Twilight stood there, looking towards the landing where her brother was, her mouth agape, shocked at the prospect that her brother was evil. She asked through tears, “Why are you like this, Brother? What happened to you?” Shining Armour looked different; his eyes were red, with smoke like green wisps coming from them. He looked more like a crystal pony now. “Twilight, my eyes have been opened to a greater light. King Sombra is not evil, he is good; it is Luna and Celestia that are evil. Join me Twi; I don't want to destroy you like the others.” Shining Armour said calmly, in a voice that was unlike his own.
“Sombra has lied to you Shiny... can't you see?” Twilight replied as her heart began to break further. “I do see Twilight; you are blinded by evil! If you won't follow me, then you are lost.” Shining replied. He began to charge his horn ready for an attack; he fired at his sister, the sister he swore to protect. Twilight blocked the blow. “Your breaking my heart, Shiny... don't do this... break free of Sombra. Your son and wife are waiting for you to return… Don't force my hand…” Twilight said as a pit in her stomach began to grow and her tears began to pour.
“Cadence, Radiant- Submit” Shining started to say before he was cut off as Sombra's voice boomed in his head. Shining lost control once again, seeing Twilight in a different light. She was evil looking, and her voice spoke only insults and curses. “Shiny, fight it.” Twilight yelled with the hope that her brother could fight Sombra's control. Shining Armour heard Twilight's plea. “Get... out... of... my... head... Sombra!” Shining fought back with his mind. The internal struggle was great, and his pain was greater. It felt as if his mind was being shattered, and ignited by flames.
“Obey me Shining Armour, kill her.” Sombra boomed. “N-no I-I wont hurt her.” Shining replied to Sombra. “SILENCE! SUBMIT TO YOUR KING!” Sombra boomed viciously. Soon after Shining heard this, his body began to change into a crystal pony; his eyes were now fully red with pin point pupils with green wisps floating from his eyes. Shining Armour shot a glare at Twilight before he spoke with venom. “You are no sister of mine, you are nothing more then an enemy going to crushed by the one true king! KING SOMBRA!”
Twilights heart shattered. Her brother had lost the internal struggle with Sombra, and now he was a threat to Equestria. Twilight had to swallow her emotions. Just like Celestia had to, for her sister when she banished Luna to the moon. Twilight felt tears stream down her muzzle from her eyes, as she began to charge her horn. While she charged her horn, she could not help but remember the song Luna sung to her when she was being taught how to rule.
The stars are very beautiful, above the palace walls,
They shine with equal splendour, still above far humbler halls.
I watch them from my window, but their bright entrancing glow,
Reminds me of the freedom I gave up so long ago.
The royal circlet of bright gold rests lightly on my brow,
I once thought only of the rights this circlet would endow.
But once I took the crown to which I had been schooled and bred,
I found it heavy on the heart, though light upon the head.
Although I am the head of state, in truth I am the least,
The true Queen knows her people fed, before she sits to feast.
The good Queen knows her people safe, before she takes her rest,
Thinks twice and thrice and yet again, before she makes request.
For they are all my children, all, that I swore to defend,
It is my duty to become both Queen and trusted friend—
And of my children high and low, from beggar to above,
The dearest are my Heralds, who return my care with love.
The dearest are my Heralds, swift to spring to my command.
Who give me aid and fellowship, who always understand
That land and people first have needs that I may not deny—
So I must send my dearest friends to danger—and to die.
A friend, a love, a child—it matters not, I know indeed,
That I must sacrifice them all if there should be the need.
They know, and they forgive me—doing more than I require,
With willing minds and loving hearts go straight to grasp the fire.
These tears that burn my eyes are all the tears the Queen can't shed,
The tears I weep in silence as I mourn my Heralds dead.
Oh gods that dwell beyond the stars, if you can hear my cry—
And if you have compassion—let me send no more to die!
Then Twilight remembered what else Luna said. “The reason I sing this for you, is for you to understand the legacy, and the sacrifices for the succession you inherited.” Luna let the words she spoke sink, before she continued. “In your lifespan there will be many sacrifices you will have to endure. It is the mantle for the heir to take up. Do you understand Twilight?” Twilight had said she understood, however she now realised that she never fully understood the price until this day.
Twilight released the beam of magic at Shining Armour, with tears bordering her eyes. Shining blocked the beam, and as he did, she teleported, drawing her sword and started to bring her sword down for Shining Armour. Her tears streamed down her face as she aimed for her brother.
Shining saw the sword, and then he jumped on the sword, slamming it on the ground, before back flip kicking Twilight, sending her off of the landing. Twilight unfurled her wings, to alight herself before landing on the ground below. Her horn had been pre charged. She soon released the beam of magic at Shining Armour.
Shining dodged the blast, by jumping off of the landing to the bottom floor, drawing his own sword and blocking a magic spell from Crimson Shadow, reflecting it back at Crimson Shadow, knocking him out before teleporting in front of Lyra, Doc, and Lance, sending them flying to the wall with a magic barrier.before dashing to Scarlet Night. Shining was about to kill her, when she was suddenly blasted by a beam of magenta light, sending him to the floor where Ghost was.
Shining saw Twilight charging at him, and firing magical bolts at him, before she teleported behind Shining Armour, repulsing him into a wall with a magical barrier. He jumped on the wall and bounced off of the wall, sword drawn, pointed directly at Twilight. Twilight took flight and dodged the blow as Shining Armour was in mid air; Twilight closed her wings and dived down at her brother, landing on his back, sending him slamming to the ground. A grisly crack sounded as the ground cracked. Shining Armour then gasped, as he felt the point of cold steel entering his chest.
Shining Armour returned to normal and said, “Th-Thank you Twily; you are really the best s-sister... in the world, please look after Cadence... and Radiant Heart… Ra-Radiant he was struck by a c-c-cursed blade...Please save him… Rem-Remember that I… Will be your big brother... best friend for... ev-er.” As Shining breathed his last breath, his eyes shut. Twilight broke into tears, and cried over Shining Armour's corpse.
Her world had shattered; she wanted revenge for what Sombra did. Her tears streamed down her face steadily. She vowed to destroy Sombra for good, and everything he stood for. She put an invisibility spell over the group, and the corpse of her late brother, before continuing forward, to save everypony she could. Twilight had been grief stricken, and did not want any more blood on her hooves. She hoped she would not have to fight her friends as well. If she had to kill them for Equestria, and the human civilisation, she couldn't live with herself.