A Secret in Shining Armourby GermanBrony_12ChaptersThe ReunionInterrogationBack to Square OneRescueOnce...SafetyThe JourneyArrivalTruthTo the GulagThe Reunion"Steel Hunk!" His old friend turned to look at him. He immediately recognised his friend and ran toward him. Shining Armour looked at him with tears in his eyes, filled with joy to see his comrade. "I thought you had died like the others!" Shining Armour said. "I haven't seen you since the battle. What happened?" "I was sent up North to work in the mines,"he responded. "Everyone's starving there. It dosen't seem much better here. I'm surprised even ten ponies survived this." They sat for a while chatting about their experiences at the gulags and their longing to leave. Eventuallly they had to stop to continue to work but after that they never missed a chance to talk. Occasionally they would be working together and they would get chances to talk during work but usually they worked far apart. With this chatting the two comrades grew closer and closer and it became consistantly harder to leave with each meeting. After just a few weeks of hard labour, the flames of romance had lit in the heart of Shining Armour. These feelings brought him shame and so he remained quiet. He went on for weeks like this but no matter how much he denied his feelings he never felt better in any way. Dispite this he fought back and continued on. As always he went into the nearby vacant home at dawn to meet his comrade and talk but when he got there the house was vacant. He forced himself to stay calm although he was already panicing. It was always possible that although had always come early he was coming late, right? It had been half an hour but he was nowhere in sight. There wasn't a sign of him anywhere in the gulag. Shining Armour paniced at the thought of Steel Hunk disappearing or worse, dying. He knew that he could do nothing about this so he returned to work. His fear caused him to get almost nothing done in the mines and because of this he had to work through he night. Once the sun had risen he went to the vacant home in search of his friend but again there was no sign of him. Shining armour immediately knew that something was wrong. This time he spent no time waiting, but instead went to the mines right afterwards. As he worked he could barely keep himself from crying. After two days with no sign of Steel Hunk, it was clear that he had died. He worked hard all day and finally got to sleep at night. "Wake up, Shining Armour," It was Steel Hunk's Voice. "Shining Armour it's our special day!" Shining Armour groaned and got out of bed, "Steel Hunk? Where were you?" Shining Armor opened his eyes to see Steel Hunk but he looked different. He looked very healthy and happy and he seemed to be dressed up for a special occasion. "What do you mean? I've been right here next to you," responded Steel Hunk. "We have to go soon, I'll leave you here to get dressed." Steel Hunk left the room and left Shining Armour alone. Shining Armour walked over to a table on which a suit was lying out for him and put the suit. He left the room to find himself in a beutiful home which looked out over Canterlot. "Steel Hunk? Where are we? And what did you mean by 'our special day?'" he asked. "Don't be silly, We're in our home. And how could you forget our wedding?" Steel Hunk responded. "Wedding?!" he responded. "What do you mean, wedding? I thought we were in the gulag." "Wow. I know you had a different house in mind but gulag seems like a bit much," He said. "Come on, It's time to go!" Steel Hunk grabbed Shining Armour's hoof and pulled him out the door and into a wedding Hall. Music was playing and Steel Armor was now at the end of the hall waiting for him. Shining Armour instinctively began to walk toward him. He arrived at Steel Hunk's side and looked around the hall. He didn't recognise anypony other than his parents who looked on with tears in their eyes. Suddenly the room went dark and a scream was heard in the audience. The lights flickered back on and he saw his parents were skeletons. He heard a thud nearby and he looked to his side to see Steel Hunk lying on the ground covered in wounds. Shining Armour screamed and the lights went out again. Shining Armour jumped up in his bed to the sound of the door opening. He was back in the Gulag. Two guards burst into the room and pulled him out of bed. They chained him up and pulled him out of the house. Shining Armour screamed in fear as they pulled him further away through the fields. They dragged him across the gulag and shoved him into a truck. They closed the door and everything went dark. InterrogationAfter hours of extreme rumbling, a light penetrated the darkness. Shining armour writhed in the back of the truck, blinded by the afternoon sun. He felt a violent slap on his back, "wake up, girly!" Suddenly ten sharp claws pierced his waist. He screamed, or so he tried, but the cream was dampened by the thick burlap stuffed into his mouth. Shining Armour was too weak to withstand the muscular dragon dragging him from the truck. His eyes wandered around, searching for familiar sights, anything that would help him figure out what was going on. The world around him was very different from the affluent city he once knew. The golden tower of his hometown had become dull and reflected the view of the grey, rotten, dystopian city. He was afraid to see his parents' house, dark, barren, abandoned, and dilapidated. His eyes met a point much like anything he had ever known. The old palace he once guarded with his comrade Steel Hunk. Steel Hunk! In his newly awakened stupor, Shining Armour began to poke around, desperately looking for his comrade. He looked in all directions; his eyes didn't meet Steel Hunk, but a wild gray dragon that was twice his size in every dimension. The claws on his flank loosened, causing him to fall to the ground with one violent brunk. After lifting himself up with what little strength he had, the burlap was thrown from his mouth. He was interrogated. “My people have told me countless stories about you...... you and that miner, Steel Hunk. A little friendly meeting, eh?" Shining Armor turned and looked at the wall. Shrap! A sharp blow pierced the back of Shining Armour. After one hit, his first hit, he nearly passed out. “You will feel better here if you talk. As a former soldier, you should know better than to ignore your superiors," he giggled, filled with a certain evil energy. "You've been here for a while, have you heard of the curfew? I want you to know that it lasts until morning. " Shining Armour murmured softly, followed by another blow. "So you do know! Did you think it was okay to hang out in that hut? Okay for a chat while your other ponyfolk companions do your work?" Shining Armour opened his mouth to answer, but was interrupted by yet another flogging. He could barely see his surroundings, his vision was blurred with tears, his hearing was blocked by the ringing in his ears after each landing of the whip. “Maybe you've heard of Twilight Sparkle? I hear you two are close, are you not? Or should I say were you not?" He giggled shrilly. Shining Armour rose when he heard his sister's name. "Were? What do you mean? What did you do to her?" He didn't try to hide his fear. The dragon laughed. "What did I do? Ha! As if I would bother with some petty pony princess! No, in reality it was you and your friend Steel Hunk. You chose to stay in her hut. You chatted with your friend while your sister was beaten to death at the door! I bet you laughed too much to hear her screaming, shouting your name, begging you to help her. No, I nothing to cause this. No other creature can say how it's sweet while their sister takes her last breath. " The words struck a breathtaking blow and Shining Armour fell back, his eyes wide in disbelief. This time he barely noticed the stabbing pain that emanated from every lash of the whip. No, it couldn't have been him, could it? "Now tell me, pony, what is your relationship with the miner?" Shining armour shook his head, forcing himself to ignore what he had been told. Who said this dragon can't lie? "I don't know him," he said. “He's in a different division than me. I've never heard his name. " A slap across the face: he had answered incorrectly. "Ha! Did you think I would believe that? What nonsense! You don't know him, but you know he's in a different division? what makes you think he served in the military at all if you've never so much as heard his name? " "He says!" "Does he now? I think you've never heard of him? " Shining Armour fell silent. He was