Chapter 2
To save on energy, the ring had waited until sunrise before resuming it’s search for a new bearer. While it could draw in small amounts of energy from sunlight, it would not be enough to traverse a planet the size of Celeste-3, let alone the other planets in Sector 2814.
Once it’s rest period was over, the ring resumed it’s flight towards the Crystal Empire, it’s small size and speed making it almost invisible to the untrained eye. Through the magical barrier surrounding the Empire and down into the surrounding fields it flew, scanning each and every being it found for the right properties.
The ring could sense some potential amongst the gathered sentients, but there were other factors; some did not have enough drive or imagination, others knew too much fear, and still other would have gladly placed their personal wellbeing before that of anyone else. Many Lanterns had seen their rings fail them because of these factors, and this ring was not going to lose a second wielder that easily.
The ring looped through the central plaza before picking something up. Among the sentients assembled, one stood out amongst them: a soldier of some kind, who had stood in the face of danger and came out unscathed. The ring changed course and headed towards this source, ducking and weaving through buildings and crowds in search of it’s potential new bearer.
The potential bearer was close. Zipping around a corner, the ring could feel the presence of the sentient slowly move away, oblivious to the ring’s presence. As it moved away, the ring realized that the sentient had not spotted it, and most likely would not if the ring did not alert the sentient to it’s presence.
Applying a little more energy, the ring sped up and set a course aimed directly at the back of the sentient’s head.
................
Shining Armor was interrupted in his walk by something hitting him in the back of the head. It was not a very large thing, but it was still enough to pitch him forward slightly and would most likely leave a nice mark on his head.
“Okay, who threw that?” he asked, turning around and searching for anypony that might be in hiding. “I’m serious! If you’re trying to be funny or something, let me tell you it’s not working.” When he got no response, he prepared to double back and search the area himself, but stopped when his hoof touched something.
Shining looked down and saw a small ring beneath his hoof. The ring was an emerald green, and it seemed to glow with some kind of energy as he lifted his hoof away. On the ring was a curious design, a circle with two parallel lines on it’s top and bottom. It was warm to the touch, most likely from some kind of inner heat source, and it was made of a material that Shining could not identify.
“Okay... This must be what hit me.” Shining scooped the ring up in one hoof, inspecting it for any source of identification. The only thing he saw was the circle and parallel lines. Shining turned around once more, still searching for anypony that the ring might belong to.
Maybe Cadence would know whose this is... Shrugging, Shining grasped the ring in his telekinesis and continued walking, ignoring that the ring was now glowing slightly brighter than before. Luckily, he did not have to search long, for he found Cadence speaking with one of the staff, the pink alicorn not noticing him as he approached.
“Cadence?” he said, causing her to look up. “Do you have a moment?”
“Of course.” Cadence turned to the staff member. “Thank you for your time. We’ll discuss this later.” the other pony nodded and excused herself from the room while Cadence smiled at Shining. “What is it?”
“Well, I was walking along and I found this ring.” he levitated the ring in front of her face. “Do you know anyone that it might belong to?” Cadence plucked the ring from Shining’s telekinetic aura, turning it over a few times in her own magic.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before.” she looked up at Shining. “Where did you say you found this?”
“I was just walking along and stepped on it.” Cadence looked back to the ring. After a moment, she shrugged.
“Well, I don’t know what it is. I’ll just send it down to the staff Lost and Found box; maybe somepony will be looking for it.” Cadence’s magic aura shimmered for a moment before the ring disappeared. That problem seemingly solved, Cadence looked to Shining Armor. “Was there anything else you wanted to talk about?”
“What were you talking about before I showed up?” Cadence’s smile dropped, but only slightly.
“That was going to be a surprise...”
“Oh... Should I come back later?”
“No, it’s fine... really, it is.” there was a pause, Shining shuffling his hooves a little.
“Are you going to tell me?” Cadence giggled and shook her head.
“Not yet; that’d spoil the surprise.”
“This isn’t going to be like when you dyed my uniform pink, is it?” Cadence’s giggle turned into a full on laugh, and Shining Armor’s ears drooped slightly.
“No, this is a good surprise. Now, I have a few more things to attend to, so I’ll leave you alone to think about the surprise.” Cadence winked and left the room, Shining watching her go before slumping to the ground.
“Mares... Why am I always at the mercy of mares?”
