Just Close Your Eyes

by Stormy787

Rating: mature
Tags: Shining Armor, Mr. Cake, Sex, Drama, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Princess Cadance, Dark, Sad, King Sombra
Length: 21534

Devastated upon learning of her husband's betrayal, Princess Cadance now has to face herself as well as the choices she's made that brought her up to this point.

"I will love you, always and forever. Until my dying breath and beyond, I am yours"

A letter sent to her from an unexpected source reveals that the love and marriage of the Crystal Empire's royal couple has been tainted with deception and lies since the very beginning. Princess Candace now consumed by anguish and despair flies away from the Empire in a desperate attempt to escape from her pain. But, after a cruel twist of fate, The Princess of Love is forced to confront herself as well as an uncertain future.

This is the cannon sequel to Holocron's Betrayed. Who's given me full permission. I recommended that you read their story as it is very good and perhaps to better understand this story.

Notes: Some Character's ages have been change to fit the narrative. Also the rating and the 'sex' tag is for sexual situations. This story is NOT porn so don't expect anything like that.

Published 2020-01-03 01:10:01 UTC
Last updated 2020-01-15 01:04:29 UTC

Prologue - A Naked Truth Revealed

Author's Note

Author's note (Please read!!): I want to say from the start that this is my first fanfic. After
reading many wonderful stories on this site I've finally decided to actually try writing one of my own. I know I am not any good but I hope I am at least decent enough that you will be able to enjoy this story.

Also I currently don't have an editor and I can't seem to find one. I will be the first to admit I am terrible at proof reading but I will do what I can until I can find a real editor. but, if you can look past the mistakes, please enjoy feel free to comment. I am always looking to improve.

Enjoy!

Prologue - A Naked Truth Revealed

What?…

How?…

…Why?

Yes, ‘Why?’ That is the word. It just seemed the most appropriate right now. It just felt right…..no, that’s not quite true. Nothing felt right about this, nothing at all. It has been hours since she received that…that accused letter. Who would have ever guessed that a simple piece of paper could bring with it such…devastation. No, that’s not quite right either. it wasn’t just the letter, oh no that was just the foundation to this cathedral of torment that her heart now dwell within. No, It was in fact what came with the letter that was the true source of her sorrow.

Photographs...

There was four of them and each one more heartbreaking than the last. Every single one containing the love of her life. The one pony who she vowed before her family, friends, Canterlot, all of Equestria to love, honor, and obey above all else. The one she pledge her life..nay her very soul too. The handsome stallion that all the mares wanted but was hers and hers alone. The former captain of Celestia’s royal guard, the current head of the guard for the crystal empire.

Her Partner

Her Husband

“….Shining Armor…”

Just mentioning his name caused a fresh wave of burning tears to pour from her eyes. Once, she said his name with such love and devotion now, she could only speak it with jealousy, sorrow, and worst of all despair. No matter how hard she tried to put it out of her mind even if it was just for a moment so she could think, it always proved to be a futile effort; for the images in those photos now burned within her mind. This was one of the rare occasions that she hated that she had an excellent memory. Even now she remember each one in detail.

The first photograph had her former lover standing with a huge grin on his face. He was younger in the image; she remembered they both were in the twilight of their high school years and were going steady. She knew they were together at that time because of the way his mane was styled. She personally styled it for him. While she found him to be cute, it always bothered her how his mane look, like he had just gotten out of bed, (perhaps that was the first clue) of course she didn’t touch it until after they were officially a couple. It was kinda of her simple way of claiming him but not leaving a hickey on his neck or some other mark.

Of course, one would think that If he was in the photo then naturally she would be right next to him; both smiling, capturing the joys of young love with a simple picture, but no, this was not the cause for within the photograph was another pony, but it wasn’t her, it wasn’t even one of his close friends as far as she knew…it was in fact another mare. A mare with a light cerulean coat and what could only be describe as a swirl of crimson and light pink mane and tale, if it wasn’t attached to a pony one could make the mistake of believing it to be frosting. Much to her charging the two ponies were standing side by side in the picture…a little to close for her liking. The mare had her hoof around the young Shining Armor with her own smile and what looked to be a twinkle in her eyes. At the bottom of the image there was a title: “Best Buddies”

If it was just that one image, any pony can interpret it as something harmless. Two close friends taking a photo together, that would make sense…if it was just that ONE image. But, as her mind drifted towards the next couple of photos, her teeth clench and the tears that she was shedding were were no longer fueled by sorrow but by anger and frustration.

The second photograph had both Shining Armor and that……mare together again, and in this one there could be no doubt in any pony’s mind over what was going on. The image showed that…that bucking SLUT bent over in front of her then soon-to-be husband while he mounted her, his hoof on her back making sure to hold her in place while he rutted her with reckless abandon. His eyes were clench shut and his teeth bared as he drove his hard member deep into that mare again and again. This picture had it’s own title: “Best Bachelor’s Party”

She knew that look, it was the look she had seen on him countless times when they had their own nights of passion, and it just brought more pain when she remembered the third photograph.

This one was directly connected to the previous one because it took place within that same damn night, in that same damn room. It contained the same two ponies but it was shot at a different angle. While the second picture was shot from the ponies sides the one was shot more towards the mare’s flank, not directly mind you but at an angle that you could clearly see shining handy work, and oh, did he work.

The image showed Shining still standing on his hind hooves but was positioned more to the side for that camera could get a good look and what he just finished doing. He had a stupid goofy grin on his face, and his cock, hanging limp and free, soaked in the mixtures of both the mare’s juices and his own cum, and the mare’s own cunt gushing, over flowing, with the mix juices falling to the ground. This one had the title: “Last Shot of Freedom”

It was at this point she found anger slowly growing and turning into full blown rage, ‘last shot of freedom?’

“Last shot at freedom?!” She cried out in anguish, those words were like a punch to her gut. She felt as if her life was a prison and marriage was a sentence that she was being forced to serve. Marriage was suppose to be beautiful, it was suppose to be your signal to the world that you have finally found your love. Everypony is born alone, she knew this perhaps better than most, but that was suppose to be one of the wonders of living. From the moment that every pony is born they all strive to find that special somepony,

that being that makes us happy,

that being that makes us whole,

The one that becomes the center of our very existence….

The one you cannot be without because you can’t even stand the thought of becoming only ‘half’ a being once again.

Now that she thought about it, this might have been another clue. She remembered how Shining Armor looked after that Bachelor Party, His friend vouched for him saying ‘the party was just too much for him’. Attempting to rationally think about all this, these were in fact photographs, not video and she knew from personal experience what Shining was like under the sheets and how long he could last, even drunk. There was no way a camera could be set to constantly take pictures during that huge time frame and still have enough film document it all, there was just no way and Shining’s magic wasn’t present because his horn wasn’t glowing in the photo which means some pony else took those photo’s at that damn party and now that she was thinking about it, Shining’s friend did have this smirk on his face when he was feeding her this bullshit story.

“….Damn him….damn them all to Tartarus.” She wanted to scream out those words but all she could muster was a whimpering gurgle. Of course her torment didn’t stop there for it was the fourth and final picture that sealed this coffin shut and left no room for doubt.

The last photo once again showed her husband but this time older, His body shaped from years of guard training, his face loosing any of those boyish features, he was a chiseled, magnificent full grown stallion and was once again rutting that same Celestia forsaken mare. While he was doing the deed, he had on the crystal empire royal guard helmet, the very same helmet that he claimed to wear with pride; especially since she had that helmet custom made for him to give on his birthday. A small symbol to commemorate everything that they went through together since coming to the crystal empire, fighting off King Sombra, helping the crystal ponies rebuild, just to name a few, and here he was treating it like some sick prop in a sexual role play. A complete mockery not just to the crystal empire but to his own wife.

It was in that image that she finally recognized that bitch! It was none other than Mrs. Cup Cake. Of course she kicked herself earlier for not recognizing her in the earlier photo when she first look through them. She was too focused on the fact that her Shining armor was with another mare to pay any real attention at the time. How could her Shin-

…no, he wasn’t ‘her’ Shining Armor anymore was he? In fact he probably never was…..

But there was two aspect of the picture that just tore her heart in two, even more so than the helmet he was wearing while he was rutting that mare. The first was Mrs. Cup Cake herself. She wasn’t bent over as far as she was, like in the second photo and the reason for this was that she was already pregnant with the cake twins. That’s right, she was already within the final stages of her pregnancy yet here she was being taken like a bitch in heat. The second detail was the title of this photo.

‘Best Daddy’

Even now she could remember how close the two had gotten, ever since she announced that she carrying shining’s foal. Mrs. Cake became especially friendly towards her, of course she always was polite in their previous engagements but this time she seemed to go out of her way to befriend her and the two became rather close. Despite her busy schedule of running the crystal empire and helping ponies in general; she would always make time to have a ‘mare’s night out’, to have ‘spay days’ together, always her treat of course, but now, knowing the undeniable truth, all she could feel was bitter hatred for that plump cake. It must have been quite the inside joke between her and her turncoat of a husband. She could only guess how many times they mocked her behind her back while he was bucking her brains out.

But rage wasn’t the only thing she felt but also pity. She could feel her heart twist not just for herself, but the one who also shared in this torment. The other party who has been wronged in this DISGUSTING union and by the pony who they loved more than anything else in Equestria. Who, until recently thought she loved him with all her heart. Mr. Carrot Cake. Oh Celestia, he was such a sweet, trusting stallion sure he wasn’t the most handsome stallion but damned if didn’t try his best and remained optimistic everyday. He always had a smile on his face and he always made sure to look on the bright side of things.

She could only imagine what was going through his mind when he first discovered those photos. it was through him that she even learned of her husband’s infidelity. It was him that had written the letter along with sending the pictures, explaining everything and it was him that was living with the burden of wondering if any of the foals that Mrs. Cup Cake gave birth to was even his.

So now here she was, flying through the air, soaring higher than she ever thought she was even capable of; within the unforgiving fury of a raging thunderstorm. She could only laugh at the bitter irony of her current situation. This storm, this force of nature reflect everything that was going on within her very being. The clouds darkened the sky around her, leaving her unsure if it was currently day or night. When she first took to the air it was just past noon but it felt like hours since then. It didn’t really matter, she just flew and flew and no intention of stopping. Thunder would cracked and roar all around her, causing her to flinch each time; shaking her to her very core. The rain, oh the rain, an aspect of the world that once signifying washing away the old to make room for the new, the element of water that was suppose to cleanse the dirt and grim only seemed to add to it.

The heavens were raging

The heavens were roaring

….The heavens were weeping

And she, the lost soul was consumed by it both inside and out.

After reading that letter and piecing it all together or at least as much as she could before she had a complete mental breakdown drew her to one conclusion. She needed to leave. Right now, she was on autopilot. She grabbed a cloak from a near by closet, she placed the letter and the four photos in a small satchel, looped it around her shoulders and stormed out of the room. She knew she looked like a mess with her eyes puffy and swollen, her once vibrant mane now a mess, and her movements having a shake to them.

She didn’t care….

The guards would try to get her attention, worrying over her current state

She didn’t care….

Crystal pony citizens tried to greet her,

She didn’t care….

