Thread 83: Stories 31-45

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NC
>AJ
"Celestia"
-Shiny's mangled corpse-

-goghlglk-

>Well

"He never got his wings..."

>Ah' know, who'd a thought, the one thing to send him over the edge

"In a way, it's like some twisted dream....walking in expecting a prisoner..."

>Only to find out that his LSBFF is a deranged necrophiliac

"Ah well, think that BFG has a few more shots in it?"

>You go ahead, Ah'll call the cleanin' lady, then save a shot for me

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>SA
"18
'??'
~~~~

If anyone not in the know had been in the hall, they would probably have been confused how it was possible for Cadence to be walking around, considering...

"Hey, Shiny, how'd the whole thing with Sunset go- OH SWEET MERCY FUCK!"

>...It's been a bad day, Eighteen.

"OH NO! NO NO NO NO! WHAT HAPPENED TO CADENCE!? CADDY!? CADENCE SPEAK TO ME!"

>She's fine, she just got love-sapped by-

"I WILL TEAR CHRYSALIS'S HEAD FROM HER SHOULDERS AND SHIT DOWN HER THROAT!"

>Wasn't Chrysalis, in fact Chrysalis probably saved her.

"I WILL GIVE HER A BOX OF CHOCOLATES AND SHOVE THEM DOWN HER THROAT!"

>...better?

"CADENCE WAKE UP!"

>She's just love drained, you don't need to-

"EVERYONE GET THE FUCK BACK! I GOT THIS!"

>...Wait, what do you have-

Without waiting, the disguised mare lifted the unconscious body from Shining Armor's back, and, drew her in close and...

'...Mmm...mmm? MMM!? MMMM! MMM! MMM!...Mmm... mmm... mmmmmmmm...'

"MMMAH! Caddy! Caddy, are you okay!? Speak to me!"

'...Did you just kiss me?'

"Yes!"

'...Huh. Why?'

"Shiny said you got love-drained! I had to put it back!"

'...oh shoot! That did happen! Shiny! Sunset is-'

>...

'Oh, you probably already know... thanks, Eighteen!'

"PHEW! Don't scare me like that!"

'Why kissing?'

"It's actually the fastest transporting method for love, even faster than sex!"

'Fascinating! Explain more later, but Shiny, what the heck happened down... Shiny?'

>...

"He said he's had a rough day, he might need a minute."

'Oh, yeah, he does look terribly roughed up! What happened down there, Shiny!? What did she do!?"

>...

"...Might need another minute."

'...Did... did his eyes just spark out?'

"Oh wow, he must've been hit harder than I thought. And he was still carrying you!?"

'Oh, Shiny! You shouldn't hurt yourself for me so much!'

"You know he's going to anyway."

'Oh, I know...'

>...

"...now I'm worried."

'Let's go get Celestia, she'll help.'

"Great idea!"

The mares both ran off at full speed, Cadence 100 percent back to normal.

The moment they were gone, Shining Armor pulled a bucket of water from seemingly nowhere... and dumped it all over his head.

It did nothing.

>...W-why'd she have to look like Cadence when she did that...

On the outside, he couldn't move.

On the inside... he crossed one of his old dreams off from the top of his list.

Twelve year old was drowning in liquid pride.

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>Twilight
"Sunset"
'Dash'
~~~~~

Poke poke

'Sooo.... no heartbeat.'

"Mmmh hmm."

'No sweat, no wounds, no exhaustion.'

"I... guess?"

'Hrmmnn... You know, there's this rrrrreeeally awesome stunt I always wanted to try but couldn't because, uh, I'd go splat. Anyone would. Except...'

>Rainbow, No. I told you, if you ever found a way to pull off your Megaton Rainboom , the resultant friction would generate enough heat to ignite our atmosphere and kill all sentient life on this planet!

'Not if she goes splat first!'

"Cruel."

'So is stomping on pony's livelihoods!'

>...

"..."

'...'

>...need a minute alone?

"I literally can't cry. Tried already. I'll just feel sorry for myself some more, if you don't mind."

'Fiiine... no Megaton Rainboom.'

>Good... although the destructive potential would be-

"Twilight."

>Juuuust thinking out loud! Now say: Aaaaah!

