Far above the furthest reaches of the Equestrian mountaintops, the Crystal Empire stood out quite prominently among the lifeless tundra of the Frozen North. Much like the Hippogriff Nation that reemerged following the Storm King’s defeat, the Crystal Empire was quick to bring itself into the present and establish itself as a powerful city. Fortunately for the crystallized community, its time-transferred citizens were lucky to have two prominent leaders who were able to not only bring their city back together, but help to mend the long-lasting wounds that came from their former tyrannical ruler. And even during some of the Empire’s darker moments, such as the attempted invasions by foes like Lord Tirek and King Sombra, there wasn’t a single crystal pony who carried any worries about the abilities of their rulers: Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, and Prince Consort Shining Armor.

However, despite how things may have appeared from an outside perspective, that didn’t mean that everything was as it seemed. For example, despite how diligent Shining Armor had been about security, none of the staff or Guards grew suspicious about the fact that the couple’s living quarters were deemed off-limits. Nor were any of the crystal ponies curious about the couple’s close friendship with one of their most hated enemies, who was given a much-needed reformation following his discovery over a year ago. Of course, considering how things have been going for the married couple following that one impactful night, it was likely very fortunate that nopony had caught on to the state of things just yet.

For example, despite how active the Crystal Empire becomes at the first instance of morning peeking from the tundra’s eastern horizons, no castle staff were allowed to intrude on the Royal Couple’s bedroom until eight am. And even if somepony tried to knock on their door before then, it’s magic-infused locks and soundproofing ensured that nothing could be heard through either side of the barrier. Because of that, nopony could be able to tell what may have been happening behind those closed doors, or even who could’ve been inside of that bedroom. For most of the castle staff, they saw that precaution as something to uphold the Royal Couple’s privacy; but for the couple themselves -- or more specifically, the Royal Couple and their personal Guard, it was also for the sake of their personal safety and pleasure.

“AAAAHHHHH!!~ Ri… Right there!! Right there!!~”

Princess Cadance, who was already wide-awake and rearing for some much-needed attention, had herself braced against the side of her massive bed while moaning like a mare in heat. The pink alicorn had beads of sweat dripping down from her brow, and strands of her pristine multicolor mane were clinging tightly against her damp fur. Her eyes were rolled back while her eyelids fluttered in unbridled bliss, which seemed to match the trembling smile she was carrying while being rocked back and forth from the stallion behind her. Even with how powerfully the Prince’s thrusts collided with her backside, and left her voluptuous form rippling near-constantly in its present position, the Princess’ swollen barrel remained undisturbed while carrying their foal. Between the pregnant mare’s hind-legs, rivulets of her arousal were trickling down her thighs to leave a small puddle on the sheets; and behind the rapturously moaning Princess, her husband was grinning like a prideful beast as he took his time, and pounded into her pristine pussy with enough force to leave her reeling for more.
“Aaaaahhhh!! AAAAHHHH!! Oh, Sweet Celestia, YES!!!” Cadance clenched her eyes shut as she rested her head against the cool bedding, and she laid in total submission for that thick cock that was spearing her so passionately. Even though it was common knowledge that a pregnant mare’s desires could come at full-force without warning, there was no doubt that Cadance was having a particularly incessant itch scratched at by her tenacious Prince. Due to the contentment she felt from her stallion fulfilling her primal needs, she barely even tried to look up at the lone Guard who was standing just a couple feet away at the foot of their bed; nor did she feel any remorse as she reeled her head back, and bellowed out a quaking moan within their soundproofed space. “AAAHHHH!! Gi… Give to me, Sombra! Yes!!! YES!!!~”

Sombra, the former Tyrant of the very empire Cadance was in rule of, was grinning wide enough to expose his glistening fangs between his rapid pants. Sweat was beading all over the charcoal fur that lined across his toned and muscular form, but his posture remained strong while he stood on his hind-legs and pounded the Princess’ hungry cunt. His hooves gripped Cadance’s flanks tightly from both sides, and his rapid thrusts against his wife’s body were leaving her in a titillated state she never wanted to end. Of course, despite the fact that the ex-villain was technically over a millennium old due to his time spent frozen in ice, he was still spry enough to shoot a teasing grin over at their Guard while he rutted Cadance to no end. “Mmmmm… How does this look from your end, Private Armor?~”

Shining Armor, the Prince Consort of the Crystal Empire and legal husband to Princess Cadance, looked completely different within the bedroom as opposed to his public view. While the pregnant mare was being pounded just a couple feet from his twitching face, the white stallion stood stoically as Guard while wearing his basic silver armor. His eyes remained locked on the couple as they fucked relentlessly, but the unicorn was able to keep a blank expression beneath his heavy blush. Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said for Shining’s body, as his stallionhood helplessly twitched within the tight confines of his pink chastity cage; and with each involuntary spasm he made due to his arousal, the Private’s armor faintly creaked and clacked from even the slightest movements. Luckily though, his composure was still strong enough to take a deep breath, and address the former Tyrant he now saw as his Superior. “Sir! It… I-It sounds like you’re hitting her sweet spot very well, my Prince…”

Sombra grinned even wider upon hearing that title, mostly due to whose muzzle it was coming from. Just a year prior, Shining Armor was a prideful Prince who had everything he could’ve wanted, including the mare who was now in Sombra’s possession. But ever since that night when the couple decided to explore cuckolding, the tables have turned drastically for the couple and their designated bull. And nowadays, with the Princess pregnant with Sombra’s foal and Shining remaining as a “divorced” and demoted Guard in their vicinity, it was almost scary how significantly Sombra was able to implement his control in a more privatized manner. It may have not been the Crystal Empire as a whole, but Prince Sombra seemed more than content with the dominance he carried over both of the city’s current leaders.

