"The charges you face today are of the most gravest nature; treason, as well as consorting and aiding dark forces that conspire to insight chaos and cause calamity," the aged, yet powerful voice that belonged to Lord Graywing echoed throughout the great council chamber. "As such, the crime levied against you is treason. You stand before us, Princess Luna, to face judgment for your acts of betrayal against your people, your kingdom and against this esteemed royal council. You are to understand the only acceptable forms of punishment that can set even the scales of betrayal are death or banishment. Have you any words to say on your defense of these heinous crimes?"
Princess Luna faced him, facing them all, with a silent defiant anger. She stood tall, proud and unafraid under the eyes of the council that were preparing to sentence her. She was vested in her traditional breastplate and horseshoes, her crown firmly upon her head as her eyes looked across the semi-circular table that surrounded her into the eyes of Prince Fenrir, Lord Graywing, Shining Armor, Princess Cadence, and last but not least the eyes of her furious sister Celestia.
Celestia had called for the emergency council meeting to take place deep in the hallowed halls of Canterlot Castle. While not thrilled with the idea of leaving Wyndia, Lord Graywing and Fenrir made the trek at the wounded princess's request. The council had convened shortly after the events in Baltimare; Celestia had been ushered to the Canterlot hospital and had refused to see Luna. The cobalt blue alicorn had even sent Twilight Sparkle, her sister's prize pupil in to try and reason with her to hear her side of the story, but even the young unicorn was caste out and forbidden to speak with her again the minute she broached the topic. It seemed Celestia would have to hear her side of the story here and now.
Behind her there was but a small group. It consisted of the Twilight, Spitfire, Spike, and Foxtrot who all stood ready to speak on her behalf. Rainbow Dash was still far to injured to leave Ponyville Hospital and Sonic had yet to even wake up following the battle. Rarity had returned to Ponyville, against the advice of her parents and several other unicorns to search out Sweetie Belle. Applejack promised that she, Fluttershy Pinkie Pie, and more importantly Big Macintosh wouldn't let anything happen to her.
"Why doesn't she say anything?" Spike whispered but still managed to be heard throughout the chamber which had grown deathly silent.
"Hush Spike," Twilight quickly shushed him. However, she knew that his question burned in her own mind. She had brought with her a thick book, one of the ones she had secured from the Wyndian Library regarding law and royal proceedings. She had hoped to find something to help but nothing stood out. Not sure of what to make of the situation, she looked at Spitfire to see if the Wonderbolt Captain knew what to do.
Spitfire was over all upset at the whole ordeal. She was in her military dress uniform, a tight white blazer top that displayed rows of medals and distinguishing honors on her breast, a tight white saddle skirt that left her very little room to maneuver, even having a slit for her tail to protrude and glossy black heeled shoes . She shot an icy stare at Foxtrot and Spike, prompting both of them to quit gawking at her and turn their attention elsewhere. To top off her ensemble she had worn a hat that Twilight had told her was the most adorable one she had ever seen, which upon hearing the term 'adorable' Spitfire quickly snorted hot air from her nose angrily at her and muttering that it was called a 'cover' before hanging it on a hat rack. Despite being irritated that she had to dress the part for this formal occasion she was able to pick up on Twilight's worried looks.
"I don't know why you're looking at me," she spoke out quietly. "I hate this as much as you but I have no idea what she's going to do." Luckily the suspense was lifted as Lord Graywing spoke again.
"If you have nothing to say on your behalf, then on behalf of this esteemed council I, Lord Graywing, sentence you Princess Luna, betrayer, to bani-"
"I AM NO BETRAYER!" Luna roared out defiantly, her voice projecting loudly throughout the chamber aided by its thick marble walls silence the griffon king and startling everyone else. "I will admit to speaking with Discord in my chambers, I will admit to leaving Equestria without my sister's knowledge, I will admit not being there to when the Yellow Devil struck. However, if I am to admit to these wrong doings then you, oh great and esteemed council, must hear my reasoning's!
"Yes, I spoke with Discord, and he is the one who informed me of the coming Yellow Devil and that I needed to seek aid from the Blue Monster, the very same that plagued YOUR lands, Lord Graywing! Who without his help we'd perhaps never have been able to defeat the Yellow Terror!
