Chapter 1.
It's been about a week since Shining Armor watched his beloved, Mi Amore Cadenza and all the mares of Equestria sail off with the zebras. Sitting at a bar with Night Light, Fancy Pants, and Prince Blueblood he was downing another hard cider while twirling his wedding band on the table.
“Another cider,” Shining said to the bar keep.
“Ughh, sir I think you've had enough.”
Shining slammed his fist on the bar, “I'LL TELL YOU WHEN I'VE HAD ENOUGH!!!”
Night Light put his hand on Shining’s shoulder, “calm down son we're all hurting here. At least you got to talk to Cadence. Me and Fancy had to watch our love one sail off from other ships.”
“Well at least you had somepony,” said Blue Blood.
“I just can't understand how everything could go so wrong,” said Fancy looking at a photo of his Fleur.
Inside Shining’s head a tidal wave of thoughts flooded his mind but one thought stood out.
“I have brought on the extinction of all stallions in Equestria.”
-÷-÷÷-÷-
Sitting in a booth by himself was Quibble Pants. A good many thoughts where going through his head since the unexpected exodus of the mares. He spent hours upon hours going over notes. Listening to other stallions, gathering info on all events, and coming up with some blind theories. Suddenly he let out a squee and said, “got you, I bucking got you.” Gathering up his notes he was about to make a dash for the door when he heard a slam at the bar and saw one pony trying to console the commander. Walking up to Shining he tapped him on the shoulder. Shining turned around ready to punch anyone wanting to interrupt his week of sulking.
“Who the tartarus are you and what the buck do you want,” Shining said trying to figure out which of the three ponies tapped him on the shoulder.
“Um, sir if I could have a moment of your time. I do believe that we were set up to fail by the zebras,” said Quibble.
“Look, my son is in no mood to here some conspiracy theory about those damn zebras,” Night Light said with a slight agitation.
“I know what I'm saying maybe a bit far fetched, but I do believe they played the perfect gambit,” Quibble said.
Trying his best to sober up Shining sat at an adjacent table and offered Quibble a seat.
“Ok, what's your name…?”
“Quibble sir.”
“Yes, Quibble you have five minutes to explain this perfect gambit before I toss your hind quarters out on the streets.”
“Fair enough sir. First of all on the day the zebras returned what did you notice sir?”
“Nothing out of the ordinary just my wife stalling our attack with that damn Zed behind her.”
“Right sir, your wife was the first to speak don't you find that unusual? I mean if coming back from a long pilgrimage shouldn't the ruler of the land be the first to speak.”
“She was on a different ship. Cadence was the first to dock.”
“Hmm, I don't know the distance from here to Zebraca but I would believe the flag ship would have the diarchy on board and they would be the ones to speak. Your wife spoke for every mare and within five minutes turned around and left.”
“Ok Quibble, what's your point,” Night Light asked.
“My point is I believe the mares didn't want to come back. It was a gesture by the zebra to prove in front of our mares that they were honoring the contract that were signed,” Quibble stated.
“Yes, yes and when the fleet of ship showed up to the shores we made an ass of ourselves. Ugh no offence Cranky.”
“Hhmmph, none taken,” said the donkey adjusting his hair piece.
Shining stood up and grabbed Quibble and said, “Thank you for allowing me to live that hell again now it's time for you to leave.”
Shining was about to throw Quibble Pants out into the street when he yelled, “I believe the zebras didn't make us sick it was the mares!”
“That's a load of bull. Ugh no offence Iron Will.”
“None taken,” said Iron Will downing his 9th pint of cider.
“Ok how could the mares get us sick,” Shining ask still holding Quibble.
“The fluoride in the water. I think it was tampered with,” said Quibble
“Rubbish,” said Fancy Pants, “it was tested by our physicians and nothing was found.”
“That's because we used pony methods to perform our search not zebra,” said Quibble.
“It still doesn't explain how we got sick,” Night Light said.
“Just listen,” Quibble said, “when the fluoride was put in the water we all drank it. I do believe that once the mares drank the water it was turned into an airborne pathogen. Kind of sneezing can give somepony a cold. So the first stage of the pathogen was sterility.”
Shining Armor let Quibble go. Readjusting his shirt Quibble continued, “we put our problem in the papers and who answered the call to help us. Zebras.”
“Coincidental,” said Blue Blood, “we all know that zebras are good with healing potions.”
“Yes that is true. They have helped us with pony pox, restore broken teeth, even helped us with poison joke. Yet when it comes to fertility the zebras want to do a more hands on approach.”
“Still coincidental,” Blue Blood replied.
“I don't think so. What I do believe is that the zebras fed our fears. Our disparity was our downfall. The need for a solution just helped the wolves into the chicken coop.”
The four stallions at the table starred at each and grumbled under their breath.
“So what could we have done,” Shining asked.
“Nothing,” said Quibble, “The steps to our down fall had been done. First infect and cause a panic. Second was to separate the desirable from the undesirable. When the legal papers were signed you made sure the zebras had full reign over your wives. So now when the husband was away the zebra will lay. They were also giving your wives potions to help with the breeding process. You were told no sexual contacts with your mares. You were also told that this process would take multiple sessions with the zebras. Even to the point to were the mare had to take a sabbatical to the zebra embassy. From what I saw of the mares who came back from the embassy was a great change in their physical appearance. Now this might be just speculation but I believe that inside the embassy the potions the mares were given were to make their sex with the zebras more satisfying. I would put my last bit on it the embassy was nothing but a large pit of debauchery.”
“ENOUGH,” yelled Shining, “I've heard enough. So as we stand here our mares are in Zebraca. What do we do to get them back?”
Quibble let out a sigh, “Nothing. They are no longer our mares. They're zebra mares. You remember when the princess came back and you got sick. Think about it all the potions. The zebras gave them a double dose of what made us sick in the beginning. You said it yourself when you were close to your wife something smelled off about her.”
Shining had to contemplate that but Quibble was right. Cadence didn't smell like herself just before he went to the bathroom to pay homage to the porcelain God. When he returned Cadence was gone. The next thing was being carried out of the castle. As Shining was carried away to the quarantine zone he remembered seeing Cadence in their bedroom window with Zed standing behind her.
“Besides we don't know if the mares still carry the pathogen.”
“So in time with the women gone we all recovered and the first thing we did was kill the zebra guards that were watching us.”
“No. We burned any and all evidence of what the zebras were doing to our mares, then we attack.”
Everyone in the bar held their heads low and sighed.
“With no proof of what was done it was our jealous word against theirs. Like I said. The perfect gambit.”