A Scratch On Shining Armor: Bad Moon Rising

by BaeroRemedy


366

Three Hundred and Sixty-Six days until the next Summer Sun Celebration

“WOO!” A cheer went up through the massive crowd, spreading almost throughout the entire city. Shining Armor contributed to the uproar the best he could, whooping and hollering as the sun appeared over the horizon. The city of Baltimare was obviously overjoyed to have the Summer Sun Celebration this year, and Shining was more than happy to share in that joy with them.

“Is it time for coffee yet…?” The very grumpy mare beside him spoke directly in his ear. Shining smiled in response and kissed her temple lightly. He didn’t need to say anything to get a grumble in response from Vinyl, just like he always would this early in the morning.

It had been a rocky road to get to where they were today. From the moment they were forced together by chance, through all of Vinyl’s family drama and Cadance trying to use her power to keep them apart, to all the stuff between those first few fateful moments seven years ago and now.

They were happy now. It had taken time and effort, but they were finally in a place that felt right. They even had little traditions now, like this one where they went to see the Summer Sun Celebration wherever it was held every year. Sure, maybe Vinyl didn’t like getting up so early just to see the sunrise, but she always loved the parties afterwards. This year’s was special, though. This year Baltimare had hired Vinyl to take care of all of their music needs for the night. Yeah, their lives were nearly perfect.

“Tell ya what-” Vinyl spoke in her groggy voice, sliding her sunglasses over her eyes as the glorious sun shone over the land for the longest day of the year. “-as much as I enjoy your kisses, they are no substitute for coffee, Twinkle.”  Still the pet name, no matter what. It was their little barometer for how Vinyl was really feeling. ‘Twinkle’ meant everything was good and she was only annoyed or sarcastic, ‘Shining’ meant she was pissed off or worried.

“We’ll get you your coffee, but first we have to hear the speech.” Shining always loved Princess Celestia’s speeches at this event, it was a grand sweeping speech that encompassed the hopes and dreams of the coming year that the Princess had for Equestria and its ponies. It was always inspiring and hopeful and it was just good motivation to help the country and all of the ponies in it. It was Shining’s motivating force now that he was a paper pusher and not a proper guard. It let him know exactly what he was working for and towards.

“Ponies!” The booming voice of Celestia quieted the crowd almost immediately. In an instant, the entire city had its attention locked on the Princess, the collective breath held in anticipation. “I want to say thank you to the city of Baltimare for hosting this wonderful event, their hospitality and charity cannot be understated.” The mayor, a nearby portly stallion with a styled mustache nodded with a beaming smile. “Now, to the state of Equestria as we stand today. We are a nation on precipice of greatness: our relationships with Saddle Arabia, The Griffon Empire, and Thestralia could not be stronger and together we are looking to create a union unlike anything this world has seen since the pony tribes united under one banner! Our trade routes flourish and our coffers fill, we are the envy of the world once again!”  A roar went up through the city, one filled with national pride and hope for the future. “All is not well at home, though-” Celestia’s voice cut through the noise without effort. “-hate is on the rise in our cities, calls to violence come from within - from ponies who we thought as righteous and harmonious. It pains me deeply to see the rhetoric against our own kind, against the creatures who come here seeking refuge from their own war torn homelands.We must not see them as enemies invading our homeland, but strangers needing our help and guidance. Then the unfortunate situation in Canterlot-in my very palace-where dangerous and illegal leaks are jeopardizing Captain Galea’s ability to execute her office to its full potential. I must urge the public and the press as well to exercise a certain level of distrust when given such classified materials without named sources or authorization from government officials. They only seek to undermine our ability to protect both our citizens and our security.” The alicorn took a deep breath, one that was not lost on the crowd at all. “That is why I stated that we are a nation on the precipice of true greatness, while we flourish abroad we weaken and wither at home. We must rise above our petty differences, both physical and ideological, to push past this last barrier and achieve our place in the annals of history as a truly magnificent nation.”

Shining couldn’t help but stamp his hooves and cheer with the rest of the crowd. The surge of national pride and purpose filled his chest and he just couldn’t hold it back. He loved Equestria, it was the whole reason he became a guard. He loved his country, he loved its citizens, and he wanted to see the nation as a whole flourish.

