A crossover, in a way, between two stories. A tale of the beauty and the beast, as well as the diamond in the rough
A crossover, between the beauties and the beasts and diamonds in the rough. A tale of danger, love, and freedom.(Rest In Peace, beloved Robin Williams)
“Ah, salutations,” the hooded figure greeted. “Please, come closer,” she gestured with her hoof. “Wait, to close,” she raised her hoof. “Good, close enough. That could have been rather rough,” she chuckled. “Welcome to Saddle Arabia, city of mysteries and enchantment,” she pointed to the large, yet quiet buildings around her. “Most ponies here are more horselike than pony. But with their own sources of magic, they are far from phony.”
She walked towards her small stand. It held an large assortment of magical and mystical items. Not from Saddle Arabia, or any place pony related. It was to foreign and exotic for that. Ever and free in one, that was the forest in which it was from. “I can see that you have an eye, and if I were to show you the lower-class items you would merely sigh,” she removed her hood, revealing her face.
A zebra from the Everfree Forest of Equestria, near the outskirts of Ponyville. Whatever was she doing in Saddle Arabia? “And you are interested in only the exceptionally rare?” she grabbed an item from the shop. A lamp much like a genie’s lamp, but differently shaped. It had two horns on each side, but they were different. One was blue and could have belonged to a goat, and the other was a deer’s antler. Also, instead of a little hand it had a red tail with white ‘hairs’ on the tip of it. It also was colored brown and gray, with a green dragon’s leg on one side, underneath the blue goat’s horn, and a cloven hoof connected to a golden brown leg underneath the deer antler. It had red, yellow, and white swirls and patterns on it’s green body.
“You might think that this lamp is rather odd and others would agree, but there is a story behind this that involves danger, love, and the wish to be free,” her dark teal eyes looked to the sky. “Because it is not what is on the outside that counts, but rather the inside. Oddities and interesting things and even magic can come in such powerful amounts, and I would hope that it would never again have to ever hide,” she sighed with a smile. “This is no ordinary lamp for it changed the course of a young colt’s life, and its tale is actually quite interesting and magical itself and how not one, but both, managed to snag a mare for a wife,” she grinned, eyes gleaming with humor.
“Perhaps you would like to hear the tale?” she smiled, pouring a silvery and white substance from the lamp into her hoof. “Well, it begins on a night just like this one. On a dark night,” she through the substance into the sky, and they turned to stars. “Where a dark stallion waits, with a dark purpose filled and the memory of his hates...” her voice trailed off. **********
Sombra stood in the desert, waiting in silent fury for the peasant to arrive. Hours after impatience, he did. “You are late,” he growled, eyes gleaming red in the dark shadows he’d grown to know and love.
“I had to slit a few ahem, throats, and do some nastier business,” he said, holding out his hoof with the golden half piece in it. Sombra reached and he retracted, waving the other hoof in front of his face. “Ah, ah, ah, the treasure-- Ow!” he said, clutching his hoof with the other as the ‘parrot’ snatched the gold away and dropped it into Sombra’s own gray hoof.
“Trust me my pungent friend,” Sombra crooned. “You’ll get what you deserve,” he finished and the ‘parrot’ spoke up.
“What you deserve,” she squawked out.
Sombra grinned toothily, fanged toothed, as he connected the two pieces together and Tricky Hooves watched in a silent awe. The pieces connected, glowing bright yellow, and the wings began fluttering together. It sped off, leaving a trail of golden wisps in its path. “Quickly! Follow the trail!” Sombra ordered, racing after it as fast as his hooves would carry him. Not at all truly caring what happened to Tricky Hooves.
“FASTER!” he bellowed out, voice dark and in-horse(inhuman). Thunder rumbled in Luna’s dark sky and the two pieces once again split apart and dove into the sand. It would appear as though the dune had two golden glowing eyes.
The sand began to quake and both Sombra and Tricky Hooves, how the shorter thing kept up with him he had no idea, fell backwards. The sand rose and took the form of a tiger’s head, a goat’s head, as well as a serpent’s head, with its mouth glowing an orangish gold. It breathed in the magical life it possessed within itself. The Cave of Wonders possessed not one, not two, but three heads. Of the mystical chimera from the legends.
“At last...” Sombra breathed out, unable to belief his own eyes. “The Cave of Wonders...” he gaped. A ‘parrot’s squawk.
“Cave of Wonders...” she grinned birdlike.
“By, Luna...” Tricky Hooves gasped.
“Now, you fool. Do you remember the plan?” Sombra gripped the stallion’s ragged scarf.
Tricky Hooves glared, but answered nonetheless. “The lamp is yours and yours only. I am to only touch it and bring it to you, the rest is mine but the lamp is yours,” Sombra smirked darkly and patted his head mockingly.
“Good stallion,” the ‘parrot’ snickered with amused double greened eyes. Light green around darker green, with slits for pupils. But Tricky Hooves did not ask questions. That had been part of the deal after all.
He slowly walked towards the cave. It roared at him, and in three voices it bellowed at him in an almost godly voice. “Who dares disturb our slumber?” they asked in unison, glaring with their white pupil-less eyes.
“It is I, Tricky Hooves...” he bowed. Pathetic thing. Sombra shook his head as he heard his companion snort in disgust.
“Some humble, thief,” she whispered in his ear.
“Shh,” he replied.
“Know, this, only one may enter...” the tiger’s head began.
“One who is worthy the treasure within...” the goat head continued.
“The Diamond in the Rough...” the serpent finished.
“Diamond in the Rough?” Sombra looked thoughtful. That was when he knew something was wrong. Diamonds, although some could be jagged, were beautiful and strong no matter what. They were the strongest of all stones and jewels. A Diamond in the Rough would be a purer soul, one who had not committed the unforgivable act of murder(Tricky Hooves) and one who was honest as honest could be, who could also represent the Five Elements of Harmony. Tricky Hooves was none of the above.
Tricky Hooves looked back to Sombra with scared chocolate eyes. “Well? You’re the diamond you fool,” he lied through his fangs. “Go on,” he gestured with his hoof.
He complied slowly, almost reluctantly, and cautiously trotted up to the cave mouth. Which belonged to the tiger. It opened wider, and a stairwell made of sand led down into the orangish/gold light. He shakily pressed his front hoof on the first step and... Nothing.
He sighed in relief and then began screaming when all three began roaring out in fury. He tried to run back up, and the tiger’s mouth slammed shut, trapping him into a sandy death, with the goat slamming onto the tiger’s head and the serpent slamming into the goat.
“NOOOOOO!” Sombra yelled in fury as he protected his eyes from the sand.
“The Diamond in the Rough... Diamond in the Rough...” they repeated in unison.
The ‘parrot’ began coughing and spluttering as she dug herself out of the sand. She burst into green flames and when they died down, she was no longer her parrot disguise. Her coat was ebony, with buglike and see through, holey wings, with a cobwebby mane and tail that was long but also holey. As were her legs. Her eyes were still the same, but she too had fangs. She was no parrot, but a Changeling. The Queen of them as well.
“I can’t believe it!” she coughed out, grabbing the two pieces. “I just can’t believe it, give up now Sombra! We will never get a hold of that stupid lamp,” she tossed them into Sombra’s hoofs, in which he placed them inside his cloak pocket.
“Patience, Chrysalis. Patience. It was obvious that Tricky Hooves was less than worthy of the treasure within the cave,” she snorted.
She shook her head. “BIG SURPRISE!” she shouted out. “I think I’m finally gonna die from a new disease you should warn Medical Ponies about, it’s called ‘Not Surprised’, what are we going to do now? We’re going to--” he pressed her mouth shut with his magic, a red aura.
“Yes, only one may enter. If anything, we will need to find the One. This...” he narrowed his eyes. “Diamond in the Rough...” he seemed to say that last part with a growl.
Chapter Two: Rats, Mice, and Princesses (Picture him a bit younger I guess, and his dream of becoming a Palace Guard... OOH ideas!)
“STOP THIEF!” Shining Armor skid to a halt, grabbing the loaf with his magic.
“I will take your horn for a trophy filthy street-rat!” the Guard snapped.
“All over a loaf of bread?” Shining Armor closed his eyes, magic strong around the bread, as he jumped.
He slammed into a bunch of hanging clothes, and one of the mares slammed her window shut so that had hurt the unicorn stallion. Eventually he had a ‘soft’ landing in a pile of clothes. “There he is!” another shouted from the rooftop.
“You won’t get away so easy!” he added.
“That was far from easy,” he heard giggling mares and saw Applejack and Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie too.
“Morning, mares,” he grinned and Applejack laughed.
“Gettin’ into trouble today, aren’t you sugarcube,” Shining Armor snorted.
“Nope, it’s only trouble if you get caught,” he felt the Guard’s hoof grab his vest. “Okay, now I’m in trouble,” he added.
The Guard bared his teeth in a horse’s snarl. “And this time--” he got cut off by a unicorn mare pushing his turban over his head and eyes. Shining Armor grinned.
“Perfect timing little sister,” she grinned. “As usual,” she lifted her own red hat and leapt onto his shoulders and back(she’s smaller than him, it works)
“Will you hold still!” the Pegasus Guard snapped as he swung his sword.
“Can’t,” Shining Armor began. “I gotta keep one step ahead of you after all,” he added.
That was how Twilight and Shining Armor’s days were. Scraping around for food, and thievery. You either had quick and tricky hooves, or you didn’t. That was often how it worked. They ran up and down stairs, through buildings and windows. All just to avoid the Palace Guards and protect their horns.
“I blame parents!” the older mare glared as she swung her broom at his head, missing. “Oh, wait. They haven’t got them!” she added with a sneer.
“You have to eat to live,” Twilight defended. “And gotta steal to eat,” Shining Armor added. If things had been different, then he would be one of the guards chasing after the thieves. But that was not how things went. Luna bless the souls of Night Light and Twilight Velvet.
“If only magic carpets were real,” Shining Armor muttered as he and Twilight leapt from another building window, the guards chasing after them and falling into a pile of cow, you know what. “And that’s nasty,” Twilight nodded with a grimace.
They landed softly and safely into a shaded alley. “And now, we eat,” he broke the bread in half. But both froze halfway before the bread even touched their lips. Three little fillies, wearing rags and just about nothing that could keep them warm at night and cool during the day, were digging through scraps. The scene made Twilight’s stomach churn with disgust and sadness. “By Luna, is this what the city has come to?” she sighed, walking towards the three frightened fillies with her half of the bread.
“Go on,” she smiled softly as the red-maned one stood in front of the other two. An orange Pegasus filly with purple eyes and a purple mane and tail, and a white furred and green eyed Unicorn filly. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle.
“Take it,” Shining Armor gave his to the Pegasus filly, and Twilight to the Unicorn and the Earth Pony. Shining Armor’s gaze however, landed on the commotion taking place outside the alley. Stallions and mares, mostly stallions though, were gathered outside. “By Luna?” he wandered that direction, with Twilight on his heels.
Twilight’s violet eyes landed on a fancy looking Unicorn stallion. His coat was pure white, and it looked like it had been recently trimmed and groomed. And his mane and tail were long and also combed, and blonde. His eyes were blue, and his Cutie Mark was a star. Her grimaced returned, and she stuck her tung out in disgust. “Prince Blueblood,” Shining Armor bit back harsh words that should never be stated in front of a mare. Unless of course the mare said them first, or said worse things. And of course ‘his highness’ was being pulled by a donky.
“Who do you think it’s for?” Trouble Shoes asked the mare. “Princess Fluttershy or Princess Cadence?” Shining Armor seemed to stiffen. The elder Princess wasn’t getting married so soon, was she? Despite being from a different area, and the horn he had(let us not forget that Blueblood is also a Unicorn)
“Winona!” the country voice of Apple Bloom shouted, chasing after her dog with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle behind her.
The donkey whipped up, startled, and brayed angrily. “Out of the way, you filthy brats!” the Prince almost hit one of the fillies, but Twilight’s face literally got in the way when she appeared in front of the fillies in a flash of hot pink. SMACK. There was a red hoofprint where he struck her.
Shining Armor saw red. A red redder than Twilight’s cheek. Nopony ever hit a mare, and nopony definitely hit his sister. “If either of us were as rich as filth like you, we could afford some manners,” he snarled, stomping in front of the wagon.
“I’ll teach you manners!” he knocked both Unicorns into the red mud. Ponies, mostly the stallions, laughed as the mares looked at them sympathetically and stared at the so called Prince in disgust. Rarity in particular.
“Look at that Twilight, it’s not every day you see an donkey with two rear ends,” ponies ‘oohed’ and the mares snickered. The Prince snorted in disgust.
“You are a worthless street-rat. You were born one, you’ll die one. And only your sister and the cockroaches will mourn you. While I’ll be living with Princess Mi Amore Cadencia,” Shining Armor glared as the doors shut behind the pathetic excuse of a Unicorn and a stallion.
“We’re not worthless,” he muttered, feeling the angry fade just like the crowd did. “C’mon Twili, let’s go home,” he sighed sadly.
They walked home with their heads down, hunger still in the pit of their stomachs. “I just hope she doesn’t actually choose him to be her suitor,” Shining Armor stared at the grand palace beyond the city from the window. “She’s no fool, and only a fool would pick that scum to be her stallion,” Twilight snorted.
“You hope she doesn’t pick anyone who isn’t you,” she retorted and Shining Armor blushed. It was no secret to his sister that he was infatuated with the Princess of Saddle Arabia. “If ponies looked closer, I would certainly hope they’d see that there is so much more to what they call street-rats and street-mice,” Twilight sighed, closing her book of magic.
The two were already on the Guards’ list for arrest since they were common “street-rats” and thieves. But learning magic, if you weren’t a Royal Blood or had the Sultan’s permission, was strictly forbidden. Twilight didn’t like breaking the rules often, except when it came to food, but she still did so to learn more about magic. It was her passion, and her Cutie Mark alone could tell a story. Even Pegasus flying was strictly prohibited, not often did you see many Pegasi flying. Unless it was to clear away the desert clouds or to bring in rain clouds. It wasn’t even treasure that the two wanted. Only a chance.
