Rule 43

by Black Hailstorm

Rating: teen
Tags: Alternate Universe, Thriller, Mystery, King Sombra, Tragedy, Shining Armor, Twilight Sparkle, Main 6, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Princess Cadance, Dark
Length: 6536

Cadence's foal is born and everyone is excited. But aren't things going a little to smoothly?

Author's Note:This is a Time Skip ahead, a couple of months after Princess Cadence gives birth to her and Shining Armor's foal. This is by no means canon to the show, and I simply did this for fun.

This is a continuation of what happens shortly after Princess Cadence and Shining Armor give the good news about their oncoming foal. When Cadence and Shining Armor share the good news everypony is happy. And things go smoothly for the next eleven months leading up to delivery. However all is not as it seems when a looming shadow sets it's sights on what could be it's only change to freedom.

Published 2015-11-22 13:00:02 UTC
Last updated 2015-11-22 13:00:02 UTC

Corruption

The Purer it is, The Better the Corruption.

Princess Cadence, is with child.

It was indeed a joyous occasion for the mane six upon the wonderful announcement. The small group throwing a celebration upon the royal couple’s appearance along with a small treasure hunt to keep things interesting for Twilight before the official announcement had came.

And though Pinkie through great inner conflict managed to keep silent, the mare was ultimately overjoyed to hear that one of her friends would be having a child in the following months to come.

“This is soo AMAZING!” Pinkie screeched tip-hoofing with glee at the smiling prince and princess of the Crystal Empire.

“We’ve heard you the first several times Pinkie” Dash said with a small grin and roll of her eyes.

The mare was just as excited as the rest of her friends but the cyan pegasus wouldn’t be the next one to immediately lose her cool like her bubblegum colored friend had.

When Princess Cadence smiled at the mare floating beside her though the cyan pegasus couldn’t contain her excitement anymore and simply hugged her friend and her husband tightly.

“I’m so happy for you two!” she said with joy gushing from her voice.

“Thanks Rainbow Dash” Shining Armor said with a smile as he patted the athlete on the back with a smile. “We’re really happy as well. And pretty glad we could share this with you guys” the unicorn said with a smile at his wife who merely rested her head on his shoulder once the pegasus had released them from the tight embrace.

“So” Rarity’s voice said, grinning widely. “Have you two begun picking names, or at least thought of a name?”

Shining Armor and Cadence looked at each other with a smile.

“Don’t you think it’s a little too early for that Rarity?” the princess asked with a smile as the lavish unicorn lifted a hoof to her mouth in a state of shock.

“Why my dear, it is never too late to plan ahead! Why I already know what I want the first name of my son or daughter to be” she said with a proud smile and lift of her nose.

Shining Armor rolled his eyes at Rarity’s comment.

“Oh yeah, and what exactly would that be?” Applejack asked.

Rarity smiled batting her lashes dreamily. “Why the names obviously have to be fabulous of course” she said poking Applejack in the chest with her hoof. And as the the grouped moved to take a seat Rarity continued.

“If it’s a colt his name will be Gemstone! And well if it’s a girl Lavish Luxury” she said with a smile.

Applejack couldn’t help but grin at the names just mentioned, Shining Armor was right behind her sharing the same grin.

“I see” she said placing a hoof to her chin.

The conversation from there ended up being an exchange between the mares and potential names they would give their own foals if or when they decided to settle down in the later future.

Shining Armor and Spike remained in the background trying their best not to get roped into that train wreck of ideas.

“So have you thought of a name for whether it’s a filly or colt?” Spike asked voicing his own curiosity.

Shining Armor chuckled. “Yes.”

Spike stared at him expectantly.

“What?” the unicorn asked.

“Tell me, cmon it’s just us guys I won’t say anything.”

Shining Armor merely shook his head earning a frown from the baby dragon.

“Sorry lil bro. It’s going to stay a secret till the right time for now. Besides I wouldn’t want to blow any other ideas for names I may be thinking of now would I” he said giving Spike a small nudge which seemed to brighten his expression up a bit.