"Yes, I left Equestria, but I had protected YOUR precious Twilight Sparkle dearest sister! I was able to unfetter the mind of the Blue Monster from Discord's hold and thus end the war that was raging across your lands Lord Graywing! You, Prince Fenrir, had spoken highly of canine lives saved by ending the war that day!
"Yes, I was not present when the Yellow Devil struck, but felt the heat of the flames from Baltimare as she burned because I stood at her defense and with me I brought salvation!
"Everything I have done, for good or ill was in service of Equestria, and to you Lord Graywing, I may be guilty of negligence and poor judgment, but I. Am. No. Betrayer." The Princess ended her speech with finality as her breath fell heavy from her forceful speech. Celestia's eyes where now glazed with tears as she regretted instantly her coldness to her only sister.
"And who will stand beside you and prove your loyalty?" Prince Fenrir spoke his voice calm and controlled as if he believed her. His soft voice brought the slightest smile to Luna's lips. The wolf prince turned his attention to her comrades who stood behind her. "Who would stand, and be counted? Who would stand beside this mare, and suffer in her fate?"
Twilight swallowed hard, she had read in her book, that in royal prosecutions those who testified with traitors would suffer the same punishment if they were found guilt, both in death and banishment. She felt her heart race, and for a moment she felt herself tear in half with desire to help a friend and fear that she might be banished…or worse. However, she didn't have to worry about being the first to react.
The click of heels filled the silent chamber as Spitfire rose from her spot and moved next to Luna despite the Princess's hushed protests. She glanced at Fenrir who nodded approvingly before turning his gaze back the others. Twilight Sparkle felt her nerve steel at the sight of Spitfire's action and moved to join her, Spike gripped her fore hoof, and for a moment begged her to stop, but seeing the determination in her eyes sighed and joined her. Foxtrot also raised and joined her, the young wolf staring daggers back at Fenrir.
"She has those who count her loyal," Fenrir announced to Lord Graywing who looked shocked that they would be bold enough to step forward.
"I have eyes!" Graywing stammered out not expecting this. Then speaking to them, "and who would stand with her?"
"I am Twilight Sparkle, and this is my faithful assistant Spike, the princess saved us and defeated the Blue Monster and turned him to an ally my Lord." Twilight spoke, struggling to keep her voice steady.
"The Captain of the Wonderbolts," Spitfire said proudly raising herself to attention and stretching her wings to her full wingspan. "Spitfire. Champion of Equestria. I give you my word that Princess Luna is no traitor."
"You give more than your word," Graywing spoke grimly. "If we sentence her to death, your neck will feel the Executioner's blade as well."
"And who would carry out this sentence?" Spitfire shot back with a scowl as her fore hoof began to gently stroke the pommel on the Solar Vindicator. "Would it be you Lord Graywing?"
The griffon king's face twisted with anger at her words and actions but ages of wisdom won out over youth's rage and brashness in his mind as he dismissed the comment and turned to the wolf. "What is the matter with this one?" Graywing questioned.
Foxtrot remained silent and hung his head in shame.
"He's nameless," Fenrir said matter-of-factly. "His pack hasn't named him." There was no mocking tone to his voice but the words evoked anger in the young wolf as his throaty growl could be heard coming from him directed at the wolf prince. The sound elicited a grin from Fenrir, the pups display of boldness seemed to amuse him.
"Forgive me for interrupting," Spitfire interjected. "Pup does have a name." This drew the attention of everyone, especially Foxtrot. "When Twilight and the others were kidnapped, he was clever enough to lead his pack to where the blue monster had taken her, clever like a fox. It was then that his pack," Spitfire looked up in the young wolf's confused look with eyes full of approval and a small smile. "His alpha, gave him a name. Isn't that right Foxtrot?"
"Yeah," Foxtrot chuckled slightly before returning the smile and nodded, a tear beginning to form in his eye. "Yeah, that's right. My name is Foxtrot, and the Princess fought to save you all!"
"Weird name for a wolf," Fenrir commented picking up on what just happened. "Well Lord Graywing, let's get this over with before I choke on all the emotion and sentiment building up in here."