“Nnnnfffff… That’s right, Shining!” growled Sombra as he locked eyes with the squirming Guard, and continued to ram his cock mercilessly into Cadance’s dripping cunt. Sombra bit his lip with an enamored hiss as he felt his wife’s velvety folds clenching hard around his shaft, hoping to keep him place and better milk every inch of that endowed length. But even as he felt himself reaching closer to completion, Sombra’s shit-eating grin never pointed away from the poor Guard who had to watch him fucking his former spouse. “Mnnnghh… I bet you wish you were able to make her moan like this, huh?~”

Shining’s lips pursed together briefly in an attempt to hide a pained wince. However, considering how glossy his chastity cage had become from the copious amounts of pre that helplessly tried to spurt from his locked cock, it didn’t seem like he was in too much pain from his current predicament. In fact, the Guard was able to take another breath before growing a faint smile, and sighing with a nod back at his Prince. “Al… A-All that matters is that the Princess is being satisfied, my Prince…”

A smug-looking smirk lingered on Sombra’s muzzle while staring back at Shining. In the months that passed following Princess Cadance’s pregnancy, Sombra was impressed with how well Shining Armor had grown to accepting his new role. Even when Sombra issued a permanent demotion to the Prince Consort, marking him as a lowly Private while in the presence of himself and Cadance, Shining was able to accept the new title without any complaint. And nowadays, with the Princess notably pregnant with another stallion’s foal and blissfully shouting his name in rapture, the only discomfort that Sombra was able to sense from his cuckolded Guard was a look of shameful pleasure on his face; well, aside from the constant creaking Shining’s armor made due to his incessant squirming.

And because of that, Sombra’s eyes couldn’t help narrowing curiously while he grew closer to climax, and his grin exposed more of his razor-sharp teeth, “Hmmmm… Honestly, it’s a shame a Private with privileges like yourself can’t stay still… I never had that problem with my previous Guards~”

Even though Cadance was helplessly moaning with her face pressed against the bedding, she briefly carried a look of uncertainty upon hearing her husband’s statement. Fortunately, it didn’t seem like Shining took notice of that as he answered his Prince with diligence. “I-I apologize, my Prince! It’s, uhhhh… It’s kinda difficult given the circumstances…”

Despite appreciating the stallion’s honesty, Sombra grew a faux-disappointed scowl before he pushed Cadance’s raised flank further forward on the bed, While the Princess was pinned down harder against the mattress, Sombra groaned with a lustful growl as he plowed the pregnant mare with all of his might. Each rocking motion of his hips caused her plump cheeks to ripple around his hooves, and her swollen belly tried to rock back and forth from the constant movement she was being put under. But even as her moans bellowed out more intensely from the tantalizing force her husband was giving her, the lowly Private kept his attention on Sombra’s voice while he spoke more menacingly between thrusts. “You know, I… I could easily turn you into more of a proper Guard if you… If you showed more diligence to your place under our hooves~”

Shining tried not to writhe too strongly in his stoic stance, but the distinct clanking of his armor still rung out in response to Sombra’s teasing words. Meanwhile, the Private mustered up enough composure to gulp nervously, and resound with, “O-Of course I want to remain diligent, my Prince! A-And I… And I’ve done everything I could to prove that…”

Shining bit his lips together for a second after giving that answer, most likely due to the severity of how true that statement really was. Ever since Sombra was invited up to their bedroom for that first cuckolding session, Shining ended up losing a lot for the sake of their current relationship involving him. Along with being divorced through official decree, having his former wife impregnated by their bull, and being demoted to the lowest ranks in their presence, Shining tried his hardest not to think of how else his Prince could bring him down lower than he already was. But at the same time, despite knowing how poorly things could go if this continued on, the constant throbbing he felt from his permanently-locked chastity cage sent a chilling reminder; no matter what he might try to tell himself regarding his current state, Shining Armor knew deep-down that Sombra was giving him what he wanted.

And judging by how sinister Sombra’s grin became by the time Cadance reached her final climax of the morning, Shining was certain that he knew that fact just as well as the Private did.

