Dream Effects

Chapters

Prologue | Thrive on Nightmares
I | Two-Heads and Mage Twilight
II | Attack on Camp
IV | Sombra the Giant
III | Chew Chew! Dragon-dragon-dragon-dragon! Chew Chew!
Epilogue | Tomorrow and Together

Prologue | Thrive on Nightmares

Dream Effects
B_25 & Ploish

It occurred in an other-worldly state, the return of the demised king, ruined by darkness to rule in the absence of light. It'd been night upon his strike. The damming of a child to the hell of endless nightmares, a collection composed from pony kind, ensuring Flurry Heart would never arise from her slumber.

And if she were... to never arise the same as she once did.

But this fate—in its irony—was set instead on her parents who, in braving the nightmares of their daughter, were bound into a combination of their bodies. Truly becoming one with each other. That was, their individuality retained only in their head.

And by this, the couple, somehow, became a two headed-being.

Let's start from the beginning.

Flurry Heart rolled in her bed, again and again, unable to keep the nightmares away; they tingled in the space between skull and flush, swelling in pressure, a constant threat of horrible release. Blackness composed the bags of her eyes, which also lost their subtle glow.

She wanted both to sleep and stay awake, a horrible paradox, one with unexplained pain from everywhere. What was worse? The nightmares or keeping awake? The answer didn't matter as sleep always won out. Days made longer and sunlight rendered too bright for her eyes.

Flurry needed release from this hazy hell.

It'd been Princess Luna who felt the woe of the little girl, the connection of their relationship the first tick against her skin. Searching the dreamscape for nightmares, for whatever reason, left Flurry's undetected. It was only in the sense of an aunt that Luna felt something was up.

Plus... visiting her niece in her dreams was easier than Flurry paying her a visit.

Princess Luna hovered in the dreamscape, a visage of clouds and wisps composing the place, all darkening on her descent. Thunder muffled and pelting rain echoed. Weariness comprised her soul as sleep was whispering seductions.

The vast expanse of the fog-gate billowed from nothing, exhaling hashing and brisk winds, a storm pushing back her best attempt. The beating of the wings allowed the winds to push Luna back harder. No spell of shield best the contents of the brewing storm.

Luna hovered in a place where the currents touched her the least, bowing her head and closing her eyes, channelling swirls of blue through her horn. From its tip flourished a beam that spread into the breach—connecting with the gate.

To the feelings of emptiness and the sounds of static. Sounds took form in the fog as the chaos of its shifting broke into a form, slowly, a tightening rhythm constraining the chaos. In this appearing screen, a voice cut through the static, slow and its words laced with weight.

"Come... and... get... us..."

The static tightened across the fog-gate and composed its true shape, the sudden appearance of a ruler long dead and gone, his face returned, the glee of King Sombra. His head leaned back to roaring laughter, the full force of a storm breaking the area, throwing the tiny mare around in its currents.

The static composed Sombra then dipped its head, exhaling steam, his eyes closing. Seconds passed before an eye broke open, smiling on its own—as the rest of the gigantic face lunged toward her. A magical explosion sparked her out of existence seconds before the snap of jaws could click around her.

Luna was safe.

But Flurry Heart wasn't.

Luna didn't hesitate, upon waking from her journey, to break into a new one. Her wings unfurled, and she leapt out the open window of her study—taking flight across the night sky. It was long and cold, but it was a trek she made all the same.

To the Crystal Empire to visit her family.

Landing in front of the tower had roused the guards, though they bowed on spotting her vigil, allowing her entry. The princess raced up the steps to the ground floor of the home. In putting a word in with a guard in the station, she waited in the conference room for the couple to arrive.

Which they then did, woken from slumber, both still in nightly attire. Fluffy slippers on their hooves. Cadance wore a gown and Shining a robe, both rubbing their eyes, Shining his left and Cadance her right. Always in joined opposites was the basis of their relationship.

They didn't share words even on being seated at the table. Princess Luna crossed her forelegs over her chest, waiting for the two to wake up. Shining's head leaned left and Cadance's fell right. Both of their mouths were open. He chortled while she sleepily giggled.

Luna made a face of disgust.

Lovers.

The wafting of steam entered the scene.

Doors to the right opened to the maid stepping in, a plate balanced on her hoof, one cup and one mug, one black and the other faint green. Setting it on the table, the maid bowed and turned. Shining watched the sway of her rump while she left and Cadance swatted from every swing of booty.

They confuse me terribly.

Once the affair of the mare had passed, both of their muzzles sniffed the air, coffee and tea, dense and minty. Cadance took the cup and he took the mug. Both of their muzzles dipped beyond the rim like a dog with a blow.

Cadance pursed her lips and sipped.

Shining licked.

Princess Luna moved back and narrowed her gaze the best she could, hoping the scorn could be felt by the two but, in their present states, seemed obvious to her effects. Life flooded back into their skin in veins, dim white and violet turning brighter.

And when their muzzles lifted from the shameful display.

It was the happy, proudest faces, the ones the public saw all day.

"So, so so sorry you have to see us like that!" Shining and Cadance said in unison, both leaning their backs together, supporting the other, lifting their legs into the air. They pushed and kicked the slippers from their hooves. "But we're useless without caffeine? Isn't that right, hon?"

Hooves free allowed them to sit normally again, but already glancing to the other, nodding their heads. "That's right!"

Flurry Heart is growing to become a clown, won't she, raised by these two?

"Enough of these games," Luna punctuated the words with a swipe of her foreleg. "Your daughter and your empire are threatened from an ancient threat once more. King Sombra has found his way to the dreamscape and infected his curse in the form of nightmares on your little one."

Cadance bunched her muzzle and turned, glaring at shining, pushing on his foreleg. "You dolt! I told you her troubles sleeping weren't from 'acting-out.' It wasn't sugar-high or wanting to skip nap-time. You owe me multiple points for this!"

"What! You kidding? I just said they're a possibility." Shining shook his head and closed his eyes. "Think about it. Normal parents don't regularly deal with foes of darkness capable of ruining dreams! Kids act out! It was more likely at the time."

"I guess mothers know better than fathers then, huh?"

"You're acting like I didn't try cradling her to sleep or warming milk."

"Physical solutions to mental problems, huh?"

"And what's wrong with that approach?"

Princess Luna knocked on the table. Both prince and princess were pressing their snouts together, blowing steam, pushing even while their necks turned. They glared at Luna—but she glared back harder.

None could out-glare Luna. "Perhaps—once this squabbling of parental raising is over—we could focus on the present problem? Once your daughter is sleeping soundly after days without rest, we may continue this other discussion of yours."

Anger melted into sadness across their expressions and, maybe because their snouts still meshed together, they nodded in tandem to the words. They were listening while keeping like that. The closeness of the other was their craving—even in anger. Maybe this could work to my advantage.

"Sombra has taken control of Flurry's dreams and," Luna bowed in defeat, "not even my lunar might could break his defence. I loathe to dream of the power if he were to attack. He's far stronger in that plane than he ever was here. Exercising that hell and bringing your daughter peace... this is a duty I've failed in as an aunt."

The couple looked at each other and, feeling the coursing of shame across them, pulled away from the other. Lowering their heads as well, they all shared in defeat, the painful moment and everything it meant.

