Shadow was still feeling a bit off, even after he had finished his errands and was on his way back home. He still wasn’t quite sure what had happened, but it had to have been pretty bad to be nagging at his conscience.
Opening the front door to the old homestead, He was greeted by Twilight.

“Hello love. Did you get everything alright?” At first, her husband didn’t answer her, which wasn’t unusual, so she asked him again.

“Shadow, how was the shopping trip?” She asked her husband, raising her voice just enough to be certain he could hear.

“Yeah, Twi. Everything’s right here.” He said, hefting and lowering his saddlebags onto the kitchen table.
Sensing something was amiss, Twilight decided to pester Shadow a little bit to see what may have been bothering him.

“Shadow, is everything alright, Sweetie?” She asked him gently.

“Yeah… there’s something on my mind. Nothing to concern yourself with.” He said, trying to laugh it off, even though he feared it may be something to concern her.

“I’ll be in the study. Please don’t bother me, love. I’ve got some research to do.”

“Research? About what? I’m sure I could tell you literally anything you’d like to know.” Twilight responded, somewhat suspicious. Even though introverted at times, Shadow was never one to say “leave me alone.” especially to his wife. He always made time for the two of them, come hell or high water.

“I’d rather be alone for a little while. Work stress.” He smiled reassuringly, which sated her curiosity for the time being. While Twilight busied herself in the kitchen, Shadow proceeded to the study, locking the door behind him. Twilight was far from dull, and would eventually figure out something was very wrong. He only hoped he figured it out before she did.
+++

Twilight now noticed a peculiar smell in the air. Flowery and bright, just like Rarity’s shampoo. She’d hoped that it was just from Rarity’s frequent visits; or from Shadow being at the boutique earlier in the morning. It didn’t seem particularly out of the ordinary, so she dismissed it for the time being. Her husband would never cheat on her, she convinced herself, and went about her business, allowing herself a small grin. Being busy always brightened her spirits.

Meanwhile, Shadow was flipping through page after page of research volumes on all manner of magics. He’d hoped he would find his answer somewhere among the musty old books, which added to the overall smell of fresh lumber and paint. The study had been the last thing completed on the homestead. Since there weren’t any spare rooms, they had to add it to the existing structure, via the expert hooves of Applejack and Big Macintosh. For some reason, the Apples had enough lumber lying about to build the room.

After flipping through what seemed the hundredth book on magic, Shadow surmised Rarity was not capable of inciting such strange effects on a full grown stallion. Her particular magic wouldn’t allow it. He turned to the potion books that were few and far between. Being more studious than most ponies, Shadow and Twilight didn’t keep many potion books around. They both preferred logic over liquids. Why use a potion when you can have the skills you were looking for indefinitely?
The first book yielded no logical results, but the second book gave him his answer nearly instantly.
He read aloud, to be sure he understood.

“While many “love” potions incite such effects as that of infatuation or obsession with the opposite gender of the drinker, there are a few recipes, that if concentrated high enough, will incite nearly instantaneous lust with any age appropriate, opposite-gender pony in the immediate vicinity.

Oftentimes, a potion such as this, commonly referred to as a Sex Potion are brewed accidentally by an inexperienced party, or if created voluntarily, is often implemented in brothels and harems, to make normally unattracted ponies mate with a complete stranger. Most ponies who have even a minute dosage of this risqué brew, will find themselves in a fog, after the deed has been done, and won’t often remember who or what they may have done. As such, this type of brew is illegal in most cases, and in the few cases that go unreported, it’s often overlooked as a possible catalyst for most sexual crimes commited.”

There it was, plain as day. Either Shadow had been drugged by an apparently innocent mare, or, more unlikely, it was accidentally brewed by Sweetie Belle in an effort make Star more in love with her, or worse. He had to get a hold of that teapot and test it for any relevant trace, or at least play it off long enough for Twilight to not find out and Rarity to forget. He had to get back to the boutique, whether he liked it or not. Then there was a knock on the door.
+++
Looking at the luminous clock on the wall, he realized now that hours had passed, and he’d skipped lunch and supper. Swallowing hard, he answered the door, and saw the worst sight he’d seen in months.Twilight was at the door, watery-eyed and biting on her lower lip, a habit she only had when she was on the verge of tears.

“Twilight what’s wrong? Are the kids alright? How about the twins?” Shadow asked her. It absolutely broke his heart to see Twilight in such a state.

“They’re fine, Shadow. But I think we need to talk.”Just then, it hit him. She must have figured it out hours ago and was killing herself over confronting him, for fear of what may be confirmed. And here she was, mane all over the place.

“Twilight, please…”

“Shadow. Answer me truthfully. Did you cheat on me with Rarity?”

“What…no…At least, I don’t think I did.”

“Then why…why do you reek of…” At this point, Twilight couldn’t compose herself. “Why do you reek of her scent?!?!” She bellowed at him, a power in her voice she did not know she was capable of. Her eyes began to glow purple. Shadow knew this was bad.

“TWILIGHT! CALM DOWN! YOU’RE GONNA BLOW THIS PLACE TO HELL!” Shadow bellowed back, trying to snap her out of it.

“Calm down?! Calm down?!? How can I calm down when you reek of one of my best friends! I’m the mother of your children! Your wife, who you promised you would never, ever sleep with any mare else! Me, who gave it all up for you!” At this point, Spike and Star were outside of the open door, witnessing the spectacle. Shadow had to end this quick, or else they were all in very lethal danger. The last time something like this happened, Twilight blew a building to shreds.
As if in slow motion, Spike, Star, and Shadow all saw one very slow, very real movement.

Shadow slapped Twilight so hard he knocked her to the floor and out of her magical maelstrom of rage and heartbreak. With the sound of the contact, Shadow’s last shreds of his heart tore apart, never to be repaired.In tears himself now, Shadow left Twilight in disbelief. Both sobbing, Twilight watched the love of her life stagger past her, the boys, and out of the study. And she was 200% certain he would not return for a very long time, if at all.
+++
Shadow had no idea who he was, where he was, or even what day it was. He did not feel the rain soaking his coat and mane; he did not hear the crash of thunder, or howling winds. All he knew at that moment was the scene replaying in his head. His hoof moving ever so, so slowly up in front of his face and across Twilight’s. Shadow remembered the sickening thud of his wife’s body hitting a wood floor; the dumbfounded stare of two young boys who didn’t know that their father figure could ever abuse their mother and guardian. Shadow walked away from his life.

The scene replayed in his head, over, and over, and over again, thrice times as loud and vivid as the previous. Shadow puked several times as he walked, and cried even more. He did not know where he was going, and did not care. Shadow slept, darkness enveloping him, and he hoped, secretly, that some beast or disease would take him in the night, for he could never live with himself for what he’d done. He could never face Twilight, the boys, Rarity, or even his own children. He’d made his bed, and now he must lay in it. Before he fell asleep, he noticed he was in a ditch.
“At least my grave was already dug for me.”

Author's Note

Wow I haven't updated this in a while now have I?