//------------------------------//
// Chapter Six: Prince Shining Star 
// Story: The Mare and the Draconequus(Plot Twist) 
// by ADenter1 
//------------------------------//

Chapter Six: Prince Shining Star
(Always better than Blueblood)




Sombra ground his teeth together in rage as he bowed to Starswirl and the two Pegasus Princesses. If only I’d gotten that lamp... he growled and hoped that the Unicorn mare was burning in Tartarus right now. “I say he should be beheaded, as he did to the colt from the marketplace,” Cadence glowered at the Unicorn. Though that made Sombra smirk in satisfaction. Her Cutie Mark was not at the power it was meant to be, by Luna he loved Dark Magic. It kept her from getting to Lovey-Dovey with anypony, especially the brat from the marketplace.
“That’s going to far,” then there was the other Pegasus Princess. Fluttershy. She was smaller, shorter, and weaker than Cadence in Sombra’s opinion. Half the time Starswirl and Cadence had to talk the filly into coming into the sunlight just because she was scared of her own shadow. That was pathetic in the dark stallion’s opinion. Though the Unicorn mare from the Cave. The rat’s sister. She had something else, a fire that Sombra had never seen before. She had magic, powerful magic at that, and it was a shame that she was dead now. She could have made a fine... Sombra mentally slapped himself. That was filth, those thoughts.
“From now on, Sombra, you are to discuss the sentencing, imprisonment, and penalty with me before prisoners are beheaded,” Starswirl declared.
Sombra mentally growled. “Yes, my liege,” he felt as though his fangs would break from all the grinding. Meh, he could fix them later on in the day.
Starswirl pressed Sombra’s hoof to Cadence’s. “Cadence, Sombra, please let us put this business behind us,” he looked mostly to Cadence. “Please,” it was a beg, and in all the years Sombra knew the older unicorn stallion, he’d never begged anypony. Certainly not a Pegasus. He’s a disgrace to Unicorns. Sombra mentally glared.
Cadence glared at him for all she was worth and the mental smirk returned to his mental lips. The more hate and anger she felt, the weaker her Magic of Love would be. Her Cutie Mark would remain dull and dead. “At least a source of good will come from the force of this marriage,” she stuck her face close to his. “Once I am Sultaness of Saddle Arabia, I will have the power to get...” she got closer, really into his business. “Rid...” she growled. “Of you...” she snapped, storming off after her rant was finished.
Starswirl followed her out, leaving Fluttershy, Sombra, and the ‘parrot’ alone. “I’m worried about her...” Fluttershy confessed. “I may not have known the colt from the marketplace, but she said her Cutie Mark had been glowing,” Sombra’s heart skid to a stop.
“Did she see a color?” he asked. Fluttershy nodded.
“She said it was glowing crystal blue, and that she felt something in her heart... Like something was new but not wrong,” Fluttershy looked down. “She said those words. New but not wrong,” the Pegasus sighed. “She’s upset, Starswirl won’t be able to talk to her,” Fluttershy trudged on to her own room, leaving Sombra alone with Chrysalis.
Chrysalis stayed in her parrot form for safety but let her voice speak freely. “Glowing?” she inquired. “What does that mean?”
“The worst thing imaginable where Magic is concerned,” Sombra growled, watching as Starswirl practically tripped over his hooves while chasing the mare. “Now, I am partially thankful the marketplace stallion is dead. If he’d been alive, and they saw each other again. He could have broken the curse of Hate. Her Cutie Mark would have been renewed, crystal blue instead of dead red,” Chrysalis opened her mouth but his glare shut it back up. “I am not turning into Zecora, but you understand my point,” she nodded.
“If anything, the stallion was the diamond in the rough AND the Princess of Love’s soulmate,” he growled. “Like how Celestia is the Alicorn and Princess of the Sun, Faust is the Alicorn and Queen of Creation and Equestria, and Luna is the Alicorn and Princess of the Night, she is a to-be Alicorn Princess of Love,” Chrysalis gaped.
