“Cadance? Ummm… C-Cadance?”

It had only been about ten minutes since Shining Armor completed his “transaction,” which turned out to have cost him far more than that cup of sperm. Even though the Private was overwhelmed with disgust at what he'd tried to do under Sombra's dominance, he hoped more than anything that his Superior would at least keep his word about not tampering with his sample. While he couldn’t deny how honest Sombra sounded when it came to his insistence, Shining had already lost enough from that gloating sadist to think of trusting his word. Not to mention, after everything that happened back up in the bedroom, he could only imagine how much more he could lose before that blasted formal.

Right now, though, Shining knew that he had more pressing matters to make amends for.

“Cadance?” Shining shouted once more while walking by himself down one of the many spaciously empty hallways. Princess Cadance may have been easy to spot almost anywhere, but to find her in the Crystal Castle without any directions was almost like finding a needle in a haystack. Shining groaned at the rows of unoccupied rooms, knowing that every minute spent away from her would only make things worse in the end. Worst of all, even though he knew that he had to apologize to Cadance for how things had gone, he wasn’t sure what he could actually do to atone for his behavior.

“Ugh!” By the time Shining checked a fourth hallway with no ponies present, his disheartened groan became more audible alongside his hoofsteps against the crystal floors. He didn’t want to think that Cadance was avoiding him, but it was hard for Shining to assume she wouldn’t after the way he and Sombra treated her. Given how all of this started as part of a mutual understanding between husband and wife, Shining felt awful for taking part in something that he knew made her feel uncomfortable instead of himself. But at the same time, given how drastically fucked-up their own relationship became as a result of Sombra, Shining couldn’t deny that things were likely in a sordid state before that donation occurred.

Fortunately for the Private, and especially for the Princess he was seeking, Shining didn’t give up among the feelings of self-doubt and remorse that swept through his conscience. Even though he couldn’t ignore how shameful he felt, he wasn’t going to stop searching for Cadance until some much-needed discussions took place. He had no idea if Sombra’s comments back in the bedroom were alluding to an actual reversion to evil, but Shining would’ve never forgiven himself if he didn’t address it with her. Strangely enough, even though there were many other things he could’ve thought about saying to Cadance, any worries about his incoming procedure at the Crystal Empire formal didn’t cross his mind.

Shining wanted to ask some of the Guards or castle staff where Cadance may have went to, but he didn’t want anypony to know where the two were for this talk. Luckily though, after a couple more minutes of traversing down a couple of hallways, the Private eventually found Cadance at one of the last places he would’ve predicted: the rear wing of the castle where Sombra was originally living before all this began. Much to his and Cadance’s relief, the wing was left nearly untouched by most ponies over the past several months; and since none of the staff inspected Sombra’s old room during that time, nopony was aware that the space had been abandoned as a guest room/office for private reflection. While the room itself wasn’t dirty or anything (aside from the notable layer of dust that covered most of the furniture), the undecorated walls and stagnant air still left a feeling of unease when Shining walked into the living space himself.

Princess Cadance didn’t overhear her Ex walking in, and was standing with her back facing the doorway in the middle of the main space. Her head was hung low, and Shining wasn’t able to hear anything as he walked up towards her. Due to how stoically she was standing by herself, a strong wince spread across the stallion’s face from his relentless feelings of guilt. But even with how ashamed he may have felt about his actions earlier, Shining still tried to put a hoof out to see how Cadance was doing. “Umm, Cada--”

“GAAAHHH!!” The Princess jolted hard enough to jump a couple feet in the air, and dropped the large paper bag that she was clutching against her chest. Shining may have not been able to overhear the bag or wrappers rustling, but the smell of those freshly-made burritos hit his senses as soon as the items dropped to the floor. Cadance reeled away from her Ex while frantically wiping her muzzle with a foreleg, hopeful to wipe away the extra guacamole that was stuck to her mouth. But alas, given how upset she was following what happened in the bedroom, Shining couldn’t say he was too surprised that a pregnant mare would seek solace with some overpriced vendor food.

“SH-SHINING!!” shouted Cadance with a flustered blush, before she turned herself around and tried to hide the evidence of her pregnancy cravings. Even though she doubted Shining would say much about her dietary habits, she still looked rather embarrassed about having been caught by her Ex. Fortunately, Shining didn’t say anything about it as the Princess recomposed herself, and kicked away her half-eaten bag with a swift motion of her hind-leg. “Y-You could at least warn me when you enter a room!” she blurted with a huff that made her blush deepen. “How the heck did you find me anyway? I didn’t tell Sombra I was coming down here.”

Considering how obvious it was that Cadance wanted to be alone, Shining tried not to wince too notably in response to her question. Instead, the Private took a breath before saying, “Well, uhhh... after I checked everywhere else around the castle, I kinda figured you would go somewhere more private.”

Cadance didn’t say anything, and just nodded her head in understanding. While Shining wasn’t wrong about his assumption, the Princess didn’t try to look too upset about seeing him here right now. Instead, she took a moment to process Shining’s answer before sighing under her breath, and asked in response, “Did you ask anypony where I was at?”

“No, not at all!” he said insistently with a firm shake of his head. “Seriously, I made sure not to ask around or anything. I know how bad things could get if half the castle started looking for us.”

“You can say that again,” she said with an exasperated breath that matched her stern nod. “Honestly, I just hope that Sombra won’t try anything by himself.”

That comment made Shining’s teeth clench together in discomfort. Given how intelligent Sombra proved himself to be, and how expertly he was able to manipulate Shining, the Private still wasn’t sure how sincere his Prince’s threats really were. On one hoof, Shining couldn’t think of Sombra as the type to ignore his past mistakes, and wanted to assume that the Ex-King was content with remaining a ‘former’ ruler for the time being; but at the same time, the Private knew that if Sombra really wanted to hurt or ruin him, then taking over the Crystal Empire would be the most effective move he could do while Shining was his little bitch.

“Well, I… I doubt he’ll do anything right now,” confessed Shining with an awkward shrug of his head, as he scratched the back of his mane in an attempt to keep himself calm. Nonetheless, he also made sure to add assuredly, “I mean, he might be bold at times, but he’s not stupid. He knows what would happen if he tried anything.”