“AAAAHHHH!!~ I’m… I’m gonna!! I’M GONNA!!!~”

Just as Cadance’s rapturous cries of pleasure turned to a series of hiccuped gasps, the Princess’ body trembled intensely while clenching around the girth of Sombra’s cock. As for the Prince, who had to look away from his blushing Guard to clench his eyes shut, groaned from the immense tension that caused him to reach his peak as well. His hips writhed strongly while colliding with Cadance’s backside, and a shivered moan escaped his muzzle as he felt a volley of warmth splashing against his waist to dribble down his legs. As for the Princess he was mounted over, her heavy moans lingered on while she clung onto his throbbing length, and squirted a hefty amount of her juices all over his matted fur.

“GNNNGHHH!!” With one last thundering thrust inside of the pregnant mare, Sombra groaned through his gritted fangs while erupting deep inside of her. Cadance’s orgasm continued to leave her nerves fraying in pure euphoria, and her hooves clenched inward while feeling spurt after spurt of Sombra’s seed flooding every crevice of her hungry cunt. Even though her womb had already been claimed by the former Tyrant, the satisfying feeling of being filled to the brim with his virile cum left her absolutely speechless by the time he was done. Meanwhile, Sombra only pushed into her cunt a couple more times as the last of his throbs receded within her, and every drop of his load was nestled deep inside of his mate. “Aaaaahhhhh… Mmmmnnnnghhhh~”

During the time Sombra and Cadance shared that intense climax following their morning quickie, the Prince’s ears constantly twitched from hearing his Private’s armor shuffling with a metallic clatter. Even though he knew it wasn’t something Shining could really control, Sombra still saw how much the cuckold was trying not to wince by the time he reopened his eyes. Shining may have been the Head of the Royal Guard before his marriage to Cadance, but his composure still seemed compromised due to how badly he was blushing underneath his armor. Nevertheless, since the unicorn was able to keep from groaning in shameful pleasure, Sombra was pleased that Shining was holding up so well after months of cuckolding torment.

Of course, by the time Sombra finally pulled his softening length out of Cadance, and caused her to shiver in titillation from the heavy volume of cum that dribbled from her gaping cunt, Sombra kept a sterner stare up at Shining before he could start cleanup. “GUARD! You are aware how distracting your armor gets when it clanks around the entire time we fuck, don’t you?!”

Shining knew it wasn’t something he could easily control, but he still sighed in remorse while nodding his head. “I-I apologize again, my Prince,” he said with his eyes closed, before he lowered his head in shame. Unlike the Royal regalia armor that was hanging prominently over the Guard’s futon across the room, the silver helmet that Shining was wearing didn’t carry a fraction of the luster or shine of his golden plating. But at the same time, the dingy metal seemed to match Shining’s morose expression as he said in a guilty tone, “I… I promise I’ll try to control myself better the next time I stand Guard.”

Sombra wasn’t too worried about the sincerity of Shining’s statement, since he personally loved making one of the Crystal Empire’s “leaders” squirm so helplessly without even touching him. However, the Prince still huffed through his nostrils while he laid atop his pregnant wife, and said in a flatter tone back at his Private, “Well, you should really consider whether or not you’re adequate enough to remain in your current position, Private. After all, I could easily change things up to put you in a lower state than before…”

Sombra then grew a devilish grin as he narrowed his eyes on Shining, and added with a more malicious tone, “... And you know you would have to comply if I made it an order… Don’t you?~”

Shining struggled not to tremble too strongly while standing before the post-coital couple. Unfortunately, along with his armor making the briefest shiver that caused his plating to creak, Shining could feel a particularly thick glob of his precum seeping from one of the vents in his chastity cage. Just like his former spouse, who was now half-comatose underneath Sombra following that quickie, it seemed that the Private couldn’t help leaking a little between his legs either. Nonetheless, Shining Armor still breathed out firmly to maintain his stoic stance, and he nodded his head in confirmation to Sombra’s threat. “Y… Y-Yes, I understand, my Prince…”

Sombra’s grin widened while staring back at the Guard studiously, taking notice of every twitch that Shining’s expression carried without him even realizing it. Even though he looked uncomfortable, Sombra could tell that his Private secretly loved being put in his place so harshly by him and Cadance. And because of that, Sombra decided to add to the humiliation as he pulled himself up from his bed, and grabbed a nearby towel for himself. “Well, I certainly hope that you do understand,” he said while wiping off the array of fluids clinging to the fur on his waist. “Because until I see just how sincere you are about your duties, you’re hereby barred from assisting in cleanup until I say otherwise.”

Shining’s eyes widened in shock, and he tried his hardest not to appear too stunned or disappointed by Sombra’s order. Even though he knew his clanging armor was a bit of a nuisance, he couldn’t necessarily be expected to control his spasming while hearing Cadance moaning Sombra’s name so passionately. But alas, since he knew by that point that Sombra’s word was basically law, Shining tried to count his blessings that he was only giving that as a punishment. “I… I understand, my Prince,” he said with a firm nod, even though he tried to catch one final glance at Cadence's waiting, drooling pussy before he could leave the room. Considering how long it’s been since he achieved orgasm, one of the few pleasures Shining could say he still carried was eating her out following the couple’s sessions; the strong and bitter taste of Sombra’s cum was too overpowering for him to really taste Cadance’s syrupy juices, but it was better than being given nothing at all.

