Under the Skin

Chapters

1 I’m in Love with a Serial Killer
2 And We'll Never be Royals
3 Say it to My Face
Interlude: She Leaves Me Lonely
4 You Bring Out the Worst in Me
5 This is Just How We Were Taught to Love

1 I’m in Love with a Serial Killer

I hated the battlefield. Vehemently. It was worse than Tartarus, a place I had the chance to visit on a rather unfortunately assigned guard patrol.

Many would disagree with me, but many hadn’t experienced this kind of war firsthoof. It was important to distinguish the primary difference between them.

In Tartarus, only the bad guys were punished, those that deserved the pain and horror a place like that could bring. On the battlefield, everyone was punished. There was no rhyme or reason to it, just that horrible things would happen to you, and, in most cases, you would never see it coming.

Just within my view, pain, gore and blood dominated the area.

To my left, a Storm Guard beheaded a unicorn with a swing of its ax. To my right, an earth pony crushed the skull of an allied pegasus who had accidentally fallen into their path. Down the field, a pony so soaked in gore so as to be unidentifiable, screamed incoherently as they smashed a rock into an already dead Storm Guard’s face repeatedly.

A constant rhythmic thing that hammered in the sense of horrified dread that permeated my mind.

My ears were assailed by the screams of enemies and allies alike. It was in concert with the cawing of crows flying overhead, filthy scavengers waiting to take what they wanted in the aftermath. A death knell in recognition of the inevitable end to come.

But the war was mere background noise to where my attention was focused.

North. Across the wasteland and over the bodies of ponies I once called friends. A fortress of stone so tall that it blotted out the sun.

It seemed to convey that our greatest watcher, Princess Celestia, could not even bear to witness such a sight. Such vulgar, graphic death could do nothing but bring tears to her eyes.

Worthless poetry amidst pointless slaughter. Well, nearly pointless slaughter. The Storm King needed to die.

An inevitability soon to be fulfilled.

I galloped across the plains, my wings tucked tight to my side, my eyes focused ahead. He would be there, the inevitability coming for the Storm King’s head. I would not be needed for that fight, its outcome had been decided when the box had been sent what felt like a lifetime ago.

No, I needed to be there for after.

I needed to be there for him, because no one else would be.

As I ran faster than I ever had before all I could think about was how I hoped I would not be too late.

Flash Sentry paused a moment to inspect his appearance in a dingy storefront window close by. He looked slick in his jacket with sunglasses perched just below his maneline and shield shaped studs embedded in his right ear. He looked like a frat pony who slept around with anyone that had a working sex organ, which was exactly what he was going for.

Of course, the extra effort was also to draw attention away from his messy wings that hadn’t gotten an in depth preening in an amount of time measured as “too long” and the bags under his eyes, which would hopefully be hidden under dark lighting.

Attractiveness was the name of the game, and he felt confident that he had achieved it. It would hopefully be enough later that evening when he attempted to get closer to his target.

But a nagging thought of failure still clung to his mind regardless.

Shaking his head to clear the errant thoughts, he trotted away from the window, and continued down the dimly lit streets of Saddle Row, a neon bathed red light district crowded with strip clubs, brothels, and bars. It was Canterlot’s premier nightlife destination and the best place for somepony to get their rocks off as fast as possible.

Several ponies gave him lustful looks as he strode confidently forward using his bulk to cut through the crowds — a benefit to being a good full head taller and twice as big as non-earth ponies.

Feeling cheeky, he gave the onlookers a small show by walking with his tail hiked up and his flanks swaying in an exaggerated manner. Each sway of his hips gave the onlookers a peek at what lay underneath. I was more than enough to fuel any fantasies they might have if they ended up alone that night and with a need to fuilfill their sexual desires.

It all served to give him a small boost to his confidence, a minor salve against the nagging thoughts of doubt that clouded his mind.

Just down the street, he spied the Glitz; a high end club for the wealthy and those with less than savoury connections. It was the place Flash’s target frequented most and the best chance of finding him that night.

He stepped into a side alley, and hid behind a nearby dumpster. Once he was certain that no one was watching him, he withdrew a small blue gel-like pill from his jacket pocket. He admired the shield imprinted on its surface affectionately before flicking his wing with a snap, and popping it into his mouth.

Before he could accidentally swallow it, he rolled the pill underneath his tongue, hiding it away for future use.

His preparations complete, Flash exited the alley, crossed the street through and arrived at the entrance to the Glitz. He gave a nod to the bouncer who returned it with a grunt and trotted confidently into the club, cries of annoyance from the ponies lined up behind him following after.

Now, the Glitz didn’t quite live up to its flamboyant name. The interior had a much more subdued atmosphere with rows of booths lit by a singular dim chandelier overhead taking up most of the floorspace and soft jazz music giving a more high class vibe to the whole affair.

Wanting to waste no time, Flash trotted along the rows of booths, scanning for his quarry. His target was Steel Battalion, a large gray earth pony with a dark blue mane if his photo had been up to date.

He passed several servers who gave him a wide berth, and did manage to find a stallion matching the given description near the back nursing a tall glass of what Flash thought was whiskey. It was a rather uninspired choice for an ex-military type, but Flash wasn’t there to critique his taste in drinks.

Flash trotted up to the table and gave Steel a flirtatious grin. He forced back a shiver of discomfort as Steel raked his gaze over his body taking in every detail of his appearance.

Steel smiled, a grimy, sordid thing. “Hey, there. Lookin’ for anything in particular?”

The accent Steel spoke with was thick and misplaced too far south of where it should be. It was the type of voice that belonged with a cigar and some pretentious drink like whiskey, which, in hindsight, meant he actually had the correct choice of drink.

“Just playing the field and finding someone that peaks my interest,” Flash replied.

“Ah, so you’re looking for something special then?” Steel leaned back giving Flash a clear view of his half hard cock underneath the table. “I could give you the best night of your life.”

It took an immense amount of willpower for Flash not to laugh out loud at how outlandishly cheesy that line was. He decided to play along. “Yeah, I am. You seem like the type to be fun to play around with.”

Steel scoffed. “Please, I’m an experience.”

Covering up his snort of amusement with a pattering of flirtatious giggles, Flash turned away and hiked his tail up, granting Steel a full view of his package.

Flash looked back over his shoulder to see Steel biting his lip and leaning towards him across the table snorting in excitement. “Well, you coming?” he called back.

Without waiting to hear Steel’s response, Flash trotted further into the club. He smirked when he heard the heavy hoof falls of the massive stallion following after him.

A quick jaunt to the end of the booths, a hard right down a dim corridor, a short trot and a pull of a curtain revealed a hidden away seating area of plush red cushions lit by a single red light above. A designated place for “covert relations” as the staff liked to call it.

He was shoved roughly onto the cushions without warning. Flash meanuevered onto his back and smiled brightly as Steel trotted confidently into the alcove with a slimy grin spread across his face.

The stallion towered over him. A position that emphasized his bigger bulk compared to Flash. “Are you ready to get a taste of some grade A stalk?” He showed what Flash presumed was supposed to be a charming grin, but just came off as an ugly sneer.

In lieu of answering, Flash licked his lips, which caused Steel to snort excitedly and rush forward. He jammed his muzzle into Flash’s doing what might have been the worst kiss Flash had ever had the displeasure of experiencing. The only silver lining to be had was that the stallion was keeping his promise of being an experience. Albeit a bad one.

Mercifully, he stopped shortly after nearly biting Flash’s tongue and hefted his incredible bulk above him, front hooves braced against the red painted wall. His cock, nearly at full mast, slapped against Flash’s snout with a light, sticky smack.

“Get sucking,” Steel commanded.

Tossing a quick smile his way before beginning, Flash then sucked on the tip of Steel’s dick, working his tongue in circular motions. Precum quickly squirted in time with Steel’s horny moans.

In contrast, Flash still hadn’t even unsheathed. His goal wasn’t pleasure, but, even if it was, Steel was the type to be focused on his own release. Flash would be surprised if at any point Steel even bothered to look at his own dick once.

“Hey,” Steel said between heavy breaths, “take off the jacket. I want a clear look at your chest.”

As asked, Flash shucked off his clothes, leaving them in a crumpled heap nearby. Even in the dim lighting, bright red punctures shone brightly like neon lights along his neck, and healed over scars menacingly glowed along the front of his chest.

“The fuck is that shit?” Steel grunted, “You on somethin’?”

“Took some injections a few days back, but it's out of my system now.” Flash quirked an eyebrow alongside a mischievous grin. “Thought you just wanted to show me the best night of my life?”

“Doesn’t bother me, just wasn’t expecting you to be some hopped up loser.” Steel snorted. “Whatever, a blow job is a blow job. Get back to sucking.”

Continuing his work, Flash waited until Steel was once more distracted before he lifted his tongue and let the pill underneath rest between his teeth. He let off Steel’s cock with a pop then bit down on the pill releasing a white powder along his molars. Using his tongue, he spread the substance along his bottom row until thoroughly coated before getting back to the dick before him.

Slowly, and with the help of his wing lightly stroking the base of the shaft, Flash began to work Steel’s dick into his mouth. Inch after inch of cock flesh slid down his gullet until he was bobbing just past the medial ring.

He grazed his powdered covered teeth along the shaft as he went, causing it to coalesce into the stallion’s bare skin.

Soon, the powder began its work. Horny moans became laboured breaths as Steel’s body shook and his dick began to limp. Flash popped his mouth off and ran his tongue along his teeth, letting the rest of the powder dissolve in his saliva.

“F-fuck, why am I… ?” Flash’s mark slurred, “I’ve never been… so sleepy…”

“Hey, no worries, stud. Just let it happen.” Flash gave him a toothy grin that came off as more disconcerting than comforting. “You’ll be awake just in time to meet the Captain. He really wants to meet you.”

“What…?” Steel managed to say before his hooves slipped off the wall and he slumped over top of Flash.

Content at completing the first step of his plan, Flash pushed Steel off of him and stood up. He stretched out the stiffness in his joints before hefting Steel’s bulk easily onto his back, using his wings to keep the body in place.

He trotted out of the private area and through the club. Servers and bouncers alike kept away from him without a single glance his way. Patrons of the Glitz looked at him in confusion, and those in the know raised their glass towards him in a mock cheer with toothy grins.

Guilt should have at least kept the bounce out of his step as he trotted along, seeing as how he had just drugged a stallion and was dragging him off to places unknown, but Flash couldn’t really be bothered to care.

Why should he have to worry about the well being of a soon to be dead war criminal anyways?

The walk back home was long and that meant it left Flash with a lot of time to think, which as always tended to circle back around to whether or not he was alright. Or rather his body. Steel was easily double his own weight, yet Flash bounded along without any real exertion. He had swallowed a powder that had knocked out the aforementioned pony, but, he felt, at worst, a light tingling on his teeth.

It all should have bothered him, but he found all his focus was on getting back home to his Captain. A thought that caused his tail to wag behind him as he walked.

When the warehouse finally came into view, the smile that appeared threatened to split his face in two.

A slab of metal functioning as the front door was all that stood between Flash and his Captain, which was dealt with by a swift headbutt that broke the door off its hinges. Ignoring the twinge of pain from the impact, he continued his steady trot forward weaving through narrow passages between massive shipping containers, each crate individually twice his height.

He soon arrived at his destination; an open area between crates brightly lit by state of the art mage lights that bathed the area in a circle of white.

Several operating tables were spread throughout alongside tables filled with various tools and beakers. Most of the beakers contained a neon blue liquid that each bubbled as he walked past.

Looking past the ring of bright light, he took in the massive crate cast in shadow by the stark brightness of the lights. Two bright green reptilian eyes stared out piercingly from the dark. The beast attached to them let out a rumbling growl in greeting.

“Glad to see you too, Scales,” Flash answered, “we’ll get you fed soon, just after I get this guy prepped for the Captain.”

Flash trotted up to an empty gurney. It was covered in faded red stains that hadn’t managed to come out from the last pressure wash. He tossed Steel onto the metal frame belly up, and strapped him in tightly with leather straps attached to the gurney.

Pulling on the straps confirmed that they were secure, after which he trotted to a nearby table covered in a white tablecloth.

Peeking underneath the cloth, Flash found a white furred unicorn. His blue mane was plastered over his eyes, and a trail of drool leaked from his mouth to the floor as one of his back legs kicked in time to his snoring.

He tilted his head to one side and smiled at the peaceful scene. Gently brushing away the pony’s bangs with a wing, Flash frowned as he noticed the telltale signs of distress that marred his expression. The shifting of his eyes under his eyelids, the dark bags, and the sweat that gathered on his forehead.

Ducking under the table while ensuring his head didn’t hit the underside, he brushed his lips across Shining’s mouth. He was answered with an appreciative mumble followed by reciprocation.

“Back so soon?” Shining asked, his eyes still closed, “should I be worried about how good at this you’re getting?”

“No, you should just be proud of how great I am.” Flash teasingly kissed Shining on the side of his muzzle who snorted at the statement. Flash frowned. “Are you having nightmares again?”

“Yeah, they’re…” Shining frowned as he trailed off before smiling as he opened his eyes. “It doesn’t really matter since you’re back.”

“Captain,” Flash chided, “I don’t like when you bottle things up.”

“It’s fine, Flash, really. Anyways, there’s more important things to deal with right now.”

“Processing the target?”

“No, getting the taste of that other stallion’s cock off your mouth.” Shining grinned lecherously. “We’ll need to disinfect it with my own.”

Before Flash could respond, Shining’s horn lit up in a magenta glow and he felt the caress of his magic along his dick. Flash moaned as Shining magically stroked along his shaft. They renewed their prior kissing, but with more heated fervour. Pleasure and contentment burst through his synapses.

“What the fuck is happening?”

Rolling his eyes, Shining gave a grunt of annoyance. “Guess he’s awake now. Was hoping the drugs would have kept him out of it until we were done.” He sighed. “Move back, Flash.”

Flash did as he was told. Shining shortly followed getting onto his hooves, just shy of Flash’s size, but more thickly built. A still strange observation to Flash who had once been the smaller of the two.

Scanning over his surroundings, Shining narrowed in on Steel. “What’s he doing on a stained gurney?” he asked.

“The bleach didn’t get out the colour from the last one even after I spent hours cleaning it this morning.” Flash hung his head, his ears pinned down. “Sorry, Captain.”

“No worries. Not like its destination is going to care either way.”

A growl resembling something close to agreement echoed out from the darkened crate.

Steel squealed at a high pitch. “The buck was that?!”

“Nothing you’ll need to worry about… yet,” Shining answered. “Flash, grab my tools. They should be on the rolling table just around the crates.”

“On it,” Flash said with a crisp salute.

He dashed around the side of a wall of containers and found the requested table loaded by all manner of saws, drills, and other medical equipment. He pushed the table back around the corner. In that time, Shining had donned a white lab coat with a six pointed pink star sewn into the front and Steel was shouting a string of obscenities as he struggled against his restraints.

“Thank you, Flash.” Shining glanced at the spot along Flash’s neck where the puncture wounds were underneath his clothes. “Did you take your injection for the week?”

Flash shuffled awkwardly in place. “No, sorry.”

“Then we’ll need to deal with that first.” Shining trotted to a large two door cabinet and propped open the doors with his magic. Inside were several neatly organized vials. He began sifting through the rows. “How’s your wings been lately?”

“They’ve been fine,” Flash said in a small voice.

“Flash,” Shining chided.

“I’ve been feeling stiff when I do tight turns.”

“Then you’ll need something for the joints.” Shining grabbed a vial of green liquid from the cabinet and loaded it into a syringe. “You need to remember to do these yourself sometimes.”

“I know, I just…” Flash trailed off.

Shining sighed wearily. “Still uncomfortable with needles?”

“They’re scary,” Flash mumbled.

With a comforting smile, Shining kissed Flash on the mouth, the syringe held within his magic. As Flash melted into his affections, Shining quickly pulled back Flash’s jacket and jabbed him with the needle. Flash let out a whimper as the liquid emptied into his neck.

As Shining withdrew both the needle and the kiss, the puncture wounds along Flash’s neck healed over and he felt his body feel more limber like he had just been given a deep tissue massage.

Regarding Flash coldly, Shining said in a flat tone, “don’t miss another injection. You need these to keep your body up to date.”

“What in Tartarus is wrong with you two?” Steel cried.

Without turning away, Shining used his magic to forcibly open Steel’s mouth, grab a set of pliers from the table, and, with zero hesitation, yanked one of his teeth out.

Steel screamed as blood spurted from the open wound in his gums and dribbled down his jaw. The sharp pain caused him to writhe in agony. Indifferent, Shining brought the tooth over to himself. He inspected it from various angles and released a small burst of magic.

