//------------------------------// // Ch. 2 // Story: (Short Story Chronicles 3) Cracked Armor // by SaiyanUltima //------------------------------// What I Want . . . It's your fault. . . It's your fault. . It's your fault. I still cannot veer from those words, not in the slightest. I've been in this room for days now, and she has already been given shelter with her egg. I want to lose my sanity over this, yet I cannot slip from reality like I want. I am spurred by those words Chrysalis said in the cart. I am clinging to them as though my life depends on it. But why? Why do I hold onto those words when the entire situation should be the focus point of my life? I stared desperately towards my freedom and sighed at the edge of the crystal window, bright magic washing over for another day. My mind wandered aimlessly for the answer that I am starting to believe will never come. What did I do to deserve all of this? I tapped the barrier for my own amusement, causing the slightest disruption to spark against my hoof. It was all I could do for entertainment, she took away my magic and all forms of communication to the outside world. Mom and Dad probably don't know of the current situation and probably never will. The last thing anyone in this bucked up family wants is for the news to spread across Equestria; at least that is what they do not desire. If it was me, I'd be throwing everyone under the carriage right now. I'd throw them under it, jam the wheels, and then leave without batting an eye. I have every right to ruin the princesses, because they ruined me. I suddenly heard the door open and close very quietly, though as I ignored whoever entered my dungeon and tapped the barrier again, I shrugged the smooth hoof trailing my back. A short whisper drew my hearing, but it did not grasp my attention. "You haven't eaten in two days, my love." I pushed away the plate to my right and continued to look outside the Crystal Ponies, hoping she would understand I do not want to see or speak to her. And 'my love'. . .Peh! I doubt I am that anymore; if I was her love I would not be a prisoner in my own home. I would not be enduring the torture of never having a foal of my own. I would NOT be watching Chrysalis walk through the streets every morning with Celestia and Luna at her sides as protection. Bucking cowardly crystal ponies. This is your empire, your home, so do us all a favor and destroy that monster! . . . Who am I kidding? I can barely bring out the courage in some guards. I have a better chance getting struck by lighting than getting Cadance to rid this world of Changelings. "You cannot ignore this forever Shining," the bane of my life groaned in annoyance. "You know you'll have to accept sooner or later." "Buck off, princess." I growled angrily. . .or as angry as I could knowing the ring would shock me at the slightest hint of magic; and with my emotions connected to my magic so strongly, well. . . I'm bucked. She tried to soften me with a kiss and hug before I stood up to gain my distance. I was already on the verge of losing my own mind after being dragged back to the Crystal Empire; why is it so hard for to realize that our marriage is destroyed? Why does she keep trying when I am done!? "I can't fix it if you don't open up to me," she whispered sadly. "So please let me help. I love you and I want us to resume our life together as happy as possible." I cringed in disgust at her gentle breath against my ear but remained stern and pushed her away. Nothing felt more satisfying than to hear that horse gasp when I denied her my kiss. I saw in the reflection of the next window Cadance tensing up with intense emotional pain, before clenching her teeth to fight it with everything she has. She then breathed deeply and stared at me hurtfully. "I'm sorry," she whimpered pathetically. I could feel the neutral expression I just regained twist into many emotions at those words. A part of me should have been bracing for the emotional, sobbing alicorn begging at my hooves for me to give her a second chance, but any kindness and understanding I had for Cadance flew out the window when I found out Chrysalis and her had an egg. Tears should be falling—No, pouring down my muzzle as I stood with my back turned to the princess. I should feel something equivalent to a broken heart, something other than anger. This betrayal, however, has taken so much out of me and destroyed so many good things I had about Cadance. I can't look at her the same way. I can't even look at her long enough to flood her with insults and the demand for a divorce. Looking at her brings nothing but more pain and misery. I am truly disgusted with my own wife, and I want to hurt her. Yes, I want to make her feel helpless and terrible for cheating on me with that stupid bug. I want to find a fertile mare and impregnate her in front of Cadance, just so she knows the foal will be mine and never hers. I