best way to describe it is the blue alicorn said many foul things to herself, while pounding the ground with her hoof.

If I didn't know any better I would say she is having a tantrum.

"On second thought, maybe she should have chosen someone else to chase me."

The screaming died in the distance and I aimed for the clearing ahead of me. Heavens be with me at this moment.

"I'm almost there, just need a little more time and I'll be—" I broke off when I leapt through the opening, before skidding across the ground to what must be the most shocking moment in my entire life.

I grimaced at the swords and spears pointed directly at me and watched as their commanding officer dove in front of me, wearing my old armor in front me.

"How dare he!"

"Shining, surrender now and come back to the Crystal Empire, quietly." Flash Sentry demanded. He tried to approach me with most of Canterlot's guard backing me into Celestia and fellow pursuers, but one glare from me and a deeply infused channel of hatred and magic was enough to make them stop dead in their tracks.

Flash, however, was unfazed by this revelation. It wouldn't surprise me, though. He has seen enough of it to be fearless.

"Dark Magic," he whispered, almost as if he were disappointed. "What will you do next?"

"Move—" I lowered my horn as it seethed with the rage of my marriage being a lie. "—Or I will show you why I was the most talented combatant in the Royal Guard."

"Then I am sorry, but we have orders to bring you back. . . even if it means breaking every bone in your body. . ."

Just as they were about rush me, the color of true magic shifted into a hazy aura of red and black and grasped every guard by their manes. I lifted them into the air and compressed their weapons to dust, causing them to gasp before scream in agony. I threw them in different directions. Flash experienced the worst of it, though. His right wing went crashing into a boulder and flexed backwards.

I could hear the bones crunch and pop as he fell to the ground screaming in agony. His other wing folded tightly in the cut of his armor and his eyes dilated, just as they should in that circumstance. I am certain that his wing is broken in multiple places, although the given response indicated that.

I am not the kind of stallion to enjoy the pain of others, but this pathetic excuse of a captain was somewhat enjoyable in the perspective I am seeing. Flash Sentry had asked Twilight's hoof in holy matrimony just weeks ago, and she was the main reason Cadance kept secrecy about giving birth to a Changeling.

This is not Dark Magic corrupting me. This is pure revenge for having my marriage twisted into a lie right after I devoted my life to that cheating horse. I love my sister with all my heart, and I could never take my rage out on her.

Flash Sentry, however, is a different story. He's a male, and I can inflict Twilight with pain by hurting someone close to her. . .Just like she did by suggesting Cadance to lie about her pregnancy.

"That felt a little good," I whispered, before turning away to resume my escape. "But I don't have time to get even. I'm on a tight schedule."

I took the momentary silence to catch my breath and keep the Dark Magic under my control, only to have it give me another sharp headache.

"Twilight," Flash screamed through his pain. Surprising, really. "He's over here, hurry!"

I merely stood there for a moment. . .before leaving a fake magic trail and sprinting to my destination.

The only train that leads out of Equestria, Mist Mountain Express.

Leaving those bastards to writhe was more than enough to have the princesses and element wielders stop long enough for me to get out of the forest. But how long would it be before I'm found again?

How long did I have until she found me?

Would I ever have peace, or will she pursue me to the ends of the planet?

And so I ran as fast as I could, never looking back to see if anypony ignored the injured to keep me in their sight. Thankfully the only thing pursuing me is the wind nipping my neck.

Or so I thought. . .

"Shining!"

The clearing darkened to what had to have been Luna's magic ensnaring me into some sort of illusion. The world went black and my hooves slowly froze in place, causing me to stumble against a tree. I was neither afraid or nervous of Luna, but this was not a good sign. Hence why I stopped running.

Unfortunately it was not Luna.

I spun to my attacker. My horn flared ever so slightly with the darkness as I saw the pink pony use her power to set runes around us. She was still as beautiful as ever, but I could not see that beauty the same way I do about her appearance. On the inside, in my eyes, she was nothing more than an ugly horse that has taken my heart and shattered it.

And that is why I CAN love and hate her at the same time.

She looked surprised when my horn curled and sharped, blazing in dark colors when I released my hatred again. She was hurt by this, even more than when she mistakenly dumped me in high school for false rumors and yet the slightest twitch in my glare was all it took for her to know how furious I am.

The Alicorn snapped out of her runic chanting and lost control of the atmosphere when I snarled at her. Light returned as she unfurled her wings and took a step forward with my our wedding bands on her hoof.

"Shining, don't. . .don't do this," she requested, tears in her eyes as she slowly approached. "Don't leave me. Please come home."

She looked desperate when I increased the flare and aimed at her chest. Then again, I would probably be the same way if my spouse threatened me.

"I have no home!" I growled, launching a small beam that just grazed the side of her mane. "I have no home with you or anypony in this bucked up family, just myself!"

"That is not true," she yelled, heartache and disbelief obvious in her expression as eyes watered. "You have an empire that needs you and a beautiful wife that wants you to come back home with her."

"No, I do not!" I barked. "You are not my wife, because I refuse to let you lie and deceive me anymore!"

"Dark Magic," she whispered, before approaching. "Shining, you've allowed your hatred to take hold on your magic. You're ill."