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>Chrysalis
"Celestia"
'???'
~~~~

>Can I just say you have kickass catching skills?

"You may."

>How'd you learn that trick?

"Oh, used to teach in the school for gifted unicorns. Occasionally, one would go for a hug forgetting the horn, so I needed to be quick."

>Impressive!... She giving you trouble?

"She is strangely hard to hold back, yes."

>Huh... Two? Stop, it's not a toy.

'AWWWWWW! But I wanna play ball too!'

>It's not a ball, it's a ball of evil.

'...Ain't ball's o' evil still balls?'

"She has you."

>I admit defeat... don't touch it.

'Awww.'

"...Pfft."

>What?

"Titan Two."

>....Snk.

>"PFFTAHAHAHHAH!"

'What'cha laughin' at?'

>HAH!... Nothing.

'Grownups suck.'

"And thus begins the rebellion stage."

>The what?

"...Oh, guess that whole phase goes differently for you... eesh."

>...Two stop.

'Ah'm not doin' nothin'!'

>...

'...GIMME!'

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>Twilight
„Sunset“
'Rarity'
-Dash-
#Pinkie#
=Fluttershy=
+Applejack+
~Spike~
~~~~~~~~~

'Oh dear me, your mane! Your skin! Simply awful, just how could you let yourself go like that!'

„...Look. Not that I want to appear to be ungrateful or anything, but why are you giving me a bubblebath again?“

'Well! Despite what horrible things that you may or may not have done, you should face your judge and jury looking your best, non?'

~I doubt there is much you can do.~

'Oh, shush, Spikey-Wikey. Just keep your eyes averted, please.'

~Why? It's not like I don't see you like this all the time.~

'Not the point, dear. But I understand why your reasons for being here.'

~Yeah. One wrong move and BANG.~

“...”

~...in the leg, of course.~

“Of course.”

-Besides, Twilight told us aaaaall about you. You were friends with some weird clones of us, right?-

>Not clones, Rainbow. Alternate Universe Yous. Nngghm... I yet have to find a better term for that.

-Don't matter what you call them, what matters is that you should be among familiar faces before they.... errr...-

“Decide to what to do with me.”

-Yeah, that. That sounds way better than Execution.-

+Shinin' ain't gonna execute nopony. What in tarnation gave ya that idea?+

>Exactly! My BBBFF isn't some outlandish tyrant that would behead ponies!

-Eeeeeh, you gotta admit, she did some pretty horrible stuff.-

~And he's been rather short-fused lately. Don't know why, but he looks he wants to cut people.~

>”'-+...+-'”

#Awwww, no need to look all pouty, Shimmerding! If they decide to lob off your head, you just get right back up, pick up your head and stumble around going, 'Grrrrrraaaains!' like in that movie we saw. Return of the Zomponies! #

=I-I didn't like that movie very much.=

~What are you talking about? That flick was AWESOME!~

>Huh. Wouldn't that instantly qualify you as a Dullahan? Gotta check my research notes!

“Er, Dullahan's are usually Golems in form animated armors or souls bound to animated armors.”

>Oh, right! I keep forgetting you studied at the same school as I and are pretty much my predecessor as Celestia's personal student.

“...it's fine. I didn't leave much of a desirable legacy either way. Not one worth remembering.

+Y'all gotta tell me some more 'bout yer time back then, and what happened 'tween yer leavin' Equestria and comin' back. I still can't quite wrap mah head around there being 'nother me out there.+

“She's... They are not like you. They have very similar looks, pasts, preferences and personalities but, I guess, at some point timelines deviated completely and the result is, well... I don't know any of you all that well.”

#Well, then you gotta take your time getting to know these Usses... ussiss... ussin... US! You will have to get to know us all over again from the start! HI, I'm Pinkie Pie!#

“...when did you get into the bath tub.”

>Don't question it, Sunset. Your sanity wouldn't handle it well. Also, I think she knows that already, Pinkie.

#Juuuust making sure.#

=Uh-uhm... excuse me, but I have a question.=

“About...?”

=You... You said your Dreamstone...=

>I was going to ask the same, actually.. What did you mean with 'Dreamstone'?

“Oh... well, it'd be what's stuck in my chest right now.”

'Oh dear me.'

“Don't worry, it doesn't hurt! ...not much does, really.”

>But what was it's purpose? You know that Necromancy is frowned upon in Equestria, Sunset!

“It wasn't what it was designed for. It was meant to be a literal Dreamcatcher. A novelty item that was supposed to allow you to review and store your dreams. I wanted to use it as a tiebreaker when I graduate.”

>Oh, but that's amazing! How did you even make such a thing? Dreams are the realm of Pricness Luna. Meandering about with them would require large amounts of suspended-

+Sorry ta interrupt, Twilite, but ah think Fluttershy wasn't all done yet.+

=I-it's not that important...=

>No, no, no, continue. I am sorry for interrupting.

-Yeah, Fluttershy, out with it. You wouldn't draw everyone's attention like that if it wasn't important to you.-

'Way to make her feel put on the spot, Rainbow Dash.'

