Ruin

“This is amazing Forge.” Came the voice of Twilight Sparkle as she studied the obsidian crystal before her. The piece itself was rather simple with its many facets and unique shape. The platinum cap that it was fitted to was simple allowing a scrap of leather to serve as a necklace of sorts. The stallion searched his shelves for a particular scroll. Though the library they stood in was much smaller than Twilight’s, it was full of magical trinkets and scrolls.

A maroon colored unicorn with silver hair and hazel brown eyes, Forge was heavily scarred on his front right side. Thick claw marks ran from the right side of his face down to the first joint of his foreleg. A fellow academic who had an almost obsessive interest in enchanted items, the stallion was a collector of sorts who frequently braved foreign lands and hostile territories in the pursuit of knowledge. Twilight would help him catalogue items and create wards to contain some of the more volatile items that he’d procured from his travels.

The two had met during her debut banquet. Princess Celestia had introduced the two and encouraged her to seek out his service for the sake of cultural diplomacy. Despite his harsh appearance, Forge was a sophisticated pony who’d experienced many different cultures and lived amongst peoples many Equestrians had never heard of. He’d proved to be an invaluable resource and a pragmatic pony.

“I knew you’d like it.” He said with a grin. Finding what he was looking for, he scanned the contents of the scroll before magically floating it to his comrade. “It’s an interesting piece, but it’s not terribly unique. A pony well versed in magic could do what it’s known for, but I digress.”

Twilight smirked. “You mean you?” She fixed him with a look as she reached up to grab the scroll.

Forge chuckled as he shrugged. Hopping off the ladder, he moved across the room to take a seat at his desk. He grabbed a fresh scroll from the chest beneath the table. “It’s called the Phthonos Crystal.” He said as he began to write an entry for his journal.

Twilight had already opened the scrolled he’d given her and was reading as she listened to him speak. “Phthonos…” she repeated thoughtfully.

“It takes its name from a daimon of jealously.”

“Daimon?” She looked up with an expression of confusion.

“The people I acquired it from have their own myths and legends. A daimon is something like a ghost. A god-like force of nature that can drive forward or act against a person.”

“Is it malignant then?” She asked as she truly studied the crystal turning it over magically.

Forge shook his head as he looked up at her. “It’s harmless. The name comes from the bright green hue that surrounds the crystal when it picks up unnatural magic-“

“As green is the color of envy and jealousy.” The Princess of Friendship hummed thoughtfully. “And these daimons… Are they real?”
Forge sported a crooked grin. “It’s not something I cared to find out. Though I wouldn’t be surprised. The world is full of phenomena.” He looked to the clock on the wall. “Aren’t you late for something?”

Twilight snapped her attention to the time as well. Dark eyes widened as she realized she would be late if she didn’t leave right now. “You’re right! I’ll catalogue what I find and return it when I’m done!” Were her slew of words as she quickly took her exit.

With a shake of his head, Forge returned to his work.

As Twilight leaped into the air and pelted her wings, she marveled at how far she had come as a pony. From no friends, to the best friends anyone could ask for, to the Princess of Friendship. Though flying was still something that scared her sometimes, she could appreciate the thrill and the breathtaking beauty it provided her. Equestria was a wonderful continent whose beauty never ceased to amaze her.

She had fifteen minutes to make it to her brother’s home which was just on the outskirts of town. She’d been so enthralled by Forge’s newest addition that she’d honestly forgotten she had agreed to have dinner with Shining Armor.

As the wind zipped by her face and tangled her mane, Twilight let her mind wander to what her brother wanted to speak with her about. They’d all come such a long way over the years and now it seemed he was finally healing from the changeling fiasco. She truly loved that he had finally dropped the heavy burden he’d been carrying for the past few years. He laughed more and was closer to being the pony who had always had her back as a child.

Twilight wanted to believe that moving to Ponyville was the reason for his change, but no matter how much she tried to convince herself of the thought, it didn’t feel true. The idea of a mare bringing such life back into his eyes made her suspicious. Especially considering how it was a mare that ruined him originally.