cornered, but how could he expose Steel Hunk like that? “We have been here too long. Spit it out: Who is he? " He stood there for a moment, unsure of what to say. Suddenly he remembered his training. He mumbled a little, drawing an ancient symbol with his horn. At the interrogator's command, three dragons jumped at him, but were only a second late; Shining Armour is gone. Author's Note I sincerely apologize for my absence for so long. I didn't want to give up the story for a whole year. Now I have returned to write the remaining story for all of you. Thank you for reading! Back to Square OneGasps echoed across the empty room. Finally free to think and breathe, Shining Armour collapsed on the cold floor of the palace. Every inch of his body ached from the force that came with every blow of the whip. Movement is impossible. The only sound immediately was the tears falling from the head of a pitiful unicorn, tattered and lame. Fortunately for Shining Armour, the magic worked, a rare occurrence like this when it comes to ancient pony magic. The dragon only knew how to dispel basic unicorn magic, not the advanced and dangerous magic used by the earth ponies in the past. Magic like this was his only chance to escape should something go wrong. After several hours of helplessness, he was able to raise his head. As he looked around, he knew his magic wasn't quite perfect. Contrary to his intention, he had teleported into the bedroom. This was to his advantage, however, and he was able to rummage around and find a suitable uniform for himself. He crawled out, fully clad in dragon armor, and walked down the hall, desperately clutching at something nearby so he could prop himself up and walk on two legs like a dragon. Shining Armor knew this passage very well; he had gone on patrol many times and had never forgotten the location of the exit. As soon as the last guard passed, he slipped through the door and out into the town of Canterlot. He had been in the dimly lit back hall of the castle for hours; When he stepped out into the outside world, he expected to be hit by the bright sunlight, but no. Instead, Shining Armour coughed. Thick smog covered the city. With narrowed eyes he saw a crowd of dragons gathering in the center of town. Now he has enough strength again to walk properly on his hind legs. He got to the center and saw a collection of papers pasted on a large board. Each newspaper brought several tidbits of recent happenings: conquered cities, pony riots, executions, some even told of ponies he knew. Then he saw it. A small piece of paper buried under several stories of draconian conquests bore a name he knew well. Steel Hunk. These words stood out from all the others on the wall. Shining Armour pushed past the dragons gathered around the newsboard, ignoring their angry cries. He shattered the papers around him as he tore a small sheet of paper from the wall. Infamous Pegasus “Steel Hunk” Captured In Gulag. To Be Executed January 12th. His legs became weak and Shining Armour fell to the ground. The dragon stomped on his trembling body to read the news, but he paid no heed to this: his heavy armor dulled the sensation of being trampled by adult dragons. He found himself pushed out of the crowd. He suddenly realized what to do. He forced himself back on his hind legs and made his way back to the castle. RescueShining Armour stepped into the dark corridor under the palace kitchen. At the end of this hall was a long-forgotten dungeon from the reign of Nightmare Moon. The evil princess from 1000 years prior had secretly built this prison to hold those who opposed her oppressive regime. After regaining the throne, Princess Celestia sealed this dungeon so that no one could use it again. After Celestia was dethroned once again, the dragons used it to hide away enemies if the state; to make them "disappear". Shining Armour had heard of it only a few times himself, some rumors from the gossiping guards on night duty. Once he took a wrong step on duty and finally found this cursed room. Of course he knew better than to stroll into such a forbidden room and left immediately, however now he had no choice but to venture deep into that hidden corridor built so long ago. As he neared the mighty dungeon door, he took a deep breath and prepared for whatever awaited him beyond that point. He pushed the door open and let the torchlight flood the hallway, and immediately, as if waiting in line, a thousand moans of dying ponies crammed into a foal-sized compartment permeated the unicorn's ears. The sound tormented him, but the sight was more horrific still. He wanted to flee, to wake up from the nightmare standing before his eyes. Ponies, young and old, innocent and guilty, all tossed aside to die. Corpses covered the floors of the loathsome cells and the overbearing odour of death filled the air, utterly repulsive. He slunk into the chamber, avoiding to the best of his ability the blood, vomit, and fecal matter that painted the cold stone floor. Looking around, he saw hundreds of familiar faces, all staring at him, hoping only for death to come quickly. It seemed nigh impossible to find his dearest in the crowds, even less that he might be alive at all. Despite this, he could not give up, for how could he leave Steel Hunk in such a place? As if by miracle, Shining Armour found himself face to face with his comrade. He nearly burst into tears at the sight of him. "Steel Hunk!" he cried, unable to hide his joy or relief. He had come to save Steel Hunk, so why was he desperate for the safety of his friend's presence? Steel Hunk was too weak to answer but just met his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. Shining Armour broke the bars that separated them and pulled out Steel Hunk. He carefully placed him on his back and carried him out of the wretched dungeon. Steel Hunk could not help but question the morality of his savior. Although he was eternally grateful for the rescue, how could he leave so many innocent ponies in that dungeon. He looked down at the handsome unicorn clad in shining dragon armour, his knight in shining armour. With one glance he forgot it all; how could so beautiful a stallion be immoral? Shining Armour traversed the hallways, exhausted from carrying an adult stallion all the way, only to find the entrance he came through sealed off. He grew nervous and longed for the comforting words of his companion but no such words could be heard: Steel Hunk had fallen asleep. With no other options, he went back through the pitch-black hallways, this time checking everywhere for another exit. A full hour later, he still walked the hallways. Forwards he crept, careful to not disturb the pegasus on his back. Still, his steps proved too heavy to be ignored by trapdoors and similar triggers. As he took a step forward, Shining Armour felt the ground beneath him sink. He froze, but it did him no good. The ground dropped, letting the hallway fill with light. He heard Steel Hunk groan a bit, then go silent. The floor had given way to reveal an exit. Relieved, he walked through the door, not a thought about what or who could be on the other side, not a second of consideration about whether the door led to friend or foe. Shining Armor carelessly walked out into the throne room. After a moment, he came back to his senses and darted behind a column, terrified. Luckily he had not been caught. In fact, the dragon empress was quite preoccupied with a pitiful guest. Shining Armour lay hidden behind the column, not daring to look out, but something caught his attention, something seemed off…… “Please!” a mare’s voice called out, “I’ll send him far away from here, I’ll do triple the work, anything! Just please, let him go!” The voice sent shivers down the spine of Shining Armour. That voice…his mother’s… “Listen here, pony,” spat the furious blue dragon, “Why should I send off one of my best workers? Just to get more work out of you? Because you begged me to? Triple the work from you is just a fraction of what that son of yours can do. And not only that, he’s a member of Equestrian royalty. A prince like him is incredibly valuable beyond Equestria.” “I’ll do all of the work he did! More than that! You can take everything I have! Ju-” “You’ll do as much work as I tell you to, regardless of whether we free your son or not. I don’t know if you’ve realised it yet, but we’re the ones who give the orders. We don’t free your son to get your little collection of trinkets. And if you think sending him farther away will somehow make me want to free him more you’d be sorely mistaken. Now shut your mouth and