“Decent,” Shining announced before he tossed the tooth into a nearby container. He refocused his attention on Flash with a stern look. “Are we understood?”

“Yes, Captain.” Flash shrunk in on himself. “I won’t miss another one.”

“Good.” Shining kissed Flash lightly on the cheek who smiled in response.

“What the buck. What the buck!” Steel shouted. “What are you going to do to me you fre—”

With a look of annoyance on his face, Shining used his magic to tie Steel’s mouth closed with a nearby length of rope.

“Why do they always devolve into screaming obscenities? Just once couldn’t they scream, I don’t know,” Shining waved a hoof, “drink recipes or something?”

“I think it’s fairly reasonable for a pony to swear when you pull out one of their teeth with a set of pliers.”

A roar of agreement came from the crate.

“Debatable,” Shining tersely answered, “can you hold down his left foreleg, Flash? We’ll start our work there.”

With a quick nod, Flash grabbed onto the aforementioned leg and held it in place with his hooves. As Steel attempted to wriggle his leg free, Flash pressed down causing snapping noises to echo in the room. Tears of pain gathered in the corners of Steel’s eyes and rolled down his cheek joining the light trickle of blood from his mouth.

“So, the Lunar Guard wanted us to grab you for several crimes. What are those I wonder?” Shining reached into a filing cabinet with his magic, pulling out a manilla folder emblazoned with Steel’s name. “Standard stuff. Murder, extortion, assault, nothing too out of the ordinary…” rage overtook Shining’s face, “oh, pony trafficking. How… interesting.”

Shining grabbed a long serrated knife with a hoof from his operating table. The bright lights glinted off the steel of the blade as cold indifference overtook his features. “I’ve met quite a few traffickers in my line of work. Nasty folks. Think that a price can be put on somepony’s life.” He trotted towards Steel as the stallion in question renewed his struggles against his restraints, muffled curses being spewed from his tied muzzle. “Truly, they are the worst kind of criminal. Hardly worth keeping alive.”

Flash glanced meaningfully at the pink six pointed star sewn into Shining’s lab coat before refocusing on keeping Steel’s foreleg pinned to the gurney.

Aligning the knife just below the knee with a malicious grin on his face, Shining said, “Now, I really want you to feel what’s about to happen, so I have a fun spell to help with that.” A quick burst of magic washed over Steel’s form encasing him in a light magenta glow. “Nothing too crazy, just something to keep you conscious. Let’s begin then.”

His preamble complete, Shining cut through Steel’s foreleg. Muffled screams resounded through his closed mouth as Shining sawed through sinew and muscle. Blood flowed in bursts as veins were cut. Dark red spurts coated the gurney, Shining, Flash, and everything in between.

A frustrated snort signified that Shining had reached the bone. “Flash, if you could?”

Understanding Shining’s meaning, Flash bent over to the exposed white bone while still holding Steel’s leg in place. He gripped it in his teeth and snapped it in half with a hard chomp, breaking it in twain.

Steel arched his back as he continued his muffled screams. Pain coursed through him as tears streamed down his face in rivers.

Smiling in gratitude, Shining finished sawing off the rest of Steel’s limb. It broke with a squelchy snap, thudding onto the gurney. Taking care to ensure that it was fully detached, Shining grabbed it within his magic as Flash released his hold on Steel.

Both stallions inspected the limb as Steel slumped in the gurney, blood flowing freely from where his foreleg once was, his eyes unfocused as pain overcame his senses.

“Do you think it’s good enough, Captain?” Flash asked.

After some hemming and hawing, Shining said, “eh, probably. Honestly, Spike probably isn’t going to care either way.” He whistled. “Come on, buddy, time for dinner.”

A mighty claw covered in purple scales and bigger than Flash’s head slammed into the illuminated floor punctuated by a low growl. It was shortly followed by the head of a dragon covered in green spines.

“Oh, Scales, your neck is coming apart again,” Flash said in concern as he noticed a patch of skin was peeling off part of his neck revealing the rotted interior, “I’ll fix that while you enjoy your meal.”

A quick gallop brought him to the medical supplies cabinet and the sewing supplies he needed: a needle, some thread, and several neatly cut square patches of different coloured scales. He returned to find Shining gently rubbing the side of Spike’s head as Spike went about devouring Steel’s leg in long strips of skin, sinew and muscle with his teeth.

Sitting his rump down near the injury, he set to work sewing patches of scales over the gaping wound in his neck. The needle threaded through the rotted flesh easily, patching in the fresh scales. Once finished, Spike nudged Flash with his head affectionately.

“Hey, no worries, Scales,” Flash replied while rubbing the side of Spike’s head with a wing, “hopefully we can get you some new vocal cords if the Lunar Guard manages to track down that rogue dragon.”

Spike answered with a rumble of approval before returning to his meal.

A gentle touch drew Flash’s attention to Shining who had leaned in close to him. His expression betrayed a rare moment of vulnerability, eyes wide and watery. “The injections aren’t hurting?” he asked softly, “I know I make you take them, but I’m always worried… I’m sure you’re fine, but… I don’t—” a sob cut off the rest of his sentence.

Covering him with his wings, Flash drew Shining in close to his chest. “You didn’t answer me clearly earlier. Are you having nightmares again?” he felt a nod. “Which ones?”

“They’re all about her. The box. She—” Shining took a deep breath. “Sorry, I just got overwhelmed. You, Spike, and Luna are all I have left.” Flash felt him shake. “You aren’t going to leave?”

Flash kissed him tenderly on his forehead. “No, I’m not.”

Before Shining could reply, the moment was ruined by the unfortunate timing of the rope around Steel’s muzzle coming undone. “Let me go, you monsters!” he screamed, throat raspy from overuse.

“He’s really ruining the moment,” Shining growled angrily.

“Yes, but it’s our fault for not finishing the job,” Flash said with a bright smile, “come on, let’s get this guy cut up and sent off to… huh, I didn’t actually ask where we’re sending him this time.”

“Hospital. They need more organs for transplanting. We’re keeping the limbs for Spike.” Shining unentangled himself from Flash’s wings. “Let’s get back to it. I want this done tonight.”

“Righto, Captain.”

Both stallions made their way back, Shining grabbing the saw, Flash grabbing onto Steel’s right foreleg.

“No! No!” Steel cried out. “You won’t get away with this. The palace—”

“Funds this entire operation,” Shining interrupted, “you’ll die here and not a single pony will care.” He lined up his bloodied knife just below the knee once more. “You got a grip on his leg, Flash?”

“No, please! Stop! I’ll do anything, ANY—”

“Sure do, Captain,” Flash said cheerily.

Steel openly wept as he continued to beg.

“Then let’s begin the operation.” Shining cut into Steel’s limb.

His screams resounded through the warehouse.

Author's Note

2 And We'll Never be Royals

It had been a long two years since the Storm King declared war on Equestria. He had shown up unannounced headed by his commander Tempest Shadow with a fleet of airships. He had thought Equestria weak, a month at most to conquer our lands.

But he had underestimated us.

Or rather he had underestimated Luna.

As I swung my halberd forward, slicing the head off a storm guard, his gore splashing across the front of my body, I thought back to the day Luna first appeared on the battlefield.

We had fought valiantly, but the Storm King was gaining ground. The lack of experience and proper guidance from the higher ups had led to our fellows becoming enslaved, our armies battered, and our lands besieged by the more technologically advanced storm troops.

This had only worsened as ponies switched sides and sold out their own in an effort to save their own hides. A crippling betrayal.

Utter chaos had consumed our homeland. The Storm King had arrived at our doorstep, and we were losing more ground as the days wore on. The war was soon to be over, and we would be the losers.

Then Luna entered the field.

She had been dressed in obsidian armour that day, a longbow strapped to her back, a determined look on her face. She had looked out at the Storm King’s troops as they jeered at her, taunting her for her inadequacies, and scoffed.

Unstrapping the bow from her back, she had pulled the string taut. A single arrow of pure magic had formed.

The arrow soared through the air on release until it burst into a cloud of arcane bolts. An entire battalion of enemy soldiers fell to the mare once known as Nightmare Moon as each pierced through the enemy’s armour and punctured directly through their hearts.

In mere moments, the war torn landscape was made quiet. Before long a rousing cheer echoed across the land.

Good fortune returned to us as we quickly obliterated the forces of the Storm King. Luna had taken over as the sole leader of the military and employed vicious strategies to decimate the Storm King’s forces.

As the fervour of success swept across the populace, the ponies supported their Princess even as she pushed the moral boundary of our nation further and further away. By the time we had reached the home of our foe, Luna hardly resembled the mare who had been brought back by the Elements of Harmony.

She appeared closer to her old self. A hardened warrior that had existed some thousand years prior, before the Nightmare. A Princess that had ruled not during relatively peaceful modern times, but in the tumultuous past.

These warning signs were ignored, however, as victory was within our grasp and the ponies cared not the how only about the when. We had willingly embraced the benevolent despot who led us, and long since chosen to ignore the potential consequences of what we were allowing ourselves to become.

I stood before the doors to the Storm King’s keep, ignoring the bodies of my foes who I had slain without a second thought.

One push and the doors swung open. I stood on the threshold of our victory and our defeat.

We would conquer the Storm King.

But in the process we had sown the seeds for turmoil to follow us for many decades to come.

Like everyone else, I chose to ignore the consequences and simply focus on the present.

There would be plenty of time to handle everything after we won the war.

Even if it was too late to do anything about it.

“Hey, Flash, do you have the ice boxes ready?” Shining called out.

“Got them ready this morning before we started, Captain,” Flash replied with a mock salute.

Beaming, Shining leaned over and kissed Flash on his snout with a hearty smack. “That’s my guy.”

“Always,” Flash answered with a spattering of giggles.

With a smile still affixed to his face, Shining grabbed the detached foreleg from the mare he had just finished cutting up with a hacksaw and tossed it to Spike who was lying down in his shipping crate.

Having rolled his eyes at the previous display, he snapped up the limb in his teeth and began to rip it into strips, chomping down on each morsel with a feral vigor.

“Do you need me to grab them now?” Flash asked.

“Yeah, we need to send them off to the Canterlot Central tonight if we want them to be delivered fresh enough to use. Also, because we should, you know—” Shining waved a hoof at the open carcass of the mare, her remaining organs still pulsating, “keep good hygiene standards of whatever.”

“Alrighty.” Flash opened a nearby cabinet to reveal rows of blue bins lined with plastic bags and packed with ice. A cooling enchantment carved into the side hummed with power. “Hey, Captain?”

“Yeah?” Shining answered as he prepared his surgical knife.

“What did this one do? I can’t remember if you told me or not.”

“Nothing too crazy,” Shining said distractedly as he began to cut the ventricle tubes holding the heart in place, “basic war crimes. Selling information to the enemy, arms dealing, yadda, yadda.”

“Pretty subpar compared to some of our recent acquisitions,” Flash commented as he took out boxes from the cabinet and placed them in a line on a nearby table.

“They can’t all be the most monstrous ponies in existence. Eventually, the well runs dry and you’re just left with the dregs.” Shining took out the heart with his magic and placed it gently on a nearby table. He then began work on the lower intestines, clipping obstructing bones and tissue. “It’s not like there’s an infinite supply of war criminals.”

“So, we’re getting to the end then. We don’t need to harvest bodies since I’m sure Spike would prefer not to eat meat off a pony—” Spike roared in agreement “—and with your research, we’ll soon be able to grow organs. Plus with how many new donors are signing up—”

“What’s your point, Flash?” Shining yanked out the intestines, a frown marring his features as he dumped them on another table. Small sparks shot off from the glow of his magic signifying his irritation. “None of this is new information. You don't usually dance around a point, so get to it.”

“I’m just trying to talk you through things.” Flash shot a worried expression towards Shining, hesitation colouring his voice.

“Talking me through what?” Shining hissed out through clenched teeth.

“What’s next,” Flash said.

“Next what?” Shining stomped a hoof on the floor and turned to Flash snorting angrily. “You’re being annoyingly vague. What are you—”

“Next after this, Captain!” Flash swept his wings encompassing the warehouse. “The well runs dry, and when it does, we can’t keep doing this. So, what are you, me, and Spike going to do?”

Looking up from his meal, Spike swiveled his head between Flash and Shining, a look of concern on his face.

Shining stared at Flash. His breathing became heavy, and his eyes shrunk to pinpricks. He was tense, his body wound up tighter than a spring. Flash braced himself readying for the inevitable storm to come.

“I…” he started, “I don’t… Why are you bringing this up?” he shook his head, his expression returning to its prior irritation. “There are still criminals to track down. We’re not done yet.”

“But we will be even—”

“That’s not now, though!” Shining interrupted, “we don’t need to think about …” he trailed off, his breaths quickening, “change. We still have plenty of monsters to kill.”

“Of course, Captain,” Flash said softly, his wings held up with a gentle smile on his lips. The image of reassurance. “I just thought it would be a good time to talk over our options.”

“That’s not necessary!” Shining barked, “we’re running low but not enough to have to talk about this. Why are you even bringing it up?” Shining’s eyes went wide in panic, his ears pinned to his head. “Wait, are you thinking of leaving me?”

“No,” Flash replied firmly.

“You are!” Shining accused taking a step back away from Flash, “you’re just easing me into it, so you can let me down gently.”

“No, I’m not,” Flash said, “I’m just worried because you never talk about the future.”

“Because we don’t have to! We’ll just keep going and… I don’t know, we’ll still be together, right?”

An uncomfortable rumble caused Flash to look in Spike’s direction. He was looking pleadingly at Flash, his eyes begging Flash to fix this.

Flash refocused on Shining and opted to open his wings invitingly. Shining hesitated, unease and panic causing his movements to stutter. After another moment, he dashed forward and buried his head in Flash’s breast. Flash wrapped his wings around Shining’s withers as he shook in place.

Stroking the back of his head with a wing and softly humming, Flash buried his muzzle in Shining’s mane. He took in the scent of chemicals and dried blood. “I promise I’m not leaving, Captain.”

Shining’s response was to bury himself deeper into Flash’s embrace.

A roar from Spike interrupted their moment. Both stallions pulled apart and looked at Spike. Spike jerked his head to a spot behind them. They turned toward the indicated direction and saw a pegasus guard standing nearby with a bored expression on his face.

“The Princess has requested your presence,” the guard said in a monotone voice. He looked them over. “Though, you seem preoccupied.”

With a mischievous grin on his face, Shining rubbed Flash at the base of his dick with a hoof, who yelped in response. “Yeah, we were. You don’t mind two stallions getting it on do you?”

The guard looked to the dissected mare nearby then the massive undead dragon who had buried his head in his claws. “Comparatively, no.”

“You sure?” Shining quirked an eyebrow as he moved his hooves down to Flash’s ballsack.

“S-Shining,” Flash moaned as his sheath began to lengthen up against Shining’s belly.

“Yeah,” the guard replied, “this hardly goes into the top ten most uncomfortable things I’ve seen as a guard.”

“Well, you’re boring,” Shining said with a peeved frown.

“Shining!” Flash pushed him off and glared angrily at Shining.

Confused, Shining looked to Flash blankly before self awareness seeped in. “Shit, sorry, that was… fuck, I shouldn’t have done that. I…” he glanced at the guard then back to Flash, “... didn’t want to be seen as weak.”

Flash heaved a weary sigh, his glare softening to a disappointed frown. “Okay, I understand, but don’t do that again.”

Hanging his head in shame, Shining said, “I won’t.”

Walking around Shining, Flash approached the guard, standing a full head taller. “So, what does the Princess need?”

“She needs a top up on her pills, and she apparently has a gift for you, or rather Spike.”

Spike, Shining, and Flash shared a confused look, before Flash asked, “What’s the gift for Spike?”

“The Night Guard found Garble, and, consequently, we have new vocal cords for Spike.”

They arrived at the palace shortly after leaving the guard behind to handle the packaging of the mare’s organs. Shining had been concerned when the guard had offered to do it until he’d witnessed him cut out the lungs with a precision greater than Shining, which had convinced him that the guard could handle it.

Shining had then grabbed an unmarked bottle of violet coloured pills from a locked cabinet, threw them into his saddlebags alongside several important tools, and left the warehouse with Flash and Spike meandering alongside him.

As was the norm, guests to the palace gave Spike a wide berth. Those who tried to do something were swiftly met by a palace guard that would stress the importance of them being on their way.

Anyone that managed to slip past unnoticed towards Spike was then met by Shining’s glare, which quickly changed their minds.

Flash glanced at Shining as they rounded the corner into the hall leading to the day throne. He walked stiffly with his ears swiveling every which way. He was tense as if expecting an enemy ambush.

“What’s wrong, Captain?” Flash asked.

Stopping abruptly in place, he glanced around warily before he asked, “well… you know what day it is, right?”