want to make her suffer. Every memory of us seemed to die slowly inside me. Every moment of us kissing, every time we snuck into eachothers rooms and slept together, even the night of our honeymoon, it felt like Tartarus collapsing over my heart before crushing it. In the middle of these unbearable memories I could see in reflection my wife approaching me for another attempt. Her weak smile. . . Buck, it pisses me off so much. I despise that she has the audacity to smile after sacrificing our one chance of having a family to a bug that needs to die. It's only a matter of time before the Changelings invade again! And when they do, when they succeed the second time, I'll be far away while she and those traitors embrace their new lives as love slaves. Hah. . .If Celestia thinks I will save the day a second time with my shield, then she has another thing coming. After all of this, the only pony I will be protecting my shield is myself. No one deserves my protection, not even my sister. I became aware of these thoughts and wondered if maybe dark magic has affected me in some way. Even when our fights were at their worst I would never dream of pulling a single hair off Cadance. The very idea of hurting my mare when she infuriates me would sicken my stomach. But now. . .I feel nothing. That's not all. I incapacitated Flash Sentry and shattered his wing when he pursued me. He'll never fly the same because of me, and Twilight is so heartbroken that she hasn't come by to give me a simple 'hello'. I haven't seen hoof or tail of that filly since she helped her fellow monarchs drag me back here. Did I really hurt her that much with my words? Have I really become corrupted to the point of hurting my own sibling? . . . No. No, I'm not twisted or corrupted. If I was I would be like Sombra already, but I'm not. I'm just furious with everyone. I'm so hurt and angry my only desire is to never see them again. It is not my fault Cadance had Chrysalis' egg. I may be in the wrong of poisoning that monster's children with my hatred, but she had it coming. She tried to kill Cadance and Twilight, hypnotize me as a food source until I wither away, and overthrow Celestia for supremacy, so she got she deserved in the long run. I did what any good captain would do for the sake of his friends and family. I destroyed an enemy that will not stop fighting. I weighed my back with the bloodshed of hundreds if not thousands of changelings. I committed genocide on the day of my wedding, and I will do it again if I must. They just don't realize it and, probably, never will, because the desperation of one Changeling will soften the weak of their judgment, just like it did with the princesses. I was so sick of hearing Cadance speak to me. Her voice should be a calming balm, a numbing agent to the agony I feel in my chest, but every word right now is a venom my heart cannot withstand. I just want her to leave me alone. I cannot stop her talking though. I can only ignore her as much as I can. Heh. . . Maybe all of this ignoring will give me some sort mental ability to tune her out. That would be the best gift fate can give me. I can picture myself in a world of silence as everyone around me tries to get my attention. I laughed quietly at such a thought, ignoring the brief glow of dark magic in my bloodshot eyes. Oh yeah, that's right. . . I haven't slept in days. I've been staying awake to keep the pink manipulator from sleeping with me. After what had to have been a good ten minutes of silence she would attempt getting close in any way possible. This is where I am stuck between shoving the horse across the room or giving her the better of the doubt with a simple hug and kiss, but that is what a good husband does. Me on the other hoof though. . . "Don't touch me," I growled lowly to her, slapping the wing that almost locked around my chest as her lips came into brief contact with the back of my head. I could hear the short gasp become a whimper at this moment. "You do not get to touch me, Cadenza." Yes, let that strike you home, although you deserve more than just a few harsh words. "Shining. . ." she whimpered and swiftly wiped her tears with the tip of her wings, sobs escaping her shaky breath while I glared out to the world. A part of me did feel a little bad for that one, but she had it coming. "Baby, please let me—" "Let you what!?" I hissed venomously, curving my glare to her through the corner of my eye. She flinched at the sight of my eyes being their new demonic look—that being known by said reflection in the window. "What exactly is there for you to do, Cadenza? What can you possibly do to fix this clusterbuck you started with that filthy maggot!?" The Princess of Love herself was greatly shocked by response as it echoed beautifully in the room, something both of us found to be a little frightening before my pupils returned to normal. I have to say this is by far the boldest