“One day, Twili. We’ll have the money we need and we’ll never have to worry about the guards ever again,” he promised his sleeping sister as he stared at the shining lights from the palace. **********
The doors nearly ripped off their hinges as Blueblood stormed out of the gardens. “I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO INSULTED!” he bellowed, raising his nose in the air snobbishly. It caused Starswirl the Bearded to jumble about.
“Prince Blueblood, leaving so soon... are... ooh,” he saw what the problem was. His tuxedo had been ripped off, and not even by sharp teeth. Rabbit’s teeth. But Blueblood’s insults were far from over.
“Rudeness from Cadence, and that pile of white furred filth from Fluttershy,” he growled. “Good luck marrying either of them off,” he added, raging out of the palace. Starswirl shook his head and groaned. He understood why this one had not been a suitor for either mares, but this felt like the hundredth suitor that both refused. Oh, wait. It was.
“Cadence, Fluttershy,” he ran into the gardens. “Fluttershy,” he saw the Pegasus mare sitting near the fountain, but a mass of white fur with tuxedo pants in his mouth stopped him. “Drop it Angel,” Starswirl ordered the white rabbit, and nearly ripped it from the rabbit’s teeth. “So, this is why Blueblood stormed out?” he raised an eyebrow, throwing the fabric unto the ground.
“Angel, was only playing,” Fluttershy giggled softly with the rabbit before looking bashful.
Starswirl sighed. “Where’s Cadence?” he looked to the sky as she flew overhead.
She landed on her hooves, her purple and yellow mane flowing lightly behind her. “You could not have really expected either of us to pick him as a suitor,” her purple eyes looked amused and disgusted at the same time. “Did you?” she inquired. Starswirl sighed and shook his head. It was no doubt that they would not choose him of all ponies.
The Unicorns were borne of a Royal Bloodline, or at least a few of them. The Unicorns came from their own area, in which the bloodline Starswirl was a part of, and then the Pegasi came with their own sets of Royalty. Cadence and Fluttershy had both been born Royal Pegasi. In Saddle Arabia, the Unicorns were primarily the Royal Blood but there was a treaty with the Pegasi. So, that was how Starswirl had been named Sultan and how Fluttershy and Cadence had become Princesses. It was a pattern. Unicorn Sultan with Pegasus Princesses, and then Pegasus Sultan with Unicorn Princesses. That was why more than half of the suitors had been Unicorns.
“I will accept the fact that you refused Blueblood, but you cannot refuse EVERY suitor that comes to call. There are rules,” Cadence and Fluttershy shared a sad sigh.
“I don’t want to be married unless it is a pony who can accept me for me, and who I love and who loves me,” Fluttershy defended and Cadence looked at her oddly.
“Love? Whatever does love have to do with it?” Fluttershy looked at her with wide teal eyes. Did she really say that? Cadence of all ponies? The horror!
Cadence shook her head. “Nowadays ponies don’t even care for love anymore,” she stated. “And I feel like one of your birds Fluttershy, trapped inside the cage that is the palace walls,” she pointed with a accusing hoof. “Flying doesn’t help much when ponies are watching you day in and day out,” she added. “Not to mention most suitors ask about this,” she pointed to her flank.
She had a lavender flank dress over it. She had a Cutie Mark like other mares and ponies, but it was what the Cutie Mark was after all. She didn’t believe in love, and her Cutie Mark was a heart. But the heart partially resembled the Crystal Heart of Empire Legends, but instead of being crystal blue like the real heart, it was a faded and dull grayish red. Like a dead heart. Nopony, not even Starswirl, understood it. She understood her duties as a Pegasus Princess, but she didn’t understand her Cutie Mark and none of the suitors, Blueblood included, had ever not talked about it.
“The Law states you,” the three talked in unison. “Must be married to a Prince,” Cadence glared and Fluttershy looked sullen. “And Cadence, you only have three more days,” Starswirl reminded.
“The Law is wrong,” she defended. “I may not believe in love, but I do believe I should not be forced into marrying somepony who only talks about himself and gloats about how rich and fancy he is. That is how all of the past suitors have been,” Fluttershy nodded silently. Fluttershy walked up to the bird cage and pulled a little dove out.
She smiled and nuzzled it softly. “And if I am to marry, then I want it to be for love,” Starswirl sighed for the thousandth time.
“I will not be here forever you two, and the Law also states at least one of you has to marry a Unicorn or a Magical born pony. I understand you don’t like it, but everypony has to make sacrificing for the good of their people. Do you think that Luna enjoyed raising and lowering the moon and enjoyed being outshined by her elder sister?” they shook their heads. “No, but she still did her duty as an Alicorn of Equestria,” they looked down.
“I just want to make sure the two of you are taken care of,” Starswirl walked back into the Palace. “Provided for,” Cadence sighed almost angrily and Fluttershy let the birds fly free. ~In the Palace~
“There mother’s weren’t nearly so picky,” Starswirl twirled the sun on his solar chart. A dark shadow loomed over him, and he felt the magical presence of the Royal Vizier in the room. “Sombra,” he nodded. “I need your help,” he sighed.
“It is my life to serve you my liege,” Sombra pressed his hoof to his chest almost humbly, the parrot rolled her eyes.
“It’s the suitor issue. Both Cadence and Fluttershy refuse all the suitors,” Starswirl groaned. “I am at my wits end,” the parrot squawked with humor.
Her eyes looked odd and dumb, but inside she glared. “Cracker?” he used his magic to still a saltine in her beak. Sombra laughed.
“Your Majesty has quite the way with dumb animals,” she glared at him and the moment Starswirl’s head was turned she spit the cracker on his face. He wiped it off and swore vengeance later. “But I could certainly help you with your troubles,” Starswirl looked at him with hope in his yellow eyes.
“If anypony can help, it is you,” Sombra lifted the blue jewel around Starswirl’s neck though, twirling it in his hoof.
His red eyes focused intently on it. “It would, however, require the help of a mystic blue diamond,” he pointed.
“The Jewel of Rarities? But it’s been in the Royal Family for centuries,” Starswirl looked slightly afraid.
Sombra twirled his scepter in his other hoof. It had the Alicorn Amulet on the top of it. “Only logical that you do all means necessary to find at least one of the Princesses a suitor,” the eyes of the Amulet met Starswirl’s and red swirls formed in the older Unicorn’s eyes. “Don’t worry, everything will be fine,” Starswirl muttered the same words. “The diamond,” Starswirl hoofed it over. “Now, go play with your little toys,” Starswirl smiled.
“That would be...” he began. “Pretty lovely,” he smiled in a trancelike manner.
Chrysalis began scrubbing her tongue as hard as she could with a toothbrush that Sombra manifested. “I can’t take it any more, one more time! Just one more time!” she threatened.
“Calm yourself Changeling,” Sombra ordered. “And don’t think that last ordeal will go out unpunished,” she glared at him.
“You called me a dumb animal,” the dark Unicorn rolled his eyes.
“Once I become Sultan and that twit no longer rules Saddle Arabia, how about I let you shove the crackers down his throat?” he offered and she grinned maliciously.
“That would be...” she cackled. “Pretty lovely,” she mocked and the two began laughing together, plotting revenge and hatred on both the Sultan and the city.
Luna’s night was once again black, but this time it had the beautiful Full Moon and more stars than Cadence could count. Underneath her brown hooded cloak she still wore her blue ‘Princess-y’ clothing, but she had roughened her mane and tail and made herself look more like a peasant pony. She refused to stand as little mare for anypony, and would not be sold off as some prize to be won.
She carefully climbed up the tree that would lead into the city, not wanting to risk the Guards see her fly over the wall. A tugging pulled her back. Looking down she saw Fluttershy with Angel on her back. “I’m sorry Fluttershy,” tears welled into Cadence’s eyes. “But I can’t stay here and let Starswirl run my life for me,” they hugged, tears falling freely. “I’m sorry,” Cadence sniffed, wiping her eyes. “Why don’t you come with me?” Cadence begged.
Fluttershy shook her head, making her own cotton candy colored mane fly. “I can’t, if one Princess disappears than another will have to take her place. You’re older, but there still has to be one Princess left. If they thought Starswirl had something to do with it, then Saddle Arabia’s hierarchy could fall into anarchy,” her eyes were downcast and sullen. “I can’t let that happen, it was bad enough the first time. I won’t let it happen again,” she promised. Cadence nodded, feeling guilty about it all but she couldn’t be any Unicorn’s prize. She couldn’t and she wouldn’t. She was not a mare to be wed as she was not a prize to be won.
This time she climbed up the wall again, but had the help of Fluttershy this time. “Goodbye,” she whispered, disappearing over the wall and into Luna’s night. Fluttershy laid on the ground, Angel on her head, as she cried for the first time in the longest of times. **********
The sun beat down on the marketplace. Shining Armor and Twilight sat carefully above one of the fresh fruit stands. “Okay,” he raised a hoof. “Go,” he swiped it. She saluted and leaned her head down and with her magic grabbed one of the green fruits(I forgot what kind of fruit it was)
“Hey, you, get away from there!” the mustached stallion ordered her. She blew him a raspberry. “Why you!” he put the other down and didn’t notice Shining Armor’s hooves grab the other. He ripped it from Twilight’s hoofs and when he realized something was amiss, she was already gone back to the top.
“Nicely done Twi,” she licked her lips lightly as Shining Armor broke it in half over his knee. “Breakfast,” he gave her hers and bit into his own. ~Cadence~
“Pretty mare, buy a necklace?” one of the stallions offered her a lovely necklace, but she politely decline. The marketplace was rather lovely. She wished she’d thought of this sooner.
“Pistachio? Nuts and pistachio,” another offered.
“Fresh fish!” her heart leapt as another waved a giant blue fish in her face.
“No, thank you,” she shook her head, not noticing the stallion with fire in his mouth behind her. She bumped into him, making him swallow it. “I’m sorry--” he belched out fire and she jumped, eyes wide and hood falling from her head. Also not notcing the blue eyes watching her with curiosity and awe.
“Wow...” Shining Armor whispered, seeing the most beautiful pink mare in all of Equestria. Twilight noticed her brother’s googly eyes at something.
“Shining Armor?” she waved a hoof in front of them, also seeing how he paid her no attention.
Cadence noticed a small white colt with brown spots, a brown mane and tail, and brown eyes reaching for an apple, unable to get it. “Aw, you must be hungry,” he looked up to her. “Here you go,” she handed him one, not noticing how he ran off after the stallion turned around.
“You better be able to pay for that,” he growled.
She turned and looked confused. “Pay?” he grabbed her foreleg forcibly.
“No one steals from my stand!” he snapped. She began to panic. “Please, if you let me go to the Sultan I can get some bits...”
She began to stutter and apologize. “Do you know what the penalty is for stealing?” he raised a sword with his other hoof that wasn’t holding hers down and the crowd began to look frightened.
He was about to slam it down, but another strong hoof held his up. “Thank you, kindest sir. I am so thankful you found her,” Shining Armor took the sword from him. “I’ve been looking all over for you,” he waved his hoof at her.
“What are you doing?” she whispered after he handed her the sword.
“Just play along,” he whispered back before the red stallion pulled on his shoulder.
“You know this girl?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Sadly, yes. She’s my cousin’s sister’s sister,” Cadence raised an eyebrow herself but the stallion seemed to buy it, more or less.
“She said she knew the Sultan,” the stallion pointed out. Shining Armor pretended to snort.
“She thinks my sister is the Sultaness,” Twilight blushed and looked bashful. Cadence took this as the cue and bowed to the purple coated Unicorn.
The crowd gathered and some were smiling. “Tragic isn’t it,” he grabbed another apple and held it in front of his face. “But, no harm done, now come along cousin, time to go see the doctor,” she bugged her eyes just a bit.
“Well, hello doctor. How are you?” she asked a sad and confused looking donkey. Shining Armor chuckled. Was her talent acting? He wondered.
“No, no, no. Not that one,” he looked back to Twilight. “Come on Sultaness,” she did a fake grand bow, accidentally dropping out more apples and bits.
The crowd laughed and the cart owner glared as the three ran off, Twilight still managing to snag three apples. ~Sombra~
The Changeling was panting, his lungs feeling deflated, as he powered up the giant clear glass ball that was brewing up a red storm. “With all do respect, mother and my Queen... Couldn’t you just wait for a real storm?” he begged.
“Save your breathe Jetsam, faster,” Chrysalis ordered.
“Yes, mother,” he panting, running as fast as his holey legs could go.
Sombra placed the diamond into its spot between both halves of the giant hourglass. “Reveal sands of time, the one who can enter the cave,” the sand morphed into the Chimera’s head and below it showed Shining Armor climbing a latter as he helped two mares as well. Sombra grinned almost sadistically and madly. “There he is, my diamond in the rough,” he gasped.
The Changeling gaped with wide pure green eyes. “That’s him? That’s the guy you’ve been waiting for-- AGH!” he made the mistake of letting go and was paying the price by flying through the turning wheels.
“Why don’t you have the guards give him an extended visit?” Chrysalis grinned as Sombra smirked. “Shall we?” she pleaded.
“Swell,” the Changeling coughed out and Sombra laughed maniacally. ~Cadence, Shining Armor, & Twilight~
Shining Armor helped the mare up as Twilight giggled behind her hoof. Her brother liked her, she could tell. Cadence tripped and fell into his arms, blushing as she did. “I wanted to thank you for stopping that stallion,” Shining Armor smiled softly.
“Forget it,” using his horn he picked up a rather long stick, and Twilight clung to his shoulders. “So this is your first time in the marketplace, huh?” she chuckled as they leapt over to the other building.
“Is it that obvious?” she asked as he pulled out a long and sturdy board.
His eyes became lightly dazed. “Well, you do kind of stand out,” she smiled and blushed. He realized what he said. “I mean uh-- you don’t seem to know how dangerous Saddle Arabia can be,” both were surprised, Twilight’s jaw even hung unattractively, as she too leapt over.
She giggled. “I’m a fast learner,” she threw the other stick into his hooves.
Shining Armor led her into the place he and Twilight called home. “Whoa, watch your head there,” he warned about the fallen rafter. “Oh, be careful,” he added, she looked around curiously.
“Is this where you live?” she asked with bright eyes.
“Yep, just me and Twili. We come and go as we please,” she smiled even brighter. Shining Armor flushed.
“That sounds amazing,” he chuckled.
