A Guard for The Queen

Eight months.

It’s been eight months to the day Chrysalis and Strong Heart met, and four of those months were spent in that dark, filthy dungeon. They are out now, and living happily together in his house outside Ponyville. It wasn’t an easy transition for the former Queen; their trips inside the town were met with a bunch of scared ponies, running in fear at the sight of her. They even encountered a couple of the ponies that she faced on Cadance’s wedding day; a blue pony with a rainbow mane, and a cowpony with a southern drawl, who made an attempt to attack, but Strong Heart got in the way. He attempted to quell their somewhat rightfully aggressive attitude, but they weren’t convinced. They left her alone for the time being.

With a chance at a normal life, Chrysalis would be friendly with the other ponies, but it took a while for them to warm up to her. Even then, they still saw her as a sort of time bomb, one that could go off at the slightest push. She’d do her best to persuade them otherwise. After a while, she wouldn’t need Strong Heart to escort her around town, gaining enough confidence and courage to face the citizens on her own.

The quiet life was something Chrysalis never had before, especially when commanding an army of rowdy, messy Changelings. Every once in a while, she did wonder what they were up to; if they learned to find power on their own, but she would just as quickly forget about it.

In the four months they’ve officially been together, Strong Heart didn’t hear a word from Cadance, or Shining Armor. He would send letters to Princess Luna, informing her and Celestia of Chrysalis’ progress, and asking how his former friends were doing. Every message he got back would say that Cadance and Shining Armor were refusing to talk about him, as if he did not exist. This saddened Strong Heart, but he endured.

Strong Heart taught Chrysalis to cook, even though he wasn’t exactly a world class chef either. In a way, they were learning together, though these so called lessons would end with them covered in a mess of food, and a barrel of laughs. They did get better at it as time went on, and their love for each other was stronger than it has ever been. Chrysalis had been using her powers for normal everyday activities, which took some time to get used to. Strong Heart’s love for her had made her very powerful, and just moving a book around initially resulted in the book being flung out of the window.

These four months together had been the happiest the two ever were.

One afternoon, they heard a knock on the door. Strong Heart decided to check it out. To his surprise and delight, he opened the door to see somepony he had not seen for a long while; Twilight Sparkle.

“Twilight!” Strong Heart said happily, as he embraced Twilight, “It’s been too long. How have you been?”

Twilight had been reluctant to visit Strong Heart ever since he got back, even more so when she got a letter from Shining Armor the moment he arrived into Ponyville with Chrysalis. She had been forbidden to visit them, despite her knowing Strong Heart for almost as long as they did

“Hi!” Twilight said, carefully hiding her thoughts, “I’ve been doing great! How about you?”

“I’m good. I’m better than good, actually.”

“Oh? So it’s been fine with…?”

Strong Heart knew where she was going with this. He wasn’t deterred by her tone of voice.

“Yeah, it has. Would you like to see her?”

Twilight slowly backed away from him. To say she was nervous would have been too kind. The last time she saw Chrysalis, she attempted to imprison her in a crystal cave, all the while possessing the identity of her foal sitter.

“I…I really shouldn’t. I have a lot to do today, and I just wanted to say…”

“Is that Twilight?” Chrysalis’ voice said from inside the house, “Let her in!”

Strong Heart said nothing. He merely smiled to Twilight, extending his hoof to the inside of the house. She summoned all her courage to enter. It was a slow walk to the kitchen, she was scared. That feeling then shattered in a matter of moments, when she saw Chrysalis, the mare who attempted to ruin the lives of everpony in Equestria, wearing a cooking apron, lightly covered in white flower.

“Oh my. I’m so sorry you had to see me like this, Twilight. I was clean a moment ago, I swear!”

Twilight stood there, in awe of the drastic change that the Queen has gone through. She had no idea what to say, or even how to react to this. It was an awkward pause, to be sure. Suddenly, a light giggle emerged from Twilight.

“It’s fine.” Twilight said, “What are you making?”

“I was making a cake…I think. I don’t know if I’m doing it right.”

