A Secret in Shining Armour

The 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.