"Agreed," Graywing nodded. "We have heard all we need to hear, Celestia?"
"Not Guilty!" her sister blurted out as tears streamed her face bringing an annoyed look from Lord Graywing. No matter the outcome Celestia would never forgiver herself for doubting her sister. She now only prayed it was not too late to correct this mistake, "Not Guilty!"
"Cadence?" Graywing said, asking for her judgment.
"My Lord," her soft demure voice barely audible. "My heart aches for Luna, I feel her heart was truly in the right place; however her actions led to such horrible events regardless of her intention. I feel that I may share some of the burden for angering the race relations among Equestria, but I was forced to make a choice that was not mine to make, if she were in Canterlot her wisdom could have prevented it. Now to ease the tension of our people, I feel the only possible recourse would be for her to shoulder responsibility for her actions. My Lord, I vote…Guilty."
Twilight was stunned, she never could have pictured Cadence condemning Luna, but she had learned of the horrible incident that had occurred but a few days earlier…and even that the ponies now only referred to as 'The Slaughter at the Gates'. She can't have imagined the pain that must have put her through.
"And who are you to judge ME!" Luna shouted back. "Lord Graywing, why is it that you allow this filly, freshly suckled from her mother's teat to cast judgment on me! Shining Armor as well! They have not served as long as the rest of us…and surely they do not possess the wisdom of the ages!"
"They are true royalty Luna," Graywing answered. "Your time on the moon has not been kind to you or your sister, she struggled to maintain your as well as her duties. Do you blame her for rearing another to fulfill your tasks? Who could have seen your return?"
"Sister!?" Luna spouted incredulously. "You were to replace me?!"
"Luna I…" Celestia stammered, a carefully guarded secret out in this way was not easy to handle.
"That's right! I was to rule the night!" Cadence said angrily. "I was groomed to rule, and then upon your untimely return, Celestia saw me fit to reign over the Crystal Empire."
"Fit to rule? Thou art not fit to lord over an empire of manure!" Luna yelled back her speech dipping into her old-style.
"You miserable little cart puller!" Cadence shot back. Her horn began to glow with magic as she rose up from her seat. "For all that old school speech you use, someone should teach you some old school manners!"
"Thou dare challenge me!" Luna's horn crackled violently with cobalt blue light, vastly overshadowing the crystal heart princess. "Gird up thine loins and adjourn us to the courtyards to see which of us stands the finer Equine if thou be'est so emboldened!" at these words Cadence shrunk back slightly in her seat, a fact that did not go unnoticed. "What's this? Where stands the filly whose nether regions were frothing with want of battle but moments ago?" Luna smirked at her cowardice, "Or doth thine mare hood stand dry, cracked, and barren? Me thinkest of poor Shining Armor, rubbed raw to the sheath when betwixt thine legs!" she insulted with haughty grin.
"Luna!" Celestia shouted out trying to calm her younger sister's temper as Fenrir laughed heartily banging his fist against the table while Cadence seethed violently at the insult and Shining Armor did his best to stifle a snicker which served to infuriate Cadence more.
"ENOUGH!" Lord Graywing bellowed silencing everyone. "Shining Armor! What is your judgment?"
"Well uh...I uhh…" his eyes jumped across from Luna, to Celestia, to Cadence, and then finally to Twilight. "It is my decision that…" He looked back at Cadence who stared back at him expectantly and then back at Twilight who gave him a look of 'You know what you have to do and I'll never forgive you if you don't'. This caused him to sigh with exasperation.
"Shining!" Cadence urged him, now giving him the 'If you do what I think you're going to do I will never forgive you' look.
"Uhh…umm!"
SHINING!" Graywing bellowed.
"NOT GUILTY!" he screamed back out.
"What?!" Cadence shouted out.
"SILENCE!" Lord Graywing cut her off. "It is my decision that you are unequivocally guilty Princess Luna. Therefore it is my duty to declare you and your band of traitorous cohorts guilty under the pang Banishme-"
"The vote is tied!" Spitfire roared out.
"Silence!" Graywing shouted back.
"I will not be silent in the face of injustice, or in your case poor math skills! The vote is tied!" she screamed angrily back at him.