thing I have done to her. Speaking so ill about her and that bug is surprising of myself, because I do not tell, imply, or insinuate to anypony what it is I have on my mind. Not even my own father knew of the problems I had as I kid. I've always. . .bottled it up. Cadance came close getting me to open up when we were teenagers, but that was during the loss of my grandfather. Yeah. . . a long time ago. I've yet to take my eye off the alicorn as she stands from a distance with her wings covering her eyes. She was barely restraining herself from tackling me to force the matter of her apology—that much I am certain of from past experience. If Cadance is known for one thing, it's her inability to accept someone being mad or hurt by her. She cannot stand the idea of being at fault for something. Geez, come to think of it. Fluttershy is tougher than her. At least she stays strong when there are problems. Maybe I should have married her instead? "Why are you being such a mule?" she asks in pity, about to receive the worst of me. She started glaring, but those big, beautiful eyes cannot intimidate anything. "I've done everything but have you make love with me every night. Why do you force us to keep you locked in this room." "You know why I am like this!" I yelled hatefully, stomping a hoof to the crystal ground so hard it cratered. This made Cadance yelp and alarm the other princesses. I could see her horn. "Celestia-dammit, you cheated on me, Cadance! You cheated on me with that bug and destroyed our chance to have a family!" "I did what must be done to save an entire species!" she yelled, anger finally showing through the sorrow as braved a step forward. "I made a sacrifice that I knew would devastate us both, but I am the only one that could do it!" "Celestia or Luna could have done it," I argued, thrusting my hooves to the very door those two locked with their divine power. "And you're telling me that the only pony in this family that could save the Changeling race is you!?" "Yes, only me," she nodded furiously. "Because my egg was fertile and ripe for use. Celestia and Luna lost are too old and Twilight is too young to carry a foal—let alone an egg. It would die with either of them, or it would kill Twilight!" I was already shaking from hearing her aunts' names come into the conversation. No matter how hard I try to be still, I don't think a freeze spell could stop my body. I feel so angry and betrayed by her, but it would seem that in her eyes I am the bad guy. Pfft. . .yeah, right. I haven't done a bucking thing wrong here. "Th-then you should not have done it!" I stammered slowly. "You should have come to me first. I would have understood if we had a foal first and waited next year for her to implant your body with her last egg!" Cadance took another step forward, yet quickly as though she depended on having me back. "Why?" she uttered in panic. "Why can't you just let this go and accept that we will never have a foal?" "Because you went against everything to our marriage. You lied to me. You went behind my back and gave yourself to Chrysalis. I have been trying to convince you about having a foal for months; and here you decide to have a bug with that witch." "Well maybe I didn't want a foal with you!" . . . My mind went to work at an incredible pace to comprehend what she just screamed at the top of her lungs. I'd understood that we needed time and patience to have ourselves a colt or filly, but this was too much to handle. I watched as the anger inside her eyes died completely and the scowl on her face shrunk to a frightening expression of calmness. She looked at me as though we never knew one another and sighed deeply. And what did I do? I backed into the wall and fell to my haunches from the shock of her words and the fear of what she is about to say. I could not believe her. Was this the same Cadance that married me years ago? Is the same Cadance at all? If it is not, then please, somepony wake me up from this nightmare! "I never wanted us to have a foal in the first place," Cadance said in a low tone, her gaze never leaving mine as she took one careful step at a time. "I never wanted to have a foal because of the pain that comes with giving birth. Celestia said it is ten times more painful than a normal mare giving birth, and I did not want that." I stopped trying to speak or make out what the buck is happening. . . It became so painful and heavy to hear these words where I had no choice but to shove my hooves against my ears, my life shattering into a billion pieces from the suffering she just put me through. I looked down and realized I was lying in the corner with a puddle in front of me, something I actually found to be as shocking as her words. I sobbed. . . No, I was whimpering to myself and shaking my head in denial without knowing it. I was rocked to the point of tears trickling down my snout, near the edge of what has to be breakdown. And