Then, in a synchronization finally kind to her, Luna felt two hooves brush against her chin. They tilted up and until it was straight, allowing her to see the two leaned in, bearing soft expressions and hopeful smiles. Cadance spoke. "But you're Princess Luna, aren't you? What's that quote you always like to preach?"

Happiness tugged Luna's lips into a smirk. "Defeat is victory if the next plan is a success."

The couple pulled their arms back and nodded with their own smiles. Shining took charge of the next question. "So what's the next plan, Princess Luna?"

"King Sombra and his power, no matter the world and realm, will forever fear the Crystal Heart. It dwells power from love, which his own means cannot match." Princess Luna sighed. "Perhaps the darkness of nightmares has accelerated the collection and growing of his powers." She shook her head. "By that logic, however, the Crystal Heart and dreams evoking love should operate to a similar level of a conduit."

Shining and Cadance bore expressions either deeply in thought or terribly confused and, deciding not to find out which it was, Princess Luna continued on. "Using the current energy in the Crystal Heart, I can send those who Flurry loves and trusts the most across Sombra's barrier to save her."

"And that would be us?"

Luna nodded.

Shining gazed into his empty mug. "We'd volunteer, obviously, but how long do we have to prepare?"

Luna shook her head. "We're already operating on borrowed time. Sombra was able to expel a dream essence like me without difficulty. Every second compounds his power further. Wasting away now renders him invincible later." She sighed. "He's already too far ahead now to be granted any more time."

Candace stood up from the table, the glow of her horn summoning a tendril, one pulling the gown from her body. She turned and laid it on the table. "I trust you'll watch the Crystal Empire for us while we're gone?'

"Once I am done sending you two through," Princess Luna began upon rising as well, "I'll send a letter to Celestia explaining the situation. Depending on the length of your departure, we may need to include Twilight to assist in Canterlot."

Princess Luna turned her muzzle away. "Or, at the worst, send her and her friends after you."

Shining coughed on rising to his hind legs, allowing the robe to become loose around his frame. "Hey now! Didn't become a commander and prince out of chance y' know." He pulled the sleeves from his forelegs one by one. "None are going to deny Twilight isn't something special. But we're still Flurry's parents."

He threw the robe onto the table and pressed a forehoof into his snout, taking a stance... and a chance on it looking cool. "No amount of power or magic can triumph over parental rage! That’s still our daughter terrified of dreams and unable to sleep." His other hoof he rose and tensed to express the firm muscles of his wrist. "Sombra's getting knocked out for pulling this crud again. Sometimes a fatherly beatdown is truly needed to end things, y' know?"

Cadance rolled her head with a smile, a few giggles from her lips, as if she knew all of this was silly—yet joined in on the action all the same. "Don't forget a motherly smack after that. It's the parental team that keeps the child safe."

"Hear hear!"

They bumped hooves.

Luna wanted to cry not for the reasons the duo would have hoped for.

The trio had walked out beneath the spire and below the Crystal Heart, already feeling the surge of its power—along with the chilly winds of the night. It nipped at the skin and licked ice across their coats. Something was brewing in wait for them. Terribleness seeking to build until being unleashed.

The time for words was done between them all upon slowing before the heart. Princess Luna was first to step before it, turning around, its heat awash across her back. Closing her eyes and dipping her head, a ball of light blossomed at the tip of her horn.

The Crystal Heart swirled and swirled behind it, a violet spark that shot from its core, collecting into Luna's glow. It grew and swelled from the infusing magic and inflection of love. Above where the ceiling of the spire loomed, another spark of electricity shot down, the colour complexion of the troubled daughter.

It struck the ball as well, swelling it outward, its colours joining.

Shining and Cadance bowed their heads as well, summoning their magic into a ball, a constant beam of energy. Swirling currents were exhausted from the gathering power, which was too contained for the might brewing within.

The couple were lifted from the ground, the force carrying them up, a shared connection established between all. That ball of density sizzled and tore into the fabric of reality, a cutting sound never before heard.

Before anyone could question it—a flash was torn from inside of it, swiped around the couple, blinking them out from existence. Princess Luna felt a blast strike against her chest, knocking her frame into the pillar for the heart, resting her back against it.

Lazily her head pressed into her mane as she rested into the pillar, looking high above, seeing the blurring swirl of the heart slow. Slow and slowing until stopped. It became static and still, not even bouncing in invisible waves. Its kinetic energy was tethered elsewhere.

"I've played my part," Luna whispered through a smile, "now it's on you two to get your act together."

From the battle of the evening and flight of the night, the princess rested entirely on the structure, seeing the first brim of orange on the horizon. Gazing into the starting of the rising sun, her eyes closed upon feeling its warmth, a blanket provided by her sister, always, no matter what.

A washing blanket of sunlight to help her sleep.

Shining Armor hadn't expected the flash or the feeling of his colon imploding. His stomach clenched as his being was being condensed. He was faintly aware of his wife, her side pressing into his own, their forelegs searching for the other inside the nothingness.

And hugging each other at the first feeling.

But something didn't feel right. Their embrace allowed them to melt into the other... but never was it so literal. He could feel his hardness merging with her softness. Strange compression that balanced their qualities into one. Their connection joining their feelings into one sense.

Until nothing could be felt at all.

Shining was aware he was lying on his chin for the fresh grass was damp against it. Light winds bristle the sound of the spades into his ears. With a groan, he arose, softly and slowly, a wet smacking of the lips and repeated blinking of the eyes. Haze greeted his vision of towering browns and sprawling greens.

Until his focus clicked everything centred again.

Another groan followed through on something not feeling right. His vision had centred, sure, but that feeling didn't extend to his body. Everything about him felt inched to the left. Organs and sense an inch from where they once were.

Discovery of the current setting, however, took importance over self-care.

Shining gazed around to trees towering to a darkened sky, one not lacking like, but rather, painted black in swirling strokes. Grey clouds populated the canvas, dense and stagnant, a draining of willpower even to stare out. They evoked the urge to vomit—something substantial with the stallion already.

His hooves pressed and crumpled against grass—as another did the same next to him—and he jumped in place. Feeling the presence of a threat, he gazed around, seeing nothing but the woods. No sounds or impression of movements. Yet something else still lurked here.

This truth he found next to him.

Seeing the sudden blotch of pink caused him to jump away, and the blot did the same, their attempt of fleeing in opposite directions, however, keeping them in place instead. He and she jumped away and, together, they jumped in place.

Something was seriously wrong.

"W-Wait... Sh... Shiny?"

Shining ceased his second attempt, calming down, panic still flushing his heart. "Cadance? That you? But where..."

Both of their heads turned to the other's voice, an excitement awash on their faces, the joy of not being alone in these woods. They nuzzled each other's cheeks and closed their eyes to the embrace. They rose a foreleg to intertwine to the other.

To the result of them falling forward, both gasping, chest smashing into grass. Muzzles pressed together in a trench of dirt they carved together, their adjutant eyes fixated on the other, fearing the proximity not consciously held.

Slowly and together, both of them pressed a foreleg against the ground, standing on their own again, a tandem forced to be kept. Looking into the other restored courage to their soul, a needed quality for, in looking over their back was where their nightmare began.

The frame of a pony bigger than any before met, a joined combination of their physique, colour and muscles and feathers and the like. Slender in some curves and broad in others. The front of his husk spouted two heads, one for his and one for her, their forelegs being the pair set to their side.

