(AiE) Something You'd Regret - Part 4

prose: http://www.fimfiction.net/story/189816/4/something-youd-regret/part-4-the-rendezvous

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>You stare at the exit of the lounge, then look down to your crutches.
"Well, now I gotta figure this shit out," you mutter to yourself.
>Carefully, you hobble your way to the door of the lounge with the help of your crutches.
>Your eyes look down to the doorknob which impedes your path.
"Great."
>Leaning on your left crutch, you use your right hand to turn the knob and open the door.
>Once you pull it open a little bit and it opens directly into your body.
>Great job, genius.
>You've been outsmarted by a stupid door.
>Why do these have to be so hard to open?
>Letting go of the door, you move out of the way of the door's path.
>Leaning on your right crutch, you turn the knob with your left hand and push the door open with some extra force.
>Regaining your grip on the crutch, you step into the doorway's path and it closes gently on your back.
>Inching your way out of the doorway, you finally make it into the hall.
>Congratulations, Anon.
>You learned how to open a door.
>Now you can prove your marefriend's innocence.
>Now then, where would Shining Armor leave anything incriminating?
>Looking to the left and to the right, you try to decide on a direction to go.
>How would you know where Shining would have something stashed away?
>You could check the bedroom, but why would Shining hide something in plain sight?
>Sure, it may be one of the least suspected places, but it was also the most daring.
>You could try to figure out where in the stadium could be a secret-hideaway for a passionate moment... but that could be anywhere.
>There has to be something concrete, that you could show the Princess, and not just hearsay.
>You could try and interview some of the guards to see if any of them did something with Shining...
>However, there's no guarantee any of them would tell the truth.
>Except...
>That one guard, when you entered the bedroom.
>He told you not to do something you'd regret.
>That guard might know something.
>It was like he knew what was about to happen.
>You have to find him.
>He may be your best shot at getting some definite answers.
>Turning to the left, you make your way down the hall.
>The first step would be finding a guard.
>If you can find a guard, then maybe you can find the guard's HQ room is, figure out the name of the stallion that was on duty and find a way to find him.
>Until then, you just have to be sure to keep everything as quiet as possible.
>Not a single other pony can know.
>You hobble down the corridor in silence, your mind clustered with many questions at once.
>Twilight isn't usually one to herself involved with drama.
>Normally that was Rarity's job.
>You could understand her wanting to be a supporting sister in a time like this... but going explicitly to prove you wrong?
>That's just... unlike her.
>She normally always seemed to be on your side.
>Going out to lunch together... Hanging out just to hang out... Having serious intellectual discussions...
>Twilight is never one to act on gut instinct and not fact.
>So what made her feel differently this time?
>What's got her so wrapped up in all of this?
>Shaking your head, you push your mind to something else.
>You can't afford to think about non-relevant things at the moment.
>The sooner you figure out the truth, the sooner everything gets resolved.
>Then... then what happens?
>All of your things are in Ponyville.
>Would you stay in Ponyville for awhile?
>How would dating a Princess work?
>It would probably be -way- too soon to move into the Crystal Castle, but damn would it be nice.
>The idea of all that nice food made your mouth water.
>You probably wouldn't ever have to work again.
>Plus, you would be able to sleep directly beside her every night.
>The idea hangs in your mind for a moment.
>How long had it been since you've been out of the Hospital.
>It felt like an hour, maybe two.
>There wasn't a way to be completely sure without a clock.
>You shoulda checked before you left that lounge.
>Cadance said to meet back at the room in two hours.
>There might not be enough time to search too hard, especially in the shape you are in.
>Pausing in the middle of the hallway, you hear the crowd cheer outside and sigh.
>If you don't have much time, then you might as well head back now.
>Who knows how long it could take you to get back to your room on this leg.
>How in the world are you going to be able to do any research without having the ability to even walk normally?
>How could you defend yourself if Shining ambushes you if you can't even open a door?
>You are so boned.
>Turning in place, you begin to lumber your way back towards the room.
>Which was in the opposite direction that you were walking.
>Great.
>Just the icing on the-
"Anon!" calls out a happy, familiar tone.
>Stopping to look over your shoulder, the Princess of Love trots towards you.
>"I was just heading to the room to meet you," she says with a smile.
"Yeah, I was just making my way there too. How'd the games stuff go?" you asked.
>"Oh, boring things. Turns out I only needed to stand around as Celestia and Luna did most of the work. I swear, that's the worst part of being the third wheel. I'm happy Twilight became a princess too. Now maybe her and I can be tasked to some bigger tasks," she answers.
>You look at her with a smile as the two of you turn toward the resting room where it all began.
