Chapter 1 - Green Arrow
Post-Crisis Earth-264
Crystal Empire
Green Arrow opend door to Crystal Castle with explosive arrow. Probably everypony nearby heard that explosion so he had to move fast. First he had to deal with stairs, good thing there was only two royal guards. First one was down with an arrow in a shoulder, he didn’t die but presumably fainted in a shock. Second one was toughter, archer had to take him down with his strength but it wasn’t too hard, knowing fighting styles and few seconds of fight made second guard sleep. Next step was a big corridor. This time sixteen guards, all fully armored and armed... So it was nothing for him. Quickly he used his horn to disarm guards then holding bow with his magic, took first ten shots. Only six guards left. They were too close so he had to fight. While encounter, Green Arrow always used his bow as some sort of sword, an extension of his hoof. Fight with six ponies took a little bit longer but soon they all were down. Again archer used explosive arrow to open throne room doors. He’ve shoted an arrow to scare pony sitting in throne. When he got attention and the right dose of fear, Green Arrow started to speek with his low voice.
“Princess Mi Amore Cadenza! You have failed Equestria!”
Few Years earlier...
Wedding of Shining Armor and Princess Cadance
It wasn’t a great day for Shining and Cadance, Chrysalis took control of Shining and was feeding with his love. With that power Chrysalis could take down even Celestia. Thankfully Twilight released Cadance from trap of Chrysalis, she managed to break him out of this spell. Together they defeated Chrysalis and her army. Love is great weapon... but is it that really good as they think?
“Twilight! Thank you so much! Thanks to you I can now finally be with my real wife... Well soon she will be my wife.” - Shining said happy as he huged his sister.
“You’re welcome! But remember, that wasn’t only me, it was Cadance. She broke the spell, and love that flows through you both defeated Chrysalis. And I think you should kiss your marefriend...” - Twilight replied with some giggles at the end. And Shining did went to Cadance and kissed her. When everypony where watching two lovebirds, nopony saw Chrysalis that entered wedding room through window.
“You think... that, you can destroy my plan and get away with this? I will kill you bitch!” - Chrysalis screamed as she shoted a laser beam towards Cadance. When everypony thought it was an end for Princess of Love, Twilight without any hesitation pushed Cadance away and she’ve got hitted by that laser.
“Twilight!” - Shining Screamed with fear in his voice.
“You...” - Cadance stared at happy Chrysalis, she even wanted to catch her but Chrysalis quickly disappeared.
“Twilight! Please wake up!” - Shining wanted to hear at least some last words from his dear sister... but she didn’t woke up.
“She’s dead... I... I can’t belive this...” - Princess Celestia spoked with tears in her eyes.
“How did she even got here so fast? I saw her fly away like few miles from here... I... I...” - Rainbow Dash was interupted by her friend.
“Rainbow... Please not now...” - Applejack said, sad...
“She will pay for this! I will gather best royal guards and take them on the boat. We will take her by surprise and attack her by the sea...” - Shining stood up.
“I agree to this plan...” - Cadance spoke with sadness in her voice.
“I don’t like violence but this time... She needs to die.” - Celestia said, while watching dead body of her former student.
“Twilight will be avenged. I promise you that.” - Shining said to friends of Twilight.
“Get that bitch, but don’t go easy on her... Kill her slowly, she deserve a long death...” - Rainbow said through her tears. Shining noded. In his thoughts, there was only one thing... Death of Chrysalis.
After not so long time, Shining Armor gathered best of his guards, Celestia also send some ponies from her royal army. Luna also send someponies from her night guards. He was getting ready for a final strike at Chrysalis Castle. Royal boat was loaded with armed ponies and weapons, there was no chance for Chrysalis to win this battle.
“Are you sure, you want to go without me? I regained my strenght.” - Cadance said to her husband.
“Yes, I know. But you have to stay for Twilight’s funeral. Ponies of Equestria need to know that she will be avenged. I will soon return with a good news.” - Shining said smiling a bit.
“But what if you don’t? Then I wouldn’t lose only Twilight... My heart would be broken.” - Cadance grieved.
“If I won’t get back in victory, It will be the end of free Equestria. Chrysalis will die. I promised that and I will keep my word. For now goodbay my love.” - Shining kissed her wife.
“Goodbay. I hope that you will return.” - Cadance waved at her husband as boat was moving away.
“Twilight, I know that you wouldn’t agree to this but that’s the only way. I love you, I always will.” - Shining looked into sky hoping that his sister will hear him.