“It’s not much, but it is home. And it’s got the most amazing view,” she showed her the city and the glowing castle. She frowned as he and Twilight smiled.
She sat down. “The palace looks beautiful doesn’t it? I wonder what it would be like to live there. Have servants, ballets,” she almost snorted, remembering Starswirl, the Vizier, and the suitors.
“Sure, people telling you where to go and how to dress. Telling you to do this and that,” he chuckled, taking an apple and taking a bite out of it.
“Better than here, it’s nothing but scrapes and scraps. And you saw that stallion today. You don’t want to get caught either, that will get you killed or you’ll lose a limb,” she shook her head.
“Never free, to make your own choices... and you’re just...”
They spoke in unison, and Twilight smirked in knowing. “Trapped.”
The Unicorn and the Pegasus looked at each other and Cadence smiled. “So, where you from,” he tossed her an apple that she caught easily. She scoffed.
“What does it matter? I ran away and I have no intention of ever going back,” he looked at her oddly.
“Really? How come?” Twilight’s ears perked up as something happened. There was a loud noise downstairs, but neither her brother nor the mare seemed to notice.
Cadence sighed sadly. “My godfather is forcing me to be married, and since I’m the older Pegasus I only had three more days,” Shining Armor looked horrified.
“That’s... that’s awful,” Cadence chuckled.
“Not much could be done about it, except me leaving,” she sighed, remembering Fluttershy’s heartbroken face.
“I wish there was something I could do to help,” she smiled.
“That’s very sweet,” they were leaning closer, and Cadence felt an odd sensation in her flank(pervs) but they were interrupted by the Guards angry yell.
Together they said; “They’re after me!” and looked at each other “They’re after you!?”
“Starswirl must have sent them,” Cadence thought in horror.
Shining Armor looked down with wide blue eyes and helped Twilight onto his back. He turned to Cadence and held out a hoof. “Do you trust me?” he asked.
She looked at him. “What?”
“Do you trust me?” he repeated, urgency in his voice.
Hesitantly she raised her hoof to his own. “Yes?” she almost whispered as he clutched her hoof tightly.
“Then jump!” they leapt, and she had to bite her cheeks painfully to prevent a scream.
All three landed in the sand, and before they could run they almost ran into another guard and barely missed the flying sword. “Go,” this time Shining Armor did run into a Guard.
“We just keeping running into each other. Don’t we filthy rat?” the guard grinned until Twilight slammed his turban back over his eyes, again.
He threw the purple Unicorn into the sand and the others grabbed Shining Armor. “Take him to the Palace,” the Guard ordered.
“Let him go!” Cadence slapped her hoof to his shoulder and he laughed cruelly.
“Lookee here men, another street-mare,” he laughed, pushing her down as well.
Is this how Starswirl and Sombra allow the Guards to treat the ponies of the city? She thought angrily. This was ridiculous and horrid. “Let him go, by order of Princess Cadence,” she ripped her hood off her head, revealing her golden crown and her face. The stallions gasped and bowed.
“Princess Cadence,” the stallion gaped at his hooves.
Shining Armor managed to lift his head. “The Princess?” he stared.
“The Princess?” Twilight whispered.
“What are you doing outside the palace walls?” the Guard asked. “And with these rats?” Cadence waved a hoof in front of her face.
“That is none of your concern, do as I told you. Release him,” she ordered.
The Guard sighed through his nose. “I would Princess, but my orders come from Sombra,” he bowed again as they led Shining Armor away to the Palace. “You’ll have to take it up with him,” she folded her arms over her chest.
“Believe me, I will,” she vowed. ~Sombra~
As quitly as he could, Sombra crept out of the secret room. “Sombra!” Cadence’s vowed echoed through the halls. He turned, thankful the wall was almost completely closed, but he didn’t notice parrot Chrysalis get stuck between.
“Princess Cadence,” she groaned as the wall seemed to crush her body.
“Sombra...” she rasped out. “I’m stuck,” she pulled on his black cloak.
He did a fake low bow. “How may I be of service to you?” he asked.
“The Guards just took a stallion from the market. On your orders?” he clucked his tongue.
“The stallion was a criminal,” he defended with a shrug.
Cadence glowered at the dark stallion she had come to loathe over the years. He was the Royal Vizier, but often or not he acted as though he was Saddle Arabia’s Sultan. She wondered if that was in his plan in his dark, black, and cold heart. “What was his crime?” she inquired.
“I can’t breathe, Sombra,” Chrysalis coughed, still tugging.
“Why, pony-napping the Princess of course,” he kicked Chrysalis in the face, pushing her back into the wall.
“OH THAT HURT!” she screamed, and it was a surprise Cadence paid no attention to it.
Cadence almost rolled her eyes. “He didn’t pony-nap me, I ran away,” she confessed.
Sombra’s eyes widened. “Oh, oh dear. Had I not known...” she looked at him with slightly scared eyes.
“What do you mean Sombra?” she asked, he turned back to her.
“The stallion’s sentence, by now it has already been carried out,” her heart clenched tightly in her chest.
“What sentence?” she feared the answer.
Sombra looked somber. “Death,” she gasped. “By beheading,” tears brimmed in her eyes. “I am exceedingly and eternally sorry Princess,” his hoof barely touched her shoulder before she ran away crying.
Chrysalis finally managed to struggle her way out and was caughing as she flew up to Sombra’s shoulder. “Eh... hah...” she gasped. “So how did it go?” she asked.
“I think she took it...” he smirked. “Rather well,” Chrysalis grinned toothily. Oh, if only she knew.
Chapter Four: The Diamond in the Rough, Into the Cave
The night was dark, with stars but no Luna Moon. Shining Armor struggled against his restraints. “She was the Princess,” he muttered. “She must have thought I was so stupid!” he yelled with frustration and embarrassment. But the Guard had a good point? What was the Princess doing outside the Palace walls? And with a street-rat like me? Shining Armor thought bitterly.
“Hey, Shiny,” Twilight stood outside the bars on the window that led into the alleyways.
“Twili, down here,” she used her magic to put herself in the dungeon. “Help me outta these,” she smirked at him and he gulped.
“So, you and the Princess? Finally got to meet your lovely mare,” she giggled as he groaned.
Shining Armor shook his head. “By Luna Twilight, I’ve already been embarrassed enough today,” she giggled.
“She likes you too,” he raised an eyebrow and shook his head again. “Yes, she does. I could see it. Her Cutie Mark was glowing, bright blue,” he blinked.
“I didn’t see her Cutie Mark, it was covered by the cloak,” she shrugged.
“I didn’t either really, but I saw a bright blue glowing when you two were about to start tongue twisters with each other,” she laughed heartily as he blushed and sputtered in embarrassment.
Twilight used a lockpick to undo the bindings. “Yeah, but she was worth imprisonment. Despite my embarrassment,” he sighed sadly. “I’m a fool,” he shook his head.
A voice, a really creepy one at that, rasped words from the other side of the dungeon. “You’re only a fool if you give up boy.”
Shining Armor looked at the dark Unicorn pony warily, taking instant notice of the lightly curved horn and the red eyes. “Who are you?” he asked.
The other stallion slowly walked over to the two. He was older than both of them, with a graying mane and tail and dull eyes and a dark gray coat. “A lonely prisoner like yourself... but perhaps, together. We could be more,” though skeptical, and watchful of the other stallion’s moves, Shining Armor listened. “There is a cave, colt, a cave of wonders,” he showed the two his hoof which held blood rubies. Just one of them could set them on the right path. “And treasures enough to impress, you’re Princess,” Shining Armor’s ears perked at that.
“One problem, the three of us are in here. And that’s out there,” the darker stallion clucked his tongue.
“And why would you share this wonderful treasure with us?” Twilight added with an analyzing tone.
“I need a strong back and set of legs to go in after it,” the stallion stated. “Also, you would deserve a reward for bringing me the item I desire from the Cave. And you could get the Princess you want, and you all the books of Magic you want,” both looked interested now. “And not everything is as it seems,” he tapped his hoof to the wall, and it moved over, revealing a narrow but passable hidden room.
“Do we have a deal?” he held his hoof out. Shining Armor’s eyes met Twilight’s. She shrugged. ~The Cave~
Sombra had led the two Unicorns to the Cave and both stood there with awe and wonder and even slight fear when the Cave Heads opened. “Who dares disturb our slumber?” the three said in unison. No answer. They growled. “Who?”
“It is I, Shining Armor,” the Tiger raised a sandy eyebrow. “Proceed, touch nothing but the lamp of Chaos,” it opened its mouth.
“Now remember, colt,” they looked back at Sombra. “Bring me the lamp, the rest of the treasure is yours, but bring me the lamp,” Shining Armor and hesitantly walked into the cave mouth, with Twilight clinging onto his hoof.
The two Unicorns came into the Cave and saw all kinds of treasures beyond their imaginations. Just a hoofful of it would make them richer than the Sultan himself. “Just a hoofful,” Shining Armor chuckled.
“Forget the treasure, the stallion wants the lamp,” Twilight reminded and the stallion nodded.
Both walked towards the giant door that hopefully led to the lamp. “Wait...” Twilight froze and Armor turned.
“The Tiger’s Head said Lamp of Chaos...” she looked thoughtful. “I read about it before,” Shining Armor merely looked confused and she rolled her eyes. “The Lamp of Chaos, Chaos was the twin of Faust. But as Faust was the Mare of Harmony, Chaos was the Mare of her very name. She caused Disharmony and Pandemonium. Why would he want the Lamp that belonged to her?” Shining Armor shrugged.
“I don’t know, but there must be a reason,” Twilight stared at him.
“We don’t even know this pony and he wants the Lamp of one of the most powerful beings in Equestrian existence!” she all but screeched. She could knock out a Harpy if she wanted. “It’s dangerous to do so,” Shining Armor sighed.
“Or maybe he wants to do something better with it. Didn’t your book say that you could channel the magic of Chaos? Well why not use it for good instead of bad?” she looked thoughtful. “If anything happens, you could blast him. You’re more powerful than I am,” she blushed and looked just a faint bit of prideful at those words.
Neither noticed how they stepped on the carpet with the small baby Dragon on it. It had the designs and patterns of fire on it, Red Fire, Blue Fire, Green Fire, Black Fire, all kinds of Fire. In the middle was a purple baby Dragon with green spikes and darker green eyes. He had a small tooth sticking out of the side of his mouth.
After Twilight passed over it, the carpet came to life and the Dragon actually blinked its eyes. “Two new ponies? There hasn’t been a pony in here in millenia,” the Dragon whispered to himself. He looked at the Unicorn curiously. “She’s powerful,” he slowly followed her. He could sense the magic from her and her power resembled that of what Faust had called Magic. She was Kind as she was Loyal, Honest and could always find a Laugh, and Generous as well as Magical. Friendship, that was what Faust had called it.
He poked her in the shoulder and the moment she jumped and turned her head quicker than lightning, he flew above her head. Lightly and carefully he picked up the hat of her head and put it on the top part of himself. He ‘stood’ next to her and when she saw him, she screamed and practically ran into Shining Armor.
“Twili are you crazy?” she forcibly used her magic to turn his head. But to be fair the Dragon Carpet was only playing, she scared him. “A magic carpet,” Shining Armor gaped with a smile. “Come here, come on,” the Dragon Carpet dusted off Twilight’s hat and returned it to her. “Thanks,” Shining Armor nodded.
The Dragon Carpet, or at least the Dragon’s face, grinned toothily. “So what brings two ponies like you into the Cave of Wonders?” both of the Unicorns gaped with bugged out eyes. “What?” he asked with genuine confusion. “Haven’t you ever seen a Dragon Carpet before? You have right?” he pointed at Twilight. Both silently shook their heads, eyes still wide and mouthes agape. “Huh,” he shrugged as much as a carpet could shrug. “Well, here’s the Dragon Carpet from the Cave of Wonders!” he introduced.
“Do you have a name other than ‘The Dragon Carpet’?” Twilight asked. The Dragon head on the carpet nodded.
“It’s Spike,” he did a low bow.
“Nice to meet you Spike,” Twilight smiled. “I’m Twilight Sparkle, and this is my older brother Shining Armor. He shook their hooves.
“So what are you two doing in the Cave of Wonders?” he repeated.
“Looking for the Lamp of Chaos,” the green eyes of the Dragon widened. “Do you know where it is?” Shining Armor asked. He nodded and gestured for them to follow.
They entered a darker, yet still illuminated cavern. It had a dark royal blue hue, with a giant pointed rock in the center. A pure white light shown unto the where the lamp had been for the past millenia. There was a path of rocks that led up to the lamp‘s post. “Wait here,” Shining Armor ordered his sister.She pouted, folded her arms, and waited. That was when something bright red, a color brighter than Sombra’s crystals, eyes, and rubies, caught her own violet eyes.
It was a Colossal Ruby. It matched the ruby in the center of the Alicorn Amulet and had that same enchanting power, and the hooves of a grinning female Draconequus(Eris, if you will) held it out to her. Her eyes seemed to turn a shade of red that matched Sombra’s eyes. “Come and touch my heart, for you will play your part,” the chilling words possessed Twilight Sparkle. She slowly walked up to it as Shining Armor reached the top of the rock pile.
Spike tried to hold her back, he knew the effect of Eris, Chaos, and Discord and what they could do. Especially to ponies. Meanwhile Shining Armor carefully picked up the mismatched lamp. “This is it?” he asked, turning his body back to where Spike and Twilight were at. “This is what we came all the way down here to--” he saw the red in Twilight’s eyes. “Don’t!” he shouted, but it was to late, her hooves had touched the Ruby.
“Infidels!” the voices of the Tiger, the Goat, and the Serpent all bellowed at once. “You have touched the Forbidden Treasure!” the screeched. “Now you will never again see the light of day!” the blue turned to orange and red as lava and fire poured into the Cave. Shining Armor clutched the lamp and used his magic to move himself away. Spike picked up Twilight, though she still held the Chaos Heart in her hooves, and grabbed Shining Armor along the way.
They flew all the way up, with a few twists, turns, and screams from all three. Even Spike. They nearly reached the Cave mouth before a rock fell and trapped Spike to the floor. Twilight had disappeared for the moment and Shining Armor was clinging on to the rocks for dear life to not fall in. “Throw me the lamp!” Sombra ordered.
