"Are you sure you don't need my help with this?" Shining asked Cadence as they got into the throne room.
She smiled at him as she said, "Don't worry, Shining Armor. These dignitaries from vanhoover were surprising, but i think i should have them taken care of in time. That gives you the chance to oversee the preparations for the event. I know how much you don't like handling political issues, anyway."
Though a bit disappointed, Shining didn't disagree with that last statement. If there was one thing he wasn't all too comfortable with, it was trying to handle politics. He was a soldier, first and foremost. Though it was a shame he couldn't be there for Cadence to help her take care of it. But quickly thought of something else he could do alongside his task. "Then, you need me to handle Flurry Heart while you take care of the dignitaries?"
"Actually, i asked Sunburst if he would be willing to look after Flurry heart for the day. Given how busy our day's probably going to be, it's probably best to have someone else she knows take care of her for a while. That way you can stay focused on overseeing the festival's preparations without having to worry about Flurry, too."
Shining's ears dropped just a bit before he said, "Oh, right. I guess that makes sense. I was just hoping to spend a little more time with her - what with me being busy lately." He then put on a smile, and said, "Oh, well. I guess i can wait till later."
"Don't worry, Shiny: there'll be time we can BOTH spend together with Flurry later." Cadence said enthusiastically. "Right now, we better just get to our businesses."
"Yeah, i-" Suddenly, Shining felt a small coughing fit come on. It was short, but it felt a bit painful at the same time. His mouth was covered as it passed - but as he looked to his hand, he noticed the black rash had grown bigger for some reason. His eyes widened in panic as cadence came over to check on him, feeling concerned. "Shining? Are you alright?"
"Uh....y-yeah, i, uh-" Shining started, trying to fold his long-sleeve up to hide to the rash. "Guess my throat was a little dry. I haven't had anything to drink for a while." he said, in a slightly nervous tone.
"Are you sure?" Cadence insisted, noticing the tone in his voice. But he was quick to try, and ease her as he placed his right hand on her cheek, and said, "I'm fine, Cadence. Really. You just take care of the dignitaries: i'll go see how everything's being handled in the empire." He put on another smile to try and make her feel less worried. But she could tell that it wasn't all that genuine: like he was hiding something from her he didn't want her to know about. She wanted to know what it was badly, but....... she knew better than to try, and pressure him any further. So instead she sighed, returned the smile, and said "Okay, Shining. Try and have a good day, okay?"
"Will do. Take care, sweety." he said, brushing his hand across her cheek as he began exiting the room. As soon as the doors closed, he had something of a concerned expression as he reexamined his arm. And yes - somehow the rash HAD grown larger since he saw it.
Or at least what he had assumed was a rash before. Now he wasn't so sure anymore. Maybe his coughing was related to this. If it was some kind of sickness, odds are it could be harmful to him in the future. He considered telling Cadence about it so that they could perhaps work together to-
"Wait a sec." he suddenly thought. "Why are you getting worked up over this? It's just some weird rash, and worked-up allergies. They happen all the time. You have no time to worry about this when there's more important things to worry about? Besides..." His eyes narrowed a bit as his thoughts continued. "It's not like Cadence would be all that concerned, anyway. She's too busy with her own things to worry about a husband she doesn't need bothering her, or your own foal. Forget about her right now. There are plenty of other things to worry about."
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The day moved along as steadily as one might expect. After taking care of his troops normal drill routine, Shining Armor went to work overseeing the preparations of the celebration. With him was Flash Sentry, assigned as his personal escort through the day. While he expected no trouble, Shining knew it was best to keep those he trusted nearby. Either way, the preparations were all running smoothly. Banners saying "welcome" had all been set, the buildings had been shined and polished, all manner of party linings had been set up. And every pony was a bustling as they set up stands for the festival itself. Though Changelings once fed on love, their metamorphosis allowed for them to safely try new things. And odds are that they'd like some of the foods, and even the items being sold when they arrived. Either way, everything seemed to be in order. This looked like it would be quite the welcome for the swarm.
"Everything definitely looks great." Flash said pleasantly. "Don't you think, Captain?"
"Yeah, i do. But flash, you don't have to call me "captain", anymore." Shining said, with only mild irritation.
"Oh. Sorry, your higness." Flash said, rubbing the back of his head. "I just want to be respectful to the rank, that's all."