“My friend, Pinkie Pie, is an expert on cakes, but I know my way around one, myself. Need some help?”

“Oh yes, please.”

Strong Heart watched as Twilight aided in Chrysalis’ attempt to make a cake. It was a pleasant sight, and it was nice to see somepony not react out of fear or aggression towards her.

There were a few slip ups, but the cake was ultimately made. As they waited for it to be done, Twilight, Chrysalis, and Strong Heart talked for a long while. Never once was the issue of her past wrongdoings ever brought up. They talked to each other like they were old friends, meeting each other for the first time, in a long time. She talked to Chrysalis with kindness, and respect. In many ways, Twilight was reminded when she met Princess Luna during Nightmare Night, which was the first time she met her after their battle in those ruins many months ago.

Chrysalis listened as Twilight and Strong Heart started to talk about the days when they were younger, the trouble they got themselves into before he joined the Academy, and how he managed to save her from a gang of bullying colts when she was in school. Even before he became a guard, his loyalty to his friends was always present.

The time went by so fast; they almost forgot that a cake was baking in the oven. Their attempt ended up being better than they thought, though it was still a little rough. Overall, not bad for a first time cake.

Twilight noticed that night started to fall during her time at the house.

“Oh my, it’s late. I have to get going.” she said.

“Come by any time.” Chrysalis said.

“I will. Strong Heart? Can I talk to you outside?”

Strong Heart led Twilight out the door. Chrysalis couldn’t help but be curious, so she lightly opened the front window, listening in on their conversation.

“Is everything okay?” Strong Heart wondered.

“Everything is fine. It’s just…I can’t believe that’s the same mare that imprisoned me, took control of my brother, and tried to destroy Canterlot. I’ve got to ask; what’s you’re secret?”

Strong Heart chuckles, remembering that Princess Celestia asked the exact same thing four months ago.

“I don’t have one.” he replied.

“Well, whatever you’re doing. Keep doing it.”

Twilight and Strong Heart hug. Chrysalis could see from their embrace that they haven’t seen each other for far too long. She could also see Twilight looking upon him with admiration, but also disappointment. Almost as if…no…it couldn’t be. Chrysalis shakes her head, repelling any thoughts away.

“Don’t let it be another 5 years before I see you again, okay Twi?”

“Promise.”

The two share their goodbyes. Strong Heart was too afraid to ask about Shining Armor, and Twilight was too afraid to tell him about how she wasn’t supposed to see them at all. They simply just parted ways.

Strong Heart walked back inside the house to see Chrysalis no longer in the living room. He checked the kitchen. She wasn’t there either.

He walked upstairs and found her lying in bed, waiting for him.

Without saying a word, he sat by her. Immediately, she rested her head on his shoulder. This surprised him, but it wasn’t unwelcome.

“I think she’s starting to like you.” he breaks the silence.

“I was getting a little worried there. Was the cake alright?”

“It was good.”

“Liar.” she chuckles.

“No, I really mean it.”

Strong Heart looks to see her in a deep thought.

“What’s the matter?”

“I saw the way Twilight was looking at you. How you looked at her. I could tell that she had feelings for you.”

“Chrysalis, that’s….”

“And I could tell that you had feelings for her.” She interrupts, finishing her thought. Strong Heart doesn’t deny her statement, nor did she expect him to.

“I wouldn’t normally do this…” she continued, “…but just for tonight…”

She changes into Twilight. The likeness is uncanny. The voice spot on.

“Maybe I could be her…for you?”

It’s been so long since Strong Heart thought of Twilight in that way. In the days that they knew each other, Twilight took a shine to Strong Heart, which he noticed almost immediately. As she was coming of age, and increasingly more beautiful, he thought about telling her how he felt. The day before, however, was when he got his first scar. One scar then became two, and eventually, he decided not to pursue a relationship, fearing his appearance would scare her away.

Twilight was one of many reasons why he chose duty over everything else.

