In the final future seen in S5, Starlight refuses to believe that it isn't an illusion just created by Twilight and tears apart the time travel scroll, trapping them. The world turns out to be a seared wasteland where everything they come across is burned to a crisp in unrelenting sunlight.

They find solace in Everfree Forest, where Luna has embraced her Nightmare side and allied (and more) with Queen Chrysalis in an attempt to at least save the lives of some her beloved ponies. The horror of the present they're stuck in sets Twilight on a course to try and figure out what happened and how to stop it. It turns out that she is no where near ready to face the enemy that took over that future. After all, how do you fight someone you love?

Nightmare Moon is a powerful mare. She is a very powerful, very crafty mare, with more intelligence and wisdom in her left hoof than most other ancient beings have in their whole bodies. So why was she so easily defeated? The answer- she wasn't. Her sister may have overpowered her with the Elements, but she was close in power levels to begin with. What could six little ponies do? The answer- Nothing.

Twenty years after that crushing defeat, Twilight wakes up from her slumber to find a Diamond Dog trying to free her from her imprisonment. In the following days, she learns what has happened in her absence, and uses what little knowledge she actually acquired over her twenty year imprisonment to make the monumental task of defeating Nightmare Moon ever so slightly easier.

Thankfully, she has access to all her 'old' friends, as well as a few old 'villains' to make the journey at least bearable. Her new 'niece's' crazy inventions are sure to make things easier in the long run, if those holes in the wall are any indication.

If only her brother weren't such a douche.

In their childhood, Queen Chrysalis, Cadence, and Shining Armor were all the best of friends. Until Cadence falls in love with Shining. Chrysalis can't do anything but support her, even if she harbored forbidden feelings for him as well.
Alas, love always comes with a price.

Covert art by Cizu on DeviantArt

We all know Shining Armor to be the hero that gets thrown around and beaten by the abnormal enemies of Equestria.

We know him to be the good guy that keeps going headstrong in a fight.

He's done it with Sombra.

He's done it with Tirek.

This new challenge, however, is going to be his most difficult one ever. He is alone and broken by the lies his friends and family have used to keep him in the dark.

Now that his loved one have brought the truth to the light, there are going to be consequences to lying about what has happened with Cadance' pregnancy.

Shining Armor is not going to understand for them. But they will understand this. . .

He is hurt.

He is angry.

He is done with his friends and family, especially Cadance.

Author Notes

Inspired by Zamairiac. Thank you by the way.

A Semi-Dark Short Story to the alternate universe of Shining Armor and Cadance having a screw-up in their marriage. And by "Screw-Up" I mean they are both in the wrong of what has put the gap in their love.

No, there is no rape or gore in this story. The twist of their conflict, however, is going to be a little messed up.

No one in Equestria knows that happened to the original Crystal Princess after the fall of the Empire. No word in any text book. No historical documents. Nothing except the drawings and tales in a book.

No one except the princess herself, and she’s still alive.

Where is she now? Wandering the countryside, a shell of her former self. A great mare reduced to nothing but a failed leader, trying to remember who she once was. Where it all went wrong. Who she truly is.

Her name was Crystalline.

Her name is Chrysalis.

Love and friendship are two things that come naturally to most of the inhabitants of Equestria except for the changelings. No one knew if they were even capable of feeling such emotions or if they ever even tried to. One day in order to improve relations with the pony-like insects Princess Celestia sends a letter to the current changeling queen's daughter, Chrysalis. This letter contains an invitation to her own personal school, Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns.
It is there where Chrysalis experiences friendship for the very first time, but as she gets older her friendship will be tested when the changelings food stores of love run out. The very same love that is quite plentiful amongst the ponies of Equestria.

For Princess Cadence, immortal and forever young, her marriage to Shining Armor could only be the prologue to a long life. Rather than be doomed to grief, she seeks out another whom she can be with forever.

Cadence x Chrysalis shipping.

If it weren't for a group of young mares, saving the day with luck and intuition, Equestria would fall. Chrysalis finds this absolutely unacceptable. For the love of ponies and their carefree way of life, the changeling queen takes a stand. Will she survive? Will Equestria?

Whoa, buckle up everypony, this one promises to be another big story!

The art is once more done by the amazing Vavacung, please show them some love and appreciation!

See This Blog for licensing.

Ever have one of those mornings where you are sleeping with your husband and your disguise starts failing and have to run from said husband because he wants to bash your head in thinking you stole his wife? Cadence is having one of those mornings and she is not amused.

In her escape from her husband, she stumbles upon the caves. It was wandering in them while she was trying to find a solution that she walked into it, literally. Though, it was one she wasn't expected and might have wanted to avoid.

Gleaming Shield has many suitors, when she became Captain of the Royal guard she quickly become the affection of many a different noble, guardsman and commoner alike for her renowned beauty. Her recent suitor, Prince Bolero, is determined to win her heart.

But, he might have some competition…

The King of the Changelings, King Metamorphosis, is residing in Canterlot for peace talks with Prince Solaris and has become smitten with the young mare the moment he laid his eyes on her, now, these two are determined to win Gleaming Shields heart and ask her to the Grand Galloping Gala.

But who will win the fair maidens heart?

A silly rule 63 Gleaming Shield, King Metamorphosis and Prince Bolero story. Cover art by the fantastic Ss2sonic.

Inspired by the cover art and a ATLA cartoon short. Thanks to RainbowBob and bocaj518 for their help!