And bearing the growing weight of this revelation, the lovers looked to each other and, with a chuckle and a giggle, used that to exhale their tensions. In the seconds after that, however, both of them screamed loud enough to bring despair for any notion of a stealth mission.

I | Two-Heads and Mage Twilight

~ I ~

Two-Heads and Mage Twilight

First step wasn't to panic.

Failing that.

Second step was to ensure everything was there, a swipe of a tongue across his rows of teeth, feeling everything there, clean and smooth, no changes there. Third dared a foreleg across his chest, taut muscles flexing beneath, a quality remaining the same.

Until his hoof, its edge, traced into a divot. It was a smooth trench composed of different textures on its slope and, daring to the right, felt the complete softness of a chest. Fluff impressed beneath his touch as he stroked around in fear.

"Hey! Who gave you immediate access to there?" Shining glanced up to the towering muzzle of his wife above, glaring. She pouted her lips upward. "Now put your hoof down so I may smack you. We'll both fall forward if I do."

Shining choked. "Then why should I if I know what's going to happen."

"Because we can't stay like this all night," Cadance began. "That, and you deserve it."

Guess I can't fight that logic.

Shining placed his hoof on the ground and closed his eyes, waiting for the attack, feeling the lightest of smacks on his neck... without feeling so much as brushed. Nerves beneath the skin tensed and clenched. But no real pain beyond the faintness that was stimulated.

"That hurt?"

"Barely." Shining blinked his eyes open. "Your back-hoof is usually way stronger than that."

Cadance lowered her head as her gaze swept across the guess, eyes narrow, the immersion of thoughts attained. "That's because I hit myself to see what it'd do. You might have reacted differently if you saw and knew. But it seems like pain I take, you take as well, but, since it's affecting us both... the senses become diminished."

Shining closed an eye and tilted his head right. "I feel like there's a moral in that, somewhere."

"Oh hush."

Silence drifted between them as the rustling of branches danced within the cold breeze. Grass was emerald and slick beneath their hooves. As if of the same sense, they turned their heads, looking down and across their backs. Horrible and perfect synergy of the two made one.

Joined by the combination of their tails.

And how they each retained a flank, one broad and the other slender, a strange sight indeed.

"Cadance."

"Yeah, Shiny?"

"I'm terrified to find out what's between our legs... and I'm not using that as a pick-up line."

"Me too, honey, me too." Cadance exhaled her dread away and stilled her chin straight. "But this isn't permanent... just the effect of a nightmare is all. The sooner we ensure our daughter is safe, the quicker we can leave." She turned and flashed him a smile. "And maybe we won't have out what's down there after all."

Shining nodded back with a smile. "I like how easier you can put my strange fears to rest."

"I dated you for a reason," Cadance teased back with a smirk. "I was worried no other mare was going to take care of you if I didn't."

Shining smirked too. " That's how you get them."

"Shove off!" Cadance giggled. "And I would shove you if the situation was notwithstanding."

They joined in laughter.

And a small voice attempted to speak over it.

"Greetings, u-uh, t-t-thing or things!" Shining stopped in his mirth on hearing the voice float up, given cause to look around. "Singular or plural, whichever you prefer, I am happy to call you!" Something cold and slimy curved up the trek of his snout... until a golden snail rested on the bridge before the stallion's eyes. "You may call me Sunburst the Snail, former caretaker of the young princess, forced to be driven away from the Wicked Giant."

Shining narrowed his eyes intensely on the snail with a wisp of a beard, round glasses over his eyes, and a scared to be gleeful demeanour about him. Raising his hoof, slowly, he prepared the strike—tried on many flies.

"Shiny." Cadance had said the word very slow, very carefully, a voice full of concern. "You're going to crush that snail." She swallowed. "I want you to not do that. It doesn't seem harmful. He's our only source of knowledge in a twisted nightmare. We may not have another chance like this."

"B-But he feels—"

"Yucky. I know. We share sensations."

Shining glared at the snail, who sweated more slime and shivered for the ending of his life. With a sigh, the forehoof was dropped. Sunburst exhaled relief and stroked his forehead as the tendrils shooting from his head slumped forward. "Woo! You have me worried there! Feels like pleading for my life is becoming a common occurrence nowadays."

The crack of a branch echoed from behind, deep within the foliage of bushes rising to the heights of the trees. Another came from the side—two more from the right. Sunburst shivered once more. "It really isn't safe for us to be out here. Come quickly. You may be of some use to the town after all."

Sunburst turned around, slowly, and moved toward the tip of the white snout, slowly.

"Sweetie... S-Sunburst, was it?" Cadance leaned over to bridge her muzzle into Shiny's, allowing slender platform of pink to the little one. "Y-You'll find that we're a bit—not meaning to be rude—faster than you." She smiled on feeling his tiny face gaze up and into the chasm of her own. "Why don't you rest with us and tell us where to go? We can lead the way from there."

Shining returned to glaring on seeing another guy resting on his wife's snout—which would be harder to kiss, due to leftover slime, later tonight.

"G-Good call! Getting out of these woods is quite tricky! It's encased in magic reshaping your view to mistake locations being the same." Sunburst shook his head in a feeling of bravery. "But never to fear! Snails are a master at feeling the slightest pressure of wind. The direction we are going in... is that way!"

His miniature tendril shot forward.

Cadance giggled. "Aye aye, cap'n."

Shining kept silent as the pair stumbled together, learning the sway of the other's leg to move in tandem, some fine-tuning required in the future. Sunburst broke into speech again, which Cadance listened to with perked ears.

The stallion imagined the crunch of a shell beneath a heavy hoof for the rest of the trip.

"Left!"

"I am going left!"

"No... right!"

"But you said—"

"And then I said, right!" Cadance grumbled. "But, I see how you must be confused."

"We're going to fall again."

"Not if you go left."

"Left now?"

"Shut up!"

Teaching their daughter to walk, somehow proved, to be easier than learning to walk, together, in this new form. But despite their fighting and snickers, the two had kept to a wobbly pace, a shaking ship to the snail that rode them, their bodies appearing out from the dense foliage of the woods.

And across the winding path, through dark hills of dying grass, to the town looming afar.

"What the..."

The couple stood on the offset of the town as the twisted night lurked in the sky. Painted skies to a moon swirling orange. Bats flew across the sky, keeping them in the eye, for whatever reason, provoked sickness and an urge to vomit.

Cadance narrowed her eyes. "Those bats remind you of anything, dear?"

Shining was already doing the same. "Changelings... but in a different form."

The two nodded at the other—Sunburst clinging tighter to Cadance's muzzle from the contact.

Deciding it was safe enough to make entry into the town, the two did exactly that, the houses and buildings flipped upside-down, the flat bottoms of homes serving as ceilings. Doors stood inside the slanted rooftops. They didn't dare to check what the insides looked like.

It was in the middle of the streets where ponies were flooding the lanes, dashing either in fight or flight, none paying the creature of two heads' attention. Shining and Cadance sauntered deeper into the street. Barbed-wire fences and sandbags littered throughout the streets and placed in alleyways.

A war scene without a war.

"The front line is just up ahead!" Sunburst said. "You can't miss the mage of this town once we're there."

Maybe it was a war, after all.