Now, Chrysalis lies before him, transformed into a mare that he had feelings for. Slowly, he runs his hoof over her lovely lavender body, those feelings coming back to him.

“I won’t lie to you. For the longest time, before I met you, I dreamt of her in my bed.”

He guides his hoof to her face, taking in every sensation.

“But over time, there were others.”

“Others?” she said. Not mad, but interested.

“You’ve met them before.”

“I have? When?”

“They’re pretty hard to avoid in Canterlot.”

She begins to understand. Chrysalis turns into Cadance, then Celestia, and finally Luna. She was quick to catch the glimmer in his eyes, when she was in this form, and ceased her changing. He looked upon her form, reminiscing about another time, another place.

“Luna?” she asked him, finding this new insight unexpected.

Strong Heart only nodded in response. Chrysalis chose not to ask about the story between him and Luna, but she didn’t have to. She saw it all in his eyes, and he allowed her to see. He carefully caresses her now dark blue face, and mane of what looked like flowing stars, treating her like she was the princess herself.

“You have a habit of falling for royalty, don’t you?” she says coyly.

“How could you tell?” he asks, not hiding his feelings.

“Your eyes. They’re easy to read.”

“Only when I want them to be. I wouldn’t be much of a guard, if everypony could read my thoughts.”

“I suppose not.”

Strong Heart smirked.

“You loved her, didn’t you?” she asks.

“I did…once.”

He leans in for a kiss; Chrysalis opens her mouth to receive it. But then, he stops, just inches away from her mouth, hovering over it, teasing it. Then, he leans back ever so slightly away, just enough for him to look into her eyes.

“However…whatever feelings I had; they are gone.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“I don’t dream of her, or any of them. Not anymore.”

“What do you dream of now?” she asks.

“Nothing…” he replied, “I have everything I need, right here.”

Slowly, she changes back into her normal form. He feels her body, no longer of dark blue fur, but of a black, smooth, and soft shell. A familiar sensation washes over her. She can feel his love pour into her, making her strong. She couldn’t feel it when she was in the other forms, only when she was herself, did the rush of affection return.

“You have no idea how simple it is to believe what you say.” she tells him.

“I think I do.” he completes his kiss, now that she is normal again.

Chrysalis grabs onto him, bringing him down to her as he rolls on top of her. Another night of lovemaking awaits them.

Just a few hours before morning approached, and Strong Heart woke up to a rather disturbing sound. It was the sounds of retching, and it was coming from the bathroom. He turned to see Chrysalis not in bed with him. He walked to the bathroom door, still in a groggy state.

“Chrysalis? Are you okay?” he says, knocking on the door.

“I…I don’t know.” she replies.

Strong Heart opened the door to see her hunched over on the toilet. She vomits again. He holds her hair back to prevent it from going into the toilet.

“Was it something you ate?”

“I didn’t think the cake was that bad.” she joked. Even in her condition, her newly developed sense of humor was present. “Sorry you had to see me like this.”

“I’ve seen far worse, believe me. I’m taking you to see a doctor.”

Chrysalis chuckles, as Strong Heart wipes her mouth with a cloth.

“I hate to tell you, but I don’t think they treat insects.”

“Well…you look like a pony. It couldn’t hurt. If you’re sick, you should see a doctor. Come on, let me help you up.”

It wasn’t a busy day at Ponyville Medical Hospital, only a few were in the waiting area, where Strong Heart and Chrysalis sat. Strong Heart read the town newspaper, but Chrysalis just sat there, worried about what the doctor might say if he or she saw her. Her thoughts were pulled away from her; when she looked down to see a young earthfilly, with a doll in her mouth, looking straight up at her. It wasn’t out of fear, but of curiosity. She hadn’t seen Chrysalis around Ponyville before, and her unique appearance caught her young eyes.

Chrysalis had nothing to do but look back at the filly, who had no facial expression, other than wide eyed curiosity. Chrysalis gave her a smile, showing her sharp teeth, but the filly didn’t recoil, but instead jumped onto the couch, and leaned in closer, inspecting the teeth. As she leaned in closer, the doll dropped from her mouth, onto the floor. She looked back at the doll, tears welling from her eyes. Using her magic, Chrysalis picked up the doll, and handed it back to the young one. She takes it back, happily, and trots back to her parents. For Chrysalis, the moment was oddly comforting.