=W-well. You said that... she messed with it? That... That everything went wrong when... something about Chaos magic happened.=

“Like I said, it was just a harmless item meant to observe dreams. It was stored in a hidden compartment in the ballroom while I was gone. Turns out, it might have captured a Changelings' dreams. Maybe even Chrysalis' herself. When I peeked into it, I saw millions of them, heard them sing to me, hiss at me...”

'That sounds positively awful. Why would anyone dream of such things?'

~Changeling Queens, Rares. Much as you want to like one of them, doesn't change the greater lot of them were horrible monsters.~

>It's... hard to argue with the facts of the past.

+So what happened then?+

“I don't know! I had everything safely contained. I was in the Tower of Magi, that thing is built to be absolutely magic-proof.”

>I can actually affirm that. It's a shame its in such a desolate state nowadays.

“Amen.”

+Whut now?+

“...right. Faustism and Celestianism. Sorry, nevermind. Well, something weird affected the gem. Some rainbow-colored, swirling, wild magic I couldn't control analyze or contain. It turned the Gem into a spinning,s creaming rocket of death and... well...”

>You died.

“Yes.”

>”'-#=+~.....................~+=#-'”

“The place were I bled out should still look like a slaughterhouse. I doubt anyone bothers cleaning up in there.”

~Holy moly, that's messed up.~

“You're telling ME. I am a walking corpse. I don't even know what keeps me alive right now. Love, I am wagering. So, uhm... thanks for not hating me...”

'Hate is such a strong word. We merely have... our doubts about your intentions right now.'

“I... understand. You really don't know me at all, and then I go and....”

+There, there... don't be lookin' all ready ta cry now. It'll be all fine. With time. And if y work hard and prove yerself ta be better than everypone thinks.+

-Last Chance, though.-

#Yay for Last Chances!#

~I hate to be THAT guy, but let me clarify something just so we are on the same level. Chaos Magic came out of NOWHERE, for no reason you can reproduce, and was the cause for all of this even beginning?~

“Pretty much.”

Six pairs of eyes turned to the only mare who could possibly make sense of this information, and they found a deeply frowning, slightly unsettled looking Fluttershy looking back at them.

=You... you don't have any proof for your claims, do you? This could all be fabrication.

“...no. Nothing. Except for that thing that now substitutes as my heart.”

>Well, once I found a way to safely extract or analyze it without getting you killed, I can answer the question whether it was touched by Chaos or not. Chaos leaves a stain on anything it touches that is really hard to wipe off, so there should at least be SOME residue.

-IF she isn't lying about it to make herself less guilty.-

+Hardly a nice thing ta imply, Dash.+

'But a well-founded suspicion. ...Sorry, dear.'

“I... understand. You have nothing but my words, and it's not much to rely on right now.”

~Damn right you are unreliable.~

#Uuuuuuuuh.. and what if it turns out to be Chaos, Twilight?#

>Iiiiii.... can only think of two prime candidates for mucking around with Chaos Magic at the time that happened.

-And I will kick the ass of anyone who implies it was Fluttershy.-

'Does that mean...?'

~Yeah, that would mean....~

Twilight sighed into the tense silence of the room.

>If what Sunset says is true and we can prove it... Discord has a lot to answer for.

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>Chrysalis
„42“
~~~~~~~~

Somewhere, in the rebuilt Crystal Castle, Chrysalis sat before the orb resting on a table, staring at it like a cat would stare at a mouse while her most loyal soldier was a t her side, fidgeting nervously.

(>I don't need it.)

(>I don't need it.)

(>I DEFINITIVELY don't need it.)

(>I don't need IT.)

(>I don't NEED it.)

(>I DON'T need it.)

>...

„...“

For a brief moment, an imaginary newspaper flashed by Chrysalis' inner eyes.

~TITAN QUEEN CHRYSALIS CONQUERS ALL OF EQUESTRIA. ALL HAIL OUR NEW OVERLORDS!~

>...

„...“

And then, the small text below it.

~Queen Chrysalis' ass officially declared to be the greatest, say Princes Shining Armor and Changeling 56! Last holder of the title, Queen Chitania, fled the country in tears.~

>I NEEEEEEEEEEEEEED IT!

„MAJESTY, NO!“

The ensuing fight was short and brutal.

Afterwards, 42 apologized profusely for any bruises her Queen sustained. Chrysalis wasn't unable to comment, as her mouth was swollen shut.

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"Of all those we chose to give the orb to, it had to be-"

>GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME

"-Are you sure she should-"

>POWER POWER POWER POWER POWER POWER POWER POWER POWER POWER

"-I get that I was not in my right mind, and overall being stupid, but I still feel I was correct in my assumptions, just a little bit-"

>MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE

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"....gad dang it."

>Wha-

~~~~~~~~~minutes later, in a cell~~~~~~~~~~~


>SERIOUSLY!?

