Beautiful Day (Alternate Ending)

Crystal Tower

The Boat was rocked by the force of the explosion. Sensors beeped and alarms sounded as the airship began to buckle under the pressure. Sunshine shouted orders into her radio as the airship went into a deadly spiral.

Shining Armored watched as the few others on the airship panicked, their shouts and the sounds of the airship breaking apart coming to his ears muted. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. His mind worked at a leisurely pace, figuring out the best course of action.

Shining got up from where he had slumped against a wall and moved towards the others, feeling like he was moving through thick pudding. He softly touched Cadance’s shoulder and nodded to the alicorn. She looked at him with confusion, Lovebug held tightly against her beast. He sighed, picked her up, and then bodily threw her out the hatch.

Cadance shouted several things not fit for foals’ ears after she spread her wings, attempting to give Shining the feather while in mid-flight.

Shining rolled his eyes and grabbed hold of Truth and Reuben with his magic, throwing out the changeling first followed closely by the earth pony. He quickly checked to make sure Truth had caught Reuben before moving on to Chrysalis.

The changeling eyed him with a look that promised immense amounts of pain should he attempt to throw her from the airship as well. Shining just nodded at Robinsson, who was still laying on the ground. Chrysalis sighed and picked the injured pegasus up, spreading her wings and abandoning the stricken airship as well.

Shining heard Sunshine shouting for the pilots to abandon the ship just before the pegasus came into view. She held out a hoof, which Shining took. Sunshine tried to give him her best reassuring smile as she pushed herself out of the airship’s hold, Shining jumping with her.

They cleared the airships body and debris, but the back draft caught Sunshine as she tried to spread her wings. The pegasus was flipped upside down and Shining held tightly to her barrel as he watched the ground rush up to meet them.

*******

Base of Crystal Tower

Cadance looked desperately towards the crash site. She hadn’t seen Shining or Sunshine since she landed and the ship had met with the ground long before she had.

She looked to Chrysalis and Truth, but they were both simply watching the burning wreckage, expressions nearly blank. Truth suddenly sniffed and looked away, trying to hold back tears.

“Hey Shining, which one of us do you think those tears are for?” Sunshine said.

Truth blinked and looked up to see the pegasus come hobbling towards them from the direction of the crash, Shining supporting her.

“Gee, I don’t know Sunshine.” Shining replied. “Probably you.”

Cadance let out a happy choke, trying to keep her own tears inside, and shook her head. Chrysalis smiled broadly.

A few medical ponies rushed forward to take Sunshine, but the pegasus waved them off.

“I’m fine. Shining here’s just trying to cop a feel.” she smiled at Shining.

“You know me too well.” the unicorn replied. He suddenly pulled Sunshine closer and kissed the pegasus full on the mouth.

Sunshine let out a muffled sound of protest and roughly shoved Shining back.

“Idiot!” Sunshine roared at Shining. There was an extremely uncomfortable silence in the air before Sunshine suddenly grabbed Shining and began kissing him passionately.

Everypony that could see what was happening stared in open mouth confusion as the two ponies went at it for far longer than was acceptable in public. They eventually broke apart, a thin trail of saliva connecting them.

“Idiot.” Sunshine said softly as she ran a hoof over Shining’s chest.

It took Cadance a few moments to find her jaw and reattach it. Her mouth worked a few times before any sound came out.

“What?”

Shining stopped making doe eyes at Sunshine and glanced over at Cadence. “Oh, did I not tell you earlier?”

“What?”

Shining laughed. “Oh Cadance, I’m sorry. I really should have mentioned this earlier.” he wrapped a foreleg around Sunshine. “I’ve been dating Sunshine here for a while.”

Cadance just blinked and stared. “What?”

Shining sighed. “Listen Cadance, our marriage was one of politics. It was fun at first, but we were nothing more than friends with benefits. You found somepony who you truly love and who loves you back, and I’m happy for you.” he smiled. “But, I still want a divorce.”

Shining shifted his gaze to Chrysalis. “Chrysalis, I’m happy that you’re making Cadance happy and that you’re happy with her. However, you still sucked the love out of me, made me go down as one of the worst defense guard captains in history, and impregnated my wife. So, fuck you. I don’t hate you, mind. But still, fuck you.”

Chrysalis sighed. “I suppose that’s still pretty good.”

Shining nodded and shifted his gaze to Truth. “And Truth?” the little changeling’s expression was uncertain. “You’re the best damn maid any family could ask for. Take care of these three, would you?”

Truth nodded.

“Well alright then.” Shining said cheerfully as he looked around at the assembled ponies. “I do believe I have a corndog coming my way.”

Reuben popped up and gave Shining a corndog.

“Ah, thank you.” Shining said as he began munching on his corndog.

He and Sunshine began walking away from the others, most of who were still frozen in shock.

“That went well.” Sunshine said.

“I thought so.” Shining replied.

Sunshine smiled and nuzzled Shining’s shoulder. “You’re an idiot, but you’re my idiot.”

Shining just chuckled.

There was a long moment where neither of them spoke. They just walked along, close to one another, content.

And then Sunshine ruined it.

“Let’s have a foal.”

Shining pulled the corndog from his mouth. “Squeezee?”

Sunshine giggled. “Let’s have a foal. You already have experience and I certainly could use something quieter to occupy my time than hostage situations.”

Shining just stood there for a time, his expression blank.

“…Shining?” Sunshine said after a time.

“Are you pregnant?” Shining asked.

Sunshine tilted her head. “No….Why would you-?”

“Oh would you look at the time.” Shining suddenly exclaimed. “I just remembered I have to go have a talk with Nurse Redheart in Ponyville. So sorry.” he said as he suddenly dashed away.

Sunshine was left standing there for a few moments, her expression confused, when it suddenly dawned on her.

“Get back here you worthless, no good, poor excuse for a guard!” She roared as she spread her wings and took off after him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RglMIKG0GFw

Author's Notes:

True Final Ending to follow.