Part 3
 
>Careful Anon, watch where you step.
>Your hoof suddenly slips, and you start tumbling down.
>Maybe this wasn’t a bright idea.
>You could have just teleport-
>Right, hindsight.
>You just wish you co-
>You glance at your horn.
>Oh right, unicorn.
>You give in a little focus, and you teleport away.
 
>Cadance was getting tired, she knew it.
>But she had to go on; she had to get out of here.
>The shine was rattling now.
>Either there is a cave in-
>Cadance ran faster, not caring for her wounds.
>She could rest when she’s dead.
 
>You tug on the locket, but it is stuck tight.
>Damn these jagged rocks.
>The reflection is going off everywhere, as you struggle against the terrain.
>Bet you’re signaling everypony out there.
 
>Shining gasped, as he slowly fell to the soft mattress.
>The sensation was… indescribable.
>The way the soft coat brushed his tip was-
>Heavenly.
>He looked over to his fiancée, who lay right on top of him.
>She purred, as she slowly took him in.
>Shining moaned, but he stopped the mare.
>”D-don’t you think-“
>Cadance moves up and down, eliciting a squeak from the stallion.
>”W-w-we should stop?”
>”Only after two rounds?”
>Cadance coos, and nuzzles to his neck.
>Shining is at a loss of words.
 
>You are at a loss of words.
>This is absolute bullshit.
>A part of you want to incinerate the trinket and go fuck a mare, but the other side is preventing it.
>It’s saying you should go for stallions.
>But strange thoughts aside, you are now biting onto the locket.
>You’re tearing this off, even if it means your death.
 
>Cadance was getting closer to the light, as it shivered faster.
>Maybe it was responding to her proximity?
>Possible.
>But what if it was a trap for her?
>At this point, she didn’t care.
>This ‘Chrysalis’ could bite her.
 
>Shining gasped, as Cadance slowly nibbled on his neck.
>Then she took him entirely with her mouth, biting onto him.
>”Careful there, honey…”
>And then, he felt a sting down in the spot.
>He gasped and tried to pull away, but Cadance held on.
>”Uh, Cadance?”
>The mare turned her pupils to him, before her form slowly melted away.
>Shining could only scream as he faced the changeling.
>This bug creature was chewing into his neck.
>Shining could feel the warmth in his body leave.
>He tried to teleport away, but he couldn’t move.
>His magic was being drained away.
>Shining struggled, but the changeling held him in his place.
>It pulled away, and licked its reddened fangs.
>”Oh my, aren’t you delicious, my love?”
>It hissed.
>Before he could scream again, the changeling plunged once more to his wound, chewing.
>Shining squirmed, as his limbs fell limp.
>His mouth was agape in an endless scream, but no sound came.
>Chrysalis pulled away again, noticing his moving eyes.
>”Good, you are still alive. I only wanted a taste of your love, but now-“
>She leaned closer.
>”I need to have it all.”
>Chrysalis started to lick the wound, causing the stallion to whimper in pain.
>She laughed at his crying form, and continued to feast.
>Shining held onto his sanity, and reared his legs.
>Just one shot…
>In one single stroke of strength, Shining pushed Chrysalis off, and kicked her off the bed.
>Clutching his wound, he rolled off the bed, and crawled away to his door.
>While the changeling was still fazed, as the captain of the guards kicked the door open.
>And then, he screamed again.
>The three guards by his door were chopped to pieces, limb from limb, and joint from joint.
>He saw the pale expression on their severed heads.
>Lesser changelings, in tens, were sucking out every pinch of the guards’ magic and emotion.
>They gorged on the flesh, as they emptied it of all possible auras.
>Then they turned their heads to Shining.
>They smiled, and slowly made their way to him, fangs bared.
>He could not move anymore, he was too weak.
>They all jumped at once.
>Every corner of his body was bitten, and Shining finally found strength to scream.
>Chrysalis appeared behind him, and bit her spot again.
>She then lifted him with the bite, and gave a powerful flick.
>His head snapped to an odd angle, and he was quiet.
 