"Nope. We ain't doin' this again. Sorry, but iffin' we gotta pick between goin' through that whole dance number again or lockin' you up? Guess what... welcome to yer' new home, Thirty Two!"

>...Is it really that big a deal.

"Every fuckin' time someone tries that shit with her, shit goes horribly wrong, so yes, it is a big deal. Bye!"

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>Chrysalis
"Celestia"
~~~~~~~~~

"Well, if nothing else, I can't say you're not being thorough."

For most, the vault alone would have been enough. Chrysalis, on the other hand, seemed to think she needed to reinforce every wall, entrance, corner and even the dust bunnies in the room before she erected her pillar that she placed the orb upon.

From there, she had needed a bit of a bump, but surprisingly Celestia was quite, bluntly put, charged. With that number, she was able to do as she had wished before, and began weaving layer upon layer atop the orb, like a spider weaving a ball of silk over a captured prey.

From the hungry look in her eyes, the comparison certainly seemed apt.

"Try not to drool, that is a slipping hazard."

>If you had any idea what was in this thing-

"A whole lot of powers, I assumed. Though, I admit, I don't see the purpose. You're already stronger than I am most days, and I'm rather higher tier, if I can be so prideful. What, exactly, is in there that you need?"

>...Titan Magic?

"Would being able to grow tall really avail you in your day to day life most days? You already have enough firepower to match one, apparently."

>Yeah, but slam dunks in hoofball games are so much more satisfying when you're supersized.

"Please be serious."

>Never!

With a swift swing of her hoof, she smacked the Queen right in the back of her head.

>HAH! Now who's being childish.

"Me. Watch."

Again, she swung.

>Will you stop? This is specific weaving to make sure nobody can access this thing without my say so.

"Rather hypocritical of you, considering Sunset didn't want you to access it."

>Would you have preferred she was literally merged with Variolus?

"Clearly not, I merely am pointing out the disparity of you blocking off this to all but yourself and your previous actions. You can be rather one way at times."

>S'cuse me for not wanting just anyone to touch an artifact that contains the mind of a changeling Queen. Literally, her whole mind.

"...hrm."

>What?

"Wouldn't that mean if we stuck that thing in a machine, that machine would become Variolus?"

>...Huh... but it's not her soul.

"How would we be able to tell that? It's literally her from the ground up, right?"

>....huuuuuhhhhh... would... would it have a soul? I mean, souls exist now, we can confirm it, Hivemind and all that... speaking of-

"Yes yes yes, religion is right and so on and so forth, you realize that doesn't mean-"

>Totally right.

"...Sigh. But I do suppose we should leave the philosophy for later, I am making this about you."

>Well, I'm locking it off so that nobody else gets possessed by a crazy changeling.

"Including yourself?"

>I'm the only one with the mind magics capable of defeating it.

"I'm sure others could manage if you trained them."

>HAH! Match ME? HAH!

"As I thought... but Chrysalis, I am worried. You are acting rather... odd with that thing."

>I'm just excited.

"As was my former student, and now she has a stone cold heart, literally."

>I'm smarter than that.

"Funny, I'm sure she thought the same thing."

>...You're not suggesting I let Sunset near it, are you?

"Her? Oh no, no no no no no, lord no and I'll even be vulgar for a moment and slip in a fuck no. Not her. But, perhaps... me?"

She paused in her weaving, looking back with a curious eye.

>I thought you said you didn't want to risk it.

"And I still do not, I'd rather you handle it for the most part. However, there is certainly some benefit to having more than one single eye on it, no? Even if I do not directly contribute, at least it would be more than just you."

>You worried about me?

"Perhaps. Perhaps I just don't want you to be alone with a changeling Queen's mind. At least if I too can look at it, I can hold and you can brainpunch if she tries anything."

>...

"...I just don't want you to think you have to do this alone. She was the one who was alone in the end, Chrysalis, she was the empty one... you're not."

>...Hrm.


With a grunt, she gestured towards her still exposed back.

When Celestia remained, unsure, she growled a bit in impatience.

>You want in or not?

Tentatively, still very unsure, she reached out, and just lightly touched her.

Like she had been made of lava, her hoof was like it was on fire. She just barely held on, just barely, until it abruptly and suddenly stopped.

>...there.

She didn't elaborate, shuffling away from the now dull and dormant orb.

"There?"

>Poke it and you can access it.

"Alone?"

>...Would be pretty hypocritical of me, right?

She gave little more than a smile and a shrug, sufficient to answer, she supposed.

>Good. Now... go talk to Shiny.

"Shouldn't you see him? You seem to need a charge more than I do."

>Nah, I'll go ask Two for a boost, it's fine. He needs you to talk to him.

"...Oh?"

She paused as she walked away, looking back with an irritated glare.

>You really going to make me say it?

"I'm afraid I don't know what you mean. Why can't you just talk to him?"

>...He needs talk from a... you know. Official pony stuff, I don't give a shit about that stuff. He just needs to talk.

"You're sure?"

>...Guess his creepy reading powers rubbed off or something. I can't help with this.

"I... I'm not sure I can. I feel... compromised, somewhat."

>...You can. Just go talk to him.

She left with that. Soon after, Celestia let out a cold, slow breath.

"...Queen Chrysalis asking me to give a pep talk to Shining Armor... what a weird world."

She glanced back to that orb, that thing that had caused so much trouble.

Experimentally, slowly, she reached out, and watched as it reacted to her presence, careful not to let herself or any magic touch her.

A single slit opened up slowly, allowing her to see into the swirling green glow inside, looking like..

"...REALLY!? You made it look like a giant creepy eye!? You could have put any pattern you wanted in there, and you pick the slit of a giant evil eye!?... Are you TWELVE!?"

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>SA
"Cadence"
'Eighteen'
~~~

