Chapter 2: tragedy
Wielding his new scythe Shining armor made his way through the crumbling castle, questions still burning in his mind, “what did thanatos mean, ponies are supposed to go to elysium if they are worthy” he thought to himself, was he not worthy, “weather i am worthy or not doesn’t matter if defending canterlot makes me unworthy then so be it”

He didn’t find any royal guards or changelings in the castle, the former wasn’t surprising since all troops were ordered into the streets to defend and push back the enemy, however when rounding a corner into another corridor a rock fired from a catapult hit the structure causing the section of hallway in front of shining armor to collapse.

“Damn” Shining armor said to himself, he was going to have to find another way unless… his mind all of a sudden flashed back to his fight with Thanatos and he remembered how his scythe now in his hands had extended and retracted, maybe he could use the scythe as a grapple, looking up at the remaining ceiling he saw a chandelier which he could use to grapple with.

Arcing the scythe forward the bony spine of the handle shot forward and the blade jammed itself into one of the gaps in the chandelier, shining armor swung across before landed and the scythe returning to its original form, the chandelier had been able to take his weight but now it fell off it’s rope.

“Glad that held” Shining armor commented dryly, however through the gap a swarm of six Changeling swarmed through, “the the captain of the equestrian guard” commented one, “let us kill him” said another, “you can try” Shining armor said bitterly as he shot a blast from his horn.

The blast killed the first changeling to have spoken instantly, the others lit up their horns and opened fire, Shining armor used his magic to create a bubble shield around him, the shots ricocheted and hit two of the changelings. The others stopped firing and charged, Shining armor grappled one and using the momentum of pulling the wretched thing back slammed it into the wall green blood remained upon the blade as he swung the blade again and cut down the other two.

He then heard a scream, the scream he recognized, “Cadence?!” he exclaimed panic setting in, she shouldn’t be anywhere near the city, she should have escaped with the other civilians, running down the corridor he rounded a corner and through an open door he saw something on the ground in the room on the other side. He recognized it as the bedroom of Blueblood, walking into the room, he saw on the floor was the corpse of Blueblood, “what in tartarus?” Shining armor said quietly, the prince's stomach had been cut open and his horn broken off and impaled into his right eye, “can’t say you didn’t have it coming” Shining armor said to the dead prince with bitter satisfaction.

Then he heard muffled noises and the sound of something being knocked, a chest was rattling around in a corner of the room, opening it, Shining armor’s eyes widened when he found Rarity, bound and gagged, inside. Rarity was Cadance's maid, and a good friend of hers, “Rarity what happened?” Shining armor asked as he undid the gag and removed it, “i-it was horrible” she stuttered tears in her eyes, “th-that brute kidnapped me, and had that bitch of a queen take my form”.

“No doubt to infiltrate canterlot” Shining armor deduced, “they took Cadence i heard them mention the heart” Rarity said, “i know where it is, i can show you” Shining armor hurriedly cut the ropes that bound her tightly. Lighting up her horn she walked over to the wall next to her, the magic outlines a rectangular brick which then disappeared to reveal the crystal heart in a secret space behind the wall.

Drawing it out, Rarity gave it to shining armor, “you used it against Sombra so use it against them now” she urged him, nodding shining armor exited the room and ran through the corridors once again. Soon he came across a duo of minotaurs, “well well well” said the larger of the two drawing a sword upon seeing shining Armors

“Ponies don’t belong on the battlefield, their too easy to kill, run along and play tea and biscuits or else” taunted the other, Shining Armor drew out the Crystal heart channeling his magic into it he lifted it up and released a burst of light from it which blinded the minotaurs causing them to stagger and shout in pain.

Shining armor looked at the heart in confusion, it must have been weakened somehow, but how?. It was powerful enough to defeat Sombra, so why was it now only powerful enough to temporarily blind enemies, “i’ll worry about that later '' Shining armor decided. Besides blinding the enemy had it’s advantages, He swung his scythe downwards at the first minotaur lodging it in the creatures soldier and with a slight push on the handle he cut the minotaur in half in a diagonal line. Shining armor then converted it into a spear and allowed the blade to shoot forward and into the second’s chest the minotaur gurgled as he lost blood quickly and soon died as Shining armor ran past.

He eventually found his way into the archives, on the other side of the room he saw Chrysalis with some of her changelings and minotaurs with Cadence being led arms tied behind her back. “Cadence!” Shining armor called, “Shining…” Cadence began but then the minotaur holding her clapped his hand over her mouth, Shining armor could see a magic suppression ring around her horn hence why she was not able to use magic.

“Deal with him” Chrysalis ordered two minotaurs and some of her changelings, as she helped led the bound Cadance out the room, “you heard her lads, kill him” the Minotaur ordered drawing out his ax, the first 3 changelings charged, Shining armor didn’t have enough power to use the Crystal heart so he swung his scythe and cut them in half.