Finally, the modest home her brother lived in came into view. Going in for a landing, the Princess of Friendship almost forgot she was carrying items in her worn leather satchel as the bag settled on her hip once she’d touched down. There was no time to take it home, she thought, as she messed over her windblown mane. Feeling presentable, she finally trotted up the steps of his porch and knocked on the door.

Right on time, the eldest thought as he smiled answering the door and welcoming her into his home.

“Twilight!” Shining Armor greeted. “You made it!”

She smiled as her brother hugged her before leading her inside. It was a lovely home she decided as she admired fine wood-working and its wide open spacing. She hadn’t officially seen it yet but what she saw so far, she liked. “It’s beautiful.” She commented as she took in her surroundings.

“Would you like a tour?”

“That would be great! Is there somewhere I could put this first?” She took her satchel strap over her head, happy to no longer have it biting into her neck.

“There’s a rack right over your shoulder there.” He motioned to the hooks on the wall behind her.

“Thanks! I stopped to see Forge this afternoon.” She explained rubbing at the slightly bruised area.

Shining Armor nodded. “How is he?” He remembered Forge from his time in Canterlot.

“He’s good. He’s ready to leave. Again.” She rolled her eyes as she placed the bag on a hook. “That stallion has no roots anywhere. He just always wants to go.”

“Some ponies prefer that kind of lifestyle.” Was the stallion’s neutral response. “Jewels!” He called up the stairs. “Twilight’s here!”

“Okay!” The small foal’s voice came back. “I’ll be down in a bit.”

He shook his head, “To the kitchen?” He looked to Twilight. “I’m almost done with dinner.”

She smiled following him into the kitchen. The smells that greeted her made her sigh. She’d never known her brother to be a cook, but based on the heavenly smells in the air she wondered how she had missed it.

“Is that vegetable stew?” He nodded with a grin. “It smells amazing.” She complimented him as she took a seat at the table watching as he moved about the kitchen fussing over their meal. “So what’s the big news?” She asked after a while.

The stallion looked up from what he was doing. He opened his mouth to speak when Gemma can skittering into the room. “Twilight!” Was her bright, yet out of breath, greeting. “You’re here!”

The stallion smiled. “Jewels, you wanna give Twilight a tour while I finish up here?”

The small child lit up at the suggestion. “Really? Follow me!” She chirped almost bouncing out the kitchen. Twilight shot him a dirty look as she stood. “Stalling?” She retorted as she folded her forelegs across her chest and settled on her haunches.

Shining Armor smirked as he looked up to catch her eye. “Never.”

Jewels peeked in from around the corner. “Princess, are you coming?”

Twilight turned and smiled, “Be right there Jewels.” The small girl nodded and disappeared to wait. Twilight gave her brother another look before following behind the unicorn filly.

Shining Armor halted his cooking as he truly thought over all he had planned to say tonight. His sister was one of the most accepting and supportive mares around. There was a reason she had ascended her status as a unicorn to become the Alicorn of Friendship. He loved her dearly, but sometimes she could be overbearing. And while he didn’t plan on telling her the ‘whole’ truth, he was going to express his intentions towards Gemma and her mother.

He was leaving to be with Chrysalis and to raise their child. Canterlot didn’t matter, Celestia didn’t matter, and neither did Equestria. He’d already lost so much time. If going away for a while was his penance, he’d take it gladly.

“This place is really nice!” The sounds of Twilight and Gemma filing back into the kitchen pulled him out of his thoughts. It seemed he had zoned out longer than he realized. His stew was seconds away from burning, he realized quickly removing it from the hot stove. He looked up at the two with a tight smile.

“Jewels, why don’t you go play for a bit.”

What he had to say, he knew she wouldn’t like, so he told Gemma to play outside while he had a conversation with his sister. For once, the child didn’t protest acutely aware of the anxiousness both ponies exuded.

“Okay.” Moments later the front door could be heard closing.

“So….” The Alicorn drawled as nonchalantly as she could. She took a seat at the table and looked up at him with an expectant smile on her face.

