Cadance was restrained to one of the pillars by lime green goo. She struggled against the goo, trying to break free. Chrysalis walked over to an empty pue nearby, “It’s fruitless. You have failed. And once I start feeding off your love, and the swarm dines on the love of the civilians, even Celestia and Luna shall fall to me, I shall have best the three demigoddesses.” Chrysalis gloated as she walked over to the hypnotized Shining Armor, she then opened her mouth and a pink light was drawn out of Shining Armor’s chest, specifically from the area of the heart. The pink light pooled as an orb in Chrysalis’ mouth. Cadance thrashed against her binding as she witnessed this assault on her beloved, Chrysalis closed her mouth and licked her lips, “I don’t think I’ll ever find such succulent love again.” Chrysalis said as placed her hand over her mouth and shivered in delight.
Continuing to fight, “You won't get away with this! Twilight and her friends will–” Cadance started only to stop as the doors to the chapel swung open as a band armored changelings entered with Twilight, her friends, the CMC and Spike bound. As Cadance and Chrysalis witnessed, the armored changelings then throw the heroes to the floor unceremoniously, their weapons and such thrown to the other side of the aisle.
Chrysalis laughed at the scene as she turned back to Cadance, “You were saying?” the changeling queen asked mocking the princess she masqueraded as. Seeing Cadance hanging her head in the defeat. Turning back to Twilight and company, “You do realize the reception's been canceled, don't you?” As she noticed that her foes only glared death at her, she chuckled and turned to the drones, “Go! Feed!” she ordered the drones. They grinned in delight as the flew out to join the rest of the changelings. “It's funny, really,” Chrysalis commented as she returned her attention back to her captives. “Twilight here was suspicious of my behavior all along.” She continued to speak as she rubbed Twilight’s hair. “Too bad the rest of you were too caught up in your wedding planning to realize those suspicions were correct!” Chrysalis then started to laugh at the failed heroes.
Everyone was silent as they dipped their head in defeat. However, they still continued to struggle against their bindings but not even Rarity was getting everywhere. But as it was clear they were not going to get out anytime soon. No one said anything as the realization dawned on them, save Applejack, “Sorry, Twi. We should've listened to yah.”
Twilight, however, could not blame her friends for not believing her, she never talked to them about Shining Armor or Cadance, they won’t have known that Chrysalis was disguised as her, also given their roles for the wedding they would not have been able to compare notes and the word choice and actions of Chrysalis would have only seemed out of character to Shining, Celestia, Luna and or her, but with the war game, Celestia and Luna were gone and Shining had so much on his hands. “It's not your fault. She fooled everyone,” Twilight conceded.
“Hmm, I did, didn't I?” Chrysalis mused to herself as she walked over to an open window looking out to the city, “And it started with tricking Celestia and Luna about the date for their war game. Celestia was so trusting concerning sharing some secrets. I came in during the time Shining Armor was out, it was earlier in the spring during your birthday, I think. It was a matter of just lying low. However, I must admit if Shining was not so knightly, he would have found me out much sooner.” Chrysalis chuckled as she witnessed her swarm gathering up the residents of Chantalot. In her mind she started hearing the tune she heard before she started her aria, this felt it was a refrain of the song. “This day has been just perfect
The kind of day of which I've dreamed since I was small
Everybody I'll soon control
Every tot, were, and damsel
Who says a girl can't really have it all?” As she sang she hovered looking over the success of her invasion. As she landed still marveling over her victory, she even gave a rather dorky evil laugh believing that her opponents are down for the count.
Cadance, however, had long since changed tactics for getting out when Twilight and the others were so unceremoniously thrown into the chapel. Instead of struggling, she focused her magic to go to the area of her chest, causing the trapped air to heat up and melt her prison. As she was free she walked over to Shining Armor. “Shining Armor, please, mi amore, return to me.” She whispers as she embraced Shining Armor, a light blue glow transferred from Cadance’s heart into Shining Armor’s. He was then bathed in the blue light and bewitchment that controlled him was dispelled.