>You were feeling the locket coming loose.
>You gave one last pull-
>And with some rocks broken, it comes off.
>Following your gained momentum, you fall over backwards.
>You quickly realize your mistake, and you scream.
>Unfortunately to your terrible scream, the ground was just below you.
>Your landing was quite soft, actually.
>”Ow!” You hear a voice, as you hit the ground.
>That is no ground.
>You roll away, to go face to face with-
>Cadance.
>Fate conspires against you, Anon.
>She shakes her head, and regains her composure.
>She looks to you, as the blur in her vision disappears.
>”Shines?”
>She giggles, before going in for a hug.
>You back away, and stare at her with disgust.
>”W-what’s wrong?”
>You look over her, trying to summon up all of your anger.
>But-
>You just can’t.
>You still loved her.
>And she looked… Different.
>Her mane was a mess; she had bruises here and there.
>Her pink coat was stained with blood and dirt.
”Cadance, how the hell did you get here?”
>”What do you mean? I was trapped in the cave since days ago!”
>You pause.
“What?”
>”Yeah, I was kidnapped by some bugs!”
>Oh wow, that PERFECTLY makes sense.
>”Wasn’t I missed since our fight last time?”
>What is this mare going on about; she was there the entire time.
“Really, am I going to be a minotaur now?”
>Cadance looks to you with annoyance, before taking a step closer.
>As she tries to rebut your statement, she steps on something.
>A metallic click to her own shoes is enough to get her attention.
>She brings it up, examining your locket.
“No, give me that!”
>You take a few steps forward, but Cadance stops you with a hoof to the chest.
>She smiles, and starts looking at the enchanted trinket.
>Her magic prods it here and there, until she clicks something.
>It starts to glow, until the golden aura is almost blinding.
>You close your eyes, and protect it with a raised hoof.
 
>When you open your eyes again, you’re not looking at a hoof.
>A hand.
>Your old hand.
>It’s also covering the sun light, the warm sun.
>Was it always this warm?
>You feel a certain weight on your shoulder, and you turn to see Cadance.
>You’re resting under your old tree, back in the park.
>You can see Twilight in the distance playing around with her magic.
>You sigh.
>Not a disappointed one nor a sad one, but a content, happy sigh.
>You then rest your head on hers, and close your eyes.
 
>Cadance saw the scene through her own eyes, the park, Twilight…
>And you.
>And then, remembered.
>She remembered why your song was so familiar.
>She remembered why your smile curled that way.
>She recalled everything.
>Scenes after scenes rushed past her mind in an instant.
>She staggered, and shook her head.
>She seemed fazed for a second, and then she looked at you.
>You stood there, missing the warmth.
>Cadance slowly neared you; glancing you back and forth- as if she was making sure you were there.
>You stand there, wondering what was going through this mare’s head.
>She then pauses, and locks eye with you.
>You smile sheepishly, as she leans closer.
>Her movement is twitchy; she shoots back once in a while.
>She finally brings her lips to yours, and you accept.
>Your eyes automatically close, as you begin to taste her.
>The kiss holds for a while, before Cadance pulls back, her eyes still closed.
>She then smiles, and jumps to you.
>”Anon!”
>You smile and receive her, as she holds you tight.
>”I-I thought you were dead!”
>You can hear her sniffle.
>You pat her back, and nuzzle on her cheek.
>You can feel her tears drop on you.
>”Ho-how did you become a pony?”
“Celestia.”
>”Celestia? She really is kind.”
“That she is, Cadance, that she is.”
>You pull her for another kiss.
 
>Celestia paces worriedly to Shining’s room, ever since Anon’s disappearance.
>If something happened between them…
>She takes the turn to the captain’s quarters, until a certain smell reaches her.
>It is a piercing, metallic smell.
>She continues her path, lighting the darkened torches.
>She screams at the sight.
>Three guards, cut to tiny bits- all over the floor.
>Guards rush in immediately, and them they see the horror as well.
>Celestia, in her shock, immediately incinerates the gore.
>The smell of burnt flesh stings her nose.
>A guard passes out.
>Celestia slowly moves towards the captain’s room.
>She orders the guards to stand guard.
>She opens it-
>Shining’s pale face stares at her, frozen forever.
>His body had bite marks everywhere, and his blood filled the room.
>His head was slightly chewed, and it was bent to an awkward angle.
>The room was a mess, and the windows were shattered.
>No sign of the offender.
>Celestia exits, and closes the door behind her.
>She could not have the public know about this.
>”Sergeant.” She turns to a guard.
>He salutes.
>”Find me Shines, now.”
>She then realizes one thing-
>Where was Cadance?
>”And Princess Mi Amore, princess?”
>”Her too.”
>Celestia let out a desperate sigh, and fought off the incoming headache.
>She was going to destroy that room.
 