“Oh, and before you go…” Just as Shining was about to turn away from the couple, Sombra put down his towel and got himself out of bed. While Cadance remained blissfully rested atop the stained bedding, Sombra kept a particularly looming stance as he stood over his Private. Shining tried not to blush from the intimidation he felt, but it was near impossible to hide such a reaction when the former Tyrant stood a few inches from his face. Sombra’s burning red eyes seemed to peer into Shining’s very soul, and the pony couldn’t move an inch while hearing his Prince say, “Immediately after you finish breakfast with my wife, I expect you to meet me in my former living quarters. You are not to tell anypony about your plans, and will come to see me alone. But before then, I’m going to give you a very important order I expect you to abide…”

Shining didn’t pull back from Sombra’s face, even as the Prince loomed in closer with a firmer glare in his unblinking eyes. Since the Private kept himself silent, Sombra only waited another moment before saying authoritatively, “Private Shining Armor… While you’re enjoying your ‘Royal Breakfast’ among the castle staff, and appreciating all the amenities you possess as the ‘Prince’ of this Empire, I’m ordering you to think really hard about what you feel you really deserve… Because considering how much you’ve sacrificed already, I want to make sure you think about how you truly see yourself… and how content you may feel about your position as our Guard. Do I make myself clear?”

Despite how ominously Sombra gave that chilling order, Shining was able to give a quick salute in affirmation. “Sir, yes Sir!” he said with the same level of authority he would’ve given to any of his Superiors during his Guard training. His muzzle may have been slightly skewed in trepidation, but it wasn’t distracting enough to warrant any further conflict from Sombra’s perspective. And as the Private went to freshen himself up in the bathroom, he could hear Cadance’s semi-conscious coos of adoration as Sombra began to clean her off with his towel.

As soon as the bathroom door closed behind him, Shining nearly collapsed on the marble floors with a deep and shivering sigh. His armor creaked quite a bit, and his legs couldn’t stop fidgeting from the unrelenting arousal he still felt following that session he witnessed. As soon as he undid his basic armor, Shining groaned with a bit lip when he saw how strained his chastity cage had gotten from him merciless erection. Meanwhile underneath that pink cage, the unicorn’s unused balls were left notably swollen from their lack of release, and carried a faint bluish tint among his white fur; of course, considering how it’s been several months since he last experienced a proper orgasm, the sight of blueballs was more of a normalcy than anything else for the poor Guard.

Fortunately for the Private, by the time he finished washing himself up in the shower, Princess Cadance was given a thorough enough cleanup to leave her presentable for castle staff. Shining used to be worried about mornings like those, since the scent of her sexual endeavours with Sombra lingered notably strong in her fur and mane. However, in the recent months since Cadance chose not to shower so religiously after every session she and her husband shared, Shining hadn’t noticed any looks of suspicion from the staff or Guards. Of course, even if ponies were to catch that faint musk if they got in too close to the Princess, it was likely that they just assumed it was Shining’s doing. While that theory certainly gave some much-needed comfort to the Private, Shining really didn’t like how often he was pondering the idea of ponies learning the truth; particularly, he was growing worried that the very idea was causing his member to strain so badly inside of his chastity cage.

Nevertheless, Shining tried not to let those thoughts distract him while he and Cadance shared a lovely breakfast together in the dining hall. From the way he and his “Ex”-Wife conversed so lovingly, and how much time both of them spent tending to Flurry Heart giggling to her heart’s content, it would’ve been impossible to see anything beneath the image of a perfect family. Fortunately for Shining, his thoughts pertaining to Sombra’s order didn’t really affect his mood as he appreciated his family time during breakfast. But at the same time, the Private’s conscience was riddled in thought as he tried to process those thoughts in the back of his mind, almost as if he was double-tasking the two lives he had been living for over the past year.

Shining hated to admit it to himself -- especially while he played peekaboo with Flurry after feeding her breakfast -- but he almost felt bad about how he was living in comparison to Sombra. Sure, the ex-King may have been living lavishly and carefree within their bedroom, but he was still basically a prisoner among the rest of the castle. Even before Shining became his cuckolded bitch, he and Cadance were regularly preparing his meals during his rehabilitation process to make sure no crystal ponies would try to poison him. And even with his recent induction as Crystaller for Cadance’s upcoming foal, Sombra was technically still under strict probation due to his past crimes; his house-arrest may have been lifted so he could travel freely within the Crystal Empire’s limits, but he very rarely left the castle grounds for the sake of his personal safety.

And now, with Sombra having just fucked an Equestrian Princess like he was the lead in a porno movie, he was probably now eating a pre-prepared meal by himself while some Crystal Guard watched him intently. Meanwhile, the cuckolded Prince who was treated so differently behind locked doors, was now enjoying that massive array of freshly-made delicacies alongside Cadance. Back when he was still under Guard training in Canterlot, Shining would’ve felt unbelievably out of place being given such luxuries without even being asked. But even after spending years as the Crystal Empire’s Prince, Shining was starting to feel that same way after being “demoted” in his private relationship.

