Chapter 1
Cadence trotted down the street. It was a Saturday morning and the street was packed full of glimmering ponies ambling around. As she passed all the ponies would turn and smile at her. Their smiles were full of joy and life. Cadance could feel the heavy weight on her back. She could feel tears pricking at the corners of her eyes but she kept up her happy facade. Her ponies needed her.
It was only once Cadence entered a side street that she let the tears flow freely. She sank down at the entrance of the alley. Being the Princess of love, she could sense every laugh, every first kiss, every heartbreak. Cadence never thought she was going to feel heartbreak but now she felt it for herself. Caused not just by one pony but by 4.
For once Cadance was glad that Flurry was being looked after at the castle as sobs racked her body and tears poured from her eyes. Cadence hid in a shadow and in her own invisibility spell and waited for them to arrive. As if on cue from around the corner walked Shining Armor… And her. She was a pretty mare, with a gold shiny mane and a beautiful, thin silvery red body. Cadence looked down at her own flab.
As soon as none of the other ponies could see them Shining and the other pony’s body language. They went from looking like good friends to lovers. She flicked her tail at him and they started nuzzling and then kissing and then… and then... Cadence couldn’t stand it anymore. She ran from the alley still enjoying the comfort of her magic. She didn’t suppose if she wasn’t invisible anyway.
“I bet they only see each other. In their own safe world." Cadence thought. “How did it start?” She wondered. It started when she was pregnant with Flurry. She had been suspicious but even when she told the Princesses and Twilight they just thought she was insane. Then she attacked Shining Armor and now well, they were never going to believe her…”I just want to get home…” She thought and kept galloping.
Cadence returned home and sighed as she was greeted by an empty house. Her eyes were crusty and bloodshot. She sighed. She took off her saddle bag and dumped it on one of the many silk sofas that adorned the palace. She took a deep breath in and out. For now, it was just a wait for her traitorous husband to arrive home. Soft butterflies began to fly around her stomach. Tonight was only a few hours away but Cadence knew that they would feel like an eternity. Cadence trotted to the kitchen and started preparing the dinner that would be his last.
After many hours waiting, Shining Armor finally arrived home. She knew he had entered by the loud slam of the door behind him and the sound of him dropping his armour. He had obviously smelt the food because a few seconds later he trotted into the kitchen. He made a loud obnoxious sniffing sound before saying “Mmmhmmm. Cady, that smells gorgeous. Hope some of it is for me.” He smiled at her with a look on his face that said ‘I know it is.’ It made Cadance feel sick.
Shining walked over and with a fake look of stress said “Sorry I’m home late Cady. You know how work is.” Anger rose up in Cadence. How much she wanted to punch him now. However, instead, she just nodded and smiled kindly. Shining’s eyebrows furrowed. He looked at the food and then back at Cadence. “What’s the occasion Cadance? I haven’t forgotten anything! Have I?” Cadance was itching to hurt him. He knew there wasn’t anything.
“He’s so fake. Why- How did I ever think he cared?!”
Cadance smiled at Shining Armor in a sickly sweet way. She pretended to look down ashamed. “I- I just wanted to apologise Shiny!” She could hear Shining make a small confused “huh?” sound. “I’m sorry !” Cadence pushed her eyes until a few fake tears fell down her face. “I know how stressful your job has been the past few weeks. I obviously got stressed to and started seeing you with other mares.” Cadence leapt at Shining Armor and wrapped her forelegs around him in a desperate attempt to hide her smile. This was a joke. “I haven’t been any help an-a-and I-I-I f-f-feel so ba-a-ad.” Cadence stuttered and started taking deep breaths like she was weeping. After the last few weeks, she had got good at that.
For a few minutes, they stood in the kitchen with Cadence's forelegs wrapped around Shining and him rubbing her back trying to reassure his ‘distraught’ wife. As they stood there Cadance’s mind started to wander. She could feel Shining’s ribs beneath his fur. She thought how easy it would be now to crush those fragile ribs. The crunch of the bone the feel of it beneath her hooves-
“It’s okay Cady.” Cadence jumped slightly as his voice broke through her daydream. Shining broke their embrace and Cadance could feel her hooves hit the floor. She saw Shining eyeing the dinner before looking at her in the eyes with a kind- “Kindness. There's a joke I haven’t heard in awhile.” A kind dead expression.
Cadence sorted Shining and her with a plate before sitting down and eating. It was silent for a few minutes and Cadance looked at the clock. 9:15. ¾ of an hour. Cadence couldn’t help as the excitement built up inside her. She smiled slightly before hiding it with a yawn. Shining Armour looked up, concerned, from where he was stuffing his face full of food.
“ What’s the matter, Cady?” He said in a fake voice. Cadence rubbed her eyes and looked at him before smiling weakly.