get back to your post. You’ve already come here three times to beg for your kids’ freedom. Another attempt and I’ll have to send you where I sent your husband.” Twilight Velvet opened her mouth to speak but was quickly interrupted by a large red dragon who covered her mouth and dragged her out the door. Visibly irritated,the dragon empress stormed off to an adjacent room, leaving the room nearly unguarded. Steel Hunk, Steel Hunk, awakened by the slamming of the door behind the dragon, raised his head and listened. He just barely heard the mumbling of his compatriot who looked on, shaking: “She even uses those tricks on the dragon empress……” Once...Shining Armour sat at the dining table, his sister directly across from the him. Reports for the first semester at the Canterlot School of Magic had just arrived . His mother took the paper out of the envelope and listed all the grades: A+, A+, A+, A, A+... After she finished reading, she turned to Twilight Sparkle. "You did great, darling! We are so proud to raise the smartest mare in all of Equestria!” Twilight turned away from them, pouting. "What is wrong?" asked Night Light. "You got straight A's as always! Why do you still look so sad?" "No, I didn't…" Shining Armour watched in confusion. "I'm proud of you too, little sister! I can't even get close!" “You guys are just saying that. You are my family after all. As if you would tell me I did poorly. All you do is lie; that’s all family ever does.” He watched his sister storm into the library and slam the door as hard as she could. As he finished eating and headed to his bedroom, he couldn't help but wonder, was his sister right? The following weeks he spent carefully observing his parents, how they smiled at him, praised him; he saw it too now, they were all lies. A false mask worn by every parent, aren’t they all so impressive? Now it was clear, so obvious all along, parents were nothing but liars and tricksters and his were no better. "You did really well on your math test! I can never be that good!” Lies… "You are so good at sword fighting!" Lies… "You should be one of the royal guards! You will be the best ever! ” LIES! He couldn’t bear it any longer. Shining Armour shut himself away; he ignored his parents any time they spoke, he hid in his room and practised hard, he stopped spending time with his sister. He grew more and more distant from everyone he knew with each passing second, unable to bear their words. That mocking tone hidden behind those masks of kindness; disgusting. Shining Armour didn’t look at them again. He graduated on his own and finally received the criticism he deserved from his mentors there. Finally, he made it. SafetyShining Armour turned to face the door, tears forming in his eyes. After a few minutes he found himself outside the palace. He had spent hours indoors and the sun was already setting. Shining Armor couldn't help but cry as he stepped into the dark and empty streets of Canterlot, memories of his childhood filling his mind. At this point, Steel Hunk was fully awake but was reluctant to disturb Shining Armour. He wanted to cry too, but all he could do was lie helplessly on his partner's back, not knowing the reason for his tears. The bright red sun parted the horizon, casting a dull red aura over Equestria. Steel Hunk was awakened by this light shining through his eyelids with its dull glow. He sat up, a sharp pain piercing his spine. He let out a short yell, drawing Shining Armour's attention. Shining Armour started running immediately. "What happened? Are you hurt?" Steel Hunk could hardly bear to look into his eyes. Shining Armour had obviously been crying for a long time. "I'm doing well. But only because of you. You were so brave when you snuck into the palace to save me." Shining Armour was shocked. The same words he'd heard all his life, those lies. But now they felt different. He could feel it deep down, Steel Hunk was sincere. He immediately burst into tears. "I'm not!" he screamed and fell to the ground at Steel Hunk's feet. "I'm acting brave and tough, but really, I'm weak. I can't even put my face in front of you." Steel hunk raised his hooves to pat his back. "But you are brave! Even if it's hard for you sometimes, I will always be there for you. If you don't mind, would you please tell me what's bothering you?" Shining Armour looked at his partner and wiped the tears from his eyes. "My parents... they don't care. They just want me to fail." He lowered his head, thinking back to his past. "Don't worry, I won't let them hurt you. I will stand by your side and protect you if they even try'" Shining Armour smiled, sniffling. Steel Hunk pulled him into a loving embrace, not letting go for several minutes. After they finally released their grasp on one another, Shining Armour spoke. “We can’t stay here in Equestria. Not with the dragons here. It’s better for us to flee to another nation that’s still independent from the dragons.” “That doesn’t leave a whole lot of options for us…” replied Steel Hunk, looking unsure of the future. “I know. We should get going soon, it’s a long way to Griffonstone from here.” Steel Hunk was flabbergasted, “Griffonstone? Will they take us in?” “It’s better that we go there and get away from the dragons than somewhere else where we might not be so lucky.” “Fair enough. Let’s eat first, then get going” They ate their meal and set out toward Griffonstone, hoof in hoof. The sun shone upon them, forcing its way through the smog to light the way for the two comrades. The JourneySo great a distance travelled yet still so far till the ponies could reach the bustling city of griffons. They dragged their feet as they marched toward their stretched and distorted shadows which faded into the path before them. A cool, dry wind wrapped itself around their feeble bodies as if desperately trying to remind them of the time. It could no longer be denied, night had arrived. Shining Armour looked to his half-asleep partner, shivering from the chill air around them. He wanted so desperately to walk closer, to indulge in the boundless warmth of another so dear to him, but he could not. There was no need to ask, Steel Hunk would certainly oppose. He quickly shook the thought from his mind, how ridiculous! He chuckled to himself, catching the attention of his companion. “What’s up?” asked Steel Hunk. “Nothing. Just a strange thought that crossed my mind.” Shining Armour turned to face the rising moon that they walked towards. He began to wonder how the moon looked in Griffonstone and if his few friends had made it there to see it. His mind began to wander, gracefully shifting from future to past. He had just begun to forget he was travelling in the first place when all of a sudden, his thoughts were interrupted. He felt a distinct warmth emanating from his flank; It was Steel Hunk. The exhausted pegasus had brought Shining Armour’s fantasies to life, leaning against him to keep warm. Shining Armour immediately looked the other way, blushing profusely. He tried to distract himself with anything he could think of. Of course! The sun had fully set now and the vast territory before them lay hidden in the darkness. They could make no progress without light. Shining Armour concentrated on performing the spell for light, a simple spell. Yet despite its simplicity, the unicorn could not do it. The dragons had taken his magic. With no light, they had no choice but to settle down and sleep for the night. He turned to the pegasus at his side. Steel Hunk had already fallen asleep, collapsed on the ground next to Shining Armour's hooves. He did not wish to wake his comrade, but it was dangerous to sleep on the road like this. He decided to stay there and watch over him as he slept In the end, this plan failed, and Shining Armour fell asleep beside Steel Hunk. In an instant, all faded to black. The bright morning sun shone on the face of Shining Armour, waking him from his slumber. He slowly opened his eyes. He was alone, as he always was when he awoke. He was just about to close his eyes and return to his unconscious state, but then, he remembered. Steel Hunk! He frantically looked about but saw nothing. Had it all been a dream? Had Steel Hunk never actually travelled with him? Was he even real in the first place? In a panic, he ran straight ahead, calling his name. He felt a light tap on his shoulder. It was Steel Hunk. Shining Armour breathed a sigh of relief as he looked into the smiling face of his companion. “Calm down, I’m right here. We’d better get going if we want to make it to Griffonstone today,” said Steel Hunk, trotting