Just as Sunburst suggested, the next day, Shining Armor, and the rest of those who helped vanquish Sombra had begun taking a long, soothing bath - in the Changeling's love substance which had already been used on Shining Armor. But now, it was being used to help soothe the hearts, and minds of this pony group, inside the empire's own spa, no less, after issuing a day off for themselves. All to ensure any lingering feelings left by their fight with Sombra - or in Shining's case, lingering essence - were removed. Needless to say, it was the most relaxing experience any of them had experienced. All of them had donned bathing suits, and shared the large tub of love gel to better make the experience better. Thorax especially enjoyed this dunking, as the only one who fed off of this essence, even though it was no longer for necessity. Just a delightful pleasure. As pleasurable as the tea all of them were sharing together, which further helped calm the nerves. Though Shining still felt a little bad about something.
"Thorax?" he said, garnering the royal changeling's attention. "I know i only said this back when Sombra was torturing me, and had me on the breaking point, but i want to say this again as honestly as i can. And this goes for all of you: i'm sorry for getting you involved in this catastrophe, and almost got you all killed. Words really don't mean much, but i'm hoping to make it up to you all somehow. After all, if i didn't keep the obvious signs of something being wrong to myself, we could have avoided this." He sighed lightly. "Sorry for ruining the festival for you."
"Oh, don't worry about it!" Thorax exclaimed happily. "Even with the surprise bad-guy showing up, and everything after, we changelings had a blast. The crystal ponies are definitely warmed up to us now. And i'm pretty happy to say that, after all that's happened, the Crystal Ponies and Changelings are closer than ever before. So honestly? I think everything worked out pretty well in the end - just a couple of bruises to show for it. So no hard feelings, Shining."
After a moment, Shining gave a friendly smile to his changeling friend. "That's great to hear, buddy."
However, Cadence and Twilight picked up on something he had said. "Say, you said you noticed signs to what was happening." Cadence said. "What signs were those?"
Shining looked down to his hand, feeling bad about the memory, and explained, "Strange black markings that eventually covered my whole body - and all of you saw the end-result of that. A voice in my head, along with my own negative feelings being increased for some reason. And i was really aggressive to everypony around."
"I think i can vouch for that." Flash said.
"Well, if that's so, then....why didn't you tell me about it before?" Cadence asked.
"I..........didn't you to worry, Cadence. Not with everything that was going on at the time. I figured it was some kind of emotional phase i was going through, and figured i'd get over it. Tch. We all saw how well that turned out."
"Oh, Shiny." Cadence said, stroking the side of his face with tender care. "You know you don't have to keep things from me - especially if they might seem important. I understand now it was Sombra influencing you all this time, but you can share anything with me. Next time, i might be able to help you before it's too late."
"Or end up doing something bad because you kept it to yourself." Twilight said. "Spike can definitely attest to that after that incident with Rarity, and that Inspiration Manifestation fiasco." Curiosity peaked, Shining turned to Twilight with a curious glance. "Inspiration manifestation?" He asked confusingly. "It's-......it's a long story, and Spike's the one who went through it. Ask him next time when you get the chance."
"Oooh! I definitely know I will." Thorax said.
Shining only smiled as he heeded his families advice. "You're definitely right." he said to both of them. "I won't forget that if something similar happens." He then chuckled at a thought which just sprung to mind. "What's so funny, Shining?" Twilight asked.
"Nothing much: just thinking about how i actually learned something from all this. And that if we were in ponyville, i'd probably be writing it down as a lesson. Or if this were 4 years ago, i'd have written a friendship report to Princess Celestia. Kind of ironic, i was thinking."
"Not that ironic, prince armor, considering mine, and Luna's presence." Celestia said gladly. "So, Shining Armor? Would it be alright if you shared what you learned with all of us through this ordeal? I'm sure we could all benefit from such a lesson."
Shining nodded with a smile. "I think i'd be honored, your highness. *ahem* "Dear Princess Celestia" Suddenly, he began chuckling a little with Twilight giving a bewildered look. "Sorry, sorry! It's just your reports always started like that, Twily. I figured i'd pay some respect to it."
Twilight quickly relaxed herself after hearing that. "Okay, BBBFF........even though you're still a dork."
"That i am." Shining proudly said with a fun smile, before clearing his throat, and getting on with what he was about to say. "Today i learned something extremely important: that fear, and doubt are a part of who we are. And often, they come from moments cemented in our lives as moments we'd rather forget. And there will always come a day when such feelings will arise in any given form, and seek to overwhelm you- make you think that you're life has no meaning or value, and that the world is better off without you. But keeping it to yourself, along with any problems you have no idea how to fix, is a sure way of getting yourself in trouble - often leading to disaster. And it can often lead to something truly ugly.......or even to harm others, including yourself. That's why it's important that you seek out those you trust wholeheartedly: like close friends, or family members. Because the love they show you can always lead you out of the dark, and back into light. With their help, you can find the inner strength to stand against anything - even your darkest fears, insecurities, and thoughts. Replace hate with love, let those who care for you guide you, and you can survive. Because in the end............there's ALWAYS hope. Something noone should ever forget. Your faithful subject, Prince Shining Armor."
Celestia's smile grew more profound as she nodded in respect. "A very good lesson to learn."
"And one that many ponies could certainly benefit from." Luna added.
"Thanks-er, thank you, princesses." Shining said proudly. However, his ears fell to his side, and a sad face replaced his happy one. "My biggest regret in all of this is knowing that the innocent pony Sombra killed won't ever have a chance to learn anything again."
Sunburst's ears perked up. "Wait a sec: Shining, what pony do you mean?"