“Chrysalis?” Nurse Redheart says, catching Chrysalis’ attention, “The Doctor will see you.”

“Do you want me to come with you?” Strong Heart asks.

“Yes, please.” Chrysalis replies.

She’s never been inside a Doctor’s office before. She found the pure white walls and brown floor more than a little unsettling. For a place meant to invoke calm and safety, she sure didn’t feel it. Strong Heart looked at her with reassuring eyes, calming her nerves.

The Doctor showed up after a few uncomfortable moments, holding a chart up to his face with his magic.

“Okay.” he said, “Miss…Chrysalis. Am I saying that ri----“

He looks at Chrysalis. He almost drops his chart to the floor, but catches it quickly.

“Are…are you a Changeling?”

“I am.”

“Fascinating.” The Doctor replied, “I’ve never seen a Changeling with my own eyes.”

He looks over Chrysalis with the same kind of curiosity as the filly back in the waiting room. He then goes back to his professionalism a Doctor usually holds.

“So, what seems to be the problem?”

“I’ve been feeling sick for the past few days.”

Strong Heart throws her a look. This is the first he’s heard of this being on going. She looks back at him, embarrassed for keeping it from him.

“I’m sorry. I was going to tell you.”

He doesn’t look at her with anger, but of concern. He rests his hoof on her back. They look back at the still thinking Doctor.

“A few days? Hmmm…how long do these spells last?”

“Only in the morning. I wake up with the urge to vomit. After that, I feel a bit nauseous and light headed for most of the day.”

“It sounds like a case of morning sickness to me.”

“Does that mean there’s something wrong with me?”

The Doctor thinks over any and all possibilities. Only one seems to make any sense.

“When was the last time you menstruated?” he asks her.

Chrysalis cocks her head to the side, unaware of the term.

“What?” she replies, “What is that?”

Before the Doctor could explain any further, Strong Heart takes him aside.

“She…doesn’t do that.” Strong Heart whispers to him. The Doctor’s eyes widen in surprise.

“Really? But, she is female, right?”

“She most definitely is, but I think Changeling anatomy is a bit different than us.”

“How do you know she doesn’t menstruate?”

“I spent four months on constant watch over her in a dungeon. Trust me, I would know.”

The Doctor opens his mouth, ready to ask about that last part, but he quickly shuts it. After seconds, he nods, understanding the situation. He turns back to Chrysalis, who was unaware of the conversation that just took place.

“Nevermind. I’m going to perform a scan using my magic. Don’t worry; it’s completely painless, though you may want to cover your eyes for a bit. It’s a little bright.”

The Doctor’s horns glows brightly. He scans Chrysalis’ body up and down. It looks like it could go on forever. The bright light hurts both her and Strong Heart’s eyes. The Doctor stops, and Strong Heart can see a look of shock on his face.

“Oh…my….” was all he could say.

“What is it, Doctor?” Strong Heart asks.

“Well, despite some obvious differences, her anatomy is surprisingly similar to us. Almost exact, even.”

“Is that all?” Chrysalis asks.

“No. The good news is that you are not sick. You’re actually very healthy.”

“What the bad news?”

“It’s not bad news at all. You’re pregnant.”

Silence. Strong Heart was surprised, but Chrysalis still didn’t understand.

“Preg…nant?” she says slowly.

“Yes.” the Doctor replies, “You have a foal growing inside you.”

Chrysalis gasps, immediately pressing against her stomach. The concept of pregnancy eludes her greatly, not that she wasn’t aware of the term, but that it’s happening to her.

“I…I don’t understand. Ponies and Changelings can’t…” she stops herself, looking at her stomach, softly touching it.

“Like I said before, your anatomy is similar to ours. Maybe it was just luck.” She doesn’t respond to his explanation, still focused on her stomach area.

