The Lord of the Ponies: The Friendship of Equestria

      Ch.42 The Departure of Shining Armor

Exhausted from the prolonged battle against the Dovakniik, Rainbow Dash relinquished the adrenaline in her veins for the promise of a rejuvenating breath. The cyan Pegasus looked around, the bodies of incalculable Dovakniik lay strewn across the leaf-littered floor of the forest; their green blood painted the foliage. To her left, Rainbow Dash discerned the numerous dead of her enemies, but to her right, the cyan Pegasus noticed the bloodstained form of the fallen Shining Armor.

"No!" exclaimed the Pegasus as she raced towards her terminal comrade. The closer she approached, the louder the stallion's gasping breaths pervaded into her ears like the clashing of blades.

Rainbow Dash approached Shining Armor, careful to keep her distance, as to not contact the three arrows which littered the dying Guard's body; red blood slowly leaked from wounds that Shining Armor sustained. Shining Armor, sensing the presence of the pony, suddenly grabbed for Rainbow Dash, a reaction that almost brought the Pegasus back to arms.

"They took the little ones," stated Shining Armor. With each word, a painful gasp escaped the stallion's lips.

"Hold still." Rainbow Dash held back the stallion's embrace, and reached out to stem the flow of blood from Shining's numerous wounds.

Again, the stallion tried to grab Rainbow Dash; this attempt was more panicked than before.

"Apple Bloom. Where is Apple Bloom?" asked Shining Armor.

Rainbow Dash suddenly met Shining's gaze. Was the dying stallion still within the grasp of The Ring's corruption?

"I let Apple Bloom go," answered Rainbow Dash, hoping her answer would bring peace to the mortal stallion.

Shining Armor smiled. He now knew that his efforts to forcefully take The Ring from Apple Bloom did nothing to impede the escape of the important filly.

"Then you did what I could not," Shining stuttered, his last precious seconds being consumed by speech, "I tried to take The Ring from her."

Rainbow Dash closed her eyes for a second; a vivid vision of the expiring stallion before her attempting to take The Ring from Apple Bloom invaded her mind, too much for the Pegasus' conscious to deal with at one moment. The cyan Pegasus opened her eyes again, and realized the rapid rate which the life in Shining's eyes depleted.

"The Ring is beyond our reach now," assured Rainbow Dash.

"Forgive me. I did not see... I have failed you all." Shining's stuttering grew worse, like a clock noticeably ticking  louder as it approached the Witches' Hour.

"No, Shining Armor," interjected Rainbow Dash, "You fought bravely. You gave your life to defend Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. You still have your honor."

Rainbow Dash yet again focussed her efforts on stemming the flow of crimson blood from the trifecta of Shining's wounds, and like last time, Shining Armor reached a hoof out to stop the Pegasus.

"Leave it," ordered Shining Armor; with each gasp, the blood pumped from his injuries, "It is over. The world of Ponies will fall. And all will come to darkness... and Canterlot to ruin. And I will not be there to defend my city."

"Shining Armor," Rainbow Dash grabbed the Royal Guard's shoulder in an assuring embrace, "Though I may not be as strong as Applejack, or as smart as Twilight, I promise that I will not let Canterlot fall, nor all of Ponykind fail."

"And I thought you were above humility." A departing smile grew on Shining's complexion. The stallion then turned to his right, where his bloodstained blade lay beyond his reach.

Rainbow Dash grabbed the sword, and placed it in Shining's hoof. An honorable warrior should always die with his weapon. Shining, with sword in hand, brought the blade to his chest, and let the tool lay across his body. Behind the two departing fighters, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Rover made an appearance. The trio noticed Rainbow Dash crouched over the dying form of Shining Armor.

"I would have followed you, Rainbow Dash. My Queen," departed Shining Armor, "And please, Rainbow Dash. If you ever see my wife again, tell-- tell her I love--."

Shining gasped one last time, unable to complete his final message. The blood draining from his injuries became thin and bright-red, as water seeped from the stallion's wounds. Shining Armor was now dead, the warrior gone to meet his maker. The presiding members of the Fellowship bowed their heads, in reverence for the stallion who gave his life for the safety of his friends. Slight tears escaped the eyes of Rainbow Dash, and the Pegasus kissed Shining's lips: a departing gift for the honorable Captain.

"Be at peace, and know that I will carry your message to Princess Cadence." Rainbow Dash retreated from Shining's lifeless form. The cyan Pegasus turned to her companions, the diverse group still bowed in a ritualistic respect for the past stallion.

"Let us go, my friends. Canterlot will be expecting its Captain, but all it shall receive is our arrival," pronounced the sullen Pegasus to her equally morose company.