“Turn around and lift your tail for us!” Shining was taken out of his patriotic fervor by Scratch doing what she does best, being vulgar. He rolled his eyes and thumped her chest with a hoof. “Ow! What? Not like she can hear me.”

“Be respectful, she is the Princess.” Shining watched the monarch descend from the stage, reaching out and shaking hooves with ponies within reach and giving gentle warm hugs to fillies and colts. Like always, she was the picture of regality and poise.

“Let me have my fun, Twinkle.” The little back and forth didn’t really mean anything.It was just how they both had their fun, one of them says something a bit silly and the other responds and chides them, repeat ad infinateum. It was just one of the little things that kept their relationship fresh and fun.

There were pitfalls, of course. Vinyl could get a bit… sensitive at times. Sometimes a back and forth would strike a nerve that Shining didn’t mean it to and would end with Vinyl angry and closed off for some period of time. Vinyl could be frustrating when she got like that, because if Shining engaged and told her that she took it the wrong way it could turn her angry and start a fight. So most of the time Shining caved and apologized which weighed on him heavily to just give up like that.

“Coffee, right?” He asked the mare next to him, giving her a little nudge. It was important to keep Vinyl properly caffeinated, and he could go for something too. Scratch nodded and pointed a direction towards a coffee shop on the other side of the crowd. Shining stepped forward and carved a path for the both of them through the dense thicket of bodies covering the street.

“Oh come on.” The pearlescent mare grumbled and groaned when they arrived at their destination. Just at the doors was a contingent of guards, fully armored and with spears stood at their sides in their magical grips. Throngs of ponies blocked the front windows, jabbering at looking at somepony inside.

“Seems like the Princess of the Sun isn’t exactly a morning pony, huh?” Shining joked and grinned at his compatriot, who only gave him an honestly grumpy look. The two white unicorns pushed their way to the front of the crowd as quick as they could. As soon as the two were able to see in, the Princess’ eyes met with theirs and lit up in recognition. Before Shining could even get a wave off, the window was suddenly and efficiently polarized so that nopony could see through it. A chorus of disappointed groans came from the crowd as they slowly dispersed now that they couldn’t ogle the princess.

“Her Majesty Princess Celestia wants to meet with you.” The stallion jumped a bit at the sudden tap on his shoulder and the deep, commanding voice in his ear. It was one of the guards, not one that he knew but then again he’s been out of the guard for seven years now. There were plenty of fresh faces that he didn’t know.

“Oh, thank Celestia!” Vinyl exclaimed and grinned excitedly. “I mean, y’know, literally.” She added on as the guard ushered them into the little coffee shop in the middle of Baltimare.

Sitting by the window in a booth just big enough for her alicorn proportions, was Princess Celestia herself. She sat with a little white teacup in her soft yellow glow, her magenta eyes following the two unicorns until they sat across from her in the booth. She took a small sip of whatever was in her cup and smiled at the two.

“Shining Armor, Vinyl Scratch. It is a pleasure to see you again. It has been a while.” Celestia’s mere presence seemed to radiate a warmth that permeated everything around her. Colors seemed brighter, a light feeling filled the hearts of ponies, and smiles were unavoidable. “Can I order you something? Coffee? Pastry?”

“Please!” Scratch responded eagerly. “Coffee, black as you can get it, please.” Shining didn’t really understand her seemingly recently acquired taste for the bitter stuff, but to each their own. The Princess and Scratch both looked to him for what he wanted.

“Sure, I’ll take a white mocha latte and a…” Shining trailed off as he squinted at the menu behind the far counter “….kolache, please.” A nearby guard nodded and walked off towards the counter.

“So how’re you doing, Celestia?” Vinyl sidled up as close as she could to Shining, resting her head lightly against him. Something about the little action seemed to brighten the monarch’s smile just a bit more.

It had been quite a while since Shining had been this close to Princess Celestia, at least a few years. His work schedule and general lack of free time had prevented him from spending too much time in the palace, especially around the royal bedrooms.

Plus all the stuff with Cadance all those years ago, it didn’t leave him exactly eager to talk with the sole monarch of Equestria. He would want to ask about his ex-marefriend, and that would just be a rabbit hole he wasn’t keen on going back down.