"In the empire, there was a stallion i ended up crossing. And because Sombra was increasing my anger, he made me cast a spell on that pony, and turned him into crystal. He fell over, and shattered on the ground. What's more.........i don't think i'll forget the look of terror on his face when it happened." He sighed heavily. "I don't even know who he was, and he probably has family out there. Somewhere. Once i'm back at 100%, i'd like to try and find his family so i can tell them what happened. They deserve that much, at least."
"Actually, Shining Armor, there isn't any need for such a thing." Sunburst stated.
"Why?"
"Because that pony, Scribe Marker, is alive, and he's in the medical wing of the castle recovering."
Shining's face was completely filled with shock, and surprise as he turned to Sunburst. A hopeful look also mixed in with it. At this point, though, Flash Sentry took over, and explained.
"After Sombra shattered the heart, and we began tying you up, one of the patrols told me - and in turn Sunburst, and the others - that he saw ponies in distress about something. He reported saying that there was a crystal statue, shaped like a pony, lying in some broken pieces. Another pony told us what happened, and he took the statue-um, sorry - pony to us."
"I analyzed the dark magic behind the spell, and once again looked through the records of dark magic involved with Sombra. As it happens, it was a stasis spell which turned ponies, or any living thing, into Crystal at will. But the tricky bit was that even if the statue is shattered, the pony within is still alive: just completely shut out to the world. A while later, after Starlight and the Princesses came, i cross-referenced a number of healing spells, and anti-spells for personification, and spells close to it until i figured out a solution."
"He told me, and Twilight what it was, and after gathering the pieces together, and reassembling Scribe Marker, Twilight and i combined the spells we knew, along with the ones Sunburst showed us. Thankfully, it worked out, and we were able to revive him." Starlight explained. "Though it was pretty hard: that dark magic spell was pretty powerful."
"If it could be used to crystallize the former princess of the empire, then i should think it is." Twilight interjected. Though Shining didn't pay mind to that. All he could do was gently lean himself back into the tub, and sigh heavily with content. A great burden had been lifted off of his shoulders - once again thanks to his friends and family. Now he wouldn't need to blame himself for anything Sombra did anymore. And he was happy. Something the others noted quite easily.
"See, Shining? You don't have to hold anything against yourself anymore. You were just as much a victim as Scribe was. We even explained it to him, and he seemed to understand. Noone blames you for anything. Everything's well now." Twilight said.
However, another thought crossed Shining's mind. Nothing serious, but nothing pointless, either. It was just of something he wanted to do to make everything truly better.
"Almost everything."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the medical wing, as Sunburst said, the pony Scribe Marker had been sitting in his hospital bed as comfortably as well as could be expected. He was wearing a simply hospital gown, with a vital monitor hooked up to him. Sitting right next to him was his friend, the mare from before. She had been the one who explained what happened, had been there to see the royals return Scribe to normal, and was now here as he finished recovering. And after what they went through, she had the right to feel a little concerned for him.
"Are you sure you're okay, Scribe? I could maybe ask the doctors for somet-"
"I'm okay, Lilly." he assured her. "Just a little groggy. It feels like i was having a weird, dreamless sleep. You ever have those before?"
"Maybe a few times. But i'm just glad you're back to normal.........just like the prince is, now."
Scribe lowered his head a little, feeling a small bit of shame for what he thought he might have contributed to a growing problem. "Yeah. *sigh* Poor guy. From the sound of what the princess' told me, he was even worse off than i was. And i probably helped make things worse with how i talked to him."
"Don't beat yourself over it, Scribe: nopony knew what was going on. Not even the crystal princess. Besides, i don't think he really blames you for anything."
"Probably not.......but i still don't feel all that great about it, either. I just wish-"
"Pardon me, Mr. Marker?" asked an attendant of the castle, as she approached the pony in question. "A letter just arrived for you. The writer wished it delivered immediately. Considering who wrote it, it must be important." She then handed him the open letter, and left to attend other duties. Scribe pulled out the piece of paper, and began reading through the short message. When he finished, his eyes widened for a moment. But then a look of relief spread across his face, followed by a smile. Much to his friend's curiosity.
"What is it?"
He then handed it over to her so she could read it, as he said, "Closure."
"Dear Scribe Marker,
I've been told that you recovered from your ordeal, and have been returned to normal. That makes me feel far better than you could imagine. I know there are few words i could say that can make up for my role in your......incident. And part of me wishes i could go back in time to stop it. But we can't change what happened.......nor can we blame ourselves for what others did. Or for what we perceive as our greatest failures. Despite the fact i did unwillingly play a role in what happened to you, that doesn't mean i'll let myself go insane over this. Yet neither will i refuse to acknowledge it. And even if it was someone using me to do it, i still want to give me deepest, and most honest apologies to you. You were just someone caught up in something he had no right to be caught in. An innocent bystander. And every life has meaning to me. Which is why i will strive to be a better protector to ponies like you.
I also hear that you already forgave me. Thank you for that. Now it'll make it easier for me to forgive myself. Just as i hope you can forgive yourself in case you somehow blame yourself for adding to the chaos. You had no knowledge of what was happening, so you were blameless. Just standing up for yourself, and your friend. A quality i admire in other ponies. Which is another reason why i wish to compensate you for your time in the empire. Even if they don't live here, everypony in the empire is considered a citizen: and one worthy of our respect, and care. So please, enjoy your time in the empire, and the paid expenses provided to you. It's the least i can do to make it up to you. Just remember one thing: if you ever feel like everything that's wrong with your life is your fault, and that things would be better without you: don't. Do a double-take, looks to your friends, and family - who probably care a great deal about you - and remember that you are loved. More than anything you are loved. And it always helps to have them there to remind you of that, especially in your worst days.
I know i sure did.
Your faithful Prince, and Captain,
Shining Armor."
The End