//------------------------------//
// The Speech 
// Story: BBBFFWB 
// by Muan 
//------------------------------//


BBBFFWB: The Speech


Episode 25, Season 2: During the Wedding Rehearsal….

“Do you?” said Spike playing with the wedding dolls. “I do!” And with that he cast away the doll of Shining Armor.
“Hey has anypony seen Twilight,” the groom asked.
As if in response the chamber doors were flung open. Twilight Sparkle stood in the entrance. A look of courage and spite adorned her face. “I’m here!” she shouted. “I’m not gonna stand next to her, and neither should you!” she said addressing her brother, the groom.
Shining Armor bit his lip and looked about in distress. “I’m sorry, I don’t know why she’s acting like this.”
“Maybe we should just ignore her,” said Cadence in reply.
“You have to listen to me!” said Twilight pleadingly.
“Oh goodness are you alright?” Fluttershy asked.
“I’m fine.”
“Ya sure about that?” asked Applejack. Twilight magically stuffed the mare’s Stetson hat over her mouth in response. 
“I have something to say.” Twilight marched forward towards the bride and groom.
Shining Armor had only seconds to think. Even less time to react. Almost swallowing his words he managed to say from between clenched teeth, “Twilie, please!”
At that, Twilight stopped mid stride. “Please? Please what? Please don’t disturb this sham wedding?”
“Twilie!”
“Don’t ‘Twilie’ me. I think its time everypony here knew the truth!”
“I really don’t think this is the time or the place.”
“What is wrong with you, Shining Armor? Are you really on her side? Don’t you see that you’re –“
“Twilight!” Shining Armor was shaking. He looked honestly afraid. He choked down the fear. He summoned up all his courage and spoke while his sister remained silent with shock. “Look, I know what you’re going to say, and maybe you’re right. I’ve had my doubts, too. But we both always knew things would turn out this way in the end. Don’t make this any harder than it has to be.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that I grew up. Sometimes, yes, I wonder, is it all a sham? Do I really love Cadence? Sometimes I think I’m just using her so I won’t have to think about you every waking second. I did think that maybe if I was with Cadence then the dreams would stop and I could stop remembering what it was like with my little sister. And maybe the dreams haven’t stopped. Maybe I still wake up in a cold sweat at night shivering in my bones and rasping out your name.
“Maybe Cadence doesn’t really know me; maybe she can never really know me the way you do. Maybe I don’t really know her. Maybe we’ll never be a part of each other the way you and I were, the way you and I are. Maybe I’ll never stop thinking of your face every time she and I make love but dammit Twilight, you’re my sister. I’ve grown up and I’ve accepted that and so should you!” 
By the time Shining Armor had finished his speech, the whole room was naturally filled with dropped jaws. Only Spike and Princess Celestia  had looks of no particular surprise still on their faces. Several of the guards were still fighting back any expression of surprise, but most had unconsciously allowed their jaws to slacken, even if their eyes remained stern.
Twilight was, of course, the first to respond. “Wow… that’s not what I came here to talk about at all, actually.”
“It’s not?” her brother said.
“No, not really but…” A twinkle of hope had started to sparkle in her eyes. An anxious smile played across her features. “Is that true? Do you really still dream about me – about us?”
“I… still write poetry about you,” said Shining Armor, his eyes downcast and his face turned away from his younger sister.
“I still write you letters about my life in Ponyville and about my feelings for you” replied Twilight.
“She does?” said Applejack, turning to Spike.
“Oh yeah. She writes ‘em, reads ‘em aloud, punches the mirror, and cries her eyes out. It’s a regular routine.”
“Ohmygosh ohmygosh, I can’t believe I’m actually telling you this. I thought you’d stopped writing poetry”, babbled Twilight Sparkle to her brother. “Can I read what you’ve written?”
”Of course – I mean, no!” said the Captain of the Royal Guard. “Things can never go back to the way they were. I can’t love you the way I did. I’m with Cadence now.”
“I wouldn’t count on that for too long” came the word from the fake Cadence. “Okay, look, I’m just going to go ahead and put this out there. I’m not Cadence, I’m actually a changeling queen.”
Princess Celestia piped up suddenly. “The changelings feed on love by imitating the beloved. Of course! You were imitating Cadence to feed off of Shining Armor’s love! With that kind of power, you could have conquered all Equestria!”
“Yes, thank you Princess Celestia for that helpful bit of exposition. As afore stated, I run on love, not on self-deception, though I must say, it would probably be a much better business plan.” In a puff of green glittering smoke, the changeling queen returned to her true form saying, “Looks like I’m not getting much out of that form. If you don’t mind, I need to go call off the siege of Canterlot. Shining Armor, I hope you get the help you need. The rest of you are free to go.” With that she began to depart.
“But, what did you do with the real Cadence?” said Shining Armor.
“Oh, right. Gem mines. Right underneath the castle. Good luck getting her out before she suffocates.”
“You aren’t going to show us where she is?” 
“What, and chance being forced to tell her myself why I had to call off my plans? I don’t think so,” said the queen of the changelings.
“Wow, this is a lot to take in,” said Twilight. “Can I read your poetry now that you don’t have Cadence?”
“I-I guess. I don’t know” said her brother.
“Can I send you my letters?”
“…Not all at once.”
“Ohmygosh, I can’t believe he’ll finally be reading them” Twilight said turning back to her friends. “It’s going to be so embarrassing… but so great. I can’t believe he still has feelings for me. Why did I come here anyway? I’ve completely forgotten what was going on. Wow, I’m feeling kinda lightheaded. Oh no, the room’s spinning.” Hyperventilating, Twilight Sparkle then took in one final breath and passed out after a few more moments of delirious happiness.