“Gloryday,” Flash answered, “what’s so special about that?”

Spike growled in confusion.

“Yes, exactly. It’s Gloryday,” Shining emphasized, “you remember who always visits us today?”

Both Spike and Flash looked at Shining with matching looks of dumbfounded confusion until realization dawned on them. They then both searched their surroundings in earnest, looking for the pony they hoped wouldn’t have found them.

“He wouldn’t know we were at the palace… would he?” Flash questioned as Spike growled nervously. “I mean, he would assume we were either at home or at the warehouse, right?”

“That stallion is blessed with dumb chance. It’s not unthinkable for him to suddenly appear when we least expect it. Remember Dodge Junction?” Flash and Spike both shivered. “He’s like a predator stalking his prey, lurking in the shadows waiting for an opportunity to strike.”

Whimpering, Spike shrunk in on himself, covering his head with his wings.

“We can avoid him this time for sure, right?” Flash said, panic in his voice, “he can’t catch us off guard again.”

“I don’t know, Flash. He manages to find us every week. We’re probably—”

“What are you three doing?”

All three whipped their heads towards the newcomer expecting the pony of their conversation to have appeared. Instead, they were greeted by a pony potentially worse than them.

“Just… keeping an eye out for somepony, Cadance,” Shining said.

Princess Cadance, alicorn of love, put a feather to her chin, a brilliant smile adorning her face. “Well, considering how serious you seemed to be, I would hope it wasn’t me that you were hoping to avoid.”

Fighting off the roiling rage that had flared up at her appearance, Flash answered, “No, we weren’t, but we have to get going.”

“Oh?” Cadence tilted her head to one side, the very picture of innocence. “Where to?”

“The day throne. Princess Luna asked to meet us,” Shining said, discomfort evident by his body language as he shrunk away from her.

“What for?”

“It’s none of your—” Flash started.

“She needs a top up,” Shining interrupted.

A frown graced Cadance’s expression. An ugly thing out of place on the face of somepony that appeared so perfect. “Is she really still using those pills? I had thought she would be better than that.”

Snorting angrily, Flash pawed at the floors readying to retort. He was stopped by a gentle touch to his leg by Shining who had noticed Flash’s irritation. Reluctantly, he calmed down, and opted to instead simply glare at Cadance.

“It’s difficult for her to run the country by herself,” Shining said softly, “the pills help her manage things.”

“So, she can be drugged the entire time?” Cadence snorted derisively, “come now, you know as much as I do that what she needs is rest.” She fluttered her eyes, a pout denoting her disapproval. “I can’t believe you are enabling this, Shiny.”

“I’m not going to deny the Princess what she asks for. She needs me to help in any way I can, and this just happens to be one of the more useful ways.”

“And what are those other ways then? Have you finally decided to focus on just your research or are you still hunting war criminals?”

“Both.” Shining sighed wearily. “My work is important, but so is getting rid of all the leftover monsters from the war.”

“By becoming them?” Cadance grabbed Shining by the chin and raised his eyes to meet her’s. “This isn’t healthy for you, honey. You need to stop.”

“Please, don’t call me that.”

“What honey?” Cadance chuckled lightly, a sound similar to the rattle of a snake. “Shining, how long are we going to keep doing this? I said I was sorry, so why can’t we just get back together?”

“Because I don’t want to, Cadance. I—”

“Must you call me, Cadance?” Cadance scoffed, “couldn’t you try to call me Cady instead? Like the old times? I really miss you, Shiny,” she whispered the last words, voice thick with sweetened poison.

Shining breathed heavily, his eyes shrinking to the size of pinpricks. “I-I don’t think I want to, Cadan—” Cadance shot a glare at him, “—Cady.”

“It’s okay, just say the word and we can put this whole thing behind us. You need help and being surrounded by this—” she waved her free wing around them, “—isn’t healthy for you.” She pouted. “You need to stop hurting.”

“I-I—” Shining gulped, “I’m sorry, but no. Let me go.”

“Shining,” Cadance chided, “you need to stop acting like a foal and running away— Hey!”

Forcing his wing between Shining and Cadance, Spike roughly shoved Cadance away, punctuating the action with a growl. Flash stepped forward and glared down at her, his muzzle staring down hers from his taller height, a look of fury on his face.

“He’s done, Princess. Shove off.”

“Oh, hardly, I just—”

“Leave, now,” Flash interrupted, a growl in the back of his throat.

“He’s my coltfriend, Flash, and last time I checked you barely qualified as a frequent hook up,” Cadance said, the sweetness in her voice dripping away to reveal the venom underneath.

“Ex-coltfriend,” Flash said, “a moniker you earned when you left him when he needed you most.”

“I did not leave him!” Cadance said, punctuating her statement with a stomp of her hoof leaving cracks in the marble tile.

“No, you’re right, you did worse. You ran away when all he needed was you to be there.” Flash snorted angrily, the puff of hot air blowing into Cadance’s eyes. “So, go bother someone else, Cady. His partner is already here to help him and unlike you, is always there for him.”

They glared at each other, anger clear on their faces, before Cadance turned away, her nose upturned. “Fine, I’ll leave.” She began to trot away before turning to look over her shoulder. “Come find me when you’re ready to be around ponies who will actually take care of you.”

Once Cadance had left, Flash turned towards Shining and was immediately grasped tightly by him. Biting back a small twinge of pain at how hard Shining squeezed him, Flash wrapped his wings around him.

“We’re making a habit of this today and I don’t think I’m fond of it,” Flash said softly as Shining shook in his embrace.

Pulling back, Shining lifted his head. “I know I’m not supposed to push it while in public, but—”

Flash lightly kissed Shining on the lips. Shining leaned into it, quickly asserting dominance by pushing tenderness into need. A combination of lust, affection, and fear in equal measure radiated off of him.

Breaking contact, Flash said firmly, “okay, that’s enough for now.”

Smirking, Shining replied, “you sure? I’m pretty sure there’s a storage closet down the hall.”

“The Princess is waiting for us, and besides that, remember the discussion we just had?”

Shrinking back, Shining said, “R-right, sorry. I’ll stop now.”

Kissing him lightly on the snout, Flash said, “thank you, now let’s not keep the Princess waiting.”

They continued their trot to the throne room. A quick glance showed Flash that Shining had his head hung low and turned away. Flash wrapped a wing around him, pulling him in close. It immediately caused Shining to perk up, a smile spreading across his face.

Coming to a large set of doors with a sun motif carved into them, they pushed through entering the day throne.

Pots of chrysanthemums were scattered about the room permeating the air with a cloying sweet scent. Petals covered the tiled floor and, when paired with the near blinding light filtering through the stained glass windows on either side, made the room seem more like a garden than a throne room.

On a pedestal, situated at the other end of the room just before two thrones made of gold and silver, was the petrified form of Princess Celestia. She stood braced, facing down the hall, an expression of open defiance on her face.

Watering the potted flowers at the base of the pedestal was Princess Luna, a tin watering can within her magic’s grasp.

She turned to them and smiled in greeting. “Good ‘morrow, gentlecolts. How kind of you to finally join me.”

“Sorry, Luna. We got held up by Princess Cadance in the hall outside,” Shining said as he stepped forward, releasing himself from Flash’s wing.

“Ah, Cadance,” Luna hissed her name, “how… kind of her to stay around.” The watering can shook in her grasp, spilling water onto the floor. “What did she want this time?”

“She wanted to get back together with me.”

“Hah!” Luna barked, “if she wanted that maybe she should have been less of a damned coward.” She stomped her hoof onto the ground causing a spider web of cracks to appear. She took a deep breath to settle herself and released a burst of magic that repaired the damage. “Keep calm, Luna,” she muttered to herself.

“Feeling irritable lately?” Shining asked.

“No!” Luna shouted, her mane whipped about her in a frenzy, the stars dotting it brightening. She sharply inhaled and hissed out, “I am… somewhat distracted with the business of running a princessdom, in case you hadn’t noticed.” Each word she said was accompanied by a cloud of snowflakes.

“You need to sleep, Luna,” Shining stated bluntly, “you’re going to break sooner or later.”

Shining stayed perfectly still as Luna loomed over him, clouds of frost encircling them as she glared down.

“You dare imply that We would break under a measly few days of missed sleep?! We do not need the opinions of some knave to tell us—!” She took another deep breath to calm down. “Apologies, Shining. You may be correct in that I could use some sleep.”

“Then why don’t you?”

“Because the country does not sleep and cannot run without me.” Luna trotted away, her head hung in dejection. “Every time I think that I may release the reins, new problems arise to fill in the gaps. Whether it be the corrupt nobility, criminals, or Cadance with her stupid ideas. Damn…” she paused as she lifted her head, a puzzled frown on her face.

“What is it?” Shining asked.

“It has occurred to me at this moment, that unlike my subjects, I do not have someone to blame nor swear in the name of, for there is no one who is above me in station.” She laughed, a note of desperation in it. “And to think that at one point in the past I had wanted this.”

Frowning, Shining inquired, “is there not anyone else you can trust to take over? Or at least help with the day to day?”

Luna gave a rueful smile. “I do not believe an unstable ex-captain of the guard, an undead dragon, or whatever Flash is would make for good leaders.”

Shining struggled for an appropriate response before he said, “I’m sorry, Luna.”

“For what? Being a good friend? No need to apologize for that. I appreciate that there is even anyone whom I can claim as such, especially since…” Luna trailed off. “Well, since.” She grabbed the watering can once more in her magic and returned to tending to the flowers around her sister. “To be frank, this is mostly self-inflicted. I could have found more allies, made more friends, but alas that was more my sister’s thing.”

“I’m still working on a cure, but…” Shining looked at the petrified Celestia before turning away. “I haven’t made much progress. I still have hope that she’ll eventually be freed.”

“Ah, yes, hope,” Luna said bitterly. “A rather disgusting emotion, promising things it cannot keep. Regardless, I believe I had requested something from you?”

“I brought your new prescription of wake up pills, yes.” Shining used his magic to reach into his saddlebags and withdraw the unmarked bottle. “I added a relaxant that should help with the… distractions.”

Luna grabbed the proffered bottle in her magic, popped open the lid, and tossed a lavender coloured pill into her mouth. After a moment, she visibly relaxed and released a contented sigh.

She tucked them into a set of saddlebags laying at the base of the pedestal.

“My thanks, Shining. Once every three days as usual?”

“Yes, and the vocal cords for Spike?”

“Of course.” Using her magic once more, Luna removed a fleshy mass from another of her bags. “Feel free to perform the necessary surgery here since I know it needs to be done as soon as possible for it to take,” she then muttered under her breath, “not like these floors could ever be cleaned again with how much blood has been spilled on them.”

Excitedly grabbing the cords in his magic, Shining called Spike over to him who bounded over in answer.

“Flash, could you remove the outer flesh while I prepare my tools?”

“Sure thing, Captain,” Flash answered with a mock salute. He reached into his own saddlebags and withdrew a pair of clinical scissors. “Okay, Scales, show me your throat.”

Boliging, Spike raised his head and exposed his throat to Flash.

“Shining, did you remember to turn off his pain receptors with your magic?”

“Did it when we trotted into the palace so I wouldn’t forget,” Shining answered as he extracted a scalpel and began sharpening it.

Refusing his attention on Spike, he began to carve out a square piece of flesh at the base of his throat. Once complete, he removed the patch carefully causing black fluid to drench Flash’s snout and chest.

Ignoring the liquid that was dying his fur black, Flash said, “looks like the whole thing has rotted. I could probably just remove it myself.”

“If you think you can without causing any problems, go ahead,” Shining replied.

Luna looked down and noted the black sludge that was slowly spreading across the marble tiles. She tilted her head to one side as she mused, “do you ever wonder if perhaps we have become too far gone?”

Both stallions paused in their work to mull over Luna’s question.

“We crossed that threshold some time during the war and frankly, this is paltry compared to some of the things we do behind closed doors,” Shining said.

“True enough, I suppose.” Luna continued her watering. “Carry on then.”

Returning his attention to the work at hoof, Flash carefully snipped away Spike’s withered vocal cords. He noticed Spike’s leg thump on the ground and stroked his leg comfortingly with a wing. “Easy goes it, Scales. Just hold on. We’ll be done soon.”

After another quick snip, Flash extracted the rotten flesh and held it at wing’s length away from himself. “So, what should I—” a burst of blue flame ignited and consumed the flesh into nothing, “—nevermind. Thanks, Luna.”

Luna hummed absently in response.

His preparations complete, Shining brought the new cords and his tools over to Spike in his magic. He lined up the cords with the empty cavity in Spike’s throat. With a flash of light, Shining teleported over a spray bottle filled with glowing blue liquid from his bag. He sprayed it carefully along the seams, sealing them shut.

“Can you grab a patch of new scales for me, Flash?”

“On it, Captain.” Flash rooted through his saddlebags and removed a square of scaled flesh. He hoofed them over to Shining who grabbed them with his hooves and began sewing in the patch over Spike’s gaping neck.

Once satisfied with his hoofwork, Shining released a burst of magic that caused the seams to disappear and the new patch to change colour to match Spike’s underbelly.

Spike lowered his head and massaged his throat hesitantly with a claw. He released a few nervous rumbles to test for potential problems.

“How does it feel, Spike?” Shining asked.

A few more experimental rumbles followed, before Spike said, “feels fine.” He frowned as he heard his voice come out scratchy and deeper than it should. His throat flexed a few times. “Testing, testing,” Spike tried. His voice was now closer to his normal register. “Eh, good enough. Thanks, big brother.”

He nuzzled Shining, who returned the gesture.

“Anytime, little brother,” Shining replied.

“Glad to see the vocal cords worked. Now, we’ll just need to decide what to do with the original owner,” Luna said.

“Wait, Garble is here?” Spike questioned.

“In the dungeons, why?”

“Well—”

Spike was interrupted by the throne room doors swinging open with a loud thud. “My goodness, those doors are heavy,” a blue unicorn stallion commented as he trotted in, his saddlebags overflowing with various charts. As he spotted the group, a beaming smile spread across his face. “Boys! I was just thinking about you!”

“How did you manage to find us? Flash asked in disbelief.

“Whatever do you mean, Flash? I’m here to deliver the updated star charts to Princess Luna as I do every month. Though, I did not expect to see you here. What a coincidence!”

“Stupid random chance,” Spike and Shining grumbled together under their breath.

“Shining, Spike, I’ve told you before. Luck isn’t real, it’s just a skewed perspective on probability. I would have thought I had taught you both better than that,” Night Light chided. “Now, since you’re all here, why don’t you come over after this for our biweekly family dinner? Your mother is making your favourites tonight!”

Shining, Spike, and Flash visibly struggled to hold back their collective groans as Luna smirked.

“Sure, dad. We would…” Shining’s eyes twitched as he fought to get the words out, “love to.”

“Wonderful! It will be so good—”

“Actually,” Spike interrupted, “I have somewhere to be today.”

“Oh no you don’t,” Shining hissed.

“Yes, I do,” Spike said then mumbled, “and for once it’s not a lie just to escape from mom.”

“Oh, that’s unfortunate, Spike. Maybe next time then. I hope you have fun with whatever you need to do!” Night said cheerfully.

Spike turned to Luna. “Do I still have full access to anywhere in the castle?”

“Of course,” Luna answered, “as far as I’m concerned you may go as you please and the guards have been notified of this.”

Nodding, Spike walked out of the throne room with Flash and Shining looking after him yearning for a similar escape.

“Now, let’s go over these charts. Sooner we finish, sooner we can go home for dinner.” Night grinned widely, oblivious to his surroundings and the discomfort of his son. “Then I can ask for all the juicy details of your relationship.”

“Dad!” Shining shouted as Flash puffed up in embarrassment.

“Oh, come on now, son. What father would I be if I didn’t check in to make sure your coltfriend is giving you the best blow jobs possible? You deserve it after all.”

Shining groaned as he buried his hooves in his head and Flash turned redder than a ripe apple.

“Ah, the joys of family,” Luna commented.

Author's Note

3 Say it to My Face

In the beginning of the war, Princess Luna and Shining Armour had been fine. Though Princess Celestia had been turned to stone by Tempest Shadow, they had both stepped up as leaders and managed to keep the invaders back, if only just. They had kept to their principals and never resorted to extreme measures.

Then the box had arrived.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Twilight Sparkle and the other Elements of Harmony alongside Spike had been sent on a quest to find the hippogriffs and request their aid. Based on their past experiences with both Nightmare Moon and Discord, we had been confident that it would only be a matter of time before Twilight would return victorious, new allies in her stead.

She was Twilight Sparkle. Success was an inevitability, we had all thought.

It had been a few weeks later when a delivery had arrived at the Canterlot Castle. I had been chosen as one of the throne guards that shift and had admired the Captain of the Guard from afar as he spoke with his then marefriend Princess Cadance.