"You think that running a country is a smaller task?" you ask.
>Cadance chuckles and shakes her head.
>"Ever since Sombra left, the country basically runs itself. A few signatures there, an odd decree or judgment call there and the crystal ponies barely need my help. It's almost like they just need somepony there to pat them on the back and tell them good job. Like, heroes. I'm able to be their heroine," she answers.
"That's a rather elegant way of putting it," you reply. "Had you thought about that before?"
>"I think I copied that from a book I read," she answers with a smile. "And then I put it into a letter to Celestia after things got settled in the Crystal Empire. So, by now it's ingrained into my brain whether I like it or not, like a catchy song."
>You chuckle and shake your head.
"You know, you could have totally claimed that it was your own and I would have been impressed. Now I'm just going to give you a hard time and ask if what you said was taken from a book," you tease.
>The Princess's face scrunches then her gaze turns to you.
>"Not everything nice I say is from a book," she persists.
"Which one was that from?" you ask, trying to keep a straight face.
>"You should be happy it's nice to hurt someone on crutches," she retorts.
>The two of you walk by each other side by side and with bright cheerful faces as you make your way to your destination.
>You turn to look at her, wondering if this is what it'll be like... when it's all over.
>Her streaked, flawless hair bounces gently with each of her strides and her smile perfectly lines her face.
>She turns to you, slightly blushing.
>"What's up?" she asks gently.
"Nothin. Just thinkin," you reply.
>"About what?" she asks.
"I just think... it's a little funny. We've spent such little time together and we just... fit," you answer.
>Cadance chuckles and returns her gaze to the path in front of her.
>"Maybe it's a sign," she coos.
>You return your gaze to the path in front of you, smiling.
"Yeah, I guess you're right," you answer. "I just wanted to make sure I wasn't the only one that..."
>Cadance shook her head gently.
>"Not at all. It's a little weird for me too, but I like it," she replies.
"Me too," you answer.
>Cadance turns down the same path that the guards took you down to send you to her chambers.
>It was hard to believe it was only a matter of hours ago.
"So, uh. How are we going to talk to Celestia about this?" you ask.
>Cadance looks back to you with curiosity.
>"We?" she asks.
>You look back at her, your brow furrowing.
"Well, you know. I figured it would be better if we told her together," you said. "I mean, if I wasn't there, what would it make me look like?"
>Cadance looked forward and quietly thought to herself.
>"I hadn't really considered that before..." she answered quietly.
>Was Cadance adamant about doing this alone?
>If so, why?
>Here the two of you were, talking about how the two of you just seem to work and then she tries to distance herself the next second.
>What was she thinking?
"Is that a problem?" you ask curiously.
>She stops and turns to you, looking up and down the hallway the two of you stood in.
>You halt as well and turn to her, expecting an answer.
>"Listen, Anon. We're in rough territory right now... the more we're seen together, the more questions could be raised," she answered.
"But, I mean, we're going to get this resolved as quickly as possible, right?" you replied. "If we get it out in the open, why does it matter? I mean, not the citizens, but Celestia and the other Princesses. They are going to find out anyway, so why not be forward with them?"
>Cadance sighed and shook her head.
>"I guess you're kinda right... but I'm still worried about the ponies of the empire finding out. Plus..." she trails off, looking away from you.
>You study her troubled expression as she turns back to look into your eyes.
>"I have no idea how to tell Twilight... if Shining hasn't already told her some sort of lie. I'm worried I might lose one of my closest friends," she sighs.
>Biting your lip, you remember the way Twilight was accusing Cadance of betraying her brother.
>That time might have already passed...
>Unless you can reveal the truth, that is.
>Cadance looks back at you, her usually calm expression painted with concern.
>Moving a hand from a crutch, you rest a hand on her cheek.
>A smile gently forms on her face as she presses into your caress.
"It's all going to work out. I promise," you coo. "I'm going to do everything I can to get this set straight."
>She nods and the confidence returns to her eyes.
>"-We- are going to go everything we can," she replies.
"Together," you add.
>Pulling your hand back for your crutch, you lean up straight and turn back to the room with your forbidden marefriend.
"So wait, why are we going back to the room, then?" you ask.
>Cadance sighs and her positivity drains.
>"To get what will make our talk to Celestia really easy..." she answered.
>You look to her with equal parts concern and curiosity.
"What is that?"
>"It's something that I found.... I don't think he knows I found it yet. I didn't want to move it or he would know that I found it," she replied. “It proves that... he was with somepony else.”
"Oh... I see," you replied.
>A part of you wanted to drill for what the evidence was, but you could see how much it hurt for her to talk about.