>So, that's pretty much what happened.

His wife and Eighteen had returned shortly after they had left, having not found Celestia, but hearing the splash of that water he had poured on himself.

Water he now knew was from the mop his workers used to polish the floor, and was full of... well, he didn't quite want to know that.

But a quick cleaning bubble had fixed that, a quick rundown had brought both Eighteen and Cadence up to speed. Well, 'quick' was possibly the wrong word. 'Needlessly drawn out' was a better one.

But it was necessary to give all of the details, every one, so that when he finally asked what he was going to, Cadence could make an informed, smart decision about what was going to happen next.

She had to know, everything, so that finally she could...

>So... what do you want us to do with her?

"...I don't know."

...be surprisingly unhelpful.

>Well, do you think we should lock her up for assaulting you?

"I mean, that was bad, but... I don't know."

She shuffled uncomfortably, keeping her quiet aside from that, not a sound.

And he was left out to dry.

'Well, it would be nice if we had a non-changeling face to put with the disaster. And she did cause it, albeit accidentally.'

"That's true."

It was obvious Eighteen had been hoping for a little more than that, but likewise she too was left with but a few words, and nothing else.

>So, do you think we should lock her up for that? As a sign we've found the root of the problem, and won't let it happen again?

"...I don't know."

If Cadence was a lifesaver and Shining Armor in the ocean, he would have drowned by now.

'On the other hoof, if we wanted to, we could easily put the blame on Variolus, and only Variolus, and say we've dealt with her permanently. A changeling saved the Empire, so it's not like we're going to be more feared than we were already, if anything it might help to differentiate us from her type.'

"I guess either way works..."

>...Cadence?

He drew in close, gently tilting her chin until she looked him in the eye.

>Honey, she did attack you when you were trying to help her, and then she might've... I'll understand if you want her to pay for that.

"...You can decide, I missed all the important stuff. You heard her talk, right? You'll know if she's telling the truth, or if we need to.. make sure Applejack and Celestia don't mess up again. You decide."

It felt almost... cold when she got up, and shuffled towards their bedroom door.

"I'm going to go make sure Two is okay. You just... make a choice, I'll go with it. Love you."

And then she was gone.

Just... gone.

Gone after dropping the weight of the world on his shoulders.

'...Shining?'

She moved next to him, rubbing his shoulder gently while he remained there, stock and numb.

'Shining, you know she's not good at punishing others, she's too... well, nice. It's good that she's nice! You need nice sometimes, but maybe this time... you need to be more Soldier, less Prince of Love. She did... a lot of damage with this. And, worse, this isn't the first time she's gone crazy with power. I don't want to risk this ever happening again... but it's up to you, in the end. We have an out if you need it, we have the reasoning to bring her in if you want it, it's up to you... but I'll agree with whatever you want to do.'

>...What would you do?

She paused for a second, mulling it over, thinking about it, really, strongly and thoroughly...

'...Lock her up and only let her out to polish every single building in the Empire one by one by hoof, and make sure she was never let near anything even remotely magical again. She doesn't deserve to die, obviously... but that doesn't mean she deserves a chance to make our lives hell again. She wanted us changelings to be controlled, put down and reduced, and I don't know if I want to give her the chance to change or not. Maybe she'll change... but eventually, not now.'

