//------------------------------//
// Civil Unease 
// Story: To The End 
// by Zubric 
//------------------------------//

Once the group had left the train, they head into the shining capitol. The streets were alive with activity as usual and from the looks of it, some sort of festival was being set up.
 
“Well that was unexpected.” Cadence inquired giving friendly waves to anypony that bowed or said hello.
 
“True, but, hey it wasn’t like we were on a schedule, so that matters very little.” Shining said, as he took a long look at the castle in the distant, hearing the light crinkles of Twilight in the background. Once at the station’s train platform, he stopped at the local news paper stand unfolding the article, and scanning the contents taking a seat on one of the many cushioned benches.
 
“So dear what shall we do, while the train gets fixed?” Cadence said while adjusting her little tiara, as she spoke, trying to keep an image of decency.
 
Shining turned to her wife, as he distractedly took out a few bits from under his mane and gave them to the newspaper vendor, before putting the paper flat enough to talk to her and read at the same time, thusly giving them both equal attention. “I do not know, my dear, maybe we can use our Royal Discount for the Opera, or...’

Shining was cut off by Twilight injecting herself between the two. “Wat ‘bout me?”  
 
Cadence silently scolded Twilight with a frown for interrupting. Shining moved his hoof along the paper glancing up at Twilight. “Sis, were talking, just wait for a moment please.”
 
Twilight’s ears dropped as she sat her padded bottom on the red cushioned seat. “Sorry.” Her temporary sadness was broken, as she spotted a blue jay nesting nearby, thing that brought her to walk just under the nest on one of the bars forming the station’s roof.
 
Shining chuckled at the sight, finding it rather cute. “Well, since we have Twilight along, maybe we shall visit the gardens, I hear your favorite flowers are in bloom this time of year…”
 
He stops mid sentence, his focus now solely on the words printed before him.  His eyes widen, as the words sank into his mind like a spear.
 
-- New Political Taunt from Mr. Night Light: “Princess Celestia: a Sybaritic Ruler, or a Just Leader?"--
 
“What is it, Shiny?” Cadence asked no doubt a little worried about Shining’s expression.
 
He immediately held up the paper so her wife could get a good look. “My dad is.” Upon the sheet was an image of Night Light standing on a raised platform, his hoof stretched out, his mouth open declaring something, while, behind him, on a drape, there was the symbol of the fig made by a minotaur hand.
 
Shining, read the first words of the article for get an idea.
 
“Yet another outrage from Mr. Night Light, former notary, and now major member of the Noble-Republican group. His stunt has caused a little unrest in the park where the meeting was held…”
 
 He scowled a bit. “I wonder why.” He said dryly, while sharing the newspaper to Cadence.
 
“A later statement from Princess Luna stated that the issue would be looked into and be considered for further review.”
 
Cadence blinked ever so slightly as she scanned the article for herself. “I knew he had issues with Velvet and Celestia's violations but this...is he insane?”
 
“He is,” Shining Armour confirmed “I’ve met with him many times. Every time I did, his grief turned into insanity bit by bit. The one time I visited, he even told me I was the only one he had left as family.  He won’t even hesitate to call me out for mentioning Twilight. Of course things are different now.”  He looked towards Twilight, who was still idly watching the birds, lost in her idyllic and fake own little world.
 
“We should go visit him.”  Shining said as she got Twilight attention, and Shining soon noticed that she been so entranced in her bird watching, she hadn’t notice she had to pee, by the fact she was slightly squishing when she got up.
 
Cadence smiled as she pats the diaper lightly. “Come on Twily, time to get you clean and nice.”
 
Twilight lightly blushed and followed Cadence to the station’s washroom giggling a bit. “oopsy.”
 
Shining sat on the bench, waiting for them to return, while scanning the paper more. “Next stop, my father’s.”
 

---------

 
Shining Armour and Cadence, along with their filly-minded companion, had walked for good ten minutes, before reaching Shining’s old house and current residence of his father. The place had since been build like a fortress, high brick walls surrounding the main compound and two statues of unicorn guards put at the entrance. Upon their armour, there were emblems of different Noble houses that were famous for their treachery towards Celestia but beloved by the populace.
 
“The Ideogram of ‘Great Baron’ for House Lipan, a crown of spines for House Desiderius, the Blue Rooster and the Red Viper for House de Poitou…” Shining Armour murmured, as he saw each house’s emblems
 
“What’s wrong Shining?” Cadence asked not very accustom to Canterlot social structure, much less its history, even if she had been there for a long while.
 
The group stopped at the closed gates of the fortress.  Shining turning to face his wife, a look of concern plastered on his face. “Listen, I doubt that he will accept you in my house,” He said looking at two statues, before ringing the bell. “I think it would be best if you stayed out here with Twilight.”
 
Cadence pet Twilight mane gently and nodded. “Very well Shining, but may I ask what you are going to talk to him about?”
 
“Just try to talk him out of it before things go too far.”
Soon, from a window above, an old stallion peeks out, before coming back in. Then Sedula Serva walked fast to the gate, and moved away a bolt, allowing Shining to enter. Then the gate closed with a loud rattle, as he kept walking up the path towards his father's abode. His heart raced faster, keeping the idly passed up the path and up to the door, where Sedula let the door open, allowing Shining to enter in the house.
 
In the house, there was the sound of idle chatter going on from the large living room area. All of it sounding civil, if not just stiff and stitched together. As he walked towards the sound of chatter, a stallion with long mane and spiky beard came down from the stairs wearing a striped green and white elegant shirt.
 
Shining recognized him as his father.
 
“Welcome back to our house, son,” he said, walking up to him “Do you want to join me, in my plotting forget our revenge upon Celestia, the Solarite?”
 