But Princess Celestia, she looked… older now. Not just seven years older either; her eyes had visible bags under them, her mane wasn’t as lustrous or freely flowing as it once was, and her posture was slumped and exhausted. To most ponies it wouldn’t be noticeable, but to those who had spent long enough around the alicorn, it would be just visible enough to raise some red flags.

“If I may be candid-” The guard who had been dispatched to order what they had wanted, came back and deposited two cups and a small plate with Shining’s food. Celestia waved the stallion off to leave the trio alone in peace. “-the summer sun celebration always takes so much out of me. The travel, the speechwriting, and the media circus in Canterlot have… it has been a lot.”

Shining nodded, while all Vinyl did was shrug.

“Sounds like you could use some ‘you-time’, Princess.” Vinyl took a long drink of her pitch-black coffee. “Like, y’know, a vacation. How long has it been since you left Canterlot not for official royal duties?” It was a fine idea, but it would never work. Shining knew that.

“Oh Vinyl.” Celestia gave a hearty chuckle and a wide genuine grin. “If I could just disappear for a few days, don’t you think I would have done it by now?” Well, Shining was thinking more about the logistics of the only Princess in Equestria not being in Canterlot, not even working, it would be a nightmare. Who would be in charge? Galea? That would be an even bigger disaster.

“Hey, I’m just sayin’.” Vinyl looked around to make sure the guard was gone for good. “Maybe you and I disappear to a nice cabin in the Macintosh Hills for a week or two, maybe with a whole cask of the good stuff from the palace cellar and just have a good time.” Vinyl gave the monarch a lecherous grin and raised her sunglasses to add a wink. Shining had no clue how Scratch had such little shame around Princess Celestia. It was something Shining still envied. Then again, it might just come off as creepy coming from him.

“Tempting,” Celestia admitted, returning Vinyl’s sly wink. Then she went back to nursing the warm drink in front of her.

“That wasn’t a no~” Vinyl whispered into his ear in a sing-song voice.

“Enough about me, how are you two doing? No problems, I hope.” Shining bit his tongue on all of the things he could complain about. Maybe not relationship problems, they could handle those speedbumps, but many other things.

“We bought a house!” Vinyl said excitedly, putting her sunglasses onto her head and beaming all the while. Shining nodded and finally decided to throw his two cents in. He nudged Vinyl to sit back and let him get some words in.

“On the east-side of town, just a few blocks away from the DEqI headquarters.” Shining took a bite of his pastry and nodded at the thought of their new property. “It’s gonna take a lot of work, though. The place isn’t in good shape.”

It had been a dream of both of theirs since they both moved into Vinyl’s apartment together. A house all their own, with a full kitchen, a spacious bathroom, closer to his job and the center of the city. The problem with that kind of dream is that it’s expensive, especially in Canterlot. So saving and scrounging, working extra hours and waiting for the perfect moment took seven years and an accident that sent some rubble through a two story house. That brought the price right down.

“Yeah, gonna be a lot of weekends working.” Vinyl let out a sigh and let her head hit the table with a dull thud. “I hate doing all that physical stuff.”

“Hey, that’s why you have me.” He pressed against the mare next to him and smiled. “So don’t worry, we got this” Vinyl looked up and gave him a smile, then leaned in for a small kiss that he gladly reciprocated.

“Hey, lemme out.” Vinyl urged him with a poke to his side one they both had pulled away from the kiss. “I gotta go to the bathroom.” Of course, he complied and got up from the booth and let the mare rush by him towards the back of the little eatery.

“Are you two still not married, Shining Armor?” The question punched Shining hard in the gut, causing the stallion to nearly double over and choke on the piece of food he had just bitten off. “It has been seven years.”

“I-I-” Shining hadn’t expected Celestia to ask a question like that, not at all. Sure, he knew that the Princess was a little more interested in their relationship than she had any right to be, but that was because she had been personally involved in them getting together. “W-we’re waiting, Your Majesty.”

“For what, the apocalypse?” The alicorn asked with a slight chuckle. “You both are not getting any younger, and it is not as if you do not love each other.” He suppressed a sigh, yes those were all true but… there was just so much more to it.