Shining Armor faltered backward and sideways to the altar. As he shook his head, “Wha– where... huh? Is...is the wedding over, Did I miss it?” He asked looked around as he noticed that the chapel was pretty much empty and had not processed everything else in the chapel.
Chrysalis turned to see that Shining Armor was free, but she grinned, Shining Armor was spent in power, his shield spell was down and the city was already overrun with her changeling swarm, she had won, “It's all over!” she declared seeing that her victory was assured as Shining Armor could not stand, she had bested Cadance and the six heroes and their kin were all bound.
“Your spell! Perform your spell!” Twilight shouted.
Chrysalis laughed at the notion as she hovered above everyone, “What good would that do? My changelings already roam free,” she stated point outside. “I have already won this fight,” She concluded.
Shining Armor knew he was not in the best shape, but he had to try, he had to protect his country, his family, his love. Now was the moment he could finally step into the fray so that others did not have too, now was his moment to fulfill his duties. Summoned all the magic he still had him, pooling it in his focus gem. “ALEXANDROS MEGAS!” he shouted, but the spell failed, he did not have enough power. He has failed, “No!” he said as he fell to his knees. “My power is useless now. I don't have the strength to repel them,” he said as everything dawn on him. He had let everyone down and he could not even summon the strength to stand back up.
Cadance, lower herself to embrace her love, “My love will give you strength,” she said as she pooled what remained of her power into her chest.
Chrysalis chuckled as she turned her back away from her foes landing next to the window she was looking out just minutes before. “What a lovely but absolutely ridiculous sentiment,” she said rolling her eyes. “We changelings feed off of love, we drain from others, how can you humans possibly use it as we do.”
Shining Armor glared at the changeling queen. But he then closed his eyes and tried to repeat casting his spell, however, a light blue light entered into him, “We are one.” Cadance whispered as she took Shining Armor’s face in her hands and they kissed. Shining Armor then felt something he never could image before, he felt his entire being restored, not just his power, not just his magic, all of it, and then he felt it merge with another… he opened his eyes as was looking right into Cadance’s. In this moment, they were only separate beings in terms of their physical bodies, he was no longer just Shining Armor, and Cadance was no longer just Cadance, but they were not half one, half the other, they were something new. The two shut their eyes as the magic of Cadance and Shining swirled around them lifting them into the air. Not unlike the when Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack use the Elements of Harmony.
Soon the orb of light engulfed them as they opened their eyes to reveal that they were fields of light red. Everyone else looked on in utter awe, even Chrysalis turned and her mouth started to hang open. Just as the orb collapsed on itself a version Shining Armor’s voice that sounded deeper than the very void of space was heard shouting, “ALEXANDROS MEGALYTERI!” and the light red light from the fields of the eyes of the two become a sphere and started to expand at the speed of light.
Too late Chrysalis realized what had happened, “Noooooo!” shouted as she and the entirety of her swarm were forced out of the city by the rapidly expanding sphere and were flung back towards their domain, screaming all the way.
As Celestia and Luna flew to Chantalot, “You are sure it was a good idea to have started the war games when we did, Sister?” Luna asked.
Celestia looked her younger sister, “Cadance was the one that drew the note that had it be this week.” Then she had a thought, “Did Cadance seem off since Twilight’s birthday?” Celestia asked Luna.
However Luna did not answer right away, she had not been focused on Cadance since Discord was sealed. In fact, there was something else she had… been on her mind, “Um… We cannot say We have. In all honesty, getting caught up on current history and some... recent events have been pulling Our attention away.”
As the finally had Chantalot in their sight, they saw that Shining Armor’s city protecting shield was down, but as they got closer they saw that the eruption of light of Shining Armor’s magic and mass of insectoid humanoids being forced out of the city. The other humanoids were all screaming ‘NOOO!!!’ as they passed the diarchs and were jettisoned towards the western barrens just beyond the borders of the nation. Celestia and Luna stopped as they witnessed the event. “What just happened?” Luna asked baffled at what they saw. The two then continued to their capital.