All she cared about, the only thing she could even think about was getting out of the crystal empire. She had to leave…no she NEEDED to leave, she needed to get away from that room, she needed to get away away from the castle, she needed to get away from that…that MONSTER! Even now, in the middle of all this turmoil she longed for him. She wanted more than anything was for him to appear out of the no where. Wrap his hooves around her and once again confessed how much he loved her. How she was the only mare in his life and nothing would change that.

Even now, in the middle of this thunderstorm, she could still feel shadows his passion, those special nights they shared together, like it was just the two of them in the whole world. Even now…she needed him to tell her it would be alright….….it….it was so much…..it was just too much.

"RRRRRRRAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!"

She couldn’t contain it anymore, with a piercing cry that came from the depths of her very core she cried out to the heavens themselves. She needed something…ANYTHING. It was all coming out, her Hatred, Her Rage, Her Pain, her anguish, her despair, her passion, her love…..everything. All she wanted now was for it all to end.

Everything…

And in perhaps the cruelest twist of fate, she was answered. It happened in an instant. So fast that there was no way she could’ve prepared for it; even if she was within the right frame of mind. All she felt was a brief moment of electricity and then numbness. It happened so fast that she didn’t even have the luxury of crying out in pain. As an Alicorn she was made of sterner stuff then most ponies but she was far from being in peak condition considering everything that happened within the last 12 hours. As she felt her consciousness slipping away, she finally took in her surroundings and notice something about the storm.

A storm of this magnitude would be a colossal undertaking. There should have been a small army of Pegasus working the storm, but she didn’t see as single one…which meant this was not pony made. She had been flying for so long, was she even in Equestria anymore?

...It doesn’t matter… It was the only thing that ran through her mind as she fell from the sky. She knew that this was a fitting end for the pony who loved with all of her heart and soul. Who would share love until it was all that she had to give would perish within a storm of hate.

Her pain would soon end, Her final Chapter coming to a close her pain will soon fade away into nothingness and upon her epitaph:

Behold

Mi Amore Cadenza

…..The Broken Princess

Chapter 1 - Defined by another

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter 2 - So Much Wasted Time

“Okay, you can do this….”

These were the words that Mr. Carrot Cake whispered to himself over and over as he stepped off the train to Canterlot. To say that he was nervous was a gross understatement. It took tremendous effort for him to just move down the main road. It felt like his own body was fighting against him, every step he took his hooves shook, his throat felt dry, and his heart was pounding away in his chest. It has been three weeks since he discovered his wife’s secret album and her infidelity with that other stallion, and even weeks later, it still felt like a terrible nightmare.

He couldn’t believe it, he just couldn’t believe it. His partner, his wife, his life…the living reason he was able to smile every day and have such blissful rests at night. The center of his whole world turned out to be nothing but a lying, cheating, backstabbing slut. He could barley even remember that day. When he discovered the evidence his brain just shut down and his body became numb. Like it was trying to protect him from this cold, bitter reality but no matter how badly he wanted to, he just couldn’t entirely forget about it. Perhaps he didn’t want to.

For the next few days, he couldn’t look at his wide the same way as before. How she would act so cheerful as if nothing was wrong, how she would kiss him on the check and told him she loved him everyday and night, the way she would tend to their foals all motherly, just giving off the picture of innocence. Huh, their foals....he wondered if any of them was actually his. He was fairly certain at least pumpkin cake might be, after all she did have his fur color and he did have SOME unicorn blood in his family so there was at least a chance. but

Pound cake, however….he just looked too different from him or his mother and the explanation he told Pinkie and her friends on why he was a Pegasus seemed sketchy even to him. Sure it was the same reason his own mother told him but he just didn’t know. He didn’t know anything any more. He once looked at his children as his pride and joy, the fruits of his love with Cup Cake. Now all he could do was look at them with competent, a constant living reminder of his wife’s betrayal and to top it off they were twins, how could they have separate fathers? Was she sleeping around with ONLY Captain Armor or were there others?

“No!” He scolded, shaking his head rapidly in an effort to dispel such thoughts. He wouldn’t think like that about his babies, they were innocent in all of this, pure. It wasn’t their fault that they may have been the result of such wickedness. He may not be their biological father but he was still their dad, He was the one who took care of them, change their diapers, made sure they were fed properly and gave them all the love and attention he could muster every chance his got.

He loved them so much and they weren’t going to suffer his ire because of his whore of a wife, but what should he do? What COULD he do? He knew he had to deal with this situation but he just didn’t know how. He never dealt with anything like this before but that is when realization finally came to him. He wasn’t the only victim in all of this, Princess Cadance, bless her soul was just as much a part of this as he was, perhaps even more so. He knew it would only be fair to inform the princess of love about her husbands extra activities. Writing her that letter and send some pictures from that damn album as proof seemed like the best options without revealing to his wife that he knew her secret. He wanted to handle this discreetly for the time being.

It has been two weeks since he had sent that packet, two agonizing weeks. He was starting to wonder if he was even being taken seriously, or worse, she in a fit of rage burned the letters as well as the photographs and in a way to cope decided to act like everything was fine. He knew she didn’t kill herself or anything as drastic as that, even if she ruled the empire to the north, all of Equestria would have been buzzing over such news, she was still one of their beloved princess, but thankfully it seem that none of that was the case.

It was just last night when he was about to close up shop that he received a reply from her, delivered by one of her personal carriers, in the guise of a last minute customer. He made sure to give her some cupcakes and sent her back out so as to not arose suspicion. It was clear that Princess Cadance did not trust regular mail with such sensitive information and wanted her response to be delivered as quickly as possible. That poor Pegasus had to fly non stop from the crystal empire to Ponyville just to deliver one message, sending them off with a bag of free treats was the LEAST he could do. He just wished he could do more.

The message its self was strait-forward enough, find an excuse to go to Canterlot and meet the pink Alicorn at a specific location. They certainly had a lot to talk about. Coming up with an story to tell Cup Cake proved easy enough. He was going to meet one of those fancy ponies up in Canterlot to discuss business, when you think about it, it wasn’t really a lie. She’d just give him one of her fake loving smiles and sent him out with a booklet of their sample and a kiss on the cheek. He made sure to wash his face once he got on the train for the simple touch of her lips now felt like acid on his fur.

Now here he was, walking down one of roads In the Equestrian capital, making sure to follow the instructions the note gave him. His heart beating harder and harder as he got closer to his destination. He wondered what he was going to say when he saw her. Would he try to put up a brave front? Would he break down and weep right there before he could even say ‘hello’ to her? So many thoughts were racing through his mind. He’s waiting to have this meeting for over two weeks and now that he was about to have it he felt like he could have Waited an eternity more, but this had to be done. Both of their significant others have a massive debut to pay. He was just thankful that he wouldn’t have to face this alone.

He finally stopped in front of a small but quaint little restaurant. It wasn’t entirely out of the way from the bigger shops but you did have to look for a bit in order to find it. To his relief he found two crystal guard ponies outside the door standing at attention. It was a sign that he found the right place, but he couldn’t help but wonder why there was no pony else around, it was lunch time after all, the guards took one look at him and nodded towards him allowing him tho pass. It seems they were expecting him.

Once he walked in he looked around and his confusion slightly increased, there was no ponies inside either.

“Ah, Mr. Carrort Cake over here.”

He turned his head and sure enough there she was the princess of love herself, standing tall with a bright smile on her person. She just was just the personification of beauty and elegance. Everything about her just screamed radiance. From her perfectly proportioned feminine form that would make any red blooded stallion stand at attention. Her lushes Muti-colored mane full of volume that seemed to bounce with her slightly movement. Her soft voice that could sooth even the most ferocious manticore. She was even wearing make up but only Celestia knows why, she sure didn’t need it. He was starting to wonder if he should have dressed for this meeting, here she was standing before him in her royal regalia and here he was, in a simple baker apron, and an overly large red and white strip bow tie.

Princess Cadance was every stallions fantasy. Who on this planet or any other would even entertain the notion of cheating when they could have her every night? It was just inconceivable! It was like turning down a kingly feast for dog food. No, that wasn’t really a fair analogy, dog food has at least SOME nutrients.

“Please forgive the circumstances.” She began leading him over to a large corner booth in the main section. “But giving our….situations I felt we should discuss matters privately but I didn’t want it to be TOO suspicious so instead of meeting at the Crystal empire or Ponyville. I felt it would be best to meet at a neutral location so I rented out this entire restaurant for the next 3 hours…..um Mr. Cake?”

Carrot became startled as she spoke his name, apparent he was just staring at her; way longer than what was appropriate. He quickly took off his paper hat and bowed on one hoof, showing respect to a pony of her station. “F-forgive me Princess! I meant no offense!”

Much to his relief, he heard her giggle in delight, instantly the washing away the tension that was building.

“It’s quite alright.” She extended a hoof towards the corner booth. “Please, won’t you join me?”

“OH o-ofcouse Princess.” He place his hat back on his head as he accepted her gracious invitation. Sitting down he saw a couple of menus already placed at the table.

“Order anything you like, it is my treat!”

Carrot quickly nodded as he opened the menu. He had to admit he was rather surprised by the choices within. There seemed selections for all types of ponies, from hay burgers and fries, to expensive dishes for the more fancy ponies. It seems like this place was a jack of all trades. But he wondered if would alright to just go all out. After all wouldn’t It be rude to just order what ever he want? Perhaps he should get something simple like a dandelion sandwich and water.

“What can I get for you two?”

Carrot looked up from his menu to see a leaf-green unicorn waitress standing there, she was rather cute in a girl-next-door kind of way. He opened his mouth to peak but the princess beat him to it.

“Yes!” Cadance began with a hint of excitement in her voice. “I would like a large order of your Mombo, Combo, Jombo, nachos, and a glass of Hopper & Kings Butterscotch Brandy. You know what? Bring the entire bottle with you.”

His jaw dropped onto the table in shock. He couldn’t believe what the princess just order, he saw a picture of those nachos when he was flipping through the menu and it just looked like a heart attack waiting to happen, and on top of that she was going to drink? It was still noon. He barley managed to close his mouth just as the waitress finish taking down the order who currently was sporting a knowing smirk.

The pink Alicorn turned her attention back over to him and smirked. “What? I use to eat here all the time when I was younger and those nachos were always my favorite.”

“um….o-ofcourse, fair enough your highness. Uhh.” He went back down to his own menu giving it a quick scan, mentally cursing himself for taking so long to make up his mind.

“I told you before Mr. Cake. Order anything you like. Don’t hold back on my account. I would feel insulted if you did.”

He finally let out a sigh and closed the menu. Screw it, there was no point on being modest, He knew the reason they were both here so he might as well cut loose a little. He turned to the waitress and made his order. “Give me a shot of Hard Cider…..The Grogar’s cut, Three hay burgers and 3 large fries.”

“Bring him the entire bottle as well....”

The waitress nodded as she jotted down the order before taking the menus and got to work on their drinks.

Once she was out of earshot, Princess Cadance’s smile melted away and her face became serious. She leaned forward slightly and look directly into his eyes. “Alright Mr. Cake, now it's just us. seriously, How are you?”

Just like that, his pleasant demeanor turned to sorrow, it was like he removed a face mask and was now revealing the real pony underneath and he looked just awful. His eyes were drooped and filled with sadness, there were several more winkles making him look older than he actually was, and his ears fell down. He didn’t seem to have the strength to even keep his head level.

