Chapter One: The Offer

It was a bright and… well you know how it goes. When is it ever anything other than bright and sunny in Equestria in one of these stories? Anyway, this story starts off in Canterlot, still bearing the scars of its most recent catastrophe. Those seem to be an all too often occurrence these days. Craters litter the ground, giving it a pockmarked appearance. Green goop drips off the side of buildings and into the streets, and there are still singes and scorch marks, the evidence of a large battle. Not far from all this carnage rest its main targets. Within their royal bedroom lay a light pink alicorn with gold and purple mane, and a white stallion with a blue mane. They’re asleep now, but the rumpled and soiled sheets, along with a healthy dose of musk, are a testament to the previous night’s activities. But now, the pair begin to stir as the sun seeps through the window and plays at their eyelids.

With a groan, the stallion awakes, a pounding in his head. “Ugh, I wish Celestia would raise the sun later,” he groaned.

“Shiny, you know that there are important things to do,” his wife chided, looking up at him with a playful smile.

He chuckled, “And you know I asked you to stop calling me Shiny, it reminds me of Twilight, okay?”

“Big Shiny says no, but Little Shiny says yes,” she replied, feeling his sheath thickening against her lower body at her playful talk. “Aw, does he like thinking of his sister in bed? You silly!”

Shining didn’t reply, instead blushing furiously as Cadance giggled. Before the conversation could continue however, there came a knock at the door.
“Princess Cadenza! Prince Armor! Princess Celestia requests your presence immediately! She has urgent news!”

“Oh uh, thank you! We’ll be right there!” Shining frantically replied, glad to have an excuse to get out of the awkward conversation and teasing. As he tried to get out of bed though, his hooves got tangled in the sheets and he fell face first onto the floor. “Oof.” Cadance just giggled again.

A few minutes later, the pair were fully dressed, showered, and cleaned up from the night before. They quickly trotted into the throne room, where a regal white alicorn sat waiting for them.

“Cadance, Shining Armor, thank you for coming so quickly,” she said, clearly something else on her mind.

“Aunty, why did you summon us here? What’s wrong?” Cadance asked, concern and worry in her voice.

“It’s Queen Chrysalis,” Celestia replied.

“What? Where? I swear if I ever see that bitch again-” Shining Armor started, but Cadance shushed him.

“While I understand your aggression Shining, mind control is not to be taken lightly after all, I’m afraid now is not the time to fight. Chrysalis has sent a peace offering.”
Both Cadance and Shining Armor were taken aback by this.

“But why, just a week ago she wanted to take over all of Equestria?” Cadance inquired.

“While I can’t say for sure, I believe that it has something to do with the fact that you, what is the term? ‘Kicked her plot’?” Celestia said, making quotation gestures with her hooves.

“Alright, but that doesn’t explain what this has to do with us.” Shining Armor said.

“I’m afraid that she has requested that you, and only you, are to make the peace negotiations.”

“WHAT?! Are you kidding me?! That bitch mind controlled me! And raped me! And-” he was stifled by a hoof to his mouth courtesy of Cadance.

“Sorry about that aunt Celestia, let us just talk in private for a moment.”

“By all means, this is not something to be taken lightly.”

Cadance dragged Shining down a side passageway and behind a statue before removing her hoof from his mouth.
“Sorry honey, but I couldn’t have you yelling at my aunt like that.”

“Yeah, I know, but I’m still having trouble wrapping my mind around this.”

“Shining, it’s just talking, what’s the worst that could happen?”

“Well, I’m a soldier, not a politician. This is a bit out of my comfort zone, even if it wasn’t with Queen bugbitch. Why does she want me anyway? Why not Celestia, the actual ruler of Equestria?”

“I don’t know, but if this is how we can assure peace for Equestria, I think you should at least try. Shining, I’ve known you for years. All the fighting you’ve done, it’s to protect other ponies. You’ll still be doing that, just without the fighting,” she looked up into his eyes imploringly.

“Yeah…” Shining rubbed the back of his neck, awkwardly trying to look away.

“Please? For me?” Cadance turned the sparkly eyes up to full volume, and stuck out her lip in a ridiculously pouty manner.

Despite himself, Shining couldn’t help but laugh at his wife’s antics. “Heh, all right. I’ll do this, for you.”

“Hopefully for the good of Equestria, too.” Cadance teased, raising an eyebrow at him.

“Yeah yeah, you know what I meant,” Shining replied, waving a hoof in the air in dismissal.

“Good,” Cadance said with a slight teasing smirk. “Now let’s get back to Celestia.”

And so, several hours later, Celestia, Cadance, Shining Armor, and a few Royal Guards were on the very edge of pony controlled territory. Cadance gave Shining a quick hug goodbye and a kiss on the cheek.
“Now, don’t worry, if the bug monster scares you, she’ll have to answer to me,” in a more serious tone she added “you’ll do great honey. I know you will.”

“Thanks, I love you.” Shining said in appreciation.

“I love you too.”

Celestia stood awkwardly by, waiting for the couple to finish their goodbyes. When they were done, she trotted over and began to talk to Shining. “Now, Shining, you’ll need a few things. This is the scroll Chrysalis sent me with instructions on where to meet her, and here is a panic button, in case things go south,” levitating each item out of her saddlebags as she spoke.

“Panic button?” Shining asked.

“Yes, in case the negotiations go south, it will let us know to come and get you out of there.”

“You think I can’t handle myself?” Shining said with indignation.

“I know you can handle yourself, I made you Captain of the Royal Guard, did I not? But I also know that Chrysalis is not to be trifled with. She’s a powerful magical being, and she has an army of changelings at her disposal. Even if you press the button, there’s no guarantee we’ll be able to get you out.” Celestia explained in a somber tone.

“Remind me again why this is a good idea?” Shining sarcastically replied. However, Cadance put a hoof to his face, and brought his gaze down to look into her eyes. The great, shining purple orbs did more to calm him than any words ever could, and just looking into them filled him with new resolve and steeled his nerve. Shining turned back to Celestia and nodded.
“I’m ready.”

“Oh! Before I forget, there is one more thing that you need.” Celestia exclaimed.

“What?” Shining asked in confusion.

“Hold still,” Celestia said as her horn lit up with a golden glow. Shining felt her magic envelop him, the strange sensation gripping him, then it concentrated on his head and felt almost like his skull grew thicker and stronger. Soon enough, the glow disappeared and the sensation faded.

“What’d you do?” Shining asked, shaking his head to try and clear his thoughts.

“I put a spell on you that will prevent Chrysalis from mind controlling you like she did before.” Celestia explained.

“Oh thank Celestia. Uh, Celestia,” Shining said in relief and subsequent embarrassment.

“It’s okay, I’m well aware of the other use of my name among my subjects,” Celestia assured him.

“Oh good. Anyway, um, I guess I’ll see you all later. I won’t let you down, Chrysalis doesn’t have any power over me this time. By the time this is over, we’ll never have to worry about her and her changelings again.” Shining said.

“That’s the spirit!” Cadance cheered, clapping her hooves together. Shining gave her a smile, saluted to Celestia, and trotted off to meet the changeling Queen.

Author's Note

My first ever story on this site, and I don't have a dedicated proofreader, so please be gentle. And constructive criticism is welcome.