“Now that I think about it. Maybe I should think about what name I want to give my kids.”

“Don’t you think you’re a little young for that?” Shining asked with a slightly raised brow.

Spike shrugged. “If Rarity’s got an idea on what she wants, why not I?”

About to reply, but thinking better of it the stallion remained silent. Deciding it would be better to have Twilight handle that problem.

Eventually a few minutes passed and the celebration came to an end with Twilight and the rest of the mane six escorting the group back to the train station.

“Take care you two” Fluttershy said as the couple boarded the train.

“Be sure to write, won’t you dear?” Rarity stated after them.

“Oh! Oh! And watch the sweets!” Pinkie advised.

Princess Cadence laughed a bit, soaking in the warm vibes her friends were giving her. Once she had assured them she’d do all they said she turned her attention to her sister-in-law, whom Shining Armor had just finished hugging.

“So” Twilight said with a smile. “I’m going to be an aunt?”

Cadence nodded, feeling joy at her sister-in-law’s silent squeal of glee before she sighed to calm herself.

“Take care you two” Twilight said hugging Cadence with a hoof wrapped around her.

“You to Twilight. We’ll stay in touch with you and the rest, we’ll let you know as soon as anything happens alright?” Cadence said wiping a tear away.

Twilight did the same nodding. “Thank you.”

The couple boarded the train and with a loud whistle and roar it slowly began to pull off it’s destination towards the Crystal Empire as the mares and dragon standing on the docking platform waved goodbye Princess Cadence couldn’t help but smile once more.

Moving back to a seat and placing a hoof over her belly she smiled, before feeling a hoof on her lap. Looking to see that Shining Armor, had tears forming in his eyes.

Aww she thought pecking him on the cheek, as the two of them hugged.

“I can’t wait for us to bring this bundle of joy into the world Shining” Cadence said as her emotions began to take over.

Shining Armor to had begun to let the tears flow as well. “Me to babe. Me too.”

Just a few miles away from the crystal empire somewhere near the train tracks, and embed in snow was a horn. A dark horn. A severed dark horn, that glowed red at it’s tip.

Despite it being months since his defeat King Sombra just refused to stay down for the count, his horn glowing showing that he still had some form of life left remaining in him, although very weak.

How did it come to this? he thought as his spirit remained bound to that specific spot.

All the ghost could see was the mere tip of the crystal empire, that which used to be his kingdom and his own domain. And as he stared off at the kingdom that was formerly his own, the dark unicorn could not help but feel a deep rooted hatred burning within him at that which used to be his home. His place of control. His sanctuary.

The wind blew by, going through him as it usually had for the past couple of months.

And he continued to stand by his severed horn in silence. Not that it mattered much anyway. Even when the former king had learned how to teleport towards the kingdom he was never able to stay away from his horn for too long before being forced by the supernatural laws to return to its allotted spot of rest.

However it once again did not matter, because despite his small appearance in the now rejuvenated kingdom not a single creature could see, hear, feel or even take notice of his presence there. Even if he had been standing right beside them trying to by some means enact his deviant mind control on them, all of which failed miserably.

These failed attempts had continued on and on, month after month as he tried by some means to use his knowledge and prowess in the dark arts to will a equine to his control, but all had failed, until finally the equine had merely stopped trying. Not out of dispirit, but due to him simply being tired of failing.

He sighed, “So this is what it feels like to truly be asleep? It is not as pleasant as I had imagined.”

His thoughts interrupted by the sound of a train pulling over. “Last stop Crystal Empire!” the conductor stated, as a few ponies got off. And from Sombra’s vision, though still being some ways a distance away from the actual ponies he could see...them.

Prince Shining Armor and Princess Cadence, the new rulers of his kingdom.

He growled as he watched the two walk back towards the Crystal Empire, with Shining's arm wrapped around his mare.

“I can’t wait to see our child” Princess Cadence said to the stallion who merely nuzzled her as they made their way back the kingdom.

