//------------------------------// // A visit to ponyville // Story: Friendship is dead part 2 : A stallions redemption // by ALoneWolf //------------------------------// An hour later, we find the hustle and bustle of Ponyvilles train station full of numerous staff and passengers whom eagerly wait for their next train to arrive to take them towards their respected destinations outside of town. But for one stallion however, this was his next stop instead of heading back home as he knew there was some important business to attend to first. After informing his wife about his little trip before heading back home with her blessing of course, he soon bought himself a ticket for both Ponyville and the train ride back towards the Crystal empire. Soon after a long ride, the train soon reached its destination as it slowly entered the station terminal. After a long wheesh of steam, the coach doors opened as various ponies exited onto the platform while others whom eagerly waiting began entering in their place ready to head out to their respected destinations. Once his hoofs stepped off the coach, Shining armor took a long deep breath before making his way towards the stations exit. Once he exited the station, he surveyed the two of Ponyville as numerous happy citizens were going about with their day. But for Shining armor, his mind was focused on one goal as his fathers words from earlier began to play out in his head............ "Last I heard from them, she moved out of her hometown years ago and became a school teacher somewhere north from here" With Ponyville being one of the well known towns just north of Equestria, he knew this had to be the right destination to where his supposed long lost sister resides. As he trekked down town square, he began to question himself on whom his sister might be like or if she even want's anything to do with him especially given that she was literally given away to another couple when she was only an infant. He also wondered how'd she react once they meet, especially given that she wouldn't have known that she had a biological brother and sister that she never knew about until today. As he continued to ponder to himself, he soon reach his destination, that being Ponyvilles renowned schoolhouse. The sight of the tall red building sent wonders into the stallion eyes, not from the looks of it, but the fact that his sister teaches there. Suddenly the sound of a bell rang caught his attention, and soon numerous foals and fillies exited the school house ready to start their weekend away from school. The stallion couldn't help but chuckle a bit as memories of himself happily exiting school to start the weekend when he was a foal played in his head. "Shining armor?" Came a voice which interrupted his thoughts, the stallion looked forward, and there stood three familiar fillies whom he's met before or should I say rescued before? Sweetie belle, Apple bloom, and Scootaloo stood in complete surprise, not expecting to bump into the same stallion who saved their lives last year from twilight's rampage. Shining armor was also surprised, not expecting to bump into the three fillies again as the memories of their last encounter played in his head. After what felt like an awkward minute, the stallion finally broke the ice. "Uh hello kids" He said awkwardly. " It's ............been a while" "Yeah it has" Scootaloo replied. " So uh.........how have you and Cadence been?" "We've been doing good kids" He answered. " She's also currently pregnant ATM" "Really? Congratulations!" Sweetie belle jumped in. " I'm sure your gonna be an amazing father sir" "Hehe thank you sweetie belle" Shining replied. " Also don't call me sir, I'm 25" "Sorry" The unicorn filly apologized. " If you don't mind me asking, what brings you here in Ponyville?" "Well...................." He began. " This might sound crazy, but I'm here to see your teacher, it's nothing serious, I just need to ask her an important question. Is she still is the schoolhouse?" "Yes she is" Apple bloom said with a nod. " She usually stays behind for a bit after we leave for the weekend to tidy up her desk, so she should still be inside. But I advice you to hurry partner, as she won't be there for long" "Oh .......ok thank you bloom" Shining replied. "NP partner" Bloom said. " Oh and Shining armor? We're not mad at you for last year, don't get us wrong, we were completely shocked after hearing the truth about what went down at the wedding rehearsal. But we know you, Celestia, Spike, and our sisters didn't mean to hurt Twilight. And we don't blame you for her death either, while that was a pretty drastic measure that you chose, but in a way, there was no other choice as it seemed like no words could have gotten through to twilight. While we miss Twilight dearly and what he did was wrong, we don't hate her, and we don't hate you either, cause