Shining Armor's POV

I don't know how long I was in the cell before I got some visit. Well, I should say a cellmate. The blonde mare had a grey coat, and her cutie mark consisted of seven bubbles. She was thrown inside, and even though I wanted to help, I was too weak to even raise a hoof. I turned my head to take a good look at her face, and I saw that her eyes were crossed. She got up and flapped her wings, only to bang her head on the low roof of the cell.

I looked away, since that mare's bad luck reminded me of mine. I was missing Cadance, and I was missing Twily too. I was hoping Cadance was still pregnant, since I wanted to be there for the grand day. Then, one of the soldiers working for Michael came with my food, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Here. I hope you won't choke while you eat." the grey stallion said as he threw my food to my face. He the looked at the grey Pegasus mare, who was sitting down in shock. "Hello there, gorgeous. I'd really like to take you with me, but I'm not allowed to take prisoners to my office." he said as he winked at her with nasty thoughts.

After he left, I ate as much as I could, but it only made me sicker than I already was. I was still wondering about the five volunteers that stayed to help me. All of a sudden, a loud sound, like an explosion, was heard. All of the other prisoners in the wing of the Canterlot Dungeon looked at where it came from. "Something's happening." I heard somepony say. "We will die." another one said. "Wait, I think they are here to help us, guys!" That voice, I recognized as one of the five that stayed here with me.

Then, the wall at the end of the corridor, where the only exit was, was blown away like simple hay. I made an effort to look up, and what I saw gave me some strength back. "Flaming Shadow! It is good to see you!" I said as I tried to get up. Only to fall back down, leaving me exhausted. "Shining Armor, long time no see, heh?" the Pegasus said with a smile that quickly disappeared as he saw in what shape I was. "Somepony, get him out of there. And while you're at it, free the other prisoners as well." As he said that, two unicorns came in and started heating the lock on the cells. I recognized the two as royal guards.

As the lock on my cell door gave up, I heard one of the two unicorns talk to Shadow. "There you go, General." Shadow then busted through the door, and helped me get to my hooves. "Thanks, brother. I owe you one." I said as he helped me toward the exit. "Well, I think that we are now on equal terms here. Since I already owed you one for letting me marry your sister." he answered with a grin, visibly relieved that I was okay. "And you might be surprised by everything that changed during those six and a half month you were locked in that dungeon." "What changes?" I asked, trying to make him stop. "First, we will get you some proper food, and then you can hear about the changes." he told me.


As we got closer to Ponyville, I saw some of the changes Shadow agreed to tell me. I was now able to stand on my own, and I was able to get a good look. All over Ponyville was fortifications, but they were not permanent. As the cart flew over the fortifications, I saw that most of Ponyville was then same. The library was still there, although it looked more like a barrack. As we approached, we started landing. And upon landing, I heard two very familiar voices from inside of the library. "SHINING ARMOR!" Twily and Cadance said as they both ran to me. Cadance was now visibly pregnant while Twily was... "Twily, are you... Pregnant?" I asked with a more puzzled than happy tone in my voice. She then looked down, and whispered her answer. "Mhs." "I didn't quite got that." I said making her raise her head. And she had a gigantic smile I saw her only once with before, when she received her Ms. Smartypants doll when she was a filly. I wonder were that doll is now? "She looked at me and spoke with a voice that had more than joy in it. "Yes, I am. I am so glad to see you." she told me as she hugged me. Cadance then joined Twily in that hug, making me let go of the breath I didn't realize I was holding. Seeing I was choking, Shadow spoke from behind me. "Okay, girls. Settle down. He has been through a lot, and he needs some proper care." He winked at Cadance, and I could only fear what it meant, until my wife came to me, and pushed me inside. "Come on in, Shining Armor. I will be your personal nurse for as long as you need it." she said with a smile, really relieved I was okay after all that time.


During my recovery, I was told everything that happened. Or, almost everything. But I guess I will never know.


Shadow's POV

While my brother-in-law recovered, I talked strategy with Luna. We were almost done with our tactic, and it was going to be brilliant. And we needed to get Shining Armor out of prison since he was an important part of that tactic. But it all would fall into place, soon.

We just need to be patient and wait for the right moment to strike.