“Give me your hoof!” Shining Armor pleaded. Sombra shook his head rapidly, almost violently.
“First throw me the lamp!” he ordered once again. Shining Armor complied. The moment the lamp touched Sombra’s hoof he began to cackle as the thunder roared and lightning crackled across the black sky. “YES! AT LAST!” he laughed, placing it into his cloak. He noticed the purple coated Unicorn trying to help her brother up and kicked her out of the way, grabbing the other Unicorn’s hoof and pulling him up.
“What are you doing?” Shining Armor demanded. Sombra grinned dementedly. It could have put Bellatrix’s cackle and maddened gleam to shame.
“Giving you your reward,” his grin turned into a scowl. “Your eternal reward,” he raised the blade and saw that the white stallion’s eyes widened. But his sister would have none of it. She actually bit his ear, nearly ripping it off in the process. He screamed and let go of Shining Armor who fell back into the cave and he dropped the knife. “I can’t say I didn’t approve of the dirtiness of your trick, little filly,” he grinned sadistically at her. “But your reward will come from Magic, of the Dead!” he used his magic to throw her in after her brother.
The Cave Heads slammed shut as the thunder and lightning died down. He chuckled. “It’s mine... finally...” he dropped the glamour, returning to his dark Sombra glory. “It’s all mine, I--” he reached his hoof into his cloak, but felt nothing. “Where is it?” his heart seemed to stop and his stomach churned. “Where is it?!” he demanded. It was gone. It was gone! “NOOOOOOOOOO!” he fell to his knees and bellowed to Celestia and Faust’s Heavens.
“Nice job,” Chrysalis muttered in his ear. Big mistake. He rammed his Alicorn Amulet scepter into her face. “OW!” she screamed. But Sombra heard it not. That filly... That Unicorn filly. He began to chuckle maddeningly. Hysterically and crazed. His eyes became unfocused as he continued laughing with fury. Great he’s lost it. Chrysalis dared not to say it out loud, lest she get hit again.
“That pony... That...” he cackled like a banshee. “That FILLY. Dead as a doornail, and she stole the lamp! I know she did! If there is a CHANCE she’s alive!” he laughed for all he was worth. His madness nearly overtaking him once and for all.
Twilight shook Shining Armor’s shoulders as she tried to awake him. “Shiny?” she shook harder. “Shiny... wake up,” she pleaded and she prayed to Celestia that he would. Spike lifted him up just a bit and it seemed that Twilight’s prayers were answered.
“Ugh...” he groaned, pressing a hoof to his head. “My head...” he looked up to the sealed entrance/exit. “We’re trapped...” he said harsh words about Sombra, but Twilight said much, much worse. “Whoever he was, he’s probably long gone with that lamp,” Twilight smirked crookedly and using her magic she pulled out the lamp. “You purple little thief,” Shining Armor chuckled as she handed it over to him. “Looks beat up, almost like junk,” Twilight was more interested in the design.
“Look at it, like a deer’s antler and a goat’s horn. With a dragon’s leg and a cloven hoof, and a snake tail. A bat’s wing and a Pegasus’s wing too!” she pointed. “And look at the color! Gray and brown! And the green and white swirls. They kid you not when they talk about Chaotic,” she was more than just intrigued. She was enchanted!
Shining Armor narrowed his eyes at the lamp. “I think there’s something written here, but it’s hard to read,” he rubbed the lamp with his hoof. Mistake or good choice? Let’s find out.
The lamp began to shake and glowed bright red. Green smoke began spewing out from it and out came a beast unlike anything Shining Armor or Twilight had ever seen. He had the same parts that the lamp did. Twilight had read about creatures like this. He was Discord, Spirit and Son of Chaos, and he was a Draconequus. “Hoy!” a loud crack was heard, it came from his giraffe-like neck. He also had yellows for whites, and reds for pupils, and they weren’t even the same size. One was bigger than the other, and he had a sharper tooth sticking out of the side of his mouth.
“Ten thousand years...” he stretched his body everywhere. Literally. He pulled lion’s paw off and twisted it around, and did the same with eagle’s claw. Same with snake tail, dragon leg, and all. Neck and even the tooth and horn/antler. “Good to stretch out the old bones and skin,” he grinned toothily. “Hello, ladies and gentle-colts. Where you from? What’s your name?” he held a giant mic to Shining Armor’s face.
“Shining Armor,” the white unicorn answered and the Draconequus grinned and looked at Twilight, holding the mic to hers.
She smiled with interest. “Twilight Sparkle,” his grin turned playful and even mischievous.
“Eh, that’s not a very hot name,” her eyes widened with a raised eyebrow. “I’m gonna call you...” a drumroll played. “Roxanne,” he laughed heartily. “I see you’ve met Spike,” a small applause, then a BOO. “Rule 1. for Dragons; Don’t ever leave your gems or Rarities unattended,” he warned with a smirk.
Suddenly he looked at Shining Armor, holding a giant magnifying at his eye. “Say, you’re a lot smaller than my last master,” he snorted. “Scratch that, a LOT smaller,” he threw the magnifying glass behind him, creating an explosion.
“Wait I’m your master?” Discord slapped a diploma into his hoof and a college student’s hat onto his head.
“That is correct!” Discord waved his arms towards himself. “I am Discord, Master and Lord of Chaos. Draconequus of Equestria! And my duty, and the whole reason I was shoved into the confining space of that backbreaking lamp, is to give wish fulfillment of the one who rubs my lamp,” he had a glare in his eyes for a second. “And no dirty puns intended perverts!” he warned.
“Wish fulfillment?” Discord rolled his eyes.
“You ask a lot of questions, good to know,” the Draconequus cracked his knuckles. “Three wishes, my master. And no wishing for more wishes, if that happened then I’d be stuck with you for the eternity I’ll be living and I don’t think either of us will be wanting that,” Spike snorted. “Also no substitutions, exchanges, or refunds,” Shining Armor chuckled.
“Now I know I’m dreaming or dead,” Twilight seemed to want to nod.
“Master, I don’t think you quite realize what you’ve got here,” he began floating to the roof ceiling. “So why don’t you just ruminate whilst I illuminate...” he trailed off as he began to glow completely pale blue. “The possibilities,” he grinned. ~Friend Like Me~https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBBSCPwQEnM~(The video is not mine, I did not make it. It is the property of Lord Fawful from Youtube, bless that youtuber for making this video)
After his magical solo he sat next to Shining Armor on the cave. “So what’ll it be, my main Master?” he asked.
“So, any three wishes I want?” Shining Armor asked, hopeful of heart.
Discord cleared his throat and pulled on his goatee. “Not exactly, my Mistress did state that there were a few rules to this job of mine,” Twilight looked interested, again.
“Mistress?” she asked, but he ignored her.
“There are a few rules and things you can’t wish for, aside from no wishing for more wishes,” Shining Armor shrugged.
“Like?” he asked, and Discord groaned.
Discord, “Ah Rule number one,: I can’t kill anypony or creature,” he sliced his head off with his own lion’s paw and Shining Armor clutched his own throat. “So don’t ask,” he rasped, placing it back on his neck. “Rule two: I can’t make anypony fall in love with anypony else, Mare, Stallion, etc...” his head turned completely into lips and they kissed the wall, leaving a giant imprint even after they returned to normal Discord head. He straightened his back, and laid onto the floor. “Rule three...” he began, but his voice turned cracked and hoarse as he turned completely green. “I can’t bring ponies back from the dead,” he pulled up a piece of green, gross death. “It’s not a pretty picture, I DON’T LIKE DOING IT!” he returned to normal and floated up. “But other than that business which we will never discuss again, you got whatever you want!”
Shining Armor and Twilight shared a look of plotting. Almost like how Sombra and Chrysalis would. She nodded to her big brother.
“Limits? On wishes? Some all powerful creature of Chaos. Can’t even bring ponies back from the dead. Probably can’t even get us out of this cave. Guess we’re gonna be finding our own way outta here--” Discord’s giant cloven hoof stomped in front of Shining Armor.
“Scuse’ me monsieur?” he spoke with a glaring tone and a accent. “Did you rub my lamp? Did you bring me here? I don’t think so Shining Blabber. You’re getting your wishes...” his voice stopped for a moment until it turned thunderous. “SO SIT DOWN!” he ordered and the Unicorns didn’t hesitate to listen.
They all sat on the Dragon Carpet and Discord pulled the baby dragon off it and sat him next to Twilight. “In case of emergency, the exits are here, here, here, here, here, here, here, anywhere! Keep your claws, paws, and hooves inside the carpet. Weeee’rrrree gone!” they flew out of the cave and into the Luna night.
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.
“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.
Chapter Seven: A Whole New World Part One: Shining Armor and Cadence
Chapter Seven: A Whole New World Part One: Shining Armor and Cadence
Cadence glared at the Luna sky, and meanwhile in the garden Shining Star was pacing while Discord and the Carpet played chess and Twilight was thinking to herself, while Spike slept. “What am I gonna do? Cadence won’t even let me talk to her!” he sighed with frustration. “I should have known I couldn’t pull off this stupid Prince wish,” he threw the turban to the ground.
Discord looked more interested in the chess game. “So move,” he said. The Carpet took a Luna Queen(Queen Chess piece, but in the appearance of Princess Luna) and knocked his Celestia off the chart. “Eh, that’s a pretty good move. I can’t believe it I’m losing to a rug,” Discord shook his head, pulling on a tie around his neck.
Shining Star looked at him, irritated. “Discord, I need help,” Discord floated towards him, wearing sunglasses and a creepy grin(Jack Nicholson). “Alright sparky here’s the deal,” he stated. “You wanna court the little lady, you gotta be a straight shooter,” cue the bullet sound coming from his eagle finger. “Do you got it?” Shining Star looked at him confused.
“What?” Discord lost his Nicholson look and returned to his normal self, only to slap his lion’s paw onto his face.
He pulled up a chalkboard. “Tell her the...” he flipped it over and yelled, “TRUTH!” Shining Star used his turban to make it disappear, slapping at it and the air.
“No way, if Cadence found out I was just a street-stallion...” his eyes were downcast and sad. “She’d laugh at me,” Discord looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
He rolled his misshapen cinnamon red eyes. “A mare enjoys a stallion who can make her laugh,” Shining Star glared at him and he sighed. “At least you don’t look like this,” he gestured to himself. “Every time I was seen by a pony, mare or stallion, they ran away screaming or crying. Or both. At least you may actually have a chance with this Princess. I don’t even have a mare who would accept me,” Discord folded his arms over his chest sadly.
Shining Star nodded and apologized. “I just gotta talk to her... play it cool,” he put his turban back on his head, pulling his mane down with a hoof. “How do I look?”
“Like a Prince,” Discord watched as the Carpet took him up to Cadence’s balcony.
Cadence laid on her royal blue sofa, a saddened look in her eyes. She didn’t have her Cutie Mark cover on, and she saw how dead her Mark looked. Did that mean that her heart was dead and she would never find love? A chill shiver ran down her spine, all the facts pointed straight to that. Did Celestia and Faust truly hate her because she refused to marry a buffoon of a Unicorn?
“Princess Cadence?” a voice called from the balcony. She pulled her Cutie Mark cover on, and looked towards the source of the voice. Behind the curtains, it looked like a white furred stallion, and a Unicorn. She glared, she had a hunch on who it was.
“Who’s there?” she asked despite already knowing.
Shining Star took a deep breath. “It’s me--Prince Shining Star. Ahem--, Prince Shining Star,” he cleared his throat.
She walked to the balcony and her purple eyes met his blue ones. “I do not want to see you,” she snapped.
“Please, Princess. Give me a chance,” she turned her head and her glare made him stop in his tracks.
“Just leave me alone,” she ordered as her Philomena, a gift from Starswirl, squawked angrily at him.
“Down birdie,” Shining Star backed up as the Phoenix approached.
Twilight used her magic to levitate herself up, with the Carpet next to her. “So how’s our beau doing?” he used a tussel and made it look like a finger, pretending to cut his neck with it. She slapped a hoof to her forehead.
“Good birdie, take off. Dow birdie,” he removed his turban, as if to brush the great bird away. Cadence looked back at him and saw that, and she felt as though she’d seen him before. She felt an odd sensation in her Cutie Mark, but thought nothing of it. She’s seen the stallion before. She must have!
“Wait, wait. Do I... know you?” he looked back up at her and put his turban back on.
“Uh, no... No I don’t think so,” he lied.
“You... remind me of a colt I met in the marketplace,” she confessed, still eyeing him.
“The marketplace? I have servants that go to the marketplace for me... And servants go to the marketplace for those servants, so it couldn’t have been me you met,” she looked disappointed at that.
“I guess not,” she sighed sadly and looked the other way.
Twilight was held up by the Carpet, clinging to the balcony behind her brother. “Enough about you silly colt,” Shining Star looked down. “Talk about her! She’s smart, fun, the hair, the eyes. Anything--pick a feature for Faust’s sakes!” she silently yelled.
“Um, Princess Cadence, you’re very...” she looked back at him. Twilight spouting out different complimenting words and unfortunately Shining Star picked the last she said. “Punctual!” he said.
“Punctual?” Cadence raised an eyebrow. Twilight muttered a silent apology.
“Beautiful,” and Twilight nodded, better word choice.
A sly look came across Cadence’s face. “Rich too, the goddaughter of a Sultan, and a fine prize for any prince to marry,” she was up in Shining Star’s face now and Twilight could see where she was going with this. Unfortunately her brother did not.
“Right... A prince like me,” Twilight rolled her eyes and slapped a hoof to her face.
“Right, a prince like you,” she tapped his nose with her hoof. “And every other stuffed shirt, swaggering, peacock I’ve met!” she snapped, pulling his turban over his eyes.
“Stop her, stop her!” Twilight said. “Want me to zap her?” her horn glowed hot pink as she asked the question.
“Buzz off,” Shining Star ordered and this time Twilight looked insulted.
She stuck her head down. “Fine, but remember. Be yourself,” she jumped down.
“Yeah, right,” Cadence turned at those words.
“What?!” she demanded.