He didn’t say anything until the waitress brought over their drinks, looking at the poor station she decided to fix his drink first. She place the shot glass in front of him and poured the liquid into it. The rest of the bottle didn’t even hit the table before the first shot went down his throat. After the princess had her drink set up the waitress went back to do some cleaning while their meals were being cooked in the kitchen.

“No Princess Cadance.” He said after taking his third shot. “The truth is I am far from alright.”

The Pink Alicorn gently reached out and place a gentle hoof on top of his own, letting him know that she was here to listen.

“I mean, all I could think about for weeks was ‘How could she do this to me? To us?!”. He paused briefly so he could down another shot. “I mean, When I think of all the good times we had together. All the wonderful experiences we had when we were younger. I mean we did everything together, we shared everything together. She seemed just so……so….so perfect. She was smart, pretty, a real talent for baking. She had lots of wonderful ides about business and she had a way with ponies. I….”

He had to pause for a moment, he was letting his emotions getting the best of him before he could even speak on them. His voice was rising and it seemed like he was going to scream at the princess, almost like he was blaming her for everything that has happened. He was going to have to calm down if he was going to get his thoughts out properly. After another shot he was able to continue but this time in a more even tone.

“She was my world princess. We stared that bakery from practically nothing. We both had to work hard just to save up enough money for the down payment on the properly. I mean, we aren’t wealthy by any stretch of the word, but it was basically a rags to riches story and we did it together, us Carrot and Cup Cake together in life, together in strife, together in love, but now……”

His face screeched up as his emotions were threatening to once again overwhelm him. He decided to do away with the tiny glass and drink strait form the bottle. It was strong stuff but the previous method of drinking wasn’t working fast enough for him.

“Now……..now all I can think about is what could I have possibly done to cause her to do this?” A sob managed to escaped his lips. The princess quickly scooted closer to him and gently brought him into a comforting embrace, wrapping one of her wings around him. His head was pressed against her chest and her fur was softer than any pillow he rested on before but that mattered little right now.

“I keep thinking back on my life. From the first time I started dating her to now and I try to think of all the mistakes I’ve made that would cause her to…to whore her self out like that, and I can’t think of anything.” He felt Cadance’s wing gently rubbing his back in an effort to sooth him. “I mean, I know I am not perfect, not by a long shot but I try princess. I know I am just a simple baker, just an earth pony. I am not the handsome stud that can just make a mare swoon with just a glance and a wink but, I try my best every day for her because I want to be better for her. I swear I tried princess.”

He raised his head up, tears running through his face and his teeth clench in a vain attempt to make the pain stop, his face a picture of torment. He looked at the princess desperate for an answer.

“What should I do Princess? Please, help me. I just don’t know what to do anymore……please help me.”

The princess of love gave him a look of sympathy and gently raise a hoof to the back of his head and gentle stroke it. Tears of her own threatening to release themselves over his pain, but even though they were at the edge she held them back because right now He needed HER to be strong for him just like Sombra was for her. “For now Mr. Cake, You don’t have to do anything expect let it out. I am right here for you. Just…let it all out.”

His grip on her tighten as he buried his face back into her chest and let loose all of his sadness upon her. Cadance looked up to see the waitress bring out a cart full of food. It seems their order was ready but with one look at the scene before her she nodded to the princess and we back to the kitchen to allow them their privacy.

After what felt like hours he finally felt strong enough to remove himself away from the princess, he felt a tissue enter his hoof and proceeded to wipe his eyes and blow his nose into it. Once his vision was clear and his mind was calm again, he saw his handiwork on her chest and blushed from embarrassment.

“O..Oh I am so sorry princess! Let me…let me you clean up!” In a near panic he quickly looked around the restaurant for tissues, napkins anything he could use to clean up the mess he made. He was about to call for the waitress when Cadance stopped him.

“It is alright Mr. Cake. No harm was done.” She closed her eyes and her horn lit up with magic and after a few moments her chest fur looked just as plush and fluffy as before. It was like he didn’t cry a half an hours worth of tears and snout on her. “A simple cleaning spell and good as new.”

Carrot Cake felt sheepish

After he got himself settled back in his seat, the waitress came in, bringing their food with her. She quickly did her job on setting up their orders without saying a word but before she left to go in the back, she gently put a hoof on his shoulder and gave him a light smile. Letting him know that ‘things were going to get better.’ That was all he needed to let him know that she saw him weeping like a foal earlier but somehow he didn’t really mind. He needed to let it out and as a result was feeling better, but there was one thing that was bothering him.

“Princess if you don’t mind me asking, how come you are not a wreck like me? I have to admit when I came here I thought it was going to be me that would have to be comforting you. Not the other way around.”

The Alicorn couldn’t help give a delicate enigmatic laugh, which only left him perplexed.

“Oh, I was quite the wreck when I read your letter and saw the photos you sent me. In fact, I am impressed you were able to handle it all as well as you have up to this point. I was so completely devastated that I went out and did something nearly self destructive without even fully realizing I was doing it.”

Carrot had a look of surprise, he wanted to know what exactly happened but his better judgement won out. “So….what changed?”

The earth pony watch as the princess turned her head and looked out the window towards the beautiful near cloudless sky. It was a calm yet far off look, her eyes seem to carry a sense of longing, if he didn’t know better….

“I followed your advice Mr. Cake.” She turned her head to look back at him and gave him a gentle smile. “I found some pony I could trust or perhaps I should say they found me.”

Before he could question further, he again felt her hoof on top of his own in a comforting gesture.

“Now I am here to let you now that you can trust me and together we will deal with this situation our spouses put us in.”

Carrot Cake swallowed hard and nodded, It seems they were now coming to the core of the whole entire meeting, He sat still and waited with bated breath to hear her plan on how he should punish his treacherous wife when he confronts her.

“I have been thinking long and hard about this for a while and I have reach the conclusion that you should divorce Cup Cake.”

“Wha-“ She seemed to have expected his reaction, as she raised a hoof to stop him from continuing. He was upset and rightly so, in his letter he wrote that they shouldn’t divorce their spouses as this would only give them freedom to rut each other with Impunity. What kind of punishment was that? However, despite himself he held his tongue, after all he wasn’t he only victim and she was the princess so the least he could do is hear her out but boy oh boy her explanation better be a good one.

“I know what you must be thinking Mr. Carrot Cake, and while I do agree in you letter that Shining Armor and Mrs. Cup Cake should be punished; keeping them legally married to us is not the way to go about it. Don’t worry they will be punished for what they did to us but we have to go about it a certain way, we have to look at the big picture not just one aspect of it.”

Carrot had to admit to be a little intrigue over what she just said, her calm demeanor showed that she was rather sure on this course of action. He didn’t feel as annoyed but he was still rather anxious to hear what she has to say. “Alright Princess. I am all ears.”

The princess of love nodded her head before continuing on.

“While I understand your reasoning for keeping them bound to us, It is not the right way to go about things. it won’’t be what is best to the parties that matter namely you and me. The fact is that, even if we do stay married to our back stabbing partners, it wouldn’t really change anything. I have seen these types of ponies before and these ponies don’t really change. Oh they might feel terrible at first, they might actually try to make a genuine effort to change but in the end they will go back to rutting each other brains out. And the reason they will relapse back into this habit is a rather simple one.

……it’s like a drug.”

Carrot felt his heart stop for a moment as the final word penetrated his ears. It was like his body was turned to stone, he couldn’t bring himself to talk, or even move for that matter…all he could do was listen.

“If a pony actually has the taste for that kind of thing, then the act of betraying somepony who loves you dearly could be a thrill that only the most potent of illegal substance could match, even surpass.”

He watched as Cadance used her magic to bring up a small satchel that was previously placed under the table. After opening it she took out one of the photos he sent to her 3 weeks ago and placed it on the table before him, it was one he knew quite well. It was the photo marked ‘Best Daddy’ and it was just like the last time he saw it. His wife in the later stage of her pregnancy, bent over with that bastard Shining Armor rutting away at her.

“As you know, this photo was taken when your wife was pregnant with the twins, but look at my husband.” She paused a moment so that he could reluctantly shift his yes towards the white stallion. “He is wearing the crystal empire royal guard helmet that I had custom made for his birthday. This photo just oozes of ‘mockery’ and ‘cheap thrill’. The title it’s self is a huge clue.”

It was true, Oh how he hated that fact but he couldn’t deny it. He had spent weeks mentally tearing himself apart trying to figure out what he had done wrong but the answer was literally right in front of him the entire time. It was all just a sick bucking game to them, a damn power fantasy and they played right into it, hell the photographs themselves were proof of this, each one bearing a title to commemorate every sinful union like a ‘greatest hits album.” He couldn’t help but be mad at himself for not seeing this sooner, He saw literally dozens of pictures of these two in that damn album and he didn’t have slightest clue yet she was able to deduce it all with just four. Oh Luna, how could he have been be so stupid?

He then place an elbow on the table and leaned his head against the hoof, looking out at nothing, deep in thought. Taking a huge swig from the bottle.

“I see you are beginning to understand. I am sorry to inform you Mr. Cake but keeping your wife around would just be a mistake for two reason. The first being it wouldn’t really solve anything because like I said before. It is like a potent drug and they are addicted to it. They might feel bad for being caught, make all kinds of empty promises and like I said before, they might actually make a real effort to change their ways but in the end they will relapse. Why? Because they have been doing this for so long, the addiction would be just too strong. One could say it is not a part of their very identity.

In hindsight I realized that when I was pregnant with Flurry heart, I should have suspected that something was off about your wife. Cup Cake when out of her way to befriend me during that time. A pony that she didn’t even really know. All those false smiles, mare to mare talks, days at the spa. During that time we were nearly inseparable, and my husband was always there though every step.” Her own demeanor cracked a little as a twinge of sadness escaped her eyes. “I didn’t think anything of it at the time but he always had this smile that seemed kind of….off. I come to realize now that he was just absolutely revealing in this twisted game of theirs.”

While he continued to soak in her words, He found it rather curious that she took the time to pick up a smothered nacho with her hoof instead of her magic and popped it into her mouth. What pony with magic would take the time to willingly eat with their hooves unless they had no other choice in the matter? Well, it didn’t really seem important, she was the princess after all who was he to tell her how she should eat?

“mmmm….” She sighed in pleasure as she finished swallowing the first bite. “Now I wonder if she really was that good an actress or was I really just that naive……Perhaps a bit of both….but.”

She took another moment to pop a few more nachos in her mouth rather messily but the excess cheese was quickly removed thanks to a nearby napkin.

“My point is that if you keep that marriage going, you are dooming yourself to a cycle of self-loathing and constant betrayal. They've already proven that if they REALLY want to meet up together for a romp, they will. That is not what is best, even if you are still harboring feelings for your wife. You have to do what is best for you and the best thing for you to do…..” She pause to give him a bright smile worthy of a princess such as her. “……Is to cut that turd loose!”

Despite the seriousness of the conversation he could help but laugh out loud at that bit of sick humor. He half expected Princess Luna to say something blunt like that but the fact that it was the princess of love who said it made it even funnier to him. Oh how it felt so good to laugh again. They both took this time to begin eating, the food has been sitting there for a while and now that he was more loosen up he find himself rather hungry.