“Neither can I” Shining whispered in her ear. But unknown to them as the train slowly pulled away they had, had another uninvited listener on the conversation.

King Sombra had heard what they said. And slowly a smirk spread on his lips as the dark unicorn’s horn flickered faintly with dark magic at his will. A new plan forming in his mind as he licked his lips, just barely feeling the power that would soon return to him if this plan worked.

The ghost of the former fallen king cackled silently, his deep voice making the air feel colder as it whipped around the silence and tranquility of the peaceful empire.

Sombra’s eyes gleamed that sickly green as his horn once again sparked with a faint green glow. “As can I...my dear rulers. As can, I.”

~11 Months Later~

Princess Cadence was now in the Crystal Empire’s royal hospital. After feeling her water break the Princess of love had been rushed to the hospital to prepare for labor, at this very moment Shining Armor, Twilight, Princess Celestia, Luna, Spike and the rest of the mane six all sat in the waiting room with patience, after almost six hours of silence. Well almost all.

Brother and sister both trotting in place with a nervous look all over the face, as Fluttershy did her best with the Princess’s to calm the two siblings down.

“I’m sure she’s fine Shining Armor, you are putting too much stress on yourself” Rainbow Dash said in her attempt to quell the unicorn.

This didn’t work.

“How can you be so sure?!” he asked feeling greatly fidgety.

“No” Twilight said passing her brother as they both did a double take around each other. “Rainbow’s right, there’s nothing to worry about she’s in the best of hands we-”

The emergency light on the room in front of them turned off. Everyone held their breath, Shining had begun to sweat profusely as the doctor pushed his mask down and smiled.

“Congratulations” the doctor said with a smile. “You have a healthy baby colt, and the princess is just fine your majesty now if you want to-” the doctor was immediately cut off by the unicorn’s tight, strong arms wrapping around him firmly in embrace, the rest of the gang doing the same except for Princess’ Luna and Celestia who merely smiled.

“May we see her?” Rarity asked as she wiped a tear from her eye with a handkerchief.

The doctor though slightly restricted by his prince’s arms nodded. Immediately being released, he watched the entire group head into the infirmary.

Princess Cadence lay in her bed cradling the sleeping baby colt with a smile. The colt had Shining Armor’s coat, and a fine mixture between his and her mane, his tiny unicorn horn appearing quite adorably on his head, as well as a few spots of cerise along the young unicorn’s back.

H-He’s beautiful” Twilight said with a smile, as Shining Armor took the baby up in his arms. The colt yawned and stretched, making Shining bite his lip to restrain the tears.

Luna and Celestia who were now talking to the tired Cadence, offered her congratulations and were happy to see she was alright.

Pinkie Pie was being comforted by the others, and Rainbow Dash was doing her best not to cry. Her excuse being. “This isn’t crying, it’s liquid pride” she said in between sniffles.

Shining let out a small chuckle before turning to Twilight the foal still in his arms.

“Would you like to hold him Twilight?” her brother asked. The young alicorn after wiping the tears away that blinded her, nodded.

“Yes thank you” she said eagerly reaching for the baby stallion and lifting him up. The baby gooed making Twilight’s heart melt with love, at the cuteness and purity that radiated off of him.

It wasn’t until the young colt suddenly shivered and let out a small cry as if it were in pain that Twilight looked with horror at the worried parents, who looked at their child with fear, as if something was horribly wrong.

Luna conjured up a sucker and gave it to the young colt, before it’s shivering and wailing finally ceased as it went to bed.

The entire group sighed.

After spending a few more hours with Cadence and the baby, the doctor returned to send everyone out so both the new mother and child could get some rest.

“I hope you sleep well, Princess” the doctor said with a smile before trotting out with the nurses and the baby to make sure the new colt was alright.

And as the doctor and his team of nurses moved towards the nursery where the other healthy newborn colts and fillies were, the earth pony failed to realize the slight red glow that appeared on the unicorn’s horn as they made their way to the nursery room.