>Maybe it would be better to not press for details.
>Plus, you will probably see it soon, once she recovers it.
"So, what will we tell Celestia?" you ask.
>Cadance shakes her head slowly.
>"I'm... really not sure yet. I think the fact that we're... well, this, doesn't seem to be something we should parade. I figure we should stick to the facts and keep it short. I'll tell her everything that I know and give her my evidence... then see what happens from there," she says.
"I think that sounds like the best we can do," you mention. "I can say that once you shared all of the information with me, that I encouraged you to share all of this with her."
>Cadance nods in reply.
"However, she's going to ask a question about that," you add, "and I think you know what it is."
>She turns to you with a miserable, questioning gaze.
>You can tell it's really stressing her to go through this.
"She's going to want to know why you didn't go to her sooner," you conclude.
>Cadance looks to the floor and sighs.
>"Yeah," she replies sullenly.
>So, why didn't she?
>Come on Cadance, answer the question.
>It had to be more than that she had a crush on you.
>Why now, at one of the heights of the Equestrian year, with so many spectators and possible eavesdroppers in close vicinity?
>"She won't like my answer..." she answers.
>Your gaze remains transfixed on her, as she looks to you, nearly pleading not to say it out loud.
"You'll have to tell her the truth," you add.
>Cadance nods and sighs.
>"I know. I know," the princess concludes.
>As the two of you approach the private quarters, some of the nervousness begins to settle in again.
>Twilight was excited to introduce you to the ruler of Equestria earlier today and that didn't seem so daunting.
>Now the circumstances have changed and now you worry about coming off as the brutish ape that you used to be mistaken for.
>The same image that Shining is going to try and pass you off as to bolster his lies.
"Alright. Let's just grab our things and get to Celestia. The sooner that we can talk to her, the sooner this can all get sorted out," you say, more for yourself rather than your marefriend.
>Cadance nods and the handle glows with a gentle, light blue light.
>The door pulls itself open with a loud creak.


------------------

>Alright, Twilight.
>Stick to the plan.
>The first thing you should do is meet up with your brother like you promised.
>Shining let you go hear Anon's side, like you asked... but things don't seem to be adding up.
>Anon wouldn't lie... but neither would your brother, right?
>Then why do the stories seem... different.
>The only thing you could do was go and ask your brother to clear things up.
>Plus, you need to stop and do some research on if this 'compatibility spell' really does exist.
>At a brisk trot, you move towards his and Cadance's quarters.
>Shining said he wanted help getting some of his things out of that room.
>He wasn't sure where he was going to put them yet, but as long as they weren't there.
>Thoughts of Anon swirled through your head as you made your way to your destination.
>What irked you the most about Anon's story... was how it began to make a few of the pieces line up.
>You can still remember when you first introduced Anon to Cadance.
>It was just going to be a simple lunch to introduce her to him... or at least, so he would have thought.
>Cadance was going to try and help you try to discover a way to permanently win his heart.
>Yet, after you introduced him to her, she seemed to be at a total blank for ideas.
>After that, her average time in between letters increased by two whole days.
>So, what he is saying makes sense...
>But, something still doesn't seem right.
>One of the two of them would come to you if there was a problem in their marriage.
>They would have to!
>It would just make sense.
>Either way, you need to find some answers and the best place to start would be with your brother.
>You didn't press him too hard because he was so upset when he came to you.
>Most of what he said was a jumble of words anyway.
>Now, you need to get a clear story from him and try to piece together the facts.
>However, how would he react?
>Would he feel betrayed that you don't trust his words at face value?
>You sigh as you make the turn into the VIP living quarters.
>To be honest, you weren't entirely sure who -was- telling the truth.
>Everypony just wanted you to be on their side.
>How can you choose a side when you don't know all the facts?
>All of these important people in your life are at each others' throats and you can't even have the solace of your crush or your best friend to comfort you.
>At least, when things get tough, family is always there for you.
>Right?
>You approach the doors to the private room and turn the handle.
>Pushing your way inside, you spot Shining levitating fancy clothes across the room and shoving it into a large ornate trunk.
"Hey, Shining," you call to your brother as you close the door behind you.
>"Hey, Twiley," he replies sternly, keeping his focus on his task at hand.
>You place one hoof in front of the other as you watch him furiously toss item after item into the chest.
>What can you even say to him?
>You've never seen him this angry before.
>How could you possibly relate?
>Sure, you may have lost your crush... but losing your spouse?
>The one pony that you were closest to in all of Equestria?
"How... are you holding up?" you ask, worriedly.
>He remains silent as he stops and surveys the room.