The last thing Shining wanted to do was think too critically about himself like Sombra had demanded, since he knew how insanely things have turned since Sombra took over their cuckolding lifestyle. Heck, Shining was certain that even other cuckolds would be appalled at how far Sombra had taken things, despite how consensual everything had been so far. But alas, since Sombra gave the order, Shining was forced to think over his current state while sitting as a Prince to the public eye, unable to truly appreciate the breakfast that was laid out before him. He certainly didn’t refuse the food he was given, but he almost felt like an actor playing a role he wasn’t prepared for. Or at least, he felt that Sombra’s dominance was starting to leak into his psyche when he knew it shouldn’t be.

By the time he and Cadance finished their meals, the Princess went off to freshen up and spend some time with Flurry Heart. Meanwhile, Shining made sure his schedule was cleared up before he went to the rear wing of the Crystal Castle, where Sombra’s old living space was still left unoccupied. Even after Sombra moved back into his old bedroom, Shining made sure that the room was regularly dusted so no castle staff grew suspicious. Sombra also used the room as a private office during the daytime, which further helped to conceal the facade that had been hidden so well over the past year.

After looking around the empty hallway in slight paranoia, Shining sighed to himself before he knocked on Sombra’s door. After a moment of silence, he heard Sombra’s voice speak out firmly, “If that’s you, Shining, then please come in.”

Shining exhaled sharply in trepidation, and kept his lip bitten as he entered Sombra’s old room. Even after the ex-Tyrant was first discovered in the Frozen North, he was given a fairly decent living space as part of his probationary period. The room was fairly basic with its bland furniture and decor, but it also had all the amenities one would find in a small apartment; of course, even with a bowl of fresh fruit sitting out in the middle of the kitchen’s island counter, it wouldn’t take long for ponies to realize this room was very minimally used. In fact, the only sign of life was the grey stallion himself, who was seated in a lush office chair in the back of the room; the office desk was supposed to be up against the back wall, but it was now placed in the middle of the room with Sombra seated behind it.

“Ah, there you are,” said Sombra with a thankful nod, as well as an oddly warm smile on his muzzle. As Shining closed the door behind him, he couldn’t help but feel like something was amiss. While it was obvious from the bed just a few feet away that this was a living space, it looked like Sombra wanted it to feel more like an office setting in anticipation of Shining’s arrival. A lone wooden chair was seated in wait in front of the desk, and Sombra reached into one of the drawers to pull out something unusual. A small novelty device, which was composed of a simple frame that held four metallic balls by thin wires, was placed on the middle of the desk. Sombra pulled back one of the balls on the edge of the row before letting it go, which caused an audible clack when it struck the other three; and through the impressive laws of physics, the motion of that ball carried enough force to make the ball on the other end swing out at full length, before swinging back down to repeat the process. Shining had seen those items in offices before (something called a Newton’s Cradle if Twilight was correct), but it was odd seeing it placed by itself in the middle of Sombra’s barren desk.

While those metallic balls constantly clacked together with a repetitive, almost hypnotic rhythm, Sombra sat upright in his seat with his forelegs crossed atop the desk, and a peculiar smile pointed at Shining. The Private didn’t say anything, but his muzzle was skewed in slight unease at what Sombra may have been planning. “Now, before we begin,” said the seated stallion, as he motioned his head towards a nearby standing mirror that was beside the empty bed. “Shining? May you look in that mirror, please?”

Shining wasn’t sure which part of that request was more unnerving: that Sombra wanted him to do something so ominously basic, or that he actually asked instead of giving it as an order. Nevertheless, the unicorn still nodded his head before walking over towards the mirror. As he looked at himself, Shining blushed with a bitten lip as he caught sight of the gold-plated regalia that hung over his chest. Even though he technically was a Prince by all legal and Regal standards, Shining still felt a twinge of intimidation at seeing himself in such a way while alone with Sombra. Although, it didn’t take long for Shining to also notice his dented Private armor, which was laid out on top of the empty dresser that stood beside the mirror.

After staring at himself for a moment in his Royal regalia, Shining glanced back to see Sombra sitting in wait with a smile. Since Sombra wasn’t saying anything just yet, Shining had to look back at the mirror before sighing in realization. Without being asked, the stallion lit up his horn so he could carefully undo his golden plating, and laid it out on top of the bed. He then floated over his more basic attire, and quickly donned himself in the Private armor to show his proper status before Sombra. Before he could sit down in front of the Prince’s desk, Shining took a secondary glance back at himself after putting on his silver plating; the sight was very jarring after seeing how he looked just a minute ago, and his blush deepened quite a bit before he looked away with a conflicted expression.

As he sat himself down in the chair, Sombra nodded his head in approval and said, “Nicely done, Private. For a moment there, I was worried you wouldn’t choose to do something like that~”

Shining lowered his head with a more sheepish expression, but his blush couldn’t be hidden behind his clunky helmet. “W-Well, I… I kinda figured that was what you wanted, my Prince.”