It was third night since he and his army sailed out to sea. Shining was furious but tried to remain calm, cause his soliders might lose morals in that way. Everypony was asleep except captain and someponies that were taking care of the ship. Shining finaly went to sleep but this night wasn’t calm, it was gathering for a storm. After a loud noice that sounded just like thunder he woke up, but it was too late to react to anything. The boat tilted its bow up and Shining hitted his head in a wall. He regained consciousness after some time, it was a day. He wasn’t on a boat, nopony was near him or even fragments of a boat, he must have drift for a long time. He was on a desert island, without a clue where he could be, and without any equipment. Shining looked around, this island is way too big, it has to habbited by somepony. So he headed towards the forest. It was dark, even wild animals were too scared to show themselves, or maybe they were scared of something else than dark?
“What was that? Who’s there? Show yourself!” - Shining said as he noticed somepony running in front of him.
“You’re way far from home General Shining Armor. That island isn’t for weak.” - voice came from his back.
“What do you mean? And how do you know who I am?” - Shining asked yelling at the dark figure.
“Screaming won’t help you. But don’t worry I will.” - dark figure came closer.
“How could you help mARGGHHH!” - Shining howled with pain as the dark figure hitted him with an arrow.
“Welcome to Lian Yu, purgatory in language of changelings.” - dark figure came close enough so Shining could see how he looked. It was a changeling! It was wearing green hood, bow and quiver with arrows that had green arrowheads. Shining fainted.
When he woke up, he was in a cave. One of his front hooves was bound so that he couldn’t escape from this place. There wasn’t sign of that changeling that “saved” Shining, only slightly smoldering bonfire. On other side of cave was a small cage and inside was a big bird probably a dinner for that changeling, but it was weird, changelings usually feed with love, they don’t need meat. Shining couldn’t escape he was too tired and he was shoted with an arrow... wait it was removed? His thoughts were interrupted, as he heard something or somepony near the entrance to the cave.
“Ah, I see you’re awake. How is your wound?” - changeling asked.
“Eeee... Good? Why did you’ve shoted me in the first place?” - Shining asked impatiently.
“So you could learn how to survive here. I didn’t wanted to fight with you. I had to somehow pin you down. You’re known to us, the changeling. News travels quickly.” - changeling took off hood.
“Wait, you’re a female?” - Shining asked when he realised that all the time he was talking with a female.
“I’m very good at imitating voice. My name is Talia.” - she said.
“Well, I could say nice to meet you, but you’re actually my enemy.” - Shining said.
“You don’t have to worry. I’m not with Chrysalis and I know why you’re here. Well I know why did you tried to get to Changeling lands. The storm you’ve lost your ship through, it’s magical protection against ponies that try to get to us trough the sea.” - Talia looked at bonfire.
“Shit. But if you aren’t with Chrysalis why did you tied me up? I won’t make any harm to you, I can’t even lift myself up.” - Shining said.
“That was a test for your intelligence. You didn’t passed it. There’s a lot of training before you.” - Talia said.
“What do you mean test? What’s wrong with... Oh...” - Shining noticed that other side of the rope wasn’t tied to anything.
“You can’t go to Chrysalis yet. She will kill you in a flash and you won’t do a thing.” - Talia said.
“Then what should I do? I promised my wife that I will kill her.” - Shining looked at changeling.
“I will teach you everything what I know. You will fight with all threats of this island. And when you will survive, become something else, somepony else... you will go and bring Chrysalis to justice.” - Talia said and throw some wood to bonfire.
“Wow. How long have you been thinking about this line? Anyway, this would take a long time and I promised my wife that I not only kill Chrysalis but also comeback soon.” - Shining said again impatiently.
“She will wait. I fell that love that you have for her and I know that she knows that you’re alive.” - Talia tried to calm down Shining.
“Ok, maybe you’re right... What we will do now?” - Shining asked.
“Now, I will start training. First how to use bow. Not a magical one but bow that I’m using for example.” - Talia said.
“You think that I wasn’t trained how to use bow in academy?” - Shining asked sarcastically.
“Maybe you were but I don’t care. I saw your soldiers using bows, it’s like they think it’s a game. I will teach you how to use it properly and also how to use it in other ways. Come with me.”
Talia stood up and walk out of the cave and after her hesitating a little bit also Shining. Soon they’ve arrived at the middle of the forest, some trees had carved shooting targets.
“Let’s start with something easy. Hit center of that shield.” - Talia pointed closet shooting target to them. Shining aimed and... missed.
