Cadance and Shining sat before Umbra, each with an unsure smile. Umbra didn't like it. "Did something happen?" She flicked an ear off to the side. "Did the daydark break? I can make another if that happened." She lifted her hooves. "Don't feel bad."
Shining perked at that. "Actually." Both of the others looked to him. "I wouldn't be so cavalier about that. I read in a book once that enchanting is investing literal bits of your magic... self. You can't make things forever."
Umbra shrank at that. "Oh! That's... That's bad! Which means..." She worried her hooves in the air against one another. "Each thing I make, I get weaker?"
Cadance recoiled, teeth clenched a brief moment. "Shiny! Why would you scare her like that?" She looked back to Umbra. "What he's describing is true, but also not the full story Talented item crafters spaced out their creations, to give themselves the chance to recover. That part of you is alive, like the rest. It can heal."
Umbra stood up. "It didn't hurt. How can I tell when it's healed?"
Cadance stood with her. "Be calm. Just don't go headlong into covering the castle in trinkets, is all I would advise. I would tell a pony making them by hoof the same thing. You'll hurt yourself if you don't take reasonable breaks."
"That's... true." Umbra nodded a little stiffly. "Alright... Alright... Take a chill pill, got it." She nodded once more with more determination. "Thanks for letting me know." She glanced between Cadance and Shining. "Is that what you came here to tell me? You didn't have to be so nervous about that."
"Actually..." Shining rubbed behind his head, still seated on his haunches. "I wanted to ask--"
"--We wanted to ask, hypothetically."
"Just in theory," emphasized Shining. "No pressure, no wrong answers."
Umbra's eyes flared with dark magic. "Are you telling me to go?" Her voice was firm, body tensed.
"No!" they both assured, hooves waving.
"Almost the opposite of that, actually." Cadance reached for Umbra, drawing the confused unicorn closer. "We didn't ask for this to happen to us, but we refuse to let that be how we continue."
Shining bobbed his head. "Exactly, which is why we wanted to talk to you and get your thoughts. We should make a decision, together."
"Alright... with you so far... But what are we deciding?" Umbra waved between herself and the royal couple before her cheeks darkened suddenly. "If this is about... I'm really sorry. I'll keep my hooves to myself. Shoot, you know, um, not myself? Seriously, won't do it again!"
Cadance wobbled a hoof. "A bit related, but no, this isn't about that specifically. Umbra, what would you say if we offered to bring you in?"
"To our family," continued Shining, leaping into what could have been an awkward pause. "We've been mashed up against each other, without asking. So we're asking this time."
"And 'no' is a perfectly valid answer." Cadance nodded with confidence in that. "No pressure. This is... a strange situation. I wouldn't even be surprised if you didn't--"
"--To your family?" blurted Umbra, unable or unwilling to let Cadance finish. "Like... what... part of your family?" The trails of power from her eyes only grew more pronounced in her emotional confusion.
Shining let out a little breath. "Have you ever heard of a consort?"
Umbra flopped backwards, only to crash to the side, knocked dizzy at the revelation given to her. "Oh dear god above!" She peeked up from where she had fallen at the two. "Are you serious?" But she could see they were. There was little room for that. "Wow. Oh... sheesh... That's... Quite a question! Look, first..." She got up on her haunches, the trails fading to mostly transparent. "This body, it's not the one I started with, but it is mine. I'm not giving it up, and I'm not a slave, no matter how nice you two seem to be."
The two shared a look before Cadance took a half-step forward. "Why would you think you'd become a slave?"
"That's not our style," assured Shining. "Or we wouldn't be having this conversation."
Umbra curled a hoof on herself. "A not-super-private consort, to married people? Married noble people? I'm not... an expert, by any stretch of the imagination." She tapped at her own head. "But pretty sure, in that kinda situation, you two are in charge, and I'm not."
Cadance reached a hoof just under Umbra's chin, lifting it so their eyes met. "In the bedroom, titles are set aside," she assured gently. "Unless we want to role-play a little."