Sombra nodded a second time, but then added with a shrug of his shoulders, “That may be true, but I also wanted to see how you looked at yourself before and after you did it. And I have to say, you seemed a bit more comfortable in that armor as opposed to your ‘Princely’ attire~”

That remark seemed to have struck a nerve for Shining, as his ears quickly lowered in intimidation against the sides of his helmet. The Private meekly rubbed one of his forelegs with his other hoof, and squirmed a little to make his plating creak once again. But despite how strangely nervous he may have looked, Shining tried to overlook any implications on Sombra’s end as he said, “I, uhhh… I-I’m just following the orders given by my Superior, Sombra.”

Even though he could’ve easily pointed out how Shining wasn’t ordered to wear that armor since entering the room, Sombra let that comment slide with a roll of his eyes. “Well… All I’m saying is that you seem content with the way things have been going between us. Would you agree with that, at least?”

After a pert sigh, Shining was able to nod his head while looking back at Sombra. The clacking of those metallic balls in the Newton’s Cradle continued to drone on with an incessantly rampant rhythm, but it wasn’t enough to distract Shining as he gave a faint smile back at his Prince. “Y-Yes, Sombra. I… I do feel happy with things as they are…”

Despite knowing that he meant that answer sincerely, the realization of it made him lower his head again with a feeling of immense guilt. Considering how well his life was going before Sombra intervened, it was almost disturbing that Shining was able to find solace in the lifestyle he was living now. Heck, considering who he was so lucky to have been married to, the fact that he wasn’t upset about not having intercourse with Cadance for over a year should’ve been a downright tragedy. But even with the heavy strain he felt in his heart from the atrocities he committed through Sombra’s control, Shining was still able to look back up at his Superior, and give a reaffirming smile in regards to his fate.

“Thank you for your honesty,” said Sombra with a genuinely pleased tone of voice, “because I’ve taken notice of how well you’ve accustomed yourself to your new status behind closed doors. And while I don’t intend to change that aspect anytime soon, I was curious about how strong-willed you could be while remaining my Private.”

Shining blinked a couple times in confusion, and tilted his head slightly while eyeing Sombra’s curious smile. “W… What do you mean by that?” he asked the Prince, while trying his hardest not to sound too worried. “I mean… Didn’t you say my demotion to Private was permanent?”

“I did,” nodded Sombra as his smile remained unchanged. However, his red eyes narrowed more intensely on Shining as he added, “And believe me, Private. As far as I’m concerned, you will never be given a higher rank as long as I’m your Prince~”

Shining’s cheeks grew a couple shades redder after hearing that confirmation, and his muzzle was tightly clenched shut while exhaling heavily through his nostrils. As he nodded in understanding back at Sombra, his legs clenched together just enough to make his metal plating creak again. Even though that may have not been as notable as the clacking from his Newton’s Cradle, Sombra still smirked knowingly upon seeing Shining’s reaction to his statement. But instead of pointing out any details to make Shining squirm any harder, Sombra kept himself on topic in regards to their meeting. “However… Due to your diligence and dedication over the past few months, I don’t think it would be right to leave my appreciation unshown. And if I were to be completely honest with you, Shining Armor…”

Sombra paused for a second as he looked back at the Private, and grew a more sincere smile that showed a rare hint of sympathy in his expression. He stared down at his hooves for a moment, almost as if he was contemplating whether or not to complete his statement. But after making a quick sigh, Sombra turned his attention back towards Shining to say, “I know I gave you that ‘punishment’ this morning, but I have to tell you… I’ve had a lot of Guards who served under me back when I was in rule of the Crystal Empire. Some did so by choice, while others were, ummm… unfortunate victims to my hubris…”

Shining tried not to wince while nodding back at Sombra, knowing that was likely the softest way he could word the ex-King’s former crimes against ponykind. Fortunately, Sombra then followed up that remark with a more optimistic, “But… Of all the stallions and mares who I’ve had that served under me… I can honestly say that I have never… ever encountered any pony who showed as much pride and understanding as you have. And for that, I wanted to give you the deepest respect I could bestow upon any Guard. You do an exceptional job with the role you’ve been given, and… and part of me wished you were around to help me before I succumbed to dark magic.”

Shining’s brows raised up as he blinked a couple times, not expecting Sombra to give a word of praise as genuine as that. While he knew that Sombra already respected him and Cadance as rulers of the Crystal Empire -- even going as far as to say for official press that they were far better suited to lead than he ever was -- the fact that he was showing that same level of admiration for Shining as a Private felt very unexpected. And even though he was certain that Sombra was giving him that kind of compliment for a reason, Shining still smiled gratefully back at him and said, “Ummm… Wow, I… I wasn’t expecting you to say such a thing about me, but… But it truly is an honor, my Prince. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” replied the Prince kindly, before he reached back underneath his desk to pull out something else. “And considering your current situation, I was needing to ask you in advance… Is there any reason you can think of to end things as they are right now?”