The duo reached the line where ponies were flooding around on all sides, their horns glowing as unicorns stood in rows, beams blasting the sky, shooting the aerial forces down. Pegasus dashed in formations and took to the skies in flight with their wings, chasing on the tails of the bats, coming close to wrestle and knock them down from the sky.

And the earth ponies were simply beating the shit out of the ground forces.

"Spell conjuration ninety-six! N-I-N-E-T-Y! S-I-X! Who gave the order to fire spells sixty-nine!" the purple mare in the purpler wizard hat spat the words off—to the joint chuckle of the firing platoon. "Not funny! Not funny! The word and number sixty-nine bear no relation to comedy!"

More of the squad members broke into chuckles.

"I'm going to sixty-nine all of you if you keep laughing."

Everything broke into dying laughter.

"Ack! Colts and fillies, the lot of you!" The mare swatted the hat from her head, it crumbled on the ground—forced to endure four hooves stomping on it, over and over, accumulating to the mare repeatedly jumping on it. "Why. Aren't. Ponies. More. Like. Me!"

The mare paused in the air, gasping, seeing the ruined hat. "My hat! My precious hat! No no no no no!" She fell to a step behind it, cradling the token of a mage into her chest, summoning magic from her horn: wisps of violet smoothing out its wrinkles. "T-There you are! All better now." She plopped it back on her head. "You're the most precious thing to me. Never forget that."

The mare then turned around to the couple, the adorable face of Twilight Sparkle appearing, already beaming in cuteness. "My name is Twilight Sparkle... and I forget your names?"

"I'm... Shining Armor." Shining tapped a hoof to his white chest. "And this is my wife Cadance." He drew a hoof to her pink chest—to a playful roll of her eyes. "Even though we're one creature, we'd like to be known as two. If that's alright with you."

Twilight's eyes narrowed and she nodded hesitantly. "I-I suppose I can make that work." She then coughed into her hoof and looked away—Twiliy's way of resting her entrance into a social situation. "I am Master Mage Twilight Sparkle, and this is Ponyville. It uh... er, usually looks better than this."

Her eyes floated up to a pegasus in the sky, catching a changeling bat in his hold and, locking themselves together, nose-diving to the ground. Their blip winked into the distance until crashing beneath the density of the distant trees. Seconds later, black smoke rose from the place, an impossibility... somehow possible.

"Don't get me wrong," Twilight started upon turning away from the rising wisp of black smoke, "there's always a new problem every week. Once a year or so, there's one threatening the world or something close. But it's never war."

Her eye clenched in thought upon that last statement. "Okay, it's usually war—but it never usually lasts this long."

Flurry Heart has nightmares about all the problems Twilight endures? I wonder what her dreamscape looks like. Or... maybe I don't.

Shining felt Cadance's gaze, her one eye set on him, eyebrow slightly raised. He decided not to pay it much mind as he looked to the front line. In the distance on the inclining lands, an ebony cocoon towered like a towering and polished spire. Neon patches were scattered across its shape, a dim glow resonated, slow rhythm of pulsation.

"The Changeling Bats are led in orders from their queen, Chrysalis." Twilight pointed to the object of interest in the distance. "It's inside of there she's connected to a portable hive acting as their camp. She both controls and guides all the bats around us. Severing that connection will destroy their synchronization.”

Shining stepped forward with a nod, Cadance sensed to do the same, the first balanced step they took, together. "Changelings rely on their innate connection of senses and consciousness to wage battle. But they lack actual training and communications. Never saw the need for it, all things considering."

Something from behind Twilight spoke. "Looks like this guy might be useful after all."

The two-headed creature leaned back from the voice, earning a roll of the eyes from Twilight, who shook her head and thus her hat. The latter was aglow in spots, five different colours, each bearing familiarity.

Dots pulled from the fabric and became glowing spheres of light, settling in a curve above Twilight's back, each speaking in voices bringing smiles to the couple. Even here, Twilight's friends were here for her. Though in a means of boosting her power and herself, what they could do for her, here, without their individuality.

Is that how Flurry views Twilight's friends in relation to Twilight?

"I've been fighting for weeks to lead a charge in and make the final strike," Twilight continued as the glowing of her friends floated around her. "But I can't risk the damage and the hurt coming to the town in my absence." She stroked her chin before pointing that hoof at them. "But you two seem made of stronger stuff! Maybe you could lead the assault as I lock-down the fort here?"

Shining thought about it for a moment. These sweepings lands were the manifestation of Flurry's psyche, right? That means everything quelled or resolved or beaten and defeated would soothe a portion of their daughter's soul.

And laying the beat-down, on those scaring his daughter, was his specialty.

Shining glanced at his wife. "What do you say, hon? Wanna pay some retribution to an old friend?"

Cadance grinned back. "Indeed." She lifted a foreleg and examined it. "My back-hoof is needing some practice, after all."

II | Attack on Camp

~ II ~

Attack on Camp

It came on shaky steps that the duo, joined into one, led the forces of good against evil. Shining and Cadance stalked their hooves through the uneven ground. Both of them had risen onto a stone perched on the front lines. Their presence beckoned all.

Shining knew half of the troops lacked direction.

Cadance knew half the trooped were scared.

The greatness of their qualities complemented the other.

"It's no use to divert ourselves in so many ways—air and ground and magical barrages—when the source of all this can be traced back to that hive in the center." Shining held a foreleg to the distant spire that pierced the sky with its tip. "Their forces outnumber us. That's why the town is circled in. But their numbers don't mean anything without strength. The town is lost either way if we keep playing defence."

Shining dropped his hoof so Cadance could raise her own.

"It must be terrifying to have outside forces pushing in on your home, cast over your sky and filling your alleyways." Cadance cleared her throat and pressed her hoof back into the stone. "Anyone would be right to feel scared and nervous under such conditions. No shame in there at all. Not during such harsh times."

Those shivering in the crowds seemed to do so little bit less.

"Despair is what we feel in looking to a foe... but hope is what we see in gazing at a friend." Cadance smiled to a enthusiastic nod. "How easily we light up, in traversing new places, to suddenly discover a friend there. Don't you feel relieved? Set a little at peace?"

More relaxed and looked to each other, none glancing to the sky, allowing the harmony to wash over them all.

"We have to trust in this final strike, despite our fears, or else your homes, and those of your friends, will be lost because a slight of the heart." Cadance shook her head. "Quell your fears, not for yourself, but for the friend next to you that is scared. Be more to set them at peace... and allow them to do the same to you."

Shining and Cadance glanced at each other—nodding.

"We all gather together and make a final charge for the hive," Shining finished off to the end of the speech. "Let the bats take the town. Allow them to think they've won and we've fled. By the time we take out their queen, the lot with be disconnected without formation."

Shining grinned. "They lack what all of us have worked to acclaim. Inability to adapt or set new plans or work together without a host. We'll clean 'em out on the way back. It's the only chance at taking out so many numbers."

Those who had been sitting afar and starting the same glanced at the arrival of the new leaders. Despite the wisdom and greatness and magic of Twilight Sparkle—even she couldn't manage ponies in such high numbers. Though she was the new and better thing, the older couple still had their superiority in one fashion.

"Now! What do we say, troops?" Shining rallied as he rolled his hoof through the air, rattling up the clattering of spears and vanquishing of fears. "Let's save this town and make the lovely gal next to me smile now, huh!?"

