The Changes We All Must Make

Cadance stood there, between the two of us looking torn. She had tears in her eyes, she'd been crying, about what Zenith wasn't sure yet but he was sure he'd be hearing what it was soon.

"Sh-Shining I can't believe you," Cadance said her voice cracking as she tried hard to keep from breaking into sobs. "I tried so hard to make this better for us. I wanted us to be like we where before the happenings at our wedding. Only for you to throw any chance we had just because you have a vendetta!"

"Cadance stop protecting that parasite! All he's trying to-" Shining started before getting cut off by the irritate pink alicorn.

"No, the only parasite I see is you. You're sucking all the happiness out of me and you have been for the past eight months! I was blind to the problem but now that I can see it you're broken Shining. You're broken over some deep seated grudge that you'd put before us. Now I have to place you under arrest... For assaulting a defenseless individual as well as attempted murder." Cadance's horn lit up a deep pink as a magic-null ring appeared on Shining's horn and her horn began to glow brighter still as he disappeared from the room.

After Shining disappeared in a flash of pink it was only mere seconds before Zenith felt like his heart was going to rip out of his chest. He felt every bit of pain and sadness it caused Cadance to put her own husband in jail. She dropped to her knees and began to cry. Zenith felt his heart wrenching in his chest and it wasn't going to go away not until she was happy again. It was like Allura was punishing him, as if to say 'You did this, now clean up your mess or it will hurt forever.'

Zenith groaned in pain as he made his way to the weeping princess and knelt down next to her. It wasn't much but there was only one thing he could do, give her the best hug he could manage. He did his best not to get the plasma coming out of his wings on her but failed. She didn't seem to mind at all because she turned and hugged him back burring her face into his chest.

They sat there a while as Cadance cried, it had to have been around ten minutes later when Celestia charged in the door. The look on Celestia's face shifted from prepared for battle to surprise. Just what in her great sun had happened in here? She had received a urgent report that Shining Armor had appeared in a prison cell. At first she thought it was Cadance putting her hoof down and putting him in the dog house. However after going to see him and what he had told her, she had to check out Zenith's room immediately.

"Hello Celestia," Zenith said not having to look up. "So great of you to join us." Zenith's voice was different. It was pained and not filled with the dry humor of his usual welcome. "I am sorry for the lack of hospitality, but right now there is something much more important we need to discuss." His eyes lifted to meet hers, the sound of Cadance's sobs was much quieter now as she looked over at her Auntie and moved to her in a blur of pink. She latched on to Celestia in a hug as she continued to sniffle and weep. Celestia returned the hug from her niece, looking down at her with a frown on her timeless muzzle.

"Important how?" Celestia replied keeping her niece wrapped tightly in her arms as she stroked her mane trying to soothe her. She'd never seen Cadance like this she'd have to get the whole story but she was curious as to what the changeling had to say first.

"Vermilion Law, Section eight." Zenith said hissing as he stood up, causing Celestia's eyes to go wide. "I demand that Shining Armor is tired and sentenced for assault and attempted murder on another races royalty, under your jurisdiction. Your law should prevent such things... Given that the damage to my wings is most likely going to be permanent, crippling me for life. As such under article 5, I demand that he is sentenced immediately to a minimum of fifteen years behind bars."

Celestia remembered the Vermilion Law, it was a law that was passed for the sake of keeping prisoners and P.O.W.'s safe from guards. Now there was many sections to the law. The one that Zenith just invoked details that he as the ruler of his race is to be cared for and protected no matter his previous crimes. Should he come to harm while in custody he can demand the terms of sentencing. How long and what type of punishment so long as it's legal in Equestria.

This however surprised Celestia even more, what Zenith just said was the minimum punishment that he could give. Shining Armor could have been facing the death penalty, but Zenith was being merciful. She narrowed her eyes at him and thought about why he was being merciful. He did want peace, at least from what she could gather but that could still be obtained through the legal system even with him demanding Shining's execution. It took a solid minute of silence only for her to realize it was her niece. Cadance was the reason he didn't demand the death penalty. He sees her as someone he cares about. He wouldn't try to crush her soul, or at least she didn't think so.

Celestia sighed softly and nodded her head. There really was nothing she could do. Once Vermilion Law was mentioned as stated in the first passage she cannot argue or protect Shining from his actions. Neither could anyone else for that matter. It was set in stone. Unless there was a witness to prove that Shining didn't do it he would spend the next fifteen years in a prison cell.

"Cadance, did you happen to see what was happening?" Celestia asked her niece, getting Cadance to look up at her with her gentle and motherly tone.

"N-not everything... The only thing I saw was S-shiny about to bring a sword down on Zenith's head..." Her voice cracked multiple times as she sniffled. Cadance had let go of her Auntie and looked at Zenith. "I-I'm so sorry f-for what Shiny did to you. I should have got here earlier to s-stop him."

"What do you mean Cadance?" Celestia asked putting her hand lightly on her shoulder.

"I... I caught Shiny with another mare..."

Zenith's mouth dropped open, but he quickly closed it his eyes glancing at both the princesses in the room to make certain they didn't see. He'd been right, even though it was a guess and part of his eventual plan. HE WAS RIGHT! He had planned on using Morgana to disguise herself and hit on Shining in his time of marital turmoil. Then have her take his place after learning everything there was to know and go on a cheating spree. Now here's the kicker, he was going to have Morgana use a spell that he knew of to make it as real as possible. It was a shared memory spell. When Morgana takes his form she casts the spell linking her to him for as long as she's disguised like him. That way he has the memories of cheating. He could say as many times as he wanted that he didn't do it but your own memories will betray you. Even a lie detector spell would say he's lying if he tried to deny it. It wasn't a perfect flawless plan but it was something that would have worked given the strained marriage between Armor and Cadance. Looks like he'll have to tell Morgana of the change in plans. He had a new plan now, he was going to continue with his plan to get closer to Cadance.

However Shining was still an issue, and he could still undermine the whole thing. He'd have to find a way that he'd be killed without his involvement. Some accident or maybe a grudge... then it hit him, the Corporal. He definitely got reprimanded for assaulting him from Shining Armor. Wouldn't it be unfortunate if the Corporal just so happened to hold a grudge against his former Captain. Even if he doesn't, he could make it seem like he does.