"I appreciate that, flash. But all we're doing is overseeing festival preparations, and they're practically done. Not much call for formality unless we're on patrol, or an emergency kicks up. If you want to call me anything, just stick with Shining Armor. It's less formal."
"I guess that makes sense." flash said, before looking around again. "Still hard to believe the Changelings are on our side now. Given the general chaos they've caused, it seemed impossible. Glad that Thorax was able to turn things around."
Shining Armor smiled at hearing that, given how pleased he was about the events. However, something inside made any positive feelings leave him in almost an instant. And again he was reminded of when the Changelings abducted himself, and everypony he knew before they were saved, and how he couldn't prevent it. How Thorax's first introduction to the empire had been met with mistrust, prejudice, hate, and almost having the young changeling be either arrested for life, banished from the empire - or worse, if not for spike. But more importantly was his own wedding. The moment which proved that he might not be as pure as he liked to think. And just how worthless he really was. Now they were allies to Equestria: and he had nothing to do with it. All he seemed to do was add to a problem that arose. And he hated himself every minute for it. It seemed even his own body couldn't stand him anymore, and he started up another coughing fit. This time, it made him bend over as he hacked, and coughed painfully. Much to Flash Sentry's growing concern.
"Prince Armo- Shining Armor! Are you okay?" he asked worriedly, placing a hand on the prince's back. But after a minute, Shining Armor was able to catch his breath, and stand up straight - though he'd attracted a small crowd of onlookers. Once he stood up, he put on a fake smile as he raised up his hand. "I-i'm alright. It's okay, Flash: don't worry about it."
"Okay, but........what's wrong with your hand?"
Shining's eyes widened in horror as he looked to see that he'd raised up his blackened arm, which was now engulfing his hand. The blackness was up to his palm, and around his thumb. As quickly as he could, he brought down his arm, putting it under his other arm to hide it. "N-n-nothing! It's nothing!"
Flash raised an eyebrow as he said, "Are you sure?It kinda looks like you caught a little frost bite, or something. Maybe you should see a doctor, or-"
"I SAID IT'S NOTHING!!!" Shining snapped in a fit of anger. This startled both Flash, and the pedestrians watching. However, it didn't take long for him to realize what he did, as a remorseful expression appeared. "Flash, i-...i'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap like that. It just-"
"It's okay, sir." Flash said, still a little nervous, but being able to tell Shining felt bad about his actions. "You're probably stressing out with the festival."
Shining didn't say anything else. He wished to avoid dragging the issue any further, and just nodded. "Y-yeah......that's all it is." he said with uncertainty. "Look, there are still some things in the empire i need to check over before the festival gets started. You can tell Cadence the preparations are pretty much done: i'm going to head off alone."
Flash didn't really seem to agree with such an idea. Not after Shining Armor's little display - and not after seeing that mark on his body. "Are you sure about that? Cause if you want, i can stay, and-"
"No!" Shining said hastily, but quickly recomposing. "I mean, no, no thank you. I just- .........i'd like to be alone for a while. I'll see you back at the castle!"
And before Flash could get another word in, Shining Armor ran off down one of the streets. As much as he wanted to stay by his side, as his lieutenant and friend, he wasn't sure if his presence would do any good. But it was clear as day that something was wrong with Shining Armor: anypony could see that clear as day. Yet it was uncertain what that black mark has to do with it.......or if it was connected to his outburst. Still, Flash had a feeling something bad was going on. And right now, there was only one pony who could possibly help out. Flapping his wings, and taking off, Flash flew back to the crystal palace to inform Princess Cadence that something was wrong with her husband.
He just hoped it wasn't too late.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After several minutes of running, Shining Armor finally stopped to catch his breath in an alley. But he found that a bit hard when he began coughing again. Only it was harder than the previous times, and his chest hurt with every forced expulsion of air, forcing him to his knees. But eventually it subsided, and he was able to breathe again. Sadly, what he saw next was of no help to his ever-growing anxiety: his hand had been completely engulfed in the black rash. However, what he found most disturbing was the fact his hand had long, and sharp claws which seemed to actually serve as his fingers. He moved them about to see if they worked normally, which they did. And after seeing what happened to his hand, he began growing worried about his situation.
"What in the name of celestia's happening to me?" he exclaimed frantically. "Whatever this is, its like it's changing me. I don't even know why i snapped like that, or....or why i keep acting like i'm hacking up my own insides. I just keep feeling so many things! I feel........i feel.........." But he soon lost his train of thought as he seemed to slip into some manner of daze as his thoughts once again spoke to him.