"Spitfire!" Spike whispered as he banged her fore hoof. "Don't yell at him! It'll make him angrier!"
"What are you afraid of Spike, he's already about to banish us? What more could he do?" she said, not taking her eyes from the griffon king.
"Upgrade it to death!" he responded swiftly.
"Nay ," Luna interrupted. "The vote is tied, you can't pass judgment."
"Prince Fenrir is currently under my guidance and counsel and serves under me. His vote is mine."
Luna looked flabbergasted and turned to Fenrir, who just a moment ago had been laughing now had a sad, regretfully look on his face. The princess slowly turned back to Graywing, with hate and death in her eyes. "You can't banish me…ONLY the Dragon King can banish me…as he did those one thousand years ago when he ordered Celestia to carry out the deed!"
"Have it your way Luna…" Graywing said, a strange wind began to swirl in the chamber as the entire room began to fill with a dark powerful energy that made everyone uneasy save Fenrir Celestia and Luna who seemed as if they had experienced it before. Lord Graywing rose to full height and soon everyone knew the mystical power was radiating from him. Luna stood her ground know what was coming next Twilight furiously flipped through her book. "Your punishment shall be Dea-"
"WAIT!" Twilight screamed, causing everything to stop and Graywing to recant the power.
"WHAT NOW?!" he bellowed as Twilight scampered to Fenrir and set the book down in front of him.
"Prince Fenrir," Twilight began, "It says right here in the book of Legal Proceedings regarding Royal cases that under no circumstances shall a member of the Royal Council be stripped of his right to cast judgement!"
"Nonsense!" Graywing interrupted.
"A lot of sense!" Twilight replied, "right here in the final chapter! Written by the Dragon King himself, courtesy of your royal archives!"
"Yes!" Luna chimed in.
"Well, whaddya know…" Fenrir chuckled. "little Unicorn's right."
"I wish to hear his answer my Lord," Celestia said, a hint of threat in her voice.
Luna gazed into Fenrir's eyes whose were now deep in thought.
"Fine…"Graywing grunted, then smile grew on his face, "Prince Fenrir, your judgement?"
"Well, I think that…" suddenly the prince began to itch at his collar. "I think that…that…the princess is…" his claws began to dig into his flesh around his neck. The spectacle drew everyone's attention to him and off of Celestia who saw what was happening and her horn began to glow with magic. The wolf prince continued to scratch, so Celestia gritted her teeth and focused, sweat beginning to beat on her forehead until she was successful.
Suddenly Fenrir's itching stopped and he had a quizzical look about his face. "What was that," he muttered, as Graywing had a shocked look on his face before looking at Celestia with an angry scowl as she saw her with a wide smile. "Oh well, it is my opinion that the Princess did not commit treason or betrayal." A collective cheer rose up in the chamber from Celestia, Luna, and her friends but it was quickly silenced as Fenrir continued to speak. "But, if she did not commit these acts of betrayal, she did so out of gross negligence and disregard for her people." Then he spoke directly to Luna. "Princess, I am sorry, but you made grave mistakes along your way, and like Cadence said, good intentions cannot forgive the wrongs you have done. You should have told your sister about Discord, told us, been honest and it has cost lives and the peace of your people. While I believe you to be of pure heart and therefore not worth of banishment, I find your ability to lead a nation…in question." Fenrir then addressed the chamber. "It is my decision that you, Princess Luna, be stripped of title and postion…"
"What?! NO! BANISH HER GRAYWING!" Cadence shouted across the chamber. "Send her back to the moon where she belongs!"
Twilight was shocked and appalled at Cadence's behavior, she had never acted like this, it reminded her of when Chrysialis had taken control of her. She supposed that Luna's insult had cut deep, and that she felt that she may have been robbed by Luna's return…but Twilight had never pegged her for the jealous type.
"Silence you blathering foal!" Graywing hushed Cadence. Then he stared intently at Luna, then at Fenrir and finally back at Celestia. "I can agree to these terms. In lieu of banishment, we shall remove the shakels of rule from your shoulders…you are no longer to be a Princess."
"But who will raise the Moon?!" Celestia protested begging to keep her sisters station.
"What of your newest Protege? You had told me she should even greater promise to replace Luna than Cadence," Graywing asked.