After arriving in the city, Celestia saw that her people, her charges, her children had clearly experienced something that horrified them. However, Celestia swiftly went about comforting her subjects somehow seemed to recover rapidly just by seeing their main princess there even if it was just to hold their hand.
A couple hours later Chantalot seemed to have recovered and has returned to business as usual and everyone was back in their normal routine. Celestia had returned from dismissing war games and sending the ESM back to their posts. She sat at a table she had joined with her sister when Discord was sealed and looked back at what happened this day as Luna joined her as the sun was setting. “Well, Sister, you were right about one thing,” Luna commented. Celestia turned to her younger sister. “We made it in time to make it to the wedding.”
Celestia just stared at her sister, not showing any emotion, mainly because what emotion could she show. However, she took what Luna had said as an attempt to provided some levity. However, the timing of the execution had Celestia feeling like her sister wasn’t giving the situation the level of importance that it deserved, she would have appreciated the attempt more if Luna had waited until the opening of the ceremony. But she elected to give Luna the benefit of the doubt
The next day after everyone had a chance to recover from the invasion, Cadance was going over the details of her wedding, but this time she with Shining Armor. First, they were in the kitchen trying the food for the reception. They approved the choices made by Applejack. The two met up with Cadance’s bridesmaids as they all tried on their dresses. Cadance loved the dress Rarity had originally made and was happy that her bridesmaids enjoyed theirs, as they were before the alterations were made. They two then went to check on how the reception hall was set up, while there Cadance and Shining enjoyed dancing with Pinkie Pie to the polka music the jester employed. “It’s just like my home village,” Cadance commented and hugged the party planner. The two then went over to see Fluttershy conduct the bird choir and they were satisfied with the birds, especially the one mockingbird that was off-key before was now singing as it should. They then watched as Rainbow Dash did a trial run of her Sonic Rainboom and everything seemed to be in order. They also did a check with Twilight to see how things were going, Twilight even suggested that since Shining Armor would be wearing a family memento that Cadance could as well as a way of remembering loved ones who couldn’t make it and a reminder of their support. And while Cadance had no family that fit the bill there was a locket her Earthborn parents said was found with her, a small light blue crystal shaped like a heart.
The following day, in the chapel, Princess Celestia was at the altar ready to officiate the wedding, replacing Fancypants who sat in the audience happy to be free of the responsibility of officiating the wedding, with his wife, Fleur Dis Lee. Princess Luna, much like Night Light, was having a hard time staying awake and was sitting next to an Earthborn couple that sat opposite of Twilight and Shining’s parents. Also in the audience was Rarity sitting next to Twilight and Shining’s parents with Pinkie Pie seated to her right. Near one of the windows, Fluttershy stood dressed in a version of the bridesmaid’s dress that was made for her but was redone to match her more, with the birds at the ready. Back at the altar, to Princess Celestia’s left was Shining Armor in suit patched up and wearing the breastplate he wanted to, to his left was Twilight, but she was not in a dress, but a padded armor version of her usual attire. To Twilight’s left was Applejack in her usual armor cleaned up (Twilight and Shining Armor had discussed getting her a set of functional ceremonial armor when they had noticed she wouldn’t be wearing anything expressly formal but elected to let the paladin dress as a paladin), to her left was Rainbow Dash in the flight suit Rarity made for her when she entered the young fliers competition last year (while it too was not formal like Applejack's armor, it just seemed to fit), and to her left was a Skyborn man around the age of Twilight and her friends that Twilight never seen before with blue hair, not unlike Shining, dressed in polished Royal Guard armor with a blue heater shield with a yellow lightning bolt over it depicted on his breastplate. To that man’s left was Spike in the armor he wore during the invasion as he held a pillow with two rings on it.