Shining coughed into a hoof at that. "Not that I've ever done that!" he blurted, admitting that he had done that before. "We are serious. If that sounds like... something you're... alright with? You would become her consort." He pointed at Cadance.
Umbra blinked at Cadance. She thrust a hoof at Shining. "He likes mares!" she blurted as if that was some secret she was revealing to the world.
Cadance looked over just a moment. "I can confirm this fact." Her expression was a smile, almost amused. "But why are you telling me that?"
"I am a mare." She put both hooves at her chest to direct attention to herself. "Why would you--" One of the hooves turned to Cadance. "--want me as a consort?" Umbra began to darken. "Are you into that kind of thing? That's..." The blush only grew worse. The idea of the prettiest of the ponies having any interest in her was flattering, actually. "Wow," is all she got out instead, any more advanced thought dead on her tongue.
Shining cleared his throat, getting both their attentions. "We want your opinions, Umbra. You are not her subject. You owe us nothing." He smiled gently. "In fact, by my count, we owe you a few things. So, speak honestly. That's all we're asking."
Cadance nodded along with that. "But putting that aside, even if you did agree, I would not suddenly 'own' you, Umbra. You are a pony, with thoughts and dreams." She leaned in, towering a bit, but that came naturally to alicorns. "I happen to like the ones I've seen. I would like to see you grow and learn. But this isn't about that, precisely. It's about... privacy, and expectations thereof."
"We have none," sighed out Shining. "The doors between us are wide open. In fact, I think somepony just tore them off, leaving only open door frames behind."
Cadance rolled her eyes. "Quite the image you're making, but not entirely incorrect either. So... If we can already see through those not doors, we're inviting you to just call the three rooms." She looked between the other two. "Into one suite. We are already... poorly equipped to hide physical things."
"I'd still be your--" Umbra was looking at Cadance directly. "--consort. Fuck, err, sorry, language." She covered her mouth as her ears flipped back in a clear embarrassed gesture. The land of ponies had such mild language compared to the human one she had come from. "Seriously though, you're taking another lady as a mistress. You're alright with that?"
Cadance set a hoof on umbra's nose. "We would have to set rules, all of us, but I am not appalled, since it doesn't mean we have to do anything, either of us. It just means we can, if we want." She leaned in, tapping her horn against Umbra's. "Truth told, I am largely... hetero. You seem nice enough, nice enough I want to protect you, and I value you, as a friend. I feel no carnal attraction, and that's not the end of the world."
Umbra looked over to Shining. "That actually makes it more awkward, not less. Shining is also hetero, and how will you feel if he tried to be hetero at me? Setting you two up to feel betrayed is really not my goal."
Shining gave a soft little hum of a noise. "What are you?"
"Me?" Umbra pointed at herself.
"Are you attracted to stallions." He pointed to himself. "Or mares." He pointed to Cadance, the two most obvious examples available at that moment.
Cadance turned an ear aside. "That is a good question, but it misses the point, because it, in the end, doesn't actually matter. Even if you say yes, you will only be involved with the ponies you want to be." She waggled a hoof. "We would ask that you remain loyal to us, in that fashion, but that doesn't mean you have to like either of us, that way."
"Just nobody else," concluded Umbra as she wandered to a window. Her horn glowing, she willed it open a crack to allow the crisp wind to blow in, perhaps hoping it'd clear her own thoughts. "Shining, be honest. Do you want me or not?"
That Cadance was also looking at him didn't help, seeing as Shining began to color darkly. "Well, you see!" But there was a reaction that could not be hidden, but could be felt by both mares.
Cadance thumped Shining across the head. "I swear, you are attracted to monsters. That is your fetish."
Shining squeaked at the assault, dancing away from his irate partner. "Hey!"
But their horseplay did little for Umbra, who sank to her haunches. "I'm a monster?"
Both looked to her instantly. "No!" Both were rapid in their assurances that it wasn't that. "No no!"