Cadance’s muzzle may have skewed a little, but she still smiled while nodding her head in agreement. Shining struggled not to make his own smile look too forced, even though he knew how inaccurate his point really was. Given what Sombra was able to do with him, Shining didn’t want to trust his own words as well as Cadance heard them. But alas, even with how fretful he felt, Shining didn’t speak up when Cadance shrugged and said, “Yeah, that’s definitely true. He might be a lot of things, but he isn’t a villain anymore.”

Despite how badly he wanted to argue against that claim, Shining still nodded at his Ex and said, “Y-Yeah. I… I couldn’t agree more…”

Unfortunately for the Private, it didn’t seem like Cadance took much notice of her Ex’s uneasy pause between words. But instead of trying to direct their discussion towards that topic, Shining closed his eyes so he could take a deep breath. Upon exhaling, the Private looked back at Cadance with a more remorseful expression than before. “Listen, Cadance,” he began with a sympathetic tone as he shook his head guiltily. “I… I’m so sorry for how things went back upstairs. I know that you didn’t want to leave the bedroo--MMPHH!!”

Much to Shining’s surprise, Cadance was quick to silence her Ex’s apology with a prompt pressing of her hoof against his muzzle. The very moment his words were cut short, the Private’s eyes widened worriedly when he saw the sudden change in Cadance’s expression. She may have been able to smile earlier, but the reminder of what happened in the bedroom caused her muzzle to grow a very stern scowl. Her eyes were narrowed on him with a pissed-looking glare, and it was made crystal-clear why she needed to be by herself in the first place. But instead of scolding Shining for what she did, the Princess remained silent for a moment so she could keep her words well-composed.

“Shining Armor,” she said with a brooding tone that kept Shining’s muzzle promptly shut, even as she kept her hoof pressed against it. “I am fully aware of how much you enjoy the things you like. And before I say anything else, I want to reiterate that I wouldn’t go against your wishes if they’re truly what you want. HOWEVER, I would greatly appreciate you and Sombra showing me that same respect from now on. Do. You. Understand. Me?”

Since he already knew he was in the wrong, Shining instantly nodded his head while her muzzle was pressed against his snout. Cadance then closed her eyes before pulling her hoof back, and let out a more calming breath to keep herself from getting too upset. “But… with that being said, I should let you know that Sombra did give me your sperm sample. I even had it sent to Twilight for analysis, who confirmed that it was yours and fertile. So while I’m not happy with how things went, I will thank the two of you for gifting me that cup.”

Shining closed his eyes as he let out a very relieved sigh, and clutched his chest with a hoof. “Oh, thank goodness,” he said under his breath. He then shook his head with a more relaxed smile before adding, “I’m not gonna lie, he definitely scared me with some of the things he was saying.”

The Private’s relief was enough to make Cadance smile more happily again. However, that smile soon turned to a more devilish smirk as she replied, “Oh, what’s the matter, Private? I thought you liked that feeling from him~”

Shining tried not to cringe as his ears slumped downward, and his cheeks blushed hotly from Cadance’s retort. It was bad enough hearing his Ex calling him that rank when they were alone, but Shining couldn’t help being reminded of the other rank that Sombra assigned to him just a while ago. If Sombra was keen on referring to his cuckold as a literal Slave, then that meant the only ponies who would refer to him as Private would be Cadance and Twilight. And to make matters worse, Shining tried not to groan as he felt his member twitching in response to Cadance's teasing words.

Shining wasn’t sure if his Ex snuck a peek between his legs, or just knew how he responded by how notably he squirmed before her. But whichever reason it was, the Princess couldn’t help giggling with a hoof over her mouth. Shining hung his head in an attempt to conceal his embarrassed blush, but it wasn’t enough to keep Cadance from adding teasingly, “You know, given how you’ve been acting around him, I’m starting to wonder if you’re more turned on by Sombra than I am~”

The Private tried not to cringe from that statement, mostly due to how morbidly true it may have been. Even though he wouldn’t dare admit such a thing, Shining couldn’t deny that Sombra was setting off buttons he never thought could be pushed. But at the same time, the Princess’ casual smile and warm presence were more than enough to make the Private blush with a sheepish smile on his muzzle. There were a lot of things he could’ve asked Cadance following that remark, but a brief pause loomed between them as he bit his lips tightly. “I mean… I already knew for a while that you wanted him more than me, but…”

Shining winced to himself shamefully, mostly due to how pathetic he felt about that reminder. Back when Shining and Cadance were still “married,” their discussion over Sombra’s desire to push their boundaries lead to some rather unexpected dialogue between the two. Even though he couldn’t say it was nearly as bad as most of Sombra’s orders, the Private could still recall how his Ex looked when she admitted she wanted her current husband. For most spouses, such a confession would’ve absolutely destroyed them; but for the former Prince, all that he felt was an odd sense of relief that his own feelings were on the same level as hers.

During that brief bout of silence between them, the Princess raised a brow before placing a hoof on her Ex’s shoulder. “Shining?” she asked while keeping a comforting smile on her muzzle. “Do you remember what you told me the other day while signing those documents?”

Despite how painful it was to be reminded of those damn divorce papers, Shining was able to breathe out sharply before nodding his head. “Uhhh… Y-Yeah,” he said while averting his eyes from the Princess’ loving gaze. “I… I said that I would always love you, no matter what.”

“That’s right,” she replied with a pert nod as her smile grew more notable. “And that isn’t one-sided, Shining Armor. No matter what we agree to do together, you know that I’ll always love you more than Sombra.”

Even though it could’ve been debated by most ponies outside their twisted relationship, Shining could tell that Cadance meant that assurance without a shred of dishonesty in her voice. And despite all of the abhorrent actions both of them have done since bringing the Ex-King into their lives, the Private was able to smile with a nod and say, “I… I really appreciate hearing that, Cadance. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Cadance nodded back at her Ex, but her smile began to morph to a more lustrous smirk. As her eyes narrowed on him, Shining didn’t realize what was happening until she stepped in closer towards the Private. “And just so you know, Sombra isn’t the only stallion that I want...”