Shining grew a little more wary following that question, but he stayed silent while looking upward and pausing in reflection. He knew that there realistically should’ve been a dozen reasons to end his current lifestyle under Sombra’s rule (and probably several dozen more if he ever told a therapist about it), but nothing could come to his head while he took that moment to think. Even with his cock locked up in his permanent chastity, and the conflicting feelings he had about his double-life between roles, Shining eventually sighed before he looked back up at Sombra, and shook his head with a content smile. “H-Honestly? I… I can’t really think of any reason to stop things, Sombra. I mean… you’re just as important to us as we are for you.”

Sombra looked up from his desk to shoot a thankful smile, and gave a pleased, “Thank you!” before going back through his drawers. Meanwhile, Shining tried to keep himself optimistic while sitting across from him in wait, hopeful that the ex-Tyrant didn’t have anything too sinister in mind. However, as soon as Sombra made a brief “A-ha!” to himself, he pulled himself back up while holding a very old book. The worn leather bindings were cracked and barely hanging by the thread holding it together, and the thick bundle of pages between were curling at the edges and yellowed with age. Shining wasn’t sure how long Sombra had been holding on to such an ancient relic, but he hoped it wasn’t something Sombra wasn’t allowed to own under probation; even if his sentencing was lighter than it was before, they both knew that any books retaining to dark magic were strictly banned from Sombra’s personal use.

But when he leaned in to get a better glance at the book’s near illegible title, Shining’s head tilted in surprise when he saw what the book was called: Third Edition - Official Regulations and Protocol for Equestrian Royal Guard.

“Don’t worry, I checked this out from the archives through perfectly legal means,” assured Sombra with a firm tone of voice, indicating that he was just as aware of his probation as Shining was. Even though it was recommended for ponies to use unicorn magic when handling such an ancient binding of text, Sombra’s inability to use his prosthetic horn prompted him to carefully open the book with his hooves. “I will say though, it’s very unsettling seeing this book in such a state as it is now. I mean, I get that over a thousand years have passed since I last used this book, but this was brand-new back when I was in rule of this Empire.”

Shining’s brows rose upon hearing that detail, and he shrugged his shoulders while glancing down at the worn-out book. The Private may have not been a bookworm like his sister, but he was sure even he would’ve felt the same that Sombra had if he was gone for over a millennium. But instead of saying anything regarding that matter, Shining watched as Sombra carefully flipped through the brittle pages in search of something. “Hmmm… I know it was in here somewhere… Ah! Here we go!~”

Sombra grew an especially chipper grin as he opened his book up to the appropriate page, which seemed to be a detailed list of rules a pony must abide by as a member of the Royal Guard. Shining knew that list very well, since he and his fellow Guards were all ordered to remember every single rule back when he was in training. However, considering how old Sombra’s edition of that book must have been, Shining could only imagine what changes have been made between then and now.

“Now then…” After finding the section he was hoping for, Sombra looked back up at Shining so he could speak more professionally. “Private Armor, I want to emphasize that despite how I may treat you in private quarters, I truly do appreciate your servitude towards me and Cadance, as well as your friendship. And after all you’ve managed to do for the sake of our fun, I want to make it clear that I’m only suggesting this for the sake of strengthening our relationship. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Even though he was a little worried what Sombra may have been planning to suggest, Shining trusted his statement enough to nod his head firmly. “Ummm...Yes, Sir,” he said back to the Prince. “I understand.”

“Good.” Sombra then took his time as he carefully lifted up the old book with both hooves, and tried to spin it around so the text was facing Shining. Fortunately, the Private lit up his horn to float the book out of Sombra’s hooves, and laid it out daintily at his edge of the desk. “Ah, thank you for that,” said Sombra gratefully. “Now, before you start reading, I wish to ask you one final question. And I need you to be honest about this…”

Shining glanced back up at Sombra’s daunting gaze, and the way his red eyes were staring at the Private with a firm and unrelenting expression. “Shining Armor… Do you enjoy serving me and Cadance as our personal Private?”

Shining took a second to process that question, mostly due to how odd it sounded coming from Sombra’s mouth. However, the Private was quick to think over his answer with a silent breath, and looked towards Sombra with a faint nod of his head. “I-I… I do,” he admitted with a sheepish smile, as well as a guiltily sincere blush that emphasized his true feelings. “I mean… I think it’s a little late to be asking me that, don’t you?”

Sombra chuckled with a shrug of his head, and replied. “Touchè, Private. I suppose things have gone a little further than any of us would’ve expected. However… considering what I was wanting to ask of you regarding that book, I figured it was only fair to ask that question preemptively.”

Shining tried not to gulp too audibly, and kept his expression as neutral as possible while floating up the book Sombra wanted him to read through. As his eyes narrowed on the old Ponish text, the Guard asked, “Did I, ummm… did I miss a rule as your Guard or something?”