Sombra sighed through his nose. “Then there was the Unicorn’s magic,” he’d felt it, especially when she’d bitten him. He rubbed his still sore ear and grimaced/shuddered at the memory. He felt power surge through him. Like a painful blast of energy. He felt how Loyal she was to her brother and those she loved. She had Loyalty’s Heart, but not the entire thing. “She was another to-be Alicorn Princess, and I think of Friendship’s Magic, Faust’s favorite,” he shook his head irritably.
“It doesn’t matter though, she’s dead and so is Cadence’s soulmate,” Chrysalis raised an eyebrow at the tone he used with the words ‘she’s dead’ but said nothing. She was still wary of the Alicorn Amulet Scepter.
“So basically we’ll be serving the chump and his chump goddaughter for the rest of our lives?” Chrysalis asked. “Not to mention I’m immortal as the last of the Royal Changelings and your Dark Magic keeps you immortal,” she added.
The stallion rolled his eyes. “No, only until Cadence finds her chump husband,” he glared at the pink Pegasus. “Then we’ll be banished or...” he pressed a hoof to his throat. “Beheaded...” they shared a, “Eeewww.”
A flash occured in Chrysalis’s eyes. “What if you were the chump hubby?” she asked and saw the glare in his eyes.
“Beg pardon?” he raised a black brow. She waved her wings in front of her face wildly, noticing how his grip on the scepter tightened ever so slightly.
“If you married the Princess, then you become Sultan,” she grinned. A twisted grin broke out onto Sombra’s lips.
“But there’s one thing wrong with that, my dear,” Chrysalis looked at him with a slack-beaked(pun intended) look.
“What?” he leaned closer.
“She hates me and I hate her,” he all but quietly shouted. Chrysalis shook her head.
“Yeah, yeah. But whoever gets married first becomes Sultaness or Sultan, remember?” recognition flashed in the Unicorn’s eyes. “Plus, they need to marry a Unicorn,” she tapped his horn. “And although I could pose as a Unicorn Prince, there would be to many questions about where I came from,” she added.
“Marry the Princess,” he looked to the buttermilk colored Pegasus and how she interacted with the animals. The white rabbit in particular. “Ugh... Your idea is merit, dear Chrysalis... But she’s weak, simpering, and pathetic, and although she has beauty I’ll admit, she’s not what I would have picked,” she glared at him.
“Hey, Raggedy Anne. You look in the mirror lately? Now’s not the time to get picky,” she snapped. Though her glare disappeared when she realized the look in his eyes.
“For the love of... Who in the name of Tartarus is it?” she crossed her wings over her chest. He glared back.
“None of your concern, but if I am to be Sultan then so be it. But I suppose you could pose as Sultaness after we do away with her,” Chrysalis gagged. “Not like THAT-- By Luna this is ridiculous....” he sighed in frustration. “Yes, sacrifice for the throne. I will find a way, besides there’s the Scroll of Sultans and Sultaness. Laws of Saddle Arabia,” Chrysalis nodded.
“So, where’s the honeymoon gonna be?” she grinned as he grimaced.
“You want the Scepter in the head again?” her eyes widened.
“On second thought it’s such a beautiful day, I’m just gonna go for a fly,” she took off instantly.
Sombra looked to his hooves as he sat on the Sultan’s throne, which by technical terms was Starswirl’s throne. Her Magic had been more than just powerful. It could have rivaled Cadence and maybe Luna themselves. Perhaps even Celestia! It was powerful. By Faust’s wishes, Magic and Love were made the most powerful, and even though they would not have been born Alicorns like Celestia, Luna, and probably Faust, they were still exceptionally powerful. Not to mention the fact that they would have actually brought Pegasi and Unicorns together as Twilight had been a Unicorn, despite being from peasantry, and Cadence a Pegasus, and from Royalty no less.
“You were the to-be Alicorn Princess of Friendship my dear,” he glared at the ground. “I should have known,” he massaged the bite mark on his ear. He’d healed it with a spell, but there was still a pink scar that stood out against his dark features. “At least I have something to remember you by,” he sighed again and looked back at the Pegasus mare. “Fluttershy is not a very hot name,” he tapped his chin with his hoof. “I’ll secretly call her...” he thought for a moment. “Roxanne,” he didn’t miss Chrysaslis’s snort and she definitely didn’t miss the black crystal that hit her on the head.