An uneasy silence filled the room as Luna slowly turned and stared back at Twilight Sparkle…her sisters prized and devoted pupil. Suddenly Luna felt anger grow towards the purple unicorn who looked just as shocked as she.
"I…," Twilight inhaled deeply. "Wow…I had no Idea I swear…" she whispered to Luna as she saw resentment grow in her eyes.
"I had not told her Luna!" Celestia intervened. "Yes, she was to replace you, Cadence had showed promise, and in haste I had bestowed upon her Alicorn powers, but then Twilight Sparkle came along and out shown any other unicorn I had ever seen that hadn't descended from Star Swirl's line. She was to take your royal duties. However she aided in bringing you back, and driving back Nightmare Moon, so I felt no need to tell anyone. You must understand!"
"You mean I was raising my REPLACEMENT?!" Cadence shouted.
"Cadence, do you think it wise to raise your voice to me?" Celestia said coldy.
"Silence, I grow tired of this squabbling!" Graywing said now quite annoyed with the situation. "As part of your punishment Luna, you will continue to raise the moon until your sister can find a suitable replacement." He raised a large wooden ball that he clasped with his claws and slammed down with finality on the table. "It is so!"
Princess Luna slowly levitated her crown off of her head and moved it to Celestia, before undoing the clasps on her breast plate allowing it to fall and removing her horseshoes. The she gazed around the room at the council to see a saddened yet firm Fenrir stare at her before rising and making for the door, followed closely by Graywing who seemed to in rush to leave, a regretful Shining Armor, a deeply wounded Celestia who had tears had dried on her face and last but not least and angry, yet still haughty Cadence.
"I will…I will see that your things are to be prepared and will make for you living arrangements," Celestia sobbed as she moved headed outside the chambers.
"I suppose, that's that. I'm headed to Ponyville, I need to check on things…You gonna be all right?" Spitfire asked Luna now that the whole ordeal was done.
"Yes, I just…I just need a minute." Luna responded as the events hadn't totally sunk in. She watched them all go until it was just the three of them in the chamber.
"Come Shining, our ride awaits," Cadence said, spreading her wings and leaping over the table as Shining trotted his way around the room to the door. Cadence landed in front of Luna, and stared at her. "Stand aside…peasant!" she said with a malice filled grin.
Luna looked down at her, she still stood a good two and half hands higher than her and the Cobalt Alicorn swelled her chest and looked down at her with furious eyes. "Do you know why I don't fear you?" Luna asked.
Cadence huffed, not really interested in her answer.
"It is because underneath my crown, my title and my privilege… I am still the same mare. Do you know why you should fear me?" Luna began to move to one side to let her pass and as she did she whispered into her ear with a grin something that made her freeze. "Because underneath your crown…your title… your privilege…so are you."
Cadence snarled, shot her a dirty look and moved to the door beside Shining Armor. She whirled around as they left and shout out one final remark.
"Enjoy the simple life!"
"So how did it go?" Soarin' asked anxiously as soon as Spitfire touched down in Ponyville. Spitfire had bid Twilight, Spike, and Foxtrot farewell as they left to board a train to Ponyville. They were standing next to the battleground where Sonic had fought and the bodies of the one he had called Shadow plus a really fat creature she had never seen before lay strewn in the middle of the street. Spitfire wrinkled her nose at the smell of decaying bodies. The local undertaker was under order not commit them to the ground until Spitfire could examine the scene.
"Well, we're down a princess," she said flatly addressing him. "Not sure how this is going to affect us but that is really all I know. I'm sure it will be all over the news and there will be an official announcement soon. So don't bug me about it got that? Now…tell me what we are looking at here?"
"It looks like," Soarin' began while pointing a hoof at Shadow, "The blue hedgehog snapped his neck, according to witnesses, they say he turned yellow just before he did and then back to blue. Then they said the black one was also yellow before it died."
"And this one?" Spitfire said pointing at the other corpse noticing the huge hole in its stomach.