...............
The ring realized it’s mistake once it had been sent to this box. It had failed to inform the potential bearer of it’s true purpose, of why they had been chosen by the ring. It was the ring’s fault; Abin Sur had held the ring for a long time, and it had been an equally long time since the ring had recruited a new bearer.
It decided that it would try a more direct approach.
After determining that it was alone, the ring levitated out of the box and left the room, scanning the building for the chosen sentient. It turned left and flew down a corridor, stopping only to remain out of sight of those that it deemed unworthy.
The sentient was moving again, still at a slow pace. Something had affected the sentient’s psyche, and now it showed hints of doubt, apprehension... even small traces of fear. Had they grown any further the ring might have deviated from it’s course and searched for a more suitable bearer, but the ring could tell that this one was more than capable of overcoming that fear... it just required the proper training.
The ring looped down another hall, flying out an open window before rising up to the same level that the sentient was currently standing on. Another scan, and the ring was able to determine the facing of the target sentient, so that it could approach head-on. Building up energy once more, the ring re-entered the building and headed towards it’s intended bearer.
...............
“Shining Armor.” Shining stopped walking and looked around. Someone had called out to him, but upon his initial search he found no one. He would have kept walking, but when he faced forward he saw a familiar green ring flying straight towards him.
Instinct took over and Shining Armor threw up a magical barrier between himself and the approaching ring. The ring bounced off the barrier, spinning in the air before righting itself and approaching once more.
“Okay, this is freaky.” Shining put more energy into the barrier. “What’s doing this? Who controls you?” The ring did not respond, instead hovering just outside of Shining’s barrier. “What do you want from me?”
“You have been chosen.” the voice responded. This piqued Shining’s curiosity and he loosen control of the shield spell for a moment.
“Chosen? Chosen for what?” the ring did not answer. Instead, it glowed brighter before passing through Shining’s shield, diving down and flying towards his right foreleg. He raised his leg and prepared to run, but the ring angled up and slipped over his hoof.
As soon as the ring was secure, Shining was bathed in green light. Heat washed over his body, and the shield spell he had cast faded away into nothing. Green light blocked out any visual information, and it was strong enough that Shining had to close his eyes to prevent himself from being blinded.
When the light cleared, Shining looked down at himself and gasped. He was now clad in a glowing uniform, the design similar to that of the armor he wore as captain of the Royal Guards. Instead of purple and gold, the uniform was a mix of black and green, with a white patch over his flanks where his cutie mark would have been, along with a similar patch over his chest. Beneath the armor was a jumpsuit with similar coloration to the armor, and a pair of green shoes were now affixed to his rear legs. The ring around his right foreleg was glowing right along with the suit, but for whatever reason Shining was not affected by the light.
“Wha- What is this?” he managed after a moment of stunned silence.
“Shining Armor of Equus,” The ring said, pulling his leg in front of his face. “You have the ability to overcome great fear.
“Welcome to the Green Lantern Corps.”
................
Later that day, Cadence waited outside the throne room of the Crystal Palace. All the official business of the Crystal Empire had been dealt with, and she had sent one of her personal staff to go find Shining. I suppose my surprise has waited long enough...
“Um, Princess?” Cadence turned around and saw the attendant walking towards her, a small note clutched in the Crystal Ponies’ mouth.
‘What is it? Where’s Shining Armor?” the attendant passed the note to her, and she opened it using her telekinesis. It looked like Shining’s writing, but there seemed to be something off about it. The fact that it appeared to glow green at the right angle did not help matters.
Cadence,
I saw something land outside the barrier last night. Just went to go check out what it was. I should be back by tomorrow morning at the latest.
Love you,
Shining.
“Did he give you this?” Cadence asked.
“No, Your Highness. I looked at all the places Shining Armor frequented, and I found this sitting on the bed in your room.” the Crystal Pony pawed at the ground. “I did not read it. Has something happened to him?” Cadence looked back at the note.
“I... I don’t think so. You may go now.” the attendant bowed and left while Cadence turned back to the note. She read it through a few times before folding it and tucking it underneath one of her wings.
I shouldn’t worry about this... Shining’s never done anything too stupid before. She paused, taking a moment to caress the small bulge in her torso.
“I guess we’ll just have to wait a little longer to tell Daddy about you.” she said before turning and heading to her room.