Chapter 16: Battle for Ponyville
It just wasn't the same without Apple Bloom. She should have been used to life with Diamond Tiara, she had dealt with it before. But now she had seen what a true friend was, and felt it. She also knew that Diamond Tiara, wasn't it.
"Ugh, come on Silver Spoon!" Diamond Tiara whined, "I want to get there today!"
"Right... Diamond Tiara..." Silver Spoon groaned. The sun had finally set, and they were just heading back to Diamond Tiara's place. They were coordinating their outfits for the beauty contest, which meant that whatever Diamond Tiara picked, Silver Spoon had to wear the second best.
Why couldn't she be number one for a change?
"Those blank flanks haven't come back yet?" Diamond Tiara asked.
"N-not that I know of," Silver Spoon said. Everypony was concerned when Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo vanished. Scootaloo's parents didn't seem to concerned, but her dad was heard mentioning that he wanted to "teach her a lesson". Sweetie Belle's parents were besides themselves, especially when they couldn't reach Rarity either. Cherrilee was really concerned when Apple Bloom didn't come into school, but Granny Smith told her that Apple Bloom was okay. Silver Spoon knew better though. Something told her that Apple Bloom might be in trouble.
"Hmph, personally I think Ponyville is better off without them," Diamond Tiara said, hurting Silver Spoon, "The nerve. Ten years old and still blank? No motivation what so ever. At this rate, they'll be blank forever," she was so into herself that she didn't notice that Silver Spoon stopped walking.
"How dare you..." Silver Spoon said seriously. Diamond Tiara turned to Silver Spoon looking offended.
"Um, excuse me?" Diamond Tiara asked.
"You DON'T know them, especially not Apple Bloom! Sure they don't have their Cutie Marks, but at least they're true friends! What they lack on their flanks they make up in their hearts, unlike you!"
"S-Silver Spoon! Where is all of this coming from?" Diamond Tiara asked.
"I'm tired of you! I listen to you whine and complain, and talk about how amazing your Cutie Mark is, but tell me, what does it mean? What talent do you have to show for it? I'll tell you what your talent is, it's being phony and a stuck up brat! If you want to win that stupid beauty contest, then you're doing it yourself! I'm not going to be a stepping stone for you!"
With that Silver Spoon ran off. Diamond Tiara called out to her a few times, but she didn't care. She was finally free. She didn't care that their parents worked together; her parents were hardly home anyway. She just wanted to get away. She wanted her real friend back. She wanted Apple Bloom.
She ran all the way to the stage Apple Bloom made. Once there she fell to the ground and screamed as loud as she could to let out the pain and frustration. She didn't cry after she was done, she wasn't sad in the slightest. She was just angry. When she was done she just stood up and allowed herself to feel out her emotions.
She then heard trotting. Whoever it was they were wearing some sort of armor. Silver Spoon turned around slowly and saw five black soldiers walking up to her, three of them holding blades in their mouths, and two of them building up energy in their eyes.
Silver Spoon backed away from them. Something told her that they weren't there to say hi. She turned around and held her hooves up in fear as the soldiers lunged after her, but they never came to her. Instead she heard a fight break out. Silver Spoon slowly opened her eyes and saw somepony in a red dress fighting the soldiers with a blade. As she was fighting, Silver Spoon got a good look at her. She looked so much like...
The soldiers fell all too soon, and the mare sheathed her sword turning to Silver Spoon. As she looked at her, it became all the more apparent, but there was no possible way.
"Are ya alright?" the mysterious mare asked.
"Who..." Silver Spoon asked, making the mare laugh a bit.
"It's me, Silver Spoon. Ah came back, jus like Ah promised," the mare said, confirming what Silver Spoon thought. It was her...
Silver Spoon's breathing picked up a bit, and then she ran over to the now (strangely) grown up Apple Bloom.
"Apple Bloom!" Silver Spoon cried out as she embraced her friend.
"Ah'm shocked," Apple Bloom said laughing, "Ya really recognize me?"
"Well I'm a little confused," Silver Spoon admitted, "But I'm just happy that you came back."
"Ah just wish Ah was back on better terms," Apple Bloom said letting got of Silver Spoon, "Ah gotta find the Elements of Harmony? Do ya know where Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy are?"
Silver Spoon nodded, "Pinkie Pie should be pretty close, but why?"
"She's in danger. Where is she?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Um, she's staying at Ponyville hotel, but-" Apple Bloom darted off the second she heard that, "Apple Bloom, where are you going?"