“But wait, what about our foals? Shouldn’t they grow up with a mommy?” He asked once he finished the first of his hey burgers. While he agreed that a divorce would be for the best, he did have little ones to think about. He had to consider them as well.

The Princess was half ways through her plate before she wiped her mouth again, once again she had that look of 'I expected you to ask me that.' But this time he was more open to it.

“While you do make a good point Mr. Cake, that however is a mistake that too many couples do in this day and age. Even if they downright despise each other they will stick it out for their foals, and while some couples can made it work through such an arrangement, even actually come to love each other again. However, in this particular case my response will have to be the same. You divorcing Mrs. Cake would still be the best thing for them and for you. You have to understand that it is not enough to just be together and pretend to like each other in front of them, only to turn around and fight loudly with each other behind closed doors. No, What foals really need is to grow up in an environment of happiness and love.

Perhaps one of the worse things that a foal to experience while growing up is to dwell in a home where their parents hate each other and constantly fight. Think about about it Mr. Cake. If you were to remain with your wife, sticking it out for the foals, knowing what you know now. How long could you honestly last before the two of you would begin jumping down each other throats?”

He stopped eating, now only looking down at his food, pondering the question. He remembered those three weeks being absolute torture, pretending nothing was wrong while his wife went about her day without a care in the world save for baking. On more than one occasion, it took all the will power he had not to strangle that cheating slut right there in front of their foals and everypony who happened to be in their bakery at the time. With a sigh of defeat he moved his head in acknowledgment.

“Exactly, for a foal such an upbringing is worth than the deepest pits of Tartarus. The truth is Mr. Cake you have an opportunity here, your little ones are still just foals in diapers, they can’t fully comprehend what is going on right now. You have a chance to give them and yourself a fresh start while they are so young. Of course they will be sad at first about ‘mommy’ being gone but it will quickly fade because they are so young and when they are old enough to truly understand it, THEN you tell them the full story.

I don’t know if your wife has been with any other stallions besides my husband, perhaps none of the foals in your home are biologically yours, but I can tell you this, you are their true father. You were there when they were born, you were there to change their diapers, to feed them late at night. You were there every step of the way. Not some random stallion, not my husband…You. And as their true father don’t you think it is time to give them the best you have to offer? Isn’t it time to do what is best for yourself as well as them?”

She was right, by Luna she was right. Remaining with cupcake would do nopony any good, especially his foals. He wouldn’t subject them to that kind of environment, not if he had anything to say about it. Determination filled his eyes as he look firmly at the princess. “Yes, I understand…..but we can’t just let them get away with what they are done. We can’t just let them roam free and not suffer some kind of consequence of their actions.”

The Princess’s calm expression didn’t change but he did notice mischievous gleam in her eye that disappeared as quickly as it came. It was in that moment that he felt a cold shiver run down his body.

“Oh we won’t, I already have taken steps on how we can take our ungrateful partners to task. Ironically, with this sick game that they have been playing on us for years, their greatest strength is also their greatest weakness. They may not have realize it, but by doing this they both back themselves into a serious corner, one that we can exploit.”

“But what do you have in mind? Is it going to be the same plan for both cupcake and your husband?” Carrot rub his chin in thought as he tried to see if he could figure out what she could be planning. He must admit, she seemed so confidence in her words that he couldn’t help but feel a sliver of hope in his chest. He gave her a small glance to find that she tilted her head, it seems she was best thinking on how to answer that question.

“Similar, The dealing with my soon to be former husband is going to require some preparations and extra steps, but luckily it will run in conjuncture with my plan for you.” She gave a sad but determined face. She reached a hoof right and placed it on top of his shoulder. “So, Once we are finished here, I will go back with you to Ponyville and together we will confront your wife about it all.”

Carrot Cake immediately froze, He couldn’t believe what he just heard. Confront his wife? So soon? He just came to terms that he had to leave her and was still trying to take it all in, but here is the princess suggesting he face her as soon as he get back to Ponyville. “B-But...”

He was once again cut off, as the pink Alicorn shakes her head firmly.

“I know what you must be thinking, ‘how can you expect me to confront my wife about this so soon’?” The grips she had on his shoulder slightly tightened but didn’t hurt at all. It was more reassuring than anything. “Mr. Cake, listen to me. You are a wonderful stallion and you know this has to happen but the longer you delay this, even if it’s one more day, it will just be one more day where you are unhappy, It will be one more day that your foals are exposed to a sham marriage, and it will be one more day where your wife will be on top of the world thinking she continued to pull the wool over your eyes. You have to do this immediately, the longer you take the harder it will be. Don’t worry, I will be right there with when we confront her.”

He lowered his head and let out a bitter sigh, just like before he had to concede. Even though he knew this was something he had to do, he was already loosing his nerve to do it. He needed this done, there was no way he could begin to heal if he waited even a second longer than necessary, Thank the goddess that he wasn’t going to be alone when he face his whorse of a wife. “….Alright….”

“I’m Proud of you Carrot.” The princess firmly nodded and removed her hoof. He found himself removed from his thoughts and looked up at her to find her giving him a bright, almost motherly smile. This was the first time since he arrived that she didn’t attach the title of ‘Mr.’ to his name.

“Now before we confront your wife directly, there are two ponies who I feel we absolutely MUST inform before hoof. Applejack and Pinkie Pie.”

He couldn’t help but be a little flabbergasted when he heard the two names. Why would they tell those two ponies first? Pinkie Pie kinda made sense, after all she lived in the shame home as him and would find out about it sooner or later but he figured it was best to hear the explication strait from the princess. “Um? First off, why do we tell Pinkie Pie. Is it because she is staying at my house?”

“That is part of it yes. But….” Hey eyes soften and gave him a knowing smirk. “That is not the main reason we should tell her before we talk to your wife.”

Carrort could feel his entire face burn as he felt his heart pounding in his chest. Oh no….

“Y….You know? Wait, Of course you now. You are the princess of love after all.”

Princess Cadaence let out a playful giggle over his reaction and despite himself he couldn’t help but chuckle a little.

“It’s true….I’ve…been having feelings for Pinkie for a while now.” He let out a sigh as he turned slightly to looked out the near by window. His body seemed to relax almost like a burden that he was carrying was finally being lifted off his shoulders. “She is just so…happy. Full of energy and life, no matter how bad you feel she would go out of her way just to make you smile…..Not to mention she is really cute.”

He paused for a moment, it was just so weird to say this all out loud. After passing down these feelings for so long it actually felt nice to just talk about it. “The only thing that stopped me before was the love for my wife. I mean, just the thought of cheating on her even with a mare as wonderful as pinkie pie made me sick to my stomach. It wasn’t fair to her and it certainly wouldn’t be fair to Pinkie Pie. I just…..I just couldn’t do that to either of them.”

“Carrot…” He turned his attention away from the window and looked back at the princess. “I understand, that is why when you talk to Pinkie about this, you hold nothing back. Don’t just tell her what your wife been doing behind your back all these years, but you also tell her your true feelings for her. She should know exactly how you feel about her and make sure to be clear. Lay out your soul to her and even if she doesn’t accept your feelings, take comfort in the knowledge that in spite of everything you made an honest attempt. So with the trying times head you can at least trust each other, for you will have no secrets between you.”

“Y..yeah, I-I will, I will tell her everything.” He barely noticed it but that gleam appeared ever so briefly in her eye again. Also like she knew something else but wasn’t going to tell him. “Um…and Applejack? She doesn’t have anything to do with this. Why do we involve her?”

Cadance took a sip of the brandy and nodded more to herself than to him.

“While you are initially correct, she doesn’t have any direct connection to any of this. There is something about her that we will both need as we move forward in this and that is because she is the Element of Honesty.” She paused for a moment to allow him to sink in the information. “Thanks to her connection to that element, she can tell when a pony is lying, and when we confront your wife with what she has been doing, I imagine she will try to be angry at you, lie to you, try to give you false apologies, or perhaps try to spin this so it is all your fault instead of her. Ponies like her and my husband have a certain level of deception and manipulation in their arsenal….they have to in order to pull off something like this for so long and be successful. Applejack would quickly be able to expose her in her lies and false accusations and since she is the element of honesty, her word is ironclad and Mrs. Cake will soon come to the realization that she won’t have a hoof to stand on for her actions.”

Cadance use her magic to lift up the photograph she placed on the table earlier and presented it to him. “And Ironically the two of them gave us the evidence we will need to convince her, and though she can be quite stubborn she is also one of the most dependable of ponies in all of Equestria. I am confidence that she will help us with both our situations because that is just the type of mare she is. A loyal friend.”

With her magic still active she place the photo back in the satchel and loop the strap over her person as she begin to leave the booth. It seems that she was done eating and was ready to get started, which was alright because he was done as well, though he made sure to take one last shot of liquid courage before he too left the booth. He was taken aback as he witness the princess produce a large bag of bits and place then on the table. He just stared large sum of money, not because of the size because with her being princess of the crystal empire, money should be no object, He was just wondering where the buck she was keeping that all this time. He swear if he lived to be 100 he would never understand magic.

He shook his head rapidly to end that train of thought it wasn’t relevant. Following her out of the restaurant, A small smile wormed it’s way onto his features as he watch her, she was just so confident and sure of her self.

“I don’t know how you do it?”

She didn’t break her stride but she turned her head slightly to look back at him out of the corner of her eye. “Oh?”

“Yeah, I mean here we are about to face my wife and I am a nervous wreck, but you….you seem so calm. I just don’t know how you do it.”

As the Princess of love opened the door and took her first steps outside, she couldn’t help but to unleash a wide smile. A smile that literally took his breath away.

"It’s because….I’m Happy.”

Author's Note

I hope you all enjoyed this installment of the story so far. Thank you for your support, it really makes it worth wild. :twilightsmile:

Sorry for the mistake I am still on the look out for a proof reader/editor.

The next chapter will be up soon and we will see Princess Cadance confront Shining Armor in a 'special' way. :raritywink:

Thank you all and see you next time! :pinkiehappy:

Chapter 3 - Out of the Darkness

Throughout the lands of Equestria the stallion who goes by the name Shining Armor was quite famous, and why wouldn’t he be? Attached to the name was an ivory unicorn who has risen above his station and obtained a position that both Stallions and Mares alike could only dream about. A pony that all young colts could looked up too, what all the stallions aspired to be, and a male specimen that all the mares, whether they were available or not.

Just from his reputation alone, there was already a bit of a legend forming around him. A Unicorn Stallion who came from humble beginnings, born to parents who were not nobles but instead actually had to work for everything they had, wanting to make sure to provide for their children. Not being born into wealth and privilege, he knew that if he wanted to get anywhere in life he was going to have to work hard with his own two hooves and work hard he did. From when he was a teenager, he trained every day, he always dreamed of protecting Princess Celestia, to stand steadfast against Equestria’s enemies, to be the one pony that any pony could count on. To be the knight in his name sake.

Of course, he wasn’t no where near as intelligence as his LSBBF but he made sure to study hard, because the royal guard wasn’t looking just for strong ponies, they also needed sharp minds that could keep their wits about them and adapt to even the most dangerous of situations, and after his many challenges, he rose through the ranks of the royal guard. Step by Step, he showed them all that he wasn’t just some regular guard to be placed in a random hallway and then forgotten. No, he wasn’t going to settle for that, he was determined to show them what he was truly capable of and by Celestia herself, he accomplished just that. He managed to become the youngest captain in the history of Princess Celestia’s royal guard.