like always. . .Cadance came to the rescue. She always knew when tears are escaping me so quickly there was the fact of a mental breakdown about to happen. It did the first time we broke up, because she used my rank as a guard to make a fool out of me in front of everypony. I can still hear that horrible day, how my so-called best friend made a bunch of lies to get to Cadance. I don't think I ever felt so destroyed when she made me lose my position and had me dishonorably discharged for untrue reasons. Heh. . . There is no good description to the amount Cadance went to after she found out the truth. How many months did it take for her to convince me to take her back and accept being reinstated to the Royal Guard as a First Class Sergeant? Six Month? Eight? Nine? Yeah, nine was the total of months. I had a nice friend at the time, a nice farm girl in Sweet Apple Acres. But that stallion came by and snatched her up before I could ask her out. Who am I kidding though? Those two made a happy life together and had three awesome foals. I just wish that it was me instead of that stallion. Come to think of it, I wonder if Applejack still believes her parents are in heaven. Dang, if she knew they were alive, and that it was me who forced Granny Smith to keep it a secret, she would hang me by my tail and beat my face in with a stick. Ah, it doesn't matter. They'll be back in two years to make good with their kids. I just hope whatever trouble they made doesn't follow them to— "Shining, talk to me please." I woke up from remembering the past to Cadance having her hooves wrapped tightly around my chest, pulling me to her lips. I felt her tongue slither its way into my mouth softly, softly hums echoing from hers and into my head. She then began to slide one hoof down my side, slowly, gently. . . desperately. It was poisoning. . . yet relaxing to my aching muscles. Maybe this was the real Cadance I married seven years ago, and I am just letting myself be eaten by my hatred for Chrysalis. Why do I feel so calm all of a sudden? I. . . I should be furious and disgusted of my wife. Strangely I pushed to her mouth and fell over with me being on top and rubbed where no other mare has rubbed been privileged before, Cadance' beautiful voice echoing in my mind, lulling every negative emotion to sleep as her hoof directed me elsewhere. I suppose I should kick my own flank for being such a weak stallion. Buck. . . Can I even call myself a stallion after this? "I'm sorry for hurting you so much, my love." she whispered erotically, her teeth sinking onto my ear as the folds of her nethers winked over my head. "I promise I'll let you do anything to me. I'll even let you put it in my plothole." "Cadance. . ." I broke off at her body scooting under me where the first inch sunk into her winking flower. I wanted to. . .I . . .Oh Tartarus! "We can adopt a colt or a filly," she moaned while thrusting her lower half to engulf more of my arousal. I had yet to move a single inch towards her. I feel so. . . stuck. "Or we can adopt as many babies as you want. We can still be parents." Cadance left to moaning in my ear, leaving me to think between forgiving her now or after I fill her lifeless womb with my seed, although I highly doubt that she would stay like this for much longer. Eventually she bucked so hard from the floor her hind legs wrapped around my back and our stomachs touched, but my length was not entirely inside her. There was still quite a bit to go. "Shiny, stop thinking about it and make love to your wife." she begged quietly, guards talking on the other side of the doors. I remained in place with shaky hooves and my conscience fading away quickly to the wonderful sensation of sex. I was so close to ravaging Cadance I snorted. There must have been seconds of terrible thinking when I came so close to ramming her marehood with all of my weakened might. I could feel her insides vice onto me and twitch with anticipation, but not for as long as I had expected. There were voices screaming in my head to just let go and make her pay with endless love making, and I was so close to listening without hesitation. But something stopped me from making this mistake. . . It cried to me. Spoke to me. Screamed at me and . . Daddy! I remembered imagining a son or daughter calling me that and watched in the back of my mind as it burned aflame in green and pink. The imagery of the foal I will never have wailed in its own voice, scratching and clawing at my brain with everything it has. I could hear that newborn crying in the background of Chrysalis' laughter. To my surprise the girth Cadance longed for went soft in an instant, but remained inside as she waited for me. I opened my eyes and gasped at her. At the audacity to seduce me. To . . . manipulate me again with her body and her words of promise. Cadance merely looked up to me and realized my soft member retreating from her, albeit