>”Cadence?”
“Yes dear?”
>”Things are getting out of hoof out there.”
>Oh no.
“W-whatever do you mean darling?”
>”Surely you’ve heard the castle staff whispering?”
“Oh… well, I hear a great many things. It’d be tough to pinpoint one rumor around here.”
>Shining shoots you a glare.
>”Honey, I know you’re very busy as the princess of love, but even you must have heard of staff going missing over the last week?”
“I just assumed they were going on vacation…”
>You lean in to your husband’s ear and whisper.
“One of the guards who went missing was in a loveless marriage.” you lean back and speak normally, “So how certain are that some didn’t just defect out of the kingdom?”
>”Cadence, I’ve had some of my stallions go missing. These were good stallions Cady. Something is up, and we’re launching a full investigation tonight.”
>No, not tonight!
>That’ll just agitate him.
”T-tonight?”
>”Yup, and I need you to some with me.”
“Me? Shiny I don’t know…”
>”I know it must be a little unnerving, we don’t fully understand all that Sombra has hidden in this castle, but that exactly why we need you. You’re the strongest one out of everypony to fend off any traps.”
>Traps…
>That could work.
“Okay honey, I suppose you’re right. We should do everything in our power to keep our crystal ponies safe.”

>”Alright, I want you all to split up into the assigned teams.”
>Shining commands his “search and rescue team”.
>They break up and form into groups.
>You and Shining lead a group of your own.
>Just like you asked.
>"Keep a constant contact through horn link alright?”
>HIs groups all nod in unison.
>And off you all go, into the winding depths of the Crystal Castle.
>The wall that separate you all are very thick.
>Which is just perfect for “Sombra’s” traps to spring on the guards who are unfamiliar with the depths.
>Which happened to be all of them.
>”Shiny, why not bring the new guards along… they could use the experience on something as easy as a search mission right?”
>You giggle at your own cleverness.
>”Something wrong honey?” Shining asks, concern very clear in his voice.
“No dear, just… using a little trick I learned from one of Twilight’s friends.”
>He relaxes slightly.
>”Right. Well lets keep our eyes peeled, it seems like we might be the only two who have been unhit by Sombra’s traps.”
“Right behind you honey.”
>You guide Shining down and down through the well traversed caverns, by you anyway.
>”These tunnels sure go down a long ways don’t they?”
“They do… I sure hope we can find our way back.”
>There’s a door up ahead.
>At east there will be once we round this bend in the tunnel.
>”Hey a door. Stand back here Cadence, I’ll go through first.”
“I’ll be right behind you Shining.”
>He creaks the door open.
>You can see the moment he notices what’s beyond the door.

>His whole body jumps, then his muscles tense.
>”C-C-Cadence… th-there’s some kind of monster through this door.”
>Hm, that’s a bit of an insult to hear.
>He doesn’t know any better though, so you can’t blame him.
>”We go on three. okay?”
“Alirght.”
>”One.”
>”Two…”
>”Thr-“
>The door is thrown open and a metal gauntlet grabs your husband by the collar in his armor.
>He yelps as he’s thrown into the room beyond.
“Shining!”
>Time to play the part.
>You blast the “monster” with a force beam, just enough to push him back some.
>He screeches in response, oh how it breaks your heart to hear him all flustered like this.
>”Cadence! Get away from it!” Shining shouts, as he rises to his feet.
>”I’ll take care of i-“
>But he was too focused on Anonymous to notice the beam you struck the back of his helm with.
>Shining topples to the ground, knocked out cold.
>The armored shell walks towards you slowly.
“Hello Anon sweetie.”
>A loud screech sounds from the helm of the armor.
“Oh sweetie, I know you’re upset.”
>Anon charges you.
>The moment he gets too close to breaking one of the rules on your soul binding spell however the suit is launched back in a metal clatter.
“Now Nonny, you know better than to try and attack me.”
>A low rumble comes from the reassembling armor.

>He just refuses to understand...
>You did what you had to!
>Anon was so sick.
>Nothing you did would cure him.
>You walk through the illusory wall you created.
>There, inside the small room is a large crystal.
>Within lies the encased body of your dear boy Anonymous.
>Frozen in time, right in the middle of his last heartbeat.
>The armor clatters around in the hallway outside.
>What else could you do?!
>He was you son.
>You loved him above all else.
>It wasn’t fair that he was to be taken from you so soon.
>You still had so much love left to give your darling boy.
>Your tears drip onto the face of your son’s enclosure.
>So you did what nopony would consider.
>The depth of their love was but a puddle to the ocean you had for your son.
>You steeled your soul and stole his.
>You can still remember the twisted pain on your son’s face as you bound his soul to the armor.
“I promise you Nonny, I’ll find a cure for you. I’m searching everyday for one… and when I do, I’ll put you back. I’ll put you back and we can be a happy family again.”
>Your tears trickle down onto the crystal even faster.
>Your sniffles, and the clattering of a marching shell are the only sounds in this deep chamber.
>Just as you always do, you press your lips to the cool crystal, where Anon’s forehead is.
>Anon growls again as you pass back through the illusory wall.
“Now that’s enough Anonymous!”
>Anon stops making noise and stands defensively near you.
“My little colt, I know you get frustrated down here on your own.”

>You walk slowly towards your son.
“You can’t keep stealing ponies to play with though sweetie! I know I haven’t visited you as much as I should have…”
>The armor rumbles slightly.
“Aww, I miss you too baby, Tell you what? If you promise to let all the ponies you took go, then I’ll read you three stories this week. Do we have a deal?”
>The gauntlet taps the bottom of the helm’s chin.
>Slowly the gauntlet floats down to scratch just behind your ears.
>You coo and nuzzle into the hard steel of the chestplate.
“That’s my boy, I know you’re just a grumpy gryphon sometimes, but you’re a good little colt…”
>Your eyes water up again.
“And… and you just need some love from mommy… and one day… one day I’ll…”
>You have to take a few moments to breath, otherwise the guilt will crush you.
>A gauntlet slides down to wipe the tears from your cheeks.
“Ha, thank you sweetie…”
>You calm down enough to regain the ability to speak.
“Now… let’s see about your little playmates right?”
>The helm nods and turns to lead you through the caverns.
“Oh! Hold on Nonny, can you help me carry Shining?”
>The armor walks over and carries your husband in its arms.
“Such a good boy” you coo.