Shining Star looked almost worried for a minute. “Uh, you’re right,” he sighed sadly with a disappointed look on his face. “You should be free to make your own choice. You aren’t some prize to be one, I’ll go now,’ he jumped over the ledge, and the Carpet caught him
“No!” Cadence shouted, and instantly the Carpet zoomed up, with Shining Star standing on it.
“What is that?” she asked, noticing the designs of fire but the middle was completely blank. Like there was something supposed to be there, but it was gone now. Somehow.
“A magic carpet,” it took her hoof with a tassel.
“It’s lovely,” Shining Star’s eyes glowed.
“Would you like to go for a ride?” she looked at him with a raised purple eyebrow. “We could get out of the Palace,” he pointed out.
“Is it safe?” she asked.
He almost chuckled. “Sure, do you trust me?” those words echoed in her ears, and even her heart. But mostly, in her Cutie Mark.
“What?” she whispered. He held his hoof out the same way as before.
“Do you trust me?” he repeated. She took his hoof with a small, sly grin. Saying ‘yes’ as their hooves connected.
He pulled her up and the Carpet took off almost instantly, knocking them into a sitting position.
As the Carpet was flying through the city, Shining Star used his magic to grab a blue rose and gave it to Cadence. She smiled brigthly and wrapped it in her mane delicately.
For hours they flew among the starry night that belonged to the one and only Luna. They saw Greece, Egypt, and even China, which although it makes no geographic sense it still happened. They sat on the rooftop while China was celebrating a New Year. “It’s all so magical,” she whispered and Shining Star smiled with a soft ‘yeah.’
She grinned softly. “It’s a shame Twili had to miss this...” she saw how he shrugged.
“Nah, she doesn’t really like fireworks unless it’s an important occasion. Not a big fan of flying either,” the Carpet looked at him and slapped its own ‘head’ and Shining Star realized his mistake. “That is-- Oh no...” she ripped his turban off his head.
“I knew it!” she glared. “You are the stallion from the marketplace. Why did you lie to me?” she demanded. “Did you think I was stupid!” he shouted ‘no’ but she would have none of it. “That I wouldn’t figure it out?!” she growled.
“No, I mean...” he seemed to mumble the last bit. “I hoped you wouldn’t it,” his eyes widened. “No, that’s not what I meant!” she glared at him still.
“Who are you? Tell me the truth!” she ordered.
“The truth?” he looked at the Carpet. “The truth... the truth is... I sometimes dress as a peasant to escape the prison of palace life. But I really am a Prince,” she looked at him with analyzing eyes.
She raised a purple eyebrow. “Why didn’t you just tell me?” she sighed almost defeatedly. He shrugged.
“Well, you know, royal going into the cities in disguise. A little strange don’t you think?” she smiled softly and he returned it, she snuggled into his shoulder.
“Not that strange...” the two shared a bigger smile. Unknown to either the Pegasus or the Unicorn, however, was that her Cutie Mark had a become a bit bluer despite the tinge of red still painting it. Perhaps things would be better, yes? Or, maybe not.
Chapter Eight: A Whole New World Part 2: Dark Sparkle
Chapter Eight: A Whole New World Part 2: Dark Sparkle Warning: As a fellow Disney Fan, it is vital you know this may also be similar to Hunchback of Notre Dame (cough) Frollo and Esmeralda (cough) but I regret nothing!
After Shining Armor took off with Cadence on the Dragon Carpet, Discord vanished to do something Chaotic, and Spike had fallen asleep, Twilight went back into the Palace to try and find the library. And, so far that was not going well. She was almost a hundred percent positive that this was the same hallway she walked through four times. This made it the fifth time. She also really needed to watch where she was going, lest she keep walking straight into the chests of every stallion in the Palace. First Flash Sentry, awkward, now Sombra. Even more awkward, and they were supposed to keep what Discord called a ‘low profile’ unless they wanted things to go South.
“Lost, are you my dear?” his voice was smooth. Had it not been for the scar, she would have fallen into his trap like a googly eyed little filly. But she was Twilight Sparkle, she was smarter than that. She could only nod. “Would you like me to escort you to your room?” he offered with a genuine ‘concern’.
“I was actually looking for the library,” she confessed. His ears twitched at that.
“You enjoy a book then?” she nodded. He chuckled. “Well then, at least allow me to escort you to the library,” and that was that. The dark stallion lead the mare to the library and it took all of her self restraint not to let her jaw drop and hang open.
There was not just books, or hundreds, or even thousands. But millions of books! The previous Unicorn Sultans must have gotten all of them. “Even Starswirl himself enjoys to read and study the art of magic,” she nodded at Sombra’s words. Made sense.
She walked down the rows of all the grand books. There were more than even she could count. She had no clue where to start! “So, tell me again,” she had not noticed how close the dark stallion had been. “Why did you join your brother on his quest for Cadence’s hoof?” she shrugged nonchalantly.
“If my brother is to be wed, I would like to meet the mare before hoof,” he nodded, looking slightly annoyed. Her answer had been understandable and if the case, it could have been a truth.
“You know, Ms. Sparkle,” his words sent a shiver down her spine. “You really should give me more credit,” she raised an eyebrow.
“How’s that?” she asked, only half pretending to still be interested in the books. He smirked, darkly, and his fangs were still visible. He chuckled faintly, clucking his tongue. She bit back a soft yelp when she saw that it could have matched a serpent’s tongue.
Red eyes met violet ones. “You really think nopony would have noticed? Your brother alone, perhaps he could have gotten away with it. But you my dear, the magic just pours off you in waves,” he seemed to think for a moment as he circled her, like a predator to its prey. “When you bit me,” she glared. It was obvious who he was, it was a glamour he used to make himself look older. “I felt the Loyalty you have to your brother, it was enchanting,” he whispered in her ear. “Almost, intoxicating,” he chuckled at her angry eyes. “Quite the powerful Unicorn you are my dear,” he looked up, looking thoughtful.
“But if you were to tell Cadence and the Sultan what it was that happened, and the truth about my ear,” he tapped the scar. “Then they would ask questions, and who would be in more trouble? You, the street-rats posing as royalty, or me, who merely was searching for something and tried to rid Saddle Arabia of two worthless thieves,” she blushed and glared as hard as she could. Not that it would do her any good. “I would think it would be you, my dear. The Law states that a Princess must marry a Prince, not a Prince in disguise just because he has the Lamp of Chaos,” Sombra grinned.
“And what do you intend to do?” she asked. He chided her.
“Now, now. Wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise now would I? But then again, perhaps we could make a deal of sorts. My silence to the Sultan for your own, but then again what good would silence do? For either of us?” he tapped his hoof on his chin, thinking deeply. “Your brother is not to marry Cadence, you will make sure of that,” she snorted.
“I would never do that to Shining Armor,” it would have been a mistake for her to say that, if it mattered. “Or the Princess, and you couldn’t make me help you for anything,” she began to walk away. To tattle on Sombra to her brother, the Unicorn stallion could only wonder.
“You know...” he used his magic to poof himself in front of the door and the mare, startling her and blocking the exit. “It did surprise me quite a bit when you bit me,” he mused. “You have the power I’ve never seen before, and quite frankly it could be quite useful. But the fire I see in you, my dear,” she shuddered as he stepped closer. “Is breathtaking. I simply must know what it is like,” she growled, horn glowing pink as she was ready to strike if needed.
“Stay back...” she warned. Her eyes hardened as he chuckled again.
Sombra held the Alicorn Amulet Scepter up and the poor mare couldn’t help but look, but the ruby eyes of the Amulet met her own and her own grew the red swirls just as Starswirl’s had done multiple times before. She was entranced. “You will prevent your brother from marrying Princess Cadence,” she repeated the words, using ‘I’ instead of ‘You’, though. Sombra grinned. “You, Twilight Sparkle. Will make sure that Princess Fluttershy is first wed, to the Royal Vizier,” Sombra already had plans to do away with the Princess. He was immortal, and once Starswirl was gone, Cadence was elsewhere, and Chrysalis was posing as Fluttershy, they would rule Saddle Arabia. Her Changelings would be able to feed on the love of ponies, and Sombra would gain the power of Royalty as well as all access to Magic and complete control. But perhaps, as Chrysalis could pose as Fluttershy, Twilight could play a far more important role as well. He grinned. Things would be different around Saddle Arabia, and poor little Cadence. Her Mark was dead. He was sure of it. He knew it. He had more to plan, and this mare would definitely be involved in his plans. He would make sure of it.
Chapter Nine: A Whole New World Part 3: Fluttershy and Discord
Chapter Nine: A Whole New World Part 3: Fluttershy and Discord (Here’s your Fluttercord, and a surprise guest!)
“Oh, Angel,” Fluttershy let the tears fall freely now. She’d been holding them back for, well only Celestia and Faust knew how long, and she couldn’t take it anymore. Not a single suitor had felt even the slightest bit of right to her, and now Starswirl had told her the news. Laws of Saddle Arabia, if the Princess, Pegasus or Unicorn, had not chosen the suitor in the appointed time then the Princess, one or the other, had to marry the Royal Vizier. “I can’t marry him... Not Sombra, not anypony,” she sniffed as her tears fell into the fountain water.
A sudden rustling in the bushes made her gasp and nearly jump out of her fur and feathers. She heard fireworks, and... laughter? She rose to her hooves and began following the source of the noise, with a reluctant Angel behind her. The moment she reached a clearing, though keeping clear by hiding in the soft and tall green grass she gasped with surprise and her eyes widened. “Why is that water... brown?” she noticed the pond was thick looking and the color of mud. Or milk that’s not white.
Suddenly, without any warning, a figure popped up out of the mucky water. He was disfigured, in every meaning of the word, and she had never seen a creature like him before. He had a blue goat’s horn with a deer’s antler. His face was gray furred and pony shaped, but with a neck long like a giraffe’s. His lower body had brown fur, minus the lion’s arm and paw and the eagle’s arm and claw. His legs were mismatched as well. One was a brown furred one with a cloven hoof and the other was a green dragon’s leg. His tail was a red snake’s tail. His eyes were yellow with misshapen cinnamon red pupils, and he had a tooth sticking out of the side of his mouth.
“Snorkeling in chocolate milk can get boring,” so it wasn’t mucky water, just chocolate milk. “But ice skating...” with a white flash the chocolate milk had disappeared and the scenery turned into a frozen skating rink. Ice covered where the grass had previously been and instead of a swimsuit now the creature wore a skintight black, white, and red suit with black ice-skates. “Never gets old!” he declared and flying pigs, literal pigs with Pegasus wings, began flying/dancing around him as he skated.
“How did he do that?” Fluttershy asked as she felt something odd in her chest, and her flank as well. On her Cutie Mark.
Looking down her eyes widened and she gasped softly at the sight. Her Cutie Mark was the three pink butterflies that symbolized her Kindness as well as her gentle nature. But as it was pink, it was glowing a soft white as well. Almost slow flashing, but it seemed to be urging her towards the... towards the creature. He began having fruits and vegetables dancing around him as well as the pigs, with cotton candy clouds that were raining chocolate milk circling the entire commotion.
As Fluttershy continued to stare at the creature with awe and wonder, she had not noticed the giant and much more moodier cotton candy cloud that hovered above hers and Angel’s heads. It cracked with lightning and both the Pegasus and rabbit were drenched in the sticky chocolate milk. She yelped and the rabbit screamed, giving away their hiding spot. She dove behind the tree the moment the creature turned, and she was to scared to move away or even run. Her heart felt like a lump, and somehow in her throat.
“Alright, whoever you are, we can do this the easy way or the Discord way,” the creature spoke to her. She was silent. She heard him crack his fingers. “Alright, but you asked for it,” she felt the tree behind her turn into a puddle of goo. Some of it actually got onto her, sticking into her mane and coat. It did not settle well with the chocolate milk. She yelped as he used his magic to levitate her closer to him. This did not settle with with Angel.
The rabbit tried to attack the beastly creature, but ended up getting turned into a stuffed rabbit. She stared at him with wide eyes and an agape mouth. “What? He was going to hit me,” the creature defended.
“Can you turn him back?” he raised a bushy white eyebrow at her.
“You mean you’re not scared of me?” she looked at him oddly.
“Should I be?” his eyebrow went higher but he snapped his fingers nonetheless and Angel was back to normal. He instantly ran to Fluttershy and into her hooves.
Though now the creature had his arms crossed over his chest, with a raised eyebrow, patiently tapping his cloven hoof. “Don’t you know it’s rude to spy on others?” he changed the topic, more or less.
“Sorry,” she whispered, blushing just a bit. He snapped his fingers again and the chocolate milk and goo was out of her mane, coat, and tail. She was clean and spotless again. That was when Discord got a real close look at the Pegasus mare.
She had cotton candy pink hair with a buttermilk colored coat and three pink butterflies for a Cutie Mark. Though the three were currently glowing a magical white. Was that part of Pegasus Royalty? He inwardly shrugged. A thousand years must have changed Saddle Arabia more than he originally thought. What was the rest of Equestria like? He could only wonder. But it was his eyes that caught the Draconequus off guard the most. They were the most beautiful shade of teal he’d ever seen, and under the Luna moonlight they sparkled like diamonds. Not only were her eyes beautiful, but the mare herself was beautiful. “Perhaps, if we could start over,” her voice was soft and gentle, and smooth like honey. He felt his heart do a flutter(intended) in his chest.
The mare held her hoof out to him. “I’m Fluttershy, what’s your name?” she asked with a soft smile, ignoring the rabbit’s protest. He shook her hoof with a lion’s paw.
“I am Discord,” her smile grew, as did the white shining of her Cutie Mark but neither paid any attention to that.
“How did you do that?” she asked after he let go, which took him two minutes to do.
“What?” she pointed to the ice.
“That, with the milk and the ice. And the, flashing,” he chuckled.
“My dear, Fluttershy. I am Discord, Draconequus of Chaos itself. I can create things out of thin air and make them disappear just the same. Chaos has no limitations,” she looked interested.
“I’ve never heard of a Draconequus before,” he flushed, just a bit.
“I’m not exactly a well known creature,” he shrugged.
“But you’re so interesting, so many different creatures and I haven’t even seen Starswirl or Sombra perform magic like you can,” he smirked and did a low bow.