Cadance took a strong step forward. "I take responsibility for my words. That was very uncaring of me. Sorry. You are not a monster. You are, however... a pony steeped in mysterious magic with an appearance that... could trigger that sort of reaction." She glared aside at Shining. "You could play the part, and I think somepony here wouldn't mind that."
Umbra looked to Shining, her fur wafting gently in the breeze of the cracked window. "What sort of monster is she?" She directed one hoof at Cadance.
Shining squirmed and stuttered, caught without any words.
Cadance let out a slow sigh. "I am a great and terrible seductress." She rose to her full height. "Like a siren with a tiara." She angled that same tiara at Umbra. "With a coy smile and a confident walk, I can turn a pony's heart to mush and command them to love."
Umbra's ears began to dance. "What?!"
Shining let out a strained laugh. "It's, um, true. She is the princess of love. She can play with the love of ponies."
Cadance rubbed her hooves together with an evil expression. "Is that enough monster for you, my little shadow creature?"
"If you can do that..." Umbra trailed a hoof slowly along the ground. "Couldn't you just make me love you?"
Cadance's evil look faded away. She wasn't all that good at it. "Because that would be terrible. Now, if we're just playing... That's different, but I will not compel you. Besides, my magic works best when I'm amplifying or cutting off existing relationships. You don't--" But Umbra did, and Cadance could see it as she looked away, darkening in her cheeks. "Oh."
"You are everything I wanted to be," confessed Umbra. "Minus the love magic. You are the magic and pretty pony princess. You always look so good, but you're nice, and everyone else loves you! I'm super jealous, but not in a bad way. Um..."
Cadance set a hoof on Umbra's shoulder. "Well, that changes things, a little... Then, do you want to be closer to me? No remains a valid answer."
Umbra swatted the hoof away. "But you two keep avoiding the real problem! Damn it... You're asking me if I want a fairy tale ending, yes. Yes I want that! Sign me right up! Literally prince charming--" She looked at Shining. "--and princess perfect--" She returned her view to Cadance. "--wants to take me as their no-strings attached mistress? Sure, yes, who'd say no to that? Crazy people! But you're ignoring the real problem!"
Cadance ran a hoof along her chin and neck in a quiet moment. "Which... is? We came here today because we wanted to be sure we were respecting you, as a pony."
"And you did that." Umbra nodded firmly. "Thank you... For doing that, I mean. Thanks, really... But you two." She waggled a hoof between them. "You're married. You have feelings for each other. Throwing me into the works like it's nothing? I don't want to see you two get into any huge fights. That's not worth it."
Shining smiled gently. "That's very thoughtful of you. Exactly what I'd want to hear from any pony I was letting in that close."
Cadance sighed softly. "Alright, time to talk like adults." Her horn glowed, the door slapping shut and the window sliding closed, sealing them away from all other eyes, well, except that one guard standing there. "Give us a moment, please."
The guard saluted and departed, saying not a word despite what was spoken in front of him. In this way, Equestrian guards were quite well trained. Cadance looked back to Shining. "My husband is a dork."
Shining fluffed up at that. "Hey!"
"It's one of the things I like about him," continued Cadance with a smile. "He collects comics and plays silly games with his friends with their funny dice. And he loves me." She nodded with each fact said. "I adore these parts about him. But... he's also turned on by monsters, me included." She frowned at Umbra softly. "That required some amount of therapy."
Umbra blinked wildly. "Therapy?!"
"Why not that?" Cadance pointed at the sheepish Shining. "He loved me to pieces, but he turned a blind eye when a changeling queen--" She scowled at the mention of that race. "--came knocking, shaking her plot in my skin, but acting not at all like me. That hurt... To put it simply... It took quite some effort for us both to work through that."
"You're the only monster for me," assured Shining, going in for a hug just to be held back at arm's length by Cadance.
"And you." She pointed with her other hoof. "You tick those boxes. When he was with you the other day, I could feel it. It's my specialty, and why I was so angry at him."
