When Shining Armor returned from Canterlot, he immediately retreated to the Golden Oaks Library. And it was there that he told Twilight and Spike what had happened.
"That's it then, huh," Spike commented. "Princess Celestia just told you to take the magic and stick your head in the sand?!"
"You know that's not the whole story, Spike," Twilight interrupted. "There's still that final key. If we can find it, we might have a chance."
But Shining only shook his head. "I don't want to believe that key won't turn up eventually, but waiting around for a miracle just isn't possible in these circumstances. As long as Tirek is out there, and as long as Discord is siding with him, I can't simply wait for the solution to come to me. I have no choice but to perfect the new magic I wield and use it against Tirek! He must be stopped by any means necessary, and if Discord gets in the way my orders are to do the same to do him."
"Can you actually do that though? I mean, what would the others say if they found out?" Spike asked with concern.
"I... don't know," Shining confessed, hanging his head. "And for Discord's sake, I hope our paths don't cross until Tirek is vanquished. He hasn't told him about me yet, but I have to assume it's only a matter of time before Tirek finds out for himself. You, Twilight, and the others can keep searching for that final key if you want. But unless it magically surfaces in the forseeable future, I can't depend on it to save me, or Equestria! Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Princess Cadence gave me their magic so that I might stand a chance! Like it or not, I have to go for the only reliable option I have left."
Spike sighed. "Suit yourself, I'm gonna go back to sleep. The sun's not up yet."
Spike's comment actually got Shining to start thinking, about the sun and about the moon. "Spike is right, the sun should be up by now." He thought to himself, and then it suddenly dawned on Shining and he let out a gasp! "Oh no, how did it not cross my mind until now?! When I recieved Celestia and Luna's magic, I also gained control of the sun and the moon!"
Twilight watched in surprise, and concern, as her brother rushed towards the nearest window, and started to frantically light up his horn! Shining seemed to strain himself heavily, as magical energy surged and crackled all around him. "Are you okay, B.B.B.F.F?" Twilight asked with concern.
Shining squeezed his eyes shut, as he tried to concentrate. "No...all this magic inside me... it's burning me up! But I.... have to.... control it! Can't... let Tirek.... suspect anything!" He replied, panting and sweating. Lowering the moon and raising the sun proved to be a very difficult task, it took every once of strength Shining had just to maintain control! At last, he was able to get the sun into the sky and leave it to move on its own power. "I need to get better at my new magic," He said to himself, quickly rushing for the door. "I can't stay here!" He was about to light up his horn for a teleport, but decided against it. "Teleporting is too dangerous!" He thought to himself. "Who knows where I'll end up, or what I'll do?! I need go somewhere where I can be free of distractions!"
Shining attempted to concentrate his magic on the doorknob and turn it, but he ended up using too much power and blew the door right off its hinges! "Sorry, Twily," He hastily apologized, rushing out. "I'll fix that later!" But all of a sudden, as he extended his wings, Shining felt a surge of power overtake him! Before he could stop himself, he was zooming across the sky like a bullet! Fortunately, he soon landed near the outskirts of Ponyville.
But as luck would have it, at that very moment all five of Shining's closest friends came up to him. They were very much concerned. "Just what was that all about, Shining? I've never seen you fly that fast before." Soarin commented.
"Must've caught a breeze or something." Shining hastily replied.
"Funny, don't recall there bein' any kind of breeze around here today," Big Macintosh commented. "And while we're are it, what the hay was up with the sky? The sun and moon were actin' all crazy, I thought I was losin' my mind."
"Come to think of it, you've been acting strange ever since you came back from Canterlot," Fancy Pants observed. "Just what's going on? Don't bother trying to lie to us, Shining. Something is up, and we want to know what it is."
Shining looked all around, he could tell his friends were not going to leave him alone until they got an answer. "Should've figured they'd find out eventually." He thought, and with a sigh he confessed. "If you must know, the princesses stored all their magic inside of me for safe keeping."
"But why would they need to do that? Shouldn't Discord have captured Tirek by now?" Thunderlane asked with concern.
Shining gulped and swallowed hard, how was he supposed to break the news of Discord's betrayal to his friends? "Discord has....." He began, then paused. He tried to think of how he could best phrase what had to be said, but his heart just couldn't bring himself to tell his friends the harsh truth. "Ponies deserve to have their faith in goodness rewarded once in a while." He thought, and lied to them. "Not responded. We suspect he's gotten lost. Tirek moved faster than any of the princesses anticipated, and apparently he's grown powerful enough to mask his power for short intervals. Discord is likely still trying to get a lock on Tirek's exact location."
"Perhaps we could accompany you on your journey?" Braeburn offered. "Sounds like you've got a lot on your shoulders, and besides, we still need to look for that last key."
Shining only shook his head, as the magic surged through him quite painfully. "No, all you need to stay as far away from me as possible!" He firmly ordered. "Until I can get my new magical powers under control, I'm a ticking time bomb! And I'd never be able to forgive myself if one of you got hurt because of me!"
"Then, what are we supposed to do in the meantime?" Soarin nervously asked. "This is serious, Shining! Tirek already stole all the magic from The Wonderbolts, it was a stroke of pure luck I wasn't with them at the time!"
"And I got word that Tirek's already gone after my friends and family in Appleloosa!" Braeburn added. "It seems like he's gettin' stronger by the minute!"
"For now, just leave me alone, please!" Shining pleaded in a desperate tone. "Tell everyone to stay inside and keep all doors and windows shut until further notice! I don't know how long we have until Tirek finds out about me, or that I live here for most of the year, but if we can keep him in the dark for a while I may have enough time to master my magical powers and put a stop to this!"
"Assuming Discord doesn't catch him first." Thunderlane reminded.
Shining tried his best not to look guilty, as he nodded. "Of course. Now go, all of you!" And he watched, as his friends all left to sound the warning for Ponyville.
"Well, now I really am alone!" Shining thought to himself, as he unhappily looked towards the Everfree Forest. "But I've got no choice, it's the only way I can ensure their safety! I have to get my new powers under control before Tirek shows up!" And with a flap of his wings, Shining took off again, leaving Ponyville behind.