//------------------------------//
// The Ugly Truth 
// Story: Lavender Lies 
// by IvoryBreeze 
//------------------------------//

Shining Armor lied in bed dreading another day. He didn't see the point in anything anymore after finding out the truth. He entered the kitchen without combing his mane. 

"Good morning darling!"

Princess Cadence said when she saw her husband, her mane was done and her tiara was on. Usually her beauty could get her out of sticky situations. 

"Morning."

Shining mumbled.
He pulled out a newspaper in front of his pancakes shielding his face from his wife.

"How did you sleep?" 

Cadence asked with a smile still glued on her face.

"Fine"

Shining Armor said.

"What's wrong darling?"

Cadence asked innocently.

"You know what's wrong you whore!" 

Shining Armor stomped on the table. 
Cadence was too stunned to speak. 
Shining stormed out of the crystal castle. 
He needed to talk to someone and get everything off his chest.
It all played out in his head again. 
The paternity test. The look of sympathy from the doctor. The horrified look on Princess Cadences' face. The disgust he felt knowing the child he loves so dearly isn't even his. The fact he could be so oblivious to what was going on between Cadence and Firelight. Shining had been so busy being Captain of the royal guard; he was too busy and tired to notice anything suspicious going on. He was performing duties so much he was rarely home. He used to wonder what his wife did during the day. He didn't think it would be Starlight Glimmers' father. 

Shining Armor shoved his way into the train station. 

"A ticket to ponyville."

Shining demanded at the ticket booth. The ticket Master appeared frightened as he quickly sold the ticket to Shining. The ponies around him had fearful expressions on their faces. They weren't used to seeing royalty look so disorganized. The paparazzi snapped a few photos. 

While Shining waited on the train he had time to think to himself for once. He had flashbacks of his marriage before Princess Cadences infidelity. The canterlot wedding, the day they met, the admiring glances they gave eachother when Cadence was only Twilights foul sitter. Now just a bittersweet memory. Shining wondered what made Cadence cheat. Was it because he was so busy? Was it because he wasn't good enough? Was it because he didn't give her enough attention? Did he completely fail at fulfilling his wife? The questions were on a loop in his head. If it weren't for Flurry Heart he would've never known about Princess Cadences infidelity. 

"How stupid could I be?"

Shining mumbled to himself. 

"And to be betrayed for a commoner!" 

Shining smashed a China plate and wept into his own arms. 

"Sir I'm going to have to ask you to leave." 

The stewardess commanded since the other ponies complained. The train arrived at Sires Hallow. Where Firelight lives....

Shining Armor strode into town and saw a familiar looking stallion. 

"Excuse me. Where is the nearest hotel?" 

Shining asked the stallion giving him Deja vu.

"It's in the alley next to the pink cottage."

Said the stallion.
Shining Armor thanked him and entered the hotel. 

"Are you THE Shining Armor?"

The receptionist squealed with delight.

"Yes."

Shining confirmed.

"What are you doing here in Sires Hallow?" 

The receptionist asked. 

"You know.. just a business trip." 

Shining said with his head down, avoiding eye contact. 

The receptionist gave him a weird look.

"Unfortunately, we're all booked. You're going to have to stay somewhere else."

The receptionist said passive aggressively.

"FUCK!" 


Shining shouted before slamming his hoof on the desk and storming out.

Shining Armor stomped around Sires Hallow looking for someone to ask for directions to another hotel. He spotted the same stallion that gave him directions earlier.

"Hey, the hotel you suggested was booked. Do you happen to know of another hotel?"

Shining asked the purple stallion.

"That's the only hotel." 

The stallion said.

"Oh..."

Shining said sadly and stared at the ground. 

"You can crash at my place."

The stallion said.