Celestia nodded to Fluttershy and the druid started conducting the birds to sing the Bride’s Chorus. As the birds sang the doors to the chapel opened as Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo lead the way throwing flower petals, following them were five women dressed the same and all veiled. After they all reach the altar the last of the women took the spot opposite of Shining Armor to Celestia’s right. Celestia then removed the veil showing the woman to be Cadance, the four other women the did likewise revealing themselves to be Lyra, Lemon Hearts, Twinkle Shine and Minuette. Celestia the nodded to Fluttershy to end the chorus. After the birds stopped singing, Celestia began to speak, “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here-”
“Wait, your majesty, before we go forward.” Shining Armor interpreted the proceedings as he turned to face Twilight he walked down a few steps from the altar to look up to his sister. “Twilight, I owe you so much. I was wrong to doubt you when you noticed how the person I thought was Cadance was acting extremely different than how Cadance really does. You continued on in spite of everything. You trusted your instincts when everyone else doubted you. You saved my fiancée, you enabled her to be here, you… well did everything to save me. You wer… no, you are my best maiden and I spat in your face. I owe you so much and I was so wrong. I am so sorry and I am so thankful.” Shining Armor then embraced his sister, “You are not my just my LSBFF, you are my BFF. I love you, Twilight.” Twilight returned the hug.
After a few seconds, “I love you too BBBFF, I forgive you and you are welcome. But Shining now is not the time.” Twilight said as she ended the hug. Shining Armor gave a teehee and turned back the ceremony.
Princess Celestia cleared her throat and continued to proceed with the marriage, “As I was saying, we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza–”
This time it was just Princess Cadance that stopped the ceremony, “Excuse me, but Aunt, ‘Princess Cadance’ will be enough.” Here Celestia gave a smile, a smile of a parent proud of their child, a smile shared by the Earthborn couple that sat on the bridal side corresponding with the locations of Twilight’s and Shining’s parents on the other side of the aisle.
After a minute Celestia continued with the ceremony, “Hm, Princess Cadance and Marshall Shining Armor. The strength of their commitment is clear. The power of their love, undeniable…”
“Um, can we just skip to the ‘Speak now or forever hold your peace,’ part?” Cadance and Shining Armor asked at the same time.
Celestia nodded, “Should anyone here know of any reason why that this couple, Marshall Shining Armor and Princess Cadance, should not be joined in matrimony, please speak your piece now or forever hold your peace.” Celestia announced. Unlike with Fancypants, there was no chatter in confusion. They waited a few minutes. “Alright, May we have the rings please?” Twilight took the rings from Spike, they were a merger of the bride's and groom’s marks. One of the rings was designed for a man’s ring finger, that one she gave to Cadance, the other which was meant for a woman’s ring finger was given to Shining Armor.
As Shining Armor slid the ring given to him onto Cadance’s finger, “With this ring, I offer to you, all myself. For as long as we both shall live.”
As Cadance slid the given to her onto Shining’s finger, “With this ring, I offer to you, all myself. For as long as we both shall live.”
“Do you each accept the other’s offer?” Celestia asked the two.
“I do!” the two said together as they held each other hands, it was clear the two were just waiting for Celestia to say the words.
Celestia then took a breath, “Well, by the power invested in me as a ruling princess of Mystica, I now pronounce you man and woman!” Celestia then turned to Rainbow Dash. “Ahem,” she coughed. Rainbow Dash then turned to Scootaloo, who look off her dress revealing underneath it was a flight suit much like Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo hopped onto Rainbow Dash and held on tight as Rainbow Dash jettisoned out an open window. As the two were just about to perform a sonic boom, “You may kiss and consummate the marriage.” At that moment they all heard and saw the sonic boom performed by both Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo. Cadance and Shining then kiss. The newlyweds broke their kiss as Shining picked up Cadance and started running down the aisle, as the bridesmaids and grooms-persons followed suit. However, Shining stopped at the exit and Cadance threw her bouquet over her shoulder as the other stopped, the bridesmaids and other women reaching for it. Lyra caught it.
A couple hours later at the reception, as everything was ready, with Vinyl Scratch at a disc jockey stand playing several songs for everyone there as they wait for the dances to start following the best maiden’s speech. Octavia and the rest of her quartet were stringing their instruments, preparing for their number. Also setting up were Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash with the instruments that Pinkie Pie pulled out of her hat when they all found out about Shining Armor. “Best wedding ever!” Rainbow Dash cheered as they were ready to kick off the party.