Shining Armor took a deep breath and gathered his thoughts as he allowed his gaze to fall on his only sister. “I’m leaving, Twilight.”

She blinked. “Okay… What’s so serious about that?” She chuckled only for the sound to die out in the face of his silence. She cleared her throat. “Ponyville is a bit provincial, I agree. Are you going back to Canterlot?”

The slight hint of excitement in her voice almost made him feel guilty. “No… Twiley… Like for good. I’m leaving Equestria.” Now it was Twilight’s turn to be silent. She looked to be processing his words as a frown started to take over her expression. “I decided to make a new-“

“Will you be alone?” She interrupted as her mouth formed a tightly displeased line.

“No,” he answered honestly.

“With who?” She asked as her tail flicked with agitation. “Wait…”She smiled with no traces of humor. “Don’t tell me.”

“Twilight…” Shining Armor exhaled bracing himself for whatever fallout was about to occur.

“With Amber?” When he offered no protest, the younger couldn’t help but shake her head in clear disapproval. “This is crazy!” Her incredulousness mixed with displeasure made for an expected rebuke. “She’s who you’re running off with.”

“Running off implies that I don’t know what I’m doing.” Shining Armor responded pointedly. He wasn’t asking her permission, nor was he was looking for her blessing. He simply had no desire to disappear from her life like a thief in the night. Like a pony who had something to be ashamed of. He told her as much.

“This is unbelievable.” Twilight was up and pacing wildly as she tried to comprehend his intentions and the events that led up to this moment. “You’ve been here what? A few months?” She gestured wildly. “And already you’re ready to run away with first mare who takes you to bed?”

“Twilight!” Now that did surprise the stallion, as cerulean eyes widened before he found himself glaring back at the upset alicorn.

“What? You think I’m stupid?” She scoffed as her face twisted. “I’m really supposed to believe that Jewels is that sweet of a girl? That you spend all your time with her and her mother ‘cause you’re so noble and concerned with her upbringing?” She’d heard the rumors going around involving her brother and that earth pony. She knew he was lonely, but she didn’t think he was desperate. How could he decide to leave like this? “Amber Stone is a manipulative-“

“Say one more word…” He dared with storm cloud eyes.

“Bitch.” She enunciated remorselessly. “You’re delusional if you think she cares about you!”

“Get. Out.” He ground out, fuming. He’d never wanted to put his hooves on a mare more.

“What’s the matter with you?” She exclaimed, leaning over the counter as she looked him in the eyes not caring that this was the angriest she’d ever seen him. “She tell you she love you?”

His face flushed as he rose to her bait with enough force to make her shrink away in shock. “I told her that I loved her! ‘I’ suggested it to her.”

Twilight clenched her jaw as she gathered her composure. How could her brother make such a decision so suddenly and seemingly so easy? “What about our family… Our country?” Did he really expect her to believe that such a move was all his idea? Leaving Equestria- Where was he going? How would he make it by? The whole conversation felt absurd.

“What part of, ‘that’s no longer my life,’ do you not understand, Twilight?” Shining Armor thundered making her flinch. “I’m done with that time of my life! Don’t you get it? I don’t grovel to Celestia anymore!” The vehemence with which he spoke made her feel smaller as she shrunk in on herself. “I’ve given enough for this country, for ‘that’ mare.” She cringed at the emphasis. “I missed out on an entire life with a mare that loved me and wanted a family with me!”

As much as she wanted to look anywhere else, Twilight couldn’t help but stare at the fuming stallion. His complexion was flushed as his entire body was tensed and shaking. He was upset and hurt. He’d chosen to share something with her and like an ass she’d mocked and jeered at him. She felt horrible as she thought over all that had been said to this point. Her ears flattened against her skull as her shoulders sagged.

“Shining…” She dropped her gaze overcome with shame. “What happened with Cadance wasn’t your fault…”

“I’m not talking about Cadance.” He groaned.