Shining stood as proud as much he could manage, trying to not look like he was secretly wanting to just bolt out of there.  “Well somewhat,” He explained. “I just don’t want things getting out of hand is all. That and I have good news.”
 
“What is that? Openings?” Night Light said, gesturing his son to follow him as he ascended the stairs toward his study.  “Did my not wife die from a heart attack?”
 
Shining looked at the family photo’s lining the wall as he followed. “Well Twilight…”
 
Night Light stopped in his tracks, looking back with eyes showing raging hope. “What about her?”
 
“She… she…”
 
“Speak up, boy! what is it?”
 
“S-she’s recovering. We have a plan to bring her back...”
 
“Recovering how?” He said, jumping at Shining and grabbing him by the chest “Tell me! Is it draining all Celestia's humors, and force that wreck that is a parody of my daughter to drink them until she is restored?”
 
Shining gulped slightly before he spoke. “W-well actually we found out, with the help of Duchess Sunset, that her memory was just suppressed, and that…”
 
“WHICH memories?! Memories of that unproductive time that cost me bits upon bits upon bits, or the one of when I actually gained them through interviews and writings of her deeds?”
 
“Her old life back, yes...C-could you back up you are scaring me a bit.”
 
“Scaring you? SCARING YOU?” He shouted very loudly, shaking Shining in his hooves like if he was a cloth doll, frothing from his mouth “I sent a man to the best Military Academy in Equestria, and they spat out a sissy? Or did you forget about your training, pansy?”
 
Shining just stood there, unable to respond to his father’s nonsensical rage, and just stood there, terrified of something worse.
 
“Father, please I’m genuinely concerned for your well being.” Shining said, managing not to stutter despite his body quivering.
 
“Oh, really?” His father said “Well, if you were, you would have eaten Celestia's heart with a spoon! You would have skinned that parody of my wife and stitched it into a blanket!”
 
Shining suddenly found himself pushed down the stairs and into the dining room, where the nobles were talking. Amidst the crowd, Shining could see Upper Crust, Fancy Pants, Jet Set, Dusk Shadow, and, to one’s surprise, Prince Blueblood.
 
“See Shining I have supporters, even they could agree to have a new government free from Royal rule. We’re not rushing head long into this either, oh no, we have a plan!” He said, showing Shining the papers scattered on the desk. “We are doing this by force, and there is no way that Celestia can beat us!”
 
Shining just looked around the crowd. “What about Luna?”
 
“What about her?” Night Light inquired. “I have no quarrel with her.”
 
“She works with Celestia to help run the kingdom too you know.”
 
“She will be dealt accordingly, maybe given a position as Permanent Elector, maybe just sent away.”
 
“Are you insane, you would cause a civil war over what she did to Twilight, you really have lost your marbles?” Shining pulls away from his father.
 
“Cause a civil war?” Night Light said with a chuckle, “There can’t be a civil war, if there is nobody on the other side!”
 
“What do you mean?”
 
“The nobles, in front of my success, will rush behind my tail, looking for a position in the Equestria I will make!” He said boastfully, followed by the cheers of the nobles.
 
“You can’t just kick the princess out of the castle, it’s their home practically.”

“So you’re on her side!” Night Light muscles’ tensed as he collapsed, a few nobles flinching about. “You have fallen! My own son brainwashed, I’m truly alone in this fight!”
 
Shining could see a few doubtful faces amongst the room, as he slowly backed himself up towards the door. “I won’t help you, if that’s what you mean.”
 
Shining somehow knew he was going to regret those words but at this point, it was clear his father was lost in his own little world that dangerously intersected with the real one, similar to how Velvet insanity had taken her over.
 
“Get out of my house!” Night Light jabbed a hoof at the door, glaring with fires of Taurus itself.
 
Shining, having lost any hope of connecting to his father made his way to the door. “Twilight will be better soon, father, I hope we can come to visit.”  With that, he shut the door behind him, heading back towards the gate, where Twilight and Cadence were waiting.
 
Twilight tilts her head once she saw her brother. Even in her current mind set, she could see something wasn’t right.  “Wat wrong?”
 
Cadence gave a similar look as they begin to walk down the street. “Yes Shining, what happened?”
 
“My father ranted about his plans to overthrow the current regime by the power of Noble Revolt,” he said panting. “He has lost it. There no getting to him now, I don’t think there is any way to stop it either.”
 
HIs wife looked onwards very conflicted. “That’s terrible will Aunt Celestia be okay.”
 
“Well he has nothing against Luna so I know she will be fine, I don’t think that Princess Celestia will have a good time, though.”  He fights back a smirk thinking about what is to come when Twilight get her memories back.
 
“Now let’s get back to the station,” he said. “Maybe the train is repaired by now.”
 

---------

“Welcome back, Twilight!” Pinkie blew a joy buzzer smiling. She set up a whole party as usual with all the needed parts for Sunset plan to work.  The rest of the Elements were already settled into drinking and eating snacks, as Twilight had waddled in.
 
“Hi Piggy.” She said making honking sounds, much to Pinkie amusement, who snorted back.
 
Meanwhile on the other side of the room Sunset, Shining, and Cadence sat down on the couch discussing things and the current situation.
 
“Yes, I have been aware of the mounting pressure in Canterlot news travels rather fast. Although we aren’t here to talk about that now are we?”
 
Shining snickered a bit before nodding. “So you have the spell to undo Celestia brainwashing sorted out.”  It was the day before Celestia was due to return from her vacation, a Friday to be exact. Everything around seemed happier, brighter and full of joy.
 
And soon, it was going to get even more so…