Shining’s eyes widened in an instant, and he looked around the room with a fretful look on his face. Even though he couldn’t ignore his Ex’s amorous gaze, he couldn’t let his guard down when Sombra was doing so much to dismantle his life behind closed doors. And even with Cadance coming in closer, the Private was mortified about being lured into another sick trap. “Uhhh… C-Cadance, I… I kinda wasn’t expecting you to--”

“Shining.” Cadance’s lustful smirk didn’t dissipate in the slightest, but her tone grew firm enough to make the cuckold freeze at the spot. Behind her obvious bedroom eyes, the Princess spoke with a voice that was just as authoritative as it was impatient. “I know a lot has changed between us, but I am NOT going to tolerate you withholding this from me when you still have the ability. So unless you want me to send you back up to Sombra for another order, you will get over to that bed. Right. Fucking. NOW~”

Shining wasn’t sure if he was more shocked by Cadance’s intensely direct tone, or the fact that she dropped one of six F-Bombs he ever heard her say in his life. Of course, due to how much Sombra altered his arousal to be triggered by intimidation, the Princess’ command was more than enough to make his cock grow fully erect in an instant. The moment Cadance heard a faint and meaty thump of her Ex’s stallionhood smacking against the underside of his barrel, she grew a wider smirk before pointing a hoof towards the long-ignored bed. “Private Armor, as your Princess, I am ordering you to have sex with me. And neither of us is going to leave this room until we’re finished. Is that clear?~”

Shining may have still been uneasy about the idea of this being some twisted rouse by Sombra, but he couldn’t have refused Cadance’s order if he tried. After a shaky breath came out of his muzzle, Shining strengthened his stance before the Princess and gave a firm salute. “Ma’am, yes Ma’am!”

Cadance chuckled devilishly while smirking at her Ex, and then lit up her horn brightly. Shining jolted in surprise as he felt himself being lifted off the ground, and Cadance’s aura of blue magic enveloped his body for a steady grip. He yelped out when he was thrown to the bed, which had been left unused for months since Sombra moved back into his old living quarters. Even though a faint layer of dust poofed up from the bedding the moment Shining fell on the mattress, the stallion’s uncaged cock was still rock-hard and throbbing needily.

“Come here!~” yelled Cadance, who was carrying a more primal grin as she pounced on the bed like a lioness claiming her kill. Despite her massively swollen baby-bump, the pregnant mare was careful enough to land on her hooves with Shining pinned between her legs. The stallion’s eyes widened immensely as he gazed up at his former wife, and saw the burning passion that was practically steaming from her piercing stare. Her hungry grin grew nearly as wide as her current husband’s, and Shining’s nostrils flared out when he caught the distinct scent of Cadance’s sex leaking from her winking nethers.

“Mmmmmmm…” Cadance licked her lips with a sensual hum, which caused Shining to shudder involuntarily beneath her. Even with the months spent apart through intense cuckolding and chastity, the Private could see clear as day how passionately the mare was staring him down. It was almost as if the two were still married to each other, and Sombra’s presence was nothing more than some twisted dream that he was finally waking up from. And before Shining could think to be reminded of that sadist, his lingering thoughts were silenced when the Princess leaned down, and planted her muzzle against his for a deep and long-missed kiss.

The two ponies closed their eyes as they savored that rare moment of passion again, and remained in that sweet embrace for quite a long time. Shining’s hooves were trembling as he returned the kiss as deeply as he could, and pressed his lips tightly against Cadance’s. The Princess didn’t show any hesitation as she continued her makeout session with the Private, and moaned out softly between the faint smacks of their meshing lips. Both of their tongues soon peeked out from their drooling muzzles, which allowed their kiss to turn more sensual to match their racing heartbeats. By the time Cadance’s hooves wrapped around the back of Shining’s head, the stallion’s cock was prodding against her pregnant belly to smear precum across her pink fur.

After the two shared a couple minutes of heavy kissing without pause, Cadance was the first to break away from his muzzle with a wet pop of her lips. Both of them were panting heavily with their cheeks fully blushed, but Cadance’s smile was much less nervous than her former husband’s. As Shining laid beneath her with an overwhelmed shudder, the Princess smirked cheekily before asking, “So, Private Armor… Are you okay with taking the reins while my husband is away?~”

Despite how uncomfortable it should’ve been to be reminded of Sombra, Shining still let out a shaky exhale as he nodded his head affirmatively. “I… I-I think I can manage, Princess~” he tried to say as confidently as he could, even though it was obvious he still felt skittish. But alas, since his cock was still standing rigidly, he didn’t try to resist as his Ex repositioned herself with her wet and dripping slit right above Shining’s cockhead. However, due to how long it’s been since he was in such a position, Shining had to clench his eyes shut so he wouldn’t blow his load too soon.

“Hehehehe~” Cadance didn’t look upset by her Ex’s strained expression, and giggled teasingly while her hot pussy was mere inches from his twitching cock. “My goodness, Private! Are you that close already?~”

After shuddering hard enough to make his hooves curl up tightly, Shining nodded his head while keeping his eyes shut. “It… It’s been so long since we did this,” he confessed with a sheepish mutter between his faint breaths. “A-And… And it’s been so long since I… I…”

“Sssssshhhhhhh…” Cadance used her magic to close Shining’s muzzle shut, and cooed sweetly as she smiled down at him. “It’s okay, Shining,” she said assuredly while using a hoof to pet his mane. “I know it’s been a long time, but I have no doubt you can do this~”

Shining let out one last calming breath before he finally reopened his eyes, and smiled lovingly up at his former wife. The Princess returned the gesture with a caring gaze of her own, before she tilted her head and asked, “Although… would you like me to do anything to make you more… comfortable, Private? Or should I refer to you as Prince Shining again?~”

Despite how often Shining heard that title addressed towards him throughout the rest of the castle, hearing Cadance saying it in private left him at a temporary loss for words. After spending so long as Cadance and Sombra’s personal Guard and target for torment, it was strangely jarring to be called a Prince again. His cheeks blushed heavily, and he could feel his heart racing from the elation that came from being granted such a long-forgotten privilege once more. But even as his cock throbbed direly underneath his Ex’s waiting slit, Cadance’s question was met with another brief pause as Shining clenched his eyes shut again.

“Nnnnghhhh…” Shining knew he was in the perfect spot to feel as he used to be before Sombra’s private reign. Before he was stripped of his rank and marriage by a “former” villain. Before he was forced to be Sombra’s little bitch without any reprieve. Before his life was thrown into complete disarray, and he had everything within grasp as one of the most powerful stallions in Equestria. All he had to do was nod his head, and he could feel just as he had with the mare he still loved more than anything in the world.