along the path. Shining Armour nodded and followed him. He knew that if they did not go quickly, they would have to stop and search for food, delaying them further. The longer it took them, the less likely they were to get into Griffonstone. By noon, the two had reached the mountain upon which stood the great city of Griddonstone. Looking up, Shining Armour shook with fear. The mountain was as steep as the stock market during the 2008 financial crisis. There was no way he could climb it! “Steel Hunk…” “Yes?” replied his comrade. “How are we supposed to get up?” ArrivalSteel Hunk smirked. He lowered himself to the ground before lunging at Steel Hunk like a cat pouncing on its prey. Before he could even lift a hoof, Shining Armour was swept up into the sky by the remarkable pegasus. Shining Armour frantically swung his legs about in the air as he soared toward the heavens with his comrade. In the blink of an eye, the two had reached Griffonstone. The impressive city seemed to radiate prosperity, its coating of marble reflecting the sunlight to create a surreal appearance. Swirling towers of griffon nests pierced the clouds with their massive globe-like tops and all around them lay huge glass structures commemorating the ancient griffon heroes. A tall gate led to the city’s bustling street markets and thriving commercial districts where griffons of all kinds spent their day until the setting sun signalled the transition from busy day to an even more lively nightlife. Shining Armour and Steel Hunk approached this great gate with confidence. Steel Hunk firmly knocked on the door, fully prepared to be instantly let in, however, the result was just the opposite. A stern-looking griffon opened the door just enough to stick their arm through and point to a structure across the gorge. “Head over there,” said the griffon before closing the gate and returning to their post. The two ponies looked to where the griffon had pointed. A cloud of dust obscured a collection of small structures in net rows. As the griffon had told them to, they headed toward the location. There, they were met with a disappointing sight. The griffon had directed them to a large camp filled with starving, injured ponies from all over Equestria. Neat rows of poorly-constructed tents seemed to go on forever, seeming to disappear as clouds of dust swept in front of them. Garbage was everywhere and ponies could do little but lay in the sand and occasional patches of dirt that their tents shaded. It was unbearably hot everywhere outside of the shade and some ponies missed out on meals to avoid leaving the shelter of the shoddy tents of the refugee camp. A few griffons watched over the masses of ponies from their tall perches, observing every movement of those beneath them. The ponies had made it to Griffonstone, but how different was it from the lands they fled? Shining Armour and Steel Hunk entered the camp and began searching around. They asked the many ponies there about the situation so that they might learn why they could not enter Griffonstone, but no one knew the reason. After an hour of questioning, the heat grew too unbearable and they settled down in one of the vacant huts. Exhausted, the comrades sat in the hut and watched the other ponies pass by. They watched and watched with nothing else to do. A certain pony caught their attention as they approached the tent of Shining Armour and his partner, one that caused Shining Armour to dart behind Steel Hunk, trembling. Twilight Velvet. TruthThe mare saw this and broke into a swift gallop toward the two. “Shining Armour!” she cried, tears forming in her eyes. Steel Hunk turned to Shining Armour and lowered himself to be at the same level as his weeping companion. He used his hoof to lift up Shining Armour’s head and looked him in the eyes. As he did so, he saw his companion cry as he mouthed out the word, “help.” “Shining Armour, I believe in you. I know that no matter what, you’ll make the right decision. Whatever happens, I’ll always support you.” Shining Armour was touched by this. He finally had what he always dreamed of; someone sincere, someone who supported him, someone who loved him. He sniffled, clearing away the evidence of his weeping. “.......Are you sure?” Steel Hunk nodded, bearing a serious expression. With newfound confidence, Shining Armour got up and stepped outside of the hut. His mother called his name, weeping as she did so. “Shining Armour!” she cried. “I was so worried! I thought you might still be stuck in th-” All went silent. Screams of terror came from every direction. The ponies, once peacefully resting in the shade of their tents now ran in a panic, crashing into tents as they desperately tried to escape the horrific scene. Twilight velvet hung, motionless. Her hind legs gently swung back and forth, dipping in the pool of blood beneath her with every oscillation. Finally, her limp corpse fell to the ground with a light splash as her son withdrew his horn. Fast as a cheetah, Shining Armour had lunged at his mother and lanced her throat with his now blood-soaked horn. “Sh-Shining Armour?! What have you done?!” It was Steel Hunk. Shining Armour turned to face him. “Get away!” cried his old companion. Before Shining Armour could even open his mouth, two griffons swept down and seized him, suppressing him with a claw over his mouth. Shining Armour watched as Steel Hunk coldly turned his back to him, then all was black. The cloth sack remained over his head for hours. Shining Armour could do nought but blindly walk as the griffons led him by chain. Despite the situation, he was perfectly calm and unphased by the events. He knew quite well what lay ahead for him, and saw the inescapability of it. Beneath the covering, he bore a solemn face as he reflected on his past. At last the sack was torn from his head, revealing his face to the crowds below. A forceful shove from behind pushed him to the edge of the platform upon which he stood before the great mob. The thoughts of the present, however, were absent from his mind. Rather, he took these final moments as a chance to evaluate the past in the end, even Steel Hunk, who once appeared so earnest and sincere to him, had manipulated him, betrayed him, lied to him. In the end, he was right. Everypony lied. In a single, abrupt movement, the griffon’s claws clasped around his head and twisted. To the GulagEquestria is enveloped in flames. Invader dragons surround the capital, and residents rush to hide in their homes. The princesses are hidden in the bunker while the royal guards and any capable ponies are sent into battle. At the forefront, Shining Armor, the captain of the royal guard, fights bravely alongside his comrades. He watched as they were killed one by one leaving only a few ponies left. Suddenly a dragon notices him and heads toward him, ready to kill but his comrade, Steel Hunk, jumps in front of him and slays the dragon, saving his life. The war was short and although the ponies fought well, their efforts were pointless. Under the new draconian regime, ponies worked day and night in the gulags, mining and farming, dreaming of meeting their families again. Shining Armor is no exception. He was desperate to return to the palace, patrol the area at night, and spend his free time with his comrades. He worked many sleepless nights with no hope of freedom. He managed to find some people to talk to when he could, but he did not have frequent breaks and often slept during that time. There was little to do but work. Many died from the bad conditions of the Gulag. His friends were some of many who died of starvation and lack of sleep. He was alone again. The population of the Gulag declined, and of the thousands of ponies originally there, only about 800 remained. Some of the other gulags had better conditions so it was decided to move a group from one of them here. The truck arrived at the gulag. From it, many ponies were brought out one by one and sent to work. Shining Armour watched the ponies exit the vehicle and a certain pony caught his eye. Something seemed so familiar about him but everypony looked so different now that nopony was recognisable. After they had all started work he went back to the mines. That night the face haunted his dreams. The familiar face evoked memories from before the gulag. He felt so close to remembering the pony but the memories were gone. He continued to see the same scene in his dreams night after night until one night. After the end of the dream he jumped out of bed and ran out to the fields. He saw the pony working and remembered something. "Steel Hunk!"