“Wait, what about Shining?”
>You say, holding her back.
>”What about him, Anon? I always wondered why I loved Shining so much, and well…”
>She starts drawing circles on the dirt.
>”He reminded me of you.”
>You freeze.
>”Everything I loved about him was from you, Anon- he was just too similar to you, and in my mind, he was –well- you.”
“Then what will you do about him?”
>”I-“
>”Princess!” You hear another voice.
>A Pegasus guard lands next to you, and salutes the two of you.
>”Princess Celestia asked me to find the two of you.”
>You grunt.
“Could you get us a carriage? The princess is badly hurt.”
>He nods.
>”And the medic?”
>You flash your horn.
“I think I got it.”
>Good thing you had your healing classes back then.
>And they said it was girly and useless.
>You watch as you magic slowly restores Cadance to her old form, her coat regaining color.
>You watch as her bruises disappear, from her snout, down to her flank.
>A hoof bats your nose.
>”Are you checking me out, Anon?”
>You can feel you face getting redder.
>Cadance giggles again.
>You loved that laugh.
>You lean onto her, and she does the same.
>Holy shit, this felt good.
 
>Holy shit, this was bad.
>You look over Shining’s dead body, torn apart as it is.
>Cadance immediately looks away, and she cries into your shoulder.
>You were staring down your dead brother, killed in a gruesome and painful way.
>But… You can’t find any care for him.
>Not even a tear.
>He was the one who got you killed.
>Cadance’s cries were more heart breaking to you.
“Well, what will happen now?”
>Celestia shakes her head.
>”I- I don’t know, Anonymous, this entire week was a disaster.”
>”W-what killed him?” Cadance chimes in.
>”We’re not sure, but it drained him of all magic and emotions.
“And his body?”
>”It is working fine, actually. The meds say his blood is sufficient, and his organs are in place.” A guard answers you.
>”As if something took away his very soul…”
“What will happen to me?”
>Celestia shakes her head again.
>”I do not know, and with his death, there will be rumors again- about you killing him, probably.”
>”B-but Anon wouldn’t! He would never!”
>”And they would just think you are love-struck, Cadenza.”
>”What if you talked to them? They would surely listen to you!”
>Celestia sighs.
>”But the bad word is already there, Cadance- Anon will never recover.”
>”What if he was a different pony?”
>”Then they would assume Shines ran away, under my watch.”
>”So we’re going to lie for the sake of the public not being able to handle the truth?”
>You lay a comforting hoof on Cadance.
>She shrugs it off, and faces Celestia.
 
“So, do I have to go away now?”
>”Give me a night, Anonymous, I’ll handle it then.”
“Alright, good night, Princess.”
>You wave her away, as you join Cadance.
>”Shining… I can’t believe he’s dead…”
>You pull her close.
“I’m sorry, Cadance. But we can’t change what happened.”
>”What about you?”
“What about me?”
>”If auntie is right, you’ll have to go! I can’t lose you too, I already lost Shining!”
>She sobs into your chest, as you run your hoof through her mane, trying to calm her down.
“Celestia will have a plan, I promise you. But Cadance?”
>”Yeah?”
“Will you risk everything for me? For an idiot?”
>”Don’t say that.”
>She kisses you.
>”You may be an idiot, but you’re my idiot.”
>With that, she smiles a little.
>You smile back, and led her to her room.
 
>”Anonymous, I do have a plan-“
“Do it.”
>”Even if it brings back Shining?”
“For everyone’s sake, we must do what is needed. Do it, princess.”
>”You say it as if it is a bad thing, Anonymous.”
>You blink.
“It’s not?”
>There is her smile again.
 
>”Are you sure this is a good idea?” He asks.
>”What choice do you have? You have to see them sooner or later.”
>”And now that I look like this-“
>”You’ll be fine- Shiny.”
>He frowns at the word.
>She opens the door, and the two head in.
>”Cadance!” The little filly shouts, as she runs to her open hoof.
>The two embrace, and Cadance lets Twilight go.
>”My, my, it’s been forever since the two of you visited, Cadance!” Mrs. Sparkle chimes in, as Mr. Sparkle prepares the dinner.
>Mrs. Sparkle looks over to her son, a strapping young stallion.
>His well-built body, his waving blue mane- and it looks like he got taller in the training.
>She was proud of him, he was a model citizen.
>A captain, no less.
>He reminded her of another pony, but she couldn’t quite place her hoof on it.
>”Shining, how is the training?”
>He smiles.
>”Bet it’s going good, eh, kiddo?” Dad comes in, holding his signature salad bowl.
>He lets out a laugh, and looks to Cadance.
>He must really love her.
>She glances back.
>Too bad he called off the wedding; both sides thought they needed more time to catch up.
>Of course, Mrs. Sparkle agreed.
>And Shining wanted Twilight to be old enough for her to be his best mare.
>He was such a sweet boy.
>”So, Shining-“
>He raises a hoof.
>”Dad, dad, please.”
>He sounds different.
 
>You smile.
 
“Call me Shines.”
 
~FIN~