"Towns folk say, he came out after the black one died, was going on and on about some emeralds, then a shiny blue one attacked it from behind. The shiny one, who I would bet a large apple pie was the monster we fought gets his leg ripped off. Then the blue one, well, they say he did something and BOOM! Next thing they know the blue guy is out cold and the fat one here lost a lot a weight," Spitfire looked at the stallion as he spoke, it was really the first time she had seen him without a gaping wound he had received from a spear in his chest, and now here he was, wearing his dress uniform no less, which Spitfire defintly liked more than the females, especially when it was on Soarin'. "The when everything calmed down they brought Dash and blue one to the hospital, then they said the shiny one got up, grabbed his leg and flew off." Soarin' sighed and opened his saddle bag and showed its contents to Spitfire who raised an eyebrow at the sight of seven gems all glowing brightly with different colors, "Oh yeah, one more thing. Folks say the commotion was all over these couple of gems, figure I'll bring back to HQ."
"Good thinking, the Princess has a enough on her plate, I'll keep them locked up till we know more about them, or she has the time to deal with it." she said trying to feign interest in the gems, she knew exactly what they were…but it wasn't hard, especially when her interest wasn't really on them.
"Whole world went crazy if you ask me," he said glancing back at Spitfire who he noticed seemed to be paying a lot more attention to how his uniform looked and not his report. "Umm, Captain?"
"Hmm," Spitfire said yanked from her thoughts. "Oh yes, good work Soarin'" she said as she moved close to inspect the fat one closer, she leaned in at what she guessed was his face and took in how ugly he looked, even before his body had begun to rot.
"They said the blue one was really mad at this one before he killed him. Real mad." Soarin' added in.
"Ya don't say?" Spitfire mused as she reached down and grabbed an eyepatch off of the creatures face. "I bet the blue one would wanna know what went down," she said as she started her way to the hospital.
"Sweet, I can check on Dash," Soarin said enthusiastically.
Spitfire stopped in her tracks, and quickly moved to intercept Soarin' "I can give the blue one this eye-patch in the morning, we need to talk. Would you mind flying a mare home?"
Soarin' sighed, he supposed this time would come, so he might as well get it out of the way. The two took off on the short trip back to Cloudsdale. Once in the air Soarin spoke up. "Look Cap, err Spitfire, I really like you, I do. It's just…you never trusted me, you never did. I can't be in love with somepony that can't do that. So I think it's just a good idea if we just-"
"It's her isn't it," Spitfire said looking at the ground her voice strong but wavering ever so slightly.
"What?! NO! See that's what I'm talking about! It's not her it's you!" Soarin' countered angrily. "It isn't Rainbow Dash…well maybe a little…but I…" Soarin' became flustered over his words as he tried to sort out his feelings.
"Do you want her Soarin'?"
"Why do you need to make this about her? It's about us!"
"Do you want me?" she said softly looking back at him. Her question caught him off guard as he stared back into her eyes that burned like soft embers, he gulped hard as the rays of the setting sun managed to catch her mane caused it her hair to glow a brilliant orange.
"I umm…I…uhh," he stumbled hopelessly as he cursed his tounge for being so dopey.
Spitfire smirked at his nervousness before noticing how close they were and maneuvered down to the cloud city landing a few feet before her front door with Soarin' landing beside her.
"Well Soarin'" Spitfire pressed on stepping around to face him and staring him in the eyes. "What do you want?"
"I…I think that we should see ot-," his line of thought was interrupted by a gust of wind that blew off Spitfire's hat which he quickly reached out and caught with his teeth, but when he looked at her, he saw her mane blowing carelessly in the wind as she ran a hoof through it, all the while staring back at him with the those soft, burning, endless eyes…of her. His mouth slackened and her hat fell from his mouth and blew away in the wind, but neither of them seemed to notice.
Spitfire smiled, she knew she had him exactly where she wanted him, the blowing wind sealed the deal. She reared up on to her hind legs and wrapped her fore hooves around Soarin' neck, never breaking eye contact as she drew close to him.
"Poor Soarin'" she whispered to him softly. "You just don't know what you want do you?"
"No," Soarin' agreed with her as he found himself lost in her eyes.
"You look so confused and frustrated…you look so cute when you're frustrated," she teased as she knocked off his officer hat and mussed the back of his mane. "You're not sure what's best for you, me or," Spitfire sighed deeply. "Her."