The Reunion"Steel Hunk!" His old friend turned to look at him. He immediately recognised his friend and ran toward him. Shining Armour looked at him with tears in his eyes, filled with joy to see his comrade. "I thought you had died like the others!" Shining Armour said. "I haven't seen you since the battle. What happened?" "I was sent up North to work in the mines,"he responded. "Everyone's starving there. It dosen't seem much better here. I'm surprised even ten ponies survived this." They sat for a while chatting about their experiences at the gulags and their longing to leave. Eventuallly they had to stop to continue to work but after that they never missed a chance to talk. Occasionally they would be working together and they would get chances to talk during work but usually they worked far apart. With this chatting the two comrades grew closer and closer and it became consistantly harder to leave with each meeting. After just a few weeks of hard labour, the flames of romance had lit in the heart of Shining Armour. These feelings brought him shame and so he remained quiet. He went on for weeks like this but no matter how much he denied his feelings he never felt better in any way. Dispite this he fought back and continued on. As always he went into the nearby vacant home at dawn to meet his comrade and talk but when he got there the house was vacant. He forced himself to stay calm although he was already panicing. It was always possible that although had always come early he was coming late, right? It had been half an hour but he was nowhere in sight. There wasn't a sign of him anywhere in the gulag. Shining Armour paniced at the thought of Steel Hunk disappearing or worse, dying. He knew that he could do nothing about this so he returned to work. His fear caused him to get almost nothing done in the mines and because of this he had to work through he night. Once the sun had risen he went to the vacant home in search of his friend but again there was no sign of him. Shining armour immediately knew that something was wrong. This time he spent no time waiting, but instead went to the mines right afterwards. As he worked he could barely keep himself from crying. After two days with no sign of Steel Hunk, it was clear that he had died. He worked hard all day and finally got to sleep at night. "Wake up, Shining Armour," It was Steel Hunk's Voice. "Shining Armour it's our special day!" Shining Armour groaned and got out of bed, "Steel Hunk? Where were you?" Shining Armor opened his eyes to see Steel Hunk but he looked different. He looked very healthy and happy and he seemed to be dressed up for a special occasion. "What do you mean? I've been right here next to you," responded Steel Hunk. "We have to go soon, I'll leave you here to get dressed." Steel Hunk left the room and left Shining Armour alone. Shining Armour walked over to a table on which a suit was lying out for him and put the suit. He left the room to find himself in a beutiful home which looked out over Canterlot. "Steel Hunk? Where are we? And what did you mean by 'our special day?'" he asked. "Don't be silly, We're in our home. And how could you forget our wedding?" Steel Hunk responded. "Wedding?!" he responded. "What do you mean, wedding? I thought we were in the gulag." "Wow. I know you had a different house in mind but gulag seems like a bit much," He said. "Come on, It's time to go!" Steel Hunk grabbed Shining Armour's hoof and pulled him out the door and into a wedding Hall. Music was playing and Steel Armor was now at the end of the hall waiting for him. Shining Armour instinctively began to walk toward him. He arrived at Steel Hunk's side and looked around the hall. He didn't recognise anypony other than his parents who looked on with tears in their eyes. Suddenly the room went dark and a scream was heard in the audience. The lights flickered back on and he saw his parents were skeletons. He heard a thud nearby and he looked to his side to see Steel Hunk lying on the ground covered in wounds. Shining Armour screamed and the lights went out again. Shining Armour jumped up in his bed to the sound of the door opening. He was back in the Gulag. Two guards burst into the room and pulled him out of bed. They chained him up and pulled him out of the house. Shining Armour screamed in fear as they pulled him further away through the fields. They dragged him across the gulag and shoved him into a truck. They closed the door and everything went dark.
InterrogationAfter hours of extreme rumbling, a light penetrated the darkness. Shining armour writhed in the back of the truck, blinded by the afternoon sun. He felt a violent slap on his back, "wake up, girly!" Suddenly ten sharp claws pierced his waist. He screamed, or so he tried, but the cream was dampened by the thick burlap stuffed into his mouth. Shining Armour was too weak to withstand the muscular dragon dragging him from the truck. His eyes wandered around, searching for familiar sights, anything that would help him figure out what was going on. The world around him was very different from the affluent city he once knew. The golden tower of his hometown had become dull and reflected the view of the grey, rotten, dystopian city. He was afraid to see his parents' house, dark, barren, abandoned, and dilapidated. His eyes met a point much like anything he had ever known. The old palace he once guarded with his comrade Steel Hunk. Steel Hunk! In his newly awakened stupor, Shining Armour began to poke around, desperately looking for his comrade. He looked in all directions; his eyes didn't meet Steel Hunk, but a wild gray dragon that was twice his size in every dimension. The claws on his flank loosened, causing him to fall to the ground with one violent brunk. After lifting himself up with what little strength he had, the burlap was thrown from his mouth. He was interrogated. “My people have told me countless stories about you...... you and that miner, Steel Hunk. A little friendly meeting, eh?" Shining Armor turned and looked at the wall. Shrap! A sharp blow pierced the back of Shining Armour. After one hit, his first hit, he nearly passed out. “You will feel better here if you talk. As a former soldier, you should know better than to ignore your superiors," he giggled, filled with a certain evil energy. "You've been here for a while, have you heard of the curfew? I want you to know that it lasts until morning. " Shining Armour murmured softly, followed by another blow. "So you do know! Did you think it was okay to hang out in that hut? Okay for a chat while your other ponyfolk companions do your work?" Shining Armour opened his mouth to answer, but was interrupted by yet another flogging. He could barely see his surroundings, his vision was blurred with tears, his hearing was blocked by the ringing in his ears after each landing of the whip. “Maybe you've heard of Twilight Sparkle? I hear you two are close, are you not? Or should I say were you not?" He giggled shrilly. Shining Armour rose when he heard his sister's name. "Were? What do you mean? What did you do to her?" He didn't try to hide his fear. The dragon laughed. "What did I do? Ha! As if I would bother with some petty pony princess! No, in reality it was you and your friend Steel Hunk. You chose to stay in her hut. You chatted with your friend while your sister was beaten to death at the door! I bet you laughed too much to hear her screaming, shouting your name, begging you to help her. No, I nothing to cause this. No other creature can say how it's sweet while their sister takes her last breath. " The words struck a breathtaking blow and Shining Armour fell back, his eyes wide in disbelief. This time he barely noticed the stabbing pain that emanated from every lash of the whip. No, it couldn't have been him, could it? "Now tell me, pony, what is your relationship with the miner?" Shining armour shook his head, forcing himself to ignore what he had been told. Who said this dragon can't lie? "I don't know him," he said. “He's in a different division than me. I've never heard his name. " A slap across the face: he had answered incorrectly. "Ha! Did you think I would believe that? What nonsense! You don't know him, but you know he's in a different division? what makes you think he served in the military at all if you've never so much as heard his name? " "He says!" "Does he now? I think you've never heard of him? " Shining Armour fell silent. He was cornered, but how could he expose Steel Hunk like that? “We have been here too long. Spit it out: Who is he? " He stood there for a moment, unsure of what to say. Suddenly he remembered his training. He mumbled a little, drawing an ancient symbol with his horn. At the interrogator's command, three dragons jumped at him, but were only a second late; Shining Armour is gone. Author's Note I sincerely apologize for my absence for so long. I didn't want to give up the story for a whole year. Now I have returned to write the remaining story for all of you. Thank you for reading!
