For the first time since he had met Ash Williams, Shining Armor finally understood how he felt when the princesses imprisoned him. He leaned against the back of the cell, shutting his eyes in guilt.

"I'm sorry you had to go through this, Ash," he admitted, before glancing at the outside of the cell. "But I need to GET OUT OF HERE!"

"Ah'm sorry, Cap'n," the sheriff's voice said regretfully from the other side. "But we can't go against the Princess!"

Shining growled. Never before had he been in this much trouble. Even without the guilt of knowing he'd be fighting innocent ponies just doing their jobs, he wasn't sure he could take on the law of Appleloosa with only his swords. He needed magic. At the very least Ash's boomstick. But his horn was broken, and Ash's boomstick had been left in the Delta.

Though, Shining didn't consider himself out of the game just yet. If there was one thing he prided himself on as a captain, it was noticing routine. Figuring out when his men were slacking on their duties.

It admittedly took time, but with four days, he managed to memorize the daily routines of the sheriff and his deputies.

Sheriff Sliverstar checked into the station at the crack of dawn, only leaving for the bathroom every four hours for 5 minutes. He stayed until lunch and dinner and left an hour after Luna raised the moon. His pegasus Deputy Solar Wing arrived a full three hours after the Sheriff. And unlike the Sheriff, he left the station to go to the bathroom every six hours. Otherwise, he left only for lunch and dinner. His other two Deputies, Fetter Keys and Star Spur, arrived one and two hours respectively after Solar Wings. And due to Fetter's old age, his bathroom schedule was rather erratic.

Fortunately, lunch and dinner remained consistent: all three would go for food like clockwork, leaving only one to watch the prisoners for a full half hour before returning with food for the fourth. And even better for Shining, the younger deputy Star Spur tended to fall asleep in five minutes, giving Shining twenty-five minutes to escape.

On the fifth day, Shining waited patiently for dinner. Just as he predicted, Silverstar, Solar Wings and Fetter Keys left for dinner. Five minutes later, Star Spur was fast asleep. The minute he heard her snores, Shining placed his hand against the back wall and closed his eyes.

'Need to focus,' he thought with determination, charging up a destruction spell. 'Even without a horn I can still use magic. However, without a proper source, I could cause more damage to my horn. He looked up with a grimace. 'But to save Twiliy and Ash... I will gladly take that risk!'

Unfortunately, the spell backfired. With a loud POP, Shining slammed against the door, knocking it over. The wind knocked out of him, he was helpless as Star Spur jarred awake, yelping at the sight of him and fumbling for her keys to restrain him. Shining struggled to his feet, but the deputy was nearly upon him. Knowing he couldn't fight, Shining instead started to pray, as he desperately charged his magic again.

"Please Faust," he prayed out loud as he charged one more spell. "Give me your strength. Just this once."

The deputy was about to leap onto him. He had no time. Shining released his magic, desperately trying a teleportation spell. Light flashed, blinding both him and the deputy. Another loud POP temporarily deafened him.

But when the blobs of light faded from his eyes, Shining found himself... right in the driver's seat of the Delta.

"YES!" he screamed in glee. "OH, THANK YOU FAUST!" His joyous shouting was put on hold as a sharp pain went through his horn. He touched the broken nub, feeling a small hairline fracture along the bone like fragment. "Still worth it," he insisted, starting the car and peeling out from Appleloosa.

Pressing his chest against the wheel, Shining desperately drove north-east, following the plan Celestia had taken. At first, nothing appeared before him. But his eyes narrowed as he recognized the shimmer of a cloaking barrier. Driving straight through it, the idyllic scene melted into a battlefield.

Celestia's army surrounded the Hive. Unicorns blasted at the base while pegasi fought flying changelings in the air. As Shining took in the solid stances of the unicorns and the way the pegasi were intercepting the flying changelings, the strategy clicked in his mind.

Block off all routes of escape and then send earth ponies in to raid the hive. A favored tactic of Celestia, specifically during the formation of Equestria, and the revenge attacks on Chrysalis' other hives.