Before she could take another step towards me, I shoved her back with another kinetic force spell and sealed our distance with a dome of my own, burying myself in this corrupted magic as she slid across the ground, fighting to stay on her hooves.

"I am not ill, you cheating horse!" I screamed. "Now get the buck out of my way before I get really angry!"

I threw another kinetic spell at Cadance, but she strafed to the right and lowered her horn. Love Magic was obviously about to happen, but I know better than to let that garbage hit me. I know better than to let her attack, because my magic, light or dark, will not stop it.

It was only once I recharged my core that I fazed through my barrier and threw it at her. The beam she used shot through the hollow ball but failed to touch me, for I was faster than her.

I somersaulted to the left and teleported behind Cadance, using the dirt under my hooves as an added distraction. She had no way to dodge both without giving me another chance to get away. There were only two options to this: Block the shallow barrier or get out of the way.

Either way, my escape is inevitable.

"Shini—" I did not have to look back to understand why Cadance went silent. She was foolish enough to turn from the attack and try stopping me.

She screamed "My eyes!", and then screeched after my attack hit her in the back, causing her to fall directly into a shrub that is full of thorns. Disgust fills my stomach as I look from the corner of my eye to see her standing up with tears washing out the dirt.

"Stop!" she tries to charge me, but the thorns have her tail and mane tangled. "Wha—NO! Don't you dare move, Shining Armor!"

I leave the Alicorn to untangle herself, knowing this will be the last time we see eachother.

"Goodbye. . .Cadenza."

"Shining, wait!" is all I hear in the distance, before embracing the shadows of the mountainside. "Shining. . .SHINING!"

***

Mist Mountain Express

I threw my belongings against the wall and crashed with little care of other ponies hearing me, although I should take into consideration the colts and fillies around me that are scared to see angry I am.

Colts and Fillies. . .Foals. . .Little Ones. . .

I shut the door to my room and locked it before anyone could bother me about my ill behavior. They can buck off for all I care. None of them know the nightmare that is my life.

"Freedom," I whisper, smiling for the first time in days.

I curled under the blanket as fast as I could and reached for the newest edition of the Weapons Informer Magazine, finding where I left off in the Longsword Section.

I actually felt my exciting compelling me to buy one of these babies when I get into the Gryphon Kingdom. A Longsword is an odd choice for a stallion like me, but it is something I've always wanted to own since I saw my commanding officer use one during the breakout in Tartarus.

I'll never forget how General Blackfire cut down Tirek by taking away his horns. She should have been the mare I married, but, unfortunately, she is in a relationship with Princess Luna.

"Filly Fooler,"

The thought of her sweating in armor carried me to relaxation and another place I will not explain. It helped me get over having to run and fight for my freedom.

"I'm finally done," I told myself, but it wasn't as easy as letting go.

Exile is an easy thing to do when you nothing to live for, but my current situation has plenty of reason for me to rethink about my decision. That, however, would just take me back to the one thing I do not want to feel.

. . .A Broken Heart

And of course I have to torture myself with the not so fond memory of this all starting back at home.

"Why can't things just be simple?" I asked myself.

. . .

Cadance told me during our teenage years that she was not going to live forever unless I am there for her. She could not go a day without me at her side. Father Time would never claim her, and it would never claim me if I devoted myself to her, we would still exist in the eternity that her aunts said would be hard when I die.

There was so much heartache and anger when Cadance was denied the spell that would make me immortal. It was the first time I ever heard her say she hates Celestia.

But, thanks to a little thing called negotiations, we got what we wanted out of this deal. Sure it was a pain in the flank to have Celestia tell my parents what is going to happen, but everything turned out okay. Mom was upset at first; at least for twenty minutes.

Binding her magic with mine is what Celestia called it.

But I was furious to find out the bargain we agreed to was ended by that bug.

I had lost my one chance to have a family with Cadance. We spend years planning this out, and that thing ruined it all with her inability to die off.

Would I have understood if the princesses told me straight away what needs to happen?

Not at first, but I would have considered giving up my chance to build family. Yes, yes I would have let this happen. I would have given Chrysalis the opportunity to rebuild her species.

But now I have nothing, she had stolen it from me. I felt sick to my stomach. I could not look at my wife the same way.

And in that moment. . .I lost myself to rage.

There were Crystal Guards circling me, but no one tried to stop me. Everyone was here when I threw my ring at Cadance. . .and her aunts just stood there to hear me, to feel how much of a pair of failures they truly are to making things right.

"I have waited for us to have a foal for years, but you decide to sacrifice your embryos to Chrysalis so she can have a daughter!?" I yelled furiously. "Did you ever think that maybe this is something worth telling me!?"

Cadance was already in enough pain from having an egg fall out of her loins. But upon hearing my words and seeing the ring land in the blood she produced, whatever pain she had left seemed to have died.

"I know this upsets you, my love, but let me explain myself!" Cadance begged at the edge of her bed, frightened tears dripping into the bloody sheets upon picking up the ring with her magic. "Shining, I am sorry for doing this to you. But there is still a way for us to have a family. We can adopt a colt or a filly!"

"No, I have to preserve the family name!" I replied scathingly. "I told my father that I would give him and mom a colt or a filly. I promised them a grandfoal. But that is not going to happen because you gave up our chance to have a foal to that sadistic horse!"