“In a way, you technically have,” noted Sombra with a small nod of his head, as well as a less confident expression while studying Shining’s eyes scanning the page. “But… I wasn’t too sure about you following a specific rule in particular, so I left it unaddressed until now…”

Shining nodded his head, but he kept reading through the various rules with his muzzle pursed in concentration. Due to the old Ponish being difficult to understand properly, as well as the text itself being faded from the centuries that passed, Shining had to lean in close to the book while reading like an old stallion. Fortunately, the Guard was able to understand most of the rulings being presented, and got through half of the list before going to the next page. However, as soon as one particular rule came within his line of sight, Shining’s brows rose immensely with a look of shock on his face. Meanwhile across the desk, Sombra narrowed his eyes while trying to ascertain the stunned, wide-eyed stare that Shining was carrying on his face.

Shining’s left eye twitched involuntarily, and his magic tried not to flicker while he held that ancient book in his aura. He blinked a couple times while staring at the same row of words over and over, but they didn’t seem to change in the slightest from the Private’s perspective. While he gawked at that one ruling, the Newton’s Cradle kept clicking at a monotonous rhythm. After almost a full minute of heavily awkward silence, Shining finally glanced back up at Sombra while struggling not to gawk. “Are… Are you serious?!”

Sombra had one of his hooves raised to keep Shining at bay, and made sure the Guard closed his muzzle before speaking in a calmer tone. “Now… Before you say anything, I promise you that I’m not going to make that an order. I simply wanted you to understand what I’ve been curious about implementing between us. In fact, I’m willing to give you several privileges to better assist your living situation if you agree to think it over.”

Shining’s face dropped, and he blinked several more times while staring at Sombra in deeper shock. “W-Wait, you… you seriously wanted me to… to do that?!”

The Private pointed a hoof down at the book while it was resting on the desk between them, and Sombra took a moment before he answered with a shrug. “Well… if it’s the rule I hope you noticed, then… Yes, I have been wanting you to do that for me.”

From the way Shining was staring back at Sombra, it almost seemed like the Prince had sprouted a second dick where his horn used to be. Although, considering what the discussion was actually pertaining to, it could’ve been debated how much worse that alternative would’ve been. But while Shining gawked at the pony had already done so much to him for the past year, Sombra kept his hooves raised as he added, “However… I should let you know that I’m only asking you to think about it. I’m not asking you to say ‘Yes.’ In fact, I wouldn’t even be surprised if you told me ‘No’ later on today. I only wish that you take the time to consider it. I’ll even grant you those privi--”

“W-WAIT A MINUTE!” barked Shining as he stood up in his armor, and shot a stunned-looking back at the Prince he just interrupted. Sombra didn’t seem too upset by Shining’s outburst, and simply remained in his seat while looking back at him respectfully. Despite his interruption, Shining needed a moment to think of what to say next. He had hoped that Sombra’s silence would help him better think out his words, but that incessant clacking from the Newton’s Cradle kept his mind in a fretful state. Fortunately, the Prince remained patiently silent in wait, and didn’t move from his spot when the Private finally spoke up. “S… Sombra, I… I know I’ve done a lot already, a-and… and I know I’ve done far more than any sane stallion would. But…”

Shining closed his eyes to pinch the bridge of his muzzle with a hoof, and took a couple deep breaths to settle himself down. Meanwhile, Sombra kept himself silent while waiting for the Guard’s follow-up, knowing that this was likely an awkward request to have made. However, considering how well things have gone up to this point, the Prince was optimistic that Shining would come to reason about this as well. While the Private tried to retain his composure, Sombra reached back into his desk to pull out one final item: a small pair of wire-cutters. Of course, even with his confidence in mind, Sombra wasn’t too shocked when Shining finally looked back at him with a very, very unnerved expression on his face. “S-Sombra, I… I need to make sure we’re on the same page here. I… I know you just showed me that book, but… B-But are we really talking about the rule I think you are?”

“I should certainly hope so,” assured Sombra as he leaned forward, and closed the book carefully with his hoof. “Shining Armor, I have never had a Guard as good as you, and I’m not just saying that to ease your mind. I truly do appreciate the constancy and care you give to your work as my Private, and your enjoyment of the tasks I give you is especially comforting. And since you said yourself that you didn’t feel any regrets about how you spent the past year, I feel like you can trust me enough to consider such a significant passage. After all you’ve done for me, and all you’ve been able to sacrifice for the sake of our relationship, I was hopeful that you could comply with something to show just how dedicated you are to myself and Princess Cadance. Something that many Guards before you have done for eons before my banishment, and something I know you could do to show your place as well…”

While Shining Armor stood across from Sombra’s desk with a blank and wide-eyed look, his Prince stood up from his chair to stand at face level with him. The hoof that held his wire cutters went down towards the Newton’s Cradle, and finally ended that incessant clacking with two small snips. With the room now completely silent, Sombra carried a stern, but prideful expression on his face as he smiled warmly at his Private. “Shining Armor,” he proclaimed with a gratified tone of voice, “as my personal Guard and cuckold, I wish to have you be officially gelded.”