The Changes We All Must Make

Listening to both Shining and Cadence was rather interesting, for maybe an hour. Then everything that came out of their mouths after that hour was complaining. Complaining about stupid childish things. It seems that the two of them are so incompatible, that it really was a miracle they are together in the first place. Zenith was formulating a plan, something he could do to make his situation better. Question was, would it work if he tried it?

"Okay, well now that you've gotten all this off of your minds I'll have to ask you both to leave. Work on talking more and not screwing like metaphorical bunnies. Understand?" They both nod refusing to look at one another now. "Good. Off you go, I have things to evaluate and it may take some time. Come back tomorrow, and I'll have another session prepared for the both of you."

Shining Armor got up first and left. Cadance however, remained seated her gaze locked on her empty tea cup. She was clearly lost in thought, staring off into the chaos her mind was trying to work through. Zenith had a pretty good idea what she was thinking about, but it made him wonder. Should he go forward with the plan he's had brewing in the back of his thoughts. Would it be so wrong to act on it? Their marriage was falling apart as it is, a little push in the right direction and he could have what some previous kings and queens of his kind could only have dreamed of. On the other hand, he could fix it. Fix the marriage with what he knew and be on his merry way home when he gets his treaty. Both outcomes get a treaty, but which one should he choose. Before he could make up his mind however, Cadance spoke up.

"Zenith, do you think it's possible to fix this?" Cadance asked pulling Zenith's eyes to hers. There was worry clear as day in them, something Zenith could use should he deem it the right course of action. "I do love Shining but we don't seem to be getting any better and all the things we just told you were so stupid to be argued about or even mentioned."

Zenith sighed picking himself up from the recliner and poured some more tea in her cup. He then took a seat next to Cadance who's eyes had been following him rather closely. She was wanting an answer, Zenith knew what he could say but he'd have to choose now. He made sure to get a look of thought on his face so Cadance knew he was thinking. He felt horrible about this but it was his only real choice. This was going to take much too long. He didn't have the time to fix such a broken relationship. If he did he would. Morgana will have to be awakened. Allura, she'd be so disappointed in him. He'd have to apologize to her grave later for this. His kin will continue to be pained by borderline starvation while he plays doctor otherwise. No, he would not allow that!

"Well Cadance, you are absolutely right." Cadance flinched at his harsh answer. "In all of my knowledge and previous experience in this subject... I'd say you have a one in one-thousand chance of making your marriage survive this, with my help. I've got so many things you both could try but given Shining's attitude most of them will have little to no effect. He's so emotionally traumatized and scarred, that I'd be surprised if what love he did have for you has been turned into something else. Resentment, being one of them. It's clear to me he does have a heart but I cannot say how much it beats for you."

"Y-you mean, it's possible he's not in love with me anymore? Even after sitting though all of this with me?"

"It's a possibility, and if I'm being straight with you... I wouldn't be surprised if right now Shining was contemplating finding some two-bit whore to screw out his frustrations. That is purely my speculation however, there is no proof to that." Zenith said watching her reactions carefully. She had visibly tensed up when he tossed the idea of him cheating on her into her head. She then relaxed a bit when he said there was no proof to it.

"So, he could be cheating on me?"

"It is possible."

Zenith watched as Cadance drank down her tea and got up walking toward the door. "Thank you for your time Zenith." Opening the door she looked back a look of sadness on her face. "Do you think I could come back a bit later... not for counseling. Just to talk?"

"Of course, you are always welcome to come see me." He said giving her a smile. "We can talk whenever you like." Cadance gave a gentle smile and closed the door behind her leaving Zenith alone in the room. He had much to do, and little time to do it now. It was as much as he didn't want to, it was time to wake Morgana. Precautions must be made. Should he fail, the hive needed to be prepared for anything and everything.

A pulse traveled through her...

... Another... and another...

Her consciousness had returned, and it was time she pulled herself together for her king. She had a job to do, and it was about time! Pulling herself from a green cocoon plastered to a wall she shook the remaining goo from her carapace. She was healed, and it was about time that she'd get to play in her new king's game. The pieces were set, and it was going to be played in the most beautiful of ways. She loved playing dirty, and his majesty knew it.