A week or so went by on the Princess’ release from the hospital and she was not taking care of her young new baby colt. Shining Armor had been kept busy the entire time, with running the kingdom doing his best to make sure his wife and their newborn foal suffered no form of stress.

Twilight had decided to pay a visit that day and had been helping her sister-in-law with taking care of the baby.

Cadence had shared that the young colt had recently been having quite a few nightmares, constantly crying and shivering at night, so it was making it tough for her to get some sleep with Shining always busy with work.

Twilight had assured her sister-in-law she would see to it that the foal didn’t make a peep,much to Cadence’s pleasure.

So that night as the Princess made her way to her sleeping quarters in order to get the best nap she could afford before waking up to help Twilight, the mare gave her son a kiss on the forehead, much to her surprise she saw his horn glow red but merely dismissed it as latent magic making it’s way through his body.

Retiring for the night Twilight took the mother’s place and watched her nephew’s sleeping form with a peaceful look on her face. Till something happened.

The young baby’s horn flickered red, before a sickening green aura surrounded his horn. Twilight merely assumed it was aftermath due to latent magic that needed to be exercised out of the young stallion, but the cold laugh that came from the child threw away any and all thoughts.

The young colt rose from his crib, that sickening green aura surrounding it’s horn as it continued to laugh in that maniac, malevolent manner as Twilight watched with fear at the young bundle of innocence that looked at her with hateful, tyrannic red eyes.

“Y-You’re not my nephew” she said to the being controlling her nephew’s body, the being within merely laughed.

“What are you?!” Twilight asked fear and anger making her voice tremble.

All manner of dark laughter ceased instantly as the young colt’s eyes now glew the same sickening dark aura that Twilight was so familiar of having experienced it herself before many, many months ago.

“No” she whispered backing towards the wall at the colt that remained staring at her from it’s crib with evil eyes.

“No..no...no! You can’t be! We watched you lose!” she said tears starting to sting her eyes as realization took over. “Oh Celestia please!” she begged her lower lip trembling, as she forced herself to look back at the colt that had now left it’s crib and was right in front of her.

“We thought you were gone” Twilight said with both fear and disbelief. “H-How?” but before she could say much more the tiny colt’s hoof touched her lips, making her shaking lips stop any other form of words from coming out or being spoken.

“You thought wrong” the voice from within the newborn colt said as his sickeningly glowing red eyes stared back into the girl’s violet ones.

Twilight gently moved her nephew’s forehoof away from her lips as tears began to stream down her face. “Sombra...please I beg you, leave my nephew alone.”

The dark king possessing the young colt’s body remained silent, as those glowing eyes stared right through the young alicorn that sent a chill up her spine the young baby colt’s face lit up with a smile. And for a second Twilight thought she had somehow managed to reach the evil king.

She was wrong.

The boy’s smile faded as it turned into the coldest stare Twilight Sparkle had ever seen in her entire life on the face of such a young foal.

Leaning in King Sombra’s breath rested on the mare’s ear who stared in terror at the king possessing the nephew’s body spoke up.

“No.” The colt’s body teleported back to the crib, lighting struck illuminating the room for a split second letting Twlight see that no longer was the shadow of her nephew there, but beside it a massive shadow that towered over it, making her scream, as it threatened to consume her nephew's shadow and the entire room within it along with herself and the innocent foal..

Shining Armor who had just returned barged in to see his sister trembling and tears streaming down her face as she rocked back and forth on her haunches in disbelief by what she had seen.

It shook Shining to his core, to see her like that. “What’s wrong?” he demanded, only for the response to be Twilight to point a shaky hoof at the sleeping colt in the crib.

Cautiously Shining Armor, moved over to see that his son was fine. Rolling his eyes as he let a sigh of relief he turned to his sister giving her a stern yet worried look.

“Twilight don’t do that!” the mare whimpered, making the unicorn feel bad as he moved towards her to help her up and usher her out the door. And just as the two were heading out the prince’s ears twitched at the sound of dark laughter coming from behind him.

