Day 4, Shining Armor’s Chambers- 9:37am
Armor’s eyes darted open as he felt the cold air of the hellish tower slowly warm. He leaped from his bed, not wanting to waste any time. He remembered everything. He remembered the fighting and the puzzles. He remembered the towers and the traps. He remembered the voices. He remembered the stallions.
He was happy to see that Catherine wasn’t in his room. Then again, there would be no possible way for her to have joined him last night. After all, he had passed out early and been carried to his chambers by Brawny. The fact that he had passed out so early may have contributed to the strange feeling in his gut.
Today would be the day that he not only broke off ties with Catherine, but told Cadence everything that happened. He was tired of this sick game that the voice was playing with him, and he would be ending it no matter the consequences. He walked over to a small table by the door and lifted a photo into the air with his magic. He examined the photo longingly before a knocking sound at his door snapped him back to reality.
Without waiting for a response, Rain burst through the door and tackled his captain. He cheered, “You did it, Captain! You saved us from that thing! I don’t know how, but you did!”
Armor shoved the soldier off of him before laughing, “I don’t get it either, but what’s done is done. Now, we have a lot to discuss at the Stray Stallion tonight. We all have a bunch of shit to tell Boss.” He stood back up on his hooves and clapped them together, wondering how Boss would handle all the fucked up stories.
The two shared confirming nods and headed off on their way to the barracks to discuss matters with Brawny and the others…
Day 4, Stray Stallion Back Room- 10:18am
“This isn’t possible!”
A large mug crashed into the wall with enough force to shatter it and its point of contact. Boss’s eyes shined a deep crimson color as his head throbbed in agonizing pain. The anger boiling inside his brain was threatening to strip him of his ages-long sanity. He paced back and forth with angry force, keeping himself steady and frightening in case somepony should show up to speak with him.
The pink mare joined him in the blink of an eye. She giggled, “Armor survived. So did my other two clients. I think you’re slacking, Boss.” The old stallion shot her a terrifyingly angry glare.
He groaned, “Astaroth is trying to be the death of me, I feel. He’s giving that Armor too much leeway. When there’s a chink in your opponent’s armor, you exploit it. But Astaroth is dead set on repairing the weakness rather than use it!” Another mug was sent flying at the same spot from before.
Catherine sighed, “It’s only day four. Cadence comes home today, and that’s when I make my move. I'm tired of playing this game with him. I know it's my job, but it just doesn't feel right.”
Boss screamed, “Are you daft, Miss Catherine? Don’t you see that if you stop seducing him, I have no reason to send him back? Unless he turns out to be like Vincent and continues to challenge me, even at the end.”
The pink pony cheered, “What if he still refuses to commit? You can still send him in to try and 'convince' him.”
The old pony sighed, “Perhaps you’re right, Miss Catherine. I will see how today’s events play out. I should tell you that they were all fighting last night on the final landing. None of them made it to the night’s boss, yet they still survived. This Armor is definitely something else…” He fell back onto his small bed, the anger inside him subsiding slightly.
Catherine giggled once more before disappearing. She knew exactly what he meant, and she knew that it burned him up inside. For some reason, she found it funny when Boss actually got angry or scared…
Day 4, Stray Stallion- 8:52pm
“Nice to see you are all still okay. After your sudden change of attitude last night, I feared you may have come down with something horrible.” Boss greeted the usual group of stallions as they entered the bar for the fourth night in a row.
Armor and the rest of the guards took seats in their usual booth and sent ambiguous greetings in Boss’s direction. Armor and Rain shared knowing, sly, and curious looks before nodding in silent agreement. The other guards were completely unaware of these signs as they ordered their beverages of choice from Octavia.
After about ten minutes of shooting the shit, the three ponies Armor had been waiting on entered the bar together. Fancypants and Mr. Rich took their usual barstools, whereas a large red stallion took a seat beside the latter of the two. The richest pony took it upon himself to order a round of the most expensive liquor available for everypony in the bar, to which nopony objected. Armor and Rain wasted no time in joining the other three at the counter with Boss.