“Thank you, my dear, you are quite intriguing yourself,” she blushed. “Would you like to see more?” he offered. She nodded, and for the first time in forever(intended) she felt as though her wings could be spread. That she was no longer a royal bird in a cage, but a Pegasus pony with a friend.
It felt like hours, in which it had been, that they had spent together. Discord had not been lying when he said that Chaos had no limitations. The entire garden wasn’t even a garden anymore! The grass had been turned into peanut brittle, with the stone path ways turning to soap(he made sure it didn’t touch the brittle), with cotton candy clouds filled with chocolate milk hovering about, and the flying pigs as well. Even the statues were floating above their heads.
“So, tell me, Princess,” she giggled when he used his new nickname for her. “What made you decide to come out into the gardens?” her ears lowered.
“I came outside to think a bit, happens a lot,” she smiled softly.
“About what, if I may ask?” his eyes were curious and they looked like puppy-dog eyes, in which this case he used his magic to make them look that way.
She sighed deeply. Although she’d only known him for a few hours, she felt like she’d known him for years. He was more of a friend than Cadence had ever been, and she’d known Cadence her entire life. “About the whole Royal part. The wedding planning,” Discord nodded with a smile.
“The wedding of Prince Shining Star and Princess Cadence,” she looked at him confused, nearly dropping her cup of chocolate milk with whip cream and rainbow sprinkles.
“Huh? She finally picked a suitor?” Discord raised an eyebrow.
“But of course, Shining Star has been with her for the same amount of time we’ve been together,” Fluttershy blinked. She had not expected that. Wait a second...
“How do you know that?” his eyes widened. Dang it! He mentally slapped himself, literally. Now he had a headache. He did not want to lie to Fluttershy, for she’d been kinder to him than any other pony. More than even Shining Armor and Twilight when they didn’t run away or cower in fear at the sight of him. But he couldn’t give anything away. His heart clenched with the next words, that although it was not a total lie, it still felt wrong.
“Chaos,” he tapped his temple. “When I came here I decided to watch around the Palace, so nothing bad happened. I saw Cadence and Shining Star leave on the magic Carpet,” she nodded slowly. That... actually made sense.
But Discord was not finished yet. “Who else would be married?” he looked at her curiously. She blushed.
“Before meeting you, I spoke with Starswirl... It’s past the time that Cadence was meant to choose a suitor. And by Saddle Arabian Law, if the Princess has not chosen a suitor by the appointed time then the Sultan must choose for her,” he clenched his paw/claw.
“Sounds rather unfair if you ask me,” she smiled sadly.
“Life’s unfair,” she shrugged. “But that’s the way it is,” she added. “My point is, since Cadence refuses all and Starswirl and I suppose the Law is concerned about the Vizier’s life, the next Princess has to be wed to the Vizier. Saddle Arabia Law,” she looked down at her hooves, not noticing how Discord’s eyes burst into flames with rage.
Discord may not have known the mare for the longest of times, but this was something else. He’d only ever felt jealousy one time in his immortal life. That was a thousand years ago, and it hadn’t even been... between him and a mare. Just the normalcy the ponies had that he didn’t. The Law couldn’t honestly force the poor mares to marry the Vizier could it? He blew a raspberry, making her look back up at him. “Please, I am Discord. Lord and Master of Chaos, I could easily take away your problem if I wanted,” Or if Shining Star wished it. He twirled his eagle finger in his beard, thinking deeply. He was rather manipulative when he wanted to be. He could do it. But then again, Shining Star had promised to wish him free once he made his second wish. But Discord did not hold his breath, not every pony kept their promises.
She looked at him almost hopefully, but then shook her head wildly. “No, no I couldn’t do that. It wouldn’t be right,” his jaw hung.
“You want to marry him?” he couldn’t bite back the jealousy in his voice but thank Chaos that she didn’t notice it.
“Of course not! He’s scary in my opinion,” he had to press both hands and both feet and his tail to his mouth to prevent the snort of laughter from escaping.
“But I couldn’t abandon my duties like that. It would be unfair. Cadence tried that, and that didn’t end to well,” she looked up to the Luna sky. “By Luna, I just wish something else,” she closed her eyes. If Cadence could find her suitor, perfect or not, then they would not be having this problem. Fluttershy refused to blame Cadence for it, but she wished things could be different. And by things she meant the Law. She sighed deeply and sadly, tears nearly brimming her eyes but she forced them down.
“Fluttershy?” Starswirl’s voice echoed through the gardens. Both turned their heads to the source of the voice.
“I have to go,” she stood to her hooves.
“Well, why don’t you let me talk to your Starswirl friend?” she raised her eyebrow.
“Are you sure you would talk and not put some kind of spell on him?” he pressed his paw to his chest, above his heart, in false hurt.
“I’m offended Fluttershy, do you really think my demented, Chaotic mind would spurn me to do something like that?” she giggled.
“Yes,” he laughed.
“Fair enough,” he raised his hands in defeat. “But I want you to have something before you go, and if you can return to the gardens,” in his hand, with a white flash, appeared a large golden box with a line running through it. It would open, but later. He placed a string with a golden key on end around her neck and gave her the box.
“What is this?” she asked, about to open it but only to be stopped by the lion’s paw.
“A surprise, no spoilers,” he warned.
“I can’t accept this,” he shrugged. “I could give you a million more, but this has the most meaning,” she smiled softly.
“Thank you, for the gift... and for listening. Nopony’s ever listened to what I have to say before,” he looked at her shocked.
“Honest Apple?” she laughed.
“Honest Apple,” she confirmed.
“Well, nopony’s ever listened to me before,” he confessed. She smiled at him with sincere eyes.
“Well, you have a friend who will listen to you now,” her Mark glowed brighter as they shared a smile, but neither noticed.
“Fluttershy!?” Starswirl’s voice was urgent now.
“You know I do find that rather unfair though?” he raised an eyebrow. “I’ll need to find you a gift with the same amount of meaning, something you can’t poof up with a snap of your fingers. Come on, Angel,” she looked back at him before fluttering away. “I’ll be back,” she promised.
“Wait, do it again,” he held a small machine to her lips.
“I’ll be back?” she said, and out came the voice of Arnold Schwarzenegger. She blinked, surprised and watched Discord fall to the ground, clutching his stomach in laughter. “I don’t get it,” she laughed as she flew away to find Starswirl.
Discord rubbed a tear from his eye after his laughter ended, then he sighed both happily and sadly. “She’s perfect,” he whispered, waving his hand and making a mirror with her face appear on it. “And I’m...” another appeared but this time he just saw his own reflection. “Imperfect,” he looked down at his mismatched feet, downhearted.
“Imperfect? Have I taught you nothing?” he jumped like a frightened cat and landed in the tree. He thought he’d never hear that voice again. That almost angelic voice, though Fluttershy’s was more beautiful. He looked down and saw the amused face of his very Mistress, Chaos.
“You taught me how to love Chaos,” he admitted, climbing down.
“And?” she pressed, unearthly green eyes looking into his own misshapen ones.
“‘And how imperfect is perfection in disguise,’” she nodded with a soft smile. It was one of the Alicorn’s favorite quotes.
“Now, it seems the other part of the deal has come to be,” he looked at her with a scowl as he crossed his arms over his chest.
“She’s to be wed to Sombra,” he spat the name as though it was poison on his tongue. Actually, it might just have been.
“But my boy, when has that ever stopped you?” she challenged with a sly grin.
“Never,” he confessed.
“Now, you can sit here and mope or do what you would have done a thousand years ago,” she made a horse’s riding crop appear in her own hoof. “Giddy up, Draconequus!” she slapped his feet with it, making him jump. “Move it!” she ordered, watching in amusement as he flew off. “And just to make sure nopony gets any thoughts,” she tapped her hooves together and the garden returned to normal.
“Don’t this bring me back, you making messes with Mama’s magic and Mama cleaning up after you,” she rolled her eyes and looked up to the sky. “Oh, Eris. He’s growing up,” she began to cry with a smile. “My little Draconequus, off to destroy the dark crystal one...” she waved her hoof in front of her face. “Ooh... Love is in bloom, with mostly handsome grooms. Fluttercord, I ship it!” she grinned, disappearing in a flash of green and white. And just for Fluttershy, some pink. Oh, how love was indeed in bloom, but what if the Moon nor Sun shown over either flowers, only Shadows? Whatever would happen then?
Shining Armor and Cadence returned to the Palace. She smiled at the Unicorn stallion and he couldn’t help but return it. “Goodnight, my handsome prince,” she smiled.
“Sleep well, princess,” they began leaning forward, but the Dragon Carpet took that as his cue. It bumped Shining Armor up and their lips met in a kiss. Neither of the ponies, not even the Carpet, noticed Cadence’s Cutie Mark. Sombra’s spell of Hatred was broken. The red disappeared instantly and was glowing bright crystal blue. Her Cutie Mark was renewed and reborn. They pulled away. She walked slowly into her room, a blush on her cheeks and a smile gracing her lips.
Shining Armor fell back onto the Carpet and it slowly floated back to the ground. “For the first time, things are starting to go right,” it was then that four sets of hooves grabbed him and another Unicorn’s magic prevented his from working by placing blackened crystals on his horn. “Hey! What!?” a white cloth was tied around his own mouth. “Spike! Spike!” his words were muffled and he saw that the Dragon/Elephant was in a fire prove net tied to the tree.
The Guards put shackles on his hooves and the Alicorn Amulet Scepter was placed on the ground in front of his face. His blue eyes looked up and glared as they met Sombra’s red ones. He did not notice how the Amulet’s ruby eyes were glowing the same color as the Guard’s hypnotized eyes. It would seem that everypony in the Palace might just be under Sombra’s Dark Magic. But the thing that made Shining Armor glare harder as his blood boiled with fury, was that Twilight was standing right next to the dark Unicorn and he did notice how her eyes were dulled to a reddish coloring and he knew it was hypnotism.
“It would appear you’ve worn out your welcome, Prince,” Sombra smirked at the white stallion’s glare. “It would seem that you are ever so Kind and Generous to bring such a lovely mare into the Palace’s midst,” he pressed one of his hooves to Twilight’s cheek and Shining Armor saw red as she leaned into his touch. “Not to mention the Loyalty your sister felt towards you, and the Honesty just poured off her to me,” he grinned. “She’s just ever so Magical,” Sombra turned away, pulling Twilight with him as he gave the Guards one last order. “Make sure he is never found,” and the hard metal covered hoof on the back of his head was the last thing Shining Armor felt before everything went black. ~After~
The Guards dropped him over the cliff and their spell broke when they saw the large splash in the water. Confused and dazed they merely returned to the Palace. Shining Armor struggled to ‘swim’ to the land, the chain connected to the ball making it nearly impossible. Without the air, the unconsciousness returned.
His turban was over on the side, with the Lamp hanging out being ever so close to his hoof. In a poof of white, green, and Fluttershy pink, Chaos appeared. She clucked her tongue. “Never fails, get in the bath and there’s a rub of the lamp,” she pushed the lamp towards his hoof and rubbed the hoof against it. She disappeared as the bubbles formed out of the lamp opening and Discord appeared, wearing a shower cap, holding a rubber duck, and washing his back.
“Never fails,” he grumbled. “Hello?” he turned and gasped at the sight of Shining Armor. “Oh, come on. You can’t cheat on this one, I can’t help you unless you wish for it. Say, ‘Discord, I wish for you save my life’,” he shook Shining Armor, earning no response. “Fair enough,” he turned into a submarine and pulled the Unicorn up to the surface.
Shining Armor coughed out the water, shaking the wetness from his body and clothing. “I-” Discord smiled at him and Shining Armor returned it. They hugged, more or less awkwardly. “Thanks, Discord,” Discord pulled him up as he began to fly back to the castle.
“I’m getting fond of you kid. Not that I’ll pick out curtains or anything,” Discord promised, zooming back to the Palace. ~With Cadence~
As she brushed her mane she was humming the song she and Shining Star sang together while on the magic carpet ride. “Cadence,” she heard Starswirl’s voice and turned to see the said Unicorn standing by the opened double door.
She smiled, feeling her Cutie Mark glow. Now she understood her Cutie Mark. Perhaps it had just been her hatred and anger before at all the previous suitors, but Shining Star opened her eyes. Her Cutie Mark was to feel and spread the Love. “I had the most wonderful time Starswirl, I’m happier than I’ve ever been,” Starswirl’s eyes looked dazed, almost entranced and unresponsive as she spoke.
Fluttershy nodded and stood as well, both Pegasus mares walking towards their Unicorn godfather. “You should be Cadence, you won’t have to marry. I’ve chosen a suitor, and for Fluttershy,” the other door opened, revealing the dark Unicorn that Cadence hated more than anything. “She will wed... Sombra,” Cadence looked speechless and Fluttershy saddened.
“Speechless? A fine quality in a bride,” Sombra looked to the buttermilk Pegasus but Cadence stood between the two.
“She will never marry you!” she looked to Starswirl after she snapped at Sombra. “Starswirl, I’ve chosen a suitor. I choose Prince Shining Star,” Sombra raised his eyebrows.
“Prince Shining Star left,” he shrugged and an all to familiar voice interrupted anything else Cadence might have said.
“Better check the Amulet again Sombra,” Cadence grinned at him and the ‘parrot’ seemed to panic.
“How in the he--,” she cut herself off and made a birdlike sound.
Shining Star walked up to Sombra and glared. “Tell them the truth, Sombra,” he snapped. “You tried to have me killed!”
Sombra clucked his tongue and held the Amulet closer to Starswirl. “He’s obviously lying,” Sombra stated and the Amulet’s ruby eyes swirled as Starswirl repeated those words.
“I know what’s wrong,” Shining Armor ripped the scepter from his hooves and smashed it on the ground, ignoring the rage that flashed in Sombra’s blood colored eyes. Starswirl shuddered as he was broken from his hypnotic state.
“You’re Highness, Sombra has been controlling you with this,” Shining Armor showed Starswirl the broken scepter.
“YOU TRAITOR!” Starswirl shouted. “GUARDS! GUARDS! Arrest Sombra!” two of the Unicorn Guards grabbed the dark Unicorn.
“This is not done yet, colt, and has your lovesick potential made you forget your sister?” Sombra smirked as he and Chrysalis disappeared in a flash of purple smoke.