“We’re just not ready.” He decided was the point he was going to hammer home. “My work keeps me busy, and she’s always travelling for hers. We just haven’t settled down enough to… well, settle down. We just want to live our lives for now, and we’re just not ready for marriage.”

“Oh? You both are not ready? Or is it only you?” Shining wouldn’t meet Celestia’s gaze, he wasn’t sure what he would see if he did. “What is stopping you?”

----

Cadance found herself in the highest room of the tallest tower. It was the only place in this ancient decrepit prison that she called home that let her see something other than the dense thicket of the Everfree. From here, through the cracked and broken windows, she could see the shining city on the Mount: Canterlot. Home.

The bright lights of Canterlot pierced the darkness of the world and stood as a beacon to all of Equestria. To Cadance, it was just a memento of her wrongdoings. Everything she had done had led to her exile, to her imprisonment here in the Castle of the Two Sisters deep in the cursed and wild forest known as the Everfree.

She guessed that’s why she liked coming up here, because it hurt. At least that little twinge of homesickness, that pain, it reminded her that there was more to life than the crumbling masonry and darkened forest around her.

Tonight, the lights of Canterlot were different from most others. Usually most of the city would have dimmed and gotten ready for rest, but every light in the city still shone as bright as ever. Now, everypony was waiting through the night for the raising of the sun in the morning, now they were partying and having a good time.

All while she was out here.

She averted her gaze from the city, instead looking up at the moon. It was full and beautiful, in clear defiance of the lights from the land below. The Mare in the Moon was the one pony that Cadance could always see, the one that was always there for her.

‘O’ child of mine, who doth look to the moon and stars, what hope thou to see?’

Cadance’s head shot up and she attempted to spread her wings and light her horn up in defense. The magical bonds that kept her tied to this place fought to keep her wings pinned and extinguished the magic in her head.

“Who’s there?” She asked, spinning around and looking into the darkened recesses of the tower. She had heard the voice, she knew she had. Where was the pony speaking to her? Who was it? “Whoever you are, you shouldn’t be here!”

‘Stargazer, look again to the moon and thou will lay thine eyes upon Us.’

Slowly, Cadance turned around towards the hole in the ceiling that she had been looking through to see the moon.The Mare in the Moon, the great craterous shadow that blessed the surface, it moved. The pink alicorn’s jaw tightened and her eyes widened at the implications.

“Luna…” She whispered.

‘Thou dost know my name, and reside in my tower. Tell me, Stargazer, who art thou?’

The dangerous impossibility of this happening had not been lost on Cadance. Celestia had told her of Luna, the scorned little sister imprisoned in the moon after turning into Nightmare Moon. She wasn’t supposed to return for another year, this wasn’t supposed to be happening!

“Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.” Cadance steeled her nerves and planted her hooves. Whatever was going on, she would figure out some way to tell her aunt. She had to warn somepony!

‘Princess? Art thou an alicorn like Us? Dost thou know Our sister?’

“Celestia…” Speaking the name aloud, it hurt her. Just saying the name made her posture and stance falter. It made her words catch in her throat and her chest ache. It was a vivid reminder of everything, of this loneliness. “Yeah, I know her…”

‘There is hate in thine eyes, and hurt in thy heart. Tell Us, Princess Cadenza, what has she done to thee?’

Before she could even refuse to answer that question, the moonlight that streamed around her seemed to form into semi-solid tendrils and surround her. It was magic,weak but at the same time more powerful than she had felt since Celestia had locked her here.

‘Our sister’s magic taints thy form, it binds thy wings and clouds thy mind. She has imprisoned thee here. Tell Us, Kindred Spirit, dost thou hate her?’

Cadance opened her mouth to say no, to say ‘of course not’ or ‘I could never hate her’. But something stopped her, something deep down in her heart. It was fighting for her to say ‘yes’, to scream ‘I want to lock her up for a decade and see how she likes it!’

“I’m not sure…” She instead answered meekly. There were so many ways to answer that question but none of them would feel right. Cadance looked back up at the moon, tears streaming from her eyes and down her cheeks. She had the distinct feeling that it was what the Mare in the Moon wanted to hear.