Turning his head slowly the Prince’s eyes widened in shock as he stared at a pair of glowing green eyes, with red pupils staring back at him with a evil grin.

Shining Armor blinked, and his boy was back in his bed, asleep like what he had just seen never happened.

The prince rubbed a his eyes, thinking almost an entire week of sleep had done him no good. Twilight as well since she had been staying up and working on her own things back in Ponyville, before coming here.

“Let’s go Twily. I’ll get you a room set up across from ours” he said reassuringly casting one last glance back towards the room where his sleeping colt lay. When nothing happened Shining Armor shut the door, with a click.

Seconds passed and no movement occurred in the room till a second bolt of light struck and the young newborn was up once again up, his eyes glowing that sickening color of green that struck fear into many of his opponents and servants in the past.

Sombra laughed-- chuckled really in the young colt’s body as he now had complete control of when he could allow the young colt’s consciousness the chance to take over it’s body once again and immediately switch with his own.

His horn glowing once more the evil king rubbed his new forehooves together in the innocent colt’s body relishing in what he had done, with a lick of his lips.

“It really does feel better when you corrupt something, so pure.” Another bolt of lightning flashed as Sombra’s horn and eyes were the only thing that illuminated the dark room. Before he blinked and closed them, allowing the innocent foal to take over once again. But one thing was clear.

Sombra, had returned.

Turmoil

Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Magic and well-known expert of friendship, was an emotional wreck.

The young alicorn princess knew not what to do after what she had seen merely two weeks ago, and every time she went over to visit her brother and his family she swore under her breath that she could still hear that evil laugh when her back was turned to the foal.

“The foal” she whispered to herself in silence as she sat in her library back in Ponyville. That poor poor innocent child had no idea what lay deep within the very depths of his soul at this very moment.

A tear slowly slid down the young alicorn’s muzzle as she thought of the horrors that Sombra could be performing on the child’s mind to ultimately make it his own.

At this very moment for all she knew every time that baby cried it was because of Sombra. Every time that baby got hurt, it may have been because Sombra desired it so. Every time her brother and sister looked exhausted from not only running the empire, but taking care of their newborn colt, it was because of Sombra.

“Twilight” Spike’s voice said dragging the mare out of her dark thoughts.

She turned to face the baby dragon who was standing by the doorside. “You are still going to the Crystal Empire today right?”

She sniffed and nodded, a small look of concern passed over Spike’s face.

“Are you alright? You’ve been crying ever since we got back from the Crystal Empire. Is something wrong?” he asked moving towards her and resting a gentle claw on her forehoof.

Twilight smiled, a sad smile. She blinked to clear her vision of the tears that blinded her as Spike lifted a claw to wipe away a tear.

“Twilight?”

The mare shook her head and quite suddenly brought the dragon into a tight embrace, causing him to yelp as the mare wrapped her forehooves tightly around him. “It’s nothing Spike” she said as more tears began to sting her eyes.

“It’s nothing at all.”

Shining Armor was tired. In the two weeks that had occurred after Twilight’s babysitting night, the stallion had watched his sister leave in tears after he had escorted her to the train station by himself.

When he had asked why she was crying the mare had been incapable of forming words, her only hint being to look at him then to glance at the castle before once again bursting into tears and sobbing. It had taken Spike and the prince quite a bit of effort to calm the young alicorn enough to get into the train.

It had taken even more to assure her all was alright since he decided it would be better to accompany his sister and adoptive brother back to Ponyville.

The stallion on that day as he rode the train back to the empire upon fulfilling his escorting duty felt eerily strange by Twilight’s reaction.

The only thing he had really been able to get out of her was from what Spike said before he left the castle involving something about “glowing eyes.”

Now presently sitting on his throne as his wife attended to their child the stallion shuddered as that disturbing thought that strange night forced it’s way back into his mind.

That very night he had escorted his shaking sister out of the baby’s room the stallion had seen glowing eyes as well. The same glowing eyes they had watched been defeated a year.