"Ah gotta protect her!" Apple Bloom stopped and turned to Silver Spoon, "Ah'm sorry, but Ah got a mission. Ah have ta stop Twilight no matter what!" she then turned and ran off. Silver Spoon was scared now. Why was Apple Bloom so old?
And what happened to Twilight?
Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy landed back in Ponyville and were running back to the hotel. As they ran, they saw the black soldiers from before everywhere destroying the town and even attacking ponies. They heard Lyra and Bon Bon screaming in the distance.
"Shoot!" Rainbow Dash shouted as they turned in their direction, "Fluttershy, stay here! I'll-"
Before Rainbow Dash could finish, Fluttershy was off, flying over to the building they were behind. All Rainbow Dash saw were the soldiers being kicked away, and a second later Fluttershy was escorting Lyra and Bon Bon out.
"Are you two okay?" Fluttershy asked.
"Y-yeah," Lyra said, clearly taken aback. Whatever Rainbow Dash missed had to have been amazing, for Fluttershy at least.
"You two need to get out of Ponyville," Fluttershy stated, "Rainbow Dash and I will save the town."
"Right," Bon Bon said running off, Lyra following after her. Rainbow Dash ran over to Fluttershy after they left.
"What did you do?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"I don't know," Fluttershy said looking down nervously, "My body just... reacted. I didn't mean to..."
"Hey, hey, it's okay," Rainbow Dash said, "Look, you saved them. That's fine, even if you used violence to do it."
"Y-your right..." Fluttershy said softly. They then heard an explosion in the direction of the hotel. Rainbow Dash's heart went into her stomach.
"No... NO!" Rainbow Dash shouted before flying off to the hotel. When she got there, she saw the hotel was destroyed, and Pinkie Pie was gone. Rainbow Dash's mind was going a mile a minute. Where was she? Where was Pinkie Pie?
"Damn it! We're too late!" Rainbow Dash heard next to her. She looked and saw a new pony she had never seen before. Some unicorn wearing glasses. The odd thing that caught her eye was the purple dragon riding on his back.
"Spike?" Rainbow Dash asked running to them.
"Rainbow Dash!" Spike called out jumping off of the new pony and running to Rainbow Dash hugging her, "You're alive! Twilight said she killed you!"
"Aw Spike, I'm too awesome to die," Rainbow Dash bragged. Fluttershy flew in a second later and trotted over to them.
"Spike? When did you get here?" she asked.
"Fluttershy? What are you wearing?" Spike asked, but the unicorn he came with was staring at Fluttershy intently.
"You miss," he asked, catching Fluttershy's attention.
"Yes?"
"You would by any chance be one of the Elements of Harmony, would you?"
"Why, yes I am sir," Fluttershy explained, "Rainbow Dash is one too."
"Which Elements do you both represent?" he questioned, frustrating Rainbow Dash.
"Look, I know this is real fascinating, but I need to find Pinkie Pie!" Rainbow Dash shouted about to run off.
"If you want to rescue your friend and save this town, then I advice that you listen to me," the strange pony said.
"Answer him," a new voice said, coming from a mare Rainbow Dash normally wouldn't have recognized, but after a second she registered who it was.
"Hold on, Apple Bloom, is that you?" Rainbow Dash asked, shocking the now grown Apple Bloom a little, "I saw Scootaloo, and she was aged too."
"Well, that save's us time," Apple Bloom stated, "But listen, Lezard here knows a lot about ancient magic, an' he's got a lot o' know how when it comes ta things like the Elements. Spike and I wouldn't have gotten here so fast if it weren't for him."
"Okay, Lezard," Rainbow Dash spat in frustration, "Real fast, she's Kindness, I'm Loyalty, now can we go!"
"I see," Lezard said looking down. He then walked over to Fluttershy, "You've learned the true meaning of Kindness then."
"The... true meaning of Kindness?" Fluttershy asked.
"It's said that the Elements of Harmony will evolve when Equestria needs them most," Lezard explained, now turning to Rainbow Dash, "But you haven't evolved yet, which means you're not being truly loyal."
"Hold up!" Rainbow Dash said now pissed, "Who are you to say I'm not being loyal? I'm the most loyal pony in Equestria!"
"Clearly not!" Lezard said, shocking everyone, "If you were, then the Element of Loyalty would have evolved by now!" that statement hurt a lot, and Rainbow Dash looked down in anger, "I'm not trying to put you down. I'm just speaking as a stallion who knows what he's talking about, and as a pony who wants to live. If we're going to survive, then we need all the Elements of Harmony to evolve, including you."