"Shining Armor," Celestia said sternly as I turned around, not just to pack my things but also leave this country to find out the hard way what has happened. "You have every right to be angry with us, but being foolish will not fix anything."

"Foolish!?" I barked. "You're one to talk about being foolish. You're the one who was too stupid to see how lonely Luna was when you reigned over Equestria as the most loved pony. Buck, you can't even prevent a disaster from happening, so you send my sister into perils that can kill her. And you're insinuating that I am being foolish!"

Celestia did not say a word after that. She just stood there, a disappointed look adorning her face.

What for?

Who has disappointed her?

Me?

Cadance?

Herself?

Who cares. . .

"Shining I beg of you, don't go!" Cadance pleaded desperately. "I swear to you I will fix this. I will use as much magic as needed to give you a foal. I'll fix myself. I'll give you a son or daughter, just please give me a second chance!"

There it is. . .that idea of fixing our problems by giving me whatever I want.

Well not today.

It was incredible when we were high school students falling in love with one another more and more on a daily basis, but after growing up I began to realize how much it affected me. I felt like some dumb puppy that can have his frustration quelled with a treat. We never fought, just argued every so often. But whenever there was argument between Cadance and I there was a bed to suffer our love-making in the end.

I should have stopped it when I still had time.

I felt Twilight's wing trying to gently curl around my leg, but after grasping the cold fact that I can never have foals with Cadance I pushed her away and ignored Cadance' sobs.

"Shining, please!" Twilight cried. If anyone suffered the most out of this. . .Twilight was the one. "We're sorry for hiding the truth. We just wanted to—"

"Don't talk to me, you lying, backstabbing, pampered brat!" I growled hatefully, throwing the birthday gift she gave me, a new crown, to her. "You are the same as everyone in here. And that make you dead to me!"

After seeing Twilight fall to her haunches and sob to Celestia, I went to my room, packed my things, and planned my leave for the middle of Luna's night. It was best and only part moment to leave this deceitful family.

Night guards lazing around on their patrols.

Everyone is asleep.

Perfect.

In all honesty I had thought to have been in the clear when I reached the border of the Crystal Empire . . .but after Cadance' screech across Equestria.

"SHINIIIING!"

"She must have woken up early!"

The many sounds of ponies to find me was almost frightening. I could hear the crystal armor of those I trained clanking and scraping across the meadow as I ran for the woods.

Day after day passed me by with no rest, relaxation, or a moment to breathe without someone finding me. I could feel Cadance and the others closing in on my location every night. And having camp set up was not the best idea.

Luckily I had one advantage that no one, not even Celestia herself, can use against me.

Surviving on so little.

. . .

"Room Service," I heard on the other side of my door, knocks in the background of her voice.

And so I stood up and approached the door, hoping that maybe this untidy junker of a train will at least have tolerable food. I sighed deeply into the window and turned the knob as she repeated "Room Service" with a deeper tone.

Clearly I was supposed to respond by yelling back, but what's the point?

I've yelled enough already, so I might as well open the door and tell her to go away.

"Keep your bonnet on," I grunted, before opening the door. "I'm here now, but I don't want anything. So would you please—"

I barely managed to blink before the mare in front of me threw her hoof to my cheek. I gasped as the redness stung and she barged into my room, locking it with green magic.

Wait. . .green magic?

She couldn't have been more than two feet away from me when her eyes flashed a deep hazel and her body was engulfed in flames.

She glared at me and hissed ever so slightly, before pushing me onto the bed.

"You really are the biggest moron in Equus, you know?" she barked.

I had to grit my teeth in order to stop myself from flinching at the pain.

"Chrysalis!" I growled, seething with fury as she sat next to me.

"It's your fault Cadance had to give birth to my egg," she said mockingly, shaking her head in disappointment as those reached me. "But I guess you're like all stallions, ignorant and full of themselves."

I blinked in uncertainty. "My fault?"

With slight anger in her voice she slid closer to me and hissed. To my relief it was only a hiss and not a bite my neck or some sort of hypnotic spell, and so I glared at her, confusedly.

Only to freeze when she pointed at the door and giggled like the monster she is.

"Did you really think you could escape us?" she mused.

I turned to the door, and my eyes widened in shock of the many eyes looking through the window.

"Are you bucking kidding me?" I asked angrily, before punching the wall.

"Cadance has you tracked very easily—" Chrysalis scooted closer. "—But I'm not here to help them drag you back to the Crystal Empire. I'm here to let you know that running away is stupid, because Cadance giving birth to my egg is entirely your fault."

"My fault!?" I snapped. "How is it my fault that cheating horse popped out your disgusting egg out of her marehood!?"

Ultimately my anger got the best of me and I stood up to finish this abomination off with everything I have. But, as always in my life, the answer stops me before I make that move.

"It's very simple," Chrysalis quipped. Suddenly her playful attitude turned into a foul nature of ill intention, a scowl that made me cringe on the inside. Her hooves moved to the alcohol shelf to my right, and she poured herself a glass. "You, you stupid dolt, killed my children and my ability to reproduce."

End of Chapter One

Author's Note

Just so we are clear on what this is about.

This chapter is just a little something that's been eating me away for a little while. I've been trying to find a way to write this but never could because of my current situation.