“Listen guys…About last night…” Armor tried to think about how to start this conversation. He wasn’t certain any of them remembered the dream aside from Rain.
Fancypants cut him off by saying, “You needn’t say a thing, Mr. Armor. We all behaved like children and fell victim to our own emotions. We should have died last night in the tower, but you saved us. There is nothing left to say on the matter.” He placed a hoof on Armor’s shoulder as a sign of thanks.
Mr. Rich sighed, “You saved our flanks. End of story. We owe you our lives now, Armor.” He took a few gulps of the strong liquor in front of him before letting out another deep sigh.
Big Mac chuckled, “Eeyup. We owe ya a bunch, Mr. Armor. Sorry to say there ain’t much a farm pony like myself can give ya, but I want ya to know I’m here if ya need me.” He took a swig of his own beverage.
Armor cheered, “So we’re all good, then? No hard feelings? I mean, we said some harsh things last night…” He thought back to how he’d called Fancypants a scumbag and then proceeded to tell him why he was one.
The rich pony smiled and said, “No hard feelings, my boy. We’ve got bigger problems than personal vendettas at the moment.”
Armor sighed, “Mr. Rich and Big Mac, you both said something about a mare named Catherine last night. Do you remember that?”
The two shared guilty looks before Mr. Rich answered, “Yeah, we remember. She arrived in Ponyville a few days ago. Pink coat, blond mane, blue eyes. A trio of winking hearts as her cutie mark. Beautiful gal…” He shut up as he noticed Big Mac’s annoyance.
Big Mac chuckled, “Eeyup, she’s a real looker. Got curves in all the right places, if ya catch my drift.” He smiled as he thought about the beautiful mare.
Boss’s eyes opened wide as he realized what was going on. He knew she would seduce multiple men, but he had no idea that she would stay in the same form for all of them. When she worked on earth, she took the form of her target’s dream woman. For Vincent, it was a Caucasian blond with large breasts. For Steve, it had been a thin, round-assed African woman. But it seemed that here in Equestria, all of the stallions viewed Catherine with the same appearance.
The shit was about to hit the fan for Boss, and all he could do was stand right in front and breath the breeze. He had made a fatal miscalculation in his plans to judge Equestria, and it could cost him his position in this world. If any of the stallions made the connection between him and Catherine, things could get violent… He wasn’t prepared for that.
Armor laughed, “So, your Catherine is the same mare as mine. I thought so. The way she just suddenly disappears and reappears. The fact that we can’t remember what we supposedly do with her…or to her. I get it now. We can’t all have been with her on the same night, not in two different cities. That either means she isn’t real or she’s a monster. I honestly can’t say which one I believe more…” The two Ponyville ponies gave him a quizzical look, uncertain of the ‘not real’ possibility.
Boss prepared himself mentally for the proverbial shitstorm heading his way. Fancypants laughed, “Are you insane, Mr. Armor? There’s no possible way that she isn’t real, if all three of you have been with her.”
Rain butted in, “Didn’t you say Boss introduced you both the other night, anyway? That means she has to be real.”
From within the booth on the other side of the bar, Lightning laughed, “Great, not only are you cheating, but you’re cheating with an imaginary woman! How hilarious is that?”
Octavia delivered a firm hoof to his gut before giggling, “Forget about him, Armor. She’s a real pony, there’s no doubt about that. I brought her a drink just last night.”
Boss’s heart started to race. Catherine had arrived shortly after the bar cleared out the prior night, and Octavia had taken her order. He wasn’t sure why, but he was making terrible mistakes at this point in his game, and that would cost him dearly. What if one of the stallions challenges him like Vincent did?
Mr. Rich groaned, “You did? Dammit…”
Big Mac chuckled, “Are ya sayin’ you actually want her to be fake, Mr. Rich?”
The depressed stallion sighed, “It’d make my life easier… If she isn’t real, it’s not cheating, right? So I wouldn’t have to feel guilty about cheating on the Misses…”
Armor laughed, “If only that were the case, Mr. Rich! Then I’d have nothing to worry about when Cadence-!” A sudden realization crashed down over him like a tidal wave. He gasped, “Oh shit, Cadence got back today! I…I have to…” He slammed his bottle of liquor back down on the counter and tossed a few bits beside it before leaping from the stool and darting from the bar.