However, when Shining finally brought up his hooves, they carefully grasped the sides of Cadance’s thick and swollen belly. His eyes remained closed as he shivered from the warmth of her pregnant form, and felt the distinct pulsations of Sombra’s foal burrowed inside. His muzzle clasped tightly shut, and he shuddered silently with his fur raising on end. He may have wanted nothing more than to request Cadance’s generous offer, but the reminder of his King’s patronage prompted the Private to breathe out softly, and shake his head in response.

“N-No,” he muttered in the faintest voice that Cadance could barely overhear. “I… I still want to be a Private…”

Shining couldn’t bear to look up at his Ex after saying such a thing, mostly due to his unrelenting shame. He may have been aware that he had masochistic tendencies, but the fact that he still wanted that treatment alone with Cadance felt downright pathetic. He wished he could speak up about how conflicted he felt from Sombra’s actions, or at least appreciate this moment for the rarity it was. But as the Private laid silent in guilt, only a couple seconds passed before he felt Cadance’s hoof softly rubbing his shoulder.

“Alright then, Private~” purred Cadance with the same lustful demeanor as before. “I hope you’re ready for some higher-rank privileges~”

Fortunately for Shining, any feelings of regret were quickly muted the moment Cadance lowered her pregnant body atop his throbbing cock. His eyes clenched tightly as he hissed through his teeth, and his member throbbed painfully hard when he felt her warm, alluring folds caressing his cockhead. Due to how pent-up the Princess already was, trickles of her arousal were already dribbling down the stallion’s shaft. And as her puffy lips pressed down hard on Shining’s head, both of them moaned out from that first sexual contact they experienced in over a year.

“AAAHHHH!!~” Cadance belted out an especially randy moan as her pussy began to open up around her Ex’s girth. Shining had to bite one of his hooves to keep himself in control, but his cock was still spasming like mad as the Princess’ lips swallowed his cockhead. Even though Shining’s cock was notably inferior to her husband’s, Cadance continued to groan in pleasure with every push she made down Shining’s length. She continued to leak profusely between her legs, which caused the fur around Shining’s crotch to become matted and sticky from her syrupy juices.

“NnnnnNNNNnnnnffff…” Shining moaned out muffledly around the hoof he was biting down on, while his other hoof tightly clung to the bedsheets. His body was reeling in titillation while he laid beneath his pregnant Ex, and felt her sopping-wet pussy hugging more of his length with every inch she pushed downward. By the time her velvety folds began to slide down his shaft, Shining had to pull his hoof away from his mouth so he could moan out even louder. “Aaaaahhhhh!!~ Hol… H-Holy SHIT!!~”

“Hehehehe~” Cadance may have been shuddering with a deeply aroused blush of her own, but she still giggled in response to Shining’s expletive. Even as her pussy opened up even more, which caused her nerves to tingle like mad and make her body quiver, she couldn’t resist saying with a teasing jeer, “Y-You should be careful, Private~ I… I doubt that my husband would approve of your language~”

Shining groaned through gritted teeth, and his cock throbbed even harder inside of his former wife. He didn’t want to be teased by Cadance during their final coitus together, but those mean remarks weren’t something he wanted to stop either. The stallion’s back arched up from the mattress as he writhed in elation, and he moaned out needily, “Mnnnghhh… I… I-I apologize, your highness~”

“Heh~ You better be,” she said with an antsy growl, before it was cut off by an even shakier groan that escaped her muzzle. Due to the added weight of her husband’s foal, the Princess ended up sinking down around Shining’s cock much quicker than expected. The Private’s thick medial ridge pressed hard against the outside of Cadance’s wet and winking lips, and caused her to writhe rapturously above him. She reeled her head back with her muzzle hanging wide-open, and she looked almost as enamored with Shining’s stallionhood as she would have been with her current spouse.

“AAAHHH!!~” Cadance’s body trembled as her pussy pulled in Shining’s medial ridge, and the remainder of his length sunk inside of her with one last push. The Private wailed out in elation while squirming helplessly under the pregnant mare, not having been able to feel that alluring warmth and pressure for far longer than he wanted to admit. Even though this may have been their final time having sex naturally, neither of the ponies tried to think about Shining’s impending gelding while they were connected as one. Instead, Cadance leaned down with an enamored smile and kissed Shining on the lips once more.

Her body began to pull upward while the two made out on the bed, and only stopped at the ridge before she slipped back down. Cadance wasn’t able to move too rapidly while so heavily pregnant, but she still maintained her composure as she rode her Ex’s cock cowgirl-style. The Private could barely move underneath her weight, but he wasn’t one to complain while savoring every tantalizing slide of her marehood up and down the length of his cock. His eyes remained closed while he kissed Cadance passionately, and his hooves eventually came up to wrap around her back and hold her tighter in embrace.

Cadance’s hips started to rock more prominently the longer the two made out in private coitus, and the Private’s moans were promptly muffled while their muzzles remained tightly latched. Their tongues constantly tried to mesh together sloppily throughout their makeout session, almost as if the two were making up for the months spent in such intense chastity from one another. Both of their hearts were racing in unison as they cherished that moment spent alone, with neither of them thinking about the twisted reality of their lives waiting outside that door. Their futures may have been very uncertain due to Sombra’s presence and control, but their moment spent in rapture was more than enough to leave both of their minds in relative ease.

That was, until Shining groaned especially hard and pulled away from his Ex’s lips. “NNNGHHH!!~” His face clenched intensely while quivering in Cadance’s embrace, and a strained grimace spread across his muzzle before he muttered, “Oh, Goddess! I… I can’t… I can’t hold it… MmmmMMMmmmghhhh…”

With that last heavy groan, Shining’s face carried a look of painful disappointment as he arched his hips tightly against his Ex’s. Cadance clenched her eyes and gasped alongside Shining, with her fur standing on end from the strong surge of warmth she felt flooding within her marehood. She could feel every distinct throb of Shining’s shaft while it was burrowed so deep within her velvety folds, and her hooves curled up tightly with each spurt of his seed that shot into her deepest depths. Even though she was already pregnant, Cadance felt like Shining’s premature cumshot could’ve gotten her pregnant again as she shivered with a tightly bitten lip.