Back then it had been respect and admiration that drew me to him. The untouchable Shining Armour. The shield that protected Equestria. The brother of one of our greatest heroes and coltfriend to a Princess.

I remember that particular day vividly. They had been discussing the recent loss of Dodge Junction. Brainstorming counter measures to present to Luna to counteract the Storm Guard.

Shining had been mid debate on the viability of a siege when a guard had entered the throne room.

A quick salute followed by a proclamation that an urgent delivery had arrived for Shining from an unknown source. They were unaware of what was contained inside and, for the life of me, I will never understand why they hadn’t checked.

Frustrated by the interruption, Shining had told the guard to bring in the package in an exasperated tone.

We had all watched perplexed as a wooden crate was dragged into the room. It was roughly 5 feet long by 4 feet wide with a strange blue sap leaking out from the bottom. It stained the floor wherever it fell and emitted a sickly sweet scent that choked the air all around us. It had been tied by several bundles of twine tied into a bow with a tag attached reading “TO: SHINING ARMOUR” in a thick blocky font.

With a puzzled frown on his face, Shining had undid the twine with his magic causing the box to burst apart at the seams.

Amongst hundreds of hydrangeas was the desecrated corpse of Twilight Sparkle. She had been laid facing up inside of the box — the casket — with her hooves crossed over her chest and her limbs severed from her body. A gaping cavity in her chest showed where her heart had been removed.

I remember the silence. It had been deafening. Not a single pony even dared to breathe as they stared at the horror that had been brought before us.

Confused and unable to comprehend the sight before us, we, the guards, had focused our attention on our Captain, hoping for guidance.

He had looked fragile at that moment. On the verge of devastation. He had turned towards Cadance, a hoof outstretched seeking comfort. Shelter in the storm of his emotions that threatened to overwhelm him.

Cadance had looked back at him, her expression equally on the verge of breaking down.

Then she left.

Trotted out the door without a single glance back.

Shining had stared after her retreating form, his hoof dangling uselessly in the empty space where Cadance had been.

Then he broke.

He screamed. He cried. He cradled his baby sister’s head within his hooves as his heart shattered into pieces. I witnessed the untouchable Captain of the Guard become a broken stallion.

In time, he would become a monster.

In time, I would follow after him and become one too.

At that moment, I felt nothing but heartache for the stallion who had lost everything.

Flash and Shining trotted alongside Night Light down the brightly lit street lined with two story stone houses. Night jabbered about some minor disputes from the observatory he worked at, while Flash and Shining tried not to dwell on their impending doom.

Dinner at the Sparkle household always broke down into three broad categories.

The first was the silent treatment. The rarest scenario in which no one would speak a single word excluding Night who would try to desperately fill the silence with incessant chatter.

The second would be that Twilight Velvet, Shining’s mother, would be absent, resulting in an inoffensive, if boring, meal.

Both stallions dreaded the most frequent third scenario.

As the small abode of Shining’s foalhood home came into view, they couldn’t help but feel that they were walking towards their execution. The house feeling taller than it should be, the glare off the windows seeming for a moment like the gleam of a guillotine blade held up by frayed rope.

Making their way into the well tended yard — Night always brought up how well the white lilies were growing at every opportunity he could get away with — Night stopped just short of the door and turned to face Shining with a companionable grin on his face. “You go first, bucko. I’m sure your mother will be ecstatic to see you.”

Snorting in disbelief, Shining trotted to the door with a scowl. He paused before the threshold, took a deep breath, and knocked lightly three times on the solid wood.

Swinging inward abruptly, the doorway revealed the unamused form of Twilight Velvet.

Before Shining could even speak, Velvet wound her hoof back and punched him in the face. Knowing better than to dodge, Shining rolled his head back with the punch.

“Hey, mom,” Shining greeted as he rubbed the red welt on his cheek with a hoof, “good to see you.”

The door slammed shut. Night, a strained smile adorning his face, raced past his son and pushed open the door calling after his wife.

“You okay, Captain?” Flash asked as he tenderly touched the bruise with a wing.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just another dinner with my parents.” Shining sighed heavily. “Let’s get this over with.”

Entering the house, they stood awkwardly in the common room. Flash took in the familiar homely interior of wood furniture grouped haphazardly close together and pointedly ignored the empty wine glasses that littered the shelves near cracked family photos and broken momentos.

He didn’t need to survey the damage to confirm the common theme of Shining Armour amongst the broken memories.

Past the seating area was a dining room table with several chairs lit by a low hanging chandelier. The table was oddly shaped with one side roughly shorn off and a makeshift table leg grafted underneath to ensure it could stand level. An incident from a particularly nasty argument between Shining and Velvet that had resulted in the use of an arcane made saw.

At the table was Night Light with a too wide smile plastered to his face. He fidgeted in place, his hooves bunching up the floral tablecloth underneath them. “Take a seat, sons,” he said with a gesture towards the remaining chairs.

A disgusted scoff from the kitchen indicated where Velvet was.

Shining took a seat directly across from his father, while Flash took the seat next to him. As he passed by the chandelier on his way to sit down, it flickered brightly before dimming down to a small ember of light.

“Is that chandelier still not working properly?” Night tsked, a hard sound of his tongue popping off the roof of his mouth. “That thing is always on the fritz.”

“I’ve already been telling you, Night, that it’s because of that horrible biofuel our son—” Velvet said the word with the same tone one would use to describe a stain on carpet “—has provided us. Wholly unreliable.”

“It’s probably just an issue with the wiring,” Shining said dryly, “Give me a few minutes and I can—”

“Absolutely not! You can just continue to sit right there,” Twilight hissed as she poked her head out of the doorway to the kitchen, a glare firmly affixed to her face, “I will call a mechanic later to deal with it.”

“Not to cast judgement on your decision, honey,” Night started, “but wouldn’t the inventor of the energy in question—”

“I don’t care, Nighty. He touches nothing.” Twilight pulled her head back into the kitchen. “I swear, everytime that abomination comes over, those lights act up, and now they do it with just the two of you.”

Seeing Shining tense at the word abomination, Flash gently laid his wing over Shining’s withers. He relaxed, if only just.

“Honey, I believe Spike prefers to go by his name,” Night chided.

“The abomination is not my sweet youngest boy; just a monster wearing his face,” Velvet said as she trotted into the common room, four plates of veggie casserole following in her wake. “I can’t believe you are even entertaining this delusion.”

She gently placed two plates in front of herself and Night then slammed the last two in front of Shining and Flash with enough force to splatter both of them with food.

“Velvet, please—”

“Eat your food, Night,” Twilight tersely replied.

Night looked downcast as he resigned himself to quietly eating his dinner. Velvet used her magic to grab a wine glass and bottle from a neary cabinet. She poured a hefty portion of the bottle into the glass and took a swig of the bottle before she returned it to the cabinet. Flash set about chomping down on the admittedly delicious food.

Shining just glared at his plate.

“He’s not an abomination, he’s Spike,” Shining stated firmly, a dangerous edge to his voice.

“He’s a monster you raised from the dead,” Velvet coldly replied.

“He’s my baby brother.” Shining turned his glare on his mother. “Should I have just let him die?”

“Yes,” Velvet said, “you should have done just that.”

A tense silence grew within the gap in conversation. Both Night and Flash looked at each other then at their respective partners. Shining’s jaw slid from one side to the other as he ground his teeth together, his expression promising retribution.

Velvet took a large swig of wine, and slammed the glass back on the table causing some of the contents to spill and stain the tablecloth in bright red. “It’s disgusting,” she said.

“What, necromancy?” Shining snorted. “It’s perfectly safe.”

“It’s dark magic, Shiny,” Velvet spat out, “that you even considered—”

“It’s just magic, mom,” Shining spat back, “there is nothing inherently evil about it.”

“And yet it’s used by nearly every unicorn villain in Equestria.”

“That’s not true and you know that, since we’ve discussed the statistics. Besides that, I didn’t really have a choice the first time. It just happened!”

“How do you ‘just happen’ to use dark magic?”

“Again, just magic, and I don’t know!” Shining threw up his hooves helplessly. “I was watching my little brother die, and then desperately used my magic to save him. That it came out as necromancy wasn’t intentional, I was trying for a healing spell!”

“Oh, so you could pull that one out for the dragon but not your own sister?”

“She came to me cut up in a box without her heart,” Shining roared as he slammed his front hooves on the table, “what the buck do you want me to do about that?!”

“No hooves on the table,” Velvet said petulantly.

“I will put my bucking hooves wherever I please.”

“How rude,” Twilight scoffed, “who even taught you manners?”

“You did,” Shining hissed as he leaned across the table.

“Clearly not, as you would know not to backtalk.”

“Well, if I didn’t learn manners I at least learned how to be a massive—”

“Don’t even think about finishing that sentence, young stallion,” Velvet cut in.

“Or what? You’ll start introducing me as an estranged cousin instead of the usual nephew stupidity you do now?”

Velvet pursed her lips. “At this rate, yes.”

“Oh wow, glad you seem to want to hurt me as much as possible.” Shining snorted. “At least I know which foal you actually cared about.”

“Please.” Velvet rolled her eyes. “Twilight Sparkle was more than you could ever hope to be. Also, really Shining, what do you expect me to do? Tell ponies I raised you? A monster?”

“Yes!” Shining yelled, “I expect you to at least say I’m your son. That is the bare minimum I expect of you.”

“Then expect less, as I refuse to do so. I can’t be associated with Luna’s dark magic goon alongside his abomination and pet.”

“Flash is not a pet,” Shining roared.

Velvet laughed harshly. “Really? Because to me it seems he just follows you around to take orders and suck you off.”

“He’s my partner and I won’t stand for you insulting him like this.” Shining snorted angrily.

“I’ll talk about him as I please since my failure of a son dates a stupid dog instead of a stallion, who relies on filthy magic to get ahead. Honestly, Shining, you’re worse than that damned Storm King.”

Shaking in pure rage, Shining stared at his mother as she took another sip of wine, a smug look on her face. He pulled himself up higher, looming over her seemingly ready to shout, but instead smiled brightly.

“What?” Velvet asked as she swirled her glass.

“Well, I was just thinking that I might be a monster, but at least I don’t have a daughter who hated being around me so much that she moved out at the first opportunity to get away from me.”

The sound of shattering glass reverberated through the room. Velvet stood panting, a look of rage clear on her face. Shining’s head was turned away from where her wine glass had impacted his face. Blood from the cuts mixed with the wine as it flowed down his cheek.

Velvet stomped past the group, sounds of rage and frustration emanating from her as she walked up to the second floor.

She didn’t look back.

With the initial shock over, Flash leapt out of his seat, grabbed several napkins from the table, and started trying to clean up the mess.

“Stop,” Shining commanded. Flash did as he was told, dropping the used cloths onto the floor. “I’ll handle this myself.”

“But, Captain—”

He stopped as Shining shot him a glare. He stood up from his seat, and trotted into the kitchen where he knew the medical supplies would be located.

Staring off at him in concern, Flash’s ears perked as he heard a subtle cough. Looking in Night’s direction, Flash was met by a bittersweet smile and tired eyes.

“Would you be willing to go for a walk with me?” Night asked.

Flash looked towards the kitchen then back to Night.

“Sure,” he answered.

Flash and Night trotted side by side along the winding paths of the park behind the Sparkle abode, the prior wearing his usual jacket, the latter in a sweater vest. Shining had told Flash that he had had many adventures in this place, playing make believe as a guard defending the princesses from threats.

Memories that when Shining talked about them now were tinged with bitterness having experienced first hoof what the life of a guard really was.

Glancing at his traveling companion, Flash wondered what Night wanted to talk to him about. They had done several laps around the park in silence, which Flash hadn’t minded as he’d become content with quiet companionship, but he found it hard to believe that Night just wanted his company.

Night stopped before the last turn that would lead them back to the house. Flash paused next to him and waited patiently as Night gathered his thoughts.

Using his magic, Night took out a small package from his vest pocket. He popped open the lid to reveal a row of purple sticks. He put one in his mouth and offered one to Flash. “Want one?” he asked.

“Are those… manasticks?” Flash asked as he narrowed his eyes at the strange objects.

“They are,” Night answered, “a coworker gave them to me after…” he trailed off, staring into the distance, “well, he gave them to me.”

“Thanks for the offer, but Captain said I have to refrain from toxic substances with my condition.”

“Fair enough.” Night shrugged and put the package back in his pocket. He lit the end of the stick in his mouth with a burst of magic and took a quick puff. Purple smoke billowed from his mouth and formed strange amalgamations of monsters coiling in on each other. They played for a moment before rising up into the night sky, fading the further away they got. “The effect is quite beautiful,” Night commented.

“That may be, but manasticks are also really bad for magical beings since they cause mana rot,” Flash recited from the many lectures Shining had given him. “Overtime, they’ll eat away at the smoker’s magic until they die.”

“Unfortunate that it doesn’t do it faster.” Flash tensed at the statement as Night gave a bemused chuckle. “Come now, Flash. You’re dating my son, I’m sure you’re familiar with this already.”

“I don’t—”

“On a surface level, Shining seems to take after his mother, and Twilight after me,” Night interrupted, “but when you look past that, Twilight took Velvet’s worst traits, and Shining mine.” He looked at Flash with a look of understanding that made Flash uncomfortable. “I can’t imagine you are oblivious to it.”

“I…” Flash gulped. “Yeah, I know.”

“Like father, like son.” Night took another drag of his manastick. “Wish he would have taken after my love of academics instead.”

“Has he always been like this?”

“He hid it better as a foal, but yeah. He tends to hide behind stoicism or goofy optimism.” Night shook his head. “To be fair, it's only become a problem recently.”

“You said Shining takes after you,” Flash said, “does that mean…” he trailed off, unable to voice the question.

Taking another long drag, Night billowed out a cloud of smoke that coiled in on itself into the shape of a snake. After a moment, it dissipated into the air, taking a bite of its own tail.

“I’m divorcing Velvet,” Night said with the same tone one would describe the weather.

Flash stayed quiet.

“I got a new job in a smaller lab in Hollow Shades. I’ll have to teach foals alongside my usual work, but that’s hardly a bad thing for me.” He threw the stick in his mouth to the ground and squashed it under his hoof. “Hollow Shades is the least affected town in Equestria from the war, and I can’t stand to stay in Canterlot anymore. I need to get away from all of this.” He frowned. “To stop trying to make things work with my wife.”

“I’m sorry,” Flash said guilty, knowing he was part of the reason things were so bad between them.

“For what, existing?” Night scoffed, “my wife made her choice, and I don’t stand by it. You’ve been nothing but good to my son and, as far as I’m concerned, you’re family even if Velvet refuses to acknowledge it.”

“Thanks, Night.” Flash smiled.

“Anytime, but I have a proposal for you if you’re up for it.”

“Sure, what’s the proposal?”

“Do you want to come with me? You, Shining, and Spike?”

“You want—” Flash stumbled over his words then said, “you want us to go with you?”

“Yes.”

“I-I don’t know if Shining would be okay with that between his work and assisting Princess Luna.”

“Really? Because I’m sure Shining can continue his work anywhere and I hardly feel Luna would begrudge Shining a change of scenery.”

“W-well, we’re established here, and—”

“Flash, answer me honestly.” Night held Flash’s gaze. “Do you think Shining wouldn’t want to move because of the reasons you made up or because he doesn’t want to feel better?”

“H-he wants to—” Flash shrunk in on himself. “—there’s legitimate reasons for why he wouldn’t want to.”

“I’m sure there are, but from what I’ve seen, Shining doesn’t want to improve his condition, he just wants to keep suffering.”

“He—” Flash rubbed his forelegs together nervously “—doesn’t like change.”

“Then I suppose I’ll just leave it as an open invitation and you can bring it up with Shining. I’ll also stop trying to invite you both to these pointless dinners.” He chuckled at Flash’s sheepish look. “It’s fine. I kept trying to force things and that clearly hasn’t been working. No point in continuing.”

“What are you going to do now?” Flash asked.

“Have another smoke, comfort Velvet, then probably fall asleep on the couch,” Night answered. “You have more important things to worry about like comforting your crying colt friend.”

“H-he isn’t—” Flash stopped as Night gave him a withering look, “—he doesn’t like others seeing him like that.”

“Another trait he took from me, but thankfully he has someone to keep him stable.” Night gave Flash a wide smile. “I’m glad you’re there for him.”

Flash returned the smile. “I’m glad too.”

“Now get going.” Night waved a hoof. “This old stallion wants some time alone.”

With a nod, Flash trotted away back towards the house. He turned back once to see Night glare at the remaining manasticks in his magic before he tossed them into a garbage can.