"Celestia," the unicorn growled. "You are a fool."

Gunning the engine, he shot towards the hive's base. The unicorns wisely parted before the Delta, allowing him to skid to a stop mere feet from the Hive's entrance.

Shining seized Ash's gun and his swords. Briefly, he glanced back at the gatling gun. But logic stayed his hand; he had no idea how to use the thing. And trying to figure out how in the middle of a battle would only get him killed.

Leaping out of the Delta with his swords and gun, Shining sprinted into the hive. Sure enough, he found a collection of earth pony guards desperately fighting against the changelings.

But they were losing. Several ponies lay dead in pools of their own blood. The others were swiftly being cut down as the changelings flanked them through holes in the hive. Shining raced to help, only to skid to a stop as one of his men was knocked down before him.

"Captain Armor?" the guard whimpered, before a changeling pounced at him. "Help!"

Without hesitation, Shining seized his Faust idol and slammed it into the changeling's chest. White flames erupted from the holy idol, and the changeling shrieked in agony, leaping away from Shining as its body was consumed by the divine flames. Turning back to the soldier, he offered his hand, and the soldier took it gratefully.

"Thank you so much, Captain," the soldier whispered. "I... When Celestia said you had committed treason, I didn't..."

"Celestia is blinded by rage," Shining replied. "She should not risk your life as well." He grabbed the soldier's sword. "Give me your weapons and your Faust idol."

The pony handed both over without hesitation.

Taking both items with a nod, Shining exchanged them with the boom stick.

"Hang onto that for a second," he said, tying the chain around the hilt and guard and doing the same to his own sword. The guard blinked in shock, staring at both the boom stick and swords before the captain handed one of the swords back to his soldier.

"What is...?" the soldier tried to ask.

"Objects of divine faith are strong against any unholy evil," Shining explained, pointing at the sword. "That should help." He seized the boom stick. "Tell the others. I'm going to find my sister."

The soldier saluted. "Yes, sir," he declared, charging back to his fellow soldiers with a battle cry.

Briefly smiling as the soldier's first slash sent a changeling up in white flames, Shining raced through the hive, cutting down changelings with his sword or blowing their heads off with Ash's boom stick.

Before long, he reached the lower levels of the hive. There, he encountered the Mane Five.

"Help!" Fluttershy screamed, cowering behind her shield as a changeling clawed at it. Her friends tried to help, but the changeling kept knocking them away; redirecting Rainbow Dash's charges into Applejack, and causing Pinkie Pie's party cannon to splatter Rarity with pink cream.

Racing towards his sister's friends, Shining plunged his blade into the demon's back. The changeling screamed as white flames enveloped him. As he struggled to get away, Shining threw him against the wall and stopped his struggling with the boomstick's barrel at his chin.

"Where's Twilight?" Shining snarled.

The changeling merely spat, the flames scorching his body as he managed a malicious laugh. "Go to hell, mortal."

Shining narrowed his eyes. "You first," he replied, pulling the trigger. Fluttershy yelped as the blood splashed over her shield.

"You... killed him" Fluttershy whimpered, her shield falling from her side.

"And if I hadn't, he would've killed all of you," Shining replied, reloading the boomstick. "Now c'mon; Twilight needs our help."

"But what are ya doing here?" Applejack asked, picking up her war hammer. "Celestia said you went back to Cantorlot. Ta protect from any future invasions."

Shining narrowed his eyes. 'Is that what you told them, Celestia?' his thoughts growled.

"Well first and foremost," he said out loud. "I'm here to save Twilight and Ash." Before he could answer the second comment...

"Sorry Shining," Rainbow Dash cut him off. "But Celestia gave us express orders. Save Twilight and leave the demon behind."

She tried to move past him, but Shining seized her by the shoulder.

"Ash isn't a demon," he said. "He is my sister's bodyguard, and we are not leaving this hive without both of them!"

As he shoved Rainbow back, the cuffs on his wrists jingled, drawing Rarity's gaze.

"Um...Captain Armor?" Rarity asked nervously. "Why are you wearing cuffs on your wrists?"