All of them cheered.

And Cadance smiled with a blush.

That rallied the troops even more.

In the back of the amassing group of ponies, the mage sat alone, forehooves crossed over her chest. She gave a roll of her eyes and muttered under her breath: "Superficial ponies. Rallied by the silliest of things." But she was smiling too. It made her feel giddy.

The charge had been swift for the two-headed creature that led the charge, the explosions of cannons surrounding from all around, flashes of gold to the whistling of the wind, the clunking of metal breaking across the streets.

Bats tried to flock to the couple, but were no match, both in-sync, twisting at the first cue of the other. They twisted and turned, bending their legs and charging a force through their back—discharged in a buck to the gathering of the bats.

The troops cleared past them and cleared the top of the hill, the unicorns forming a row as the earth ponies cleared the ground, the pegasi clearing the skies of the forces remaining behind. The town flooded with their kind and, the second the queen felt their presence, all would be beckoned to return.

The unicorns bowed and their horns glowed green, each connecting in jolts to the other, coming to rise in an upward spread once connected. It sloped in the air and fell onto the horns of those on the other side. With the magical ceiling composed, a few bats flew into them—pelting and becoming flatten upon it.

They slid downward after a few seconds.

"Good crew," Shining muttered over to his wife. "Seems like they were just missing a command was all. Knew to put up shields before the order was given." He nodded a few times. "Wished our guards could read minds like that."

Cadence playfully shoved his forehead away with a hoof. "Yours is too dirty to be shared."

"Ain't that the truth."

The two came before the spire of ebony, which, for whatever reason, was marked by a wooden door. It did not suit the rest of the look at all. Cadance clenched an eye at the sight of it, the designer within coming out—but she tucked her lips inward, knowing such judgment was saved for later.

They opened the door to green electricity striking the tip of the structure.

Pure coincidence, of course.

What they found, however, was disappointing.

The vast expanse of the spire was barely hollow upon entering. In truth, it was a small room of curvature with no furnishing whatsoever—besides the mat, the chair, and the queen in the middle. She didn't wear so much a crown as she did a helmet shaped like a neon egg.

"Visitors are supposed to knock."

Shining and Cadance looked to each other, confused, unsure if they were the bad ones. Deciding to be safe, Cadance lifted her leg, lightly rapping at the door. Seconds went by to no response. And then a sigh that was heaviest of them all.

Chrysalis sat on a wooden chair and, in lifting her forelegs, lifted the helmet from her head. Her lips pushed to the left and her eyes slid to the right. Sulked teenager on having her parents barge into her room. That was the feeling of the queen before them. "What?"

The duo blinked. "W-What do you mean, what?"

"You're here, in my hive, without permission." Chrysalis blinked and rolled her eyes. "Didn't knock. Walked in like you owned the place." She shook her head. "Y'know, I don't appreciate this one bit."

Shining and Candace looked to each other again just being unable to figure this shit out. The sheer absurdity of the situation removed logic and mocked good senses. They had to deal with another on a level beneath them... and lower themselves to it.

"Well, we don't appreciate you casting an army of bats onto our town."

“So it's your town now.”

"Indeed it is. Belongs to ponies."

"Says who."

"Says the founders... who were ponies."

"So just because ponies discover something, they get to keep it, just like that?"

"Not all the time. We're known to share. Could have just asked us."

"Ask a pony for anything—yeah right."

Shining sighed in lowering his head. He glanced sideways up at his wife. "You take this or else a hoof is getting swung and I don't know for what."

Cadance braved an exhale and put on a happy face. "Sweetie—"

"I am not your sweetie."

Happy face no longer kept. "It seems like you have gotten outside often. You spend most of your time in a cave, right? Maybe that would be hard on anyone."

"I have friends," Chrysalis replied while flicking her head to the side. "They were in the cave with me. The bats. They always agreed with everything I said."

"Did they now?"

"I'm always right." Chrysalis nodded at this fact. "Told them how unfair it was for ponies to not even come and offer us anything. Always thinking they're better than us. We need to teach them a lesson."

"Have you ever made contact with ponies before?"

"No, they wouldn't get it—like you right now."

Cadance bit her lips and nearly drew blood. She tried, once more, for the last time. "Maybe you've spent so much time in your cave, alone with only voices of bats, telling you everything you want to hear... but not what you need."

Cadance dared a step forward. "It's hard to be challenged on who we feel to be—especially if we feel damaged underneath it all. But others can help us to improve, to be mended and loved. It's hard, but you become better and more for it. Others on the journey, those who are real, give you a sense of living a real life."

Chrysalis padded the air with a hoof. "Nah. You're all dumb. I'm the greatest. Kneel before me."

Shining and Cadance have enough a side-long glance, nodded, and their horns charged together. The glowing spheres at their tips drew each other closer, the pulling currents tightening the distance between them. Until that bright ball was joined as one.

And cast upon the queen in her chair.

It appeared around her in a solid-state, the faint transparency allowing them to see Chrysalis slumped in her seat. Her head hung to the side and she was rolling her eyes, swaying a hoof in the air while she talked, no doubt going on about herself.

Shining took a moment to reflect on all of this. Wasn't this the exact ranting of a time before? Long ago came the question from his daughter on the dislike of changeling kind. His reply? They lurked in caves, feeding—opinion wise—on each other.

Never braving the world as themselves, lost to the whims of a queen, locked in caves without sunlight. He'd compared it to a teenage girl, always in her room and writing to her friends, of equal age, of everything being wrong except them.

He urged Flurry never to grow up like that.

"So putting the queen on time-out is how we win this," Shining whispered to himself after the influx of thoughts, the same occurring to his wife, for she nodded as well. Maybe she couldn't read his mind. But his projected mood was easily felt and synchronized with. "Guess it's not a terrible moral to pass onto our daughter, huh?"

Cadance nodded to his words... but looked sadly to the created cell of the ball. "Fall down that route, and you'll end up in a vacuum of arrogance. Nothing external and everything internal. Just how long will her own voice comfort her?"

"Dunno." Shining shrugged with his side of their shoulders. "Maybe she's better off like that. Fully disconnected. Always thinking and feeling in the right with none to prove her wrong. She's too late in life to parent that out of her."

Cadance turned her head and pawed at the ground. "You think Flurry could ever turn out like that?"

Shining shook his head without hesitation. "No, she has too good of a mother for that." A smirk followed. "Flurry actually listens to us and deeply considers what we say. Unlike this one here. None of this would be manifested if it didn't lurk within her psyche, right?"

Cadance lifted her muzzle with cheeks a tad pinker than before. "Sometimes I forget you're not just a dork."

"You're my better half for a reason, Cadance." He chuckled at examining their joined bodies again, this time, with no fear at the mere sight of it. "Literally and metaphorically and all the words ending with 'ally' not coming to mind."

She cocked her head and gave him a knowing look. "Oh really?"

"You could count that one, but it doesn't make a lot of sense—when you think about it."

"Never mind. Straight up dork. Not even a real jock."

"But I do have a monstrous—"

Sounds of flapping from above.

The couple glanced above to the bat perched on the ceiling, hanging upside down, pulling aside its wings. Glancing at the two, it did its best to smile. It coughed and coughed, trying to speak words through a dry throat—coughing and coughing some more.