“Hold your horses, Sugarcube,” Applejack said. “Twilight, I think you have a speech to give.” the paladin called out calling attention to Twilight and prodding her to speak.
Twilight took notice as she took a microphone as she left her seat to stand in front of her friends as she looked at everyone else there in their seats at the table. “I have known Shining Armor for my whole life, he had always supported me when I started studying to enter Celestia’s School for the Gifted and I him as he strove to join the ESM. I first met Cadance when she was hired as my sitter during the last few years before I started what would be my apprenticeship under Princess Celestia. While I haven’t been there for them during the last year, I cannot see and would not wish either of them without the other. But I have to ask, Shining, how did you get her to say ‘yes’?” Twilight directed the last part to her brother.
“I asked him!” Cadance shouted back. Everyone but Cadance’s Earthborn parents, Celestia and Shining Armor were all taken aback. “What can I say? I like my men a little…” she then turned to Shining Armor batting bedroom eyes and in a sultry voice, “dorky,” she said as if it was accompanied by soft jazz performed on a saxophone.
“How could I say ‘no’?” Shining asked as it was clear this had gotten awkward for everyone else.
“Okay, well… um… okay, well with the question answered, To the bride and groom!” she cheered and everyone toasted.
As Twilight was about to go back to her seat, “Where do you think you’re going, you got a song to sing.” Pinkie Pie asked Twilight as she, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy had their instruments and were ready to play. Twilight was not certain what song they were going to play but then the instrumentals started. Twilight, knew the song, it was a song Shining would sing in the shower after spending time with Cadance, and Cadance would sing it when she thought no one was around after having a chat with Shining Armor. The song was ‘Love Is In Bloom.’ and Twilight could not help but feel the words return to her, “Come on Twilight, let’s get this party started!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed.
Twilight stopped as everyone else started to move to the dancing floor. Twilight held the microphone close to her chest as she started to sing, “Love is in bloom
A beautiful bride, a handsome groom,
Two hearts becoming one
A bond that cannot be undone because
Love is in bloom
A beautiful bride, a handsome groom
I said love is in bloom
You're starting a life and making room
For us (For us, For us....)”. As Twilight sang, everyone that took to their feet and started to dance. However, the focus was on Shining and Cadance, whom every so often would switch to dance with their parent of the opposite sex, and their in-laws of the opposites sex. Also during song Spike danced with each of the CMC. All the while photos of all the other attendees were taken.
At a break in the vocals, as Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy continued to play while being supplemented by Octavia and the rest of her string quartet and Vinyl with her record-play, Shining Armor and Cadance broke away waving their hands signifying that they were off to their honeymoon. Everyone paused to cheer them on as they entered the carriage.
As the carriage pulled away Twilight continued with the last verse of the song.
“Love is in bloom
A beautiful bride, a handsome groom
I said love is in bloom
You're starting a life and making room
For us, (For us... For us... Aah...)” Even though the newlyweds left for their wedding night and honeymoon, the party continued. Twilight gave the microphone to Vinyl as the DJ continued to play for the party. Twilight stepped aside and looked at everything. “This was a great wedding,” she commented to herself believing she was alone.
“Well, I could have done without the changeling invasion, but all in all I can’t disagree.” Twilight heard a male voice, she turned to her right and was surprised to see the Skyborn groomsman from the actual wedding. “You have a great voice, are you sure your not a famous singer?” he asked clearly flattering her.
Twilight blushed and started to fiddle with her hair as she turned her face away, “Um...I…” she stuttered not knowing what to say but she started to feel her heart race.
“The name’s...” the man started as he reached out his hand to introduce himself.
“Twilight, come on!” The two turned to see Twilight’s friends waving to her, beckoning her over to stop her from being just an observer, but an active part of the party.
Twilight turned back not sure if she should stay or go. “Looks like your friends need you,” the man said as he then started to head off, not forcing her to make the choice.
“Wait… what’s your name?” Twilight asked causing the man to stop before he vanished into the crowd.