But I have it done now, so I hope enjoyed this chapter.

And yes. . .Damn me and my cliffhanging! (Evil Laughter) :trollestia:

Ch. 2

Author's Note

First and most important to this story, because he made me into the writer I am today. A big thanks goes out to Zamairiac for the inspiration to this story and giving me so many pointers to proper writing, in the past.

Thank you, again. And for every reader who has stuck with me so faithfully, thank you for being the fuel to my writing. If it wasn't for everyone's support, criticism, whether good or bad, I doubt I would continue writing.

I mean let's face fact. If I hardly get feedback I would probably give up. But that is not happening because I have so many comments and followers reading and commenting on my work and it helps so much.

Love you Bronies and Pegasisters out there. Love you like family.

Now I know it will be strange to you when you finish chapter two, but unique and strange is the way I like to write. Don't worry though, there is a reason to the flow I am using for this story.

As for those asking about the ending being good or bad, I cannot tell you. You will just have to wait for every chapter.

Hope you enjoy this chapter. Leave a comment of positive or negative feedback when you finish; even if it is something coming directly from your mind, let me know. All criticism is welcome.

Now onto the next story before my medication tires me out.

Stay Pony :raritywink:

Ch. 2

What I Want . . .

It's your fault. . .

It's your fault. .

It's your fault.

I still cannot veer from those words, not in the slightest. I've been in this room for days now, and she has already been given shelter with her egg. I want to lose my sanity over this, yet I cannot slip from reality like I want. I am spurred by those words Chrysalis said in the cart. I am clinging to them as though my life depends on it.

But why? Why do I hold onto those words when the entire situation should be the focus point of my life?

I stared desperately towards my freedom and sighed at the edge of the crystal window, bright magic washing over for another day. My mind wandered aimlessly for the answer that I am starting to believe will never come.

What did I do to deserve all of this?

I tapped the barrier for my own amusement, causing the slightest disruption to spark against my hoof. It was all I could do for entertainment, she took away my magic and all forms of communication to the outside world. Mom and Dad probably don't know of the current situation and probably never will. The last thing anyone in this bucked up family wants is for the news to spread across Equestria; at least that is what they do not desire.

If it was me, I'd be throwing everyone under the carriage right now. I'd throw them under it, jam the wheels, and then leave without batting an eye. I have every right to ruin the princesses, because they ruined me.

I suddenly heard the door open and close very quietly, though as I ignored whoever entered my dungeon and tapped the barrier again, I shrugged the smooth hoof trailing my back.

A short whisper drew my hearing, but it did not grasp my attention.

"You haven't eaten in two days, my love."

I pushed away the plate to my right and continued to look outside the Crystal Ponies, hoping she would understand I do not want to see or speak to her. And 'my love'. . .Peh! I doubt I am that anymore; if I was her love I would not be a prisoner in my own home. I would not be enduring the torture of never having a foal of my own. I would NOT be watching Chrysalis walk through the streets every morning with Celestia and Luna at her sides as protection.

Bucking cowardly crystal ponies. This is your empire, your home, so do us all a favor and destroy that monster!

. . .

Who am I kidding? I can barely bring out the courage in some guards. I have a better chance getting struck by lighting than getting Cadance to rid this world of Changelings.

"You cannot ignore this forever Shining," the bane of my life groaned in annoyance. "You know you'll have to accept sooner or later."

"Buck off, princess." I growled angrily. . .or as angry as I could knowing the ring would shock me at the slightest hint of magic; and with my emotions connected to my magic so strongly, well. . . I'm bucked.

She tried to soften me with a kiss and hug before I stood up to gain my distance.

I was already on the verge of losing my own mind after being dragged back to the Crystal Empire; why is it so hard for to realize that our marriage is destroyed? Why does she keep trying when I am done!?

"I can't fix it if you don't open up to me," she whispered sadly. "So please let me help. I love you and I want us to resume our life together as happy as possible."

I cringed in disgust at her gentle breath against my ear but remained stern and pushed her away. Nothing felt more satisfying than to hear that horse gasp when I denied her my kiss.

I saw in the reflection of the next window Cadance tensing up with intense emotional pain, before clenching her teeth to fight it with everything she has. She then breathed deeply and stared at me hurtfully.

"I'm sorry," she whimpered pathetically.

I could feel the neutral expression I just regained twist into many emotions at those words. A part of me should have been bracing for the emotional, sobbing alicorn begging at my hooves for me to give her a second chance, but any kindness and understanding I had for Cadance flew out the window when I found out Chrysalis and her had an egg.

Tears should be falling—No, pouring down my muzzle as I stood with my back turned to the princess. I should feel something equivalent to a broken heart, something other than anger. This betrayal, however, has taken so much out of me and destroyed so many good things I had about Cadance. I can't look at her the same way. I can't even look at her long enough to flood her with insults and the demand for a divorce. Looking at her brings nothing but more pain and misery.

I am truly disgusted with my own wife, and I want to hurt her. Yes, I want to make her feel helpless and terrible for cheating on me with that stupid bug. I want to find a fertile mare and impregnate her in front of Cadance, just so she knows the foal will be mine and never hers.

I want to make her suffer.