Cadance tried to clench her pussy hard around the stallion’s cock, but her own arousal was still budding like mad by the time Shining was finished. The Private kept his eyes shut as he slumped his head back against the mattress, and sighed hoarsely to himself in regret. Despite having had the opportunity of a lifetime to savor Cadance’s touch once more, their last intercourse together lasted for about the same length as some generic Top 40 pop song on the radio. Shining’s nerves were tingling all over from the elation his body just experienced, but the satisfaction of cumming inside of his love wasn’t enough to conceal the shameful expression on his face. “Nnnnnfffff… F-Fuck…”

Shining felt too upset with himself to look up at his Ex and see her reaction, since he already knew she hadn’t finished yet. Luckily for the Private, he wasn’t met with any looks of disappointment or regret when he finally reopened his eyes. Instead, Cadance remained seated atop his waist with her cheeks deeply blushed, and her breaths still coming out rather rapidly. Her eyes were wide-open as she stared down at Shining in befuddlement, and she had to blink a couple times while processing what just happened.

“Are… Are you alright, Shining?”

“Ummmm… K-Kinda…”

“... Did… Did you…”

Shining winced in guilt, and nodded his head before muttering in response, “I… Y-Y-Yeah…”

Cadance didn’t say anything after that, most likely since she couldn’t blame him for unloading so soon. Considering how long the two have been apart, she could only guess that he would’ve had the same response if she stayed up in the bedroom with him and Sombra. But alas, after the Princess sighed with her eyes closed, she gritted her teeth while pulling herself up from Shining’s length. The Private hissed loudly through his teeth as he felt her sliding up his deflating length, and the sensitivity left him reeling by the time she finally pulled out. A heavy torrent of Shining’s cum drooled out from her stretched-out marehood, and a good portion of her creampie dribbled down over his waist and across the bare bedding beneath him.

“Mmmphh~” Cadance slumped down beside Shining after making a brief and shuddering grunt. More of his cum was seeping out to further ruin the sheets, but the Princess couldn’t have cared less while looking back at her Ex. Despite the obvious veil of chagrin that was looming over Shining’s face, he tried his hardest to give Cadance a sheepish smile in return. Cadance may have been smiling back at him, but her tone of voice seemed a little disheartened when she asked, “So… are you feeling better?”

Shining nodded his head, but his muzzle skewed a bit before he looked away from her with a pained wince. “I mean, I… I do feel a lot better,” he admitted with a timid shrug, before he huffed to himself in amusement and added, “Heh~ Honestly, I’d probably be worried if I didn’t feel better after that.”

Cadance smiled warmly in response to that answer, and she leaned in to plant another sweet kiss on the Private’s cheek. “Well, that’s all that should matter then,” she said reassuredly, not seeming too upset by their brief and one-sided coitus. “It’s completely fine, Shining. It happens to everypony.”

Shining’s smile went away in an instant, and he cringed hard from that clichèd statement. Even if Cadance meant that statement wholeheartedly, that didn’t keep him from feeling guilty about his sudden ejaculation. Since he knew this would be the last time he could ever orgasm after the formal, the fact that it happened before satisfying Cadance made the moment feel like a waste. After exhaling deeply, Shining kept his face away from Cadance when he said, “I… I know I shouldn’t feel guilty, but… b-but I wanted to help you too…”

Now it was Cadance’s turn to wince, since the tone in Shining’s voice carried a lot of shame that couldn’t be faked or exaggerated. She wanted to assure him that everything was okay, mostly because she knew she wasn’t one to complain; sure, she may have not been able to cum, but at least she can still have the ability after that weekend. Nonetheless, it didn’t take long for the Princess to sigh as she spoke more optimistically. “Well… It’s not like your orders are finished yet, Private~”

Shining’s brows rose up as he looked back at her with widened eyes. Meanwhile, Cadance shot him a cheekier smirk before she rolled onto her back with a strained groan. She spread her thick, voluptuous legs wide-apart to reveal her cum-glazed pussy, and she gave the Private some serious bedroom eyes as she splayed herself in front of him. “You want to help out your Princess, Shining?~” she asked while perking her brows playfully. “Because I distinctly said that neither of us will leave until we’re finished~”

Shining was quick to sit back upright on the bed, while his awe-stricken gaze was pointed down at the Princess and her winking cunny. His cock was still rather flaccid following his orgasm, but it still twitched hard in response to seeing her pussy on full display. This may have not been the first time he saw her in such a state, but it’s been over a year since seeing that kind of creampie from his own efforts. He shuddered strongly while clenching his muzzle, and his fur raised on end when he asked, “Do… D-Do you want me to…”

Cadance nodded while narrowing her eyes on the Private, and she spoke in a more commanding tone reminiscent of her husband. “Private Armor, since you can’t finish me like Sombra can, I’m ordering you to eat me out until I cum properly. Is that understood?~”

“MA’AM, YES MA’AM!” shouted Shining with an especially enthusiastic salute, and a smile as bright as a Hearth’s Warming tree. Despite how heavily matted and flooded her pussy may have been with her Ex’s load, Shining dove in between her legs like a starving puppy looking for its meal. His eyes clenched tightly shut while pressing his muzzle tightly against her creampie, and his tongue instantly burrowed between her lips to begin devouring her like crazy. Cadance may have been used to Shining licking her pussy whenever her husband finished inside of her, but the Private’s ravenous lunge was intense enough to make her shriek with her back arching up from the mattress.

“AAAIIIEEEEEEEE!!!~” Cadance squealed loudly enough to make the walls shake, and her hooves went down to tightly grip the back of Shining’s mane. Even though the Private was already shoving his tenacious tongue as deeply as he could inside of her cunt, the added pressure from Cadance helped to press the tip of his snout against her needy clit. The titillation was more than enough to rile up the Princess even further, and her fur was standing on end while cherishing every hungry flick of Shining’s tongue. “AAAAHHHH!! Ho… H-Holy SHIT!!~ Mmmmnnnnnnnffffff…”

Shining could barely register his Ex’s expletive, as his eyes were deeply rolled back in pleasure from his rabid cunnilingus. His lips were smacking lewdly against Cadance’s dripping pussy, and remnants of his cum clung to the fur around his muzzle while he devoured her. His hooves wrapped around the Princess’ waist to grope her voluptuous ass, which helped to make Cadance moan out even louder in elation. Even though the taste of his own cum was nearly overpowering due to how bitter it tasted on his tongue, the Private couldn’t say that his own flavor was any more distracting than Sombra’s; and considering how many times he swallowed his Superior’s loads, either by eating it out of Cadance or blowing him directly, the heavy coating of jizz didn’t faze Shining at all as he dragged his tongue against her luscious pink folds.