“I guess I’m just really tired. I’ve done a lot today what with Flurry teething now and-” Cadence let out another loud yawn. “I’m really lucky that one of the nannies was able to take care of her.” Shining smiled at his wife while rubbing his own eye and yawning.
“I’m pretty beat too.” Shining walked over to Cadence and slung a foreleg over her. She slowly stood up sickened by his touch. She leant into him anyway and nuzzled him suppressing a shiver.
They walked into the chamber together. In her tiny cradle was little Flurry Heart. She reached out two tiny forelegs. Cadence's heart lit with love. Flurry was one of the main reasons she was going to do this. Cadence reached a hoof into the cradle which Flurry grabbed with a gargle and started sucking. She could feel Shining lean into Cadence lovingly.
“Don’t worry baby. Soon Mummy will get rid of that traitor and our lived will be better.”
Cadence leant into Flurry and gave a kiss on the forehead, just below her horn. “Goodnight precious.” As if on cue Flurry yawned and stretched. Cadence remorsefully dragged her eyes from the foal.
Cadence gracefully leapt onto the bed and slid under the covers. She closed her eyes and slowed her breathing. Soon after her ‘husband’ slid into bed next to her. He fell asleep very quickly judging by his slow breathing. For once she thanked herself that the traitor could sleep so easily. She looked at the clock next to her, 9:43. Very soon it would be 10:00. “¼ of an hour.” Cadence hugged her hooves around herself and smiled.
The minutes ticked by slowly. Cadence thought about how long it had taken her to come to this resolution. “Two years.” She thought, her heart filling with hate. “2 long years where no-one believed me and now finally my torture is over.” Her eyes slid over to the clock. 9:58. “2 minutes.” She thought excitedly. It was finally time to get ready.
Cadance’s hoof snakes under her pillow and she brought out a knife. The knife wasn’t pretty and it didn’t stand out in any way. It wasn’t a decorative knife, quite the opposite in fact. The knife was a dull grey colour. One that could be found in most kitchens. Cadance looked back at the clock. 9:59. Cadence sighed and a sadistic smiled filled her face. Her horn lit and she started carefully lifting Shining into the air. A spell that all unicorn mothers knew. Cadence grabbed the knife in her blue aura.
Once Shining was safely in the air Cadence crept to the box room. The castle was silent and she knew that most of her servants were at their houses. This was her one and only opportunity.
Eventually, she reached the box room with Shining Armor and the knife trailing behind her. Once inside the box room, she slowly closed the door and then dumped Shining on the floor. Shining awoke with a start. His eyes were bloodshot as he stared startled at Cadence. He quickly got up. Cadance smiled softly and hid the knife behind her back.
“Cadance what’s the matter is the Crystal Empire! under attack is-” His eyes widened as she shoved a perfect hoof into his mouth.
“Shut up.” She said stonily. Shining reached up a hoof under Cadence's chin.
“What’s the matter, Cady?” He said softly. Cadence shoved his hoof away and let out a small laugh.
“I think you know Shiny.” She said smiling. Shining’s eyes widened.
“Oh no, Cadance.” He whispered. “You’re having a relapse.” He smiled condescendingly. “Don’t worry Cady Princess Celestia can help.” Shining expected Cadence to melt, to start to cry but she just stood like a statue before a smile erupted on her face.
Cadance walked to the other side of the room and stared out at the wide expanse of the Crystal Empire. Shining Armor took this silence as assent and kept talking.
“Come on Cadance. Just listen to me you're sick but we can-” Cadence turned around fury evident on her face.
“Shut up!” she screamed. Shining tried to speak but she didn’t give him a chance. “You think this is going to be like last time where I collapse sobbing and spend 4 months in counselling.” Cadence produced a knife from behind her and started walking towards Shining. He backed away from her and started to protest.
“Cadance what are you doing with-” Cadence ignored him and kept talking.
“I am many things Shining Armor but I am not a fool,” Cadance said coldly and stabbed the knife deep into his ribs. She could feel the way it easily cut through his fur and muscle. Shining staggered to the side and let out a loud scream. Cadance was very happy for the soundproofing in the room. He fell on his side and started gasping. “Why Cadance?” He rasped weakly looking at her. Cadance didn’t bother to answer just stared forward a stony expression on her face. He weakly reached out a hoof. Blood bubbled out of his mouth and he started to cough as he bled out. Cadence watched in silent glee as Shining’s eyes turned dull and his blood made patterns on the crystal floor.
Cadence waited for a while for the remorse to come. She felt nothing. Not even a hint of heartbreak.Cadance walked over to the body and gave it a strong kick. “Oh, Shining looks like you're not the guard that mare thought you were.” Cadance gave the body a few more kicks. “You were nothing!” She spat. Cadence started one more time at the body before sighing. She walked back to their- her chamber a feel of solace descending on her body... She was going to need a good sleep tonight.