Every memory of us seemed to die slowly inside me. Every moment of us kissing, every time we snuck into eachothers rooms and slept together, even the night of our honeymoon, it felt like Tartarus collapsing over my heart before crushing it.

In the middle of these unbearable memories I could see in reflection my wife approaching me for another attempt.

Her weak smile. . . Buck, it pisses me off so much. I despise that she has the audacity to smile after sacrificing our one chance of having a family to a bug that needs to die. It's only a matter of time before the Changelings invade again! And when they do, when they succeed the second time, I'll be far away while she and those traitors embrace their new lives as love slaves.

Hah. . .If Celestia thinks I will save the day a second time with my shield, then she has another thing coming. After all of this, the only pony I will be protecting my shield is myself. No one deserves my protection, not even my sister.

I became aware of these thoughts and wondered if maybe dark magic has affected me in some way. Even when our fights were at their worst I would never dream of pulling a single hair off Cadance. The very idea of hurting my mare when she infuriates me would sicken my stomach. But now. . .I feel nothing.

That's not all. I incapacitated Flash Sentry and shattered his wing when he pursued me. He'll never fly the same because of me, and Twilight is so heartbroken that she hasn't come by to give me a simple 'hello'. I haven't seen hoof or tail of that filly since she helped her fellow monarchs drag me back here.

Did I really hurt her that much with my words?

Have I really become corrupted to the point of hurting my own sibling?

. . .

No. No, I'm not twisted or corrupted. If I was I would be like Sombra already, but I'm not. I'm just furious with everyone. I'm so hurt and angry my only desire is to never see them again.

It is not my fault Cadance had Chrysalis' egg. I may be in the wrong of poisoning that monster's children with my hatred, but she had it coming. She tried to kill Cadance and Twilight, hypnotize me as a food source until I wither away, and overthrow Celestia for supremacy, so she got she deserved in the long run.

I did what any good captain would do for the sake of his friends and family. I destroyed an enemy that will not stop fighting. I weighed my back with the bloodshed of hundreds if not thousands of changelings. I committed genocide on the day of my wedding, and I will do it again if I must.

They just don't realize it and, probably, never will, because the desperation of one Changeling will soften the weak of their judgment, just like it did with the princesses.

I was so sick of hearing Cadance speak to me. Her voice should be a calming balm, a numbing agent to the agony I feel in my chest, but every word right now is a venom my heart cannot withstand. I just want her to leave me alone.

I cannot stop her talking though. I can only ignore her as much as I can.

Heh. . . Maybe all of this ignoring will give me some sort mental ability to tune her out. That would be the best gift fate can give me. I can picture myself in a world of silence as everyone around me tries to get my attention.

I laughed quietly at such a thought, ignoring the brief glow of dark magic in my bloodshot eyes.

Oh yeah, that's right. . . I haven't slept in days. I've been staying awake to keep the pink manipulator from sleeping with me.

After what had to have been a good ten minutes of silence she would attempt getting close in any way possible. This is where I am stuck between shoving the horse across the room or giving her the better of the doubt with a simple hug and kiss, but that is what a good husband does.

Me on the other hoof though. . .

"Don't touch me," I growled lowly to her, slapping the wing that almost locked around my chest as her lips came into brief contact with the back of my head. I could hear the short gasp become a whimper at this moment. "You do not get to touch me, Cadenza."

Yes, let that strike you home, although you deserve more than just a few harsh words.

"Shining. . ." she whimpered and swiftly wiped her tears with the tip of her wings, sobs escaping her shaky breath while I glared out to the world. A part of me did feel a little bad for that one, but she had it coming. "Baby, please let me—"

"Let you what!?" I hissed venomously, curving my glare to her through the corner of my eye. She flinched at the sight of my eyes being their new demonic look—that being known by said reflection in the window. "What exactly is there for you to do, Cadenza? What can you possibly do to fix this clusterbuck you started with that filthy maggot!?"

The Princess of Love herself was greatly shocked by response as it echoed beautifully in the room, something both of us found to be a little frightening before my pupils returned to normal. I have to say this is by far the boldest thing I have done to her. Speaking so ill about her and that bug is surprising of myself, because I do not tell, imply, or insinuate to anypony what it is I have on my mind. Not even my own father knew of the problems I had as I kid. I've always. . .bottled it up.

Cadance came close getting me to open up when we were teenagers, but that was during the loss of my grandfather.

Yeah. . . a long time ago.

I've yet to take my eye off the alicorn as she stands from a distance with her wings covering her eyes. She was barely restraining herself from tackling me to force the matter of her apology—that much I am certain of from past experience. If Cadance is known for one thing, it's her inability to accept someone being mad or hurt by her. She cannot stand the idea of being at fault for something.

Geez, come to think of it. Fluttershy is tougher than her. At least she stays strong when there are problems.

Maybe I should have married her instead?

"Why are you being such a mule?" she asks in pity, about to receive the worst of me. She started glaring, but those big, beautiful eyes cannot intimidate anything. "I've done everything but have you make love with me every night. Why do you force us to keep you locked in this room."

"You know why I am like this!" I yelled hatefully, stomping a hoof to the crystal ground so hard it cratered. This made Cadance yelp and alarm the other princesses. I could see her horn. "Celestia-dammit, you cheated on me, Cadance! You cheated on me with that bug and destroyed our chance to have a family!"