~Shining Armor, brought to you by the Fluttercord that will be later~
“Hows that for limits?” Discord smirked as they landed in the Arabian Oasis.
Twilight and Shining Armor smirked. “You certainly showed me,” Shining Armor shrugged. “Now about the three wishes?” he asked the Draconequus.
The tips of Discord’s ears turned into fire. “Are my ears burning? Three? You are down by one colt!” he put a giant One in Shining Armor’s face.
Twilight shook her head. “No, no, no. He never actually wished to get out of the cave,” she pointed a hoof at him. “You did that on your own,” she grinned.
His mouth dropped and Spike snickered. “Nopony snickers,” he stuck him back in the Carpet. “Well, doesn’t this just make me feel sheepish,” he turned into a Dracone-sheep. “Alright you b-aad mare,” he stuck his head up. “But no more freebies,” he warned, turning back to ‘normal’.
“Fair enough,” Shining Armor stated as he began to think. “Three wishes... I want them to be good and meaningful, but you can’t bring back the dead,” he and Twilight looked sad for a moment, but it was gone as quickly and both Spike and Discord were certain they must have imagined it. “What would you wish for?” that question had actually caught the Draconequus by surprise.
“Me? Nopony’s ever asked that before... Well I guess I’d-- Nah,” both Unicorns looked interested this time.
“What?” Armor asked.
“No, I can’t,” Discord muttered.
“Come on tell me,” Shining Armor said.
Discord sighed deeply. “Freedom...” he held out his wrists.
Twilight and Armor looked at the disfigured lamp. “You’re a prisoner?” the mare asked.
“My Mistress, Chaos, told me that the penalty for having a large fraction, or any of fraction, of her power would be that I am bound to the lamp unless I return the magic of Chaos or if my Master wishes me out. It’s all part of the Draconequus-Chaos-Genie Gig,” he looked to the blue sky. “Infinite power and the ability to do anything when I want, and where I want. More powerful than Celestia, Luna, Love, but not Friendship,” he snorted. “Then my other wish,” a small blush came to his gray face and Twilight grinned.
“Is every male creature in heat or something?” both males blushed this time. “Every stallion seems to be in love,” Discord raised a white bushy brow.
“Well, I hope Shining Blabber here knows I could make his mare friend fall in love with him if it was just Chaos. But as a Genie-doer I can’t,” Shining Armor sighed, remembering the beauty of the Pegasus mare.
“So who’s your mare friend?” Twilight asked the Draconequus.
He shook his head. “I don’t have one, that’s just partial to the deal I made with my Mistress, Chaos,” he looked down. “I was born without Magic, and I was born looking like this,” he gestured to himself. “And that didn’t settle well with ponies, and as I had no Cutie Mark to describe my ‘special talent’ I wanted something that would make me stronger than the other ponies. I made the deal with Chaos that she would give me my Chaotic power if I was bound to the lamp, but I also asked that she give me somepony who would be able to accept me for who and what I am. Personality and looks and all, and I would be free one day,” he looked sad.
“But I bet you can guess how many times Masters wish the Genies free, and how many times the ugly non-heroes get the mares and girls,” he sighed. Armor shrugged again.
“I’ll do it, I’ll wish you free,” Discord looked at him skeptically.
“Uh huh,” he held a Pinocchio puppet at him and the nose stretched out. Shining Armor pushed it down and it disappeared in a white flash of Chaos.
“No, I mean it. I can’t even think of much I want for myself, and after Twi and I get the things we need I can use my third wish to set you free,” he promised and Twilight added with a giggle.
“And then you can find your mare friend,” he looked at Shining Armor’s hoof still warily.
He sighed even more deeply than before. “Here’s to hoping, alright then,” he shook his hoof. “Let’s make some magic!” fireworks exploded behind him.
