Shining opened his eyes and let out a gasp. He was in the sky. Literally. He was surrounded by stars. It was like he was floating, no...walking on top of the stars. He was about to scream when he noticed the six pointed star on his flank once again glowing brightly.
“What in Celestia’s name?” Shining started to say until he looked up and say a sight that made his heart leap with joy. Twilight was a few yards away, looking up at a screen with images on a continuous loop. “Twilight!” He cried and galloped as fast as he could toward her. “Twilight! Twily?” He asked worrily. Her eyes were fixated on the screen. She wasn’t moving, but her cutie mark was glowing, signaling that their connection was strong. “Twilight why are-“ He stopped mid-sentence when he looked up at the screen. “Oh no,no,no!” He grabbed her shoulders. “Twily, it was not your fault!” The screen was playing the moment when the changling’s invaded, only with a slight difference. The images made it look like Twilight caused the invasion, starting at the wedding rehearsal.
”Cadence isn’t evil!” Shining yelled at her. “We had a plan to capure the Queen and you ruined it! Look!” The science shifted, showing the what was going on outside. The changelings rained down, hundreds of them poured on the streets of Canterlot, causing a panic. It was chaos.
The science shifted back to ‘Shining’. He had a look of absolute hatred on his face. “I can’t believe that I am related to such an imbecile.”
Tears streamed down Twilight’s face, but she didn’t move. She kept staring at the images in front of her, fixated on them. The more she watched, the more her coat lost color and her cutie mark dimmed.
“No.” Shining felt the connection that was keeping them together weakening. He tried thinking of a solution, but nothing came to mind. He spun around wildly, looking for something, anything, to help him. The only thing there beside themselves, was the screen playing the fake memory.
Fake Memory
He had an idea. It was crazy. He wasn’t even sure it would work, but he was running out of time. Their cutie marks were barely flickering. He focused on all of the good and amazing times he had with Twilight. His horn came to life, glowing magenta. He touched the tip of his horn on Twilight’s forehead. She let out a gasp and jumped back. Shining stumbled, confused, then he saw the reason why. Black crystals were sticking out from her horn. She screaming in pain, which made Shining wince. He focused more and concentrated. His horn glowed brighter and brighter.
I have to time this perfectly. He told himself. One mistake and he would hurt Twilight, and maybe himself. He got into a position that boot camp had taught for situations exactly like this one. Twilight started to move. She jumped closer and closer to Shining Armor, preparing to act him. She jumped up and pounced. Shining moved away one second before she hit the ground. Shining took this as an opportunity and trapped her underneath his legs. He began to lower his head. Twilight struggled, but the stallion had military training and was physically stronger than her. He lowered his head and cast the spell, filling her head with all of the wonderful memories that he had with her. For the spell to be complete, he had to think of a memory that he cherished the most. The day Twilight was born. January 18th.
Shining wait eagerly with his father and grandmother in the waiting room. In a few hours, he would be a big brother. He had waited 11 months, but he could hardly wait now. Time seemed to slow down. After what seemed like forever to the young colt, the nurse stepped into the waiting room.
"Sparkle family." she called. Shining Armor, Night Light, and Grandma Sparkle rushed up to the nurse, they all had an eager expression on there face. "Congratulations!" She said with a kind smile. "The newest member of your family is a little filly! Please follow me." Shining bounced after her, followed by his father and grandmother. They entered a room that was at the end of what seemed like an impossibly long hallway. When they finally reached the right room, Shining stopped and looked worried. "Daddy, do like that she will like me?" Shining asked, scared.
His father chucked and responded, "Yes I think that she will like you very much. And remember, me and your mother owe you a favor. You did win the bet." Shining smiled a cheesy smile and responded in a excited tone. "I told you so!"
Six months before Twilight was born, Shining had a feeling the foal would be a filly. His parents told him that he was being crazy, but he wouldn't change his mind. Eventually, they decided to bet on it. If Shining won, his parents would owe him a favor that they could not say no to. If Shining lost then he would owe his parents is entire allowance of 300 bits that took him 4 years to save up. Shining wasn't worried, he was sure that he would have a little sister. And he was right.
Shining entered the room and trotted over to his mother's side. "Mommy?" he asked. "Can I see her?"
"Of course." His mother responded, holding out a bundle of pink that she had in her arms. "Meet your new sister Shining Armor. Her name is Twilight Sparkle."