“How long until…” Strong Heart asked, trailing off before concluding his question.

“It’s hard to say. Normal equine pregnancies take around eleven months, but her foal is growing faster than that. She said that she developed morning sickness a few days ago, but here, the foal is nearly half a month old in development! At this rate, the filly will be born in seven months, eight at the latest.” Chrysalis didn’t respond to any of that, like she wasn’t listening. “I’ll leave you two alone.”

The Doctor slowly walked out of the room. The moment the door shut, Chrysalis started to cry. Strong Heart leans close to her, putting a foreleg on her back.

“You must think I’m stupid.” Chrysalis demeans herself.

“Not at all. I take it your army wasn’t made like this.”

“Of course not! The army was made with magic and cocoons filled with slime! Giving birth to so many Changelings would be excruciating! This…I’ve never experienced this…”

“Are you…happy?”

“I don’t know. I should be, but I…”

“If you don’t want it…”

“No!” Chrysalis stops what he is implying, “I’m just…afraid.”

“Afraid? Queen Chrysalis, afraid?”

“I can be scared too, sometimes! Just not very often.”

“What are you afraid of?”

“I don’t know if this foal will look like me, you, or some kind of combination.”

“Neither do I, but would you love it any differently?”

“I’m not sure if I can. Love a creature of my creation.”

He places his hoof on her stomach, caressing it.

“We both created it. I don’t know much about parenting myself, but I can show you, if you’d like.”

Chrysalis smiled, resting her head onto Strong Heart’s.

“I’ve never been in command of a single foal before. How different will it be, from commanding my army?”

“More than you think.” Strong Heart laughs.

“What will you tell the Princesses?”

Strong Heart thought about this. They had to know what was going on, but he was also afraid that Cadance and Shining Armor could get the news, too.

“I’ll tell them what has happened, but I’m going to use some level of discretion. For now, nopony can know, other than them.”

“Not even Twilight?”

He had to think about that for a second. Chrysalis had taken a liking to Twilight, considering her as a friend, even after the past between the two of them. But, what if she found out, and told her brother?

“I don’t know. It’ll only be for the time being. We’ll tell her soon enough.”

“Okay. Strong Heart?”

“Yes?”

“I am happy.”

“Me too.” he smiles.

Night was beginning to fall, and Celestia was retiring to her chambers. Before she could, she decided to give her sister Luna a visit. They almost never see each other, apart from them attending to royal duties, celebrations, or during events like now, switching places so that Luna can rule over the night.

She entered Luna’s chambers, and the dark princess was in the middle of waking up, brushing her flowing mane with her magic.

“Good evening, sister.” Luna said, “We are ready, and awake to raise the moon, and watch the night.”

Though Luna had learned to address herself, without the use of the royal dialect, she would slip in and out of it from time to time, especially when talking to the staff around the castle, including the guards.

“You don’t have to address yourself as ‘we’, Luna. I’m not a Royal Guard.”

“My apologies. I must still be a little drowsy from my morning sleep.”

POOF! A letter pops into existence in front of Luna. This is not a surprise to her. It’s the letter that Strong Heart wrote, and is addressed to her only.

“A letter? I wasn’t expecting one for another couple of weeks. This must be important.”

Celestia watched Luna open the letter with curious eyes. The frequent letters to Luna had begun to concern her for a while, but now, she has to know.

“Luna, why does Strong Heart send his letters only to you?”

“He always sends his letters in the night.”

“Because he knows that you would be awake.”

Luna ignores what Celestia is suggesting, and reads the letter. Her eyes widen in amazement. Celestia takes note.

“What is it?”

“It appears the Queen…is with child.”

Celestia snatches the letter away with her magic. She reads the note, what the message says is true.

“I do not believe it. I thought it was impossible for Ponies and Changelings to conceive!” Celestia says, bewildered at the news.

“You, Dear Sister, also thought it was impossible for Ponies and Changelings to fall in love.”

“Point taken. Still, this news could prove to be…disconcerting to some of our other subjects.”