>Shining sets his furious gaze onto you and sighs.
>"I just don't even know what to think at the moment. This has all been happening too fast for me to comprehend," he says quietly.
>You take a few steps closer to him and take a glance towards the trunk.
"Just some clothes from the palace?" you ask, trying to tip-toe gently into asking him to reiterate his story one more time.
>"Yeah. Just some of the essentials. My guard uniform is in the guard's quarters. I'm going to probably stay there tonight," he said, returning his attention to his work.
"How can I help?" you ask, trying to keep him in higher spirits.
>"I, uhm. I don't know. Just talk. I guess," he groans, grabbing another set of clothes and pushing the dresses to the other side of the massive closet with more force than necessary.
>You look to the floor as you try to think of something to say.
>Maybe the best thing to do right now would be to keep him distracted.
"Have you written to Mom and Dad lately?" you ask.
>"No, I haven't," he says bluntly. "How are they?"
>You look back up to him, grateful he didn't sound like he was dying a slow and torturous death.
"They have been concerned you hadn't written lately. They were going to come out and see my in the next few weeks. Maybe you would want to join us for a weekend?" you ask cautiously.
>He looks down to the bottom of the closet and tosses a box into the trunk with his pink magical aura.
>"Yeah, that sounds nice. Any chance to get away would be great," he answers, moving over to the bed and sitting on it. “I might even go stay with them for awhile.”
>He places a hoof on the back of his neck and rubs it, staring at the floor.
>Moving to your brother, you sit on the bed beside him.
"You could probably talk to them about anything that's on your mind... or me," you ask. "If you wanna talk about it... at least in more detail than last time."
>He sighs and buries his face into his hooves.
>You look up to the walls of the room and spot a massive bend and small hole that was in the wall of the room.
>It roughly resembled the shape of the human.
>Looking back down to Shining, you wonder how Anon could have withstood an assault like that.
>"I just don't know where it started to go wrong..." he began, his tone filled with grief. "I mean... maybe we haven't had the easiest marriage... but we had each other..."
>You scoot closer to him and place a hoof on his.
"How were things hard?" you ask.
>Shining shakes his head.
>"You already know. I mean, on our wedding day she was kidnapped and I didn't even know until you saved her. From then, I devoted myself to ensure I kept her safe. Things seemed to be wonderful, even when we had to cancel the honeymoon to protect the Crystal Empire. At least that time I was able to be there to protect and support her. After that... I don't know. I was bored just being a prince, so I took a leading guard position. We got caught up in all of our day to day tasks that we never rescheduled a honeymoon."
>You nod along to his story as he searches between the tiles on the floor for a hidden answer to his problem.
>"Then... I don't know what happened. I had to pick up some extra time with the guard to train new recruits. She said she was fine with it... but she began to become more distant. I wasn't sure what it was. I began to try to do nice things for her, just to be sweet. It just seemed like she wasn't enthusiastic about anything. I couldn't get her to open up or talk to me. She just maintained that everything was alright..."
>Shining looks down at his hooves and runs one through his hair.
>"I even thought... maybe I would man up and offer something that I knew she wanted, but I wasn't ready yet for... a foal. I mean, I was worried we wouldn't have enough time, but it it would have made her happy..."
"Shining-" you begin.
>"Yeah. I know it was stupid to think that a foal could have saved things, but I was desperate. I couldn't think of anything else," he sighed.
>He turns and looks at the bed the two of you are sitting on.
>"Then I walk in here... and here she is... with him. It boils my blood just to think about it," he whispers.
>Your heart aches and muscles hurt to see your brother hurt this way.
>The one pony that you looked up to and admired, your best friend, destroyed in a matter of hours; Internalizing his pain from the rest of the world so that nopony had to worry about him.
>"I just wonder... if there was something I could have done differently in the beginning..." he quietly mumbles.
"Shining. I don't think it's a good thing for you to be in here," you say.
>All he is going to do in this room is beat himself up and hurt even more.
>The best thing to do would be to get him out and try to get the rest of the story after that.
>Shining looks across the room, starting from the bed and tracing to the broken drywall.
>"I suppose you are right..." he sighs. "I'll just get even more miserable to be around."
"Now don't talk like that," you say with a smile and your best cheerful tone. "I want to be here for you. That's what little sisters are for."
>Shining turns to you and lightly smiles.
>Maybe the years of being around Pinkie are beginning to pay off.
>"You're right. Thanks, Twiley," he answers, life returning to his voice.
>Leaping off the bed, you trot over to Shining's chest of things with your best smile.
"Is there anything else you need to grab? Until all of this is over, you can stay in my room," you reply.