begrudgingly from the look in her eyes, released her hind legs from back. She looked afraid as the lust and love in my eyes were dragged back into the darkness and replaced with fury and rage. "Shining. . ." she reached up to kiss me, but found herself pushed firmly to floor by my hoof. "You tried to make me forget about it." I hissed dangerously, forcing her hooves off my chest with my own. "How dare you try and seduce me into forgetting what you have done. How dare you, Mi Amore Cadenza." The massive shock in her eyes hardened to terror when I stepped over her without regret. She rolled onto her stomach and stood up, fluids still dripping rapidly from her legs while I jumped onto the bed. Somehow I found a new emotion flowing through me as the alicorn smiled weakly. "Shining, baby, I was perfectly fine with making love on the floor." she began kindly. I cannot believe what I just heard. Is there no sense of wrong in her mind!? "But if you want to do it on the bed—" "Get out." I pointed towards the door and threw the food tray at it. "Get the buck out right now, princess." Those words almost made Cadance break into tears, but she did have some dignity to her, I think. But she did not listen to me, she just stood there with a confused gaze as I pointed at the door repeatedly. Seriously, take a hint! "Shiny . . . please don't do this again." she whispered before picking up the tray. I did not make eye contact with her, but the sound of whimpering was enough. "Please baby, we can work this out. We can adopt a foal. We can make love every day if you want. But for buck sake, let me—" "Did you not hear me!?" I spat bitterly, causing her to cry. "I said get out! Why is that so hard for you to comprehend!? It shouldn't be difficult since you comprehended having an egg rammed up you filthy marehood." "Shiny. . . please. . ." "Get out of here, you disgusting horse!" I distinctly feel the ring surge my body with pain, but my fury with her and everyone else proved stronger. I should be limp from head to hoof and gasping for breath. The pain of never having a son or daughter, however, is worse than having my own magic leeched from body; and that is the most painful thing a unicorn can ever feel. My mind starts to go blank with rage and hatred as Twilight and her fellow traitors rush into the room to protect her sister-in-law for no bucking reason. It's not like I would physically harm my cheating wife. The last thing I need is to make myself the bad guy. She wraps a comforting wing around Cadance and shushes her as Celestia and Luna march towards me with neutral expressions. I snorted into their faces, before taking the wise decision of stepping back to avoid the disadvantage they have on me. Still, my mind was hazy from my emotions. The electricity jolting every muscle in my body went numb and my horn steamed my magic wanting freedom. The ring kept my magic at bay, which infuriated me even more. "Shining Armor, stand down immediately!" Celestia demanded loudly, her eyes gazing into mine angrily for but a small second before I snorted a second time. "I do not take orders from you, horse!" I said proudly. She never got the chance to reply to that. "And I especially do not listen to you or that useless monster you call a sister!" "Excuse me!?" Luna snapped, flaring her wings at me as a sign of intimidation. I glared at her this time, and I did so to show her how unafraid I am. "You heard me, Nightmare Moon. But if you did not hear me, then let me say something else to you, your idiotic excuse of a sibling, and that horse you two call a niece," I cleared my throat, took a deep breath, and then screamed at the top of my lungs, "YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FOOL ME INTO BELIEVING THAT I AM IN THE WRONG OF THIS ENTIRE BUCK-UP. I KNOW I KILLED HER CHILDREN, BUT I AM NOT AT FAULT FOR THAT PINK PIECE OF GARBAGE CHEATING ON ME!" I suddenly felt my body being lifted in the air by a combination of blue, yellow, and purple aura. I was locked in place. "What is it going to take to make you accept, Shining Armor?" Celestia asked in a stern tone, not that it does any good. "Buck you!" I struggled to break free, but I am not going anywhere while this witch has me in her grasp. "What will it take to make you happy?" Luna asked next, which is surprising since I struck her where it hurts. Nightmare Moon is a fragile subject, after all. That question had to have been the easiest thing for me to understand the entire time. Hearing how sorry everyone is and how bad they feel has grown very annoying. Cadance stared at me desperately as I went back and forth between her, Twilight, and these two useless goddesses I hate so much. I was not unsure what I want from them, and they knew it. "I want a foal of my own blood. I want a son or daughter that is mine. " I demanded. Celestia just shook her head and sighed. "Cadance is unable to have a foal, so that cannot