“You refer to Shining Armor and Cadance?”

“Yes. Like this letter says; they mustn’t know of this union. The results could be most troubling. We mustn’t tell them, until after the foal is born.”

Luna is taken aback by Celestia’s dark tone.

“You don’t think they’re capable of doing something like THAT?”

“They hate Chrysalis more than anypony in Equestria, I’d say that they are definitely capable.”

“Okay. Then they will not know. In the meantime, I’ll send my congratulations to Strong Heart and Chrysalis.”

“Don’t think I forgot my question to you, Luna.”

Luna stops writing her letter. She sighs.

“I’ve never seen you treat a royal guard such as he, that day.” Celestia says, “Was there ever a moment…?”

“Sister…” Luna interrupts, “We are merely friends. He used to be my guard when I returned from my banishment. Remember? You assigned him to me personally.”

“I do remember. I also remember him having less scars, and less of a cold shoulder to the other guards. If something happened between you two, I want to know.”

Luna pauses, chuckling at her sister's implications.

“It doesn’t matter now. Strong Heart finally found somepony that he loves; hopefully one that loves him back. Whatever happened between us is all in the past. The only thing we have now is an understanding. That is all I’m going to say.”

Celestia shakes her head.

“Oh, my dear Luna. Always filled with secrets.”

“Look who’s talking.”

Four Months Later.

Shining Armor trains his guards bright and early. It is mid-morning today, and his training regimen consists of constant sessions of agility training, flying training with the Pegasus’s and magic training with the unicorns. Even at such an early hour, his guards are tired by the time it gets to afternoon. He’s a tough Captain, but he sees all of his guards as his friends. It’s only now, that the absence of one particular guard has taken its toll on him.

Princess Cadance arrived as the afternoon broke.

“Soliders! Fall in line! The Princess is here!” Shining Armor shouts, with the air of intimidation. The guards waste no time getting into line. As Cadance passes by every one of them, they would bow to her. She would smile, nodding her head back to them, before greeting Shining Armor with a peck on the cheek.

“At ease. Go back to your training.” Shining Armor tells the guards. They do so. “Nice to see you, Princess. Come to train with the others?”

“No.” Cadance chuckles, “I’m no solider like you, Captain. I just came to see how you were doing.”

“Been better, but been worse.”

“You were awfully quiet last night. Is there something wrong?”

Shining Armor sighs, something is definitely wrong, and Cadance can see it.

“You probably think I’m being silly, but…I miss Strong Heart.”

“Me too.” she admits, “I do wonder what he’s up to lately…with her.” The way she mentions Chrysalis is said with a hint of venom. “He’s been sending letters to the Princesses, so we know he’s alive.”

“Or Chrysalis killed him, and is sending false letters.”

“Now you are being silly.”

“You saw how she was on our wedding. There is no good in her.”

“I know. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t fear for Strong Heart’s safety. But, there’s nothing we can do. You remember what he said to you?”

“He wouldn’t dare, after everything we’ve been through together. Still…I might want to check up on him.”

“Well, we are going to Ponyville to see Twilight today. Maybe we could pay him a quick visit?”

Shining Armor thinks for a bit.

“I wouldn’t know what to do, if we saw him again. It might not be such a good idea.”

“It’s your decision, Shining Armor. We leave in an hour.”

“Everything has to be perfect!” Twilight yells, as she runs around her house. “This place is in no condition for royalty!”

Her constant running causes her to knock over a nearby lamp. She sighs in frustration.

“UGGGH!! Just another thing to do!” she uses her magic to brush away the lamp shards.

Many months have gone by since Twilight saw her big brother; the last time she ever saw him was when she said goodbye to him before he went off on his honeymoon with Cadance. Since then, she received only letters from him. They went into great detail about his days at the academy, training the new recruits, his new life with Cadance, and then, his troubles with Strong Heart. Twilight didn’t inform him that she had been visiting Strong Heart and Chrysalis frequently, and that she became aware of the Queen's pregnancy a couple months ago, when they told her in confidence. She was afraid of his response to her disobedience. She loved her brother, and hated seeing him angry.