“So what is it that you want most?” he asked the Unicorn stallion.
“Well, there’s the mare...” a giant buzzer that stood for 'no’ sounded at that moment.
“Wrong,” Discord waved his lion finger. “Can’t with the Lamp Binding, could if I would. But if wished free then your other two wishes are long-gone,” he added.
“But Discord, she’s amazing, she’s smart, she’s fun...” Twilight and Discord smiled.
“Pretty?” Discord guessed.
“Beautiful!” Shining Armor stated with the lovesick smile, and Discord smiled knowingly.
“She’s got these eyes, and her hair, and her smile!” Shining Armor had been struck by Cupid’s Arrow. Discord changed the other scenery to France, with him looking like a mime, Twilight too.
“Sey, Amour,” he blew smoke into the sky.
Shining Armor looked sad though. “But she’s the Princess, to even have a chance I’d--” a thought came into his head, and Discord placed a lit light bulb above his head. “Could you make me into a Prince?” he asked. Not even Twilight had been prepared for that question.
“Hmm,” Discord twirled his beard with his eagle finger. “Let’s see,” a pink book of ‘Wish Recipes’ appeared in his hands. “Chicken a’la king?” he pulled a chicken with a crown on its head out of the book and tossed it to the side, creating a small explosion. “Nope,” he turned a page. “Alaskan King Crab?” Twilight and Armor heard the snap sound and watched Discord pull his eagle finger out of the book with a red crab clinging on to it. “Ow, I hate it when they do that,” he flung the crab away, and it too exploded(RIP Sebastian) “Aha, To Make a Prince,” he looked at Shining Armor almost slyly. “Now is that an official wish Master? Say the magical words,” he grinned.
“Discord, I wish for you to make me into a Prince,” Discord whooped and clapped.
“And by technical terms, that makes Roxanne a Princess,” Twilight blushed and glared at the same time.
“Sure,” she mumbled and Discord grinned.
In a flash, Discord was wearing a tailor pony’s clothing. “Now, the fez and vest... Mm, nope. Not Prince material,” he clucked his tongue and pulled a patch off. “Nope, let’s try this,” he gave both Twilight and Shining Armor a more Royal attire.
Shining Armor wore a white Prince’s suit with golden shoes and a turban with a sapphire in the center, underneath the blue feather. Twilight wore a red Princess-y attire, basically the same as Cadence only red instead of blue. With the golden shoes, and golden cuff links to go with it. She wore a small golden crown with a ruby in the center. “Very, lovely, very lovely indeed,” Discord seemed to think for a moment. “Now it still needs something. What does it say to me?” a lit light bulb appeared over his own head. “Mode of transportation,” he cracked his fingers and snapped the two eagle ones.
He pulled Spike back out of the Carpet. “And what better way to ride through the streets of Saddle Arabia, than on your very own camel! Watch out, it spits,” he seemed thoughtful for a moment, and as if on cue Camel Spike spit. “Mm, not enough,” he snapped his fingers and it turned into a purple and green horse. “Still not enough,” he kept snapping his fingers and Spike kept changing. The idea finally came and Spike was transformed into a purple Elephant with green eyes, and green hair. Hey, Equestria was the land of Magic and in Discord’s case, Mayhem, it works.
“He’s got the outfit, he’s got the elephant, but hang on to your horns kiddies, cause we’re not through yet!” Discord pulled on his arms. “We’re gonna make you a star!” fireworks exploded from the oasis as Discord’s laughter could be heard in the distance.
~Starswirl~
Starswirl was carefully balancing the creatures and ponies of Equestria in a perfect triangular tower. It had Timber Wolves, Chimera, Dragons, Alicorns, Unicorns, Pegasi, Earth Ponies, and so much more. The door slamming open startled him and caused his tower to fall. “Sire, I may have found a solution for the problems with Cadence and Fluttershy,” Chrysalis squawked.
“Problems with Cadence and Fluttershy,” she sneered.
“Really?” Starswirl’s yellow eyes were more than hopeful.