He managed to achieve his dreams, he was Princess Celestia’s sword AND shield, he would have been satisfied with just that but it seems that he was destined for even bigger things.

“Sir!”

As Shining armor was walking through his castle. That’s right his castle, he still could hardly believe it. After many trails and tribulation’s he accomplished what so few ponies have before. He was a Prince, he was an actual a royal, sure it was through marriage but the fact remains still the same. He wasn’t just a captain of the royal guard, he was PRINCE Shining Armor, task with ruling the crystal empire along with his lovely wife Princess Mr Amore Cadenza or Cadance as he prefers. If you told him that he was going to become royalty when he was still cadet in training he would have laughed in your face, but now… He gave a nod in acknowledging two crystal guard ponies who quickly stood at attention in his presence. Once he past them, he couldn’t help but give light smirk as if he was privy to a private joke that no pony else knew but him.

The feeling of silent glee disappeared as he continued on his way. Part of him felt it was kind of rude to not say anything to the two guards ponies, or at least give them a polite greeting but he had other things occupying his mind at the moment, like finding his wife for one. Earlier that morning he left the crystal empire. He made sure to tell the guards that if any pony asked why he was leaving, to state that he was on ‘official business.’ Of course no pony really questioned it, and why would they? He was their prince, no one in the empire would doubt his word and even if they did, there wasn’t anything they could really do about it.

Of course, known only to him, his ‘Official business’ was just something he would say to hide his true actives. To visit his ‘best buddy’ Chiffon Swirl. She was now known as Mrs. Cup Cake, she was now married to that lanky stallion after all. Thinking about her filled him with mixed emotions. He has known her for a very long time, even longer than his loving wide. Both coming from hard working families they hit it off rather well when it came to friendship. They would talk about various things, like who they thought was cute, of course that was weird because he would talk about the mares who had the juicy round flanks and she would talk about the well built stallions, but regardless they still had fun. There were a couple of times that she tried to teach him how to bake and his cooking skills was the equivalent of an Ursa Major learning how to tap dance, it just wasn’t going to happen.

Their relationship took a rather interesting turn when they were talking about new couples at their high school, and he actually admitted that he never had relations with a mare ‘that way’ before. Of course this left her surprised, after all he was a good looking stud that all the young mare’s would droll over. It seemed impossible that he hasn’t done it with a mare at least once.

“How have you never been with a mare before? I mean, even you can’t be blind to how all the mares would stare at you? I mean they flirt with you like all the time.”

“I…I don’t know, I guess I never thought about it before.”

Of course, that exchange left him feeling a little embrarssed. All the stallions were talking about how only ‘wimps’ and ‘losers’ were still virgins at their age. Of course Everypony assume that Shining was already getting some action because he was handsome and he was hanging out with Chiffon Swirl all the time. Of course that wasn’t the case because she was just a child hood friend and he never looked at her that way before, on the contrary he had his eye on his sister’s foal sitter, Equestria’s newest princess at the time, Princess Cadance.

“Well….I…I’m a virgin too.”

He himself was a little floored over that bit of news, after all, she was rather cute and so cheerful. But when he looked at her face and saw how embarrassed she acted and how red her cheeks got, he just knew that she was telling the truth, but just couldn’t imagine why she was still….that way. Perhaps she was waiting for the perfect stallion to come along?

“Want to……you know?”

Oh, he knew exactly what she meant and the offer was tempting…too tempting. Of course there was a snag, he was rather smitten with the young Alicorn and was planning to ask Cadance out next weekend, could he really do that just days after sleeping with another mare, but on the other hoof, he was completely new to this kind of thing. All of his friends told him that the secret when it comes to wooing a mare was confidence. You had to at least pretend you know what you were doing, but that was the problem. How could he even pretend to know what to do if he didn’t even have a general IDEA on what to do? He knew he only had one shot with Cadance and he had to make it count. He couldn’t afford to come across as a total spaz, and here was his best friend, offering to help him ‘practice’.

Yeah, that’s it, practice. This was going to be just practice, he would take his friend offer build up confidence in himself and when Cadance and him would get down, he wouldn’t seem like a loser. He would know what to do and she would be In good hooves, HIS hooves, not to mention his first time would be with somepony he trusted. So steeling himself he made up his mind and turned to look at Chiffon.

“y-yeah....”

They say you never forget your first time, and he could say for certain that statement was indeed true. His first night was interesting to say the least, it was a bit slow and clunky, they actually had to check out a library book on instructions on what to do, but once they understood the basics and got the hang of it….oh yeah. He never felt anything like it before, he didn’t know such sensations even existed, Her Soft, slightly husky body, her full pouty lips, her hair which smelled like frosting, the way she would grab on to him and hold on for dear life as he took her over, and over, and over again that very night. He was like a wild beast, claiming his prize and she was his willing victim, at the mercy of his every desire.

They spent that entire weekend ‘practicing’ and by the goddess did he make the most of it. When it was over he wondered why everypony wasn’t always rutting, why would they EVER want to stop? If every pony just kept on rutting there would be no war. Of course now that he is older it was rather silly to think that at the time, but considering he lost his virginity and was on top of the world, he figured he could cut his younger self some slack.

Of course they agreed this would be a one time thing and would go back to just being regular friends, after all it was just ‘practice.’ Unfortunately, that arrangement wasn’t going to last. What happened later he could only describe at the time as a double edge sword. Much to his delight, Princess Cadance said yes to his request for a date that upcoming weekend. He thought he came across as bit too nervous and awkward but she would just give him a smile and agreed to give him a chance. Of course he made sure the date went by perfectly. He left nothing to chance, he even borrowed some bits from his dad, money that he would have to pay him back once he could afford to but she was worth it. Her smile just made his heart flutter, and while he seemed like a smooth stallion in school, with her he seem to be a bit of a bumbling klutz but for some reason she seemed to like that about him.

There was one hiccup and it was a big one. She wanted to take slow, she wasn’t the type of mare who would just jump into bed with any stallion who took her out on a few dates, while they were just dating he understood, but she had that same mindset even when they were officially going steady. The perfect maiden relationship, a pure innocent mare, who was waiting for marriage to be her first time, it was truly something out of a story book, There was a problem though, he was a Stallion, Damnit!

Ever since his first time with Chiffon Swirl his hormones had been raging. He fell into that mindset that almost all young stallions his age was at, thinking with his dick. Of course, he played the dutiful colt friend and acted like he understood which seem to make her happy, and while he still cared for her deeply, he was becoming increasingly pent up and frustrated. He just discovered sex, and now if he wanted this relationship to work he’d had to stave off it until they got married? How in Tartarus was he suppose to last that long? When were they going to get married? in a year? Two? Ten? He wanted to Buck her and Buck her hard! He voiced his frustrations to the only pony he felt he could talk about this kinda stuff with, Chiffon. He just went on a ran in which she mostly stayed quiet and listened but when an opening represented itself….

“Well…..you could release that tension with me.”

To this very day, he still remembered those exact words. How his heart was beating in his ear drums, how his while body was burning with desire. He tried to argue that they couldn’t do that anymore because he is with Cadance now, not to mention that they were just ‘best buddies’. Now, he didn’t know exactly when she became so forward but she added a ‘sway’ to a flank every time she took a hoof step towards him. It seems that he wasn’t the only one transformed from that weekend. He found himself unable to move as she closed the gap between them, her lips were so close that he could practically taste them even though their lips were just barley touching. It wasn’t full on contact but it was enough to arouse him and with a sexy, sultry voice whispered.

“She doesn’t have to know….”

His mind was racing a mile a min, did he just hear her right? His best buddy was offering herself to cheat on his mare friend. Princess Cadance, such a sweet trusting pony, she always believed the best in everypony no matter their background and on top of that she was absolutely gorgeous. She just seemed to sparkle whenever the sunlight hits her, she was a mare who could literally have any stallion she wanted, they were like luggage to her, all she would have to do was grab and pull and they would be like putty in her hooves. Being with her made them both the talk of the entire School. They were both great looking ponies, she already a princess and he was a young stallion who was going places. A pony would have to be brain dead to even considering cheating on her.

And yet…..The thought of what was being offered, the gift that was placed before him was just too enticing. Just the mere thought of betraying Cadance gave him a thrill unlike anything other. Regular mating was great but this…this was on another level, and Chiffon Swirl, who was cute in her own right in a down home kind of way but her looks wren’t on the same level as Cadance. However, that was part of the thrill in all this, that he would cheat on Princess Cadance with this ‘Mud Pony’. After licking his lips, he made his decision he proceeded to grab her by the back of the head and claimed her lips and together they once again became one.

Thus, this is how it went for high school, in public he would continue dating Cadance, take her out on dates, and be the doting coltfriend she deserved, but whenever He and/or Chiffon Swirl got the ‘itch’ they would get together or sneak away in order to satisfy it. Whether it was a quickie in a janitor’s closet or spending an entire night in a bed room, they made sure the itch was always scratched and the fact the deeds it was lace with deception and betray made it that much hotter for them. Chiffon liked the idea so much that she started taking photos as ‘souvenirs’ every time they would do it.

He still cared for Princess Cadance, and tried his best to be by her side, the pull of that cerulean mare was just too strong. He had to be careful so that the two would never ‘officially’ meet. Luckily they were in different classes and pretended they didn’t know each other when Cadance was around so that wasn’t too much problem, and when one of their friends unknowingly tried to let it slip that they did know each other, they quickly squashed that line of talk when the Alicorn was around.

In the final months of high school was when Chiffon Swirl started ‘officially’ dating a stallion named Carrot Cake, He went to a specialist school for cooking so it wasn’t hard to hide their arrangement from him. When Shining asked her why she was dating him she said that he found him rather cute despite his rather bland appearance. He had an idea of owning a bakery in a simple town, an idea that intrigued her ever since she got her cutie mark. Of course this didn’t stop their nights together, if anything this just added another layer to their game.

Sometime after graduation, Chiffon Swirl and Carrot Cake moved away to a town called Ponyville, and Shining remained. He refocused his efforts on dating of Princess Cadance and continuing his path as a royal guard. Now that Chiffon was gone and he was spending more time with Cadance, he was starting to feel bad for all those times he cheated on her with swirl. She was just so trusting, it was hard not to feel guilty, Well he was sure he got it out of his system. He was determined to be the perfect stallion for her, one that would be worthy of her hoof in marriage. For years they seemed to have the perfect relationship, they had eyes only for each other and everyone agreed they were indeed the perfect couple. So finally after a special dinner date he pop the question and she said yes.

With his wedding coming up his friends wanted to throw him a bachelor party, to give him ‘one last shot of freedom’ before he took the plunge. He didn’t find the joke amusing at the time but he agreed to it. If nothing else he would invite Swirl, she was his bust bud after all, NOT best friend of course that belonged to his little Twily. It would be good to see her again, he moved on and he was certain she did as well, So why not invite her to be part of the night out, and they could spend the evening catching up, their time together was great but he was certainly over her by now.