He turned on her, honestly shocked at how strangely strong she spoke, how determined, yet still so simple and straightforwards it was.

'...But don't take my advice on it, I just look like Cadence and sign her name on stuff. It's up to you.'

He went silent after that, deathly silent.

Sensing she wasn't going to get anymore out of him, she rose to her hooves, and nodded.

'I'll go make sure the dungeon gets repaired, paperwork never ends eh? You... you can do this, Shiny, just... be yourself, and it'll work out. It always does.'

Cautiously, almost platonically, she kissed him on the cheek, and made her way out.

Leaving Shining Armor alone again, with nothing but an empty bedroom, and his thoughts.

>...You know, I bet carrot farmers never have to put up with this. When's the last time a carrot turned giant and then wrecked the farm, but had some kind of misguided judgement about it the whole time?

He leaned back, letting the weight of the world press down on him even more.

>...I miss it when my biggest worry was getting pretty magical wings and Chrysalis messing up my paperwork with her ass.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 >Chrysalis
"Mane-Iac"
~~~

>HAH! Maney! You would not believe what just happened, I'm not kidding when I say... Maney?

"..."

>...Maney? What's up?

".."

>Talk to me Maney.

"...Y-you had... you had a superhero rumble..."

>Uh oh.

"And... and you..."

>How did you possibly-

"AND YOU DIDN'T INVITE MEEEEEHEHEHEHEEEEEEE!? I THOUGHT WE WERE FRRREIIIIIEEEENNNNDDDSSSSS! UH BUUUUUUHHHHHHH!"

>Maney come back!

"UHHHHHHHHHUHUHUHUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhh....."

>...crud... thank the hivemind she resets this crap every week...

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>SA
"Celestia"
~~~~

Shining Armor was thinking.

Thinking about a lot of things, thinking about a certain few things, but all the same, he was thinking.

'You can decide, I missed all the important stuff'. That's what she said, all she said, and then she was gone. Eighteen had told him how she felt, how she would have handled it, and then she too was gone. Both said they would go with whatever way he decided… but he just couldn’t pick a direction. So, here he was, in his private bedroom, trying to relax and get his wits back.

It wasn't helping.

He just kept... thinking about it. About what he had to do, and who he had to be.

The solider, the prince, or something else.

'You can decide'. That's what she had said.

He'd like to take it as a sign she trusted him implicitly. That she believed in his judgment on this matter. Thanks to the rundown, they at least knew that she wasn't the one who was in control when their city was attacked. They had the real culprit for that locked up in a tiny orb, and she would never escape.

But she had done other things.

Things that made him quite... angry.

It was still her fault, of course it was her fault. She had caused this, albeit unintentionally, but all the same there needed to be some kind of response. He had to send a message this wasn't going to be tolerated. The soldier in him needed to discipline her, the prince in him needed to tell his people they were, and would stay, safe.

A soldier was one who was responsible for all their actions. If they tested a spear wrong and someone was hurt, that soldier was stripped of their ranks and punished just as harshly as if they had stabbed them deliberately.

A prince was one who tolerated no attacks on his people or his nation. Strength in the face of adversity and a clear sign that any who brought war to his doorstep was to be brought low, and kept low, so they may never rise to threaten innocents again.

But a soldier knows when punishments do not fit the crime. Justice and vengeance were to be separate at all times.

A prince knows mercy, and that sometimes it is better to make an ally then imprison an enemy. That it is better to lift that hoof outstretched then place them in shackles.

That’s what a soldier was, that’s what a prince was.

But, on the other hoof...

"Are you alright?"

He hadn't even heard her come in. Funny, you'd think a giant white alicorn would be the most obvious thing in the world, but he was so lost his own thoughts he hadn't even noticed.

>Just tired.

She nodded, and without another word took a seat next to him on the bed. They sat there in utter silence, not a sound passed between them, or with them.

>...I get why she did it, you know.

She didn't answer him, not with a word, not with a sound. She just waited, and listened.

>When someone gets in your head like that... you don't think straight, not right away. It's different when they're in there, and then you wake up. You know what you did, you know why you did it, but… you just don’t see it as you. I get why... but...

"But what?"

Not accusatory, not prodding, just a simple question.

>She was trying to help her. After all that, she was trying to help her, she didn't even… right as her back was turned... after she wrecked the city no less! She tries to help her, acts like the wonderful mare she is, and then she just turns around and has the nerve too…

He had to take a breath, a calming, slowing breath to stop himself before he got too riled up.

>There’s stuff you do because they’re in your head… and then there’s stuff you do just because you want something, and someone is in your way, and I have no idea which one she was right then, or before this all happened. How can I just forgive when you have something inside of you that would let you be so… horrible, to someone like her. I don’t even know if she deserved what little Cadence gave her.