“AAAAHHHHHH!!!~” Cadance was squirming hopelessly while her Private chowed down between her legs in such a carnal manner. Due to how rapidly his tongue was flicking about inside of her, the Princess’ pussy tried to cling around that wriggling muscle to really savor its girth. Shining was growling ravenously as he slurped and suckled on that Royal flower to the best of his abilities, which was actually much better than it was before Sombra cucked him. Due to how many times he ate her out as part of his “Duties” in the bedroom, his muzzlework was effective enough to leave Cadance absolutely reeling in his grasp. “Ohmigosh, AAAAHHHH!!~ How… H-How did you get this good?! NNNFFFFFF~”

Of all the things Shining could’ve expected to hear his Ex say, that question was more than enough to leave his spirits particularly high. Even though he wished he could’ve done more than taste the wet flesh of Cadance’s folds, he couldn’t have felt better about the confidence boost he was given for his cunnilingus. He wouldn’t dare say it to Sombra’s face, but he wouldn’t have been surprised if this was one of the few traits he could do better than the Prince. And because of that, his snout pressed in even harder against his Ex’s clit to really set her off.

“NNNFFFFF!!~” Cadance was still reeling in rapture, and her pussy was winking even harder in anticipation of her climax. Of course, before the Princess could allow herself to slip over the precipice, her eyes reopened to shoot a lustful gaze down at her hungry Private. Since Shining’s eyes were still closed, he wasn’t able to notice her cheeky smirk while buried muzzle-deep between her legs. After letting out a strong shiver to recompose herself, Cadance grinned maliciously before saying in a teasing purr, “Mmmmmm… It’s nice to see you’re as good as my husband at something, Private~”

Shining may have been lost in pleasure as he swallowed mouthfulls of his cum and Cadance’s syrupy juices, but his eyes clenched tighter upon hearing that jeering remark. However, the stallion continued his efforts diligently with his tongue digging deeper inside of her cunny, and his muzzle slobbering all over her clit to help set her off. His own member was left untouched throughout the cunnilingus, but he was already growing erect so soon after his own orgasm. But as his stallionhood grew harder underneath his laying form, he could feel it twitch profusely when he heard his Ex add, “Y-You know, it… it really is a shame you couldn’t get me off with your cock, Shining~ It… it makes me wonder whether or not Sombra was right about you~”

Shining wasn’t sure if it was due to his own arousal from being belittled so mercilessly, or the surge of determination he felt to prove Cadance wrong; but whichever reason it was, the Private doubled-down as he burrowed himself deeper against that Royal marehood. The added pressure from his snout and wriggling tongue caused her to moan out loudly again, and her words were paused long enough for her to writhe in pleasure above him. But alas, even with how skilled his muzzle-work really was, Cadance couldn’t resist continuing on with her mean remarks. “Mmmmmghhh… H-How does it feel, Private?~ You… Y-You had the perfect chance to make me cum, but… but you couldn’t do it nearly as well as he could~”

Cadance's head reeled back as she moaned out from another deep drag of Shining’s tongue inside of her, which caused her hooves to curl up tightly against the bedding. She wasn’t sure why she felt so compelled to tease Shining so ruthlessly, but she couldn’t deny how much it was driving him to get her off. And considering how he had been acting recently, the Princess was sure that her cruel words were something he wouldn’t be against hearing. So even as the Private’s cunnilingus brought her closer to climax with each passing second, Cadance grew more determined to demean him until the deed was done.

“You… You like that, Private?~ You like hearing how much better Sombra is than you? Nnnnnnn… I bet you do~” After squirming hard from another titillating flick of Shining’s tongue, Cadance licked her lips as she grinned even wider down at him. “Aaaahhh!~ Sombra got me off so many times, and… a-and you begged him to do it like a little bitch!~ Mnnnnnnn… You… You even thanked him for knocking me up!!~”

Despite how hard he was getting from his treatment, Shining couldn’t help but wince as he continued to devour the Princess’ flower. Since she was holding the back of his head to keep him burrowed against her pussy, he wasn’t able to pull back and speak up about her cruel statements. Of course, given how exceptional his tongue-lashing was, he couldn’t dare stop his efforts throughout her jeering. Not to mention, it was doubtful that the Private would ask her to stop if he had the ability anyway.

“He… He’s your Nemesis, Shining~” she moaned out while growing more comfortable with tearing the Private down between the hefty flicks of his tongue. “Nnnnnffff~ A-And you… Y-You still let him fuck me without complaint! Aaaaaahhhhh!!~ How… H-How could you call yourself a Prince while he bullies you around, huh?! I… I bet you want to bow to him, don’t you, hmmm? Like... Like a little Slave!~”

Shining’s arousal was triggered immensely by those last words, which drove him to cling to Cadance’s cheeks as tightly as he could to finish his work. As his eyes remained tightly clenched, a muffled groan could be heard between the Princess’ legs as he gave everything he had into setting Cadance off. His tongue finally slipped out of that gushing cunny with a wet pop, before he brought his muzzle towards her plump and throbbing clit. His lips wrapped around that meaty bulb of flesh tightly, and he began to suck tentatively enough to make her shriek to the heavens. The bottom of his chin continued to rub her wet and cleaned-out slit, but the attention he was giving to her button had her nerves tingling near-endlessly from the euphoric sensations he was providing.

“AAAAHHHH!!!~ Kee… K-Keep going, Private!” she yelled out in elation while her eyes clenched shut, and she pushed her pussy harder against the stallion’s face. “Mnnnghhh!!~ I’m so close!! Aaaaahhh! Aaaaahhhh!! AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!~”

The Princess’ teasing words finally came to a close as she writhed up from the bed, and her wings fluttered like crazy in response to the bed-shattering orgasm that swept across her body. Her blissful cries of pleasure shook the walls with the intensity in her voice, and her horn lit up brightly to grip Shining’s neck like he was being leashed again. She pulled him as tightly against her pussy as she could while moaning out in absolute glee, which caused a torrent of her juices to squirt directly inside of his mouth. And as her hips writhed strongly against the Private’s face, her body felt like she was being electrocuted by thousands of tiny lightning bolts that set her ablaze in a state of passion she hadn’t felt from him in a long time.