“Hmm…” Brawny hummed as he approached the counter. He chuckled, “So have any of you seen Catherine since last night? Because I think I’d like to meet this curvy lady of yours.” He placed a hoof on Mr. Rich and Big Mac’s shoulders as he said this.
Rough scoffed between puffs of his cigarette, “You’re a married man, Brawny. Or at least that’s what you complain about all the damn time.”
Lightning cheered, “You really shouldn’t joke about cheating, Brawny. Never know when your moment of weakness shows up. It’s like a ninja!” He waved his hooves around in a mock-martial arts style.
Octavia sighed, “You really shouldn’t joke about it. This is serious stuff these guys are going through.”
Brawny clapped his hooves and chuckled, “It was one joke, fellas. Calm the fuck down.” He took a sip from his bottle and sat on Armor’s unoccupied stool.
Boss coughed, “Yes well, I can safely assure you that Miss Catherine is indeed a real mare. And a beautiful one at that. However, I have no clue how it would be possible for her to be in both Ponyville and Canterlot at the same time to have relations with the two of you. I’m afraid she may be some sort of monster or demon, if that is the case.” He adjusted his shades and prayed that his dialogue would draw any and all suspicion away from him.
“Well that wasn’t very nice, Boss!” The seductive and innocent voice filled the air of the bar, and suddenly all the chatter subsided and gave way to amazed muttering.
Boss’s jaw dropped as he heard the voice. Everything he had planned was falling apart on him. Just when he was going to clear his name, the one pony that could ruin his escape clause showed up. He sighed, “G-good evening, Miss Catherine. What brings you here so early?”
Every eye in the bar locked on to the pink mare as she strutted her stuff to the counter and took a seat right between Rain and Fancypants. A slight pinch of awe clouded Rain’s thoughts for a moment before he remembered that three stallions—as far as they knew—had already been with her. He decided to keep away from lustful thoughts involving her.
Fancypants, on the other hoof, was not one to shy away from a beautiful mare, so long as he had something to gain by it. However, he did not, and so went about his business of drinking his alcohol. Mr. Rich and Big Mac looked back and forth from one another to the beautiful mare, wondering what they should say or do, or what she might say or do.
Lightning hopped up from the booth and leaned right between the mare and his friend. He chuckled, “Howdy there, Miss. The name’s Lightning, and you are?”
Catherine looked into the young stallion’s eyes and said bluntly, “Not interested.” She slapped his hoof away with one of her own before sliding Rain’s drink out from in front of him. Rain didn’t object to his drink being stolen as she—very oddly sexually—gulped down the alcohol.
Lightning scratched his mane and blushed as he was outright rejected by the beauty and slumped back in his booth. Brawny laughed, “Ask and ye shall receive, my child. The name’s Brawny, and it’s a pleasure to see what all the fuss is about.” He extended a hoof past Rain to the mare.
She giggled, “Oh, how nice. I bet you’re a strong one, eh?” She touched his hoof with one of her own and let out a light hiccup.
Fancypants couldn’t resist the urge any longer. He turned toward the mare and bowed, “My name is Fancypants, Miss Catherine, and it is an honor to meet such a gorgeous individual.”
She returned his bow with a giggle and a pat on the head. She sighed, “It’s a pleasure to meet all of you. So Boss, what’s all this about me being a demon?”
Boss stammered, “U-uh…it’s nothing! I was simply trying to comfort these poor stallions. They are at a loss for reasoning behind their current dilemmas, so I wanted to help fabricate some form of comfort.”
“Nice. So you make me a demon? Well, I guess I kind of am a demon, at least in bed. <3” Catherine injected as much of her seductress charm as she could into those last three words. Jaws dropped all throughout the bar, stallion or otherwise. Boss stood stock-still behind the counter, unsure of what Catherine was hoping to accomplish by complicating matters.
Where every other patron of the bar was taken by the mare’s charm, Lightning simply scoffed, “You sure aren’t afraid to admit it, huh? Do you just go around advertising that you’re easy?”