Indigo eyes snapped up with a quickness. “You can’t…” At the maelstrom in his gaze Twilight felt as if she didn’t know this pony. “Shining…. You don’t mean that! Please tell me you don’t mean that!” His countenance was unyielding much to her horror. “Chrysalis ruined you!” She exclaimed incredulously. “‘She’ stole your future and toyed with your heart! Did you really think a monster like that was capable of love?!” Her feelings of guilt dissipated as soon as she realized what he was admitting to. He didn’t even look guilty.

“She was and I did!” Shining Armor snarled leaning forward. “I’ve finally got a real chance to be with someone I want and no one’s going to get in my way this time.”

“Amber doesn’t deserve you!” Twilight argued.

He couldn’t look her in the face and said as much. “I’m done, Twilight.” He managed after a while. “I wanted to tell you and I did…” Calming himself, he took a deep breath and looked her in the eye. “You can go now.”

“Big Brother-“

“Don’t,” He held up a hoof, laughing with no real humor. His anger still burned beneath the surface, but he didn’t have the desire to fight anymore. “Just go.”

“Fine!” Was her angry response. “Leave. But don’t come crying to me when she breaks your heart.”

With nothing more to say, she stormed out of the kitchen and out of his home, slamming the door so hard the frame rattled. The eldest flinched at the sound.

The big brother in him wanted to go after her. A sentiment that annoyed him even as he found himself walking towards the door reaching for the handle. He honestly didn’t want this to linger between them but he couldn’t bring himself to feel bad either.

Dropping his hoof at the last minute, he shook his head. He could accept her being less than thrilled, but he could not and would not accept that bitch fit she threw all because he didn’t love a mare she found acceptable. He loved his sister, but no one would be allowed to dictate his life like that anymore.

With a violent exhale of air, he moved to finish a dinner no one would be eating.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Staring up into the darkness of her room, Twilight’s emotions stayed at a simmer as sleep eluded her. It’d been hours since she’d returned to her library and still her thoughts swirled irritably. Not only had dinner been ruined, but she’d left her bag and would have to eventually face the stallion again if she wanted it back.

She groaned as she adjusted her position in bed.

It was rare for her and her brother to fight like this.

Obviously siblings fought, but never had things escalated so intensely between the two. She could admit that she had lost her temper, but the words he’d hurled back at her left a lasting impression that felt nearly impossible to shake away.

At one point in time Equestria and its denizens had been Shining Armor’s life priority. Honor and loyalty were words he lived and breathed. It was because of such patriotism that this newest development felt like such a betrayal. She didn’t believe for a second that this was his own idea.

What could he possibly be looking for that wasn’t in Equestria? Why would any pony want to leave? Adjusting her position again so she rested on her side, she sighed into the silence feeling like a wretch.
She remembered her friends’ warnings at the lake. It was his life, but did it make her a bad sister to verbalize her concerns? She could imagine what her friends would say if they were here right now…

“Duh, genius!”

“All you can do is be there for him.”

“If he loves her, what can you do?”

“Stop being a buzzkill!”

“You keep pushin’ an’ yer gonna lose him.”

Had she gone too far this time? Maybe her friends were right. She seriously wondered until she remembered his confession about Queen Chrysalis.

She snorted. No, she’d been overly-cautious at best. But he needed to hear it. No one in their right mind would just blindly accept what he said to her earlier. Not after that wedding episode.

‘But you’re supposed to be his best friend…’ A small voice whispered in her thoughts. ‘You’re supposed to know him best, not attack him for being honest.’ She frowned at the thought as guilt crept in.

Groaning, she desperately wished for a dreamless sleep.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Amber’s trip had been a complete success. Tucked away on a train heading back home, the mare allowed herself to rest easy as she enjoyed a small snack and cool water.

Despite the hefty sum paid, she now had three tickets for passage to lands out west packed away in her travel bag. The port that preceded the Irkalla Desert was full of life and culture unlike the sands that lay northwest of the city. It was deep in that desert wasteland that her mountain with her people lived.

As she kept to herself in her booth, Amber couldn’t help the tiny smile that splayed itself openly across her face. The whole situation felt surreal. Finding her contact had been easy enough. Pretending to be a smuggler by the name of Dixie Donk and arranging passage for a group of ponies had been easy too.