“Find him, search everywhere!” Starswirl ordered the guards as they ran out of the room. “Sombra...” Starswirl walked between the stallion and the mare who were about to share another kiss. “My most trusted advisor... how will I--” he cut himself off and looked back to the two. “Have you truly chosen a suitor at last?” he asked and Cadence nodded with a smile. “Praise Luna! You two will be wed at once! A fine upstanding youth, a new Sultan is exactly what this kingdom needs,” Shining Star looked concerned at that but was silent, still thinking about Twilight as well as this new information. ~Sombra and Chrysalis~
Sombra slammed the wooden door shut and the moment his back was pressed against it he smiled with that mad gleam in his eye. “We gotta get outta here! Forget her!” Chrysalis pointed a holey hoof at the purple Unicorn when she returned to normal, ignoring said Unicorn’s glare. “Bring the guns, the weapons the knives... Eh, what about this picture?” she pulled out a picture of her and Sombra. “I don’t know I’m kinda making a weird face in it,” she and Twilight noticed Sombra’s maddened laughter.
“Great, it’s happening again,” she flew back down to the Unicorn. “Sombra! Get a grip!” his hoof wrapped around her neck and her face went from black to blue. “Good grip,” she wheezed.
“The Cutie Mark. Like a Cutie Re-Mark,” he released Chrysalis’s throat and stormed up to where the Unicorn mare was chained to the wall by a red magicked chain, her horn also covered in the black crystals that cut off her magic. “Your filthy brother renewed her Mark,” he snapped, pressing his face closer to hers. “You want to know about that glowing? Let’s just say if they did get hitched then you’d be having a sister-in-law. Who’d be an Alicorn!” Twilight’s mouth hung agape.
“I will not stand for it!” he vowed, slamming his hooves into the stone floor, creating two large dents that startled both the Changeling Queen and Unicorn mare. “But then again, who would your brother choose to save?” his horn glowed a malicious red. “His precious baby sister or his bride?” he cast a spell on her, much more powerful than the hypnotic one of the Amulet.
“Chrysalis,” he growled as he continued the spell. “Get your army ready, you’ll get the love of those ponies soon enough. But pose as Cadence, his love for her is stronger than you’d think,” she grinned and nodded, flying off as she changed into a fly to tell her precious Changelings the good news. “I will start with Saddle Arabia and move on to the rest of Equestria. But for now, I will do away with your brother and Cadence. Even if it is the last thing I do,” he vowed. He meant it, every last word.
Shining Armor’s heart was torn. How could he betray his promise to Discord? But then how was he supposed to get Twilight back? And Sultan? They wanted him, a lowly street-rat, to be Sultan? He sighed as he walked through the gardens and into the small building, ignoring Discord’s one-creature band and cheeriness.
“Psst,” Discord whispered as he floated near where Shining Armor fell onto the pillows. “You’re line is...” his whispering continued as he held a script of ‘Aladdin’. “Any time,” he whispered. Shining Armor grit his teeth, guilt surging through his heart.
“Discord, I can’t,” he shook his head as he spoke the cruel words.
“Sure you can, just go, “Discord, I wish you were free,” Discord looked slightly hurt when Shining Armor shoved him backwards.
“I’m serious! Look I’m sorry, I really am. But they want to make me Sultan! NO! They want to make Prince Shining Star Sultan of Saddle Arabia,” his blue hues met Discord’s misshapen ones. “Without you, I’m just Shining Armor,” Discord wrapped his eagle arm around Shining Armor.
“But you won!” Shining Armor poked him with his now crystal-free horn.
“Because of you! The only reason I’m worth anything is because of you!” Shining Armor sighed. “What if they found out I’m not really a Prince? What if Cadence found out? Then there’s Twilight, that monster has his hooves on my little sister!” Shining Armor looked to the Draconequus helplessly. “I... I can’t wish you free,” Discord looked angry and sad at the same time.
“I figured as much, since everypony in all of Equestria only cares about themselves. And everypony except me gets love,” he floated down into his misshapen lamp. “I thought I actually had a chance, but after all you’ve lied to everyone else, hey I was starting to feel left out,” he glared at the stallion. “Now, if you’ll excuse me...” he spat the word angrily, like the venom on his tongue. “Master,’ he snapped, going back into his lamp.
Shining Armor leaned down, picking up the lamp. “Discord, I’m sorry...” he barely missed the spit that came from the raspberry. “Fine! Then just stay in there!” he threw the lamp under the pillow. He saw the surprise on both the Dragon Carpet and the Dragon/Elephant. “What are you looking at?” he snapped. They glared and looked sad at the same time, before leaving. “No, wait... I didn’t mean. Come on!” Shining Armor sighed again.
“What am I doing?” he sighed once more. “Discord’s right...” his ear twitched as he heard Cadence’s voice from outside.
“Shining Star, oh, Shining Star, will you come here?” she called. He took a deep breath and pulled his turban onto his head.
“Cadence? Where are you?” he called out, not seeing his bride-to-be.
Chrysalis cleared her throat, hiding in the bushes while disguised as the Princess of Love. She licked her lips and sighed with pure bliss as she felt the love that the stallion had for this mare. Her eyes glowed green before turning into Cadence purple. “Out in the menagerie, hurry!” she heard Shining Armor say he was coming, but she didn’t pay attention. She had a disfigured lamp to grab.
The moment the stallion was gone she grinned but stayed in the Pegasus’s form. Why not get a bit more love out of it? All the more power to be had. She grabbed the lamp with her hoof. “I can just hear Sombra now,” she turned into the Unicorn.
“Excellent work my Queen,” she turned into herself.
“Aw, you’re to kind,” she said in her normal voice before returning into Sombra.
“No, really on a scale from one to ten... you are eleven!” she returned to her parrot form.
“Still to kind, I’m embarrassed, I’m blushing,” she flew off with the lamp. ~Starswirl, Cadence, and Shining Armor~
“Mares and gentle-colts of Saddle Arabia, my goddaughter has finally chosen a suitor!” the crowd of ponies cheered.
“Cadence?” Shining Armor saw the pink Pegasus at the top of the steps. She grinned when she saw him.
“Shining Star, where have you been? The whole kingdom has turned up for Starswirl’s announcement!” she gave him a quick kiss before pushing him up to the stage, ignoring anything he tried to say to stop her.
“Prince Shining Star!” Starswirl introduced as Shining Star took his place.
“Oh, boy,” he smiled nervously and waved a slow hoof as the crowd cheered for him. ~Fluttershy~
She couldn’t take it anymore, she was unsure when Discord wanted her to open the box but she did it now. She pulled the string off it, and pulled the lid off. She pulled out the object and the rest of the box fell to the floor as she gasped. It was a carousel but it was more than just that. The making was white, with instead of horses or seats it was fluttering pink butterflies circling the center. The designing itself on the top, in the middle, and on the bottom were all butterflies. Pink as her cutie mark, and each moment the soft twinkling music hit the highest note the pink would shine a bright white light.
On the top, next to the pink/white butterflies, were Discord’s cotton candy clouds with chocolate milk rain. But the most beautiful part, perhaps even her favorite, was what was in the center. It was a smaller version of her and Discord, with even the garden around the two of them, with rabbits dancing around them. The smaller her and Discord were spinning around with Discord holding the smaller Fluttershy in his mismatched arms. It was the most wonderful thing the Pegasus mare had ever seen.
Fluttershy had been more than just happy when she found out she would never have to worry about marrying Sombra, but when would she be seeing the Draconequus again? She hoped soon... But what gift could possibly match this? “Perhaps, the gift to give in return of item love it the unseen but givable love,” an unfamiliar mare’s voice said to her.
The mare jumped, carefully clutching the butterfly-carousel in her hooves, as she looked to see the source of the voice. Her teal eyes met the unearthly green ones of an Alicorn of all ponies! Her mane and tail were completely white. The whites of her eyes were instead yellow, with a gray coat that had brown splotches and spots on it, and the tips of her wings were green and red. “Be afraid not, beloved mare. I’m merely here to wish you luck,” the Alicorn mare smiled, showing a fang that stuck out on the side. A replica of Discord’s.
“Who are you?” the Alicorn’s smile grew.
“I’d tell you, but you could honestly as Dissy. FYI, I ship Fluttercord,” Fluttershy raised a curious and confused pink eyebrow.
“Fluttercord?” the mare blew a soft raspberry and waved her hoof.
“You’ll figure it out from your pink friend, later I’m sure,” she grinned. “But beware of he with a dark heart that is colder than the ice he fell through, and the mare that always changes,” Fluttershy couldn’t even ask before the mare disappeared.
“Why do they always do that?” Fluttershy asked with a happy sigh, holding the carousel to her chest lovingly with a smile. ~Sombra~
Chrysalis sneered at the sight below. “Look at them, cheering that little pipsqueak,” she spat.
“Let them cheer,” Sombra grinned as his hoof rubbed the lamp.
“You know, Shiny, I’m getting really---” Discord’s eyes widened when he saw who rubbed the lamp. “I don’t think you’re him,” he pulled spectacles to his eyes. “The part of Shining Armor Star will be played by a tall, dark, sinister Unicorn,” the stallion glared.
Sombra grabbed his beard and threw him to the floor, pressing a hoof unto his face. “Discord, I am your Master now!” he growled into the Draconequus’s face.
“I was afraid of that,” Discord confessed.
“Grant me my first wish, I wish to rule on high... As Sultan!” Sombra grinned as the Draconequus reluctantly snapped his fingers. ~Shiny, Cadence, and Starswirl~
Dark clouds covered the formerly celestial blue sky. They stormed and raged above their heads and the citizen ponies ran back to their homes. Starswirl’s Sultan attire was magically removed, leaving him with his Sorcerer’s hat and cape. They watched as the attire went onto Sombra. Said Unicorn was laughing darkly. Starswirl glared. “Sombra, you filthy betrayer!” the lighter gray Unicorn snarled. Chrysalis was no longer in parrot form, but her Changeling Queen naturalness.
“That’s Sultan Filthy Betrayer!” she grinned as the ponies of Saddle Arabia screamed as her Changeling Army attacked. “We’ll just see about that!” Shining Armor pulled his turban off his head and gasped as he realized what he’d done. “The lamp!” Sombra chuckled.
“Finders keepers, colt,” Sombra laughed as a much bigger version of Discord pulled the Palace from the ground and placed it on the mountain. Shining Armor whistled and the Dragon Carpet flew up. Shining Armor jumped onto it and it flew up to Discord’s ear.
“Discord, no!” Shining Armor pleaded as he saw the pained look in the Draconequus’s eyes.
“Sorry, kid... New master...” Discord stated sadly.
While down back at the stage. “We will never bow to you!” Cadence vowed. Sombra glared and Chrysalis snorted.
“If you will not bow to a Sultan...” a flash went through Sombra’s eyes before he shouted; “Then you will cower before a sorcerer!” he turned to the Draconequus. “Discord! My second wish! I wish to most powerful magical creature in the world!” Discord placed his eagle hand over his eyes as he pointed his lion’s finger towards the stallion.
“Discord!” Shining Armor was near begging as the lightning bolt shot from his finger that struck the dark Unicorn.
“Ladies and gentle-colts, a warm Arabia welcome to Sombra!” the Unicorn’s eyes glowed as his Alicorn Amulet Scepter was renewed, with a red cape with white fur appeared on his back, new silver armor on his hooves and chest, with his own royal Sombra crown.
“Now, where were we?” he looked to Cadence and Starswirl. “Ah, yes. Abject humiliation!” he forced them to bow with the magic. Philomena tried flying towards him but he turned her into a yellow chick. “Oh, Princess. There’s someone I’m dying to introduce you to!” he lifted the Princess with his magic.
Shining Armor, on the Dragon Carpet, began flying towards him. “Get your filthy hooves off her!” Sombra began singing his own twisted version of “Prince Shining Star” and he grinned maniacally. “Whose lies were to good to last, say hello to your precious Prince Star!” he turned Shining Armor’s royal attire into his old ‘rat’ attire.
“Star...” Shining Armor and Cadence held each others hooves.
“I tried to tell you--” Sombra cut them off.
“So Star is really just Armor. Just a con, need I go on,” he turned Spike back into a baby Dragon. And sent Armor and Spike into the Palace tower, with the Carpet flying after them. “To send him packing on a one-way trip. His assets frozen, the venue chosen is the ends of the Earth!” he waved the scepter and the tower went flying. “SO LONG!” he called out.
“Ex-Prince Shining Star!” he began laughing more maniacally than before and it was worsened with the red lightning behind him. Starswirl and Cadence held each other, huddled in fear and frightened for the worst that was bound to come.
By Luna... Cadence thought. This is madness... And so it was. Sombra’s dark magic had created a Chaos far worse than Discord’s . Ponies were to scared to leave their homes, the guards were vicious, more than usual, and every moment she saw what that thing did to make the innocent mare giggle and croon, it made her want to vomit. She and Fluttershy had been placed into chains and Philomena into a cage, with Starswirl daggling by strings like a marionette as that other monster shoved crackers down his throat. “STOP IT!” she screamed. “Sombra, leave him alone!” he waved a hoof at Chrysalis nonchalantly. The Changeling growled and shoved one last cracker in his mouth.
“It is truly a pitiful sight to see you and darling Fluttershy reduced to this,” he smirked cruelly. “Not really for you anyway, mostly Fluttershy. You have always been a thorn in my side over the years, though I must thank you for your little colt toy. Had it not been for him, I never would have gotten hold of the lamp, or this divine creature,” he massaged Twilight’s chin lovingly and the fog of red that clouded her eyes, from the spell, made her sigh with contentment. “I’ll have you know she is the reason I have my little scar,” he tapped his scepter on his ear. “A biter she is,” Cadence stuck her tongue out in disgust.
“If you’re gonna do that the least you could do is get a room,” the only thing Cadence and Chrysalis agreed on was that.
“And now you have all the love you could ever want. Why don’t you pose as dear Cadence? Stuck the love right out of her colt,” Chrysalis grinned.
“My pleasure,” and with a bout of green fire, she turned into an exact replica of the Princess. Chrysalis licked her teeth and sighed with bliss.