She stayed silent, utterly silent, just letting him speak, giving him an ear, nothing more.

>...I shouldn't be telling you this. It's supposed to be an Empire matter.

"We both know I’m not here as a princess, Shining, and you need to say it out loud.”

She was right. Like always, she was right.

"What did Cadence say?"

>She just said I could decide, since she missed all the important stuff.

Something flickered behind Celestia's eyes, something that he just couldn't catch in time before it was gone.

Something worrying.

"I see... well, she doesn't sound too upset."

>She’s… she’s a very loving mare, Celestia. She’ll hold a grudge, oh, she’ll hold a grudge, but sometimes she feels like she just doesn’t understand all of it, and just doesn’t think about it too much. I think she’s under the impression she just doesn’t understand… or doesn’t want to understand. She’s trusting in me to make the right choice, and doesn’t want to steer me wrong.

“I see… what about Eighteen?”

>What else? She wants her to pay for what she did, for wrecking the Empire and hurting me and Cadence. She doesn’t want to let her off… I don’t blame her.

He realized, shortly into a worrying silence, exactly what he had said.

>She just wants her locked up, kept away from any magical anything… and she has to polish the city by hoof.

He could practically taste the relief on her.

“Curious, yet not unreasonable a punishment. She misused magical science, she should not be allowed near it. She wrecked the city, she has to make it shine again. I understand the reasoning.”

>Do you think it’s too harsh?

“That’s not for me to decide, this is the matter of the Empire. You will not defer to me, as you said.”

He winced, feeling a little uncomfortable at how… rough he had been back then. Official, understandable, but rough.

>Sorry for... back then.

“Shining, if I were bothered by you actually acting like a ruler in a time like that and making a wise and understandable choice, I would ask you to toss me out on my ass and make me walk home.”

>On your ass? Do you want me to cause a seven point O earthquake? I just finished putting this place back together.

“Oh please, I’m a five at best.”

>The world at large disagrees.

He fell back, the light, familiar banter enough to relax him just a bit… but not enough. He would need a lot more than that to come down from this.

>…What would you do?

“Out of the risk of compromising your decision, I must decline to answer that.”

>Celly, come off it. What would you do?

“Shining… I’m being serious.”

He cracked open a single eye to her worried, uncertain face, watching as she shifted uncomfortably with every passing second.

“ …There is no way I could ever keep my emotions out of this. I admit that, freely. I feel like I messed this up twice in a row with her. Less than a week the second go round, at that!... or perhaps I made a mistake giving her the first chance at all, and am just so blind I could never see what she was truly capable of. I’m… I’m just here to listen, because if I talk for her, I’ll… I’ll make a mistake again. I’ll speak with a voice that has been nothing but a failure with her. You, and only you it seems, need to make this choice. Not me, not Applejack, not Twilight, not Chrysalis, you. We’re different viewpoints, nothing more. Your choice, what you wish, is all that matters, and I would never fight you no matter what I felt.”

He reached up. Reached up with his long, thick foreleg, and he hooked it around her shoulders. Before she could protest, she was gently shifted close next to him, and found her chin resting atop his head, a mere inch from his horn.

>…I’m not going to tell you it isn’t your fault, or it couldn’t have been avoided, or anything like that. You don’t want to hear that.

She went just a bit limp, feeling… strangely empty.

“Then what do I want to hear?”

>…This doesn’t change anything. I don’t think any less of you, I still believe in you, and you’re still a good princess, even if you mess up sometimes.

That emptiness didn’t last very long.

“I’m here to help you.”

>You know, I think this did.

“Oh? So.. you've decided?”

>…Maybe.

“...”

>Aren’t you going to ask me what it is?

That heavy silence returned. But this time, it felt much less suffocating, more… comforting.

“Do you believe in what you’re about to do?”

>I think it’s what’s best for everyone. That’s all.

“Then… No, I don’t think I will. I’m not going to lie to you, whatever choice you make, there will be consequences. Someone might think less of you, someone might hate you, someone might never forgive you, a country may see you as soft, they may see you as a tyrant, they may see you as pathetic, or they may see you as worryingly harsh. No matter what choice you make, there is a downside, a consequence. Are you sure, right now, that your choice is truly the best?”

>…No, I’m not sure. But… it’s what I feel will work.

She sighed, content.

“I cannot promise you it will be the right one, I cannot promise you it will work out. The best of intentions have led to the worst of nightmares, this whole mess is proof of that… but I believe in you. It takes much, much more than a combination set wings and horn to rule, Shining Armor… and I believe in you. Whatever you choose, harsh or kind… I’ll not think any less of you… and I’ll believe in you.”