“Hint, a-ah savior of the universe,” the man answered with a smirk and vanished into the crowd.
As Twilight’s friends joined her, “Ah know he was Shining’s actual groomsman, but who was he?” Applejack asked.
Twilight took a moment to think about what she was told by the stranger, “I… don’t...know…” she answered lost in thought. ‘Savior of the universe’, that thought just continued to plague her, however, she still enjoyed herself at the reception.
Epilogue: The Two Rogues
Chrysalis and the swarm that accompanied her flew back to the desolate barren land of the changeling kingdom. The arrived at the hive’s mound, The Caer Sith and slipped through openings. Most of the swarm went to their quarters, some went to the nursery to give what they were able to collect to the nymphs. Chrysalis herself went to her throne to think about what she did wrong, where her plan fell apart and what she could do differently.
Unbeknownst to most of the hive, one member of the swarm that was part of the invasion had different plans. He was in his cell packing a bag. ‘I can't stay here. There has to be a way I could share in a friendship like that.’ He finished packing and started his way out. He crept and slipped and slithered as he exited the mound. He knew that if he was found out he would be killed, but it was a risk he had to take. He also knew that he could never return. He did, however, leave a note:
‘There has to be another way for us to live instead of draining love out of others. I have to try. Farewell, Thorax’.
It took him three hours to exit the mound. As he exited the mound he slipped into an underground path that allowed him to traverse the wastelands surrounding the mound unseen, after an hour he exited the tunnel and was in Mystica again. He looked back and shed a tear, he was now all on his own, a rogue changeling.
Back in Chantalot, a female Skyborn dressed in form-fitting flight suit emerged from a patch of darkness inside the deep vaults. She was Nightshade, her tattered flight suit was patched up, her bow was in a quiver on her back. “No wonder The Tantabus said he would beat me, I only been truly adopted by the darkness for a few months, he was born into it a thousand years ago.” She commented on her new found powers and chuckled to herself.
She hovered around the vault, looking at each of the items stored there. “No. No. No.” she said as she examined each item and placed it back down. She then noticed Discord in his statue state, “Not happening.” she commented as she knocked on the statue causing it to move, slight. She continued to look at around. “Absolutely nothing here. Gloom Mark, my old friend, looks like you were the only thing usable that was ever here,” she said talking to her bow.
“Hey, what about me?” came Nightmare Moon’s voice from a jar that Nightshade passed over when she started to example the items in the vault.
Nightshade picked up the jar and looked it over, she shrugged her shoulders, “why the fuck not?” she asked herself. “I am already rogue, might as well go all the way.” She answered herself as she took the jar and slipped back into the shadows.
An hour or so after Nightshade had left, one Sweetie “Bon Bon” Drops entered the vault with an artifact obscured in a small palm-sized blessed applewood box, after setting the box while mumbling about not letting whatever was in out, she set to check the inventory. As soon as she started she stopped at noticing the Discord statue being off by a few millimeters, something most mages with maladies that made them pay extra attention would have trouble spotting. She then quickly looked over to where Nightmare’s remains had sat only to find them missing. Silently cursing to herself, Bon Bon started writing a message to Celestia, only to stop mid-sentence, both officially and unofficially she was no longer part of that organization. This vault had been forgotten for several decades, how Princess Celestia had known she had taken over was a mystery to her, but she had been sworn to keep the existence of the vault a secret if she sent word the vault had been plundered that be an account of the vault existing. She needed to find a way to get the word out more discreetly.
“Excuse me, Agent Drops.” came a male voice. Bon Bon looked up and saw a man she never saw before, he was dressed in studded leather armor and seemed to blend into the shadows.
“Who are you?” She asked looking at the man.
“I am the one who took Gloom Mark,” he answered as he looked in the vault. He noticed the absence of the remains of Nightmare Moon. “No!” he exclaimed. He turned around, “Tell no one about this!” he shouted as he ran down the hall.
Bon Bon blinked in confusion. “That’s it I am leaving the letter.” Bon-Bon went back to her note and finished it.