"Um, don't be scared," Cadance tried in a soothing voice. "We're not going to hurt you."

"At least," Shining started upon cracking his neck, "not yet."

"Shining!"

"It's the truth."

The meek bat fell from the ceiling. It caught itself with a couple of flaps before death, hovering up and keeping before their muzzles. It was smaller than the rest and seemed to recoil from the sizes of their gazes.

"U-Um, hi..." the meek bat swallowed and tilted back his head, able to speak, only, in avoiding eye-contact. "My n-name is Thorax. I was the, uh, personal advisor for the queen. She'd scream at me and I'd nod my head. That was pretty much it."

Shining went to make an insult but, in looking at the poor creature, and in thinking of how the last few minutes most likely composed the years of the creature's life—cut him some slack. Throwing his hoof around the bat's frame, he pulled it close, buddy to buddy, the best approach.

"If that's the case... that means you're the next in power, right?" Shining said with a confident grin. "Tell you what. None of us are really in a fighting mood. In fact, at this point, most of the ponies want to talk this whole mess out."

He lowered his muzzle and whispered into the bat's ear. "So how about you and me strike a deal?"

The bat seemed to nod with the whole of his body. That, or he was shivering profusely.

"Round up the rest of your kind and bring them back to the hive, in surrender, but not have it treated as such." Shining glanced around as if pretending to ensure none were about to catch his words. "It'll just be to put our kind at ease. None of your bats will be charged or held prisoner. Forced by a bad queen, right?"

Thorax gulped. "S-Something like that."

"Round up your kind and bring them back here," Shining went on, "and Twilight will end up talking everything out with you. She may be a bit rough around the edges—but never has she failed to be fair in her life. Sure you two can work out a decent agreement for co-existing around these parts."

"S-She'll really go for it?"

"Without a doubt." Shining shrugged and pulled his arm and head away. "Or all of us go back into town, take out the remainder of the pest, and the situation is handled that way."

"N-No no no! Not at all, sir!” Thorax gave his best attempt at a salute, cute, given how his wing curved for the motion. He fought to keep himself airborne. "I'll have a full retreat sent here. N-None us really wanted this in the first place. Just wanted to get out of those caves and see the world."

Shining grinned. "Good boy."

He then nudged to the door and pushed it open. "Now get to it."

"Aye aye!"

Thorax flew out the door and took to the skies.

Cadance glared at him from the side. "Think all of that was needed."

Shining shook his head. "No... but not often I get to pretend to be intimidating."

Cadance rolled her eyes but finished it with a nod. "Suppose it was the tiniest bit sexy if I'm to be honest."

Shiny smiled.

It didn't take long for all to amass atop the range of the hill, the bats gathered though not bound, already talking to their pony pals. Little wings shaking with big hooves, bodies thrown up and down, a result of laughter from all seconds later.

The two-headed duo stood at the offset of all this, next to Twilight, Sunburst and Thorax set on the body of the mare.

All gazed into the distance, the land too dark to see beyond the hills, the painted effect of the sky dripping onto the land. For whatever reason, the blackness was more pleasant to look at, less commanding of awful things.

"The queen and the rest of us are just a product of him," Thorax began upon pointing a hoof forward, across where there was no divide between land and sky, leaving one to wonder if it was an abyss that loomed before them. "The Giant. He's the one that ordered everything around. All of this is caused by him."

He shook his little head in fear. "And it doesn't matter what progress the bats make with the ponies. Once he finds out we failed in our missions, he'll claim this place himself. Already owns the sky itself. Taking the rest of the world should be easy for him."

"He's a well-known tyrant," Twilight added with a bow of her head. "Even my friends and I haven't dared to face him."

Shining shook his head. "That's good. You all were met to keep to and protect this town. It's always been your duty." His wife senses his intent, both of them turning to face the amassed friends. "Stay behind and get everything cleaned up. Finding peace between all of you will be tough at first. That, and you'll still have to deal with Chrysalis."

Twilight nodded. "Think we can do that. And you? You two." She smiled. "What will you do?"

"Face the big evil," Cadance replied with a smile. "A mother never cares for whatever gets in her way. That nightmare—or Giant as you call him—has been stressing my little girl. Too scared to even sleep. None are allowed to force that upon my daughter." An upward tilt of her chin. "Not unless I give her permission to stay up beyond bedtime."

Twilight tossed her gaze to Shining. "And you?"

"Royal smackdown." He rapped his hoof against the rock beneath him. "What else is to be done? I lay the beat-down like a good father and Cadance tells Flurry never to be like me—like a good mother."

She nodded. "That's right."

Twilight chuckled and shook her head, glancing at the ground, strangely happy. "I think you two might have what it takes after all. Here I thought strength and power and magic would be needed in abundance to take down the Giant. But maybe... some really angry parents will also do the trick."

IV | Sombra the Giant

~ IV ~

Sombra the Giant

The train pulled into the veil of black paint, itself taken into a world of nothingness, no stars or light. It was a complete absence beyond the windows of the train. Were it not for them being in the cart, the duo would have fallen into the void.

It wasn't healthy for children to contemplate the pure nothingness of death at such a young age.

Much less summon an existential deception for it.

"It's been a little crazy, hasn't it?" Shining tried to offer to his wife the opening of the conversation, finding that, despite their shared state, the same stimulus fed to them both—their interpretations would still be different. Those gone without expressions drives many to madness. "Woken in the middle of the night. Fused into a two-headed being. Sharing everything like a truly jointed couple."

Cadance ended up throwing her hind leg on the seat opposite, the other following afterward, all while she laid back the best that she could. "I enjoy it. Being close to you as one... y' know how I used to yell about this." Her muzzle turned and she smiled up at him. "How we'd need to be stitched together for us to spend more time with one another."

Shining smirked. "Think Flurry's heart took that to mean literally?"

"There's always a strong possibility." Cadance's eyes flicked downward. It didn't feel like they were moving beyond the faint momentum of the train pulling in their stomach. The view beyond the window never changed. "But being alone meant that... when we came together... it was because we actively wanted it. Looking out that window leaves me feeling like this is the end of everything."

"It's not."

"But it feels that way and... usually when I feel this way... I'm able to cuddle you." Cadance giggled in a whimper. "But it's just not the same when we're like this. Hard to feel you around me... when you're half of me. Your touch just isn't the same—like me touching my own body."

"But you say it feels different when I'm watching you do it, right?"

"That is the sweetest way to break my woes, sweetie."

"Point is it doesn't matter if the hoof was your own or someone else—it was just the feeling of more that comes with being someone else." Shining leaned his head away, not to become further, but to allow them to come closer. "You can still lean your head on my neck and make those little sounds as I stroke your mane, right?"

Cadance's expression was sad and happy, a mixture of bittersweet, one that won out on its sweetness. Her head leaned into his neck, which she snuggled into, finding a soft, warm, fuzzy patch to get drunk upon.

The sensation was tingly to them both, its euphoria spreading in them both, compounding from their jointed experience. Both of them were awash in the love they felt for each other, consuming the two into one, a peacefulness allowing them to drift away.

Even being in a dream, they had yet to sleep, and this was their first to nod off, together, the best they could.