Shining glowered down at the manacles. "Because Celestia had me arrested for wanting to save both of them," he growled.

"Well... Twilight is the one that really matters here," Rainbow Dash pointed out. Shining turned to her slowly.

At that moment, a changeling lunged out at them, but Shining redirected his anger at the changeling, bashing it in the brain before gunning it down with shots to the chest and head. Rainbow Dash backed up at the fury in Shining Armor's actions.

"I can't believe one of my sister's friends would say that," Shining fumed. "As a protector of innocents, you should know every life is important." He turned back to her. "And Ash's life is especially important to Twilight's!"

Pinkie tilted her head, before her eyes widened. "Oh!" she cooed. "Is Twilight in love with her bodyguard?"

Shining blinked at her bluntness, before turning away, his face red.

"Ash!" he called out. "Twilight!"

Behind him, Pinkie cackled. "Twilight's in love!" she cheered.

"Save yer party plans for later, Pink," Applejack replied. "Look alive!"

Indeed, a new foe was climbing up the stairs towards them. But as Shining drew closer, he noticed that even though it had the green eyes of a changeling... it was human.

"Ash?" Shining asked.

Ash lifted his chainsaw arm up and placed the tip of the blade against the wall before revving, sending sparks behind him. The whites of his eyes glowed green, and his face was wracked with pain. Shining's eyes grew wide.

"Oh Faust!" the unicorn whispered. He whirled on the others. "He's under Chrysalis's mind control! Run!"

As the human lunged forward, four of his group obeyed. Rainbow Dash, however, lunged to meet him.

"Still think he's worth protecting?" she snapped, trying to deflect a shot from his chainsaw... only for his blade to snap through her sword.

Rainbow stared down at her sword in horror before Shining yanked her back, deflecting another swing from the possessed human. Flipping the gun around, Shining swung the stock into Ash's head.

The human staggered, but recovered too quickly. As Shining tried to follow up, Ash caught him by the throat. Rainbow Dash tried to aid him, only for a boot to the chest to send her to the ground. Stomping on her chest, Ash lifted Shining off his feet, as the two men locked eyes.

"Ash..." Shining choked, his weapons falling from his grip. "Snap... out of it."

"Go..." Ash muttered, lifting his chainsaw. "Kill... them all..."

Shining pried at his friend's grip, his eyes widening as Ash prepared to impale him. Ash's grip was like iron. Shining couldn't break it in time. Rainbow Dash pummeled at Ash's boot, but she couldn't jar herself loose.

"I'm... sorry Twilight" Shining whispered, shutting his eyes as Ash thrust home...

Only for the chainsaw to stop inches from his chest.

Shining Armor's eyes snapped open. Ash dropped him to the floor, and stepped off Rainbow's chest.

"Tw...Twilight..." he growled, the green in his eyes flickering. "I... swear... no harm... will befall you... as long as... I'm around!"

Rainbow Dash took advantage. Scrambling to her feet, she caught Ash by the head. Moving with her momentum, Ash let his head bounce off the stone-like slime with as much force as he and Rainbow Dash could muster. Blood dripped from his forehead, but the glow in his eyes vanished.

Ash blinked a few times, clenching his head and cursing. He lifted his chainsaw, causing Rainbow Dash to jump back, but her glare faded as Ash took the chainsaw off and replaced it with the gauntlet.

Shining moved forward, pushing Rainbow Dash behind him.

"Careful..." she whispered, but Shining motioned for her to be patient.

For a moment, he glared up at his friend, as Ash wiped the blood from his head.

"Armor?" Ash asked.

Shining jumped up and punched Ash across the face, knocking him off his feet.

"OW! Mother fuck...!" Ash snapped, holding his cheek.

"Sorry Ash," the unicorn noted, glaring at Rainbow Dash when she giggled. "Had to make sure you were you."

He offered a hand, which Ash took gladly. Though it allowed him to notice the cuffs on his wrists.

"Um... care to explain that?" Ash asked, indicating the cuffs.