On that night, when she came to the bachelor party, he didn’t know how wrong he was. He took one look at her and everything came back…everything. Those times they had sneaking off to have a quickly just barley out of view of the public, the nights where they would go at each other over and over again while their future partners were completely oblivious. She was older now, mature, her body filled out VERY nicely. She had curves and he wanted more than anything to use them every which way.

At first they strike up a friendly conversation, they talked about their current lives, catching up on old times and new, and told jokes, but the tension between them just kept growing and growing. He knew she was experiencing the same feelings as he was. He wanted to resist, he TRIED to resist, but it was one wink, one simple gesture that completely broke his will. It said, ‘I know you want me, well here I am, come claim me.'

And that he did, 5 years of lust and longing he didn’t even realize he had, just broke through the surface, so without saying another world he got behind her, bent her over in front of him and once more claimed her as his mare. Apparently they were so loud that one of his friends went back to check on them, of course instead of being shock he was cheering them on, not that they really cared at the time if he was cheering for them or disgusted with the act, nothing was going to stop them. Mrs. Cake did managed to get just enough sense to tell the other pony to look in her bag to get out her camera and take pictures while they were in the middle of their debauchery.

When Shining and Swirl were finally done, they made him promise not to tell anypony. although he wanted to, he promised to keep his lips sealed, the point of the party is to let loose and have fun without consequences, but as far as he knew that was the only time they actually bucked and the treacherous couple wanted to make sure it stayed that way. After the third pony left they stayed behind to clean themselves up and agreed to have more ‘meetings’ like this. After all, what harm was it for two old friends to get together once in a while and ‘catch up’ with each other. Of course it wasn’t going to be like back in school since they had their own separate lives but they would figure something out.

Sometimes it was rather tough to get away and meet up for one of their get togethers, but they always seem to find a way. Like taking a ‘vacation’ outside of Canterlot while his wife would continue her training under Princess Celestia grooming her for when she would be her own ruler, or Swirl now known as Mrs. Cup Cake, would go on a ‘business’ trip to see a potential client. They always made sure to meet up in different towns and cities and always under a false alias. He knew he should hate himself but he couldn’t deny that those were some of the best times of his life, perhaps they even produced offsprings from one of their sinful unions. He couldn’t be 100 percent sure but it was a possible that the cake twins were in fact his foals. So far, the biggest thrill was when Cupcake would become close to his wife, acting like her friend while she was pregnant flurry heart. The way cupcake would speak to Cadance about the joys and complications of pregnancy, How she would give her advice on what to do when certain things arise…..the way she would sneak glances at him and wink. It was enough to drive him insane with lust, luckily for him, he more than made sure to release his built up ‘desires’ into her the very second that they manage to sneak some alone time together.

He must admit there were times he would feel shame after their get togethers, it was just so hard look at his wife when he would come back tried and all but reeking of another mare. She was just so pure, so trusting of him. Sometimes when he looked into the mirror he would get sick over the stallion staring back at him. He was putting everything at risk, just for filthy thrills but he just couldn’t help it. He didn’t know what it was about that mare that just drew him to her every single time. How they revealed in this tawdry affair fueled by the trill of betrayal. Perhaps it was the act it’s self, being with Cadance is wonderful, but it was just so….vanilla. It was good but simple, sometimes she seemed so....fragile and you had to treat her like a porcelain doll. Of course she wasn’t actually frail but that's how it felt when they made love. Cupcake on the other hand, she let him do whatever he wanted, save for extremes and allowed him to buck her every which way. Whatever the reason, he knew this couldn’t go on forever, but he just didn’t know how he was going to break it off.

Why couldn’t he just be satisfied?

This brings him to now, He was seemingly walking with a purpose, his ‘official business’ outside of the empire hit a bit of a snag. Cupcake didn’t arrive in Trottingham to meet him at one of their usual spots. This was rather strange because she NEVER missed a meeting before. Sometimes she would be a little late but she always made sure to show up, but after going well past the time they agreed upon, he decided to just head back to the crystal empire.

Of course he wasn’t just going to go back to work, he was feeling rather frisky and he needed to unleash all this stress he had been building up thanks to dealing with royal concerns. Thankfully he had a back up plan to help him with that, his sexy hot wife. It won’t be as stimulating, but he couldn’t really complain. Thinking now about Cadance, he started to notice that she seemed a bit different lately. She was spending more and more time with the empire’s citizens, chatting and helping them with menial tasks. Also she was spending more time with the crystal council discussing politics and what not. Not to mention semi-frequent trips outside of the empire. Seems that she was always busy as of late, two days ago a guard mentioned to him that Princess Cadance was spending an evening reading to foals at the orphanage. She always did care about their crystal ponies and he’d be the first to admit that it was heartwarming to hear her doing such task. She seemed happier almost carefree, like everyday was a new opportunity waiting to be siege. But, no matter how busy she got she always made sure to spend quality time with their little Flurry heart. He never seen her like this, not even back when they were first dating, she always seemed so prim, proper, and a little reserved. Now, it was like she was becoming a completely different mare slowly becoming more….bold. He had to admit he rather liked it.

So imagine, his surprise when he arrived from the train station to find one of the guards waiting him. The guard pony informed him that his wife wanted to see him at the castle right away. Maybe she was feeling a little frisky herself, she seemed to have more energy to spare as of late. Talk about convenient, but hey, who was he to complain? Maybe, she had something extra special planned for him.

Arriving upon the closed doors of their royal bed chamber he took off his royal guard helmet and held it at his side. He took a deep breath and let out a smile, he couldn’t help but feel a little giddy over possibilities of what was behind that door. Maybe she wanted to try some food play, there was a technique he red about using a radish, eggplants, and a Hammer that he was dying to try out. Perhaps he could convince her to try Some Sadomasochism perhaps, she could be a dominatrix and he his willing victim, It would be refreshing to see her cut loose on him for a change. He had to one last breath to calm himself down and wipe the grin on his face. Then when he was sure he was ready he used his magic to turn the knob and open the door. What he saw beyond brought a smile to his face, the main lights In room were dimmed, In fact they wasn’t on at all. This would have been worrying were it not for all the various red candles placed through the setting. Some of the candles were positioned to show a clear pathway towards their huge bed and there was just enough luminescence in the room for him to notice rose petals scattered throughout room.

He just couldn’t help but give a near silent chuckle. He found this all so familiar. He did something like this on their honeymoon night, he wanted their first time together to be extra special. His face dipped slightly as he remembered his bachelor party prior…and the constant strings of betrayal which followed. She was such a wonderful mare to do this for him, he was beginning to feel a twinge of guilt but quickly push that down. He didn’t see Swirl today, and there was no way he was going to let this setting go to waste.

He closed the door behind him and stepped into the room, a smile of anticipation gracing his lips. Once he arrived, his smile grew slightly as he saw a blanket of rose pedals on the bed. Eyes slowly adjusting to the lighting he saw a shadow on the bed and while he wanted to keep the low light setting, he used a bit of magic to illuminate his vision a bit and saw that place right on the edge on the bed on top a silver platter was two items. A crimson letter folded neatly in a heart design with ’To: Shining Armor” written on it. It was a rather large size so he figured it consisted of several pages but that’s was alright, and underneath that was a black envelope packet.

“Oh Cadance….” He whispered softly to himself, perhaps this was all a special game she prepared for him, like a romantic scavenger hunt where he would have to comb the empire looking for clues and once he found him they would make passionate love right there in her hiding spot. Maybe that is why she seemed so busy lately, she was busy setting all of this up. “And It is not even hearts and hooves day yet.”

Not wanting to waste another second, he raised the letter with his magic and began to read it In earnest.

Captain Shining Armor,

If you are reading this, then you have returned from your one of your dalliances with with that cum slut, Cup Cake or perhaps I should call her Chiffon Swirl? I suppose it doesn’t matter at this point. That’s right Captain, I know everything now. I know you have been cheating on me with that mare since we first started dating. I found out about it weeks ago through none other than Carrot Cake, that’s right, Cup Cake’s very own husband. At this point, you are probably wondering ‘how could he have found out in the first place? You two were so careful!’ and truth be told, from my investigations into this, hearing the tales from the whorse’s mouth even I have to admit the system you had in place was very well done, and the acting you two pulled off certainly pulled the wool over our eyes for years. After all, who would question the captain of Princess Celestia’s royal guard learning a magic transfer spell similar to Spike’s for the purposes of sending messages directly to other officers in order to be more efficient? Unfortunately for you there was one flaw in your sick, twisted machinations. Can you guess what that is?

“Oh….BUCK!” Shining let go his magic and let the letter fall back onto the bed. He had to take a couple of steps back form it and focus on just breathe. This was it, the moment he had been dreading for years. He was now completely outed. It felt that his chest was going to collapse in on its self. His mind was working in overdrive, and his breathing was becoming more and more haggard. HIs worst fear as been realized, his wife discovered his secret affair, and worst yet she personally talked to Cup Cake about it so it was more likely knew way more details about this than even he would dare to admit. He tried taking deep breaths, trying desperately to calm himself down, focus on his breathing. it was something they taught him in training. He needed to be cool under pressure. But this was way, way worse than a simple guard situation. He’s rather fight the full fury of Queen Chrysalis with a broken horn and all four of his hooves tied, than deal with this for even a second.

“Wait…” Shining thought out loud. His mind focused on the last part he read before letting go of the piece of paper. His eyes slowly grew wide with fear as he looked back over to the black packet on top of the silver platter. He summoned his magic to open and dump its contents on the shiny plate, and sure enough his fears were confirmed, 4 photos, all shot in various positions of him along with his ‘best buddy’ Chiffon Swirl. He shook the packet a bit more if case there was any other photos but instead he heard a ‘clink’ sound. He no longer wanted to be bathed in this Romantic mockery setting so he used more his magic to make his lighting spell even brighter so he could see better and there along with the photographs was what appeared to be a small silver key with a pink heart attacked at the end.

He never seen this key before but it was clear that his wife wanted him to have it, why? He couldn’t even begin to hazard a guess but he was going to find out. Feeling a little calmer he picked up the red letter once again and continued reading.

By now I imagine you stopped reading briefly to see what was in the packet I left for you, that is if you haven’t looked inside it already. That’s right Armor, there is no doubt any more is there?. Truth be told, when Mr. Carrot Cake first informed me about your extramarital actives, I didn’t know if I completely believed him. That perhaps this was all of ploy from Queen Chrysalis to torment us, but the more I thought about it, the more the clues were there. How sometimes you would have this far off look In your eye, like the one you would get after we made love, even back then I found that odd considering we didn’t do anything like that. There were also those times where after what should have been an easy day, you would appear before me sweaty and exhausted. Even when I was certain that nothing exciting happened that day.

The more I think about it Armor, the more it all made sense. The fact is that while you were cleaver you weren’t as subtle as you think, of course in my naïveté I believed every single one of your stories that you would make up, why? Because I loved you. I knew you would never betray me. You were my whole world Shining Armor - my partner, my only lover, and you betrayed me completely. For weeks, I had been questioning whether you actually loved me, or was I just a trophy wife only there to stroke your ego so you could brag to all of Equestria that I was your mare?

I suppose it doesn’t really matter, because it is time you learn the point of all this: I want a divorce.