"Mission acquired..." The changeling guardian said aloud to herself a crooked and jagged smile appeared on her face. "I will sweep the board clean for you my King. Just say the word." Her wings flared to life lifting her from the floor slowly taking the form of a pegasus tan mare with a white mane and tail. A few different cutie-marks flashed across her hips as she made her choice on a pair of dual crossed swords. A smile crossed her new face, a wicked and evil smile the likes even a mad man like Discord would be hesitant to step up against. "Awaiting, final confirmation order."

Zenith sighed looking at the tea in his cup sullenly it had been about 4 hours since Cadance left and he was wondering just how long it would take for his plan to start working. Taking a sip of his tea, his door opened and to his delight the pieces were falling just as he planned. Shining Armor stood in the doorway with a sword in hand. "Ah Captain Armor," He said placing down his cup on the saucer on the table in front of himself. Taking a quick note of the type of sword in Shining's possession. It's a simple broad sword, perfect something he could dodge if need be. "Is there something I might help you with?"

"Yes, there is something you can help me with. I can't say that you'll like it though." Shining replied his tone of voice serious. He was attempting to sound threatening but Zenith just smiled at him.

"Ah is that so? You think you can solve this problem with violence do you? You haven't realized that I'm winning this little game of chess we are playing?" Zenith snickered slightly picking up his cup of tea and stood up. "And just how do you think you'll get away with it hmm? I mean you can't just kill me in expect it to go your way. Princess Celestia, Luna and your wife are the only three that know I'm in this room besides you, and that makes four. So, unless you broke protocol and disobeyed them... You would be put in jail for a good ten years minimum for assault of a defenseless individual with no means to defend himself. Oh but you wouldn't do that... your a good little dog." He sneered walking towards Shining confidently sipping the tea in his cup, keeping eye contact, and stopping right in front of him the door way between them.

"I-" Shining started to speak but was cut off by Zenith.

"So, your only option would be to kill me. right? But you haven't thought that all the way through... You don't know what I do, so let me fill you in. If I die not only would you be put in prison for murder of a prisoner, you'd be unable to defend yourself from what would be coming for you and everyone you care for. She'd kill everyone who stood up to her. The elements of harmony one by one, picked off in the matter of hours... what she'd do with them? Who knows but if she's smart she'd use them for breeding a strong changeling army. I mean what else would those mares be good for other than that?" Shining's face contorted into one of disgust, and pure raw hate beginning to simmer inside him.

"I think I know of what she'd do after she dealt with your sister and her little friends. She'd find and break your mother and father next. Mentally breaking your mother by destroying your father before her eyes in every demented and twisted way possible. Maybe she'd even use her for other things too. Making her useful after she broke her... maybe she'd make her into her personal breeding bitch." Zenith said, seeing and feeling more anger bubbling violently within the white unicorn. He wanted to hit him, he could feel it. "Don't worry she'd be well taken care of just like your sister, brood mothers are never mistreated. They'll be in a constant state of blissful pleasure and pregnancy. Popping out countless changelings to add to the hive. Until the day they die, with whorish smiles plastered on their faces from being fucked like sluts and loving every second of it!"

"I'm going to kill you, you son of a bitch!" Shining enraged by Zenith's words, slashed his sword at him. Zenith easily back-stepped to avoiding the wild slash. Shining's horn lighting up and firing a beam of magic, blasting Zenith into the wall across the room. Zenith screamed in agony as his wings crunched against the wall breaking them. This was part of the plan, not his wings breaking however, but still it was part of the plan. It was a gamble though. Celestia, Luna, or Cadance would have to show up before he was killed by Captain Shining Asshole and stop him for it to work. His scream had made it out into the grand halls of Canterlot Castle and they had great acoustics, but it all relied on the fact that a princess was near by.

Zenith didn't feel that lucky at the moment. His wings as a result of being broken and crushed were oozing out a thick red substance akin to blood. Had started to pool on the floor under him as he slowly pulled himself to his feet. He looked up at Shining who had walked over to him taking the sword in both hands and preparing to bring it down on his head. Zenith saw someone show up in the door way. A pink someone, his savior Princess Cadance. He smiled looking at Shining as his sword was wrenched from his hands magically and Shining was thrown back away from him. Cadance now standing in between Shining and Zenith. Zenith mouthed one word as all the rage seemed to vanish from Shining's face to be replaced with the realization that he was played for a fool.

"Checkmate."