He smiled to himself as he continued to walk away.

Flash stepped carefully into the kitchen through the back door, so as not to startle the sole frustrated occupant in the room.

Bloodied cloth was strewn across the floor surrounding a struggling Shining. Several lengths were wrapped uselessly around his snout. His magic shook as he failed to apply ointment to his cuts. He swore as his magic cut out and dropped the tube onto the floor where several dallops squirted out.

Wrapping his wings gently around Shining from behind, Flash pulled him in closer. Shining’s heavy breaths began to ease into a steadier rhythm as he allowed himself to sink into Flash’s embrace.

They stayed like that for a moment, breathing perfectly in sync.

“I’m not a failure,” Shining whispered.

“No, you’re not,” Flash replied as he stroked Shining’s mane.

“Did I do the right thing raising Spike with necromancy? Should I have—” Shining choked on a sob before he continued, “—let him die?”

“I don’t know, but you saved your little brother.” Flash rested his head on Shining’s taking in his scent. “And I think that’s important to remember.”

A few tears gathered in the corners of Shining’s eyes. “I hate this.”

“I know,” Flash said.

“I hate me.”

“I don’t.”

“Why?” Shining asked as tears flowed down his face.

“Because I love you,” Flash answered in a tone that suggested it was obvious.

Finally having reached his emotional limit, Shining buried himself in the fluff of Flash’s chest and cried.

Author's Note

Interlude: She Leaves Me Lonely

“You have to live, Spike.”

Those had been the last words Fluttershy had said to me before I blacked out. I’d learn later on that the other girls had dragged me away while I was unconscious. Pinkie had told me before we stopped talking that it had been terrifying watching me bleed everywhere while Applejack desperately tried to bandage me up. A patch job at best for how injured I was.

Before that though, I had woken up in pain. It had been excruciating, like someone had ripped off each of my scales individually.

Awareness came, too, once I had gotten used to it. White fur covered my vision and the sound of somepony screaming my name filled my ears. It was my brother, Shining Armour, cradling me to his chest.

He looked strange, encircled by bright pink magic that emitted from his horn and eyes. Hovering behind his head was an arcane made skull entwined with a wreath of flowers. It was in equal measures both beautiful and terrifying.

In my half aware pain-addled state, I’d thought I’d been blessed to have one final moment with my brother before passing on. I told him that I loved him because he needed to know that before I died and then resolved that I wouldn’t see him again.

Sobbing had followed, more begging, desperate pleas. The magic had grown more intense and then, impossibly, my pain began to subside. A feeling of warmth, love, and protection filled me.

I was fine. I was alive.

Once I’d recovered enough to function, I had been filled in on what had happened. My sister’s death. The state of the war. What Shining had done to me. I had mourned, I had raged, but never once had I resented Shining for what he’d done.

While I took the time to recover, side effects began to occur. A strange amalgamation of a dragon’s growth with the constant outpour of magic from Shining that sustains me caused me to grow to be as large as any of the Princesses. My flames were hotter, my claws and teeth sharper. All useful as I decided to join the front lines alongside my brother.

Over the course of the war, I had gained a reputation. The Storm’s Bane, when they think I couldn’t hear. The Captain’s Abomination, when the doors were closed and they thought I couldn’t reach them.

As I continued to live, intrusive thoughts tended to invade my waking mind. Dread at my new life, fear for what is to become of it, loneliness left by the loss of so many ponies who were important to me. It was hard living day by day, the guilt of having survived weighing so heavily on me.

But when I become overwhelmed, I repeated my personal mantra to myself.

I am Spike the dragon.

I am the brother of Twilight Sparkle and Shining Armour.

I will never bend to those who would harm me or my family.

I will live.

And, at the end of the day, those are the most important things to me.

Spike carefully made his way down the worn stone steps deeper into the dungeon taking extra care to not bang his head on the low ceiling. It was damp and cold, a far cry from the warmer upper floors of the castle. Dim lighting barely guided him further to his destination.

The dungeons had been unused for several hundred years as they had been, at best, an idle threat during Celestia’s long solo reign of Equestria. A thing that existed but saw no real prisoners.

In more recent times, the underground cells had seen plenty of use containing the numerous criminals apprehended in the aftermath of the war.

As he reached the landing and walked past the rows of cells on either side of him, Spike scanned the various prisoners as he searched for his eventual conversation partner. He scratched idly at the stitches along his neck where his new vocal cords lay just itchy and awkward feeling enough to cause him annoyance.

Prisoners that saw him walk past all reacted in different ways. Some taunted him, others screamed in terror, even a few stared at him in open awe. All of them were well fed given their physical states, but the combination of bruises along their bodies and missing mattresses told Spike it was one of the very few comforts they were allowed.

He made mental notes of a few unexplainable injuries on some of the inmates to report back to Luna about. They could be carryover from before their imprisonment, or self-inflicted from their time in the cell, but Spike was almost certain the guards had caused them and he knew Luna would never tolerate that kind of behaviour from her wardens.

After several twists and turns, he came to a stop before the cell he was looking for. He leered through the metal bars feeling mild distaste for the red dragon curled up inside.

“Garble,” Spike said.

Startled, the dragon turned towards Spike, a strange slate clattering to the floor alongside several pieces of chalk. Garble’s eyes widened as they took in Spike’s appearance before he lunged forward, pressing his face up against the bars and snarled at him.

Ignoring Garble’s gnashing teeth, Spike took note of the rust coloured bandages bound tightly around Garble’s neck. Presumably they covered the stitched up wounds from his earlier surgery.

“How are you doing, Garble?” Spike said casually, “enjoying your time in the cell?”

Snorting, Garble grabbed his slate from the floor and scribbled something quickly onto it using chalk. He pressed it up against the bars as he snarled revealing scratchy Equestrian writing. It read, Go buck yourself.

“Yeah, I deserve that one, but seriously, are they feeding you properly? None of that fake meat they tried to get me on when I was younger?”

Rolling his eyes, Garble wiped the slate clean and jotted down a new message. Yeah, they are, you bucking dweeb, the slate read.

“Glad to hear. So, did they tell you why they did what they did to you?”

No, they’re ponies. Who fucking cares?

“I dunno, knowing the truth behind something can be—” Spike adjusted the muscles around his vocal cords to revert to the scratchy cadence he knew Garble would recognize “—pretty infuriating, dweeb.”

Widening his eyes in recognition, Garble slammed himself against the bars, foaming at the mouth. Spike stared at him in indifference as he reached his arms through the bars and clawed at the air between them.

“Always resorts to violence this one,” Spike commented as he returned to his preferred register, “though, I guess this time it’s actually warranted.”

Snarling, Garble pressed more of his body against the bars using his legs to scramble up the metal.

“Okay, that’s enough, Garble. If you keep making a scene, the guards are going to come here and hit you with their stupid spears then you’ll get hurt even worse than you already are.” Garble continued to lash out while Spike rolled his eyes. “Come on, knock it off.”

After a few more moments of Garble’s useless assault, Spike sighed and lunged forward. He grabbed Garble by the neck and pulled his face to be inches from his own. He squeezed, causing Garble’s stitches to open and drench the bandages with fresh splotches of red.

Letting a growl start to form in the back of his throat, Spike increased its intensity then roared in Garble’s face as blue flames shot from the corners of his mouth.

Fear overtook Garble’s expression as he flailed wildly in Spike’s grip. Spike released Garble who scrambled away from him, shivering in fright.

“See?” Spike said casually, “was that so hard? Now the guards don’t have to punish you. I don’t want you to see you get hurt… well, anymore than you already are.”

Idly scratching the back of his head, Spike felt some guilt at seeing Garble cowering away from him.

“Okay, I could have handled that better. Look, I have a peace offering for you.”

Digging into his saddlebags, Spike removed a diamond that fit comfortably in the palm of his claw. He held it out to Garble allowing the dim lighting to glint off the surface.

Garble stared in open desire at the stone.

“You want it?” Spike asked.

A hesitant nod followed.

Spike tossed the gemstone into the cell letting it clatter against the tiles. Garble rushed forward, grabbing the object in his claws. He scarfed it down, gnashing it against his teeth into smaller chunks to be promptly devoured.

After gobbling down the pieces, he shot a skeptical look towards Spike.

“I have more if you’re willing to put up with my rambling. Especially considering it will be the only luxuries afforded to you after what you’ve done.”

Stomping towards the bars, he growled at Spike in an attempt to form words then in frustration as he remembered his inability to speak. He grabbed his discarded slate and furiously wrote out his response, slamming the finished message against the bars. I didn’t do shit.

“The village you raided would disagree. How much damage did you cause? Actually, more importantly, how many ponies were injured because of you?”

No one died, Garble wrote and punctuated with a growl.

“Not at the time, but it provoked a follow up attack from the ponies who at that point were used to war.” Spike tilted his head, coldly regarding Garble. “How many casualties were there amongst the dragons?”

The Dragon Lord will come get me.

“Ah, so you don’t know.” Garble snorted, a look of irritation crossed his face that seemed to tell Spike to not patronize him. “The Dragon Lord asked Luna to capture you.” Garble banged his slate against the bars again, a growl of rage leaving his mouth. “I don’t know why you’re surprised or mad. You ruined his reputation. He wanted that town there for protection and trade. So, to save face, he made you take all the blame.”

A mix of emotions rapidly crossed Garble’s face before settling on defeat as he slumped in place. He wrote a message on the slate, fine, what do you want?

“Someone to talk to.” Spike winced. “Sorry, I guess someone to talk at in this case.”

Rolling his eyes, Garble sat down on the floor and waved a hand in Spike’s direction.

Taking it as a sign to speak, Spike sat down, wrapping his tail around himself and minding his head in relation to the ceiling. “Right, so where to start? I guess the first place to begin is with how I don’t feel like a dragonet anymore.”

Grabbing his slate, Garble wrote down a response, scared of your size dumb scale pony?

“Huh, that’s a new one. Kind of like it. But, no. Not scared, just put off by it. I’m only…” Spike furrowed his brow in thought. “Thirteen? Fifteen? Honestly, I lost track, but I definitely don’t look my age and haven’t for a while.”

So, you’re whining because you look like a dragon now?

“No, I’m whining because I feel cheated out of my foalhood. No parent is going to be okay with me being around their foals at my current size, which means school and general play aren’t possible for me. Even past that, I can never be comfortable around other foals with what I’ve done.”

Sipping tea and wearing stupid pony clothes?

“Killing,” Spike answered in a dull monotone, “I did my part in the war and that meant leaving a trail of corpses in my wake.” He felt his mind wander as memories of the battlefield came to the forefront. “I feel like I should be more bothered by it, but all I can think is how disgusted I am by how much I enjoyed it.”

A look of respect crossed Garble’s face. Guess you are a dragon.

Scrunching his face in distaste, Spike said, “I don’t think Fluttershy or Twilight would be happy to hear that.”

Some dumb ponies you know?

“My savior and sister respectively.” He pressed in closer to the bars. “You’ll do well to not speak lightly of them.” Small blue flames spewed from the corners of his mouth as his eyes narrowed dangerously toward Garble.

Shirking away with a fearful expression, Garble gripped the slate tightly in his claws. Spike snorted then tossed another diamond into the cell, which was promptly devoured just as quickly as the last.

Once Garble was finished, licking the crumbs from around his mouth, Spike continued, “anyways, I feel they would both be disappointed in me to know what I’ve done.”

Who cares about some dead pony’s opinion?

“I do since—” Spike saw the memories flash before his eyes. His sister begging to let them go. Fluttershy smiling through tears as she bled out over him. “—they’re important to me.”

Whatever.

“Rather flippant, but anyways, backtracking a bit, I’m also uncomfortable with my size because of how unnatural it is.”

So? You hoarded. You grew. It’s what dragons do.

“I didn’t get this big from hoarding.”

A confused look crossed Garble’s face as he wrote, that’s impossible. Dragons only grow by age and hoarding.

“Not me. I’m this big because of my older brother’s magic.” Garble’s eyes widened as he hurriedly scrawled on his slate. “Before we get too deep into it, it’s what keeps me alive since I was raised from the dead.”

Pausing to process Spike’s latest statement, Garble wiped his slate again and wrote, then you’re his slave?

“No, I’m his sibling. Besides that, Shining has invented tons of ways for me to survive without needing his magic. I could switch to any of those methods anytime. I just…” Spike sighed, “haven’t.”

But he can make you do whatever he wants.

“That’s not how necromancy works, and I’m sure even if it did, I could trust my own brother to not abuse that power,” Spike growled, “watch your next words, Garble.”

Whatever, scale pony. So, what’s your problem?

“I don’t know who or what I am anymore. I’m all of these things to different kinds of beings, but I don’t know what I am to myself.”

You’re a dragon.

Spike grumped. “Yeah, thanks. I definitely couldn’t have figured that out for myself.”

Furiously scribbling down a new message overtop the previous, he slammed it against the bars to emphasize his point. You don’t act like it.

“So what you’re saying is that I should be more like a dragon?” Spike asked.

Garble underlined the word dragon several times with his chalk.

“So I should take from whomever, wherever, and whenever? Hoard valuables until I’m the biggest guy around?”

Garble nodded his head enthusiastically.

“Use physical force to make everyone do my bidding?” Spike moved closer to the bars.

Garble threw his claws up with an ecstatic expression on his face as it to say that Spike finally understood.

Pressing his head up against the bars, his eyes narrowing, he said in a deeper tone, “eliminate my enemies so they can’t get revenge on me?”

Starting to nod his head in agreement, Garble paused as he caught Spike’s tone.

“Maybe start with the one who would have the biggest reason to hate me?” Spike growled as flames gathered in the back of his throat.

Not liking the direction of Spike’s train of thought, Garble slowly backed away from the bars of the cell meeting Spike’s reproachful gaze and watching the flames burning brightly in his mouth.

After a moment, Spike leaned away and looked at Garble with a look of pity. “You’re lucky I take after ponies more than I do your kind,” he said.

Moving hesitantly, Garble wrote, you won’t kill me?

“No, I won’t,” Spike replied.

Then what are you going to do with me?

“I’m going to talk to Luna and ask she leave you be, but after that…” Spike trailed off as he thought, “... I don’t know. We’ll see what happens.”

You’re just going to leave me here?

As he stood up to ready himself to leave, Spike replied, “Yeah, I am. I’ll be back though.”

You’ll regret this scale pony.

“I’ll add you to the list; for now, stay well, Garble,” Spike said as he tossed his last diamond into the cell.

Not waiting to see if Garble ate his prize, Spike turned away and began to leave the dungeons feeling even more unsure of himself then when he’d began.

Author's Note

4 You Bring Out the Worst in Me

Racing up the steps, I swept my halberd through the masses of guards that patrolled the Storm King’s castle and attempted to bar my path. Gore splattered against my fur, dying it a rust red. Though exhaustion pulled at me, I pushed through, determined to arrive before it was too late.

I knew what was to happen. I’d seen the signs, the preparations that had been made before the final assault against the Storm King’s forces.

The Storm King would die. It was an inevitability.

But he was alone.

And that was dangerous.

Cadance had dropped from the war weeks ago. She had defected alongside the majority of the nobles to wait out the conflict in comfort, hoping that peace would come if she simply did nothing for as long as possible.

Luna was on the front lines, dealing with the stragglers and ensuring no Storm Guard may rise again to invade once more.

Spike, by request of the Guard Captain, used his new power to burn through the enemies and watch Luna’s back. A trusted ally while her right hoof was preoccupied with the Storm King himself.

But that meant there was no one around to stop what was going to happen.

In the aftermath of Twilight Sparkle’s death, against all odds, I had become his trusted second. I was the one he confided in. I was the one that stood beside him through the horrors of the war. I was the one that was there when he needed someone by his side.

The line had long been crossed between subordinate and captain, and I hated to admit I was glad for it.

Admiration and respect had truly morphed to something beyond that. I knew it was wrong. He was grieving, unstable, and not ready to commit to another after his prior beau had so callously left him. I was greedy, I wanted him for myself and I took advantage of the situation to forge a relationship wrought from grief and desperate need.

Though guilt wracked my brian, I was in the unique position to understand him better than anyone else.

To know what he would do.

Reaching the topmost landing of the stairwell, I stood before the massive doors leading into the throne room of the Storm King. I slammed through them in a full body tackle, undeterred by the iron double doors.

Inside was a circular storm room scattered with the stony remains of a throne or what hadn’t already fallen through the many open windows. Lying dead on the floor was the Storm King, his head severed from his body, a look of shock permanently etched on his face.

Standing over his body was Shining Armour.

“What are you doing, Captain?”

“Now, pay close attention. When carving out major organs, you must ensure that all connecting fibers are properly cut before removal to ensure minimal damage,” Shining dictated as he pointed to several key areas around the open heart with his scalpel, “this is very important for organ transplant donors, otherwise they can’t properly use it.”