Rough sent a hoof right at the insulting stallion, but it fell short thanks to Octavia’s intervention. She giggled, “You’re really outspoken today, aren’t you Lightning? You must be a little drunk.” She winked at him, trying to send the message that he should shut up.
Catherine smiled as she said, “There’s nothing wrong with wanting a little pleasure is there? Besides, my clients don’t seem to mind, right Filthy?” Mr. Rich’s eyes opened wide as she called him by name. “You could also ask Macintosh.” Big Mac followed suit.
Boss groaned, “Miss Catherine please stop this. I have no desire to witness a brawl tonight. If you keep up your mannerisms, I will have to ask you to leave.”
Catherine pouted, “Aw, but it’s just a little harmless fun! Okay…”
…
Day 4, Princess Cadence’s Chambers- 9:17pm
“It’s so great to see you again, darling! I’ve missed you so much the last couple of days!” Armor embraced his loving mare tightly as they said their greetings for the first time in three days.
Cadence returned the embrace with one of her own and sighed, “Oh Armor, I’ve missed you too. It was rather lonely without you by my side the last few nights…”
Armor released his lover and began helping her unpack her luggage and store it away. Taking care to avoid her more personal belongings, he quickly had everything packed away and placed back where it belonged.
After they had completely packed away everything in the bags, the caring stallion took it upon himself to start the inevitable conflict that would soon follow. He sat down on her bed and sighed, “Cadence…we’ve been together for four years. I…I love you, Cadence, more than anypony can imagine. But…I’ve done something that I regret terribly, and you deserve to know the truth. You see, while you were gone, I sort of…” Although he started strong, his voice began to trail off towards the end.
Cadence placed a hoof on Armor’s shoulder and touched her horn to his. She sighed, “Cheated on me?”
Armor’s eyes opened wide as these words left her lips. He stuttered, “Y-yes, well, kind of, but I… Look, I can explain!”
Cadence placed a hoof to his muzzle, “You don’t have to. She already explained everything to me. It was a fling, a drunken accident. Everypony makes mistakes, Armor. The fact that you were going to be honest with me tells me how much you love me.”
Okay wait, what the hell? She already told Cadence? But is that even possible? They don’t know each other. There’s no way they could have met without me knowing. What’s going on here? And wait, did Cadence just forgive me? But does that mean I’m off the hook? I haven’t even broken up with Catherine yet. In fact, how the hell did Catherine know about Cadence? And why would she cover for me? What the fuck?
“You’re…not mad at me?” was the only thing Armor could choke out in his confusion.
Cadence giggled, “Of course not. We all make mistakes. You’re not the only stallion that cheats on his lover… But you were going to be honest with me, so I can’t be mad at you.”
“Wh-what if I told you that I haven’t actually…broken up with her yet? I mean, I was going to when I saw her, but she hasn’t been around today…” Armor hoped that the situation wouldn’t change, but he couldn’t be sure of anything anymore.
Cadence smiled, “Don’t worry, Armor. She told me she has no intentions of seeing you again. She also told me that she was the one who seduced you. You’re in the clear, darling.”
Armor couldn’t believe how easily he was getting off the hook. He asked, “Are you sure about this? I mean, I cheated on you, Cadence! I violated the sanctity of our relationship. And you seriously aren’t mad?”
Cadence planted a hoof firmly on Armor’s shoulder and shoved him back on the bed. She giggled, “Armor, if you’re really that worried about it, why don’t I show you how mad I really am?” She used her magic to remove her royal garments and tossed them to a random spot on the floor.
What the fuck is going on? Why the hell isn’t she mad? I mean, I don’t want her to be mad, but shouldn’t she be mad? Wait…the only reason she shouldn’t be mad about me cheating…is if she cheated on me! But no, Cadence wouldn’t cheat, would she? I guess I didn’t think I would cheat, and look where I am now… If she cheated on me, would that make me the better person because I tried to be honest and she’s just keeping quiet? No, I can’t think like that! Cadence is the nicest mare I’ve ever met, she would never betray me!
Or would she?
“It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe, which lures him to evil ways.” –Buddha