The trained pulled out from the painting of the abyss, fears of that being the end of their lives now removed though, snuggled together, they were strangely prepared for it. Death didn't come and life went on.

The station loomed in the distance.

The trained pulled into the tracks, slowly, an automatic rhythm to it. Shining had been gazing out the window for the last hour, a foreleg around his wife's chest, brushing her coat, hoping it helped her sleep.

Before shaking her away from it.

"Cadance... baby... we're here." Few gentle shakes to be safe. "We're here. Wake up now. Time for us to finish this."

Cadance roused slowly from her slumber with a cute yawn and the rubbing of her eye. Her lips smacked together from the dryness of sleep. Mane frizzled in a way that drove him crazy in love, he slowly moved to stand—and she did the same.

The two gave a bow to the dragon on their way out, stepping out through the doors as they opened, feeling them close behind seconds afterward. The train pulled forward again after a chime, beating ahead no matter the weather.

It disappeared into the painting of the abyss, stranding them in the place, supposedly, called home.

Trekking across the station showed it to be barren, the snow around looking painted on, everything looking as if moved inches to the left. The duo took down the street to the homes, feeling hollow on the eyes, existing to prove they were there—but not feeling functional in the slightest.

"What do you reckon?" Shining tossed the question to his wife, who looked around as he kept ahead, freed to do as she pleased so long as her legs kept forward. "Many buildings but none that feel like homes. Seeing them from her room... but never knowing the ponies who live in them."

"Maybe that's the case," Cadance flicked back in a small voice, "or maybe it's Sombra who's tricking her view of things. Either way, we'll talk to her deeply once all this is done. Quell all of her fears and answer all her questions. We can be sure anything he tacked on can be removed that way."

"Always talking things out... knew you were my better half for a reason."

"Hush with that."

"Dad jokes never die, hon."

The trip had been a slow one through the empire, the places unchanged despite their hollow state, the feeling of exploring the out of bounds section of a world. It beckoned for them to head to the spire itself. Looming in the distance, the place where they belonged, where the world wanted them to be, somewhere safe despite the misery oozing from the structure.

The two-headed being didn't know how or when it happened, but they broke into a sprint, together, reading the mood and, feeling the same, the suddenness of a dash broken into, together. Being this connected had taken them back. The same impulses caused their feelings of connection all those years ago.

The bottom of the spire was empty, no guards and no heard, nothing loaded in at all. Only the doors to one of the pillars being open, an ascension they took into and upward easily, beating against the steps, ascending quicker than needed.

They exited the spire to the hallway, an exact replica of home, only this time, none who made this place home were here. No guards or maids or the objects and mementos taken from a life lived. Nothing like that. Just the functions of the structure remained.

Be it Flurry's reflection or Sombra's will.

Unknown.

The two came to the towering doors of the throne room and, spinning together, bucked the doors back as the scene opened. Walking down the spacious measure of the room, they had locked eyes with the beast, the one sitting on a throne crafted of his own.

Sombra's form consumed most of the throne and the space of the room, an utter giant of evil while purple mists billowed from his eyes—which were a sheet of stale green. His mouth opened and laughter erupted. Hearty chuckles capable of shaking the ground.

Next to his head, and hanging from the ceiling, was a cage, little and round and meant for birds... only holding their daughter behind bars. White forelegs wrapped around it, clinging to steel, needing to keep to something as she was scared.

"Welcome... welcome! Knew it would be a matter of time before your kind infiltrated my defence." Sombra leaned forward as his powerful pecs tensed from the shifting of his body. Elbow laid on his thigh. Cheek laid into his hand. He looked at the two with bemused interest. "It would appear I wasn't the only one transformed by this little brat."

He flicked the cage with an ebony hoof, it swinging, in a jerk, left and right, the fill within more rattled than the bars. Shining strode forward at once—held back by the other half not following. It was her patience that compensated for his haste. Not allowing for a defeat... or, at least, not an early one.

"Relax! This little brat ensured my magic was locked beyond the veil of her consciousness." Sombra bemoaned upon sitting proper, his form, shape and muscles, filling out the space of the throne. "My form is a rendition of the torment the little one envisions me as. Giant and scary and powerful. Not the worst exchange of my life."

He flicked the cage, harder, and the cry of a daughter... sparked the rage of a mother.

The two dashed forward at the beast without needing to say a word, the giant rising in pride at finally finding a fight—one that wouldn't prove so quick a defeat. Being the king of nightmares meant torment to others was easily, and challenges came rarely.

Shining felt the circle of a shadow pass over him, the jolt sending his wife leaping to the right, his own legs following in suit. But then jolt struck him in demands to jump left, which he did and, trusting in his wife—dashed them forward.

Sombra stomped in the same place to the cracks appearing beneath his hooves, deepening in every stomp, head lifted in dark laughter in amusement of destruction. In the exhaustion brought on himself, his left slowed and, feeling the time to be right.

Shining made his strike. He dashed in hops, left and right, gaining more air in every succession. On the final one, he beat against the ground, soaring into and through the air and whipped their body around. Their hindlegs struck against the expanse of the thigh, through skin and muscle to the faint cracking of bone.

Laughter then groaning as the gigantic hoof slid out from the giant, and he fell to his side, his colossal frame clattering on the ground. The duo didn't waste any time in climbing the back of the beat, clambering over the edge of his arm, together, and dashing across the surface.

"Insects!" Sombra barely rose his head from the ground, his gaze settling on them, anger flushing in purple fog from his eyes. "Begone!"

He flicked his arm upward in a decision thought to be wise, that was, until giving the couple a desired trajectory and momentum. They spun the air not from losing control but encouraging the gaining of kinetic energy compounding within their movement.

And striking, with the full might of their fall and form, into the base of his horn, where its redness had dimmed—and the crack across it remained. They deepened the line, causing it to spread, crack to crackle, the snapping of a stick.

The couple's hooves broke through the slice of the horn, falling over and onto the ground, the screeching of crystal sounding beneath their hooves. They slid back without losing their balance or their expression of determination. The clatter of the horn followed the groaning of the beast—its arms up, clasped over forehead and horn, leaving a gap down his middle, the center of his chest exposed.

Words were, once again, not needed.

Both of them broke forward in a run, not pushing their limits for that wasn't the intent, just the right speed to make this work. The giant horn twirled on the smoothness of the ground, around and around, spin after spin. Seconds this kept the same, the flatness of its base glinting for the seconds it faced them.

That was until they threw their faces against it.

Their joint body came against the massive object, something that, handled alone, could not be moved. But in their strength and their will becoming one, they bore enough power to stop the momentum of the thing's spin.

They pushed on it, ever forward, across the sleekness of the floor. Pushing and yelling as the fallen king did the same, unaware of their plan, barely moving his hooves to see. It was too late as, by the time he spotted them, he'd also detect the sharpness of the horn dipping from his view and piercing into his chest.

Getting the instrument wedged as profoundly as their strength would allow, the two backed away, in leaps of three—avoiding the sweep of the large hand. Sombra growled as he rose and slid back himself, grasping the pillar of horn in his chest. He fought to pull it, pink mists flooding out from the puncture.

Shining and Cadance grinned to each other, one coming to wipe the snout of the other, sweat done away with. They tensed again in their readiness to finish this. But a sound caught them. One draining adrenaline from the heart and the excitement of being a hero from the head.

