//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: Idyllic // by lollipopchica //------------------------------// Exotic orchids, lilacs, and roses grew up around smooth cobbled stone paths. The Royal Garden held a lot of memories for Shining Armor. Memories that now felt wrong despite the joy they'd given him at one point of time. He had loved the time he'd spent with Cadance in this place. But that wasn't Cadance that had made his heart race and his body tingle. The words of the new alicorn Celestia had allowed in their midst still ate him as he sought clarity within the garden. A cool breeze made the stallion shiver as he continued through the peaceful grounds that now mocked him. "A rustic styled bubble bath? In the middle of the garden?" Chrysalis smiled as she sprinkled a generous amount of lavender in the water swirling the petals around until the scent wafted up to her nose. "Scared?" she asked playfully. "Cadance, anyone can see!" He made it sound so scandalous. "So... let them. It’s not as if we're doing something wrong. I'm sure Luna has better things to watch than you bathing." Shining Armor stared wide eyed at his fiancé as a fierce blush fanned over his face. The memory made his chest ache and his guilt flare. The sound of uncoordinated hoof-falls saved him from his thoughts. "So this is where you run off to at night?" Or so he thought. Shining Armor could tell by the slur in her voice she'd been drinking. She'd been doing that a lot now lately. Drinking. The fact that she'd turned to alcohol made him feel even worse than he thought he could. "You'd rather wander the cold than make an effort with me." It sounded like her heart was breaking. "Cadance, it's not what you think..." Shining Armor tried to assure her, but something told him nothing could fix what was messed up between the two of them. "Since when do you know what I'm thinking?" Was her derisive snort. "You can't even look at me, let alone talk to me long enough to know what I'm thinking!" "Cadie-" She visually stiffened. "Don't! Don't call me that! You lost that right when you picked everything else over me." The pain in her voice was like a knife to his heart. "I didn't pick anypony over you. I love you." "Love me, do you?" Cadance couldn't keep the mocking out of her voice. She was so tired of competing for his affections. "I was trapped in those caves all alone!" Her voice cracked. "And nopony except your sister noticed. How do you think that makes me feel?" The wine was supposed to numb not fan her spiraling emotions. "Cadance... Please-" she refused to talk about her entrapment to him. "I love you. I do, but I can't move past this until I know Chrysalis is gone for good." The words surprised herself, but she meant them all the same. That bitch deserved it for what she did to her. Who knew where she was, but she knew that her husband could be doing more to find her. "Cadence, what're you talking about?" He'd never seen her like this and it scared him. Yes she was drunk, but she was also very serious. "I want her gone, Shining Armor. I've heard the rumors about a death decree against all changelings. Is it true?" "Do you hear yourself right now?" Did she not know who her aunt was? Celestia would never agree to that without a trial or some other hearing first. "You said you loved me... Now here's your chance to prove it." "Cadie- Cadence," He caught himself, "this is madness, nopony is killing anypony." She pulled her lips into a thin line as his refusal put her second to the changeling queen once again. "If you can't do something about it, then I will." Cadance spun around and stalked away with fire in her eyes. She'd get rid of the witch and after that there'd be nothing standing in their way. *-*-*-*-* Faust watched as the Princess stumbled down the hall with tear streaks on her pretty face. He respected his Captain, but sometimes he wondered how he ended up with Cadance. Especially with everything that had happened in the last month. Had he been the one Cadence had chosen he would have known Chrysalis had been a fake all along. He knew the Princess better than he knew the back of his hoof. Faust was a pony in-love with the beautiful mare. It bothered him to see her shed tears over a pony who was obviously not so sure about his feelings. "Princess?" He reached out to steady the stumbling pony both physically and emotionally. Cadance sniffled as she fell into his larger, muscular frame. "Are you alright?" He asked with concern shining in his dark eyes. She looked up into his eyes seeing what he kept hidden from others. The depth of emotion she found in her personal guard's eye was the emotion she had always hoped to see in Shining Armor's. The revelation that it was missing made her cry all over again. "I don't know what I did wrong," she sobbed. "Why can't he forget that wench?" "You've done nothing wrong, Cadence. Some ponies are just undeserving of the gifts you give," was Faust's bold reply. "But it's always been him. Always." "But is he worth all of this? I mean look at you." "What are you saying?" She sniffled as she blinked up at him "You could have anypony you want. Don't waste your time on somepony who can't appreciate you for the treasure you are. If you were mine, I'd never let you go a day without knowing it." Candy colored eyes widened and in her lonely and drunken state, the Princess couldn't help but flush at the words. He was handsome and oh so warm. "Uh... thanks." She sniffled. "H-help me back to my room?" "Of course." *-*-*-*-* The next morning, the Princess woke