Shining was hosting a lecture in the surgical amphitheater located in the Canterlot Main Hospital.

Flash watched bemused from his seat in the stands at the mixed reactions of the doctors-to-be gathered around the cut open corpse of a recent donor. Shining was performing a live demonstration and there truly was the full gambit of expression on display.

Some looked on the verge of being sick, prior knowledge led Flash to presume they would drop out come next semester, while others were excited, either due to academic curiosity or morbid fascination. There were even a few that seemed apathetic, either numb to the experience or simply disconnected as a way to cope with the corpse before them.

Nearly all of them warily eyed Flash and Spike, the prior due to Flash being called down multiple times to snap bones in his teeth, the latter due to his post meal nap from devouring one of the donor’s back legs at the start.

Looking over at Spike, the drake caught Flash’s glance with one slitted eye and thumped his tail on the bleachers, a content smile on his face.

Flash returned the smile then renewed his focus on Shining’s discussion.

“And that is how you avoid getting squirted with copious amounts of blood. Now—” a mauve unicorn raised their hoof “—yes, ugh, Tacit Response, right?”

A nod to the affirmative as Tacit said, “Yes, that is correct, Dr. Armour.”

“I’m not a doctor,” Shining answered.

“Do you not have an honourary doctorate from Canter U for your research?” Tacit asked with a tilt of her head.

“Yes, but it’s honourary and I’ve never considered myself one.”

“Still a soldier to the core?” Another student jokingly said.

“Yes, actually. Can take the colt out of the military, but not the military out of the colt.” Shining grinned at the smattering giggles his response elicited. “Now, what was your question?”

“Firstly, just to clarify, we use major organs for both transplants and biofuel, correct?”

“More for the first purpose then the second, but yes. Organs, once processed, generate an abundance of fuel compared to other parts of the body.”

“And the biofuel is used primarily for powering Equestria?”

“There are other uses, but, yes, that is correct.”

Tacit nodded thoughtfully, “then are there other methods that could achieve the same effect? Or potentially, another branch of necromancy that could produce better results?”

“An excellent question, I’m glad you asked.” Shining smiled as he wiped the gore off his scalpel with a towel. “Elemental magic from Pegasi, particularly weather and storms, can produce similar energy, however it’s too hard to control in the quantities we would need. Earth ponies have another method using thermal, but the effect is too large and impossible to contain. With necromancy, the only other method are producing arcane cores.”

“That’s the method for creating artificial organs and body parts, right Dr. Armour?” a bright green earth pony asked.

“Not Dr. Armour, please,” Shining said with a tight smile, “and yes that is what they are used for.”

“Then why do we use biofuel over arcane cores?” another student asked.

“It’s more efficient in terms of energy usage and a significantly easier spell to cast. Additionally, arcane cores require a lot of magic to get started, whereas biofuel only requires a small amount to break down a corpse into fuel.”

“Can we not use both in tandem?” a light blue pegasus asked.

“No,” Shining answered.

“Why not?” the same pegasus said.

“One of the first rules of necromancy is that necrotic doesn’t mix with necrotic,” Shining said as he settled into his teaching voice, “when two different necrotic energies interact with each other, the weaker energy gets shorted out. As arcane cores are stronger, they would cause any biofuel run object to falter when in close proximity.”

Several students began to take notes while others muttered amongst themselves.

“Now, any other questions?” No hooves were raised. “Wonderful, now then—” Shining grabbed his scalpel with his magic “—we’ll start by—”

A loud bang interrupted Shining’s speech as a guard raced into the room, breathing heavily in his full armour. Spike raised his head with a peeved expression from being awoken and snorted a small burst of flame.

“What is it, private?” Shining said, “we’re in the middle of a lecture.”

“Apologies, Sir,” the guard quickly came to attention and gave a salute. “They found her, and I was told you needed to be informed immediately.”

“Found, who?” Shining asked with a weary sigh.

“Tempest Shadow.” Flash, Spike, and Shining collectively tensed at the mention of the name.

“We’ve captured Twilight Sparkle’s killer.”

“Where is she?” Shining demanded.

Luna regarded him calmly from her position near her personal contingent of guards. They were in the night wing of the castle, down a corridor of guest bedrooms that had been repurposed as interrogation rooms during the war.

Silver filigree lined the stone walls and gorgeous paintings of scenic nightscapes hung squarely along them. Beautiful work that at any other time would have been appreciated by the trio that trotted up to the Princess.

“Just in this room, Shining,” Luna answered. Before Shining could push past her, she grabbed him with her magic and pulled him away from the door. “A moment of your time before you enter.”

Forcing himself to calm down, Shining sat down on his rump. Once settled, Luna waved a wing, and half of her contingent left, while the other half positioned themselves around the hall to prevent the potential escape of the prisoner.

“Now, firstly, I am hoofing her over to you,” Luna started, “you will have as much time as you need. I have no use for her, or anything she knows, however, she is unaware of this and believes that she may be able to bargain her way out of this situation.”

“Why haven’t you corrected her?” Flash asked.

“Her smugness at the thought that she may escape is amusing to me,” Luna answered.

“If she’s useless, then why are you keeping her alive?” Shining seethed.

“For you.” At everyone’s confused expressions, Luna elaborated, “arguably, you, Shining Armour, have suffered the most due to the actions of Tempest Shadow. So, I am giving you the opportunity to attain closure, in whatever capacity that may be.”

“You want me to torture her,” Shining said, a dark edge to his voice.

“Or kill her, or talk to her, or insult her. Quite frankly, I am indifferent. Whatever you may do, I will look the other way within reason, since the only worth she has is what peace of mind you may acquire from her.”

“Not to say we, or I guess Shining, aren’t grateful, but why are you giving this to us?” Spike asked.

“As stated prior, he has suffered the worst, but beyond that, he’s done much for Equestria and, more importantly to me, has been a good friend through these trying times.” Luna smirked. “What point is being friends with royalty if one does not gain some royal favour?”

“Being a companion you can rely on when you need it,” Shining answered.

“Because you seem lonely and could use a friend?” Flash said.

“You’ve helped us plenty of times before, we might as well return the favour,” Spike added.

“And this is why I have granted you this opportunity. Now, I must return to the throne room as Equestria does not stop running just because I’m not there. The guards will keep watch and handle the aftermath when you are done.” Luna began to walk away before she stopped. Looking over her withers, she said, “Just to be clear, if you do not kill her, I will. Her actions make her life forfeit as a key instigator in the war. I only wish for you to do what is good for you rather than what you think is.”

With her last piece said, Luna left, flanked by two guards that marched perfectly in step with her.

Shining strode into the interrogation room, slamming the door open with Spike and Flash scrambling after him. The interior of said room was lavish, but had been stripped of all furniture with exception to a table bolted to the floor, a few cushions, and a hanging chandelier.

Shackled to the table with a pair of manacles was a dark red coated unicorn with a broken horn and scarring along her face. She had multiple open wounds covering her body, presumably from when she was captured, and no evidence of any medical treatment. Most likely because there was no point treating a soon-to-be dead mare.

Flash noted the pulsating magic along the chains that indicated they were mana locks thus rendering Tempest incapable of using magic.

Tempest regarded them coolly, hardly even phased by their entrance. “Hello, gentlecolts, how may I—”

Without letting her finish, Shining grabbed her by the mane with his hoof and slammed her head into the table. As he brought her head back up, he glared into her face.

Tempest answered his expression with a peeved one of her own. Blood seeped from nose as she gritted her teeth. “Is this how the Captain of the Royal Guard acts?!” she shouted.

In lieu of a verbal response, Shining slammed her face into the table again.

“Are you quite done?” Tempest hissed as she was brought back up.

“No, I’m not,” Shining answered with a dark uncurrent to his voice.

“Captain, I think—”

“Don’t interrupt me, Flash.” Shining leveled his steely gaze at Flash who flinched. “I’m busy handling the prisoner.”

“You need to lay off, Shining,” Spike said, his voice soft and reassuring. “Remember what Luna said. Do what’s good for you, not what you think is good for you.”

Turning his irate gaze to his younger brother they stared each other down before he conceded with a weary sigh. Shining released Tempest from his grip and trotted around the table to take a seat cushion directly across from her with Flash and Spike sitting on Shining’s left and right respectively.

Hanging her head as she caught her breath, Tempest wiped the blood awkwardly off her face with a manacled hoof. “I suppose some punishment is in order, however, Captain, if you wish to gain the knowledge I have you’ll have to be a lot nicer.” She sneered the last word in distaste.

Covering up his snort of amusement with a twisted frown, Shining replied, “I suppose I’ll try to be more accommodating.”

“Good.” Tempest smirked. “Now—”

“Where are you from?” Shining interrupted.

Bristling in place, Flash turned towards Shining with a concerned expression. “Captain—”

“The Lands Beyond,” Tempest replied, “now, if we could focus on—”

“Before that,” Shining interrupted again.

“Captain, no. This is not—”

“Before what?” Tempest asked, thoroughly perplexed.

“The pony population of The Lands Beyond prior to the war was near zero, and nowhere within the Lands is a place that could even remotely be considered a settlement. You could have been born there but the odds are so low, that I doubt it. So,” Shining leaned forward, “where are you from?”

“I hardly see the relevance, but,” she scrunched up her muzzle in annoyance as she growled out, “I was born in Ponyville, now… what are those looks?”

Spike and Flash stared at Tempest in open bewilderment while Shining fought to control the laughter that threatened to escape from him. “Ponyville? You’re from Ponyville?” An errant snort managed to get away from him.

“An storm forsaken dump of a town,” Tempest growled, “now, if we’re about done discussing my past, I would prefer to focus on—”

“Any family living there?”

“Captain!” Flash shouted as he stomped a hoof, cracking the floor.

“What is it, Flash?” Shining said.

“Do not,” Flash punctuated the word with a firm glare, “involve unrelated ponies into this.”

“I’m just curious.” Shining grinned sharply. “I’m not going to do anything with the information.”

“No, Shining. That’s too far,” Spike quietly rumbled.

Huffin in annoyance, Shining said, “Fine, then a different question. Why did you side with the Storm King?”

“Is this really necessary to know?” Tempest narrowed her eyes in annoyance. “Wouldn’t you prefer to discuss the remaining active Storm King agents or the secret prison cells?”

“We have found the remainder of those months ago,” Shining said with a nonchalant shrug, “we don’t need outdated information.”

Tempest smirked. “You may think you’ve found everything, but—”

“We already found the underground internment camps in the badlands,” Spike interjected.

“Team Beta or whatever they called themselves have also been forcibly disbanded. Rather easily since they all hung up those flags in plain sight,” Flash said.

“You couldn’t have possibly—” Tempest spluttered, “no! It’s not possible. There still must be—” her eyes darted as she tried to think of something that remained, “they couldn’t all be—”

“Gone?” Shining quirked an eyebrow, a smarmy grin stretched across his face. “Look, Tempest, there isn’t anything you know that we haven’t found out, so if you’re hoping to bargain your way out of this…” he trailed off.

Slumping in her seat with a shell shocked expression on her face, Tempest started to process the information she had been given. As she began to form conclusions, her eyes widened as an important question to her mind.

“Why am I here?” Tempest asked, dread in her voice.

Leaning forward until his muzzle just mere inches from Tempest's face, Shining’s grinned wider than ever before. She tensed as she felt herself pinned in place by the malevolent look in his eyes. Her ears pinned themselves to her head and her eyes widened in fear as the implications began to sink in.

“I’ll keep that information to myself,” Shining said as he abruptly returned to his prior seating position, “now, why did you join the Storm King?”

“I—” Tempest gulped. “I had been playing with some other ponies back in Ponyville when our ball rolled into a nearby cave. I’d gone in alone to get it back, but it had been home to an Ursa Minor. It attacked me, cracked my horn in half. My friends—” she spat, pure venom in her voice, “—abandoned me. Left me alone since I was a cripple,” a bubble of emotion caused her voice to hitch.

Shining narrowed his eyes in confusion. “Okay, so you broke your horn and then joined the Storm King because… why?”

“He promised to restore my horn when he took over Equestria using the power of the two sisters — one at the time. He told me her power could restore my horn despite the Princess herself telling me she couldn’t do it.” Tempest furrowed her brow. “Which now that I say it, doesn’t make much sense.”

“No, it doesn’t. That was stupid of you to believe,” Shining bluntly stated, “so, the bombs you stole—”

“Made,” Tempest interrupted.

“Pardon?”

“I made them.” A prideful grin spread across her face. “My special talent is fireworks and that encompasses bombs. I used the organs harvested from the cockatrice of the Everfree Forest then mixed them up with several other ingredients to create the petrification bombs. Had them magically charged and ready to throw when we landed in Canterlot. We could only build a few, but we only ever needed to take out one of the Princesses.”

“That explains why we can’t counter the effects,” Spike said, “it’s just a random concoction with no recipe, which is what we had deduced, but it’s nice to have the confirmation.”

“At least we don’t have to worry about someone recreating it,” Flash added, “one less concern to have.”

Shining nodded, satisfied. “Good, then we’re done here. Time to go.” He stood up from his seat.

“We’re leaving?” Flash asked incredulously.

“Do what’s good for me, right?” Shining said with a bemused smile. “I needed a few good punches and answers to some niggling questions I had. Now that I have them, I can say I sympathize to a point, but ultimately her motivation was as worthless as I knew it would be. It’s time to move on.”

Perking up immensely, Flash bounced to his hooves and nuzzled the side of Shining’s cheek, his tail wagging excitedly behind him. Rolling his eyes in amusement, Shining returned the affection.

With one final disapproving look, Spike got up and joined the others in their departure.

“Wait, what about me?” Tempest called after them.

“You’ll die,” Shining called back, “you have no use and you’ve done too much.” He snorted. “I’m looking forward to hearing what Luna ends up doing to you later.”

“No, no, you can’t leave me with her!” Tempest cried out. “She’s a monster! She’ll torture me! I’ll give you anything, anything at all! Just don’t give me to her!”

They ignored her as Shining reached for the door knob.

A moment of silence.

“She begged for her life.”

Shining stopped with his hoof wrapped around the door knob.

They turned back to look at Tempest.

She stared back at them, a twisted, desperate smile on her face, a crazed look in her eyes.

“The whole time, she begged me to stop,” Tempest continued, “to let her friends go, but I didn’t. I wanted to make her hurt.”

Shining stared at her, captivated by her words. Flash knew nothing good could come of listening. He tried to nudge him, snap him out of it, but Shining stayed riveted in place.

“I didn’t even hurt her because she could thwart the Storm King or that she was the Element of Magic. I was having a bad day. You destroyed one of my fleets, Captain—” she snarled, “—and your sister was right there. The others had gotten away because of that damned cat, but I still had Twilight.”

She turned to Spike with a wide smile, every tooth gleaming in the light of the midday sun streaming through the back windows of the room.

“Well, I suppose not all of them managed to be saved. Little Spikey Wikey would know that, wouldn’t he? Does it hurt still? The place where I shoved that lance straight through that pegasus’s heart and right into you? I can see the scar. Though, it must hurt more knowing that she died for nothing.”

Clenching his jaw, Spike released an involuntary growl. His eyes became slits as he regarded Tempest with the utmost contempt. Flames spewed from the closed corners of his mouth.

“I had her all to myself.” Tempest cackled. “Poor little Twily. She screamed so much as I cut into her, chopping off every limb one by one. All the blood and tears and begging, so much begging.”

The metal under Shining’s hoof began to bend as his grip tightened. He stood frozen, staring at Tempest with an unreadable expression.

“She was conscious through everything. Right up until I stabbed her through the heart. In her final moments, she had changed her tune. It was all ‘Shiny, Shiny!’,” Tempest said in a mockingly high pitched voice, “always calling out for her ‘big brother best friend forever’ to come save her. Well, where were you BBBF?!”

Shining took a step towards Tempest, releasing the crumpled door knob. Tempest grinned, a menic gleam in her eyes.

A wing blocked his path, as Flash stared pleadingly into Shining’s face and said, “Captain, don’t. She’s baiting you. You were done, we were moving on! I know what you want to do, but it’s not worth it. Just walk away.”

Turning away from Tempest, Shining tried to reply, but his attention was brought back to Tempest as she burst into crazed laughter.

“What a failure of a brother you are Shiny. The big bad Captain of the Royal Guard couldn’t stop one crippled unicorn from killing his sister. She was crying for you! She screamed your name right up until her final moments, but you were nowhere to be found. You’re a worthless, useless—”

Shoving past Flash, Shining lunged for Tempest. He clambered onto the table and grabbed hold of her neck, forcing her backward in her seat, stuck by the chains anchoring her to the bolted table.