No! he shook his head to force the thought out of his mind. “Sombra’s gone. Plus there’s no magic that I’ve heard of that could possibly revive someone from the dead and cause a reincarnation.”

That’s right! It was impossible, improbable, highly unlikely for such a thing to ever happen. There was also the fact to mention that -a small blush appeared on his cheeks- the stallion and his princess of love had only had relations heavily almost five months prior to Sombra’s short return and defeat. So it was impossible for him to even be capable of doing such a thing.

Shining Armor nodded with conviction. “It was impossible.”

The clicking of hooves soon sounded in the royal throne room as Cadence came inside carrying the young colt in his crib.

“Shining could you watch the baby for a second while I get his bottle?” she asked rubbing her nose against the giggling foal. Shining nodded with a smile. His horn glowing he carefully lifted his child on to the ground as he watched the young stallion play and roll around on the floor as it made popping noises with it’s mouth.

Princess Cadence couldn’t help but let out a “Awww, so adorable” before turning around with a blissful smile on her face as she headed towards the empire’s kitchen. “I’ll be back in a second you two.”

Shining Armor watched his wife leave through the open throne room doors, before setting his eyes on the young foal. He smiled as the foal looked up at him with innocent eyes, offering a childish smile as it waved its arms in the air at him, vainly trying to reach his father.

Shining smiled, “Trying to walk Sunlight?” he asked the foal merely giggled in response. Shining chuckled heartily, before turning his attention for a few seconds back to the list of papers in front of him.

Then he heard it.

Ci-Click!

His eyes turning over to the child Shining’s eyes widened in utter amazement.

The young unicorn...was standing on all four hooves, though wobbly little Sunlight attempted to make his way towards Shining Armor.

Immediately scrambling down to his knees Shining Armor flew off his throne and sat on eager haunches just a few inches from his son with liquid pride making it’s appearance clear in his eyes.

“CADENCE! GET THAT GLORIOUS FLANK OVER HERE PRONTO, SUNLIGHT IS BUCKING WALKING FOR THE FIRST TIME!”

A loud “WHAT!” echoed somewhere through the castle., along with several other clicking hooves accompanying her. Most likely the guards wanting to see this as well.

Shining Armor’s lip trembled in great anticipation as his foal wobbled and moved towards him eagerly. And as his eyes stayed glued to the colt’s face Shining Armor saw something change that caused his most joyous moment, to switch immediately to one of fear and confusion.

Sunlight’s horn glew red, a green aura taking over. The giggling foal closed his eyes no longer walking wobbly but naturally with a confident prideful stride. And when those eyes re-opened, no longer were they the light blue that stared at the father. But glowing green eyes.

Shining’s brain shut down, unable to process what was slowly unfolding before him.

Sunlight was still trotting towards his father, though the giggling had transitioned from light joyful laughter, to a dark and slow chuckle.

Shining’s eyes were glued on his child.

The colt was getting closer, and so were those glowing green eyes.

No.

Another step now, and Shining’s arms that were still outstretched frozen by what he was seeing still desired to wrap them protectively around his son.

The laughing grew darker with another step, Cadence and company’s hooves were getting closer.

No.

The colt had now passed the threshold and was nearing the father’s arms. Shining caught something in his vision and to his bemusement he watched his son’s shadow cast a second one. A larger one. One that reached the very roof of the large throne room, and threatened to consume both father and son.

N-no, Shining thought. His arms starting to tremble when he felt the possessed colt’s tail touch his right forehoof.

Those glowing green eyes that struck fear into so many others now looked at Sunlight’s father with a cold stare. Shining Armor could do nothing but stare back into those cold, hate filled eyes, feeling his own body starting to tense up with the sudden change of tension in the air.

The two stared at each other in silence. The former king of the crystal kingdom saying nothing, and the young prince staring with a mixture of fear, confusion and rage. Shining Armor’s mouth went dry as he could hear his wife merely inches away from them now.