“Such a delectable treat,” she giggled. “Oh, come now Dissy,” she noticed the Draconequus’s silence. “Don’t you want your freedom?” all ears and eyes were focused on the two.
Sombra’s eyes hardened into red daggers directed at the Changeling Queen. “I beg your pardon?” she clucked her tongue.
“Please, you are the most powerful Unicorn in all of Equestria. You don’t need to make another wish,” he raised an eyebrow at that.
“But wouldn’t you like me to make a wish for you and your children?” she snorted. “Please, like you’d ever be that kind or generous,” he smirked.
“Fair point, but I’m not freeing him,” as the two continued talking back and forth, Shining Armor, the Dragon Carpet, and the Dragon carefully crept into the room of the palace.
“Whatever, do what you wish,” she chuckled. “Heh, ironic,” she muttered as she lay onto her satin purple pillow, beginning to devour small hearts that came from ponies’s love.
“Actually, I do have one more wish,” he pulled away from Twilight, who looked devastated by the loss of touch. It took all of Shining Armor’s self restraint not to tear the Unicorn from limb to limb for daring to interact with his sister that way. “Discord,” he smirked as the Draconequus flinched at his own name.
“I wish for Princess Cadence and Princess Fluttershy to be... exterminated,” Fluttershy and Cadence gasped at the words. Discord looked almost hopeful.
“Uh, Master. I cannot exactly--” Sombra gripped his beard and pulled his face to his own.
“DON’T YOU DARE TALK TO ME YOU MISHAPEN MONTROUS FILTH! YOU WILL DO AS I ORDER YOU TO DO!” Fluttershy glared at him, something that even Starswirl, Cadence, and Chrysalis were surprised at.
“Monstrous?” she walked over to the two, mindful of the length of her chain.
“You call him the monster, when all you’ve done is torture innocent ponies and for a stupid crown?!” her voice was getting loud now, not a single one of them noticing Shining Armor inching towards the lamp.
“Little weakling finally talks back, eh?” Sombra grinned sadistically and released Discord’s beard. Chrysalis gasped when she noticed Shining Armor.
“So--” the Carpet and Dragon began wrestling with her.
“Little brat finally standing up to the Big Bad Unicorn?” though he seemed to tower over the Pegasus, she still met his eyes straight on.
“He’s not a monster, Sombra, you are!” Fluttershy declared and the moment the golden dish Chrysalis had been using fell, before the Unicorn could turn, she smacked him across the face with a hoof.
“That was--” he looked into the shining reflection of the chain, seeing Shining Armor.
“YOU!” he growled. He shot a beam of magic that sent Shining Armor hurtling into a pile of gold.
“How many times have I got to kill you colt!?” this time Cadence ran up, fighting with Sombra to remove his scepter but he knocked both her and Fluttershy down to the floor.
“Get the lamp!” Shining Armor ordered either one who would be able to do it as he fought with Sombra. Both mares ran for it, and Cadence managed to grasp it before...
“Twilight! Get her!” said mare did exactly as her ‘Master’ ordered. She attacked Cadence without a second thought.
Sombra knocked Shining Armor to the ground and stuck Cadence into a giant hourglass. “Ah, ah, ah, Princess, your time is up!” he mocked her.
“Ooh, nice shot So--” Spike hit her on the head with the dish, knocking her out.
“Don’t toy with me!” Sombra turned Spike into a a toy Dragon.
“Spike!” Shining Armor cried. The Dragon Carpet dove and managed to grab it, until...
“Things are unraveling fast now!” the Carpet too unraveled and the lamp fell. “GET THE POINT?!” Sombra laughed maniacally as blades fell in front of the lamp, stopping Shining Armor from grabbing it. He continued to laugh as he picked it up. “And I’m only getting warmed up,” he blew a circle of fire around the blade and magic wielding Unicorn.
“Are you afraid to fight me? You cowardly snake?” Sombra smirked and walked through the fire, a deadly gleam in his ruby eyes.
“A snake am I?” his fangs grew longer and even more lethal. “Perhapssss you’d like to ssssee how ssssnakelike I can be!” with each word he grew taller and longer until he no longer resembled a pony, but a Giant Black Serpent with Ruby eyes and deadly long fangs. He struck at Shining Armor three times, and on the third try Shining Armor managed to cut him. Sombra screamed in agony and yelled at Discord for cheering for Shining Armor.
The moment the Snake Sombra broke the wall, Shining Armor stabbed him and again the monstrous creature screamed in pain. “Cadence hang on!” he grabbed a wooden plank but was instantly stopped by Sombra who was cackling like the mad creature he was.
“You little fool, you thought you could defeat the mosssst powerful being on Earth?” Chrysalis was silently urging him to strangle the younger Unicorn until Discord hit her with his elbow. “Without the Genie-Draconequussss, you are NOTHING!” Sombra stated with a sinister smirk filled with fangs.
“The genie,” he looked to Discord who shrugged with a stricken and sickened look on his face, though his misshapen cinnamon eyes were mainly focused on Twilight who had Fluttershy pinned in what looked like a painful position. “The genie! The Draconequus has more power than you will EVER have!” this caught Sombra’s attention.
“WHAT?!” he demanded.
“He gave you your power and he can take it back!” and Discord had to have a say in this, though nopony paid much attention.
“Shining Armor what are you doing? Why are you bringing me into this?”
“You’re just second best!” Shining Armor had to bite back a smirk at the thoughtful expression on the snake’s face.
“You’re right, hissss power doessss excccceed my own,” an idea struck him and his ruby eyes lit up as he curled around the Draconequus. “But not for long. Sssslave! I make my third and final wish! I wish to be an all powerful genie--” he was cut off when Fluttershy elbowed Twilight in the face, muttering a silent apology, as she broke the glass containing Cadence. The pink Pegasus coughed. “YOU!” he dropped Shining Armor as he lunged for the Pegasus. She squeaked and flew away as quickly as she could. “I’ll have your head for a trophy brat!”
“Go to him!” she silently pleaded with Cadence and the other mare did not hesitate.
“Cadence, I’m sorry but--” she cut him off.
“If Sombra is to be victorious, though I am not going down without a fight, then we can at least do one last thing together,” Shining Armor looked confused. “Magic, my Magic with yours. Just this once,” Shining Armor was going to say something, but Fluttershy cut him off.
“If you can’t be a stallion and just do it then I might as well just let him stick his fangs in my neck and end me because I am trying not to die here!” that made him connect his horn with Cadence. Pink and light blue swirled together, and Cadence felt the true energy of her Cutie Mark and what she’d been missing for years. Love.
She felt something sprouting from her back and forehead as a swirl of beautiful purplish, pinkish, and bluish magic engulfed the two. “Shining Armor, I do,” Shining Armor didn’t need to ask. They pressed their lips together and their magic exploded. Chrysalis screamed as the magic sent her and every Changeling in Saddle Arabia flying off into the unknown and it even struck Sombra before it could strike Fluttershy.
He fell to the ground and glared at the two when he saw that Cadence’s wings had grown to Alicorn size, and she had an Alicorn’s horn! “You!” he growled at the Pegasus mare. “YOU!” he stopped before he struck. “Disssscord, I made a wish. You have to fulfill it,” everyone except for Shining Armor and Sombra looked horrified at the thought. “DO IT! SSSSLAVE!” he bellowed out and the Draconequus could not help but obey. A surge of magic and power coursed through the monstrous creature as he grew from a snake to a shadow form of his Unicorn self. A black shadow with a Unicorn’s head. “THE POWER!” he laughed. “THE ABSOLUTE POWER!” he broke through the ceiling. “To control the world,” he swirled his power through his hooves.
“You’re forgetting something Sombra,” Shining Armor picked up the new black lamp. “You wanted to be a genie, you got it!” Sombra looked enraged at the cuffs that appeared on his legs. “And everything that goes with it,” Sombra yelled in rage as he was pulled into his own lamp, to be trapped until a poor unfortunate soul wandered by. “Itty bitty living space,” Discord ruffled his mane.
“That’s my colt,” the Draconequus grinned as he snapped his fingers and everything returned to normal, Twilight, Spike, Dragon Carpet, Philomena, and all. “A couple thousand years in a Cave of Wonders ought to chill him out!” he flung it miles into the desert.
Shining Armor turned to Twilight and Cadence and shared a hug with all three. “Let us never mention that nasty detail again, I need a thorough wash,” the purple Unicorn shivered in disgust. “Cadence, you’re an Alicorn!” Fluttershy’s eyes were wide. Her wings had grown and now held a purplish tint at the tips, and a long horn had formed at her head. ”Amazing!” Twilight‘s eyes glittered brightly.
“I’m sorry though... about lying about being a Prince,” Cadence smiled and pressed a gentle hoof to his cheek.
“I understand why you did,” his eyes lowered in sadness.
“But I made a promise, and I’m not going to break it,” Discord looked surprised at that.
“You can be a Prince again, kid. It’s only an eternity of servitude. She’s not going to find another stallion like you in a million years,” Discord pointed out.
“Cadence, I do love you, but I have to stop being something I’m not,” she nodded sadly.
“I understand,” Shining Armor turned to Discord.
“Discord, I wish for your freedom,” yet the Draconequus had been preparing for the Prince wish.
“One Prince pedigree coming up, I--” he looked down in surprise. “What?”
Shining Armor held the misshapen lamp up. “Discord, you’re free,” the lamp glowed and magic of all the colors of the Draconequus swirled around Discord as the golden cuffs broke off his wrists. Discord chuckled, almost though it was a dream he was about to wake up from.
“I’m free...” he used his magic to prevent tears. “I’m free...” he repeated. He cackled and dropped the lamp, bouncing around the balcony with a new kick in his step. “I’m free at last! I’m off to see the world! I’m--” he cut himself off as he looked back to Shining Armor.
“Discord, I’m gonna-- I’m gonna miss you,” Discord actually sniffed a bit.
“Me too. And no matter what some pony law says, you’re always a Prince to me,” they shared a hug.
Starswirl smiled and stepped up. “You have certainly proven your worth in my eyes, young colt. And a Unicorn no doubt, it’s the law that’s the problem,” Fluttershy and Cadence turned their heads to the elder Unicorn. “Starswirl?” they questioned in unison. “Well, I am the Sultan am I not? From this day forth, the princesses shall marry whomever they dem worthy,” Starswirl smiled as Cadence beamed.
“I choose you, Shining Armor,” they were about to kiss again, though Discord stopped them. “BIG GROUP HUG, All of ya, come over here,” he pulled all of them in. “Well, I can’t do anymore damage around this popsicle stand. I’m outta here! Bye, bye, you two crazy lovebirds! I’M HISTORY! NO, I’M MYTHOLOGY! NO, I DON’T CARE WHAT I AM-- I’M FREE!” the sky turned dark and exploded in a shower of fireworks and stars.
Shining Armor and Cadence flew off on the Dragon Carpet, a chorus of song behind them as they floated off into the night, together at last. Always.
Fluttershy stared at the two newlyweds with a soft smile as she groomed her beloved Angel. She was happy that Cadence had finally chosen a suitor, and one who would not be a rotten apple. But her smile soon turned sad as she thought of Discord. She’d been more than happy that the Draconequus had gotten the one thing he’d always wanted, but she missed him. She’d grown to enjoy his company and he was her first real friend. Except for Angel of course.
She sniffed and sighed sadly. “A mare like me, as if an all powerful creature like him could ever love me,” she let the tears fall freely now. The white rabbit looked up at her with a saddened expression. Though he had not been a big fan of the creature, and vice versa, he did not like seeing Fluttershy sad. The buttermilk mare looked at the carousal with watery eyes. No jewel, no gift, no nothing could ever compare to this, and in her defense this was the only real meaningful gift she’d ever been given.
Despite her sadness, she still noticed it when Angel leapt out of her hooves. “Angel?” she called out, wiping her eyes. “What the?” her mouth hung agape when she saw he was wearing a waistcoat and a pocket watch? “Angel?!” she stared at the rabbit as he hopped around the gardens. He took off running, and of course the Pegasus mare could not help but follow.
“Angel, oh by Luna, not again!” she shivered as she realized the rabbit led her into the gigantic maze outside the Palace. It took her three hours to find her way out last time she got lost in the maze. “Angel?!” she called out. She stopped when she saw three small oddly shaped butterflies. Their wings were pink with gray bodies, but they had slightly bushy white eyebrows, cinnamon red eyes, and all three had a identical fang sticking out of the side of their mouths. “Discord,” she smiled as a poof of white magic turned him from the butterflies into his true form.
“Did you really think I forgot about you my dear?” he picked her up and twirled her around. She grinned at him. “May I have this dance?” she giggled and nodded, and of course, the two began a dance, which surprisingly was a slow dance rather than a Two To Tango. ~Meanwhile~
“Are they kissing?” Pinkie Pie asked for the fourth time. “Hush Ms. Pie, I-- Oh good heavens, what a ghastly color!” Rarity gaped as she allowed her horn to glow blue. “Ghastly?” Pinkie’s eyes widened then narrowed. “Oh, darling it’s fine on you but it is simply not a color for Royalty! Make it Blue!” she shot a magic beam from her horn that turned Fluttershy’s dress completely blue. Though the Pegasus did not notice, the Draconequus did, but he swore his revenge later. Now was the time for him and his mare.
Pinkie’s eyes narrowed even more. “I think pink is more her style. Make it Pink!” she fired a Limited Edition Pinkie Pie Color Changer at the dress, which instantly turned it completely pink. That was how Rarity and Pinkie Pie started changing the color of the dress as pink butterflies that matched Fluttershy’s Cutie Mark fluttered around the Mare and the Draconequus and a gentle tune played, though the butterflies glowed bright white when the highest note was played.
Even as the dress began to continously change color, curtesy of Discord, and the other two mares began wrestling each other, a group of white bunnies, waistcoated Angel included, began to dance around them. Just like how pink cotton candy clouds filled with slightly dripping chocolate milk, swirled above their heads.
From a distance, a zebra and an mismatched Alicorn watched with twin smiles. “My little Draconequus all grown up,” Chaos sniffed and Zecora nodded. “Their love did not need you to assist,” the Alicorn had the decency to look bashful. “But don’t you just love a good plot twist?” the two shared a chuckle as the Mare and the Draconequus, the Plot Twist of this tale, shared their loving kiss.