Shining looked at her and his jaw dropped. He had no words. What he felt that day was hard to explain. What he saw was the most cutest, most beautiful, most innocent, most...magical filly he had ever met. His father had repeatedly told him that his pupils dilated so much that he has about to call a nurse. In that moment, Shining Armor had met the most valuable thing he owned, something that he would do anything to protect.
Shining nearly collapsed from the strain of the spell, but he was able to stay standing. Panting, Shining looked at his sister, hoping, no praying that she was alright. Twilight looked up at him, her violet eyes focusing on his cerulean blue ones. After a tense moment, Shining walked closer to her, whispering. "Twilight?" She smiled. and responded "BBBFF?" Shining let out a ragged gasp. He moved toward her and gave her a big hug. He felt so relieved, one silent tear of pure joy slid down his face.
"Let's get out of here." Twilight whispered. Shining nodded, unable to speak. It was only then when Shining Armor realized just how scared he had been. Ever since he found out about Twilight crushed by a bunch of crystals while trying to save Cadence, his heart never stopped worrying. It kept worrying for the little filly he cherished so dearly. All of that time he had been scared of losing the one pony that made him alive. Now that he knew she was going to be ok, he was at ease, he was able to think about other matters, like the wedding and Twilight as the best mare.
In a flash they were back in the hospital room. Shining opened his eyes and looked around. The doctor didn't seem to had noticed what had happened. He sighed in relief, he wasn't quite ready to tell anyone what had happened between them. He look back at Twilight and smiled. Her eyes were open, looking at him. He never told anyone before, but, to him, Twilight's eyes seemed different than everyone else's. From the moment he saw them for the first time, he knew. They seemed more...alive than anything else. He saw it every time she was determined to get a spell right or proving someone wrong.
And he loved those eyes with all his heart.
"Twily," his voice was barely audible, "Are you alright?"
"Yes." she said. Her voice was muffed because of the mask on her face. " Well, being alive, yes. But the cuts and scratches no. As well as the broken ribs. I can hardly-" She stopped when Shining's hoof shakily moved toward her face. He touched her face, his lip was quivering. She smiled and tried to sit up, but her ribs wouldn't let her. She let out a small cry of pain, Shining also winced. He gently pushed her down and attempted to speak without crying.
"D-Don't try t-to-" His voice broke as Twilight promptly ignored him and her pain, sat up, and hugged him. His eyes let out tears that didn't show signs of stopping. Shining returned the hug and buried his face in her face and hooves. "Your alright." he whispered. "Your alright."
"You didn't actually think that I was going to leave you, did you?" Twilight responded giggling. She let go of Shining." I have to make sure that you get married, with or without me there."
Shining grinned from ear to ear. "You are going to be there! If I have to have the wedding in this hospital room, I will. I'm not losing you ever again!"
When he said that Twilight’s smile became very strained and her eyes had a sad look in them. Shining’s feelings of joy and relief were quickly replaced with concern. “Twilight?” He asked, visibly and audibly worried. “Are you-“
“Yes! Y-Yes, I am." Her response was rushed. She knew that something was wrong, but Shining didn't push her. He would push her later. Besides, the rest of her family and friends were waiting.
"Come on." He told her. "Everyone is waiting."
Her eyes lit up with excitement, but before Shining left to tell everyone that she was awake, Twilight stopped him.
"Shining, I love you, ok?"
He smiled in return and responded,
I love you too, kid.
"It looks like they found her. They will be overjoyed to see her alive. But-"
He looked over to Sombra and smiled wickedly. "She is not well." Sombra nodded and focused on his magic. Not wanting to hurt the poor pony more than necessary, he caused only a small jolt of pain. Twilight winced, but reassured her family and friends that she was alright.
The cloaked unicorn nodded approvingly, but them frowned. "Stronger." he said.
Sombra frowned. "Your Honor, if I cause the poison to attack any faster or stronger then-"
"Sombra," he spoke in a calm, intimating voice that made Sombra shut up and listen. "I want her here as soon as possible. If we wait, she will be back to full strength. That cannot happen. You will make the poison attack stronger to weaken her, to leave her somewhere between life and death. Then bring her to me. Do you understand?" his voice shook Sombra to the core. He sighed and increased the strength of his spell. 'I'm so sorry...' he thought to himself as Twilight screamed in pain, her coat turning black. Her loved ones rushed to find a doctor. 'But I have someone else to save. Someone more important than you.'
Back at the hospital, Shining had tears in his eyes as he watched his sister flat line. For the first time in Shining's life, all that he could feel was hopeless and lost.