I am sure your mind is racing with a million questions and arguments against this decision. Don’t worry, I will answer some that I feel at the most relevant. If I was there you would probably cry out something like, ‘I know I bucked up big time’ and ‘we can get through this and find a way to make this marriage work’ and let’s not forget the million and one ways you will say ‘I’m Sorry’ over and over again. My only responds to you is : ‘I don’t care and I don’t want this marriage’. I want to make this perfectly clear for you Captain Armor so I hope you have enough clarity to pay attention to what I am about to say.

Over time, I’ve come to realize that I don’t want apologies from you. I don’t want you ‘to change’. I just want out of this marriage and live my life outside of it. I will not live my live with some pony who’d only have shame when they are caught. You might argue that I am rushing into things, that there are too many ponies to consider, our families, our friends, all of pony kind. Shining we were essentially THE celebrity power couple, the pinnacle of perfection when it came to love and happiness. Thinking on those points, I came to realize why I gave you a chance in the first place. Oh sure you are a great looking stallion but that didn’t really matter much to me and you were cute when you tried to play it cool but, mostly it was pity.

You were so desperate trying to impress me that I couldn’t resist in giving you a chance and to your credit you certainly made the most of it as I really did fall for you, but even back then I wasn’t complete sure. You were adorable but I didn’t know if I wanted to jump into that kind of relationship, not because you were bad but because I wasn’t ready, but I gave into peer pressure, whenever I voiced my thoughts about ‘taking a break’ all my friends and family kept saying I was crazy, that he was going places, you two are perfect for each other and though she would never admitted, Celestia would try to nudge us together, after all this was around the time she took in Twilight. The point is that I have been considering other ponies happiness but my own for too long. I have spent so much of my life on what they wanted to see of me that I didn’t just stop and consider myself once in a while.

I knew what you wanted Armor, even I’m not that blind, but I didn’t want to appear like one of those mares, even now I feel that an act as powerful as making love shouldn’t be jumped into just for the thrill or some other desperate need. Perhaps other ponies felt that way, ‘I know you certainly did’ but to me It should be a beautiful and special time and you perverted that.

You are not ENTIRELY to blame, however. The fact is I became a princess too early. There was so much I wanted to do and so much I wanted to see, I wanted to experience so much not just in Equestria but of the whole world, but once I transcended into becoming an Alicorn princess, I was under constant training and supervision of Princess Celestia. There were responsibilities I had to uphold, ponies that I had to consider before I could even make a decision that was the slightest bit selfish. Everypony had to come before me, and with that mindset drilled into me over and over it was easy to say ‘yes’ in becoming your wife, not because I actually loved you but because it would make every pony happy to see us get married. You know what they say about young love right?

In someways I am jealous of your little sister. She got to work towards leadership at her own pace sure there were threats she had to face but she always had the rest of the elements right there by her side. Sometimes I wonder if she truly knows just how lucky she is.

I now know that it is my life, it’s my happiness that has to be the most important consideration in it. Not my family, not my friends, not even my aunts. No pony else wears my fur and no pony else has to live with the consequences of my actions, I do. Thus I am not just divorcing you, I am also leaving, I am going to do what I want for a chance. I am going to explore the world and see what is out there. Don’t worry about the empire, I have talked to the council and we have set things up so that they can watch over things while I am gone. You know what’s funny about that Captain Armor? It turns out that with some tweaks here and there the empire practically runs it’s self during times of peace, of course you would know that if you paid even the slightest bit of attention instead of just playing solider and bucking behind my back. They don't know all the details of our situation but enough to get the jitz but don't worry, I left orders for them to not confront you directly.

Now, please don’t misunderstand, The reason I am telling you through this letter and not in person is because if I said all this to your face, it would give you the false impression that I still cared. A face to face break up at this point would be too good for you. No Shining Armor, This is exactly what you deserve, some simple pieces of parchment and some dried ink. This is most fitting to a heartless stallion such as yourself.

Which brings to perhaps the most important factor in all of this. The only thing you ever produce that wasn’t tainted.

Flurry Heart

Don’t worry, I made sure that she will be well taking care of when I’m gone. As you are reading this, she is currently in the protective care of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. When I told the them what I wanted for Flurry Heart I made sure Cup Cake was there to confess everything, I even brought along some insurance to make sure that this wasn’t all a ploy. Needless that were quite ’upset’ with you, I left them with specific instructions that you were allowed no where near her. After all, you convinced Everypony that you were a Stallion of integrity and honor. In font of all of Canterlot, with Princess Celestia herself marrying us, you swore to love, honor, and obey. But, you betrayed the mare you claimed to love above all us, the one you said had your heart and soul for all eternity. If you were capable of repeatedly betraying the mare claim to loved above all, I shudder to think how you would betray my precious Flurry Heart. I will go to Tartarus before I let a Stallion like that near my daughter, father or no. But not to worry I will be back for her, I could never stay away from my precious heart for too long but I know that if I just were to remained here, I know I will become bitter and resentful and no foal should have a parent like that especially when they are growing up. How can I take care of my little filly when I haven’t even gotten myself in order yet? Thank the stars that she almost completely takes after her mother because as far as I am concerned: You were just her seed doner.

Don’t worry, about your reputation be damaged or your deeds being made public, only a handful of ponies know about the real you besides of those I have mentioned previously. Oh, Pinkie Pie and Applejack also know, I am pretty sure you can guess why. With Applejack being the element of honesty, trying to lie with her around is virtually impossible in a sense. However, I didn’t tell your parents or Princess Twilight Sparkle. If they should learn about this, it won’t be from me and I made sure that all the ponies I listed took a pinkie promise to not tell what has happened, that is unless they are asked about it and at that point I leave it up to their personal discretion.

I would imagine that you are probably trying to think of some way to salvage this, some kind of plan, and I encourage you to try one. It should be amusing to see you try something. Thinking about exploring some loophole that you THOUGHT I missed. But I want you to keep this in mind, before to decide to try your luck. I didn’t tell you everything, only what I felt was the most relevant to get this message across, and to vent a little bit.

One more thing, The key that you have no doubt found by now opens a small box I left you ontop of my dresser. In it, you will find proof of my claims as well as my last gift to you.

So that’s it, I hope you have a nice life Captain Shining Armor. Now you can dabble with all the mares you want guilt free. So be with as many other mares your heart desires, heck, why not cut loose and try a stallion, I believe lieutenant Flash Sentry seems to have the hots for you. But I can’t love you.

Princess Mi Amore Cadenza

As he finished the last page of the letter, Shining’s entire body was shaking. It all just seemed so surreal. His vision was blurry and twist like he had a sense of vertigo. With every word, he could feel his very the huge pressure of his actions weight heavier and heavier upon him. He couldn’t bring himself to even scream, what would be the point of it? What right could be possibly have to be angry. It wasn’t like she was in the wrong. After so long it was finally catching up to him and he was now paying the price for his arrogance and infidelity. He deserved this, every last bit. But as he mind tried to process over what was happening, he realized that he hasn’t even begun to truly pay the price.

Cadance didn’t tell Everypony about his deeds only a few but it was a strategic few. How long would it take for the crystal ponies to ask him about their Princess’s whereabouts? They would want answers and what better way to get them than asking her ‘loving and loyal’ husband. Sure the others that knew the story, Cadance had them ‘pinkie promise’ not to tell ponies directly, but he knew what she was really doing. She was slowly backing him into a corner, she was essentially slowly but surely isolating him, because sooner or letter it was all going to build up to the point where it would eventually overwhelm him and what story could he possibly tell to quell the ponies’s curiosity? Anyone who was important in the matter knew the truth, she even had Applejack for Buck sake. There was no pony he could really tell, not even his family because they eventually would want details on what was happening and Twily, goddess curse her knack for seeking knowledge, would be the worst one. it was quite clear that she was making him feel the way she felt when she found out about his affair.

Trapped.

From his stupor, his eyes suddenly shifted over to the key. Part of him didn’t want to, that small voice deep in the back of his mind cried out to him to not proceed, that it would break him but he knew…he just knew he had to see what was in that box. He NEEDED to see what was in side. Steeling himself he weakly took hold of the key with his magic and he dragged his hooves over to her dresser. The Box it’s self was hot pink with Cadance’s Cutie Mark design engraved on top. Using the key he opened the box and looked inside. He saw what he expected to see, divorce papers. The moment he read that part in his now ex-wife’s letter he knew. He looked through the papers and saw the final confirmation. Right there in bold black ink where the signatures. On the last page at the bottom right hand corner he saw his former wife’s signature and in the bottom left corner and where his signature would go he saw two stamp both in the style of each one of the royal sisters as well as their own signatures.

‘By Royal Degree: Princess Celestia’

‘By Royal Degree: Princess Luna’

Normally only one of the sisters would be enough to supersede both parties signing but the fact that both of them signed the document spoke volumes. He moved the papers aside and looked backed into the box and there it was, Cadance’s last ‘gift’. It was a single Photograph, placed upward and turned around so that the back was facing him, she wanted him to personally turn it around, he could already feel his heart tear as he used his hoof to turn the picture around so that he could see it, and with a single look, tears begin to leak from his eyes.

It was an image of his ex-wife, laying down on her belly stretched out on what appeared to be some kind of night colored fur skinned rug. Her mane let loose and was falling around her sensual body. Hey eyes were half close and she was giving a playful smile, everything about this just screamed: seduction. But what truly hurt was where her eyes were pointed at, he clenched his teeth trying to hold back a sob as he notice the small but powerful detail. Her eyes weren’t looking at the camera, but past the camera like the pony who was holding the camera. At the bottom the picture, in cursive handwriting worthy of the mare known as the Princess of love was the title: ‘Forever Yours’.

This was it, her last gift to him, In a cruel twist of poetic justice, she gave him this one lone photograph. With this single item, he would have her forever…..and never will again.

“My Cadance………What have I done…..”

He could no longer hold back the tide of his emotions, his training has failed him, he was destroyed completely and he had no pony to blame but himself. He didn’t even have the strength to keep up his light spell and thus within the darkness of the Royal Bed Chamber…

The Erstwhile Prince wept.

Author's Note

Well there you go, the next chapter! :pinkiehappy:

Have to say, it was interesting getting this chapter down but I hope it is decent enough for you all to enjoy!

Once again I am sorry for the mistakes and misspells. A friend of mind backed out of being a potential editor for me. *Sighs* I guess the search continues. :pinkiesad2:

Once again thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this installment. The final part will be up soon. :twilightsmile:

Bonus Chapter: In the darkness, Light will take you to The other side

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Epilogue - Each Breath that I take will be Mine!

Author's Note

Well here it. The Epilogue. I hope you enjoyed reading it as I did writing it. I am sorry for all the errors. *sighs* :pinkiesad2:

Also, I am rather surprised by the number of people who wanted to see the confrontation of Cup Cake. I originally planned to post it up but when I showed the summary to my friends they all said I should leave it out since I laid out a plan in chapter 2. They felt it was unnecessary and since I am rather new to this I wanted to do things the right way. Guess I should have listened to my gut. huh? :twilightsheepish:

So because I don't want to leave my readers hanging. I will post up a Bonus Chapter soon
that take place after chapter 2 that will have Cadance confronting Cup Cake.

So for now, I hope you enjoy this epilogue. :twilightsmile:

Epilogue - Each Breath that I take will be Mine!

