Love Storage

A thin pink stream of pure love was drawn from the tip of Shining's long-disabled horn, and flowed into the Empress's own horn. Chrysalis moaned with delight as she felt the electric rush of pure love filling her system. It felt so good... made her feel so powerful. Shining, of course, remained dead to the world, drooling slightly as his Empress fed off of him.

As Chrysalis consumed more and more love, her own midsection began to expand and glow a faint pink. Satisfied, she broke off the connection and stifled a burp.

"Lovely," she smiled. "That should sustain me for a while."

With that, she made to leave, but not before turning and giving both Shining Armour and his former brothers in arms a stark reminder of their position.

"I own you."

"Gaaaaah!"

With a scream and a gasp, Shining Armour shot upright in bed, his mane and face both drenched in sweat, eyes wide with utter panic. His eyes darted left and right as he looked frantically around the darkened bedroom, searching for any sign of that... that monster. That monster who had...

"Shining?" Cadance gasped, looking at him with tired eyes. "For goodness' sake, it's three in the morning! What in the twin sisters has gotten into you?"

"C-Cadance?" Shining stammered, feeling relief wash over him as he looked her in the eyes. "You... you're safe!"

"Of course I'm safe, Shining," Cadance replied, rubbing an eye with her hoof. "Why wouldn't I-"

She was cut off as Shining pulled her into a hug, nuzzling into her bedraggled mane, sounding like he was barely holding back tears. "You're okay! You're not dead, Chrysalis isn't back and I'm not a massive blob and-"

"Shining!" Cadance snapped. She loved her husband, but this babbling at this ungodly hour was wearing that love rather thin. "Listen, whatever you're talking about, it was just a nightmare."

"A... a nightmare," Shining mumbled. "Yeah, of course. M-maybe eating those cheesy quesadillas before bed wasn't such a good idea."

"Evidently," Cadance snorted, her voice growing softer now that her husband was calming down. "Look, it sounds like you were pretty spooked by whatever it was. Just relax, okay? Everything's fine."

"Yeah, I know..." Shining shuddered as he lay back down. "Maybe I should take some time off. I think I need it."

"Sounds like a plan," Cadance yawned, turning back over in bed. "Goodnight, Shining."

"Night," Shining replied, smiling as he felt relief wash over him. No changelings, no love tanks... just a loving wife with the patience of a saint. He held that thought in his mind as he drifted back into a peaceful sleep.