She sent her pet dragon, Spike, to take care of some business in Canterlot, while she stayed to prepare the house for Shining Armor and Cadance’s arrival. Like she always is, she was a bit of a neat freak, even going so far as to make a checklist for all the things she had to do to prepare. Soon, everything was set, everything was clean, and everything was ready.

Just in the nick of time, too. Twilight hears a knock on the door the moment she finished her last chore.

She opened to door to see Shining Armor and Cadance greeting her on sight.

“Twily!” Shining Armor said happily, hooves outstretched to give her a brotherly hug. Twilight accepts the hug with great enthusiasm.

“It’s been so long, my BBBFF.” she said. Shining Armor chuckles. She then turns her attention to Cadance. “Princess Cadance!” she hugs her former foalsitter, “It’s been too long, as well!”

“How wonderful it is to see you, Twilight.” She notices Twilight’s disheveled mane. “Oh my, did we catch you at a bad time?”

Twilight looks at her mane, embarrassed, but she shrugs it off.

“No! Of course not. Just, tidying things up for you two, that’s all!”

They walk into the clean house, admiring Twilight’s handiwork.

“This place looks great, Twily!” Shining Armor says, impressed.

“It’s much cleaner than our room.” Cadance playfully bumps Shining Armor with her hoof, he bumps her back in response, chuckling as he does it. Twilight shakes her head, laughing as she closes the door.

The three converse for a long while, catching up on lost times. All of them were so happy to see one another, that the subject of Strong Heart and Chrysalis never came up, like they truly did not exist in those hours. Everything was going perfect.

As evening was falling, it was time for Shining Armor and Cadance to take their leave. Twilight was sad to see them go, but understood that they had duties to attend to.

“We’ll see you as soon as we can. We promise.” Shining Armor said.

Shining Armor opens the door…and that’s when he saw them. Strong Heart and Chrysalis were walking through Ponyville; laughing, and having what looked to be a good time. He saw how in love they were, how happy they were. While he was relived his former friend hadn’t become Changeling food, his deep seeded hatred for the Queen out-weighed any positive thoughts. She had a cloak draped along her body. Hiding the small bump that is her pregnant belly.

"It's not cold outside. Why is she wearing that?" he wondered.

Strong Heart looked up from Chrysalis’ gaze, and saw Shining Armor staring right back at him. Chrysalis looks to see what he’s staring at. She almost gasps to see the stallion captain turning his attention towards her. She could practically feel the anger rising from him, as his eyes pierce her from outside in. She clutches Strong Heart out of fear. This surprises Shining Armor, he had never seen fear on her face before. Seeing her like that somehow brought a deal of satisfaction to him, though he wondered why she’s afraid of him now.

Strong Heart takes Chrysalis, and the two walk away from his stare.

“Shining Armor?” Cadance said, unaware of what just transpired. “Is everything okay?”

Shining Armor turns back to her, the look on his face leaving no clues as to what he saw outside.

“Yes…everything’s fine.”

Shining Armor did not tell Cadance of what he saw, but he made no attempt to hide his feelings from her on the ride back to Canterlot. She looked at her husband, as the look of contempt and hatred was still planted firmly on his face. Whenever she caught his attention just enough to break him away from his thoughts, he would become as he was before, happy and content. It was a long ride back, so she decided to finally address it.

“Okay, what’s the matter?” she said.

“Nothing. I told you I’m fine.”

“I can tell when you’re lying. Your ears flutter when you lie.”

“My ears do not flutter!” Shining Armor scoffs, ears fluttering.

“They are fluttering right now.”

Shining Armor knows he is caught, but he merely shakes his head, chuckling off the discovery.

“Look, ever since we left Twilight’s you’ve had that look of anger on your face. So, spill it.” Cadance demanded of him. He was caught off guard by her forceful attitude, but he knew that he couldn’t hide the truth from her forever; she was bound to figure it out eventually.