Straddling her body, Shining threw his front hooves into her face, one after the other. Blood arced through the air from the impacts as Tempest laughed in tandem to Shining’s guttural rage induced screams.

Two wings grabbed him from behind and dragged him off of her, screaming that he needed to stop. Shining tried to pull out of Flash’s grip, but he was no match for Flash’s superior strength. Against his will, Flash managed to drag him off the table and away from Tempest.

Rising to her original position with her head hanging over the table, she laughed at Shining, continuing to taunt him.

Charging his horn with magenta light, Shining fired off two bolts of arcane fire in Tempest’s direction before Flash managed to grab Shining’s horn with his wing, stopping the flow of magic.

Tempest screamed in agony as the blasts hit her face and neck, burning off the fur and causing the smooth flesh to boil and rupture.

“Let me go, Flash! I’ll kill her! I need to kill her!” Shining screamed.

“You worthless failure!” Tempest shouted, “you couldn’t kill me when it mattered most and now you can’t even do it when you have the perfect opportunity! Come back here, you coward! KILL ME!”

Devolving into animalistic grunts, Shining renewed his efforts to escape from Flash’s grasp.

Bursting through the door, Flash dragged Shining out of the door. The guards on either side ignored their struggles, staying completely motionless as their training required.

Spike followed hesitantly behind him, worry etched onto his face.

After a few more moments of struggling, Shining slumped into Flash, tears flowing down his face as he released blubbering sobs.

Flash pulled him tighter to his chest in a futile attempt to comfort him.

“Is there a private room nearby?” Flash asked one of the guards.

“Down the hall, take a right then third door on your left,” the guard answered as he pointed down the noted corridor.

Giving the guard a firm nod, Flash gently lifted Shining onto his back who grabbed onto Flash’s neck. “Are you coming with us?” Flash asked Spike.

“I’ll catch up with you later. I need to let Luna know we’re done, and…” Spike’s face tightened as he looked at nhis brother with concern, “... you’re better at helping Shining through… this.”

“Alright, you can come join us later, or we’ll meet back at the house.” Flash looked at Shining morosely, his ears pinned to his head as another round of sobs began. “I’ll… do what I can.”

“Thanks, Flash,” Spike said.

Feeling less than useful, Flash began his trek down the hallway, Shining’s crying following in his wake.

Tempest pressed her face against the table, the relative coolness soothing her burns. She flicked an ear as she heard the door open and close followed by several heavy thumps and the telltale clack of sharp claws on wood.

“So, the drake returns,” Tempest greeted as she stared up at the menacing dragon with casual indifference, “are you here to finish the job?”

“Of a sort,” Spike said as he regarded Tempest with the kind of contempt reserved for the foulest of things.

“Then finish me off,” Tempest hissed through clenched teeth.

“Patience, Tempest. I want to talk first.”

“Ugh, just kill me already,” Tempest scoffed as she rolled her eyes.

“Funny. That’s the same sentiment a dragon I talked to recently had.” Spike tapped a claw against his chin. “I’m starting to worry I’ve become abhorrent to speak with. Maybe I should attend one of those conversation workshops that are so popular right now.”

“Just get on with it.”

“Sheesh, grumpy much? Anyways, I was thinking of the stuff Garble told me — the dragon I mentioned earlier. Fun to talk to when he isn’t trying to rip your throat out — and about something you said earlier.”

“How worthless your pegasus friend’s sacrifice was?”

“That, plus all the things you said about Twilight, and, frankly, there isn’t a roided out pegasus to hold me back nor do I have any amount of trauma that would be worsened by outright killing you.”

“Then get on with it!” Tempest shouted.

Grinning with his wide maw of razor sharp teeth, Spike loomed over Tempest, a predatory glint in his eye. Once more, Tempest found herself coming to conclusions she didn’t want to.

“Again, there is no rush. I’ll kill you, but—” he held up a single claw “—I had a talk with Luna and she wouldn’t let me do it in place of Shining Armour unless I could make it interesting.”

Cold dread settled within Tempest. “What are you getting at?”

“Getting there, but first a tangent. Did you know dragon fire is nothing like normal fire? Or even arcane for that matter. See, you can control aspects of it, and, if you happen to be magically connected to a rather powerful unicorn, you can do some really neat stuff.”

That feeling of dread grew stronger as Tempest began to dislike the train of thought Spike was following.

“So, I proposed mixing my dragon fire with some necrotic, which would make it last longer, way longer, and could have the heat turned down. Not too hot, but definitely still hot enough that it will hurt.” Bright magenta flames began to spew from his mouth through the gaps in his teeth. “Fun fact, this room happens to be soundproof, so no one will hear anything no matter how loud you are.”

“What are you going to do to me?” Tempest asked as she tried to futilely wriggle out of her restraints.

Spike leaned forward, leveling his head to be just above Tempest. His grin nealy split his face as he gave Tempest a look of pure malice.

“You’ll figure it out after hour two,” Spike replied.

Gathering the flame in the back of his throat, Spike opened his maw and spewed a raging storm of fire.

Tempest screamed.

Tick. Tock.

That was all Flash heard as he waited. The ticking of the clock in the corner.

The clock in question was clearly an antique. A tall weathered, wooden piece ornately carved with the typical motives of leaves and general fanciness.

He had been sitting there quietly for any number of minutes, letting Shining gather his bearings after he had gotten off of Flash’s back and told him to stay by the door. Shining had made no sound once they had entered the room nor even tried to look at Flash. He was clearly not in a good place, and there wasn’t much Flash could do until Shining was ready to talk.

So, Flash waited.

In tandem with the sound of the ticking clock.

Tick. Tock.

It felt morbid, in a way. The ticking. As it was counting down to the end of something.

Something important.

“Why?”

Perking his ears to better hear Shining’s hoarse voice, made raw by the amount of recent screaming and sobbing, Flash stared at Shining’s strong back. He’d always thought it was big, stable, never moving.

But now it appeared small. Fragile. Like it could break at any moment.

It made Flash want to put off the conversation as long as possible.

“Why, what?” Flash asked.

A heavy inhale of air followed by an equally strong exhale.

“Why did you stop me?” Shining said.

“Why did I stop what?”

“Flash,” Shining hissed out.

Tick. Tock.

“You were leaving. You’d gotten closure. You were moving on, but you went back.”

“She deserved to die, Flash.”

“I’m not arguing that, I’m arguing that you didn’t have to do it yourself.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means you shouldn’t have listened to her. It’s only made things worse.”

Tick. Tock.

Finally turning his head to face Flash, Shining regarded him with his bloodshot eyes and a cold expression. “So, you stopped me because killing her would have made me feel worse?”

“Yes,” Flash answered.

“That doesn’t make any sense. She needed to die,” Shining stressed.

“She already was.” Flash cut through the air with his wings. “Luna had already told us that she was going to die no matter what. The point of that meeting was to give you closure over Twilight’s death. You were doing so well! We were leaving, you were moving on. But then—”

“Stupid Shining Armour had to go and get triggered again,” Shining spat.

“No!” Flash stomped a hoof, standing rigidly straight with a determined look on his face. “It is not stupid to be set off by that. Your feelings are valid, Captain. I just—”

“Need me to be the calm and collected one all the time, huh?” Shining snarled. “Gotta make sure the Captain doesn’t go and kill himself.”

Tick. Tock.

“I’m not foalsitting you,” Flash said with the kind of resignation that bespoke of an argument already had.

“You have a shitty way of showing that you aren’t. Speaking of, why Captain? You never call me Shining, or Armour, or anything else.”

“It’s… personal.”

“Really?” Shining narrowed his eyes. “Do you even love me?”

“Yes,” Flash answered with no hesitation.

“Then why won’t you use my name?”

“Because I love you,” Flash said, desperation creeping into his voice as his ears pinned to his head.

“Then why won’t you use my name?!” Shining shouted.

“You already said that.”

“Because you still haven’t given me a good enough answer!” Magic burst from Shining’s horn causing nearby furniture to slide across the floors, several presumably expensive decorations smashing on the floor.

Tick. Tock.

“Do you think I’m like your master or something? That I control you?”

Flash shook his head. “No, Captain—”

“Stop calling me Captain!” Shining growled, “you’re supposed to be my coltfriend and you act like your my subordinate or slave, I—” his eyes widened as relaziation dawned on him, “but you are… because of me.”

Knowing the direction the conversation was heading, Flash tried to interject, “no, this isn’t about that. It’s completely different.”

“You’re just trying to dodge around the truth!” Shining accused as a fresh bout of tears flowed down his face, “that you’re only with me because I’m a threat to you.”

“No, I’m not. Please—”

“I would never use that against you!”

“That’s not it, just stop so I can—”

“How could you even think I would do that to you?!”

“I don’t! If you would just listen—”

“No! I won’t! I can’t!” Shining threw his hooves over his head squeezing his eyes shut, his emotions spiraling further out of his control. “You’re supposed to be on my side. Thick and thin! I can’t know that you think I’m a monster too. I can’t—”

“It’s not about my heart!” Flash shouted as he flapped his wings with one powerful thrust.

Tick. Tock. Crack.

Shining removed his hooves from his head. The room had been completely wrecked. The furniture had been pressed up against the walls, their contents, if they had any, broken across the room. The clock lay shattered on the floor, broken.

Flash stood with his hooves wide apart, panting from exertion.

“I have never once thought that you would use the artificial heart you made for me to control my actions. You gave it to me so I wouldn’t die, and I’m glad to be alive.” Tears sprung to Flash’s eyes. “I’m glad to be with you.”

“Then why do you call me Captain?”

“I want you to take me on a date.”

“You—” Shining blinked. “We’ve been on plenty of dates.”

“Sex isn’t a date, and neither is ogres and oubliettes with your brother. We haven’t gone on an actual date… Captain. And I know it’s because—” Flash sniffled. “—we started our relationship… wrong.”

“We…” Shining tried to protest before hanging his head, “we did.”

“So, I call you Captain to… draw a line. For myself.” Flash shrink in on himself, bunching up with his wings hitched above his head. “I only want to call you by your name when I feel like we’re… okay. Like we aren’t just holding onto each other because of trauma, but just because…” he trailed off.

They both stared down at the floor. Unsure of what to say. The silence expanded and grew until it encompassed the entire room. Any words either stallion tried to say got stuck in their throats.

In the quiet, against all odds, the broken clock worked just once more.

Tick. Tock.

Before it permanently stopped.

Author's Note

5 This is Just How We Were Taught to Love

“What are you doing, Captain?”

Shining Armour stood on the blood soaked stones staring back at Flash in shock with the beginnings of tears in the corners of his eyes. He was surrounded by the scattered remains of what was once a throne arranged around him in a rough circle, the headless body of the Storm King laid dead nearby.

Levitating within his magical grip was a long metal sword, the tip pointed directly towards his heart.

“I-I—” Shining stuttered, “what are you doing here?”

“Coming to see you,” I answered.

“Why?” I looked at the sword in Shining’s grip then back to him. “R-right.”

I took a hesitant step towards him trying to keep my eyes focused on both the shaking sword and Shining himself. As he tensed at the movement, I retracted my move.

“What are you doing, Captain?” I asked again.

“You already asked that,” he replied shakily.

“And you haven’t answered.”

He darted his gaze away from me, unable to meet my eyes. “I killed the Storm King,” he said, a tremble to his voice.

Sparing a glance to the severed head nearby, I said, “I noticed that.”

Biting his trembling lower lip, he continued, “with the Storm King dead the war will end. I gave all my research notes to Luna. Spike will be fine as he’s with her and she knows what to do in an emergency. I—”

“You’re prepared to die.”

“Yes,” Shining said quietly.

“One way or another.”

“I’m not needed anymore.”

“You are,” I immediately replied.

“How?”

Silence hung between us at the statement, devouring the implications and leaving no room for words. Panic gripped my mind as I struggled to come up with the right answer. A sentence that would make everything better. But nothing would come.

My partner was about to kill himself and I couldn’t think of a single word to stop it.

He smiled as tears finally fell. He leveled his sword, securing the grip and removing the tremor in the blade. “Goodbye, Flash,” he said as the sword thrust forward.

“No!” I cried.

I was too far away. I’d never be able to gallop fast enough, fly fast enough. I flapped my wings as hard as I could, calling on the winds that were my birthright as a pegasus.

Gales careened forward, breaking Shining’s grip. The sword clattered against the stones.

Shining looked at me with a mixture of tears and fury as he shouted, “Why are you stopping me?!”

“Because you’re still needed!” I cried back as I stomped a hoof on the tiled floors, my eyes feeling watery.

“How? How am I still needed? The war is over, everything after can be handled by Luna. No one needs the monstrous Captain of the Royal Guard! It’s better for everyone if I just—”

“I need you!” I shouted as I felt hot tears roll down my face.

Another silence filled the space between us. Shining looked at me in shock, seemingly confounded by the idea that I would want to be with him.

That all those months together were just playing.

That I hadn’t meant anything when I had said I loved him.

That he wasn’t the most important thing to me.

“I need you,” I repeated weakly, my voice dropping off as emotion choked up my throat.

He reached a hoof towards me before his eyes widened in shock, his horn already beginning to charge up some type of spell.

“Flash, behind you!” he shouted.

Swinging my halberd around to a ready position, I rotated on my hoof to face whatever I had been warned about. I did so just in time for the Storm Guard that had snuck up behind me to puncture me through the chest with his lance, piercing through both armour and flesh.

It was agony. I knew as soon as the spear left my body with a wet schluck that it had gone through my heart.

Blood spattered on the floor as I struggled to stay standing. I could feel my frantic heartbeat in my ears, the organ desperately trying to stop the inevitable encroachment of death.

The Storm Guard dropped backwards, a hole burnt through more than half its body from a blast of arcane fire that Shining had presumably shot.

Burnt flesh filled my nostrils as I was grabbed roughly by a pair of white hooves. Shining’s face came into my field of vision. His expression was overtaken by a horrible mixture of fear and panic. Tears marred his fur as they ran down his face leaving dark tracts under his eyes.

“Flash, Flash!” he cried as he held my face level with his. My rump dropped to the floor as my strength began to fail me. “You have to stay with me.”

“It went through my heart, Captain,” I replied. I smiled, a measure of comfort washing over me at the blessed chance I had to die in my lover’s embrace. “I won’t be here for much longer.”

“No, no, no, no!” He repeated as sobs wracked his voice.

Another dollop of blood dripped from the hole in my chest. Internally, I reprimanded myself for wearing such shoddy armour. If it was capable of being broken through by a single spear thrust then it wasn’t good armour.

But it had been the armour Shining had given to me on my first day and sentimentality had made it difficult to let it go.

“I feel so lucky that you’re here in my final moments, so glad that I got to be yours,” I said as my vision began to darken.

“No, stop. We just need to get you to a medic. I-I—” Shining shaked, his composure quickly dissolving “—you just need to hold on!”

“I love you.”

Defeat overtook Shining. His face crumpled as pure agony came out of his throat, incoherent sounds of grief.

As I felt the end near, all of a sudden, Shining’s eyes began to glow in magenta light. His horn alighted with magic forming an arcane skull entwined within a wreath of flowers.

I felt my body probed by something. An unknown entity that enveloped me before focusing around my heart. It was warm, like Shining.

A question formed in my mind from the entity. It asked if I wanted to live.

Of course, I wanted to live. It was a foalish question.

I felt my heart begin to change. A heartbeat formed under shattered tissue that pumped through my body granting me precious life. As the organ began to dissolve and the new began to grow, it pulsated in time to the waves of Shining’s magic as the skull bore into me, its empty sockets staring at me.

A price. My life would cost me.

Dedication. Devotion. Loyalty.

To Shining.

If I agreed, he would never know of this bargain. A secret between the entity called forth by Shining’s magic and I.

If I could have managed it, I would have laughed at what a ridiculous exchange this was. It was a redundant bargain. I had already spent months of my life dedicated to the stallion I would give anything for.

What was the point in refusing to grant him what I was already willing to give?

As Shining’s magic reconstructed my heart, as unconsciousness began to overtake me, as the world faded away to focus solely on the beating of my new organ to the tune of Shining’s, I thought only of one thing.

Now and forever, I would always be his.

Flash sat across from Shining, staring into his bowl of oats at their dining room table. Their short dining room table. A fact Flash needed to remind himself as it had never felt as long as it did then.

They were back in their shared apartment, a brick high loft with tall ceilings and rafters from which Spike would lay about and hide possessions he didn’t want his nosy older brother looking at. Or for when Flash was hiding from his significant other every time he messed up his assigned house chores. Again.

The walls and floors were all made of wood paneling with shelves of various momentos and nerd paraphernalia hammered into them. Any shelves with fantasy and tabletop items were Shining’s, anything with horror or weird cursed items were Flash’s. Anything that was some horrific amalgamation of both were Spike’s.