Vanhoover was a city full of dreams and disappointments. Finding ponies with nothing to lose, or perhaps too much to lose, was simple if one knew where to look. Seedy pubs were full of lost souls. Some unfortunate, some despicable, and some simply yearning to find a place to fit in. Chrysalis didn’t especially like preying off the insecurities of others, but she found it exciting bringing to life the fearless seductress whose coloring of hunter green and rich plum matched her unscrupulous values.

Dixie’s associate, Early Dawn, was the captain of a small ship that frequented ports around the world trading goods and occasionally acting as a passenger ship. It was because of some quick arrangements she made as the smuggler that she was able to afford passage for herself and family with the captain (not that she let on it was for herself.)

Early was expensive, but she didn’t care for stories, nor was she fond of repeating them. It made for good business and Dixie Donk was known for keeping it strictly business, despite what fantasies full lips weaved. Most of the deals she negotiated were for ponies looking to disappear and start over somewhere else as well as the token disillusioned heir with too much time and money and even a naïve adventurer looking to make a name for themselves.

After setting up the clients she’d found, she negotiated her own deal and even had a decent amount of bits leftover.
The last few days had been exhausting, and while the mare wanted nothing more than to curl up in bed and sleep, she couldn’t wait to see her daughter and lover back home.

At the thought of the two, she rested her head against her glass plane as a sigh left her lips. She wondered how the two were and if Shining Armor had confessed his true identity to the child. Stifling a yawn, Amber decided she could wait as the trip back to Ponyville would take some time.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*

“Are you still upset about Twilight?” Gemma asked quietly as the duo walked the familiar trail to her house.
The sun shined gaily as the wind blew keeping the temperature mild and enjoyable. Shining Armor watched out of the corner of his eye as his daughter tried to keep her balance on a fallen log alongside the path. The other night had been a disaster, but good did come out of it.

“Yea… I just… I don’t wanna talk about it, Bright Eyes.”

She hummed, well aware of his disappointment. Even with the passage of a day or so, her sire, a revelation that thrilled her beyond imagination, was still upset about the last conversation he had with his sister. “Have you ever seen where my mother is from?” She tried at conversation while trying to keep her balance.

“No,” Shining Armor gave a lopsided grin. “I know just as much as you probably.” He laughed when she slipped, catching herself at the last minute. The look of relief on her features was full of all the melodrama one would associate with a child.

Gemma flushed as she giggled, happy he’d perked up just a little. “She says that changelings aren’t the same now…” She hopped into the air dismounting the log, grunting when she landed. “Is that true?” Bright blue eyes looked up to find a matching pair.

“I suppose it is. They look like you now.” He recalled the day of a failed execution.

“With wings and a horn?”

“No,” he chuckled at her excitement. “Just one or the other.”

She leaned into him as they walked prompting him to magically place her on his back. Gemma giggled as she buried her face in his thick mane. When she spoke again, her words were muffled.

“What did you say?”

“I said… what do I call you now?” Her tone was quiet as her face took on a curious expression. His argument with Twilight had been horrible, but the talk they had afterwards had made her the happiest filly in all of Equestria.

“You’re leaving…” She couldn’t help but overhear a lot of what was said.

Shining Armor swallowed before looking up the stairs to find Gemma watching him intently with a frown on her face.

“I thought I told you to go outside.”

“I came in early…”

“You heard that, huh?” Silence. He opened his mouth to say something, but the little girl waved it away.

He sighed heavily as he took a seat on the bottom stair. Twilight should’ve never said those things.
Gathering his thoughts, he considered how he would go about this conversation. Gemma was such a sensitive soul, it was hard to gauge how she would handle things and yet nothing could be worse than what had just happened with Twilight. “Bright Eyes… Do you know why your mother left?”

“Business right?” Gemma slowly traversed the steps to sink down beside him.

“No.” He chuckled softly as he shook his head. “She left to book passage so that you can learn more about where you come from.” Silence.
“She wants to take you home.”