Two pairs of white forelegs wrapped around two white frames, and held on. Just for a moment. Just one.

Not prince or princess, guard or guarded, nothing like that.

Just a moment.

Just them.

“Shining Armor?”

>Yes?

“…you need to go be a prince now…. or a solider, whichever you choose.”

>…No.

“No?”

>No… think I need to…

He separated himself from her. The warm body left his own, but he did not feel cold.

>Think I need to just go… be Shining Armor. Hopefully, that’ll be enough for now.

A few glints of moisture dotted the very edges of her eyes, shimmering just a bit as she nodded her head.

Without waiting for any response, he straightened his uniform, ran a hoof through that messy mane, and stepped to the door. Only pausing when he heard her whisper, to herself more than him.

“I have no doubts it will be. You’re… more than you know.”

He gave her a weary, tired smile, and finished walking out, only calling back one last time.

>Learned from the best.

For that brief time, she was alone.

“…Yes, I suppose I did too.”

She stood, straightening her own regalia, and letting out a stern, determined breath.

“I learned… you don’t give up, and you keep fighting, even when you fail.”

With a flourish of her ever flowing hair, Celestia stepped out into the glowing, glimmering hallway.

There was a chance she would get one more shot at this.

She was going to make it count.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Non-Canon
>Pinkie
"Luna"
~~~~~
>Welcome to Late Night /pa/ with your host Pinkie Pie! It's during this time that content does matter, but Heart's Warming Day will be late! Now for our main guest...PRINCESS LUNA!!!

"What is it this time?"

>Hee hee.

"...is something humorous to you?"

>Oh no just...contemplating how I probably don't have to do fanservice next time.

"...Just do your routine and get it over with."

>Okay!
Turns on a chocolate fountain. Liquid smooth chocolate pours out of it's top.
>...how's your diet?

"It's...going well. We have been quite restraint lately."

>Oh really? Wouldn't you like to reward yourself a bit? What's a little indulgence once in a while?

"N-no we must remain strong."

Pinkie leans in and lets some chocolate drip into her mouth.
>Mmmmm this is sooo good. If only I could share it with somepony. Somepony who deserves it. Somepony who needs it.

"It's...not going to happen. Thou can not tempt me."

>That's our show for now! Luna will have to remember not eat chocolates before going to bed.
Luna wakes up surrounded by chocolate wrappers.

"...NOOOOOOOO!!!!"

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

>42
"Cadence
~~~

"...Oh dear."

>What?

"You're doing it again."

>I have no idea what you're talking about.

"Forty Two? You're doing the mopey thing again. Is this about not being able to defend Chrysalis again? Because at some point you have to stop with-"

>Uh... no. It's not that.

"..."

>...

"..."

>... I punched Spike through the floor.

"...I see..."

>And I don't feel bad about it, which is making me feel bad, because I feel like I should feel bad about punching him into the floor, but I don't, which makes me think I might be...

"...Did you have a good reason?"

>He was pointing a gun at Chrysalis.

"Oh... I see... that sounds like a reason to punch him, actually."

>...Really?

"Yes, but you should go talk to him anyway."

>I'm worried he's mad at me.

"He probably is, but you need to talk to him."

>...It might be better if I talked to him later.

"Forty Two? Now, before it gets worse. Do I have to order you?"

>...damn.

"Not even gonna try that whole "I don't take orders from you" thing?"

>No...

"Good girl. Off you go.

>Rassafrassa... friggencutepony.

"What was that?"

>NOTHING! GOING!... BYE!

ZOOM!

"...Huh, she's right, I AM cute!"

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 >Spike
"SSpoon"
'DT'
{PJ}
~~~~
Silver Spoon, DT, and PJ near the balcony drinking soda when Spike enters.
>Oh boy, it's been a long day. Mind if I join?

"Still plenty of room."

Spike opens up a soda and takes a sip.
>...yep.

"yip"

'Eeeyup.'

{Mmmhm}

>Great to see you around PJ. I didn't expect all of you to be back in the ballroom.

{Mhmmehmgmh mfphmamgma. Mhmemghm Mmghpmgm mph.}

>Cool.
Takes another sip.

"Heart's Warming Day is coming. We should do something."

>What does everypony have in mind?

'Secret Gifter. Want in? I'm trying to get the others too.'

>Sure why not?

'...well?'

>Well what?

'I know you want to do the thing. PJ hasn't heard it yet, so go on.'

Spike makes a little mischievous smile.
>Hey PJ...

{Mmhmm?}

>...touch my balls.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________