again we know ya'll didn't mean to hurt her, and deep down , I'm sure Twilight knows you guys are truly sorry as well" A warm smile formed on the stallions face after hearing the fillies words, happy that there was no hard feelings towards him and the three fillies. " Well........thank you girls, I'm happy that there's no....." "Hey! You guys coming or what?!" Came a voice causing the group to turn around, and there stood diamond Tiara and Silver spoon over the horizon anxiously waiting for the trio. " You know me and Silver spoon can't drink 5 milkshakes at once" "Hold your horse feathers ya'll we're coming!" Bloom called out with a giggle. " Sorry bout that Shining, forgot that we were to meet our friends at Sugarcube corner after school" "No worries Bloom" Shining replied. " I won't keep you three, go on ahead, and have a good weekend" "Thank you Shining, you too" Sweetie belle said, and with that , the trio walked over towards their two rich friends ready to start their weekend away from school. Shining Armor kept his smile as he watched the five friends walk away towards Sugarcube corner, It soon vanished after the realization came to his head that he had business to attend to. With that, he proceeded towards the schoolhouse to confront the teacher whom was still inside. A minute later, the stallion was now inside the building strolling along the hall way as he made his way towards his desired classroom. After asking the janitor on where the mare he was seeking resided, he informed the stallion that she taught in room A4, and he soon reached his destination as there stood the entrance to the classroom where Bloom and her friends resided with A4 engraved on the door. Noises could be heard from the other side indicating that she was still inside, he then proceeded to knock on the door. "Come in" Came a voice from the other side, Shining then proceeded inside after receiving conformation. He then opened the door and made his way inside, and there stood the teacher of said classroom Miss Cheerilee calmly reorganizing her desk after a long day of teaching before heading home herself, as she was about to finish up, she was soon met by the stallion whom knocked on the door. " Oh hello" She greeted. " What can I do for...............wait, your Twilight's older brother ? Shining armor was it?" "Yes that's me" He replied while nervously scratching the back of his head. "Hehe I knew you looked familiar" Cheerilee said. " Gosh, I don't know whether to shake your hoof or bow down to you?" "There's no need for that" Shining denied. " I know I'm the current prince , but there's no need to be so formal" "Of course, of course" Cheerilee nodded. " My apologies Shining Armor................so what brings you here?" Shining hesitated for a moment , but he knew there was no turning away now as he's already this far. " Actually, I'm here to see you" Hearing his answer caused the mare to raise an eyebrow. "For me?" She asked. " What business do you have with me?" "It's something that involves a little mystery that's been going on with my family before I was even born" Shining answered. " I know this might sound crazy, but I think It's you whom my father was referring too, again I know this might sound crazy, but with your permission Miss Cheerilee, could you give me a few minutes of your time to see if my theory is true or not? And if it's not, I'll leave" Cheerilee was speechless after hearing the stallions statement, but her curiosity kicked in at the thought of her being the cause of a certain mystery involved with the Sparkle family, she gave a short nod before finally replying. " I see, ok shining armor I'll hear you out. Wait here for a second" She then exited the room for a moment, then a few minutes later, she reentered with two cups of coffee that she got from the teachers lounge. Thinking that this was gonna be a pretty long conversation, the young school teacher decided to bring a little rocket fuel to her guest. After handing him his cup, she ushered him towards a nearby desk while she took a seat near the opposite. Once they were seated, Cheerilee ushered Shining to proceed with his explanation which he was quick to do so. 5 minutes later "And so yeah, that's why I'm here" He said. " Long story short, after my father informed me about my sisters proposed location, I immediately took a train here to get answer's. But I may have been wrong as your not the only mare teacher at this school, I hope I didn't waste your time Miss Cheerilee?" There was a short silence as the stallion took a sip of his coffee once he finished his little tale, Cheerilee was visibly shocked a bit not expecting to have been speculated at being a long lost sibling of Shining armor and her late friend. Shining noticed this feeling slightly guilty that his accusation towards the mare was false and that he got the wrong teacher, but