Next he rolled to avoid a blast from another changeling before he was forced to raise his scythe and block the ax swing of the minotaur, “nice butterknife, where did a pathetic pony like you get one?” the Minotaur sneered, Shining armor did not give him the satisfaction of a response, instead he fired a powerful beam from his horn right into the minotaurs eyes. Blindined the minotaur staggered.

With the minotaur distracted Shining armor turned to the changelings, “change change” one shouted as they all changed and took on the form of royal guards while one took the form of a creature known as a Arimaspis which looks very much like a goat but is bigger, had large claws and a single eye.

Attacking the changelings in the form of guards charged, shining armor’s body hesitated when fighting them, it was only natural, their faces reminded him of all the soldiers he knew in his life. This took his guard down as the Arimaspis swiped its claws and sent Shining armor flying across the room, “he’s down” said one changeling disguised as a guard “he won’t touch us. Not while we are in pony form. Ponies are too soft to hurt their own”.

Shining armor staggered shakily to his feet, “he’s right I'm being too soft, I need to stop holding back, these aren’t my men and Cadance needs me” Shining armor thought with grim determination, however a plan formed into his head to make this fight quicker and easier.

He took out the Crystal heart and used its magic to create a bright flash and blind the nearby enemies, the Arimaspis was particularly badly effective and it fell to the ground clutching its eye in pain. The changelings changed back to their normal forms in shock. Shining Armor then jumped onto the head of the Arimaspis and swung his scythe downwards and impaled the blade into the beast's single eye.

Now shining Armor had control over it as it howled in pain and staggered and accidentally step on some of the changelings, Shining Armor jolted the handle causing the beast to swing its massive arm and swatted the Minotaur and some more of the changelings and the changeling splattered against the wall like bugs on a windshield.

The Minotaur was more durable but guiding the beast he was riding on over he made the beast slam both it’s hands down and crush the Minotaur, he then turned to the door, “alright it’s your turn now Chrysalis” he said as he hauled on his scythe turning the beast towards the door in a charge and hit the wall with such force that the creature went right through, destroying the wall and squashing some changelings who were unfortunate enough to be on the other side.

He was now in a large room with more than a few enemies around him, at the far end of the room was Chrysalis with a spell book in hand and Cadence on her knees and green magic chains around her torso. “Cadence!” Shining armor explained as Changelings hissed around him, “your two late bold knight, you and your ponies may win the battle but we have what we came for” Chrysalis said.

Chrysalis continued some kind of chant she had been doing, Shining Armor was not advanced in magical spells only the offensive and defencive kind, but he knew that spells that required chants were absolutely forbidden.

And for a very good reason which Shining Armor had no knowledge of.

Shining Armor charged, swinging his scythe he began cutting down the changelings and minotaurs that were trying to stop his path towards Cadance. He was getting dangerously close when a changeling that was too dangerously close for comfort shot him in the leg.

Shining Armor staggered not enough to trip, but enough to allow a Minotaur to pick him up and lob him across the room. “Done yet Pony?“ the Minotaur mocked. In response Shining Armor swung his scythe and cut both of the minotaurs legs off at the knees.

Cadence then screamed as the circle underneath her suddenly glowed a bright green and mist began to from, “yes yes” Chrysalis cackled, “Cadence!” Shining Armor exclaimed as he charged forward, slashing his scythe this way and that before he lept into the air above Chrysalis.

Chrysalis looked up in horror as she saw that Shining Armor was aiming for her, “no!” She exclaimed covering her face but then the green circle exploded in a flash of green light knocking everyone to the ground.

As shining armor got to his knees he heard a haunting laugh he never wanted to hear, “no it can’t be him” from underneath cadance black mist floated and black crystals began to form around the room.

“Lord Sombra” Chrysalis said, falling to her knees and bowing like one would to a god, from the Mist around Cadance a face formed, the face of a black unicorn.

He used the mist to pick a squirming Cadance up, “get your hands…” Shining Armor began but then two tendrils of mist wrapped around his body and trapped him.

Shining Armor squirmed as the Tendrils positioned his body in a crucified position before they shot towards his torso and broke the Armor protecting it. A Red Cross formed on his chest the sides turning into ribbons that cooled around his arms.

The tendrils became arms with hands holding needles, “face your sins shining Armor I invite you to” Sombra said as the needles cut into his skin and sewed the cross to his torso. Shining Armor yelled and thrashed as this happened.

Cadance tears in her eyes watched as shining Armor was placed back down onto his knees blood flowing from his recent wounds and mouth. He looked at her and her eyes met his in a pleading look

“Shining Armor…just save equestria” she said in a strained voice, Sombra shadowy mist then shot backwards grabbing the remaining changelings, minotaurs and Chrysalis as it burst through the back of the room.

Shining Armor broke free of his black shackles and ran forward but stopped dead when he came to the ledge and watched helplessly as the form of Sombra black cloud retreating picking up his forces within the city as he did so.

“Cadence!” Shining armor's despairing voice echoed, cadence was gone.

Author's Note

And there’s another chapter done