“By Royal Law if neither Princess, Pegasus or Unicorn, has chosen a suitor by the appointed time then the Sultan or Sultaness must choose for her,” Starswirl looked down and Chrysalis was thankful, he was about to shove another saltine into her beak.
“But Cadence and Fluttershy BOTH hated all those suitors, how can I choose someone neither will accept?” he shoved the cracker into Chrysalis’s mouth, much to her annoyance and she spit it out behind him.
Sombra held his hoof up, in a ‘wait’ gesture. “If, in the event a suitable Prince cannot be found, a Princess must then be wed too...” he looked falsely interested and even a bit confused. “Hmm... interesting,” he and Chrysalis shared a look.
Starswirl looked at him impatiently. “Who?” he demanded.
“The Royal Vizier, why that would be... me,” Chrysalis noticed the reluctance in his voice but Starswirl, thank Tartarus, did not.
The older Unicorn stallion looked confused for a moment, and grabbed at the scroll though Sombra reeled it back. “I thought the law says that only a Prince can marry a Princess...” he didn’t get a chance to look.
“Desperate times call for desperate measures my lord,” he pulled out the Alicorn Amulet and it’s cold red eyes met Starswirl’s in a hypnotic staring contest.
Starswirl fell into it’s Dark Magic. “Despertte measures...” he seemed to blink it away.
“Have I gone mad? Cadence would take a dull Fisher-pony knife’s and to you she would--” Sombra cut him off with more energy from the dark scepter, effectively silencing the Sultan.
“As Princess Cadence refuses all suitors...” Starswirl repeated those words. “You will order Princess Fluttershy to marry me,” more reluctance but he fought through it.
“Princess Fluttershy... will marry you...” this time the spell was broken again but this time by fanfare. That was how Sombra came to loathe all other male Unicorns who had no usefulness for him. “That’s it! Prince Shining Star could marry Fluttershy or Cadence! He should be a good match for one of them!” Starswirl declared and whispered to Sombra. “And you wouldn’t have to worry about Cadence being out for your blood if you married Fluttershy,” he winked and Sombra glared.
Sombra literally had to force all of Prince Shining Star’s people out, leaving him, Chrysalis, the Elephant, the Carpet, Discord(under Star’s turban), and Starswirl in the room. But there was also another mare. Like the stallion she wore the Royal Attire Unicorns were known for. Her mane and tail, dark midnight blue with purple and pink streaks, with a purple coat, and violet purple eyes. Her mane and tail were combed elegantly and the tiniest of rubies were twirled and tied elegantly through the hair. “Your Majesty,” Shining Star bowed from on his Carpet. “I have journeyed from afar to seek your goddaughter’s hoof,” Starswirl nodded hopefully.
“And who might you be, my dear?” Starswirl asked the mare politely. She smiled.
“Twilight Sparkle, Shining Star’s younger sister,” she whispered to the stallion. “Had to come and make sure he didn’t stir up to much trouble,” Starswirl chuckled.
“Prince Shining Star, I’m delighted to meet you,” he pointed a hoof to Sombra. “And this is the Royal Vizier, Sombra, he’s delighted too,” Sombra pursed his lips, biting back a sharp retort.
“Ecstatic,” he said dryly. “I’m afraid you cannot just parade in here uninvited and expect to--” he was cut off by Starswirl’s intrigued voice.
“By Luna, this is quite a remarkable thing,” the Carpet tugged on his beard playfully. “A Carpet of Magic, wherever did you get it?” Shining Star’s eyes widened but it disappeared as quickly as it appeared. But Sombra knew he had not imagined it.
“It was a gift from a Dragon actually,” Starswirl grinned.
“I don’t suppose... I might...” he held a single hoof up with hopeful eyes.
Shining Star nodded. “Certainly your Majesty,” he held the older Unicorn onto the Carpet.
Sombra pressed the scepter into the Carpet, keeping it in place before it could take off. “Sire, I must advice against this--” and again Starswirl interrupted him.
“Button up, Sombra. Learn to have a little fun,” he kicked the scepter away, causing Chrysalis to hit her face on the hard floor.
