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// Prologue: Oh you better start explaining, Shining Armor. 
// Story: The Changeling Within 
// by IceQB 
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	"Is that how she used to look?" Cadance pointed at a picture of a grey mare with freckles and fizzy grey hair. She rested upright on her bed with her highs school yearbook in her hooves. A white blanket had been draped over her, as well as the white stallion that she called husband.

"Yeah. Wow. Octavia sure has changed a lot. Now she's in the Royal Canterlot Orchestra. She was quiet in class, that one," remarked Shining Armor who just glanced at the full moon and now at Cadance.

Cadance flipped through the next few pages, giggling and smiling at the memories her friends shared with her. She thought back to when she had Math class with Bon Bon, or Home Economics with Vinyl Scratch. Shining Armor too, recollected memories that were close to his heart, thinking back to the times when he pulled pranks with Hendric, or when he pulled pranks on Hendric. 

Cadance stopped flipping the page. She stared at a white pony with a two-toned, blue mane, and frowned. "I don't remember her having green eyes."

"Huh. She's got red ones if I remember correctly." Shining Armor glanced at Vinyl posing as 'the next pony to be rich and famous'. She had her hooves thrown in the air as if she was partying, and had the words 'Vinyl Scratch a.k.a. DJ P0N-3.' underneath her photo. "Her eyes are red. See?"

"But dear, look at these ones." Cadance flipped back a couple of pages to one titled 'Prom Night'. "Her eyes are green in these ones."

"That's... uh." Shining Armor cocked his head aside and scratched his mane. Why does it look so famil- Oh! Right! "Uh... he is... different.” Shining Armor, with his set of pearly white teeth, smiled sheepishly.

"He?" Cadance raised her eyebrows.

"I mean she, no, he. I mean, gah! I can't tell you. I promise to keep it a secret."

"But why not? Were married now. Plus, he's a close friend of ours." Cadance pouted.

"Yeah but, can you promise not to kill me, or him for the matter?"

"Kill?" Cadance's eyes widened.

"Just promise!" insisted Shining Armor.

"Okay. I promise." She sounded as if she was asking a question.

"Not to judge us?"

"Us?" Cadance gave him a confused look.

"Just promise first!"

"Fine, I promise." She held his hooves and smiled reassuringly. But Shining Armor wasn't reassured.

"Not to tell any pony, including Twily, the princesses or even your closest friends?"

"I promise, for I love you. Forever and always." Cadance nuzzled his neck and buried her head under his. She adjusted herself until she was comfortable and looked up smiling at the nervous stallion. "Can you tell me now? I promise. No one will know, and I won't judge Vinyl. Or you. Even if you-,” Cadance flinched and hesitated, “-cheated on me."

Sigh. What choice do I have? I... I can't keep lying from her. Vinyl is right. It's better to be honest with one another. Especially her.

Shining Armor took a deep breathe in. Well, here goes nothing! "Vinyl Scratch is a changeling." Don’t kill him. Or me. Preferably me.

However, instead of raining torrents of pain onto her husband, Cadance burst into laughter, throwing Shining Armor off-guard. "Ha! No seriously-", she stopped laughing and fixed her eyes on him as if she was interrogating him, "-what's the secret?"

Shining Armor sighed. "I'm not kidding. In fact, he was there at the wedding."

"Vinyl is a girl. She, dear, not he."

"No. He. Him. Male. Stallion. Changeling. Vinyl Scratch," he stated manner-of-factly.

"Wait... what?"

"I have a confession." Shining Armor breathed in deeply again, and exhaled. "I didn't dance during the wedding, Vinyl did. And now, before you get mad, I-"

"What?!" shouted Cadance who looked like she was in a mix of shock, anger and betrayal. "Shining Armor!"

"I can explain!" Shining Armor backed away slightly.

"You better," growled Cadance.