"See?!" burst Umbra. "See? This is exactly what I'm talking about!" She clapped her hooves to her cheeks. "I will not be what tears you two apart!" A tiny part of her thought of the changeling she knew, but it was far from the time to linger on that.
Shining took a step back. "You're exagerating! I meant it, you're the only monster for me. Umbra is nice and all, but that's it. We're not special someponies."
Cadance's horn began to glow a soft blue with very unsoft threat. "Shall we test?" She angled her horn between Shining and Umbra. "Umbra, you already said you're attracted, would you be... May I see how attracted he is? I'll stop him before it gets too far, if you'd rather."
Umbra recoiled. "What? Seriously, what in the hell? Are you... going to..." Visions danced in her mind, compared to what she had felt when Cadance and Shining had spent time together. "Oh god..."
Cadance's horn ceased to glow as she nodded. "It seems at least Umbra understands exactly what I see."
"Go ahead." Shining crossed his arms petulantly. "Hit me with your worst!"
"This may sting," warned Cadance. "Because I will stop you." Hearts began to spring from her newly re-ignited horn. "Umbra, you will feel this too. I'll be gentle with you."
It was then that two halves of a heart came together between Shining and Umbra. Their feelings were casually turned up to 11, amplified in every way. Umbra squeaked as she broke into a gallop away, instead of towards, Shining. "I don't want to hurt him, that stupidly cute stud!"
Cadance raised a brow, taking note of the language used quietly.
Shining's eyes were lost, replaced with two pulsing hearts as he walked towards Umbra. "You don't have to run away. Just join us and we can play whenever we want. Have you ever tried O&O? I bet you'd be really good at it." He licked over his lips with a tongue a little too wet for normal. "Did I ever mention..." He tried to bite back his words, but his thoughts refused to be concealed. "Why don't you wear your cape anymore? It was really suiting on you. I really liked it."
Umbra blinked, turning towards Shining. "The cape? The red one, with the frills on the edges?"
"That one." He nodded barely as he approached on slow hooves. "It really accentuates your figure. I loved it."
Umbra's ears folded back. "Sombra wore that! You want me to look like him?"
"My sexy little Sombra." He reached for her, and she didn't run away as he rubbed gently over her cheek. "Just as powerful, but ten thousand times as sweet. You could seal away my magic any time."
Umbra suddenly burst into laughter loud and abrupt enough to even startle the love-struck Shining. "That hurt you, a lot. Why would you want anyone to do that again?"
"Because I trust you?" He inclined his head. "Without my magic, I'm mostly defenseless, but I'd feel safe, with ponies like you around." He nuzzled into her neck, burying his face in her fur, snuffling deeply as her scent. "Mmm..."
That he was also extremely aroused, a fact neither mare could miss. That she was also turned on, about as hard to deny even if it came with less obvious external signals. "I love... that you and Cadance are such a perfect couple. I love her! I love her and you and it hurts because if I... I don't want to hurt you..."
But she hadn't moved, and Shining was still buried against her, hugging her tightly. It was at once both something she wanted, badly, and wanted to avoid with her every fibre. "Cadance!" The magic suddenly faded, her thoughts returning to clarity. With an angry flare of dark magic, crystals exploded up around her, sending Shining tumbling away.
"Deserved it," huffed Cadance. "Sorry about that, Umbra."
"That wasn't nice." She shook her head clear of the lingering touches of the magic, or tried to. "I don't want to hurt either of you. Seriously... Seriously Cadance! Has nopony ever told you Shining is, you know, handsome?"
Cadance smirked at that. "Funny story. When we were younger, he was an awkward twig of a colt, right before we were adults. The others picked on him for being a nerd. Fortunately, I liked that... He still is, but he filled out in the guard and became a strapping stallion on top of that. A win-win in my book."
Shining sat up, head wobbling in dizziness from his sudden traip. "Ow... Cadance!" He bit his lip, remembering he had asked for it. "Um... See, we didn't do anything."