Starswirl, on the Carpet, began flying everywhere around the room, though that did not stop Sombra from interrogating the white stallion and his sister. “Just, where did you say you were from?” he raised a black eyebrow.
“Oh, much farther than you’ve traveled,” Shining Armor shrugged with a false grin as Twilight eyed Sombra’s ear. There was a pink scar there, and it looked like the shape of teeth. Could it? It couldn’t be... could it?
She began her own little interrogation. “How did you get that scar?” she pointed to his ear. Sombra looked up to it, again damning that mare to the pits of Tartarus.
“A peasant attacked me while I was outside of the Palace,” it had not been a lie. But she still raised an eyebrow.
“A peasant just randomly attacked out? And out of all the things they bit you? And on the ear?” he shrugged, silently knowing how observant this mare was. She could cause trouble later. Sombra was on thin ice, and if he did not tread carefully he could fall through and fall into the dark shadows of the frozen abyss.
“I suppose madness merely overtook the poor filly’s head,” he stated blandly. She nodded, still skeptical and wary of this stallion. He had the same gray coat and red eyes, but he did not have a gray mane and tail as the prisoner stallion had. He had not even gotten hold of the lamp, and it had been her who’d bitten him. On that very ear as well. There was no such thing as coincidences.
The three Unicorns ducked as the Sultan zipped through on the Carpet, safely landing on the ground as the Carpet fell onto Spike’s trunk, dizzy. “Spectacular your highness,” Sombra stated with a false smile. That was when Twilight noticed the fangs on his teeth. Nopony she knew had fangs. Except for the stallion from the desert. She’d have to keep an eye on him from now on.
Starswirl stood to his hooves. “This is quite the impressive youth, and a Prince no less,” he tugged Shining Armor’s cheek. He then whispered to Sombra; “If we’re lucky, you won’t have to marry Fluttershy at all,” Sombra liked those words but at the same time he didn’t.
“I don’t trust him sire,” Starswirl blew a small raspberry.
“Nonsense, Sombra. I am a judge of character, Cadence will like this one,” Shining Star nodded and smiled, and only Twilight took notice that the very Princess slowly walked in.
The Unicorn stallions began talking about her. Starswirl saying how Shining Star had a chance, Sombra disagreeing and ‘caring about the safety and the happiness of the Princess’, and Shining Star asking for a chance. The pink Pegasus put a hoof to her lips to make sure Twilight would say nothing. “This colt is no better than the others, what makes him think he is worthy of a Princess?” Sombra challenged.
“Your Majesty, just let her meet me,” Cadence hadn’t exactly been angry at that, mostly the fact that they were discussing just about what to do with her. She’s had enough.
“How dare you?” the three looked at her surprised, and Starswirl and Shining Star guiltily. “All of you? Standing around and deciding MY future?” she glared at them all and Sombra inwardly smirked at her rage. Thanks to Fluttershy, he’d recast the spell and her anger would only grow. She had less love in her heart than that of a Changeling, mainly Chrysalis. “I am not a prize to be won!” she yelled, storming off back to her room.
Starswirl sighed, almost defeated. “Just let her cool down Prince Shining Star,” Starswirl led the white unicorn away. I think it’s time to say goodbye to Prince Shining Blabber. Sombra mentally growled.
“So, he never answered my question,” he looked to the Unicorn mare who suddenly looked uncomfortable. “Where are you from?” he repeated the question. She shrugged. The mare shrugged!
“Beyond the Desert, and where are you from?” he raised an eyebrow. An answer, a vague answer, but an answer nonetheless and she changed the topic. She’s quite the intelligent mare. He mused.
“The North,” his answer was as vague as hers and she nodded. She left, leaving Sombra to his own thoughts.
“Don’t tell me, since the other one is dead you’re gonna try for the Prince’s sister?” Chrysalis raised an eyebrow when Sombra shook his head.
“No, but I think it is definitely time to say goodbye to Prince Blabber,” he did not hide his growl this time. He had plans, and no shiny Prince(and his sister) would ruin that for him.