"I did what must be done to save an entire species!" she yelled, anger finally showing through the sorrow as braved a step forward. "I made a sacrifice that I knew would devastate us both, but I am the only one that could do it!"

"Celestia or Luna could have done it," I argued, thrusting my hooves to the very door those two locked with their divine power. "And you're telling me that the only pony in this family that could save the Changeling race is you!?"

"Yes, only me," she nodded furiously. "Because my egg was fertile and ripe for use. Celestia and Luna lost are too old and Twilight is too young to carry a foal—let alone an egg. It would die with either of them, or it would kill Twilight!"

I was already shaking from hearing her aunts' names come into the conversation. No matter how hard I try to be still, I don't think a freeze spell could stop my body. I feel so angry and betrayed by her, but it would seem that in her eyes I am the bad guy.

Pfft. . .yeah, right. I haven't done a bucking thing wrong here.

"Th-then you should not have done it!" I stammered slowly. "You should have come to me first. I would have understood if we had a foal first and waited next year for her to implant your body with her last egg!"

Cadance took another step forward, yet quickly as though she depended on having me back.

"Why?" she uttered in panic. "Why can't you just let this go and accept that we will never have a foal?"

"Because you went against everything to our marriage. You lied to me. You went behind my back and gave yourself to Chrysalis. I have been trying to convince you about having a foal for months; and here you decide to have a bug with that witch."

"Well maybe I didn't want a foal with you!"

. . .

My mind went to work at an incredible pace to comprehend what she just screamed at the top of her lungs. I'd understood that we needed time and patience to have ourselves a colt or filly, but this was too much to handle.

I watched as the anger inside her eyes died completely and the scowl on her face shrunk to a frightening expression of calmness. She looked at me as though we never knew one another and sighed deeply. And what did I do? I backed into the wall and fell to my haunches from the shock of her words and the fear of what she is about to say.

I could not believe her.

Was this the same Cadance that married me years ago?

Is the same Cadance at all?

If it is not, then please, somepony wake me up from this nightmare!

"I never wanted us to have a foal in the first place," Cadance said in a low tone, her gaze never leaving mine as she took one careful step at a time. "I never wanted to have a foal because of the pain that comes with giving birth. Celestia said it is ten times more painful than a normal mare giving birth, and I did not want that."

I stopped trying to speak or make out what the buck is happening. . . It became so painful and heavy to hear these words where I had no choice but to shove my hooves against my ears, my life shattering into a billion pieces from the suffering she just put me through.

I looked down and realized I was lying in the corner with a puddle in front of me, something I actually found to be as shocking as her words. I sobbed. . . No, I was whimpering to myself and shaking my head in denial without knowing it. I was rocked to the point of tears trickling down my snout, near the edge of what has to be breakdown.

And like always. . .Cadance came to the rescue.

She always knew when tears are escaping me so quickly there was the fact of a mental breakdown about to happen. It did the first time we broke up, because she used my rank as a guard to make a fool out of me in front of everypony. I can still hear that horrible day, how my so-called best friend made a bunch of lies to get to Cadance. I don't think I ever felt so destroyed when she made me lose my position and had me dishonorably discharged for untrue reasons.

Heh. . . There is no good description to the amount Cadance went to after she found out the truth. How many months did it take for her to convince me to take her back and accept being reinstated to the Royal Guard as a First Class Sergeant?

Six Month? Eight? Nine?

Yeah, nine was the total of months. I had a nice friend at the time, a nice farm girl in Sweet Apple Acres. But that stallion came by and snatched her up before I could ask her out.

Who am I kidding though? Those two made a happy life together and had three awesome foals. I just wish that it was me instead of that stallion.

Come to think of it, I wonder if Applejack still believes her parents are in heaven. Dang, if she knew they were alive, and that it was me who forced Granny Smith to keep it a secret, she would hang me by my tail and beat my face in with a stick.

Ah, it doesn't matter. They'll be back in two years to make good with their kids. I just hope whatever trouble they made doesn't follow them to—

"Shining, talk to me please."

I woke up from remembering the past to Cadance having her hooves wrapped tightly around my chest, pulling me to her lips. I felt her tongue slither its way into my mouth softly, softly hums echoing from hers and into my head.

She then began to slide one hoof down my side, slowly, gently. . . desperately.

It was poisoning. . . yet relaxing to my aching muscles. Maybe this was the real Cadance I married seven years ago, and I am just letting myself be eaten by my hatred for Chrysalis.

Why do I feel so calm all of a sudden?

I. . . I should be furious and disgusted of my wife.

Strangely I pushed to her mouth and fell over with me being on top and rubbed where no other mare has rubbed been privileged before, Cadance' beautiful voice echoing in my mind, lulling every negative emotion to sleep as her hoof directed me elsewhere.

I suppose I should kick my own flank for being such a weak stallion.

Buck. . . Can I even call myself a stallion after this?

"I'm sorry for hurting you so much, my love." she whispered erotically, her teeth sinking onto my ear as the folds of her nethers winked over my head. "I promise I'll let you do anything to me. I'll even let you put it in my plothole."

"Cadance. . ." I broke off at her body scooting under me where the first inch sunk into her winking flower.