"You feel stronger. All these feelings of anger, and fear, and resentment: they're making you stronger. Maybe your bodies going through a magical change, and it's taking time to work in. It may seem scary, but.........maybe it's a good thing. Perhaps you should embrace the change that's coming over you. Perhaps-"
"Excuse me, your majesty?"
Shining snapped out of it when he heard a voice next to him. It was a crystal pony stallion, with cherry fur, aqua hair, and a cutie mark shaped like a scale. Shining didn't know this pony personally, but he figured he should at least figure out what this pony wanted.
"Can i help you?"
"Um, well........i just noticed you over here, and you saw you didn't seem so good."
"I'm perfectly fine." Shining said, his tone suddenly turning low, and cold. "Why wouldn't i be?"
The pony in question grew a little nervous as he said, "Well, you were coughing really badly, and k-kneeling on the ground. A-and-and when i came over, you looked out of it. Almost like-"
"What's it to you?" he asked rather rudely.
"Wh-uh.......i--i-i....i just......wanted t-to see if y-you were alright, your highness."
"As i said: i. am. perfectly. fine. Which is why..."Suddenly, Shining grabbed hold of the pony by his shirt, and pushed him against the wall of the alley they stood in. Then, with little warning, Shining brought forth the black-clawed hand he had been hiding all this time, and scratched the wall with a horrible, screeching noise which made the pony cringe. But when he looked to the prince, his ears folded back under the hardened, and anger-filled glare which began boring into him. His next words were on of threat, menace, and nearly of murder. "You'll keep quiet about what you just say, understand? You didn't see me here: not as you saw. Because if you tell ANYPONY what you just saw..........i'll make sure you never see the light of day again. Are we clear?"
".............c-c-c-crystal!"
"Good. Now GET out of here!" Shining angrily exclaimed as he shoved the pony out of the alley. He then ran as fast as he could away from there, severely confused, but even more terrified. Many of the other ponies wondered why he acted like that, and some looked to the alley. But when they looked, they could see nothing. They had little idea that Shining Armor had somehow just turned himself into shadow, and moved himself into another part of the area. When he materialized again, he looked down to his clawed hand, flexing them again as the black mark suddenly began to form on his shoulder. He paid no mind, as he felt a rush from what he had just done. Thanks to his emotions of anger, he had been able to become living shadow, and use it to travel unseen. This strange power he was feeling was truly something. But another coughing fit quickly drew him out of it, and he suddenly remembered what he had done.
"No, nononono! What's wrong with me?! That pony didn't deserve to be treated like that! I-.....i have to find him, and apologize-"
"NO! You don't need to waste your time. That pony is long gone by now. He should have known better than to stick his nose where it didn't belong."
"H-he was just concerned. That doesn't give me any right to-"
"To what? To just tell him to mind his own business? And to give him a little incentive? What's so bad about that? It's not like you hurt him."
"Maybe not physically, but-"
"But nothing. It's not that big a deal. You just told somepony to mind their own business, and you didn't hurt anypony. Yes, you seemed harsh in how you did it: but that's tough love. Every ruler must be cruel in order to be kind. And you ARE a ruler, Prince Shining Armor. Even though nopony will ever see you as one."
Shining said nothing as his thoughts began running wild. Normally, he would never allow himself to think like this. However: ever since he had woken up this morning, things had been going strange, lately. A force compelled him to feel negatively. And with each passing minute, it seemed as if his will were slowly being drained away. Like he was loosing the will to stay positive about anything. Either something influenced him..........or he was finally opening up to the truth of his own feelings.
"That's right. To all of equestria, you are nothing but a consort for the crystal princess. And nothing you have done has ever given credibility to your title. 6 times you've failed those around you: and in doing so, have only proven how worthless you truly are. That's what everypony thinks of you. They see you as only a burden to carry. Aren't you tired of it all? Having to endure being so inferior to others, and failing when you try to be something you're not?"
A horrid scowl soon appeared on Shining's face as he scratched at his back. "Yes. I am."
"Then be patient. It will all be over soon enough. In time, you will show these ponies what's inside you. Let your feelings free. Your emotions give you strength. They give you clarity, and strength. You will have no need for those who doubt you, and disregard you. Let go of your notions of love, and harmony. Let fear fuel your soul, and the true path of your destiny will arrive!"
to be continued.