He swallowed, mustering what little faith he had in his sleep deprived state.

“This isn’t happening” he said to himself, now staring at one of the guards who was beaming at him as the rest of the group came.

The foal leaped into Shining Armor’s arms the dark laugh gone, and returning to what it was; a peaceful innocent laugh.

Shining Armor looked at his wife still looking shocked as she and the others smiled at him, Cadence’s expression changing to confusion.

“Honey? What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost” she said carrying the bottle towards him before she stuffed it into the young colts mouth as he greedily began to suck the milk out.

Shining shook his head to clear himself of the dark thoughts that were making themselves clear within him.

“Yeah sorry I-...I think I need to get some sleep” Cadence nuzzled him as the guards let out another "aww" who by this time should have been back to work.

A bark from down the hall the guards stood, made them draw their attention back to the their positions as they closed the throne room doors behind them.

“Try to get some rest after this alright honey?” Cadence said with a smile once Sunlight had finished drinking all of its contents.

Shining nodded, then extended his arms so he could get a good look at the colt in his forehooves. There was nothing wrong with him. Perhaps he had just been seeing things since he hadn’t slept much in the past four days.

Sunlight let out a small burp, then began to tear up.

“Shining!” Cadence said from her throne.

“Don’t worry I’ve got it” he said reassuringly as he moved the colt to give him a gentle pat on the back.

The colt let out an audible burp, making Cadence giggle and Shining sigh a breath of relief.

“Thank goodness” he said.

“For what?” Cadence asked.

“O-Oh it’s nothing don’t worry” he said with a reassuring wave of his hoof. Lifting his son back up to get another look at him the foal tapped Shining’s nose, making him chuckle a bit along with the colt before he brought his son back into his arms.

“I’m glad that didn’t happen” he said whispering into Sunlight’s neck.

And as if the colt understood what he said the foal gently tapped Shining’s arm, making him rise his son to look back into those light blue eyes. Except, they were no longer light blue.

They were red.

Shining Armor’s expression changed to a completely stoned and silent look, as he slowly brought his son back into his arms believing that he was seeing things again. Giving the colt a tight squeeze.

It didn’t happen, he told himself.

A small chuckle rose into the air that sent a chill up his spine and the hairs on his neck stand up on end. He looked to Cadence. She hadn’t noticed.

“Oh...but it did Shining” the deep voice of Sombra whispered into the unicorn’s perked up ear. “And it still is.”

Tears began to well up in Shining Armor’s eyes as denial began worming it’s way within him. He refused such a horrible thing could, or even would happen to him. Or any other pony for that matter.

Cadence immediately trotted over to her husband who had now shed a single tear, his face remaining impassive with shock, but his eyes full of pain.

“Shining? Dear, what’s wrong?” she asked with worry.

Shining Armor said nothing, which only put Cadence on further edge. She now took notice of how close he was holding their child, and a look of confusion crossed her face. Raising a hoof, she gestured for Shining Armor to give her the foal.

He hesitated. But complied within a few seconds, shedding another tear in the process.

Cadence placed her now sleeping foal back in his crib and turned to look at her husband with a look of worry and confusion on her face as her ears drooped at the pained look on his face.

“Shining...sweet what’s wrong? Are you alright?” she asked wrapping a hoof around his neck and pulling him close. Her ears perked up on his reply.

His voice broken, filled with what could only be sensed as denial, Shining Armor’s lips trembled.

“No, babe” he sniffed.

“I’m not...nothing is.”

She stared at him in confusion as more tears began to pour out of his eyes, following his gaze to the crib.

And for a split second the princess of love thought she saw something, but merely dismissed it as her seeing things. Turning back to her husband she gently rubbed her strong, military commander, and prince’s neck whispering sweet words of reassurance in his ear.

Eventually the stallion got up and the two carried their foal up towards the colt’s room not too far away from their own.

Once dropping Sunlight off, Cadence escorted her husband back to the room and stayed with him till the shaken stallion fell asleep.