the mares response soon changed his opinion. "Heh, I knew this day would come eventually" She responded surprising the stallion, not expecting to hear this answer from her. " But I wasn't expecting it to happen in my classroom of all places" "Wait.............you knew?" He replied. "Well" Cheerilee said" Yes and no, I actually found out the truth when I was 18. Before I went off to college, my parents told me the truth, not just about my mother inability to get pregnant due to reproduction issues, and my biological parents giving me away without hesitation. I was both shocked and intrigued at the fact that I've been adopted this whole time and I've always wondered whom my real parents were, but unfortunately they didn't tell me whom it was, all they said was it was some old friends from highschool. Damn to think all this time I was related to one of my friends this whole time? Man talk about a big reveal" "Indeed" Shining replied. " So............are you mad?" "I'm more shocked actually" Cheerilee replied. " I mean don't get me wrong , I was a bit upset at the fact that my real parents gave me away and that I was adopted this whole time. But I hold no ill towards my adopted family, cause if it wasn't for their kindness and support, I wouldn't be where I am today.................If you don't mind me asking, how are my real parents doing these days?" Shining armor hesitated for a moment, but soon gave the mare her answer. " It's pretty complicated actually, ever since the wedding rehearsal incident, our relationship has been a bit rocky for a while as they blame me for Twilight's demise but I'm still trying to patch things up with them. And I also found out that mom has Cancer, but luckily it's still in the early stages so its nothing serious "for now" as the doctors continue to test her" "Aw I see" Cheerilee replied. "Well I hope she pulls through, no pony deserves a fate like that, and believe me I have a cousin who's currently fighting the same ailment as well" There was a long silence towards the "siblings" as both of them finished up the last of their coffee, after a moment, Cheerilee finally broke the ice. " Well............thank you for this information Shining armor, it felt pretty good to finally have answers towards my adopted family" Shining armor gave a nod, happy to have both answered the mares question, but also to have solved his own mystery as well. "It was no problem at all Cheerilee" He then got up from his desk " Well I should probably head back to the train station, don't want to keep the misses waiting" Cheerilee chuckled a bit at the stallions statement. " No worries I understand, thank you for telling me this Shining armor" "It was no problem at all Cheerilee" He replied. " Well I should head out, have a nice day" "You too Shining armor" Cheerilee said, and with nothing more to say, the stallion waved one last goodbye before exiting the classroom leaving the mare (or should I say his sister?) in the room with her mind completely blown after finding out the truth about her adoption for so long. Later that night Back in the Crystal empire, we find the royal couple inside their temporary home having a cup of tea together as they sat comfortably on their imported sofa. After getting home, shining armor told his wife everything, and to make a long story short, the alicorn was baffled at the fact that she has another sister in law that she herself didn't even know about and that it was one of Twilight's friends back in Ponyville to be precise. "Damn" She said. " So Cheerilee is your long lost sister? As Pinkie would say, that is one big doozy. But I must ask, how is that even possible Shiny?" "Not everyone in the Sparkle family are unicorns babe" Shining replied earning a nod from his wife. "I see, I see" Cadence replied, she then took it upon herself to place her hoof onto his in a comforting manner. " Well.....if Cheerilee is your sister, we'll find a way to pull through my love. But the question is, do you think twilight knew all along?" "I doubt It Cadence" Shining said. " Twilight may have been the smartest gal in town, but this isn't really something that you can put two and two together immediately" "That's also understandable" She replied. " So what now shiny? Are you gonna get the three of em together?" "I don't really think Cheerilee is emotionally ready to meet them, especially given the fact that they gave her away for adoption" Shining armor answered. " Me and dad are still working things out ourselves, and with moms cancer diagnosis, i don't wanna cause anymore stress with the family" Cadence gave a nod of understanding at her husbands statement. " That's relatable my love" She then planted a gentle kiss on her husbands cheek. " Like I said, we'll figure this out somehow" "I hope so luv" Shining armor replied as he nuzzled his pregnant wife in a loving manor. I hope so