“When I was walking out the door…I saw them.” he told her. She was quick to figure it out. “They were just walking, talking, laughing. They seemed happy.”

“Then, what’s the matter? We now know that Strong Heart is alive and well.”

“Yes, and I should be happy about that, but…it’s her. Every time I look at her, I think about everything that she done to us, what she tried to do. And, there she was, in the forelegs of our best friend, who she has turned against us. That’s not even the strangest part.”

“What do you mean?”

“She saw me staring at her…and she was afraid.”

“Afraid?” Cadance was bewildered.

“I have never seen her like that. She was so scared; she practically grabbed Strong Heart, as if he was some kind of shield.”

“Why would she be afraid of you?” Cadance wondered, “It’s unlike her.”

“You’re telling me. Maybe she thought I knew something.”

“Like…something she’s hiding from you? From us? That seems like a bit of a stretch.”

“I’m just making a guess, okay?” Shining Armor thinks for a moment, “What about the Princesses? You think they might know something we don’t?”

“Probably. They have been keeping quiet about Strong Heart’s letters, recently.”

“We should ask them about it, and see what we find out.”

The next morning, Shining Armor visited Princess Celestia during her usual morning stroll along the castle garden. She did not expect to see the Captain that day, figuring that he was still busy training the new recruits. Nevertheless, Celestia wasn’t perturbed by his company; she always thought of him as loyal, a good captain, despite his recent behavior in the past few months.

When the day Strong Heart chose love over duty came, Shining Armor was devastated. He would constantly plead to both Celestia and Luna to cure Strong Heart of his “illness”, and make him normal again. They tried to convince him that there was nothing wrong with Strong Heart, but refused to believe it. For the next four months, he resented the Princesses decision, and would barely talk to them when it came to personal matters. Celestia would try to read them the letters that were sent, letting them know that their former friend was okay, and living a happy life, but they were received with scoffs, or just pure silence.

The only time they ever talked, since then, was when the Princesses would give him orders to carry out, which he would, but the way he would respond to them would hint that he was still ever so sour about the events that had transpired.

Now, Shining Armor is walking with her in the garden, talking to her like nothing has happened between them in the past few months. That is, until…

“I’ve noticed you’ve been rather quiet about Strong Heart’s letters, recently.” Shining Armor says rather bluntly. Celestia is taken aback by his forwardness, and he's aware of it.

“Oh. Well, you and Cadance have proven time and again that you no longer have any interest in the former Lieutenant’s personal life. So, Luna and I decided not to disclose any more information on the matter. Tell me, why the sudden interest now?”

“I’m asking because yesterday, I saw her and Strong Heart as I left Twilight’s, and she was a bit…distraught when she saw me.”

“She probably wasn’t expecting to see you.”

“Or, there was something she was hiding from me. Do you know something about her that I don’t?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. The letters aren’t anything of much importance, just your usual updates.” A gift Celestia has is making lies sound utterly convincing. While Shining Armor still had his doubts, he had to admit that what she was telling him sounded genuine.

“Just, the way she looked at me seemed to imply…”

“Look…” Celestia interrupts, “…I understand how you feel about her, I really do. But, she’s happy now, reformed, and living a new life with the former Lieutenant. Listen to me, Shining Armor, you’re a good soldier, and a valuable asset to Equestria. So, I’m telling you this, not as a Princess, but as your friend…let it go.”

Shining Armor is unable to say anything. He couldn’t just defy her, or argue with her. He’s seen her bad side, and even though he still distrusts Chrysalis greatly, getting on Celestia’s “list” wouldn’t do him any good.

“I will see you later, Captain.” Celestia says, walking away from him.

Shining Armor flinches at the way she said “Captain”. She always referred to him by name. Now, it feels so impersonal. He didn’t have to argue with her, for all he knew, he WAS now on her bad side. This did not deter him from finding out the truth. He knew the Princess was a good liar, and what she told him probably was a straight up fabrication of facts.

If he wasn’t going to get the truth from her directly, he had to go behind her back to get it.