Life was good

Cadance, with a smile that rivaled the brightness of even her auntie’s star was soaring through the nearly cloudless sky. Currently, she was wearing the same brown cloak and satchel she carried on her form all those weeks ago but unlike the last time she wore this combination her emotions were much different. Within the satchel wasn’t the proof of ongoing affair. No, this time it contain some essentials for survival, some food, compass and a map of the outside world that her aunt allowed her to use. Also strapped next to the small bag was a canteen full of water, it was a rather simple set up that most ponies would argue would be beneath a mare of her station, but now it was a wonderful luxury. She couldn’t ask for anything more.

The last time she soared this high In the air she was in a VERY different mindset. Upset, frustrated, distraught, devastated, shattered….those words were close to the truth but some how they didn’t seem strong enough. No, if she had to sum up how she felt in just one word during that time it would have to be broken.

Yes, that was appropriate because that is exactly what she was that night, completely and utterly broken. Torn apart and thrown away like a toy that didn’t have any more use for the foal playing with it. What a perfect analogy to sum up her marriage with Shining Armor. She was a toy that would be played with only when he had that certain itch for her, but not for Mrs. Cup Cake oh no he got plenty of use out of her.

“Hum, Perhaps I should call her Ms. Cup Cake now or maybe Slut Cup.” The Pink Alicorn giggled at her own tasteless joke.

Much to her delight, it seems things worked out rather well not just for her but for Carrot Cake. Confronting his now ex-wife had been smoother that she originally expected but truth is it most likely would have been harder if Pinkie Pie and Applejack wasn’t there to help them; bless those two wonderful mares. It was a bit of a challenge but both she and Carrot managed to convince them of the sick debauchery that was going on all under their snouts. Pinkie was so torn up about it that her hair lost it’s poofiness, she just couldn’t believe that Cupcake and Shining would be capable of such depraved actions and honesty, she couldn’t blame her. Even at this very moment she couldn’t fully believe it herself, but of course that is where Applejack came in.

While the country mare was more stubborn than a jaded mule, if the pieces fit and the truth was presence she would accept it how matter how hard it was for her to swallow. She didn’t like it but she wouldn't deny it and being the element of honesty it was nigh impossible to truly lie to her and once they enacted their plan faced Cup Cake, she didn’t have a hoof to stand on especially with the photos and Applejack present. Needless to say, to see that bitch break down and sob uncontrollably asking for forgiveness and begging her was a mixed feeling. She knew that delighting in a pony’s misery was wrong even if they have done something horrible to you but she just couldn’t help but feel at least a twinge of excitement from it but mostly it left her calm.

She made sure to remind Carrot to tell Pinkie Pie exactly how he felt about her and don’t hold anything back. Even though she made some suggestions on how he should ‘punish’ his wife if he choose to do so; she would leave that decision ultimately up to him because she knew that if he wasn’t the one to issue it then he wouldn’t be able to grow as a pony. He had to be the one to stand tall on his own four hooves, it wouldn’t mean anything if she did it for him. She would help but in the end it has to be his decision and actions.

After that bit of unpleasantness, she continued with the rest of her plan by visiting the royal sisters. As expected dealing with her aunts was more of a challenge and while there was shock, disbelief and lots of arguing, she finally managed to convince them of the truth in no small part thanks to Applejack. Celestia finally agreed to issue an immediate divorce for both her marriage as well as Carrot’s and even though she didn’t have to, Auntie Luna also placed her signature on the papers just to drive the point home even further. Applejack wanted to tell Twilight what her BBBFF was doing all this time despite making that ‘pinkie promise’ but Cadance told her that Shining Armor himself should be the one to tell his family and she reluctantly agreed. It was only right, but to put her mind at ease she told the apple farmer what she had plan for the cheating stallion but didn’t give her to many details, if nothing else it seemed to have the desired effect in putting her mind at ease if only for a little bit.

After she sent AJ home with Carrot’s own divorce papers to be delivered, she would begin to tell her aunts what she had experienced right after she found out about the betrayal. They both had looks of disappointment on them but listened none the less and the faces they made when she told them that the former king, Sombra was still alive and was the one who helped her in this trying time was absolutely priceless. They insisted that they check to see if there was any trace of dark magic on her which she agreed. It was logical after all, the dark stallion was known for fear and corruption not to mention other things and given the history between him and the princesses how could she blamed them.

Oh, they were quite adamant that she should tell theme where he was currently located so that he could face justice, but no matter how hard they pressured her to divulge the information she refused. Even speaking in his defense that he wasn’t that type of pony anymore. They didn’t trust Sombra but they did trust her and would allow him a ‘probation’ as long as she was the one to watch over him. Which turned out to be perfect for her all things considered. She then told the royal sisters what she was going to do, her plan for Shining armor, leaving Flurry Heart in their care, travel the world with the former king.

That last part certainly brought new life into the room as the royal sisters came up with at least a thousand and one reason on why that last part alone was insane.

It is too dangerous!

You can’t trust Sombra!

You don’t know what’s out there!

but she quieted them down by raising a single hoof and spoke three simple words.

“It’s my choice…”

With that one phrase, they saw that she was determined to do this. To live her life the way she wanted for no pony else but her self. They sadly understood and agreed but on one condition. She would have to send a report about her travels and Sombra AT LEAST once a week. If she didn’t know better, it seemed like she was being task to give friendship reports about Sombra. The thought of it made her giddy.

She would be back of course. She couldn’t leave her precious Flurry Heart for too long, but she had to do this, for the sake of herself and her mental well being she needed to do this. She was not going to be one of those passive aggressive mothers projecting their frustrations onto her own foal. She could NEVER put her little Flurry through that, she was the most important pony in her life.

And now here she was, leaving it all behind; on the day where Shining Armor left early to go to a ‘business meeting’ outside of the crystal empire. It seemed fitting to spring her departure on him today. He left the empire that morning in the hopes of having yet another sinful romp with a married mare while at the same time she would leave in order to set her self free. Of course with Cupcake exposed she wouldn’t dare meet her former husband for that particular meeting, she personally made sure of that.

She couldn't help but chuckle when she thought about the last 'gift' she left Shining Armor. She was tempted to stay just a little long just to see the look on his face when he noticed it, but her imagination would have to be enough. The smile she was sporting grew even wider as she shifted her wings to catch the wind current in order to bring herself even higher. The sight of this beautiful luscious landscape before her was truly breathtaking.

Her eyes shifted down and saw a large hill in the far distance, this was her destination. As she slowly lowered herself closer to the ground below, she could see something on top of the hill. It appeared to be only a speck at first but the closer she got the more its features became apparent. Her heart began to pound in her chest as she got closer and closer to the now distinguishable Pony. There he was, standing tall and proud, a similar cloak covering his own body and wearing that stupid smirk on his face. The Dark Pony himself, Sombra.

“Well well, Milady. It sure took you long enough to get here. I was beginning to wonder if you gotten lost.”

“Oh My apologizes your grace.” She replied giving him a mocking bow in midair. “I didn’t know I had to be expedient for you.”

The two looked at each other for a moment until finally they chortled with glee. Princess Cadance landed in front of him and gave him a friendly kiss on the cheek and nuzzled him who responded in kind, though his was more reserved he still meant it just a much as she did.

“Oh, by the way, don’t call me Princess or by my official full name, or milady or anything like that. Just Cadance.”

They had an agreement they weren’t going to be an official couple or anything like that. She was no where near ready to give her heart out to another pony after what ex-husband put her through. She was much to raw for something like that and thankfully Sombra agreed, Though she didn’t know all the details there were hints that something similar happened to him in his own youth. So they would remain as close friends and if something more would grow between them then it was going to be on both their terms and no pony else. Both sides had to be ready for something like that or it just wasn’t going to happen, period. If they choose to just remain as just good friends then that was great as well. Perhaps eventually friends with benefits?….maybe?

One things for sure, she would always be thankful to him for saving her. She never would have made it through all of this without the former king in the north. She made sure to visit him rather often after that first night. They would talk for hours on end about gossip, opinions about certain ponies, and about whatever came to mind. They even had debates about friendship and harmony actually work in Equestria. They both came up with some good points but she did have some satisfaction as she could tell her arguments force Sombra to actually reevaluate his stand when it came to the subjects.

Even if it was weird and random at the time she remembered one particular night where she visited him and they didn’t even talk much beyond simple greetings. They just sat in silence reading a single book together. It was wonderful to just have a simple evening like that with a pony she came to care about and not have to worry about anything other than just enjoying the moment and each other’s company.

She was looking forward to traveling with him, exploring the world outside of Equestria and while Sombra was still against the idea that ‘friendship is magic’ she felt up to the challenge. She would had plenty of time to convince him of that truth. Princess Twilight wasn’t the only one who could change a pony and she was going to prove it.

“Understood P-…Cadance.” His smirk softening into a gentle smile. “So are you ready to go?”

She didn’t answer him right away, she turned her head and took one last look behind her. She could see Canterlot just faintly in the distance. The Capital of Equestria, it seemed right that with this sight she would say her Silent Goodbye. She would return, that was a fact. She wouldn’t be away from her homeland for too long, and would make sure to bring souvenirs from her time in the outside world. After a few more moments she finally turned her head back towards Sombra and nodded.

“I am ready to go.” She shifted her wings slightly under her cloak. “It is too bad that you don’t have wings, we would cover a lot more ground in the air.”

Sombra merely grinned as his horn glowed with dark magic and a second later, Black, bat like wings spouted from underneath his cloak. Fully extended for all to see.

She was floored when she saw the extra limbs. “How…I…Wha?!”

Sombra gave a hearty laugh from her reaction. “They are not real wings Cadance, they are magical constructs, surely you don’t think that I would take on the Alicorn Sisters and not find a way to match them in the air, do you? Flight is a huge advantage in combat. One that I wasn’t going to allow my enemies to have over me.”

Finally calming down from her initial shock, she moved closer to get a better look, and sure enough she could see the magic. How the constructs seem distorted and magic energy constantly seep off of them like black smoke, but she has to admit this was really impressive. She can’t recall any Unicorn in history preforming such a spell that would allow them to take flight just like a pegasus expect perhaps Twilight for what she did for Rarity.

Sombra’s grin turned a bit sour as he seemed to recover a bitter memory. “Of course such a spell requires a continuous flow of magic and concentration. The spell alone it is not much of an issue for me, but when you are doing a spell like this in the middle of an intense battle with two enraged and determined Alicorns well….”

He trailed off, and she nodded in understanding.

“It’s alright, I must say you are full of surprises Sombra.” She softened the mood by giving him a friendly smile and a playful punch in the arm, which seemed to help his mood a bit. She then extended her own wings and hovered from the ground. “Shall we?”

“Lead the way Cadance.”

The two ponies took off into the air, heading for the Equestrian borders to the east. As the wind traveled past her body she took in a huge lungful of crisp morning air. It was like she was taking in her very first breath. She felt she was breathing new life into her very soul and in a way, she was. Life was better than good, Life was great!

She didn’t know what the future had planed for her and she didn’t know what was out there waiting for them in the unknown world. Would she see wondrous sights? uncover dangerous mysteries? meet all manners of creatures both docile and hostile? She honestly couldn’t say but one thing she knew for certain. Whatever was out there, no matter what the future holds.

She would face it on her terms.