up alone with a slight hangover. Faust had laughed at her miserable state before helping her to the shower, and leaving her to wash the ailment away. While Cadance still felt queasy, the hot water helped wake her up and made her feel a lot better. When she finally saw her husband in the halls later that morning, she excused herself from Faust's watchful eyes. "Shining..." Shining Armor gave her a nervous smile before dismissing the soldiers he was speaking with and giving her his full attention. "I'd like to apologize for my behavior last night. I was upset and I took it out on you." "It's alright. We've both been a little crazy." She smiled sweetly. "I love you." He smiled tightly and repeated the sentiment. "Love you too." Slowly as if to give him time to pull away, the tri-colored maned pony leaned forward and kissed him on the lips. She lingered, giving him the chance to deepen the kiss. It was awkward at first, but both ponies relaxed into the action before pulling away moments later. "See you later for dinner?" Candy eyes were hopeful. "Whatever you want." "Its a date!" She giggled. The two quickly exchanged goodbyes. Once the stallion rounded the corner to go on about his affairs, the love Princess dropped her smile. Soon enough he'd see the error of his ways and he'd break his neck trying to make up for it. She turned her attention to Faust and signaled him back over, meeting halfway. "Faust..." "Yes, Princess." The two began to walk in the opposite direction Shining Armor went. "About last night, I apologize-" "Apology accepted. But I meant everything I said. You're beautiful, kind and smart. You should never let a stallion push you to those limits." She blinked at the soft reprimand. "I appreciate your service to me, but despite our familiarity, I'm still your Princess... and I'm also a married mare." He rose a brow as if to say something, but then thought better. "Of course." Faust's bow would've made her old finishing school teachers proud. "I meant no disrespect." "I know... Escort me to Allegra's please?" She forced herself to look ahead. "Certainly." *-*-*-* Over the next couple of days, Shining Armor was extra attentive to her needs. It was if the stallion had had a great revelation. He cleared his lunches to spend time with her, he took her out for dates and lavished her with attention afterwards. It was wonderful having that sense of intimacy with him again. It was amazing what a little love and tenderness could do for a pony. If there were any awkward blunders made or he did something that he thought she liked because of the time that preceded their wedding, both purposefully ignored it. Things were finally looking up and Cadance was one step closer to having her life back. *-*-*-*-* “I was so afraid of losing you. You and the baby are all I care about.” “Baby?! What baby?” She couldn't carry a baby. “Chrysalis… you’re pregnant.” That had been a year ago and all of Chrysalis' doctors, except Elytra, had been amazed at her survival. The mare should've died but fate had smiled upon her that day and not a day went by that Chrysalis didn't feel privileged to be with her husband and the beautiful little filly they had created. Gemma was her pride and joy. The little girl brought so much love into her heart, Chrysalis thought she'd burst. As she lounged around in her backyard, she watched as her little girl gave chase to a butterfly. Two cups of lemonade rested near her lounge as did a smaller pair of sunglasses that matched the pair she had on. The sound of knocking from her front door pulled her from whatever reverie she found herself in. With a soft sigh, she pushed her sunglasses off her face. "Gemma, baby, Mama's going to answer the door, okay." The little girl paused in her trouncing to wave in her mother's direction. With a coat the palest color of clouds and hair more cyan than turquoise, her coloring favored her father more. But the sharpness of her features was very much like her mother's. Even the shape of her eyes. They were dark right now, as all children's were, but as she grew they'd eventually take the color of her father's as well. Chrysalis wasn't worried about her going anywhere. Their backyard was gated off and there was no way the filly could climb it. Leaving the door open in case Gemma wanted to follow her, she took her time answering her guest. "Can I help you?" She asked as she opened the oak door. The messenger pony in front of her was jamming out to something as he bobbed his head in rhythm as he retrieved a telegram from his messenger bag wordlessly handing her the item. He unconsciously flexed his wings as he waited to see if she wanted to reply to her message. With a quick scribble of pen, and a fresh telegram form, she replied, paid a surcharge and handed him back the cards. With a grin, he took the items filed them away and took off. Chrysalis closed her door, and went back to her backyard. She halted in her steps as she saw her daughter and her husband wrestling in the grass. Gemma was crouched low to the ground making growling sounds that were more cute than scary while Shining Armor pretended to be scared, shaking in his hooves. Just when the filly decided to pounce, the stallion caught her in the air and tossed her up after he spun her around. Squealing in laughter, the little girl was deliriously happy. With a small smile, Chrysalis leaned against the door sill and watched as the two laughed and played. "Hey Chryssie!" She heard her sister Odonata call from inside. "Help me with this?" She shook her head and turned