Hearing Lezard speak humbled Rainbow Dash a bit, and she took a deep breath before continuing.
"The pony I need to save is one too," Rainbow Dash said seriously, still not looking up, "Hers is Laughter, but she won't ever laugh again after what I did to her..." Rainbow Dash was beginning to wonder if her Element wasn't evolved yet because of what she did. How could she have made a choice though? It was either Pinkie Pie or Fluttershy, and Fluttershy's life was on the line. But maybe she should have found another way.
If that was true, then she'd never evolve.
"We need ta find Pinkie Pie," Apple Bloom said, "Ah say we split up an' look fer her."
"Agreed," Lezard said, "This town doesn't look to big. If we do that we're sure to find her."
"Then I'm going!" Rainbow Dash shouted flying off. She didn't plan on waiting for them to decide which way to go. Besides, she knew she could find Pinkie Pie. They had... a connection.
"Let me go!" Pinkie Pie urged her captor, which she knew was Scootaloo. She realized that after she was taken to the Cutie Mark Crusader's tree house. Scootaloo tied her up in a corner and then sat off near the door.
"Sorry Pinkie, but I'm not doing that. Not now, and not ever. Twilight wants you dead, and I need you as collateral."
"Scootaloo, this isn't you! You're not an evil meanie pants! You're sweet, and loyal, and-"
"SHUT UP!" Scootaloo shouted, scaring Pinkie Pie, "Don't act like you know me! You don't a damn thing about me! You and Rainbow Dash are exactly the same. So wrapped up in your own little world that you can't even be bothered with the ponies around you, but the second they threaten your life suddenly you care. Well I don't care about anyone anymore! All that matters in my world is me!"
"Is that really how you feel?" they heard Rainbow Dash ask by the door. Pinkie Pie's heart leaped when she saw Rainbow Dash.
"Dashie!" Pinkie Pie cried out happily, silently telling the voices in her head to shut up now. See? She did come.
"Oh hoh, Rainbow Dash, I'm surprised you're still alive. But then again, it makes sense that you lived, but I'm not here for you right now," Scootaloo said trotting over to Rainbow Dash.
"Well too bad, cause I'm here," Rainbow Dash said, "And I'm not leaving without Pinkie Pie!"
"Screw that," Scootaloo said with a laugh, "If I have my way, you're not living past the next five minutes!" with that Scootaloo kicked Rainbow Dash out of the tree house.
"Dashie!" Pinkie Pie screamed as Scootaloo walked to the door.
"Don't go anywhere," Scootaloo taunted, "I'll be back in a bit."
Pinkie Pie shook her head in fear. Rainbow Dash had to win. She had to.
She'd going to die...
"No... she'll... save me..." Pinkie Pie said weakly, partially trying to convince herself as the whole room turned dark around her. She couldn't fall back into that place. She worked so hard to get out of there.
Apple Bloom had run through all of Ponyville, and still hadn't found Pinkie Pie or Scootaloo. What was the one place she hadn't looked yet?
"Apple Bloom!" Silver Spoon called out running over to her.
"Silver Spoon? It ain't safe here!" Apple Bloom said, "Ya need ta get inside!"
"But I saw Pinkie Pie!" Silver Spoon said, shocking Apple Bloom, "Some pony on a weird bike like thing rode off to your tree house! She had Pinkie Pie with her!"
"What?" Apple Bloom knew exactly who that was, "So, she want's ta play it that way," Apple Bloom looked at Silver Spoon, "Thanks, now please get ta safety. Ah'll save her!" Apple Bloom said galloping off. Somehow she had a feeling though that Silver Spoon was following her.
She must have rubbed off on Silver Spoon. She picked up on her bad habits...
When she arrived at the tree house, she saw Rainbow Dash on the ground, and Scootaloo standing over her. This was going too far.
"Some hero," Scootaloo said kicking Rainbow Dash while she was on the ground, "Looks like you're not finishing this race."
"SCOOTALOO!" Apple Bloom called out trotting over to them. Scootaloo looked at Apple Bloom with a sinister smile.
"It's about DAMN time!" Scootaloo said trotting to Apple Bloom, "I had a feeling you'd come sooner or later."
"A little birdie pointed me in the right direction," Apple Bloom said, "What in tarnation are ya doin, Scoot?" Apple Bloom asked, "This ain't right."
"I'm doing what needs to be done to change the world! I don't agree with everything Twilight is doing, but I do think the old rule has to go!"