Back to Square OneGasps echoed across the empty room. Finally free to think and breathe, Shining Armour collapsed on the cold floor of the palace. Every inch of his body ached from the force that came with every blow of the whip. Movement is impossible. The only sound immediately was the tears falling from the head of a pitiful unicorn, tattered and lame. Fortunately for Shining Armour, the magic worked, a rare occurrence like this when it comes to ancient pony magic. The dragon only knew how to dispel basic unicorn magic, not the advanced and dangerous magic used by the earth ponies in the past. Magic like this was his only chance to escape should something go wrong. After several hours of helplessness, he was able to raise his head. As he looked around, he knew his magic wasn't quite perfect. Contrary to his intention, he had teleported into the bedroom. This was to his advantage, however, and he was able to rummage around and find a suitable uniform for himself. He crawled out, fully clad in dragon armor, and walked down the hall, desperately clutching at something nearby so he could prop himself up and walk on two legs like a dragon. Shining Armor knew this passage very well; he had gone on patrol many times and had never forgotten the location of the exit. As soon as the last guard passed, he slipped through the door and out into the town of Canterlot. He had been in the dimly lit back hall of the castle for hours; When he stepped out into the outside world, he expected to be hit by the bright sunlight, but no. Instead, Shining Armour coughed. Thick smog covered the city. With narrowed eyes he saw a crowd of dragons gathering in the center of town. Now he has enough strength again to walk properly on his hind legs. He got to the center and saw a collection of papers pasted on a large board. Each newspaper brought several tidbits of recent happenings: conquered cities, pony riots, executions, some even told of ponies he knew. Then he saw it. A small piece of paper buried under several stories of draconian conquests bore a name he knew well. Steel Hunk. These words stood out from all the others on the wall. Shining Armour pushed past the dragons gathered around the newsboard, ignoring their angry cries. He shattered the papers around him as he tore a small sheet of paper from the wall. Infamous Pegasus “Steel Hunk” Captured In Gulag. To Be Executed January 12th. His legs became weak and Shining Armour fell to the ground. The dragon stomped on his trembling body to read the news, but he paid no heed to this: his heavy armor dulled the sensation of being trampled by adult dragons. He found himself pushed out of the crowd. He suddenly realized what to do. He forced himself back on his hind legs and made his way back to the castle.
RescueShining Armour stepped into the dark corridor under the palace kitchen. At the end of this hall was a long-forgotten dungeon from the reign of Nightmare Moon. The evil princess from 1000 years prior had secretly built this prison to hold those who opposed her oppressive regime. After regaining the throne, Princess Celestia sealed this dungeon so that no one could use it again. After Celestia was dethroned once again, the dragons used it to hide away enemies if the state; to make them "disappear". Shining Armour had heard of it only a few times himself, some rumors from the gossiping guards on night duty. Once he took a wrong step on duty and finally found this cursed room. Of course he knew better than to stroll into such a forbidden room and left immediately, however now he had no choice but to venture deep into that hidden corridor built so long ago. As he neared the mighty dungeon door, he took a deep breath and prepared for whatever awaited him beyond that point. He pushed the door open and let the torchlight flood the hallway, and immediately, as if waiting in line, a thousand moans of dying ponies crammed into a foal-sized compartment permeated the unicorn's ears. The sound tormented him, but the sight was more horrific still. He wanted to flee, to wake up from the nightmare standing before his eyes. Ponies, young and old, innocent and guilty, all tossed aside to die. Corpses covered the floors of the loathsome cells and the overbearing odour of death filled the air, utterly repulsive. He slunk into the chamber, avoiding to the best of his ability the blood, vomit, and fecal matter that painted the cold stone floor. Looking around, he saw hundreds of familiar faces, all staring at him, hoping only for death to come quickly. It seemed nigh impossible to find his dearest in the crowds, even less that he might be alive at all. Despite this, he could not give up, for how could he leave Steel Hunk in such a place? As if by miracle, Shining Armour found himself face to face with his comrade. He nearly burst into tears at the sight of him. "Steel Hunk!" he cried, unable to hide his joy or relief. He had come to save Steel Hunk, so why was he desperate for the safety of his friend's presence? Steel Hunk was too weak to answer but just met his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. Shining Armour broke the bars that separated them and pulled out Steel Hunk. He carefully placed him on his back and carried him out of the wretched dungeon. Steel Hunk could not help but question the morality of his savior. Although he was eternally grateful for the rescue, how could he leave so many innocent ponies in that dungeon. He looked down at the handsome unicorn clad in shining dragon armour, his knight in shining armour. With one glance he forgot it all; how could so beautiful a stallion be immoral? Shining Armour traversed the hallways, exhausted from carrying an adult stallion all the way, only to find the entrance he came through sealed off. He grew nervous and longed for the comforting words of his companion but no such words could be heard: Steel Hunk had fallen asleep. With no other options, he went back through the pitch-black hallways, this time checking everywhere for another exit. A full hour later, he still walked the hallways. Forwards he crept, careful to not disturb the pegasus on his back. Still, his steps proved too heavy to be ignored by trapdoors and similar triggers. As he took a step forward, Shining Armour felt the ground beneath him sink. He froze, but it did him no good. The ground dropped, letting the hallway fill with light. He heard Steel Hunk groan a bit, then go silent. The floor had given way to reveal an exit. Relieved, he walked through the door, not a thought about what or who could be on the other side, not a second of consideration about whether the door led to friend or foe. Shining Armor carelessly walked out into the throne room. After a moment, he came back to his senses and darted behind a column, terrified. Luckily he had not been caught. In fact, the dragon empress was quite preoccupied with a pitiful guest. Shining Armour lay hidden behind the column, not daring to look out, but something caught his attention, something seemed off…… “Please!” a mare’s voice called out, “I’ll send him far away from here, I’ll do triple the work, anything! Just please, let him go!” The voice sent shivers down the spine of Shining Armour. That voice…his mother’s… “Listen here, pony,” spat the furious blue dragon, “Why should I send off one of my best workers? Just to get more work out of you? Because you begged me to? Triple the work from you is just a fraction of what that son of yours can do. And not only that, he’s a member of Equestrian royalty. A prince like him is incredibly valuable beyond Equestria.” “I’ll do all of the work he did! More than that! You can take everything I have! Ju-” “You’ll do as much work as I tell you to, regardless of whether we free your son or not. I don’t know if you’ve realised it yet, but we’re the ones who give the orders. We don’t free your son to get your little collection of trinkets. And if you think sending him farther away will somehow make me want to free him more you’d be sorely mistaken. Now shut your mouth and get back to your post. You’ve already come here three times to beg for your kids’ freedom. Another attempt and I’ll have to send you where I sent your husband.” Twilight Velvet opened her mouth to speak but was quickly interrupted by a large red dragon who covered her mouth and dragged her out the door. Visibly irritated,the dragon empress stormed off to an adjacent room, leaving the room nearly unguarded. Steel Hunk, Steel Hunk, awakened by the slamming of the door behind the dragon, raised his head and listened. He just barely heard the mumbling of his compatriot who looked on, shaking: “She even uses those tricks on the dragon empress……”