Shining glared at them with a sigh. "Celestia arrested me for caring about what happened to you," he noted.

Ash shook his head. "Figures," he grumbled, picking up his chainsaw. "Okay, spread em."

The girls yelped behind him, but Shining spread his cuff links, allowing him to slice through the chains. Picking up his boom stick, Ash reloaded.

"Get your weapons ready," he noted to the others. "Twilight's just downstairs."

"Twilight?!" The Mane Five eagerly followed Ash and Shining Armor down the stairs and down the hall to the ornate doors.

All together, the seven fighters bashed through the door... and skidded to a stop.

"What?!" Rainbow Dash snapped.

The room was empty. No Chrysalis. No Twilight.

They were both gone.

"Um... sugarcube," Applejack noted. "I don't see Twilight."

"Maybe... she's invisible?" Pinkie noted.

Ash's chainsaw dropped. He stumbled up to the table that had once held her form.

"No" Ash whispered, his fist hitting the wood with every word. "I. was. just. here." He slammed his gauntlet down, splintering the table. "DAMMIT!!!"

For a moment, the others stood there, not knowing what to do. Suddenly...

"Ash?"

Ash spun, firing his boomstick at the ceiling. Chains rattled before a body plummeted to the ground with a SPLAT!

"Wait..." Ash stammered, blinking in realization. "I knew that voice..." He yelled and raced over to the body. "Oh, shit... I didn't kill you, did I?"

He poked at it before the body glowed. Pushing its upper body off the ground, it gave a giant inhale of breath.

"You asshole," it hissed, clutching its chest as it rose. "You shot me in the chest!"

But as its face came into the light, it's anger faded, as Ash gazed into it - or rather 'her' - eyes.

"Samantha?" Ash asked.

Samantha narrowed her eyes. "Yeah? Who...?" Her eyes narrowed. "Jacob?"

"Yeah," Ash insisted. "But..." he peered at her. "You have the same features as Sam from Evil Dead: Regeneration?"

Samanatha rubbed her head, her eyes widening in realization.

"That fucking merchant..." she hissed.

Ash deflated. "He got you too, huh?" he asked.

"I bought that Sam figure that you were missing from your Evil Dead collection," she explained. "And the next thing I know, I'm in another world, missing half of my skin, and being killed over & over & over again by that bug bitch Chrysalis!" Samantha took a massive breath before she flew into a rage. "But, other than that, it wasn't bad. How'd your experience go?"

Ash chuckled. "Well, I spent plenty of time behind bars," he admitted. Shining turned away with guilt in his eyes. Ash turned to him with a grin. "But, I think I'm on pretty good terms with at least three of the four princesses."

"Four?" Samantha asked, glancing at the ponies before looking around. "Wait, what season are we in?"

"Um... Spring?" Pinkie asked.

"Pinkie, sh," Applejack hissed.

"I think Season Five," Ash explained. "Twilight and her friends beat Chrysalis before. Though..." he turned back to them. "Hey, you guys don't know a... uh... weird communist pony, do you?"

"Starlight Glimmer," corrected Samantha.

"Yeah, Starlight Glimmer," Ash corrected. "You know her?"

The ponies glanced at each other in complete confusion. Ash nodded.

"Between Season Four and Five it is," he declared.

"Um... I'm a little lost here" Shining finally said, stepping forward. "Ash... how do you know this creature?"

"Sorry Shining," Ash replied, indicating his odd friend. "This is Samantha Turner. She's my best friend from my world."

Shining Armor glanced between the two of them.

"Oh... kay, then," he said. "So, if she's your friend..." he looked to Sam with a light of desperation. "Do you know where Chyrsalis took my sister?"

Sam grinned.

"Well, lucky for you, I resurrected in time to hear her plans," she replied with a grin. "The bug bitch told Tirek to meet her at the main hive before teleporting away with Twilight. And that hive's somewhere in the frozen north. West of of the Crystal Empire."

Since I have hit a but of a roadblock I am going to take a short break and put some time into the sequel I promised two months ago

Now writing Kung-Fu Equestria 2 check it out