"An' ya think Twilight's gonna be a good queen?" Apple Bloom asked, "Yer goin insane!"
"Twilight? Don't make me laugh!" Scootaloo said harshly, "I'm talking about myself!"
"W-wha?" Apple Bloom had to step back at that statement.
"First I'm going to get rid of my past! Then, I'm going to take it to Twilight!"
"Ya can't be serious! She put Princess Luna under a spell, and petrified Princess Celestia! What makes ya think you'll even stand a chance?"
"Twilight doesn't know how powerful I am now!" Scootaloo proclaimed, "I'm the hero of the story! She's just one pony I need to step over to get my goals. I'm going to defeat you, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight, then I'll change the WORLD!"
"Scootaloo, no!" Apple Bloom cried out as Scootaloo slammed her front feet on the ground. A second later, parts of her armor shifted to form a small cannon of some sort on her shoulder.
"Hope you're ready, Apple Bloom!" Scootaloo shouted taking to the skies. She then charged over to Apple Bloom shooting flames out of the cannon. Apple Bloom rolled to the side just in time, shocked by Scootaloo's attack. What that some kind of weapon?
Scootaloo rushed over to Apple Bloom and was about to punch her, but Apple Bloom pulled out her sword and blocked the attack. She then pushed Scootaloo away from her.
"Ah don't want ta fight you!" Apple Bloom said still holding the sword in her mouth, "We're friends!"
"You're no friend of mine, Apple Bloom!" Scootaloo shouted, "You proved that when you chose Silver Spoon over us!"
"Ah just wanted ta get mah Cutie Mark the right way!"
"And look where it got you!" Scootaloo taunted, "This second, which one of us has their Cutie Mark, and who's still a blank flank?" that hurt, a lot, and Apple Bloom glared at Scootaloo as her eyes filled with tears of anger, "Don't think I don't know why you're wearing that dress! You're ashamed, and too proud to admit that I was right! Now we're both adults, only I know what my special talent is. You on the other hoof, are nothing but a blank flank, and now you'll always be blank!"
"Ah'll make ya eat those words!" Apple Bloom shouted charging at Scootaloo. They continued to fight close quarter for a while, this time now Apple Bloom was trying to hurt Scootaloo. While they fought, Fluttershy, Lezard, and Spike ran to the scene of the fight. Apple Bloom wasn't paying them any mind though. Her target was solely Scootaloo right now.
"Rainbow Dash!" Fluttershy said running over to her fallen friend.
"Pinkie Pie..." Rainbow Dash said, "She's inside... the tree house..."
"Leave it to us!" Spike said. Right when they were about to run to the tree house though, Scootaloo's soldiers fired at them, forcing them back.
"Damn it," Lezard said, "They were expecting us!"
"Didn't I TELL you," Scootaloo shouted, "Pinkie Pie isn't going anywhere!" Scootaloo then kicked Apple Bloom away, and fired her flame thrower at the tree house, setting it on fire.
"NO!" Apple Bloom shouted jumping on Scootaloo and pushing her to the ground, "How could you!"
"Like I said, I'm getting rid of my past, and that includes that eyesore of a club house!" Scootaloo stated pushing her away. Now soldiers were surrounding Fluttershy, Spike, and Lezard, so they couldn't get into the tree house to save Pinkie Pie.
"Now what do we do?" Spike asked as Fluttershy and Lezard stood in front of him.
"I don't know! There's too many of them!" Fluttershy said.
"With only one Element of Harmony, there's no way we can defeat all of these soldiers and rescue the Element of Laughter inside!" Lezard stated putting up a hoof preparing a spell, "But that doesn't mean we can't try! Fluttershy, get ready!"
Fluttershy nodded nervously. Just when the thought of fighting seemed a little more appealing, now she had to fight a battle she couldn't win? This was turning out to be a great day for the still really timid pony.
"Pinkie... Pie..." Rainbow Dash said slowly getting up, "I have... to protect... her!"
"Dash!" Fluttershy called out as Rainbow Dash flew over the fight to get to Pinkie Pie. Fluttershy noticed that Lezard was shaking his head.
So that's what he meant...
Rainbow Dash ran into the tree house, and wasted on time trying to untie Pinkie Pie, who was mumbling to herself the entire time and looked traumatized.
"Pinkie Pie, I'm here this time," Rainbow Dash said trying to snap Pinkie Pie out of whatever daze she was in, "Pinkie Pie, it's me! Dashie!"
