Survival Begins at Home

Shining and Cadance stepped into their hotel room. While it wasn't really very nice moving around from place to place so often, it was at least a blessing that the rooms were always clean and organized. Moving from hotel to hotel was certainly better than staying in encampments or barracks.

"What was it they called you again?" asked Cadance, chuckling.

"'Shining Spectre,'" replied Shining, a big smile on his face.

"So menacing," smiled Cadance. "So intimidating. If I heard he was coming after me, I'd be terrified. It just sends shivers down my spine."

The two shared a laugh before unpacking. It had been a long time since Shining had felt this good, so a bit of levity was something to be treasured. Whatever Luna had said to Shining in his dream had worked. He had slept through the whole night, and so had Cadance as a result.

"So, I have a small confession to make, right here and now," said Cadance, slipping off her shirt and sitting down. "I may have asked Aunt Luna to help you with your nightmare. I know you said you didn't want help, but I just--"

"It's fine, Cady," smiled Shining, removing his breastplate. "In truth, I'm glad you did. I don't know what I was thinking."

"You were thinking that you didn't want to appear weak. You were thinking that your subconscious hatred for the zebras was pushing you forward."

Shining shrugged. "You're not entirely wrong. Nor was I for thinking so. I was just missing what was holding me back. Luna made me see reason. I was mad at myself for my inabilities. Unreasonable as my expectations were, it was pushing me backward."

"I'm still upset that you won't forgive yourself. It wasn't your fault, Shiny."

"It was partially my fault. As much as one percent is enough to make such a claim. I will one day feel better about it, but for now I'm going to focus on just improving and keeping the good things in my life." As his greaves fell to the floor, he stood in front of her, and put his hands on her shoulders. "Good things in my life include my beautiful and loving wife, who knows to help me despite the fact that I'm either too stubborn or proud to ask, or even accept it when offered. Thank you for setting me right, Cady."

She leaned up and kissed his lips. "You're still my big, strong beast of a stallion, even if you sometimes act like a big oaf. I love you, Shiny."

He returned the kiss, gently lowering her down to the bed. He was lucky to have her, and even luckier that she'd stayed with him through the worst time in his life. He was going to make it up to her, somehow. He didn't know how just yet, but he had to try. Not for his sake, but for hers. She'd gone above and beyond what could have been expected of her, and she deserved every ounce of praise he was going to give her.

After a night that began with a flurry of raucous sex descending into peaceful slumber, Shining was stepping out of the shower. He looked into the mirror, and for the first time in ages, he didn't outright hate the stallion staring back at him. He'd finally come to accept himself, a sign that things were beginning to improve for him. Now he was just angry. That was much easier to contend with.

As he slipped into his gear, he looked at Cadance, still sticky, and just slipping into her lingerie. "You're sure that you're going to be okay on your own?" he asked, his concern clearly marked on his face. "Ponyville isn't exactly the most well-defended place. Remember, this spot was selected because it was close to an enemy city."

"I'll be fine, Shiny, don't worry," she smiled, latching her bra together. "Honestly, I'm more worried about you. You're walking directly into enemy territory, where you'll be outnumbered a hundred to one. What if they decide you're not allowed to leave?"

Shining shook his head. "If I'm not back by tomorrow morning, tell Celestia that this was a trap. Divert soldiers to me if you have to, but let's hope it doesn't come to that."

"I hope so, too. Now remember, we received clearance from Celestia to bargain two of our captured soldiers for each of their captured civilians. Since we aren't barbarians, we have plenty of living zebras to give back to them. You don't have to start that high, but that's the highest we can go. I say this so that you don't make promises we can't keep. Are we clear, Shiny?"

He nodded. "I can give them two captured soldiers maximum for each civilian, and I can grant them all safe passage back to the Equestrian border of their choice. What matters is that I clear them all out and save as many Equestrians as possible."

"Right. Think you can do that, Shiny?"

"I don't know." He took a deep breath, and looked out the window. "I suppose we'll see. Just promise me one thing."

"What's that?"

He turned around, leaned down, and gave her a kiss. "If I don't survive, please remember me at my best, and find somepony who can make you happy again."

"I promise, on one condition."

"What's that?"

She kissed him again. "Survive."

He chuckled as he made his way to the door. "I'll see what I can do."

An hour and a half after he left, Cadance was writing a letter to the therapist again. He'd given her a lot of advice, and the first third of the letter was thanking him for the parts that worked. The second third was the largest, detailing what had and hadn't been helpful. The final piece asked for more help, now with new problems rather than the ones that had been solved. She had just sealed it and sent it away when she heard the lock click open and the squeak of the door hinges. She turned around to see three soldiers, all male, entering the room.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit, boys?"

The first of the guards smirked licentiously. "Your darling spectre has gone away, and now it is our turn to play. You may have bested us to the east and south, but now I'm going to feel your mouth."

The second closed and locked the door. "By the time we reach tomorrow's dawn, your husband will be but a pawn; a tool to use as we see fit, until we have grown bored of it."

The third threw off his helmet and breastplate, revealing the stripes Cadance had already suspected were there. As his belt came off, his big black cock stood at attention. "There's not a place for you to run, so let's all have a little fun. There's nowhere you'll go that we can't hunt, so make this easy and display your cunt."

While Cadance certainly had the option to run away, seeing three horny zebras afforded her an option that was not available to most Equestrians. She unclasped her bra and stepped out of her panties. "You want to fuck me before we go?"