She was too wiped-out to tell Shining how good of a job he did, but she was sure that he knew his efforts were more than appreciated. And as she fell back onto the mattress while panting heavily, Shining continued to lick and suckle her flower until she was fully spent.

“Aaaaaahhhhh…” By the time he was able to finally pull away from her cleaned and glistening cunny, the entirety of his muzzle was matted from the remnants of both of their secretions. Every breath he took tasted of his own cum, as well as Cadance’s sweet pussy that lingered on the back of his tongue. His cock was throbbing hard underneath him, but he was perfectly fine with leaving it be after the first orgasm he shared with her. For several minutes, neither of the ponies said anything while laying on the bed in sweet embrace. Instead, the two eventually nestled up close to one another as they savored the calm aftermath of their sensual experience.

“Mmmmm…” Shining was spooning his former wife with a loving smile on his face, and his eyes were closed in contentment as he cooed sweetly under his breath, “I love you so much, Cadance.”

The Princess sighed sweetly while hugging him just as tightly on the bed, and she nuzzled his neck while saying in response, “I love you too, Shining Armor~”

Despite how frayed and dismantled their relationship may have become due to Sombra, it was obvious from their loving embrace that the two still cared for each other just as deeply as they had before his intrusion. Sure, the two may have participated in countless acts that most sane couples wouldn’t even think of contemplating, but the love they shared was still just as rich as the Crystal Heart outside of their castle. And even as they heard the door opening up without warning, neither of them pulled away from their post-coital cuddle session on the bed.

“WHAT THE!?” Sombra, who was searching around the castle for his wife and cuckold, looked absolutely floored when he entered his old living quarters and saw the couple together. His red eyes were as wide as frisbees, and his jaw was dropped upon seeing Shining embracing his Ex-Wife. After blinking a couple times in shocked befuddlement, he grew an intensely furious scowl as he glared at his slave. “SHINING ARMOR!!” he belted loudly enough to make the Private yelp in a panic and jolt up from the bed. “JUST WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE--”

“SOMBRA!!!”

Shining may have been rightfully freaked-out, but Sombra’s fur paled the instant he heard his wife’s livid voice. The Prince was frozen with a bug-eyed look when he saw the very pissed-off scowl on Cadance’s face. If the two weren’t married to one another, he likely would’ve guessed that the Alicorn was about to eviscerate him from how furiously she was glaring at him. While the Prince was stunned silent from her stare, and Shining stared at her wide-eyed in worry, only a couple seconds passed before she spoke in a deep and brooding voice.

“Sombra… You already denied me this moment back in the bedroom. And I swear to Celestia if you try to do that now, I will send you to Tartarus myself and throw away the key.”

For the first time, Shining was able to see the same look of intimidation and fear in Sombra’s face that he carried countless times himself. Sombra’s pupils were shrunken while standing with a look of dread on his face, and his expression carried a heavy veil of fear that contrasted with his usual demeanor so blatantly. It was downright jarring how quickly the Princess got to Sombra, but Shining could tell from her tone that she wasn’t bullshitting him in any way. And since he already received enough torment from Sombra, Shining’s muzzle remained tightly shut to avoid facing any of her wrath as well.

Sombra blinked a couple times before they finally closed, and he let out a soft exhale while bowing his head in respect. “Understood, your Highness,” he said with a solemn voice that carried no malice or disdain towards either of the ponies on the bed. “I apologize for intruding…”

Much to Shining’s shock, Sombra left the room without saying another word, and closed the door behind him so the two could continue their time alone. The Private was stunned beyond belief as he looked back at Cadance, and saw her giving him a caring smirk. “What?” she asked with a cheekier tone that was totally different from how she was just speaking to her husband. “Sombra might be your Superior, but I’ll always be his.”

Shining wasn’t sure how to respond to such a confidently reassuring statement, but it certainly helped put him at ease as he sighed with a thankful smile.

For the remainder of the afternoon, Shining and Cadance didn’t encounter Sombra at all after they left the empty bedroom. Instead, the two found a note in their living quarters addressed by him, which stated that he wouldn’t interfere with whatever the two did for the day. Cadance seemed rather touched by her husband’s sentiment, and appreciated the lengthy apology letter he included for her; Shining tried to appreciate his Superior’s generous act as well, but he couldn’t help but worry about what he might try the next time they see him. Nevertheless, since Sombra wasn’t trying to keep the two separate, Shining and Cadance treated the rest of the day like any married couple would: going out for lunch together, spending some quality time with Flurry Heart in her nursery, meeting with Crystal Ponies throughout the Empire for some pleasant conversations, and even making sure that the Crystal Empire Formal was coming along smoothly for Friday night.

The family enjoyed a pleasant dinner in the main Dining Hall, which helped to give Shining a much-needed sense of normalcy after everything he was forced to endure under his Prince. Even though he knew this wave of contentment was due to end soon enough, he was still able to appreciate the time he had with Cadance and Flurry without any interruption. By the time the sun finally went down, and Cadance went to put Flurry Heart away for bed, Shining was feeling fairly good with himself as he walked around the castle by himself.

When he rounded a hallway corner to head towards the main entrance, Shining froze when he saw Sombra standing in wait beside the stairs. Fortunately though, the Prince was quick to hold up a hoof in assurance before saying, “It’s alright, Shining. I’m not going to do anything. I just want to talk. Is that alright?”

Shining looked apprehensive about his Superior’s request, even though Sombra’s voice didn’t carry any insincerity that he could catch. But after pausing long enough to catch his breath, Shining sighed with a faint nod in understanding. “Ummm… A-Alright then…”

As the two went towards the stairs side-by-side, nopony seemed to be around to see the former enemies conversing so casually. While Shining tried his hardest to keep his expression blank to conceal his fear, Sombra carried a more contemplative look as a result of his self-reflection. “Before you say anything,” began Sombra while looking back at him with a genuine tone of voice, “I just want you to know that I’m not planning to punish you for what you did.”