"She's going to save everyone..." Pinkie Pie mumbled to herself, as if she didn't even hear Rainbow Dash.
"Huh?" Rainbow Dash asked, "Pinkie, I don't know what you're talking about, but we need to-"
"SHUT UP!" Pinkie Pie shouted suddenly, "She will save everyone. Even Twilight," that was when Rainbow Dash realized that Pinkie Pie wasn't talking to her, "Because she's the Element of Loyalty. She didn't go with Applejack, but I know she'll come through. She always does..."
Now she understood, and it hurt a lot. Pinkie Pie even told her that she should have gone with Applejack. She called herself being loyal, but she abandoned Applejack when she needed her. She didn't want to fight Twilight, but she should have stuck by Applejack. She could save her. She HAD to save her.
"Pinkie Pie, I understand," Rainbow Dash said holding Pinkie Pie, "You knew. You always know these things. I need to be where Applejack is to save Twilight. But I can't leave without you. No matter what I need to do, I can't abandon you. You're the most important pony in my life," Rainbow Dash noticed that Pinkie Pie reacted a bit. She was coming back.
Should she take a chance? She still felt weird around Pinkie Pie, but all this time all she could do was focus on her safety. She was even willing to abandon her friends to protect her. Did she really...
She did, and if she was going to save Pinkie Pie right now, it was time she showed her that.
"Pinkie Pie, there's something I should have told you a long time ago, and I guess here in a burning tree house is as good of a time as any," she then got in real close to Pinkie Pie, unaware that the Element of Loyalty was glowing around her neck, "I love you."
She then kissed Pinkie Pie, who immediately reacted, the Element of Laughter around her neck glowing as well. At the same time, they both began glowing as the building around them fell to pieces.
Outside there were two fights going on at the same time. One was Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, and the other one was Fluttershy and Lezard against about ten soldiers at once (Spike was hiding behind a tree). Everyone stopped though when the tree house exploded, with Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash inside.
"No..." Fluttershy cried shaking her head, "RAINBOW DASH! PINKIE PIE!"
"Damn it!" Apple Bloom shouted, turning to Scootaloo, who's expression was unreadable, "Are ya happy?! Ya did it! Ya killed 'em!"
"Guys, look!" Spike called out pointing to the tree house. Everyone looked again and saw a sight that made them stop. Floating over the tree house holding each other in a loving embrace, was Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie.
They were both now wearing similar armor to Fluttershy. Rainbow Dash's armor was golden, and had a lot of sharp edges like lightning. It was slightly more masculine than the other sets, as it didn't have a train over her back legs, her boots weren't high heeled, and the shoulder pads came up a bit looking sort of like lightning. On her chest was a red lightning bolt.
Pinkie Pie's armor was in complete contrast, actually being extremely girly. It was both purple and hot pink, and looked like an armored gown with a really puffy train. Her shoulder pads were purple and rounded, and her boots were sort of high heeled. On her chest was a blue balloon, and (thankfully) her mane was it's normal style again along with her coat being it's usual shade.
As they slowly descended, Fluttershy couldn't hold back her smile. Lezard straightened his glasses and nodded, Spike was jumping for joy, and Apple Bloom gave a sigh of relief. Scootaloo however, looked really pissed.
"No... that's not how it's supposed to go!"
When they landed, they looked into each others eyes one last time, and then turned to the soldiers, who backed away in fear.
Rainbow Dash flew over to Scootaloo at high speed, actually becoming a bolt of lightning. Scootaloo couldn't dodge the attack and fell back.
"How about we have another race?" Rainbow Dash asked with a confident smirk, "Let's see if fire is faster than lightning!"
The soldiers were being thrown off as three Pinkie Pies fought them and pushed them back. When the soldiers had enough they ran off, and two of the Pinkie Pie's fazed out like mirages.
"And STAY OUT!" she called out, actually sounding more like her real self.
Scootaloo got up and backed away from Rainbow Dash. She tried to run away, but she saw Fluttershy trotting to her with a serious expression. She turned in another direction and saw Pinkie Pie hop in her way also with a serious expression (more comedically ferocious actually). She tried to go in another direction and saw both Apple Bloom and Lezard standing there.
"You're trapped Scootaloo!" Rainbow Dash shouted.
"We don't want to hurt you," Fluttershy said, "but you did a really bad thing!"
"Yeah! I almost had to find out what a cupcake felt like in the oven!" Pinkie Pie then looked up thoughtfully, "Come to think of it, that's a good experience for a baker. I bet I can make a really good cake now!"