be done. The best thing to do is adopt a foal." "Then I want a surrogate mother to carry my foal until birth." I countered, shocking her and Luna for whatever reason. Maybe they did not think of me as an intelligent stallion. "Buck no!" Cadance barked angrily. "You're not going to have a bastard foal with some other pony." "Well I'm not going to adopt a foal. I will not co-sign with you!" "Adoption is the only way, Shining Armor. We will not allow a surrogate mother carry your foal." Luna said authoritatively. "Shining Armor, we must come to an agreement with you in some other way." Celestia pleaded in a low tone, rubbing her forehead of what I think is a migraine. "For all our sake, especially your wife's sake, tell us what else there is we can do to make this go away or to make you happy." I snapped out of my rage and turned to face my sobbing wife. The alicorn had a rather pathetic display of dread and regret when our eyes locked. The whimpering itself was enough to make my little sister worry. Her horn glowing at the ready in case something happens. I want to say there is nothing they can do to make me happy, but that would not be enough to tear this family apart. I know what I want, but it cannot be done. Celestia and Luna will not allow it, because Cadance is like a daughter to them and she needs to be happy all the time. Well not today. Not ever again; at least not with me. I'm not going to manipulated into submission. I was robbed of a wonderful thing. I was robbed of having a foal and it is all their fault. They stole my happiness from me! "So you won't do any those?" I asked. "You can still adopt a foal with Cadance, a little colt or filly. It will not be any different." Celestia said with a growing smile, magic releasing my body as I fell to the floor. "I am not adopting!" I growled. "Then what else do you want!?" Luna yelled a little too loudly, possibly alerting the citizens of our fight. "Is it power, because we can offer it. Are you wanting to be the king of this empire, because all you have to do is earn the approval of your subjects and the High Council. "It's none of those!" "Well what!? Is it more magic!? Do you want to become an alicorn!?" "I want none of those, because they cannot amount to your monsters betraying me!" "Then what do you want!?" "It's very simple, you stupid horse!" I turned to Celestia and Luna, scowling as hard as I possibly can. "Since I cannot have a foal of my own blood, there is only one thing left that will make me happy!" "What is it that you want?" Cadance asked, although I don't know why. "I WANT A DIVORCE!" . . . Celestia, Luna, Twilight, and Cadance. . . They hesitated. . . Without warning or a sign, Cadance began to hyperventilate. She started panicking in Twilight's hooves while the Goddesses of the Sun and the Moon gawked at me. No one said a word, not even I. Still, it felt so bucking good to say those words and watch the four princesses of Equestria lose their cool. But. . . why do I feel pain all of a sudden? After a few seconds of staring at the ground, I look up to my wife and see her eyes dilating all of a sudden. She stops hyperventilating and stares at me emotionlessly, as if her soul was no longer there. As she stood there with all of us wondering what she is doing, horn sparks and touches mine without a single shred of pain travelling my body. I should be in terrible agony, but the only thing I feel is warmth and. . . Cadance. The connection grew as the heart we made to defeat Chrysalis before became real, shaped in aura and completely intertwined with blue and pink. Her eyes are now glowing, but she does not— "Shining, what's wrong!?" Twilight screams, startling me back to the reality I do not want to be in. I look at her, but before she can approach me, the connection brings Cadance and I so close our horns are touching. She willingly allows this while I scrape my hooves against the floor out of fear. Her eyes I finally see as dark pink while the flow of my magic turns into pain. "I will not allow this to happen." Cadance says, but it isn't her voice I hear. No, it's much more masculine and powerful, as though a god is amongst us. I went for the heart above us, but we fall to the floor and my muscles contract without control. Everything hurts, even my eyes, like somepony electrocuting every nerve with thousands of volts of discharged magic. I was barely aware of Cadance closing her eyes and hugging my curled up form, soothing whatever she could as the others darted towards us. Twilight, Celestia, and Luna were right there, but I could not hear what they were saying. Did I go deaf from pain or this strange connection? "I hate you with every fiber of my being, but my daughter is happy with you." "Wh—what?" "I will see you soon. . . son-in-law." "Cadance. . . what are you—" "SLEEP!" I vaguely see something in the darkness of my eyes, but. . . who could. . . be. . . . . . To Be Continued