//------------------------------// // Rescuing Cadence (Edited) // Story: Nightmare Sparkle // by Twilight Star //------------------------------// Cadence felt suffocated within the crystal walls. She wondered if anypony would rescue her. She wondered if Chrysalis had mastered Equestria. If so, could Celestia prevent it? She hoped so. Suddenly, she heard hoofbeats and two voices in the background.  “Princess, don’t you think we should break these crystal walls?”  “But darling, they are so beautiful”  “Rarity, stop finding it all cute for a second. We have to rescue Princess Cadence and save Twilight from Nightmare”  Cadence was surprised by the last three words and was worried. Was Twilight all right? What happened to the unicorn? She needed to ask her aunt about this. But first, Cadence had to find a way for them to know she was behind a crystal wall. She started hitting the wall with a hoof.  In the background Celestia, Spike, and the mares heard the sound of something hitting a wall.  “Where the hell does this noise come from?” asked Applejack.  “Is there a monster here?” asked Fluttershy with fear.  “Fluttershy, stop being fearful,” said Rainbow Dash. “There are no monsters in caves.”  “But what if there is a crystal dragon that takes care of this cave?” asked Fluttershy.  Rainbow Dash hit both front hooves in the face. “Please, Fluttershy. There are no crystal dragons!”  Fluttershy looked at Rainbow. “But what if they exist?”  “Please, pony. Stop fighting,” said Celestia. “Let’s check where that sound comes from.”  “Sorry, princess,” said Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy in unison, now regretful.  They walked again as they looked around for where they saw the sound. But the sound was a little far from them.  Rainbow Dash had an idea. “Can I fly to where the sound could possibly be?”  “No, Rainbow,” replied Applejack. “We are a team and we will be together” Rainbow Dash was grumpy. “Fine”    Nightmare Sparkle finally arrived at Two Sisters Castle and began to look around. “Hm. This castle isn’t decorated in the way I like it.”  Nightmare Sparkle used her magic and made the castle style change. The walls changed to a lavender color, the floor with a light blue carpet, the two thrones they had in the room were replaced by a single lavender throne. On top of the throne had the design of a six-pointed star beside it. Beside the throne, were two pink tapestries with purple stars. When she was done, she looked around the room and smiled. “Now the throne room is worthy of a queen.”    “The sound is louder, ponies,” said Applejack.  Pinkie Pie put an ear to a crystal and realized it was very high and looked at her friends, Spike and Celestia. “Girls, I think Cadence is here.”  Celestia carried her magic. “Get behind me. I’ll use my magic to break the crystal.”  The magic went to the crystal and broke. The ponies and the dragon smiled when they saw Cadence. Cadence realized she was released and rose from the floor. “Thank you for saving me. Chrysalis had teleported me down here.”  “It was nothing, Princess Cadence,” said Applejack.  “How are things up there?” asked Cadence. “Chrysalis dominated Equestria with her changelings army?”  “No, Cadence,” replied Celestia. “Twilight saved Equestria before the Changelings could break the shield.”  Cadence smiled with relief. But she realized that Twilight wasn’t with them. “Where’s Twilight? Where is she?”  Everypony except Cadence was concerned. How would they explain that Twilight left Nightmare owns her body? Who spoke first was Applejack. “About Twilight, Cadence… She… Let’s say…”  “.... Nightmare is in the body of Twilight!” finished Spike. Applejack looked at Spike unhappy.  Cadence was worried. “But why? What happened?”  Now they didn’t know how they would explain it. “Well… Twilight Sparkle came to us and said the fake Cadence was evil.”  “And you believed her, right?” asked Cadence.  Applejack was unsure. She knew Cadence wouldn’t be happy. “No, Cadence. Because Twilight was accusing her without proof.”  Cadence looked at Celestia. “And you, aunt? You believed her, right?”  Celestia felt like crying. “No, Cadence.”  Cadence fought to not be annoyed. “But why not?”  “Because as Shining Armor said, he told us that you were like that because of stress and we believe it,” replied Celestia.  “But Aunt, I rarely get stressed,” said Cadence. “You know me very well.”  “I know, Cadence,” Celestia was crying, but wasn’t directed at Cadence. “But I thought you would be stressed. And now, because I didn’t listen to my student, I lost her for the Nightmare in the same way I lost Luna!”  Cadence approached Celestia with a smile. “Don’t cry, Aunt. We will save her.”  Celestia looked up for Cadence. “But how? The Elements of Harmony only work if Twilight is with her friends”  “Don’t worry, Celestia,” said Cadence. “We’ll find a way to save her.”  “I hope so, Cadence,” said Celestia.  “Do you know where the cave exit is?” asked Cadence.  “Yes, Cadence,” replied Celestia. “Just keep going walking.”  They started walking. Cadence decided to ask. “And Shining Armor? He is fine?”  Celestia looked at Cadence. “Well, he’s not hurt.”  Cadence smiled. “That’s nice. But did Chrysalis do anything else?”  “Well Cadence, let’s say Chrysalis hypnotized her future husband to feed on his love,” replied Pinkie Pie.  Cadence was frightened and worried. “My Fausto! Do you know where he is?”  “Yes, Cadence,” replied Celestia. “He’s where the wedding was going to be.”  “Phew,” said Cadence. “That’s good”    Arriving in Canterlot, they opened the door to the wedding and saw Shining Armor standing still. Cadence looked worried for her love. “Shining Armor!” she rushed over to Shining Armor. The others just watched Cadence.  When Cadence reached Shining Armor she said, “Shining, talk to me. Please.”  But Shining Armor didn’t answer. Cadence felt tears before embracing him. What Cadence didn’t notice was that a heart came out of her horn and flew into Shining’s face before it burst. Shining squinted for a few seconds before shaking his head. “W-what happened ...?”  Cadence smiled before hugging him. Shining Armor felt himself being hugged and looked at Cadence. “Cadence, what happened?”  “Chrysalis had disguised herself as me to feed on the love you feel for me. She and her Changeling subjects tried to invade and conquer Canterlot and then, the rest of Equestria.” Cadence replied.  Shining Armor was concerned. “And where is she?”  “Twilight managed to defeat her and now the queen is on the moon,” replied Cadence.  Shining Armor looked at the mares, Spike and Celestia but realized that Twilight wasn’t with them. “Where’s Twilight?”  All except Shining Armor and Cadence were concerned. They bit their lips as they looked to the right.  Shining Armor noted the concern and became concerned. “She’s fine? What happened? What happened to her?”  They didn’t know how they were going to explain to Shining Armor. Who decided to answer was Applejack. “Shining Armor, by our fault, Twilight was… well… let’s say… she felt so many negative emotions that Nightmare saw an opportunity to possess our friend’s body.”  Shining Armor was scared. “But why, Applejack? What made her feel negative emotions?”  “Do you remember when you got mad at Twilight after she said ‘Cadence’ was mean?” asked Applejack.  “Yes, I remember,” answered Shining Armor. “Why?”  “Let’s say Twilight Sparkle was saddened by what you said,” Applejack replied.  Shining Armor was surprised. He didn’t want his sister to cry. “I didn’t want to make my sister cry. Why did I do it?”  “Maybe the magic Chrysalis used on you did it,” suggested Cadence.  “That could be it, Cadence,” said Shining Armor. “But where would she be now?”  “Nightmare Sparkle said that she went to the Castle of the Two Sisters to decorate,” replied Celestia, “when she returns, Nightmare Sparkle would have a conversation with Luna.”  “We need to warn Luna!” shouted Applejack. “She’s in danger!”