around. She could hear Jedzia as well as Zendaya rushed past her to join her friend outside. "Gem, Gem!" The little filly shouted. "Uncle Armor!" "Zendaya!" Chrysalis briefly cursed herself as she realized she forgot to lock her front door. No quiet evening tonight, she realized as she made her way to the kitchen. "So, have you heard from Kirai?" Came a familiar voice. "Kirai?!" "Chryssie!" *-*-*-*-*-* Shining Armor hated lying to his wife, but he also didn't want to be the one to tell her about Chrysalis. But since he found out, he knew that the mare needed to know. Celestia had agreed and they both made plans to tell her at dinner. Since then, he had been trying very hard to be a good husband to her. He went out of his way to make time for her and forced himself to forget the other thoughts whirring around his mind. Plus, with what he had to tell her he needed her in the best of moods, as horrible as it sounded. He and his sovereign sat in the great dining hall waiting for the Princess to arrive with heavy hearts and resigned expressions. Neither knew exactly how she would take it, but they both knew that she wouldn't take it well. Celestia had the cooks prepare the girl's favorite meal. "Aunt Celestia, what're you doing here?" Cadance was all smiles as she entered the great room. "Not that I mind." She approached the table and took a seat. Her eyes lit up at the sight of her favorite meal as the table had already been set. Savory rosemary chicken and wild rice. Tonight the two were supposed to have another romantic dinner in the palace's Great Hall. She openly gazed upon her husband, who, for some reason, was avoiding her stare. A strong bout of anxiousness settled over her as she thought they had been making progress "Cadenza, there's something you need to know." "Okay... What is it?" "It's about the changelings." Celestia continued. Violet eyes began to frost over. "What about them?" "We have one in custody..." Shining Armor managed with seriousness. She waited for them to elaborate. When they didn't, "Who..." "Cadance th-" "Who. is. it." She had to know. "It's the changeling queen." Celestia jumped in. "She's here? In our castle?" Celestia nodded with a concerned expression on her face. Cadance narrowed her eyes as she realized they still weren't telling her the whole truth. "So... What're you not telling me? As long as you're not just going to give her a slap on the wrist and try to understand her." She snorted. "Cadenza!" She was joking, but neither pony was laughing. "You are.... aren't you?" Her chest ached as her voice rose. "You can't be serious. Not After what that bitch did to me. You're just going to mend her broken wings and teach her to fly?!" "Your're being ridiculous. Calm down." Shining Armor said with narrowed eyes. "I'm being ridiculous?! I was trapped all alone in those caves for three months not knowing if I was going to live or die. And all the while that wench was smiling in your faces pretending to be me. Replacing me!" "Wait... You... You were down there for three months?" The stallion did the math as he thought back to what had happened within those three months. "What difference does it make?" "Cadance it makes all the difference! I was with her for three months!" He felt betrayed did he? "You didn't tell him...." Celestia frowned as she remembered the conversation she and her niece had had the day after her wedding. Cadance had promised her that she would tell Shining Armor everything. "I am well aware of what the two of you did, in my 3 month absence, 'husband.'" The stallion felt as if she'd hit him square in the gut. "You think I'm stupid? You think I don't notice the way you have to force yourself to touch me? Or the guilty look you get when you're thinking about her? Forgive me for omitting that tiny piece of information while you placed me second." Celestia felt tears prick her eyes as she watched her niece lash out in pain at her situation. Something had snapped in the mare, and the Sol alicorn wasn't sure how to fix it. "You're going to try her aren't you Aunt Celestia?" And when the sol alicorn failed to say anything, the cerise colored alicorn grew frantic. "The sentence is death! That's the law, Aunt Celestia. Not even you are above the law!" "You don't understand-" "Oh I understand perfectly, Aunty." "Cadance please!" "To hell with both of you!" She raged feeling deeply wounded. Celestia and Shining Armor watched as the mare shoved away from the table and stormed off in anger. Elytra was on her way to where Celestia and Shining Armor were when the young alicorn stormed past her. Keen eyes watched as the obviously upset female continued on. Though their skill sets regarding their cutie marks were similar they were not the same. With that being said, she could still feel the younger's turmoil and it made her stop as she said a small prayer for the girl. No one deserved to have their heart broken in the way Cadance was experiencing. She just hoped the girl was stronger than she had been when she had lost her husband and child. Elytra shuddered as she thought of it. Focusing on the task at hand, she arrived at the table to see Shining Armor and the Sol Princess recovering from whatever had transpired to make their missing party member missing. "Elytra," Celestia greeted regaining her composure. She'd have to check on her niece later. "Princess Celestia, Shining Armor." The Captain of the Guard gave a tight smile as he tried swallow what had just happened between himself and his wife. "What's going on?" "It's time to bring her back."