>Shining weakly rises to his hooves and looks around the room.
>"I... think that should be everything. I can't think of anything else..." he says.
>You approach his open chest and channel power into your horn to begin to levitate his things.
"Good. That way you won't have to come back to here and see the painful memory. Now let's-"
>But before you could finish, you pause.
>The final item that Shining tossed into his chest lays open and scattered across his crumpled clothes.
>A box, with it's lid tossed aside, carrying several developed pictures sits on top in a mess.
"Get out of here..." you finish, your curiosity rising.
>Taking a few of the pictures, you toss them back into the box.
>Quickly, you glance at each photo as you return it to their container.
>A picture of you and Shining.
>A family portrait.
>A training exercise with a younger him and his fellow new recruits.
>A smile curls on your face, viewing the photos that Shining values the most.
>Until you find a wedding picture of him and Cadance.
>You place that one in it's home facing down.
>"Alright, let's go then," he says, turning to focus his attention on you.
>Grabbing the last photo, you stop to take a quick glance.
>When you see the picture, your blood runs cold.
>"Twilight," he questions.
>Your blood runs cold.
"What is this?" you ask quietly. "and who is the mare in this photo?"
>He stares back at you, standing up straight.
>You hold the picture up to him, showing him in his guard uniform, while another mare with ice blue eyes, a scarlet mane and fur as white as snow, laughing together at a bar as she wears his helmet.
>There was no mistaking that the photo was recent and she wore crystal armor.
>"I promise, I can explain," he says quietly.
>You look at photo again and flip it to the other side, unable to process what you just found.
"A night I'll never forget," you read aloud. "Signed by a 'Melody.' Who is Melody, Shining?"
>"Twilight, I promise I can explain, let's just get out of this room.
"No, I think I want you to tell me now," you say, your blood heating up.
>How could this possibly be different than it looks?
>Is it just a close friend?
>Anon's story is beginning to all add up.
>"Twilight, please. I'll tell you. I just don't want-"
>How dare your brother not tell you the full truth?!
>If there is one thing that you are getting tired of is all of the secrets and lies.
>However, that means the only person who hasn't lied to you yet is-
>The doorknob rattles as the two of you turn to look at the entrance to the room.
>Quickly, you hide the picture in the ruffles of your wing feathers.
>The door opens slowly...

--------------------------

>As it reveals Anonymous and Cadance, entering together.
>The two pause as they step inside and exchange stares at between you and your brother.
>The room goes deathly silent as you turn to your brother.
>His frame tenses up and a fire burns in his eyes.
>Shining's body begins to tremble, but not in anger.
>It were as if he were struggling to simply remain calm.
>Your gaze turns to Anon, who took a few steps back the instant he saw Shining.
>Cadance quickly stepped in front of your crush, to block him out of her husband's path to him.
>Goosebumps formed on the back of your neck as you walked slowly to your brother.
>This is bad.
>Very, very bad.
>You have to try and diffuse this situation before it escalates.
>Last time, Anon was injured.
>Nopony else should make a mistake they can't reverse today and certainly not while you are in the room.
"We were just making our way out. Weren't we, Shining," you say to him with a leading tone, getting directly in between him and the hateful glare of his wife.
>Shining looks from you, back to them, then returns to you.
>"Yeah. We're getting out of here," he mutters.
>His horn lights up in pink energy and the trunk slams shut as it slowly lifts into the air.
>He walks towards the door firmly.
>His eyes only focus on exiting the room, rather than the two sets of eyes that glare him down.
>Cadance and Anon step inside the room, towards the broken wall, to get out of his way.
>Shining steps into the hallway, then turns back to you with a direct stare.
>“Coming?” he asks firmly.
>You nod and place one hoof in front of the other.
>Slowly you follow your brother's hoofsteps, as you exchange eye contact with the other two as you.
>The picture feels as if it were burning your wing and it feels as if a knife stabs your throat as the two look at you with the same hostility that they gave your brother.
>Are they the ones telling the truth?
>You step into the doorway of the bedroom as you look back to your two friends. Hopefuly not... former friends.  You open your mouth slightly to say something, but you couldn't find the words. Do you give them what you found? Do you talk to Anon? Can you ever talk to Anon after all of this ends? Could you bear seeing Cadance holding and protecting the human that you wanted to be with?
>Say something, Twilight.
>Anything.
>“Let's go,” Shining mutters as he turns away and moves towards your room.
>With a glance to your brother and one last look to Anon... you find the only word that crosses your mind.
"Sorry," you mutter, as you turn away from the two of them, the door to the bedroom quietly closing behind you.