"PINKIE!" Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy shouted at the same time, snapping her back to reality. Hey, at least she was back.
"Please Scootaloo, Ah don't want ta fight ya anymore!" Apple Bloom urged, "Can't we just put this behind us?"
Scootaloo laughed, "You think I'm done?" she asked, "I'm just getting started!" Scootaloo then jumped up really high in the air and landed next to her bike, "Next time Apple Bloom, you're dead! And don't think I've forgotten about you, Rainbow Dash!"
She then got on her bike and rode out of Ponyville at high speed. Rainbow Dash was about to fly after her, but Lezard held his foreleg out stopping her, "You'll get a second chance to save her, but she's not your main concern right now."
Rainbow Dash sighed, "You're right," she then trotted over to Pinkie Pie, who looked like she was in deep thought (about cake?), "Pinkie Pie, are you alright?"
Pinkie Pie snapped out of her train of thought instantly, "Oh, yeah, I'm fine now!" she then looked down still smiling, "I mean, you came for me. You're the bestest pony in the world."
"I could say the same about you," Rainbow Dash said hugging Pinkie Pie again. Fluttershy walked over to Lezard with a confused expression.
"Um, sir?" she began, "Does this mean that Rainbow Dash learned what true loyalty was?"
"I assume so," Lezard said with a smile, "I didn't expect Laughter to evolve as well."
"I wonder what happened in there," Fluttershy said looking at Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie again.
"I think that's apparent in the pink one's smile," Lezard said walking over to Apple Bloom. Fluttershy had to admit, there was something more... genuine... about Pinkie Pie's smile.
Apple Bloom was looking out in the direction that Scootaloo rode off in, thinking about how much her friend had changed. Did she do that to her?
"She was your friend, wasn't she?" Lezard asked her.
"Ah don't get it. Is that all because of our argument?" Apple Bloom asked no one in particular.
"I wish I knew," Lezard said, "But for her to resort to such violent acts, she must have a lot of personal issues."
"Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle," Apple Bloom said looking up, "Why are ya'll doin this? Ah know you two, and these monsters ya'll became ain't you." Apple Bloom looked down, shedding one tear for her friends. Lezard put a hoof on her back trying to comfort her. She didn't want to tell him, but it worked a little.
In a large building in Fillydelphia, Cadence was looking out the window in her and her husband's large room. Shining Armor stood at the door watching her.
"Are you still upset about that dream?" Shining Armor asked his wife, who turned slightly at his voice.
"Something really dark is coming to our home, I can feel it."
"Cadence..."
"Shining, I'm an alicorn," Cadence said turning to Shining Armor, "I'm sensitive to these things. Remember, I knew something awful was going to happen to Celestia, and a day later we get a report that she was turned to stone. I'm really scared," she rubbed her foreleg nervously looking away.
Shining Armor walked over to Cadence and nuzzled her softly, "You don't have to worry, Cadence. We have guards stationed all around the estate. If anything comes our way, we'll know," a guard walked over to them and whispered something in Shining Armor's ear, "Got it. Sounds like we have a visitor. I'll be right back." Shining Armor walked out of the bedroom. As he left, Cadence looked down in fear. It felt like that dark presence was right at their door. But if what her husband said was true, they would be fine.
Shining Armor was ready for anything as he approached the door. He even had his horn glowing, prepared to strike whatever was on the other side of the door. Despite what he told Cadence, he was taking this very seriously. If something threatened his wife, then it had to go, no matter what it was.
He slowly opened the door, but his eyes lit up when he saw who it was.
"Big Brother!" Twilight shouted running into his embrace, actually knocking him to the ground and standing over him.
"T-Twilight! What's up sis?" he said happily.
"I missed you, that's all," she said lovingly, "I was in the neighborhood and I thought I'd give my BBBFF a visit."
"That's great," Shining Armor said awkwardly, "But, do you think you could let me ge-"
She blind sighted him with a kiss, right on the mouth. That had never happened before, and he didn't know how to take it. It was a long kiss too...
"Did I miss something here?" Cadence said walking into the hall. Twilight broke contact instantly, but Shining Armor noticed the slightest twitch in her expression before...
"Cadence! It's great to see you again!" she said hugging her as well.
"Twilight, this is a nice surprise," Cadence said with a smile. Shining Armor got up and looked at Twilight, who was secretly giving him a loving smile while she hugged Cadence. Something felt odd about her.
For one thing, that kiss felt like a lot more than just "I love you big bro". It felt more like...