I wanted to. . .I . . .Oh Tartarus!

"We can adopt a colt or a filly," she moaned while thrusting her lower half to engulf more of my arousal. I had yet to move a single inch towards her. I feel so. . . stuck. "Or we can adopt as many babies as you want. We can still be parents."

Cadance left to moaning in my ear, leaving me to think between forgiving her now or after I fill her lifeless womb with my seed, although I highly doubt that she would stay like this for much longer. Eventually she bucked so hard from the floor her hind legs wrapped around my back and our stomachs touched, but my length was not entirely inside her. There was still quite a bit to go.

"Shiny, stop thinking about it and make love to your wife." she begged quietly, guards talking on the other side of the doors.

I remained in place with shaky hooves and my conscience fading away quickly to the wonderful sensation of sex. I was so close to ravaging Cadance I snorted.

There must have been seconds of terrible thinking when I came so close to ramming her marehood with all of my weakened might. I could feel her insides vice onto me and twitch with anticipation, but not for as long as I had expected. There were voices screaming in my head to just let go and make her pay with endless love making, and I was so close to listening without hesitation.

But something stopped me from making this mistake. . . It cried to me. Spoke to me. Screamed at me and . .

Daddy!

I remembered imagining a son or daughter calling me that and watched in the back of my mind as it burned aflame in green and pink. The imagery of the foal I will never have wailed in its own voice, scratching and clawing at my brain with everything it has. I could hear that newborn crying in the background of Chrysalis' laughter.

To my surprise the girth Cadance longed for went soft in an instant, but remained inside as she waited for me. I opened my eyes and gasped at her. At the audacity to seduce me. To . . . manipulate me again with her body and her words of promise.

Cadance merely looked up to me and realized my soft member retreating from her, albeit begrudgingly from the look in her eyes, released her hind legs from back. She looked afraid as the lust and love in my eyes were dragged back into the darkness and replaced with fury and rage.

"Shining. . ." she reached up to kiss me, but found herself pushed firmly to floor by my hoof.

"You tried to make me forget about it." I hissed dangerously, forcing her hooves off my chest with my own. "How dare you try and seduce me into forgetting what you have done. How dare you, Mi Amore Cadenza."

The massive shock in her eyes hardened to terror when I stepped over her without regret. She rolled onto her stomach and stood up, fluids still dripping rapidly from her legs while I jumped onto the bed. Somehow I found a new emotion flowing through me as the alicorn smiled weakly.

"Shining, baby, I was perfectly fine with making love on the floor." she began kindly. I cannot believe what I just heard. Is there no sense of wrong in her mind!? "But if you want to do it on the bed—"

"Get out." I pointed towards the door and threw the food tray at it. "Get the buck out right now, princess."

Those words almost made Cadance break into tears, but she did have some dignity to her, I think. But she did not listen to me, she just stood there with a confused gaze as I pointed at the door repeatedly.

Seriously, take a hint!

"Shiny . . . please don't do this again." she whispered before picking up the tray. I did not make eye contact with her, but the sound of whimpering was enough. "Please baby, we can work this out. We can adopt a foal. We can make love every day if you want. But for buck sake, let me—"

"Did you not hear me!?" I spat bitterly, causing her to cry. "I said get out! Why is that so hard for you to comprehend!? It shouldn't be difficult since you comprehended having an egg rammed up you filthy marehood."

"Shiny. . . please. . ."

"Get out of here, you disgusting horse!"

I distinctly feel the ring surge my body with pain, but my fury with her and everyone else proved stronger. I should be limp from head to hoof and gasping for breath. The pain of never having a son or daughter, however, is worse than having my own magic leeched from body; and that is the most painful thing a unicorn can ever feel.

My mind starts to go blank with rage and hatred as Twilight and her fellow traitors rush into the room to protect her sister-in-law for no bucking reason. It's not like I would physically harm my cheating wife. The last thing I need is to make myself the bad guy. She wraps a comforting wing around Cadance and shushes her as Celestia and Luna march towards me with neutral expressions. I snorted into their faces, before taking the wise decision of stepping back to avoid the disadvantage they have on me.

Still, my mind was hazy from my emotions. The electricity jolting every muscle in my body went numb and my horn steamed my magic wanting freedom. The ring kept my magic at bay, which infuriated me even more.

"Shining Armor, stand down immediately!" Celestia demanded loudly, her eyes gazing into mine angrily for but a small second before I snorted a second time.

"I do not take orders from you, horse!" I said proudly. She never got the chance to reply to that. "And I especially do not listen to you or that useless monster you call a sister!"

"Excuse me!?" Luna snapped, flaring her wings at me as a sign of intimidation. I glared at her this time, and I did so to show her how unafraid I am.

"You heard me, Nightmare Moon. But if you did not hear me, then let me say something else to you, your idiotic excuse of a sibling, and that horse you two call a niece," I cleared my throat, took a deep breath, and then screamed at the top of my lungs, "YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FOOL ME INTO BELIEVING THAT I AM IN THE WRONG OF THIS ENTIRE BUCK-UP. I KNOW I KILLED HER CHILDREN, BUT I AM NOT AT FAULT FOR THAT PINK PIECE OF GARBAGE CHEATING ON ME!"