Once...Shining Armour sat at the dining table, his sister directly across from the him. Reports for the first semester at the Canterlot School of Magic had just arrived . His mother took the paper out of the envelope and listed all the grades: A+, A+, A+, A, A+... After she finished reading, she turned to Twilight Sparkle. "You did great, darling! We are so proud to raise the smartest mare in all of Equestria!” Twilight turned away from them, pouting. "What is wrong?" asked Night Light. "You got straight A's as always! Why do you still look so sad?" "No, I didn't…" Shining Armour watched in confusion. "I'm proud of you too, little sister! I can't even get close!" “You guys are just saying that. You are my family after all. As if you would tell me I did poorly. All you do is lie; that’s all family ever does.” He watched his sister storm into the library and slam the door as hard as she could. As he finished eating and headed to his bedroom, he couldn't help but wonder, was his sister right? The following weeks he spent carefully observing his parents, how they smiled at him, praised him; he saw it too now, they were all lies. A false mask worn by every parent, aren’t they all so impressive? Now it was clear, so obvious all along, parents were nothing but liars and tricksters and his were no better. "You did really well on your math test! I can never be that good!” Lies… "You are so good at sword fighting!" Lies… "You should be one of the royal guards! You will be the best ever! ” LIES! He couldn’t bear it any longer. Shining Armour shut himself away; he ignored his parents any time they spoke, he hid in his room and practised hard, he stopped spending time with his sister. He grew more and more distant from everyone he knew with each passing second, unable to bear their words. That mocking tone hidden behind those masks of kindness; disgusting. Shining Armour didn’t look at them again. He graduated on his own and finally received the criticism he deserved from his mentors there. Finally, he made it.
SafetyShining Armour turned to face the door, tears forming in his eyes. After a few minutes he found himself outside the palace. He had spent hours indoors and the sun was already setting. Shining Armor couldn't help but cry as he stepped into the dark and empty streets of Canterlot, memories of his childhood filling his mind. At this point, Steel Hunk was fully awake but was reluctant to disturb Shining Armour. He wanted to cry too, but all he could do was lie helplessly on his partner's back, not knowing the reason for his tears. The bright red sun parted the horizon, casting a dull red aura over Equestria. Steel Hunk was awakened by this light shining through his eyelids with its dull glow. He sat up, a sharp pain piercing his spine. He let out a short yell, drawing Shining Armour's attention. Shining Armour started running immediately. "What happened? Are you hurt?" Steel Hunk could hardly bear to look into his eyes. Shining Armour had obviously been crying for a long time. "I'm doing well. But only because of you. You were so brave when you snuck into the palace to save me." Shining Armour was shocked. The same words he'd heard all his life, those lies. But now they felt different. He could feel it deep down, Steel Hunk was sincere. He immediately burst into tears. "I'm not!" he screamed and fell to the ground at Steel Hunk's feet. "I'm acting brave and tough, but really, I'm weak. I can't even put my face in front of you." Steel hunk raised his hooves to pat his back. "But you are brave! Even if it's hard for you sometimes, I will always be there for you. If you don't mind, would you please tell me what's bothering you?" Shining Armour looked at his partner and wiped the tears from his eyes. "My parents... they don't care. They just want me to fail." He lowered his head, thinking back to his past. "Don't worry, I won't let them hurt you. I will stand by your side and protect you if they even try'" Shining Armour smiled, sniffling. Steel Hunk pulled him into a loving embrace, not letting go for several minutes. After they finally released their grasp on one another, Shining Armour spoke. “We can’t stay here in Equestria. Not with the dragons here. It’s better for us to flee to another nation that’s still independent from the dragons.” “That doesn’t leave a whole lot of options for us…” replied Steel Hunk, looking unsure of the future. “I know. We should get going soon, it’s a long way to Griffonstone from here.” Steel Hunk was flabbergasted, “Griffonstone? Will they take us in?” “It’s better that we go there and get away from the dragons than somewhere else where we might not be so lucky.” “Fair enough. Let’s eat first, then get going” They ate their meal and set out toward Griffonstone, hoof in hoof. The sun shone upon them, forcing its way through the smog to light the way for the two comrades.
The JourneySo great a distance travelled yet still so far till the ponies could reach the bustling city of griffons. They dragged their feet as they marched toward their stretched and distorted shadows which faded into the path before them. A cool, dry wind wrapped itself around their feeble bodies as if desperately trying to remind them of the time. It could no longer be denied, night had arrived. Shining Armour looked to his half-asleep partner, shivering from the chill air around them. He wanted so desperately to walk closer, to indulge in the boundless warmth of another so dear to him, but he could not. There was no need to ask, Steel Hunk would certainly oppose. He quickly shook the thought from his mind, how ridiculous! He chuckled to himself, catching the attention of his companion. “What’s up?” asked Steel Hunk. “Nothing. Just a strange thought that crossed my mind.” Shining Armour turned to face the rising moon that they walked towards. He began to wonder how the moon looked in Griffonstone and if his few friends had made it there to see it. His mind began to wander, gracefully shifting from future to past. He had just begun to forget he was travelling in the first place when all of a sudden, his thoughts were interrupted. He felt a distinct warmth emanating from his flank; It was Steel Hunk. The exhausted pegasus had brought Shining Armour’s fantasies to life, leaning against him to keep warm. Shining Armour immediately looked the other way, blushing profusely. He tried to distract himself with anything he could think of. Of course! The sun had fully set now and the vast territory before them lay hidden in the darkness. They could make no progress without light. Shining Armour concentrated on performing the spell for light, a simple spell. Yet despite its simplicity, the unicorn could not do it. The dragons had taken his magic. With no light, they had no choice but to settle down and sleep for the night. He turned to the pegasus at his side. Steel Hunk had already fallen asleep, collapsed on the ground next to Shining Armour's hooves. He did not wish to wake his comrade, but it was dangerous to sleep on the road like this. He decided to stay there and watch over him as he slept In the end, this plan failed, and Shining Armour fell asleep beside Steel Hunk. In an instant, all faded to black. The bright morning sun shone on the face of Shining Armour, waking him from his slumber. He slowly opened his eyes. He was alone, as he always was when he awoke. He was just about to close his eyes and return to his unconscious state, but then, he remembered. Steel Hunk! He frantically looked about but saw nothing. Had it all been a dream? Had Steel Hunk never actually travelled with him? Was he even real in the first place? In a panic, he ran straight ahead, calling his name. He felt a light tap on his shoulder. It was Steel Hunk. Shining Armour breathed a sigh of relief as he looked into the smiling face of his companion. “Calm down, I’m right here. We’d better get going if we want to make it to Griffonstone today,” said Steel Hunk, trotting along the path. Shining Armour nodded and followed him. He knew that if they did not go quickly, they would have to stop and search for food, delaying them further. The longer it took them, the less likely they were to get into Griffonstone. By noon, the two had reached the mountain upon which stood the great city of Griddonstone. Looking up, Shining Armour shook with fear. The mountain was as steep as the stock market during the 2008 financial crisis. There was no way he could climb it! “Steel Hunk…” “Yes?” replied his comrade. “How are we supposed to get up?”