“It’s not that easy... I’m injured.” - Shining blushed a bit.
“If you would actually aimed at the target you would hit it. Tilt the bow a little to the right, pull the arrow tighter and aim don’t close your eyes.” - Talia said, and Shining did as she instructed and he hitted that target right in the center.
“I could scream yeah but I feel that’s only begining right?” - Shining asked, already knowing the answer.
“Yes. Now try hit the target while runing.” - Talia said and Shining lost his smile.
“You know that I’m still injured right?” - Shining asked worried.
“Yes, now move!” - Talia rushed him.
Shining started to run and shoting arrows, it wasn’t easy at first. He couldn’t hit any of target that was standing still but soon he managed to teach himself how to do so. And when he thought it couldn’t get worse, Talia made it harder by adding moving targets. To the evening Shining weren’t able to be at least close to hit it but again, he was desperate to fight with Chrysalis so he finally have done it.
“Great job! Don’t be too happy though, it’s not the end of your training but for now let’s get back to cave.” - Talia said with smile, happy that Shining made progress so fast.
“Great I’m literally starving... Wait did you’ve heard that?” - Shining asked as he heard hoofsteps.
“In the cave I will handle them! Go!” - Talia screamed at Shining.
“What? Who’s they?” - Shining asked confused.
“Kallax group. I’ve came with them to this island. Now go I will explain it to you later!” - Talia was getting more and more impatient.
“I won’t leave you! I’m a soldier, I know how to fight!” - Shining wasn’t going anywhere, she knew that.
“Alright, but stay close!” - Talia rolled her eyes.
“Look who’s here! Wow, and even the general Shining Armor himself! Chrysalis will be pleased to see your head.” - Kallax, didn’t wait for a talk. He came here for Talia and he knew that she could kill him so... Suddenly a two little bolts, hitted both Shining and Talia from behind.
“What the...” - Shining tried to say something but his vision was starting to blur out and his legs started to feel really heavy.
“Like it? It’s a magic bolts. Goodnight general...” - Kallax started to laugh as Shining fainted.
When Shining woke up, he noticed that he was in a cage, in a changelings camp. He tried to find Talia but he couldn’t as he was still affected with that magic bolt. Soon he regained his sight and found Talia, she was being raped by those changelings. Terrified, Shining wanted to scream but he had a rag in his mouth that wouldn’t let him speak.
“It’s a good day for us my changeling brothers! We’ve got that bich who betrayed us and also general of Celestial army! Nopony now can’t stop Chrysalis and us from taking love from whole Equestria!” - Kallax yelled to other changelings to announce his victory. Shining only looked at poor Talia that was stoped in being raped but she also stoped moving at all.
“It suck huh? She’s too young to die like that. Well I didn’t know her but still...” - a prisoner from another cage spoked. Shining somehow managed to take off this rag.
“Who the hell are you?” - Shining asked.
“My name is Slade Wilson. I was a mercenary, I’ve got a job to kill Kallax but I think you know what happend.” - Slade laugh a bit.
“Well at least you know how to fight. How about a deal? We will work together, you will help me get out of this cage and I will help you kill Kallax.” - Shining said.
“Ok, but how am I supposed to get out of my cage?” - Slade asked sarcastically.
“See that quiver behind you? There’s a lockpick in there. I mean I think she told me that she always hide it there.” - Shining pointed at the table that was very close to Slade. He smiled and reached for quiver. And when he got it, he’ve managed to open door of the cage.
“Ok, now yours...” - Slade released also Shining from his cage. And he went for his bow and quiver.
“What are you doing? You’re going to fight with whole damn camp?” - Slade asked as he saw Shining going towards Talia.
“Yes.” - Shining simply answered with seriousness in his voice.
“I like you already! Let’s go, you will take care of changelings, Kallax is mine.” - Shining noded.
To the surprise of the changelings, one of them, fell dead with an arrow in his head. Before anypony could alarm rest three changelings had arrows in their bodies. Slade was on his way to kill Kallax. Shining have been surrounded so he quickly started to fight and as he was told he used his bow as a sword, another three changelings were down. Slade slowly was getting upper hand in his fight. Shining Armor defeated every changeling that was on that camp. He quickly run towards Talia. She couldn’t say anything but she smiled as she saw a newborn great archer, and then her eyes closed. Shining didn’t had time for emotions, he felt a sword behind his neck.
“Kallax?” - Shining asked terrified that Slade might be dead.
“No. I’ve killed him.” - it was Slade’s voice!
