Infernus Astartes: Child of Ruin

He wasn’t going to lie, this wasn’t the first time he’d woken up with a splitting headache. Late nights, those times with the boys off duty. Yeah he had a few of them throughout his career; those headaches had nothing on what he was going through now. It felt like something was trying to push itself out of his skull, and his body hurt in thirty different ways. “What happened?”

“You’re awake.” Looking at his side, Shining Armor turned his attention to Cadence as she sat next to him, a smile on her face as she stared at her coltfriend. “I’m glad.”

“Cadence.” Shining Armor choked out. “What happened?”

“You don't remember?”

“I remember that thing, then… then going through a window.” The stallion confessed as he looked at the mare. “I think I blacked out shortly after that.” The stallion admitted.

“You did.” Cadence confessed. “But that thing is gone now. Beast took care of it.”

“Beast.” Shining Armor sat up with a pained grunt. “You mentioned him before I blacked out didn’t you.”

“Yeah, he’s a…” Cadence paused, not exactly certain how to continue that sentence. Friend? Was the Beast a friend? Was he with Auntie; was he part of some form of Black Ops Guard she wasn’t made aware of? She didn’t know. “Associate, I think that’s the right word.” The princess stated. “After he dealt with that… whatever it was, he headed out.”

“Is that so?” Shining Armor asked curiously. “Did he ever come back?”

“He came back before sunrise.” Cadence confessed. “I don’t know where he is now though.” The mare admitted with an awkward look. “And I think we have other matters to worry about for a while.” Shining Armor felt confusion cross his face.

“Why, what's wrong?” He started slipping into his “Captain” persona as he got ready to stand at attention.

“Don’t worry it’s nothing to bad just, well Auntie came back a while ago, and~ she might have had a small heart attack when she saw the damage that creature caused to the castle.” Shining Armor twitched before rubbing his head.

“Oh…”

“Yeah.” Cadence nodded her head. “The cleaning staff is still trying to clean up the mess it made. There’s this strange… growth it left behind all over the place and we seem to have some issues cleaning it away, plus nopony wants to really go near it.” She shivered. “It feels… vile, like-”

“Rage.” Cadence nodded her head as she looked at Shining Armor. “I know, me and the guards felt the same thing when we got near it.” The stallion crossed his hands in thought. “I never knew such… raw malice could even exist in the world. Not only that it felt - no I think it is alive.” The stallion confessed. “Just what is that stuff?”

“I don’t know.” Cadence paused as she started to think for a moment. “But we’ll have to figure that out later I’m afraid.” The mare stated. “Auntie doesn’t want another one of those “creatures” popping up.” Cadence shook her head, changing the topic as she looked at her coltfriend. “Disregarding that though, we have another new face around the Castle now.” Cadence stated with a reformed smile. “It appears Auntie has a sister who’s just returned from being away for a time.” Shining Armor just blinked confusion on his face as he stared at the mare.

“Princess Celestia has a sister?”

“Yes, Princess Luna of Equestria.”Cadence actually rolled her eyes for a moment at the confusion.

“Yes, you remember the legend right, of… well Nightmare Moon?”

“Yeah it's something my parents used to tell me when I was a foal.” The stallion paused as he started thinking back. “The legend goes that in the beginning of Equestria’s era, there were two sisters, one Celestia who raised the sun and the other Lu…” Shining Armor turned to look at his princess and marefriend. “Na.” He went silent. “”Luna… as in the mare who’s jealousy led to her corruption as Nightmare Moon; That Luna is back?” The stallion got a nod. “Oh dear.”

“It’s not as bad as you think. I don’t know how, but she’s been purified of her corruption. She’s just… Luna now, no more Nightmare.”

“Oh thank Equestria.” Shining Armor whispered as he started to relax. “So that means we have four royals now.” He muttered as he started to frown. “You don’t like Blueblood do you?”

“Oh I hope not.” Cadence giggled. “Two Blueblood’s running around, that’s something I don’t think I can handle.”The two shared a laugh as they enjoyed each other’s company. “So, the Nurse said you’ll have to take a few days off to recover from your injuries.”

“Is that a good thing?”

“It means less work and more time to spend with each other.” Cadence clarified as Shining Armor continued to smile. Cadence reached over the bed, letting her hands rest on her coltfriend’s as she leaned on the bed. “We haven’t had a lot of time to spend together lately.”

“I’m sorry.” Shining Armor whispered. “I wanted to make it up to you yesterday, but things seemed to have spiralled out of control.”

“I know, thank you for trying though.” Cadence pecked her coltfriend on the cheek before she began to nuzzle him. “You tried, and that’s all that matters in the end.” She fell silent as she enjoyed her counterpart’s warmth.

“I love you.”

“I know.” Cadence responded.” I love you too.” She yawned for a moment, pulling back as Shining Armor looked at her.

“You should get some rest.” Her stallion stated. “You look like you could use a rest.”

“I know, just…” She went back to leaning on her counterpart. “Give me a minute.”

“Sure.” That minute lasted longer than it should have, but neither cared. They enjoyed every second of the *minute* they had together.

Sitting up the Beast just narrowed his eyes before sniffing the air. Then just as quickly as his eyes narrowed they returned to normal, and his head dropped again. He sensed something, something he was familiar within the distance. Love. He sensed love coming from somewhere in this castle. A shade he hadn't felt in a long time. What did they call it? Camaraderie? Yes, he was sure that was the word was. Mutual love and trust among those who spent a lot of time together. He frowned at that though.

He had not felt that *Love* since he and his battle brothers dived into the breathing bowels of the Sea of Screams. That was back during the 3rd Millennium. When the Traitorous Legions were born, long before he was blessed/cursed by the Ruinous Gods.

Remembering those days he simply breathed, a light smile across his face as he remembered those glorious days. Brothers, he had not seen his brothers in so very long, and he wondered what had happened to them. Did they fall; yes, of course they fell, and he remembered their finest hour. They fell swinging, breaking so many bones, toppling countless temples. They fell long after their weapons shattered and their armor strained itself to hold onto their wearers.

He had no doubt that even after their death, they were still fighting, in spirit they continued to rage against the Decrepit Gods as vengeful spirits.

“As you hold back the Black Tide." He begins. "As you are blistered by the fires of Armageddon, and feel the claws of Death coil around you. Should the Old Gods try to take you." He pauses as he thinks back to old days and old battles. "May you stand ever vigil. May your spirits never waver, may your flesh never tire." He closed his eyes. "Rip and tear, until it is done." He recited before closing his eyes. He made a noise, choosing to rest. "I have not recited those words in forever."