It was the sound of a filly crying.

Both of them looked in the same direction for both of their ears, independent from the other, were tuned to hear her fears. The sounds of a daughter deeply loved and cherished. Gazing right of the scene, there the cage laid on the ground, broken from its chain, the filly inside, crying, for one simple fact.

Not because of the nightmares that surrounded her.

Or being caged by a giant as scary as Sombra.

But in seeing her parents fighting.

The cage, cracking, then burst into dust and pixels and glimmering dots of white. She sat on the floor with forelegs covering her crying face, unable to handle it all anymore, the breakdown of strife and dread hitting its apex in enduring it for so many days.

Both of them rushed over to their daughter, not needing to feel the cue from the other, but rather, a natural instinct blowing them forward—connection or other half be damned. It was this that truly united them. Not needing to be of the same body to rush to their daughter, to be a parent to her.

It was an automatic thing rendering them the same.

They came behind and cradled her in the middle of their body, the divot and divide between them which the child then filled, allowing a sense of wholeness, one true and not forced, sparking genuine connection. Something all eagerly felt and desired and provided for one another.

Back on the throne, which Sombra had sat back, the feeling of its power needed to grant him comfort... he pulled the horn from his chest. The wound healed seconds later. He chuckled, the evil laughter returning, this time, however, sounding lighter on the ears.

Suddenly. Lightness. Sombra glanced around with vast sways ceasing to as such. The throne grew around him, no amount of shifting could his body occupy its space, his power and form unable to fill it. Smaller and smaller he was becoming. Shrinking. Dwindling into squeaks—which fit the size of a mouse well.

And just like one, he scampered from the throne, running away, squeezing himself into a hole created in the wall.

Shining and Cadance continued to stroke their daughter's back, feeling the harsh sobs become smoother. Sudden gasps reduced until she was breathing normally. Soon the pent-emotions were being expressed and, pleasantly emptied, the little girl passed out against their belly.

Both of their horns glowed, each surrounding half of the filly's body, lifting her, gently, onto their backs. The world groaned as things returned to normal. The throne shrunk and windows returned to the room. Walking together, the family left, out into the hall to where the balcony loomed.

And through it, they pushed out, into the starting of a new day.

Twilight stood on the balcony on the other side, the glimmer of teleportation fading from around her, Sunburst on her back. Below were the streets filling with Crystal Ponies, the houses creaking as they shifted into homes. And in the distance, the sky kissed by sunlight, brought about an orange glow on the horizon.

The sun then slowly rose in the hazy state that those, braving through the night, can only see it as.

III | Chew Chew! Dragon-dragon-dragon-dragon! Chew Chew!

~ III ~

Chew Chew! Dragon-dragon-dragon-dragon! Chew Chew!

Perhaps it was irony or maybe it was fate, the two informing each other, becoming one in the mixture that followed. The Giant had been reported to rule from the North, the Crystal Empire, their home taken—again.

Shining and Cadance arrived at the station now without any trouble in their walking, senses having joined into one, a connection never shared before. Silence was easier between them for their thoughts and feelings coursed through both simultaneously.

No words were needed if you were already understood.

In the distance obscured by a stroke of paint taken from the abyss, the zooming front of a train appeared, already blowing black-fog, its form chugging around the curve to the station. It was purple on the sides. But the carts were dashing in faint green.

The complexion was familiar on the eye.

"That remind you of a certain toy?"

"Indeed it does."

"Given by a certain boy?"

"Indeed it was."

This was going to be fun.

The train pulled into the station with a great exhale of steam. Chimes clinked into the twisted midnight as its doors slid open. Out from the great doors came nothing but, in looking at their hooves, a small dragon walked onto the wooden platform.

"Ladies and gents, ladies and gents, the way to your demise—" he snapped his claw to the inside of the train "—is inside! Don't be in a rush. Never a passenger in the last few years. Not a lot of interest in seeing the Crystal Empire this last little while."

Spike turned and walked back inside, merrily, taking to the front as all good conductor's do.

Shining went to step inside... only for the other half of his body not to follow. The added weight was on his shoulder in looking back. Cadance covered her mouth with a hoof, her eyes threatening on watery. The realization had emotionally pained her.

"Is this... is this what Flurry feels?"

Shiny's face narrowed. He could feel the flush of her sadness for it struck him too... but its source and cause lay vague in his head. "How do you mean? It's just a train Spike got her a while back. Doesn't have anything to do... wait, are you going off what he said?"

"None come to visit the Empire anymore... not many have visited her in years..." Cadance dropped the hoof to the ground, and her muzzle did the same, lowering as far as it could. "Could this be—"

"But Spike always visits her, doesn't he?"

“Exactly.” Cadance lifted her head only to nod. "He never fails to make the trip like said here. But what about everyone else? Your dad and mom. Celestia or Luna. Twilight or her friends for that matter." She shook her head. "When was the last time they paid a visit."

"Well... they come every now and again, y'know, when the—"

"When the world requires saving and only then!" Cadance broke into a powerful voice. "They come and pat her head... but they never see her to see her. It's always something else that brings them. Never the desire for her... or us..."

Shining choked. "Is that what she feels? Because she's got it wrong."

Cadance didn't answer.

"Right?"

Silence.

And Shining was too much of a coward to answer his own question.

Both boarded the train, slowly, and kept on it, silently, as it chugged to the great beyond.

Epilogue | Tomorrow and Together

~ Epilogue ~

Tomorrow and Together

The couple awoke in the royal bedroom.

They were beneath the covers of the bed, muzzles brushing, breaths touching, eyes openings simultaneously. Little flutters to push the haze away, leaving, in the clarity, the face of the other upon waking. Smiles graced their lips, which leaned forward, giving the other a little peck.

Then came the creaking of wood.

Both of their heads rolled on the pillows to the view of Luna sitting on the other side of the room, seated on a stool with a filly in her arms, rocking Flurry in her sleep. It hadn't been often she was allowed such intimacy with a loved one. Wanting this had evoked guilt and less reason to visit.

Something she was greatly mistaken in having done.

Behind her loomed the expanse of the bedroom window, the sun resting in the horizon, inching upward in serenity. No rush asked or needed, the time taken allowing the room to slow down, breathe well, and feel free in the moment.

And even so slowly the sunlight came washing in, pouring over their lazy forms, the shifting of sheets delicious on the ears. Yawns broke the morning followed by tiny giggles. All comforted with the other on this Saturday morning.

All's well that ends well.

“You me be wondering why I decided to bring your daughter into the room, sleeping, as you two were doing the same.” Luna grinned with pained eyes that come in giving a disastrously surprise. “This is not a kindness for anyone but me and her. Something is underneath those covers which you will not like.”

Luna then looked down at the filly. “And I trust you will not scream upon finally getting Flurry to sleep.”

The couple threw off the covers to their bodies still being joined.

And Sombra, still the size of a mouse, stuck in a glass jar, atop the bedside dresser.

He cursed and raged from his cage, none paying in mind but Luna in, seeing the couple not scream—approaching the bed. She laid the filly next to her parents and picked up the glass, shaking it around, watching, her face giant through the glass, his body slamming around like a pinball.

“It would appear that you two were fused the second your eyes closed, meaning since it happened in the real world... this may very well be permanent.”

Shining and Cadance, screamed, to waking Flurry.