“What? So why am I feeling a sword?” - Shining asked furious.
“Well, I didn’t got a job for Kallax. I also got a job for you. I love playing both sides!” - Slade said laughing.
“So, that’s how you will die.” - Shining quickly kicked his sword, turned around and shoted him in the right eye.
“Shit! You will pay for this! We will meet again!” - Slade said as he thrown a smoke grenade and vanished. Shining looked at body of Talia, only thing he could do was make a grave. When he did, he worn her green hood, in honor of her memory.
Five years later
Shining noticed a ship coming this way, he quickly climbed on a small hill and shoted an fire arrow setting fire to the wood pile. Somepony noticed it and informed the rest of this. When they arrived and walked off the boat they’ve noticed a pony in green hood with long hair and a beard.
“You’re lucky we saw that flame! Who are you?” - one of them asked.
“My name is Shining Armor.” - he said when he took off hood revealing his face.
“Shining Armor? I thought you were dead! Guys come here! We will help you, Equestria have changed a lot since you’ve been missing.” - one of them said.
“I think I know. Thank you.” - Shining said leaving them surprised.
My name is Shining Armor. For five years I’ve been stuck on a Island with only one goal, survive. Survive and one day return to my home. This Island held a lot of threats. To live, I have to made myself more then I was, to forge myself into a weapon. Now I’m returing with only one goal, to protect Equestria and my love ones at any cost. But to do that I have to become somepony else, I have to become something else.
I have to become Green Arrow.
Chapter 2 - Home?
Post-Crisis Earth-264
Coast City
Ponies say that Coast City is one of the worst places to be. But to me it was a sign that I was close to home. I didn’t wanted to spoil my return to my friends, so I didn’t sent any letters while I was at that ship. Besides, before I comeback to them, I had to deal with something first. I had to find myself a place where I could hide my second life, a hero life. And as a hero, you don’t seek vengence, you don’t seek fame. You seek justice for those who were ignored. You also bring others to justice, a ponies that were hiding from law for even years. It’s time. Everypony will get what they deserve, either justice or punishment. My name is Shining Armor. I’ve been stuck on a island for five years. Now I came back with only one goal to protect my love ones. I am the Green Arrow.
Shining didn’t had to look long for a hideout. He decided to live in ponyville and use old Golden Oak Library as no pony dared even to came close to it after her death. You ask how no pony noticed a long time missing brother of her? It was one of the trick that he learned in island. That and the fact that he was wearing green hood. He was surprised to see everypony that was in ponyville, were still around. That gave him hope that not too much have changed. Once he entered library he checked if Spike was here but he wasn’t, It wasn’t a surprise, after all Twilight was like a mother/sister/BFF to him. Shining knew that there was basement under that place, so he checked it, he was correct and even he managed to find a secret door, to a secret basement. That was very convenient. He entered it and magically hide that door so no pony could find it, if somepony would be that unrespectful to enter this library. When he’ve placed everything where it should be, Shining started to trian. And for that he used a tennis balls, a lot of tennis balls. He used a machine that thrown balls in front of him. He hited every ball with an arrow. Now he was ready to leave. He wanted to check how are friends of Twilight doing, first he was going to see Spike and he knew where to look for. Carousel Boutique was in good condition, as if Rarity never left Ponyville, that was a good news.
“Rarity? Are you here?” - Shining asked loudly as he entered boutique.
“Yes, of course darling! What are you look...” - Rarity stoped when she saw who was the pony that entered her boutique.
“Hey Rarity. Long time no see.” - Shining said with a smile.
“Wha... I... I thought you were dead! How is that even...” - Rarity while stuttering tried to understand what was happening right now.
“Storm. I was the only survivor. Island. Somepony found me and brought me home.” - Shining laught a bit.
“That explains... well everything. Have you been in Crystal Empire? Cadence will be happy to see you!” - Rarity shaked off her thoughts and huged Shining.
“Not yet and please don’t tell her anything I want it be a surprise. Anyway I came here to see Spike. I knew he would be with you after...” - Shining didn’t wanted to finish this sentence.
“After Twilights death? I thought so too and I would love to help him but he isn’t here.” - Rarity turned around, she didn’t wanted Shining to see her tears.
“So where is he?” - Shining asked.
“I... I can’t... It’s too hard for me... Go talk to Zecora, she will tell you everything. Bye Shining.” - Rarity quickly ran upstairs and Shining could hear her crying loud. What could happend to Spike? He thought to himself. After some time he was near door of Zecora’s Hut. Shining knocked twise.