And as she heard him mumble and whisper things of incoherence she couldn’t help but wonder.

What was that light I saw back there?

Twilight Sparkle and Spike had made it to the Crystal Empire. The young alicorn had sent a letter ahead of time to inform the group that she would be there shortly.

Upon arrival Cadence informed her that her brother was asleep and would do well to require silence. She stated the baby was in the room and that she could check up on him if she wanted, and also to keep an eye out for Shining.

She had to head to the castle’s conference room to engage in some matters soon so she would be leaving. Spike decided to head down to the empire’s snacking section leaving Twilight by herself once the other princess was gone.

Twilight was now alone.

Heading over to the royal bedroom first Twilight took a peek inside to see her big brother was silently snoring. She smiled.

“Poor guy must have tuckered himself out with work.” Closing the door silently the young princess headed towards the colt’s room.

Upon reaching the door to the baby’s room she froze. Feeling disturbed by the fact that there was a huge chance her nephew was being possessed by an evil tyrant that had enslaved thousands of ponies.

She shook her head. Don’t think like that Twilight.

She went inside, and felt the strange coldness of the room. Quietly she shut the door behind her, hearing a coincidental creak that occurred the entire time it was being closed, before it clicked silent.

Twilight froze. Hearing movement behind her she turned.

Sunlight was standing on his hind legs with his hooves on the crib, just like the last time she’d seen him the night two weeks ago she had checked on him.

The young princess could feel her heart beating a bit faster as she took a deep breath and began trotting towards the baby that was gooing at her. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Once Twilight was a hoof away from the cooing baby she leaned her face in closely to Sunlight’s who was now staring at her with a confused smile at the narrow eyes she was giving him.

“Goo?” he said, making Twilight’s eye twitch from the cuteness.

Sunlight shrugged and kissed her on the nose, causing Twilight to whinny and back up a bit with slightly warm cheeks.

“U-um thank you” she said smiling a bit at her nephew. At least I can be reassured that he’s still in there.

“Your welcome” a deep voice responded, making Twilight’s wings instinctively pop out.

Her eyes slowly lowered to the glowing eyes looking at her with a wicked grin, as she began to feel both fear and anger taking place.

“Get out of him” she said after a few seconds of silent staring between the two.

Sombra’s cold laugh was the only response she got. Sunlight’s red tipped horn now becoming caked in a sick green glow as the dark king levitated himself towards her.

Doing so Twilight suddenly became aware of the sound of rain hitting the window and the sound of thunder outside. Just like that fateful day.

Lightning struck and it showed that large menacing shadow that loomed behind her nephew’s body.

Twilight shook, but she did not back down.

King Sombra’s glowing green eyes now stared at Twilight on the same level. His deep voice let out another cackle at the recall of her statement.

Ushering to her to come closer Twilight did as such, sure that the evil king wouldn’t do anything that would throw suspicion she inched forward, suddenly feeling a pull that made her come closer to the levitating baby colt.

Sombra’s breath now gently caressed Twilight’s ear. He whispered.

“I’d like to see you try.”

Lighting struck once again revealing the menacing shadow of the king that glared at her from the walls as the darkness began to seep in closer, from all corners. The evil lord’s laughter began to grow, though silently as Twilight backed away from his statement.

Turning on her hoof and facing the door, as the mare could feel inner conflict with herself on what she should do to help her nephew she glanced back at the colt who was now back in his crib, and back to normal.

Twilight felt tears sting her eyes as the baby waved bye to her when she opened the door before laying back in bed.

“Don’t worry Sunlight. I’ll save you. I promise” she whispered to the dozing baby. Galloping quickly inside she gave the foal a peck on his forehead, before quickly leaving the room and closing the door.

“That’s a pinkie promise” she stated wiping a tear away.

The response from the room was the faint glow of that sick green light. Twilight could see it radiating from under her hooves, knowing Sombra had accepted her challenge.

And she knew, she had to win. For her, for her brother, and Cadence. For. Her. Nephew.

She had to. That was something she was sure of.