ArrivalSteel Hunk smirked. He lowered himself to the ground before lunging at Steel Hunk like a cat pouncing on its prey. Before he could even lift a hoof, Shining Armour was swept up into the sky by the remarkable pegasus. Shining Armour frantically swung his legs about in the air as he soared toward the heavens with his comrade. In the blink of an eye, the two had reached Griffonstone. The impressive city seemed to radiate prosperity, its coating of marble reflecting the sunlight to create a surreal appearance. Swirling towers of griffon nests pierced the clouds with their massive globe-like tops and all around them lay huge glass structures commemorating the ancient griffon heroes. A tall gate led to the city’s bustling street markets and thriving commercial districts where griffons of all kinds spent their day until the setting sun signalled the transition from busy day to an even more lively nightlife. Shining Armour and Steel Hunk approached this great gate with confidence. Steel Hunk firmly knocked on the door, fully prepared to be instantly let in, however, the result was just the opposite. A stern-looking griffon opened the door just enough to stick their arm through and point to a structure across the gorge. “Head over there,” said the griffon before closing the gate and returning to their post. The two ponies looked to where the griffon had pointed. A cloud of dust obscured a collection of small structures in net rows. As the griffon had told them to, they headed toward the location. There, they were met with a disappointing sight. The griffon had directed them to a large camp filled with starving, injured ponies from all over Equestria. Neat rows of poorly-constructed tents seemed to go on forever, seeming to disappear as clouds of dust swept in front of them. Garbage was everywhere and ponies could do little but lay in the sand and occasional patches of dirt that their tents shaded. It was unbearably hot everywhere outside of the shade and some ponies missed out on meals to avoid leaving the shelter of the shoddy tents of the refugee camp. A few griffons watched over the masses of ponies from their tall perches, observing every movement of those beneath them. The ponies had made it to Griffonstone, but how different was it from the lands they fled? Shining Armour and Steel Hunk entered the camp and began searching around. They asked the many ponies there about the situation so that they might learn why they could not enter Griffonstone, but no one knew the reason. After an hour of questioning, the heat grew too unbearable and they settled down in one of the vacant huts. Exhausted, the comrades sat in the hut and watched the other ponies pass by. They watched and watched with nothing else to do. A certain pony caught their attention as they approached the tent of Shining Armour and his partner, one that caused Shining Armour to dart behind Steel Hunk, trembling. Twilight Velvet.
TruthThe mare saw this and broke into a swift gallop toward the two. “Shining Armour!” she cried, tears forming in her eyes. Steel Hunk turned to Shining Armour and lowered himself to be at the same level as his weeping companion. He used his hoof to lift up Shining Armour’s head and looked him in the eyes. As he did so, he saw his companion cry as he mouthed out the word, “help.” “Shining Armour, I believe in you. I know that no matter what, you’ll make the right decision. Whatever happens, I’ll always support you.” Shining Armour was touched by this. He finally had what he always dreamed of; someone sincere, someone who supported him, someone who loved him. He sniffled, clearing away the evidence of his weeping. “.......Are you sure?” Steel Hunk nodded, bearing a serious expression. With newfound confidence, Shining Armour got up and stepped outside of the hut. His mother called his name, weeping as she did so. “Shining Armour!” she cried. “I was so worried! I thought you might still be stuck in th-” All went silent. Screams of terror came from every direction. The ponies, once peacefully resting in the shade of their tents now ran in a panic, crashing into tents as they desperately tried to escape the horrific scene. Twilight velvet hung, motionless. Her hind legs gently swung back and forth, dipping in the pool of blood beneath her with every oscillation. Finally, her limp corpse fell to the ground with a light splash as her son withdrew his horn. Fast as a cheetah, Shining Armour had lunged at his mother and lanced her throat with his now blood-soaked horn. “Sh-Shining Armour?! What have you done?!” It was Steel Hunk. Shining Armour turned to face him. “Get away!” cried his old companion. Before Shining Armour could even open his mouth, two griffons swept down and seized him, suppressing him with a claw over his mouth. Shining Armour watched as Steel Hunk coldly turned his back to him, then all was black. The cloth sack remained over his head for hours. Shining Armour could do nought but blindly walk as the griffons led him by chain. Despite the situation, he was perfectly calm and unphased by the events. He knew quite well what lay ahead for him, and saw the inescapability of it. Beneath the covering, he bore a solemn face as he reflected on his past. At last the sack was torn from his head, revealing his face to the crowds below. A forceful shove from behind pushed him to the edge of the platform upon which he stood before the great mob. The thoughts of the present, however, were absent from his mind. Rather, he took these final moments as a chance to evaluate the past in the end, even Steel Hunk, who once appeared so earnest and sincere to him, had manipulated him, betrayed him, lied to him. In the end, he was right. Everypony lied. In a single, abrupt movement, the griffon’s claws clasped around his head and twisted.
To the GulagEquestria is enveloped in flames. Invader dragons surround the capital, and residents rush to hide in their homes. The princesses are hidden in the bunker while the royal guards and any capable ponies are sent into battle. At the forefront, Shining Armor, the captain of the royal guard, fights bravely alongside his comrades. He watched as they were killed one by one leaving only a few ponies left. Suddenly a dragon notices him and heads toward him, ready to kill but his comrade, Steel Hunk, jumps in front of him and slays the dragon, saving his life. The war was short and although the ponies fought well, their efforts were pointless. Under the new draconian regime, ponies worked day and night in the gulags, mining and farming, dreaming of meeting their families again. Shining Armor is no exception. He was desperate to return to the palace, patrol the area at night, and spend his free time with his comrades. He worked many sleepless nights with no hope of freedom. He managed to find some people to talk to when he could, but he did not have frequent breaks and often slept during that time. There was little to do but work. Many died from the bad conditions of the Gulag. His friends were some of many who died of starvation and lack of sleep. He was alone again. The population of the Gulag declined, and of the thousands of ponies originally there, only about 800 remained. Some of the other gulags had better conditions so it was decided to move a group from one of them here. The truck arrived at the gulag. From it, many ponies were brought out one by one and sent to work. Shining Armour watched the ponies exit the vehicle and a certain pony caught his eye. Something seemed so familiar about him but everypony looked so different now that nopony was recognisable. After they had all started work he went back to the mines. That night the face haunted his dreams. The familiar face evoked memories from before the gulag. He felt so close to remembering the pony but the memories were gone. He continued to see the same scene in his dreams night after night until one night. After the end of the dream he jumped out of bed and ran out to the fields. He saw the pony working and remembered something. "Steel Hunk!"