One corner of the room had a hammock strung up with a guitar resting inside and sheet music scattered about the base.

He noted the four rooms shot off the main living area. The master bedroom for a very large Spike since he couldn’t sleep comfortably anywhere else, a second bedroom for him and Shining, a bathroom that was the site of many a morning battle, and a fourth room up a long staircase that was for Shining’s private research.

All of these observations were in an effort to ignore the growing dread that had formed within Flash since the night before.

It had grown when they hadn’t spoken after their fight.

It had grown when Flash had been relegated to the living room instead of their shared bedroom.

It had grown that morning when Shining had still not said a word to him.

Spike, the coward, had taken note of this earlier and decided he would make a fly-in trip to Ponyville to check in on the animals at Fluttershy’s cottage thus leaving Flash alone to deal with the uncomfortable silence.

If he were more honest with himself, he would admit that the quiet was mostly self inflicted. He could break it by simply saying something. A morning greeting or just some small affirmation of how much he loved Shining would break the curse laid between them. But he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Because if he did, that would mean Shining could speak too.

And Flash wasn’t sure he wanted to hear what Shining had to say.

So, he stared at the oats he didn’t want to eat and contemplated the futility of his current predicament as it was now the only option left to him.

The sound of a spoon clattering against a bowl caused Flash to look up.

Shining’s gaze was downcast, his brow furrowed. He was biting his lip in indecision seeming to weigh over an important decision. “Are you busy today?” he finally asked.

“N-no,” Flash forced out, the words feeling heavy after the long bout of silence, “I have this week off. Same as you.”

Because it was all Luna could do when she saw the state they had been in after their interrogation of Tempest Shadow.

“Right, I’d just thought…” he trailed off, “do you want to go out this afternoon?”

Perking his ears up expectantly, Flash said, “yes, do you have somewhere in mind?”

“There’s a fair in town. Just a small one off the square with a few rides and games. I thought we could go together.”

“Do you mean just to go, or as a date?” Flash asked, a hopeful note to his voice.

“As a date,” Shining said, his face flushed.

A smile spread across Flash’s face. “I’d love to!”

The rest of the morning had passed by quickly with Flash happily strumming away at his guitar and Shining reading through a book on some new tabletop system he was obsessing over.

When the time came, both threw on jackets to cover the extensive number of scars on their bodies — they made ponies uncomfortable. Whether because they were reminders of the war or just because it was them, neither stallion could ever tell — and made their way into Sunlit Square to attend the fair.

It was a low brow affair. A few simple rides, some food carts selling food with enough grease to stall a heart instantly, and stall games that were little more than flashy grifts. Many would consider this to be a waste of time, too foalish for anyone that weren’t or had foals.

But it was Flash’s first real date with Shining, so it was the best place to be.

“Oh, oh! We should do— no, we should — wait, that actually looks so cool!” Flash said as he excitedly swiveled his head and spun in a circle. His wings fluttered at his side as his tail swished in time to his twitching ears. “Darnnit, I can’t decide. Captain, what do you want to do first?”

Forcing down the frown that threatened to overtake him at the use of Captain, Shining said, “Well, I could go for some lunch.”

“That’s a great idea!” Flash shouted with all the enthusiasm and exuberance of a foal a tenth his age. “We should do donuts. No, wait, veggie dogs. Wait, no—!”

Snorting in amusement, Shining said, “Maybe think it over before suggesting something?”

“But there are so many options and they all taste amazing!” Flash snorted excitedly, his eyes sparkling in the midday sun. “Besides, you never let me eat fried food.”

“Because if I did, you would be so big we'd have to roll you everywhere we go.” Both stallions giggle snorted at the mental image. “So, choose what you really want.”

Furrowing his brow in intense concentration, Flash ran through his options and finally settled on his choice. “Mozzarella sticks!” he exclaimed.

“Sure,” Shining conceded, his voice speaking with the resignation of knowing the horrors to be unleashed.

After a short exchange with a nearby vendor and a wait in which Flash wouldn’t stop bouncing on his hooves in excitement, they procured their deep fried cheese and settled in at a nearby picnic table.

As soon as they had sat down, Flash had dined into the food with fervent glee, managing to douse his face in a mixture of cheese and marinara sauce.

“Maybe try to get some of that in your mouth, Flash?” Shining mused as he popped a dipped mozza stick into his mouth with a hoof.

Using his tongue, Flash slurped up the remains around his mouth before regalling Shining with a dazzling smile. “There, all gone,” he said.

“Seriously?” Shining scrunched up his face in mild disgust. “You couldn’t wipe it off with a napkin or something?”

“Oh, please, that’s hardly the worst thing I’ve had on my mouth.”

“Yeah, but I kiss that mouth,” Shining retorted, “I’d prefer something clean.”

“Like that’s ever stopped you before,” Flash replied with a sleazy grin.

“Stop right there. I don’t like what you’re implying and there are foals around.” Shining eyed the empty basket of food. “You done?”

“Yep!” Flash grabbed the basket with his hooves and dumped the whole thing in a nearby garbage can. “Let’s go play some games.” He shot up from his seat, his tail wagging rapidly behind him.

“Aren’t all of those stalls basically scams?” Shining said as he followed Flash’s lead.

“Well, yeah, but they’re fun scams,” Flash answered, “and sometimes you win!”

“You mean almost never,” Shining replied dryly.

“That’s still sometimes!” Flash called back as he raced towards the game stalls.

A bemused Shining followed after his prancing colt friend. He soon caught up to Flash at a balloon dart game, his face pressed up against a display case prominently displaying a tiny white plush unicorn.

He tapped a hoof excitedly against the glass to the annoyance of the vendor as he turned to look at Shining with big eyes filled with foalish glee. “Look, look, look! It’s you!”

It did in fact look like Shining with its white plush fur and blue string mane. “It does. I’m guessing you want it?”

“Yep!” Flash nodded his head enthusiastically.

Rolling his eyes at Flash’s antics, Shining dropped a few bits onto the counter from his saddlebag and said to the game operator, “this good for a few rounds?”

“Sure is,” the unicorn replied, a smarmy grin on her face.

Using her magic, the mare slid over ten darts on the rough wooden counter of the stall.

The game was simple enough. Throw darts at the balloons pinned to the backboard from behind the counter. If enough balloons were popped, the thrower got a prize.

Taking a dart in his wing, Flash scrunched up his face as he aimed, his tongue sticking out and eyes narrowed at a balloon situated in the third row.

He pulled back, then thrust forward quickly, releasing the dart.

It soared through the air striking the exact center of the balloon he had aimed for. Instead of the expected pop, the dart instead plinked uselessly against the rubbery material and plopped onto the wooden trough lying underneath.

Frowning, Flash took the next dart and threw it. Another perfect throw, but still no popped balloon. He threw each one, one after the other, each dart plinking uselessly against the balloons before falling to the trough underneath. By the last one, Flash’s ears were pinned to his head and he looked miserable.

Reaching for another dart, Flash hung his head morosely as he realized he was out of throws. “Guess, I’m out,” he said dejectedly.

“Nice try, stud,” the operator said.

“You okay?” Shining asked.

“No,” Flash grumped, “I wanted a lil’ Captain to snuggle with when the bigger version wasn’t around.”

The sentiment brought a warm grin to Shining’s face. “Guess I’ll just have to be around more for you to snuggle.”

“Yeah…” Flash trailed off before he slammed his hooves to the counter, snapping his head to a surprised Shining, “hey! You could win it for me!”

Shining’s expression flattened. “Really, Flash?”

“Aw, come on, please?” Flash begged.

“What exactly makes you think I’ll do any better?”

“Colt friend magic.”

“What?”

“It’s the magic of colt friend’s getting their colt friend’s stuff they want!” Flash announced as if it was the most obvious thing in Equestria. “It’s a thing!”

“Flash, you definitely made that up.”

“B-but, Shiny!” Flash whined.

Both stallions froze, Shining staring at Flash with an unreadable expression, Flash flushed a bright cherry red.

“Uh, I mean, um… Captain?” Flash mumbled.

Shining snorted, filled with determination. He trotted up to the game stall and slammed down a pile of bits with his magic. The operator gathered the coin with a dark gleam in their eyes and placed an equally large pile of darts on the counter.

His horn emitted a bright magenta glow as he levitated the entire stack in his magic. As the intensity brightened, both Flash and the game operator stepped back, looks of matching concern on their faces.

In a burst of magic, the darts zoomed forward and punctured through the entire wall of balloons along with the backboard. Splinters exploded from the impact littering the trough and stall.

The game operator, who had understandably ducked for safety, popped their head back out from behind the counter. They looked in wide eyed panic at the remains of their backboard the back to Shining.

“We, uh, have a winner!” the mare called out. “Pick any prize you want and… please don’t do that again.”

With a stoic expression, Shining plonked his hoof against the display case containing the miniature plush version of himself and snorted, while Flash excitedly galloped in place.

“Sure thing, and you did score enough points to take another prize… or as many as you want.”

Scanning the prizes in the stall, Shining spied an orange pegasus hiding out behind a line of earth ponies. “I want the orange pegasus too,” Shining demanded.

Hoping this would placate the unicorn who had destroyed his stall with both blunted darts and a reinforcement enchantment, the operator passed over the noted plushies.

Flash tried to grab the unicorn plush as it passed from the operator to Shining, but it was quickly yoinked away. Flash looked at Shining in confusion.

“You have to ask for it,” Shining said.

“Can I please have lil’ Captain, Captain?” Flash asked.

In answer, Shining narrowed his eyes.

Tapping his hooves together nervously, his face flushed, Flash said, “can I have lil’ Captain, please…” his blush intensified, “...Shining?”

Satisfied, Shining hooved over the plush to Flash who quickly wrapped up the prize close to himself with a wing. Taking the opportunity, Shining slid under his other wing and nuzzled in close, wither to wither.

Together, they walked in step to enjoy the rest of the fair, both stallions sporting massive grins on their faces.

Shining flopped onto his and Flash’s king sized bed. He laid on his side and enjoyed the cool breeze blown by the rotating fan overhead that spun in lazy circles. Flash followed shortly after him, tucking himself between Shining’s forelegs and snuggling into Shining’s chest fluff until his head lay nestled over his heart.

He hummed in contentment as he heard the steady thumping of Shining’s chest. A soothing rhythm that caused him to begin to lull into sleep after their perfect first date.

“So, we’re actually keeping these in our bedroom?”

Flash opened his eyes and strained his neck to look over Shining’s withers. On the bedside table were the two plushies placed close together. Both were situated in such a way to appear as if they were kissing.

“Absolutely,” Flash answered as he returned to his previous position.

He felt rather than saw the disapproving frown on Shining’s face. “Spike will never let us hear the end of it if he sees it.”

“Then we can counter by bringing up his sexual tastes. I’m sure he’ll drop it real fast when we start discussing his stash of horn weekly and wing monthly magazines that he hides in the rafters.”

A snort followed. “He really has to remember that I’m not his only older brother at this point.”

“Hmhm, very foalish of him to assume I wouldn’t want to snoop for embarrassing stuff too. That’ll teach him to leave his smut within the aerial range of another being that can fly.”

Both stallions chortled in amusement at Spike’s expense. It was a light sound that rang through the room and dispelled some of the heaviness that presided over them.

After a moment, Shining said, “please keep calling me Shining.”

“I—” Flash started.

“I’ll take you on as many dates as you want or do whatever it is you need me to do so you feel close to me, but, please,” Shining said as his voice trembled, “call me by my name.”

Wrapping his forelegs tightly around Shining’s barrel, Flash pulled him as close as he could. “Okay, Shining.”

Returning the gesture, both entwined their bodies together in such a way that it was difficult to tell where one of them began and the other ended. They breathed as one, perfectly in tune to each other as the remaining distance melted between them, beginning to mend the unseen broken bridges between them.

“Shining.” The stallion in question released a happy hum in answer. “I love you and I won’t leave you. Ever. You understand that?”

Tensing beneath Flash’s grip, Shining replied, “I—” he gulped, “yeah, I know.”

“And that means you know, that any plans that we make moving forward, we’ll do them together, right?”

“Yeah,” Shining whispered.

“Then I want to ask you again. What’s next, Shining?”

The quiet returned, but less heavy than it had ever been before. Despite the racing of his heart, Flash knew that Shining was at least mulling over the question. A better result than any prior attempt.

“I don’t know,” Shining said defeated, “I haven’t known what’s next since…” they both silently acknowledged the weight of what happened after the Storm King’s defeat, “... I just don’t know.”

“Night Light is divorcing your mom,” Flash announced.

“To be honest, I’m surprised he hadn’t already done so.” Flash lightly brushed the spot where Twilight had struck him with the wine glass, the new scars under his fur feeling rough to the touch. Shining nuzzled into the contact.

“True, but you will find it surprising that he’s planning to move to Hollow Shades to work at a smaller lab and as a teacher.”

“Good for him,” Shining said, “I think he’ll really love it there. Especially being around foals again. My dad always loved being, well, a dad.”

Biting his bottom lip, Flash added, “There was one other thing too.”

“Oh? He wants some muscle to help him move.” Shining giggled lightly at the jest. “I’m sure we can take some time off to get him settled into his new home.”

“No, he…” Flash trailed off then decided to tell him, “... he asked if we would go with him. You, me, and Spike. To Hollow Shades.”

Another bout of silence filled the space as Shining mulled over what Flash had said. Flash could feel Shining’s heart accelerate, an anxiousness that gripped both his body and mind.

“I-I can’t, Luna needs— we can’t leave—” Shining took a heavy breath as the excuses fell away, “—I’m not ready to be happy.”

Flash could correct him. He could tell him off, tell Shining he’s being ridiculous. Tell him that he deserved happiness just as much as anyone else. Possibly even more after everything he’s been through, everything he’s had to do in the name of regaining Equestria’s peace.

But he didn’t.

Because Luna did still need them.

Because Cadance still hadn’t let Shining go.

Because Spike was still hurting even though he would never admit it.

Because his sister didn’t deserve what happened to her.

Because Shining’s mother hated him.

Because they still had work to do in the aftermath of the war.

Because Flash and Shining needed to still navigate their relationship.

Because Shining was still hurting.

Because with all the reasons above, no amount of healing or recovery will ever grant Shining peace. Not until he was ready to move on.

When he was ready to want to be happy.

Until then, there would always be an excuse. Always be something that is happening to put it off. A new problem that had to be solved before Shining could deal with what he needed to.

It could take decades for Shining to be ready. It could never even happen at all. But, Flash would see it through.

He’d already dedicated his life to him.

Flash wiggled himself away from Shining’s chest and further up the bed until he was level with Shining’s face. He kissed him on the lips, a quick comforting peck. Chaste by any standards of their past experiences. He pressed his nose to Shining’s, their breath mixing together.

They had been having sex for as long as their relationship had been, but this moment felt like the most intimate time they had ever had.

“Flash,” the stallion in question hummed in acknowledgement, “could you… tell me what our future would be like? If we went to Hollow Shades?”

He could jest, crack a joke about how Shining and Spike were usually the storytellers. That he was the goofball that derailed everything they did.

But that wasn’t what his partner needed.

“We’d live in a house by a creek,” Flash started, “a big house with high ceilings and the comfiest furniture imaginable. There would be a back porch that overlooked the water and the stars would be reflected in it on clear nights. We’d fall asleep in the hammock overlooking it, entwined together just like this.”

Shining took a deep steadying breath, a smile spreading on his face.

“You’d work on your research in your spare time, but primarily be a teacher alongside your dad. You’d both crack jokes while you taught the foals. Spike would be a local librarian. I would play in some cheap stage band at a bar.”

“It could hardly be cheap if you were playing there.” Shining nuzzled the side of Flash’s cheek who grinned at the affectionate touch. “No way my hot colt friend could be worth only a few measly bits.”

Flash giggled before he continued, “We’d start a local tabletop group. You would finally have time for me to teach you guitar. We would end every day with ‘I love you’. Always wake up the next morning to say it again.”

A few tears fell from Shining’s face. “It sounds wonderful,” he whispered.

“It does,” Flash whispered back.

They continued to hold each other with Shining’s grip loosening as his light snoring signified his journey into the land of dreams.

There would be more in the morning to deal with. More problems to handle. More time spent to be there for Shining. Good times, bad times, and everything in between. Constant change, constant noise that would intersect with their lives.

They would still be monsters, killing other monsters that threatened their hard earned peace. They would still be victims, reeling from the horrors that had been inflicted upon them.

But, as Flash began to drift to sleep embracing the most important pony in his life, there was still a constant in their lives.

Flash would always be there for Shining.

An obvious statement.

For Shining always had Flash’s heart.