“Oh.” Was her subdued response. He watched her expression turn as she processed his words.

“And…” He braced himself as he said the rest. “I told her that I wanted to come with you because I couldn’t bear to be away from either of you.” He exhaled slowly as he continued his thought. “I love you. That’s why my sister’s so mad. She can’t accept that.”
Matching blue eyes glistened in the light as the small filly looked to the stallion beside her. “Are you….” She bit her lip afraid of what she might have denied. Tears gathered as she found she simply couldn’t say the words.

“It’s funny… Your mother has always been it for me. Did you know she was the first mare that I ever fell in love with?”

“How? What about Princess Cadance?” Gemma managed in a near whisper.

“We’ve known each other for a very long time. The reason I came to feel so strongly about Cadance was because it was really Chrysalis underneath.” He laughed with no real humor. “When I saw you at the store that day, I just knew who you were. I felt it deep down inside of me and I knew I had to talk to you.” His throat was thick with emotion as he thought back to that faithful day. He smiled genially in spite of it as he looked down on her. “It was then that I decided that I would do whatever I had to to be a part your life. To be a family.”

“…”

“Say something, please.”

She threw herself in his grasp and held on tightly as she buried her face in his chest. His expression was serene as he slowly wrapped her in his embrace. This was what he needed. The anger and hurt he felt towards Twilight didn’t matter so much now that he got to hold his daughter as a father.

He didn’t mind so much at all now. She had him wrapped around her hoof since day one.

“I always wanted to know, and then it didn’t matter because my mom loved me so much. And then you… And I had hoped… Why did you stay away for so long?” She leaned back to ask him what she’d dreamed of asking her sire.

“I thought that I was protecting you. I was afraid of the scrutiny I would bring into your life- your mom’s.”

She swallowed as she gathered her courage and spoke her mind. “Do you ever regret staying away? Do you regret that I’m yours?”

“No…” The look on her face crushed his heart and he quickly found himself explaining. “I think it would’ve caused problems if I had been found with anyone after what happened then.” Shining Armor urged her to listen as he placed his hooves on her shoulder and desperately tried to catch her gaze. “But I missed you every second. I wished so many times that I had just gone. I wondered what you looked like, what kinds of things you liked, if you had quirks, did you hate mayonnaise.” She finally looked at him, with the smallest hint of a smile. Though he was relieved, Shining Armor lost none of his intensity. “I had so many questions and no answers, just memories. I was so lonely, Bright Eyes. I felt like I had nothing left and even though it felt like I did the right thing, I hated every minute of it. I could never regret you. Ever. You’re my daughter… and I’m your father.”

She hugged him tightly before breaking away and rushing back upstairs to lock herself in her room.

With tears streaming down her face and her chest heaving, she stumbled to her bed before grabbing a stuffed woodland nymph she’d named Tula just that day. “Sir Armor’s my Papa…” She’d whispered to the stuffed doll. “He’s my Papa… and I’m a changeling… and my mama’s a Queen… and I’m an alicorn… and…” The girl was overwhelmed as she held the doll whispering furiously. “He lied to me… and we were so alone without him…” She hadn’t realized her whispers had turned to sobs.

Gemma was so absorbed in her own feelings, she didn’t realize her father had entered her room and pulled her into his embrace. “I’m sorry,

Bright Eyes.” He murmured over and over rocking her until she fell asleep exhausted.

“You can call me whatever you like.” He managed despite the thickness of his emotions. He thought he’d hurt her when he confessed to being her father.

She was silent. “Papa…” She felt him tense as his emotions twisted. “You don’t like it.”

“No!” He quickly assured, craning to look back at her. “I love it.”

“Even around other ponies?” Was her shy response.

“Especially around other ponies.” He blinked as his eyes watered.

The two continued on in an easy silence. The feel of the sun, cool wisps of air, and the liveliness of the forest made for a pleasant trip.

Neither could wait to tell Chrysalis.

Today she was expected to return by train. Shining Armor had hoped her trip had been much more mundane than his last few days.