“Who’s there?” - Zecora’s voice came from inside.
“Shining Armor. And, no. That’s not a Joke.” - Shining said.
“Come in.” - Zecora opend door.
“Just like that? No questions?” - Shining asked.
“I’m not that curious zebra that I once were. Do you need help?” - Zecora also stopped rhyming after that horrible day (If I would have to make her rhyme I would kill myself so just let it slide).
“Rarity said that you can tell me what happend, she couldn’t ‘cause she started crying as soon as she thought about Spike. Zecora what happend?” - Shining asked.
“He was upset but he didn’t left Equestria or anything, he stayed at Golden Oak Library and tried to live.” - Zecora said.
“But I still don’t know what happend. Where’s Spike?” - Shining asked worried.
“He’s gone.” - Zecora turned around.
“What? Why?” - Shinnig stood up.
“One year after you disappeared, a pony named Harrison Wells tried to open an particle accelerator in Star Labs but something went wrong, accelerator exploded and released a huge wave of something that is called dark matter. Rarity told me that she was alongside with Spike and that wave created a strong lightning that hitted him. And just like that, he vanished.” - Zecora said.
“I... So I didn’t lost only Twilight but also Spike?” - Shining said sad.
“Wait... there’s more and it’s not the good ones.” - Zecora looked at him.
“...” - Shining didn’t say anything he just stared at her.
Zecora began to talk about what happened to friends of Twilight. First Pinkie, she’ve lost her smile. She returned to the rock farm. Soon she was locked down in psychiatric hospital as she started to act weird. Shining already know that Rarity was holding good but what he didn’t know was that she became a drinker after Spike’s disappearing. Applejack lost her farm due to not paying bills for ground. She’s now living with Braeburn. Fluttershy locked herself in her home, no pony except her brother ever came to her, she didn’t wanted to talk. Rainbow Dash has changed the most, she painted her mane and pony tail to black color and changed her name to Black Dash.
After hearing her out Shining couldn’t belive but it was true. Twilight’s death changed this world forever and nothing could reverse what happend. Only thing he could was to go to her grave. It looked like it was new somepony is getting care of it. He putted flowers on it and stood there for a while. After that he went to his hideout but something was wrong, somepony behind him hitted him with magic bolt, he couldn’t do anything. When he woke up he noticed that he was tide up and also he saw his kidnappers.
“I have only one question for you Shining and you will have to answer. Is that clear? Speak.” - one of them spoked.
“...” - Shining didn’t responded.
“If you’re gonna be like this, I will beat you up!” - one of them spoked loudly.
“No, you’re not. I’m the one who will beat you up or even worse.” - Shining said.
“You’re tied up... oh crap.” - he noticed that Shining wasn’t tied up. Thankfully they were an idiots cause Shining was unicorn so he just used his magic to cut offf ropes. He quickly broke neck of first guy second tried to run but it wasn’t that hard to catch him.
“Please don’t kill me! I will tell you who sent us, just please don’t kill me!” - he said terrified as he was pinned down to ground by Shining.
“First of all, I can’t let you get out of here alive. Secondly, I know who sent you.” - Shining said and snaped his neck.
Shining didn’t waste much time anymore. He went to his lair and took his suit, bow and arrows.
“I will get you and I will bring you to justice or straight to hell.”
“Princess Mi Amore Cadenza! You have failed Equestria!”
“Oh... Nice to see you Shining! How was the trip?” - Cadance said with grin.
“Don’t try anything stupid.” - Green Arrow didn’t get himself provoked.
“Still mad about that boat? You know I’ve had to do it.” - Cadance laught.
“How could you work for that maniac?” - Green Arrow asked still aiming at her.
“With her! And how do you... Oh the island, well that’s a great story maybe I will tell you it sometime.” - Cadance looked at him.
“I think I will find out by myself,why did you worked with somepony that killed Twilight. She trusted you! She sacrificed herself for you!” - Green Arrow yelled.
“Yeah, and that was the funnier part, she didn’t know that I was with Chrysalis and I knew that she would save me. I needed for her to be dead.” - Cadance stood up.
“Why?” - Green Arrow asked.
“I saw the future and I didn’t liked it. I wanted Equestria for myself! I wanted everything I...” - Cadence was interrupted her when an arrow pierced her neck.
“I will find Chrysalis and also will kill her as I’ve promised but... I don’t need you to be alive.” - Green Arrow said and left her body to be found by guards by morning.
A lot have changed...