"Y, yeah…" Soarin' managed starting to feel uncomfortably warm in his officer suit.
"You just need a little time to decide don't you?"
"Yeah! That's what I need! I need time to decide!" Soarin' exclaimed, thankful for Spitfire putting the words in his mouth and hoping it would be a way for him to get out of this predicament.
"Okay then," Spitfire said, a mischievous smile on her lips, "I'll let you decide." Then without warning she moved forward and pulled Soarin' close and kissed him. Deep, long and meaningful. She felt Soarin' buckle slightly, but she kept him steady until she slowly broke their kiss. She was first to open her eyes and saw Soarin' with his mouth half open and eyes still closed until he blinked them wide open and sprang back from her.
"Wha, what are you doing?! You said-"
"I said I'd let you choose, Soarin'," she teased as she turned and headed to her door, pushed it open and put one hoof inside before turning back. " I never said I'd make it easy. Now look, these stupid heels and uniform are killing me, so I'm gonna go into my house, take my clothes off and get in my bed. You can go home if you want, or you can come with me. It's your choice, " she said seductively causing Soarin's wings to rigidly shoot open, which drew another smirk from Spitfire before she headed inside and left him to his thoughts.
Soarin' gulped hard and found that he had broken into a cold sweat. He took a deep breath, and exhaled. He turned around, raised his head high and began to walk away.
He got three steps, before wheeling around and galloping after her cursing Celestia's name.
"C'mon don't be this way Cadence!" Shining Armor shouted through the thick doors that led to master bedroom of the Crystal Palace. Cadence hadn't spoken to him the whole way home and then she barricaded herself in the room. "Listen, I'm sure you and Luna will solve your problems and everything will be back to normal," he said cheerfully.
The great doors swung open slightly and Cadence poked her head out, "Back to normal!? I was supposed to rule alongside Celestia! Now even with her horrible little sister gone, now your stupid little sister is going to take what's mine!"
"Hey, there is no reason to speak about Twiley lik-"
"And you…you took Luna's side over mine! Some husband! Did you not hear the things she said about me!"
"Well, you were trying to send her to the moon, so I could see why she was a little upset," Shining tried to refute.
"Then you can see why I'm a little upset then, right sweetie?" she said coyly before slamming the door in his face.
Shining had been arguing with her for close to an hour and had finally reached his limit, and yelled back to her. "You're forgetting it was you who gave the order that day! Not her! I can't believe you did that! I would never ha-"
The great door swung open again and Cadence cut him off, "That's right, You never could! You could never give an order like that Shining! THAT'S WHY YOU'LL NEVER RULE!" she screamed slamming the door on him again. This time retreating to her Vanity mirror to brush her hair as she heard Shining Armor trot away, presumably to take up residence in a guest room.
"Why the long face?" a soft voice filled her chambers. "Get it? It's because you're a pony…long face…ahh I digress."
"Your plan failed!" Cadence shouted back at it.
"Did it?"
"YES! Luna isn't banished, Celestia has been raising Twilight Sparkle to be her successor, now I will never rule alongside her!"
"Well that was never the plan princess," the voice said as dark energy began form behind the Princess. "You were never supposed to rule alongside her."
"But you said if I freed you that-"
"That you would rule…And rule you shall," the energy took form and soon her hair brush was taken from her magic hold and her hair was now being stroked carefully by Discord's talon as he sat behind her, gazing at her through the mirror. "However, I don't recall mentioning Celestia," Discord's face drew into a sinister smile as he stared hungrily at Cadence. "No, Celestia is not to be a part of that picture and you will be no princess…you will be the Queen! The most beautiful Equestria has ever seen."
"Queen? Yes, Queen, and once I sit on Equestria's throne…everypony will love me!" Cadence said drowning in her desire. Then she was yanked back to reality, "how do you propose that will ever happen now? Your precious pet is-"
"Shadow was never the Endgame, he was just a pawn to help me get what I needed. This is my game Princess, and it is playing out exactly as I planned it." Just then, images appeared on the mirror by way of Discord's magic, that at first confused Cadence before making her smile with cruel delight.
"What is our next step?" she said anxiously.
"Why, isn't it obvious?" Discord said matter-of-factly. "Every Queen needs a King."