Of all the things he expected Sombra to say first and foremost, that statement was surprising enough to make his brows raise up immensely. “Wait, really?” he asked in puzzlement as he glanced back at the Prince with a wide-eyed look. “I-I mean… Thank you for telling me that. Seriously, that’s really good to know, but--”

“It’s alright, Shining,” he said as he interrupted the stallion’s words, and took another breath before explaining himself with brevity. “Earlier today when I gave you that order, I only meant to hurt you first and foremost. I never intended to upset Cadance that greatly, and… And I can’t say I blame her for wanting to share that time with you. Despite everything that’s happened, I still know that she loves you far more than she ever would for me.”

Shining blinked a couple times while processing that last sentence, which carried a slight twinge of sadness in Sombra’s voice. The Private wasn’t sure how strongly Sombra felt for Cadance, but he wouldn’t have been surprised if some strong emotions manifested throughout the months they spent together. The idea of Sombra and Cadance falling in love sounded absolutely devastating, but Shining couldn’t deny how implausible such an outcome would be despite their situation. Although, if there was any silver lining from that sort of terrifying hypothetical coming true, it would certainly prove Cadance to be the true Princess of Love if she could quell Sombra’s bloodlust in such an unorthodox way.

Fortunately for Shining, that train of thought was promptly interrupted while Sombra continued to speak. “I’m not going to ask what the two of you did, nor am I going to ask Cadance either. After everything that’s happened, it seems only fair that I grant the two of you that privacy as amends for my actions. All that matters is that you made Cadance happy, and you have my deepest thanks for providing that to her.”

The Private had no idea how to process such an unexpected, but clearly truthful response from his Superior without warning. He wanted to assume this was just some lure for a twisted trap, but he couldn’t help smiling back at Sombra with an appreciative nod. “Well, the two of us thank you immensely for that, Sombra,” he said without any dishonesty to his Bull. “And I’ll be sure to let Cadance know what you told me as well.”

“Thank you,” he said back at Shining with a gracious smile of his own. “I would greatly appreciate that.”

By the time the two reached the bottom of the stairs, there were only a few ponies walking around the lavish front entrance of the castle. Due to the sheer size of the wide-open space, Shining and Cadance have used it as a secondary ballroom a few times since they became rulers. But right now, the only ponies present were a few Guards nearby the doorways, and a couple Crystal Ponies who promptly left upon seeing Sombra. Even though he had made great lengths to atone for his previous actions, Sombra didn’t seem too bothered by many of the Empire’s citizens still reeling away from his presence; of course, Shining could only guess that in Sombra’s eyes, being avoided was preferable to being hung or lynched by his former slaves.

“So, uhhh…” Shining looked around the room to make sure nopony was eavesdropping on them, and turned back towards Sombra to ask, “If you don’t mind me asking, what did you do while Cadance and I were together?”

“Oh, nothing too eventful,” said Sombra with a casual shrug. “I played some badminton out in the court, watched a movie at the theater, wrote a couple of letters…”

Shining nodded while listening to his Superior, but he blinked a few times after hearing that last detail Sombra mentioned. “Wait, letters?” he asked while raising a brow at him. “To who?”

“Oh, there you are, Shiny!~”

Shining’s ears perked up the moment he heard that familiar voice from behind. When he turned away from Sombra, his eyes widened in surprise when he saw the silver mare galloping up towards them. Her white and purple mane bobbed up and down with every step she took, and her smile was as wide as could be when she saw Shining. The Private stood in shock for a moment, not expecting to see Twilight Velvet at his castle without warning. But even with Sombra standing beside him with a smile of his own, Shining immediately rushed up to her and yelled out, “MOM!!”

The two ran up to each other before colliding in a strong and loving hug between mother and son. Twilight Velvet clung to Shining tightly enough to make his hind-legs lift up from the ground, but the stallion couldn’t have cared less while squeezing her just as strongly. “Oh my gosh, it’s so great to see you again!” Shining looked absolutely elated by the time the two pulled away from each other, but he couldn’t help blinking in befuddlement before looking around the room. “Wait, is Dad here too? If I knew you guys were coming, I would’ve had some dinner prepared for you two.”

“Oh, you don’t have to go to all that trouble,” Velvet assured him with a wave of her hoof. “I literally just showed up after taking the train from Canterlot. Your father is still at home, but he told me to send you his love.”

She then bent in to kiss Shining sweetly on the cheek, which even made Sombra blush as he kept himself away from the two. Shining groaned with a small grimace, but he was still smiling appreciatively while wiping his cheek with a hoof. “Well, that’s good to know, I guess,” he said with a shrug, but he still looked confused when he tilted his head back at Velvet. “But… Why are you here? I mean, it’s pretty late to show up out of the blue.”

Velvet narrowed her eyes back at her son, and then shot a glance back at Sombra before asking, “Wait a minute, didn’t Sombra tell you? He invited me to come up here. He even bought me a train ticket.”

Shining’s eyes shot wide-open, and his expression turned from confusion to absolute panic. As he slowly turned his attention back towards Sombra, he could feel his heart sinking down to his stomach the moment he caught sight of the King’s wide and toothy smile. Shining then looked back at his Mom, and struggled not to sound too nervous when he asked, “You… You were invited up here by him?”

“Yes, I was,” she nodded as she motioned to Sombra with a smile. “He wrote to me this morning, and requested for me to come by myself for some sort of surprise.”

Shining didn’t want to think that Sombra would actually stoop to anything this low, but there was no denying that his Superior’s intentions were meant solely for his Slave. As Sombra walked up to the two, he managed to conceal his evil smile while narrowing his eyes on Shining. The stallion had no idea what Sombra was planning to do involving his Mother, but he could tell that it wasn’t anything good by the way his King was staring him down so intensely. And as he stood beside Velvet with a prideful grin, Sombra kept his tone of voice disturbingly casual while speaking to his slave.

“I hope you don’t mind the surprise, Shining,” he said as he wrapped a hoof around Velvet’s back and held her close. “I’ve actually been pen-pals with your parents for quite a while, but I couldn’t resist inviting her up to the Crystal Empire for today~”

That was when Sombra’s grin turned scarily wide, and he added in a brooding tone that struck Shining at his deepest core:

“Since I just got married, I was hoping that you could introduce your mother to my wife~”