I suddenly felt my body being lifted in the air by a combination of blue, yellow, and purple aura. I was locked in place.

"What is it going to take to make you accept, Shining Armor?" Celestia asked in a stern tone, not that it does any good.

"Buck you!" I struggled to break free, but I am not going anywhere while this witch has me in her grasp.

"What will it take to make you happy?" Luna asked next, which is surprising since I struck her where it hurts. Nightmare Moon is a fragile subject, after all.

That question had to have been the easiest thing for me to understand the entire time. Hearing how sorry everyone is and how bad they feel has grown very annoying.

Cadance stared at me desperately as I went back and forth between her, Twilight, and these two useless goddesses I hate so much. I was not unsure what I want from them, and they knew it.

"I want a foal of my own blood. I want a son or daughter that is mine. " I demanded. Celestia just shook her head and sighed.

"Cadance is unable to have a foal, so that cannot be done. The best thing to do is adopt a foal."

"Then I want a surrogate mother to carry my foal until birth." I countered, shocking her and Luna for whatever reason. Maybe they did not think of me as an intelligent stallion.

"Buck no!" Cadance barked angrily. "You're not going to have a bastard foal with some other pony."

"Well I'm not going to adopt a foal. I will not co-sign with you!"

"Adoption is the only way, Shining Armor. We will not allow a surrogate mother carry your foal." Luna said authoritatively.

"Shining Armor, we must come to an agreement with you in some other way." Celestia pleaded in a low tone, rubbing her forehead of what I think is a migraine. "For all our sake, especially your wife's sake, tell us what else there is we can do to make this go away or to make you happy."

I snapped out of my rage and turned to face my sobbing wife. The alicorn had a rather pathetic display of dread and regret when our eyes locked. The whimpering itself was enough to make my little sister worry. Her horn glowing at the ready in case something happens.

I want to say there is nothing they can do to make me happy, but that would not be enough to tear this family apart. I know what I want, but it cannot be done. Celestia and Luna will not allow it, because Cadance is like a daughter to them and she needs to be happy all the time. Well not today. Not ever again; at least not with me. I'm not going to manipulated into submission. I was robbed of a wonderful thing. I was robbed of having a foal and it is all their fault.

They stole my happiness from me!

"So you won't do any those?" I asked.

"You can still adopt a foal with Cadance, a little colt or filly. It will not be any different." Celestia said with a growing smile, magic releasing my body as I fell to the floor.

"I am not adopting!" I growled.

"Then what else do you want!?" Luna yelled a little too loudly, possibly alerting the citizens of our fight. "Is it power, because we can offer it. Are you wanting to be the king of this empire, because all you have to do is earn the approval of your subjects and the High Council.

"It's none of those!"

"Well what!? Is it more magic!? Do you want to become an alicorn!?"

"I want none of those, because they cannot amount to your monsters betraying me!"

"Then what do you want!?"

"It's very simple, you stupid horse!" I turned to Celestia and Luna, scowling as hard as I possibly can. "Since I cannot have a foal of my own blood, there is only one thing left that will make me happy!"

"What is it that you want?" Cadance asked, although I don't know why.

"I WANT A DIVORCE!"

. . .

Celestia, Luna, Twilight, and Cadance. . .

They hesitated. . .

Without warning or a sign, Cadance began to hyperventilate. She started panicking in Twilight's hooves while the Goddesses of the Sun and the Moon gawked at me. No one said a word, not even I. Still, it felt so bucking good to say those words and watch the four princesses of Equestria lose their cool.

But. . . why do I feel pain all of a sudden?

After a few seconds of staring at the ground, I look up to my wife and see her eyes dilating all of a sudden. She stops hyperventilating and stares at me emotionlessly, as if her soul was no longer there.

As she stood there with all of us wondering what she is doing, horn sparks and touches mine without a single shred of pain travelling my body. I should be in terrible agony, but the only thing I feel is warmth and. . . Cadance.

The connection grew as the heart we made to defeat Chrysalis before became real, shaped in aura and completely intertwined with blue and pink. Her eyes are now glowing, but she does not—

"Shining, what's wrong!?" Twilight screams, startling me back to the reality I do not want to be in.

I look at her, but before she can approach me, the connection brings Cadance and I so close our horns are touching. She willingly allows this while I scrape my hooves against the floor out of fear. Her eyes I finally see as dark pink while the flow of my magic turns into pain.

"I will not allow this to happen." Cadance says, but it isn't her voice I hear. No, it's much more masculine and powerful, as though a god is amongst us.

I went for the heart above us, but we fall to the floor and my muscles contract without control. Everything hurts, even my eyes, like somepony electrocuting every nerve with thousands of volts of discharged magic.

I was barely aware of Cadance closing her eyes and hugging my curled up form, soothing whatever she could as the others darted towards us. Twilight, Celestia, and Luna were right there, but I could not hear what they were saying.

Did I go deaf from pain or this strange connection?

"I hate you with every fiber of my being, but my daughter is happy with you."

"Wh—what?"

"I will see you soon. . . son-in-law."

"Cadance. . . what are you—"

"SLEEP!"

I vaguely see something in the darkness of my eyes, but. . . who could. . . be. . .

. . .

To Be Continued