Cadance rolled her eyes. "Only because Umbra has a heart of gold and values her relationship to me enough to make her tuck her tail and run. If that tail had gone the other way..."
Umbra was busy pushing her hastily sprouted crystal circle back into the floor, laboring to undo the damage she had caused. "Cadie, uncool. You just walked over a line." She looked up from the mostly-smoothed floor. "That's my head. The last person that tried to tell me what to do up there, I stopped talking to ever again. I don't want you in that corner. You're not like that other person." She bared her sharp teeth, growling. "But that, never, ever again."
Cadance wilted a little. "I deserve that, in part. I owe you one, Umbra. Let me know how I can make it up to you."
Umbra suddenly stormed up to Cadance to poke her dead in the chest. "Sit down with your boy and talk this out without me! You two have issues. You're cute and wonderful, both of you, but you got issues! There's no room for me to get all snuggled up in there."
"Now." She pointed to the door. "I want some alone time. We can't separate physically, but right now, just me and my thoughts."
Shining started for the door hesitantly. "I didn't mean to--"
"Later," cut off Umbra. "Right now is quiet time."
Cadance set a wing over Shining, the two departing without further words. When the door shut behind them, glowing with the dark magic of Umbra, Cadance sighed. "That could have gone better."
Shining looked back at the closed door. "I wasn't trying to hurt her."
"And you did. And so did I." Cadance applied a hoof to her face. "Today we remain chaste."
Shining's ears danced. "Oh, uh, yeah. That makes sense."
Cadance rolled her eyes. "Shining, you should know by now that a mare has needs and wants too. Which is the problem, hm? She can't even approach hers. Forget her alone time. She can't even think about approaching anypony else! She is the isolated one here, and we're just trying to make it better, for us."
"Yeah..." He shook himself our from top to back. "But she liked the idea. She, to... She likes us both."
Cadance smiled gently at that. "If we don't ruin it. Look, Shining. I think it's time we restarted our sessions." When Shining perked, she frowned. "Not those sessions. The ones that involve feelings."
"Oh." He sank. Marriage counseling was a thing he thought he'd won past. "Do we have to?"
"Yes." Cadance nodded firmly. "Likely both before and after this, no matter how it turns out. We've been trying to have brave faces, but this is challenging, to all of us." She leaned in, touching her nose to the top of his head. "I love you, now let's be responsible adults, even when it involves us."
"Alright, alright..." He was quiet a moment. "Do you think Active Listening would come out here?"
"Quite a distance," agreed Cadance. "But if we make the offer sweet enough, perhaps she would. She did quite the remarkable job last we spoke." The two nodded in agreement to reach out to their last group counselor. "But even if she isn't, we're going."
"Yes, ma'am," sighed out Shining, but a smile formed shortly thereafter. "You're still my favorite monster."
She swatted him with a wing. "If you know I'm one of those, stop inviting me to sink my teeth into your side and crying when it hurts. I swear..."
"When you stop being such a lovely monster," he whispered adoringly. "Huh, I'm the only not-monster."
Cadance narrowed her eyes at him. "Just the way you like it, my knight in shining armor, caught between two great and terrible beasts that he keeps at bay through his cunning charms, hm? Is that the idea?"
"Is it working?" Shining flashed a smile as bright as it was goofy.
Cadance put a hoof on his side, shoving him away a foot easily as he slid along the crystal floor. "Even if we weren't on a time out, I'd send you to the couch for that one and you'd deserve it and you know it." She stuck out her tongue just barely, assuming a more dignified expression as she began to walk. "For now, back to business. There are things to be done."
This left Umbra to her thoughts. "Dang them both." Why did they have to be so pretty and annoying at the same time?! She stormed in place in a brief tantrum. "Get your stuff together!" It wasn't fair. She wanted to shout and scream, but... "Oh." She did have at least one non-involved friend. With a smile, she slipped from her room.
Surely a love bug would be just the one to ask for advice on such situations. "And maybe she can help with... the floor." Despite her best efforts, the floor still had marks from her explosive display. Fixing that would be nice...