Morning arrived, and the official wedding is happening today; Cadence and Shining are about to tie the knot together, which marks a significant step in strengthening ties with the Crystal Empire and Canterlot.
"Alright, everypony. We've got a big ceremony planned for today. I'm so proud of all of you for doing your very best to prepare. This is too important to ruin. Are all stations ready?" Celestia asked as everyone saluted.
"Yes, Ma'am!" Every captain of every station said as they all waited for Cadence's arrival.
"I can't wait to see my big brother have his special day. It's also going to be so nice to see my foalsitter again. I wonder how Cadence has been doing as of late?" Twilight was ecstatic, lightly hopping in place and excited to see Cadence.
"I think she'll be just as happy to see you, too, Sugarcube." Applejack sat next to Rainbow, across from Twilight, and Rarity was next to Twilight.
"Darling. You two are close, from what I can recall. Why it'd be strange for her not to be excited." Rarity said in her typical posh yet pleasant voice.
"This is going to be one awesome party. And best of all, no meanie pants doctor to ruin it for us." Pinkie cheered as the train car approached Canterlot.
"Uh... Pinkie. Maybe it's best not to jinx today, huh?" Rainbow said to Pinkie.
"Oh no. I'm sorry, wouldn't want to do that, now would we?"
"It's okay, Pinkie; you didn't know. Let's all try to enjoy today, right?" Fluttershy said in her calm and angelic voice.
"Totally. Sadly, Spike couldn't make it; maybe next time we have a ceremony, we'll be sure to have him come."
"Twilight... It's a wedding. The odds of Spike enjoying this would be just as good as me becoming an egghead, like you or that stupid Doctor."
"Hey now, being curious and bright is never a bad thing. You should try it sometime."
"Yuck. And make me into a nerd? No thanks, Twi. But thanks for the offer." Twilight made a mildly annoyed huff in resignation as the train reached its destination.
The Doctor yawned as he raised himself from the bed to stretch and sighed, "Another day, another failed attempt at realizing my dream." Then Decoe and Bocoe arrived to greet the Doctor.
"Good morning, Doctor. We've got news for you. It's about our enemies." Decoe said to the Doctor as he went to sit on his swivel chair.
"What kind of information, Decoe? This had better be good."
"Oh, it most certainly is interesting, Doctor. According to our disguised chameleon-mech, they're hosting a wedding party for a new princess." The Doctor then fell out of the chair he was sitting in out of shock.
"W-What!? Another princess? How many of these assembly-line ponies made princesses have they got exactly?" The Doctor brushed himself off as he stood up and looked toward Decoe, expecting an answer.
"I have no idea, Doctor. So what're your orders then?"
"Hmm... Keep the chameleon mech in there; let's see how long we can maintain our bluff to gain as much information as possible."
"Aye, aye, Doctor!" Decoe saluted the Doctor as they watched the screen linked to their mech.
"Welcome to Canterlot, Princess Cadence, Captain Shining. We're expecting you." The guard at the front gate greeted both guests as Cadence cheerfully replied.
"I'm so happy to be here, too. We'll make our way in then. Come on, Shining, let's go!" Cadence then semi-aggressively tugged onto Shining's left forearm as he followed suit.
"Y-Yes, m-ma'am. Right away, ma'am." Shining looked as if he was minorly zoning out and somewhere else mentally. The stationed guard just shrugged it off as pre-marital stress.
Then, the mane six had shown up about five minutes later. Twilight led her group as they saw the guard and showed him their invitations. "You're all set; please relax and enjoy."
"Alright then, Cadence should be here at any moment now. Oh, just seeing her happy is giving me goosebumps; I'm excited." Celestia said as Luna came in to greet her older sister.
"Greetings, Tia. Tis a lovely wedding that this'll be, I'm sure."
"Of course, Luna. I've been waiting for this moment to happen for a long time; Cadence is finally finding that special somepony for life."
"I hear you, Tia. I cannot wait much longer. When are we going to begin?"
"Very soon, Luna." Both sisters were waiting in the main ballroom to begin the ceremony as Cadence was on her way to be prepared for the wedding.
"Hey there, Cadence. It's so great to see you again." Twilight was excitedly hopping in place.
"Yes. Of course... Um, and you're?"
"Oh, don't act like we're strangers. What about our traditional greeting?" Twilight then went over to Cadence and did her greeting, "Sunshine, Sunshine, ladybugs awake. Clap your hooves and do a little... shake?" Twilight saw Cadence looking at her as if she had grown three heads. "You're supposed to shake with me at that last part, Cadence."
"U-Uh... right, I forgot. That's all. I'm just a bit too focused on the wedding right now. So, if you'll excuse me, I must be off." Cadence then trotted away, thinking, ' this mare might be some trouble to my grand scheme. I'll have to do something about her if she continues to meddle in where she shouldn't.'
As Cadence walked away, Twilight noticed that Shining followed behind like a zombie would its master. "Hey guys, that was too weird. That wasn't Cadence- at least not the one I'm familiar with."
"Aw, shucks, Twilight. This day is important to her; you cannot blame her for that, Sugarcube." Applejack said in an act of dismissiveness as Twilight tilted her head down in slight melancholy.
"You'll have to bear with her, Darling. I think the stress is starting to affect you, too, as it is her." Rarity replied to Twilight.
"No. That didn't feel like her at all. I'll give you the benefit of your doubt, but I'll be watching her."
Cadence walked into the room where Pinkie and Applejack were tasked with the baked goods, "So you two are in charge of making the desserts, huh?"
"We sure are Your Highness. Please tell me what you think. Apple cakes, apple pie, and, of course, apple cheesecake."
"That's... a lot of apples. Well, at least you live up to your name."
"I beg your pardon?"
"I meant to say that your desserts match the color of your mane." She asked Pinkie, "Let me guess, more apple-related desserts?"
"Hehe. No way, José. These are an assortment of chocolate cakes, cookies, danishes, and, of course, the biggest wedding cake in honor of your special day."
' By the name of Faustia, these ponies are obsessed over pastries. It's no wonder they're all gaining weight and getting slower. This invasion should be all too easy for me.' She grinned and said, "Everything looks great, ladies. Keep up the good work."
"Mighty nice of you to say, Your Highness. Thank you kindly." Applejack bowed to Cadence as she did so in return before walking out to see a hair and make-up specialist approach her.
"Right this way, Your Highness, you've got to be fitted into your dress and your mane styled for tonight."
"I'll be right there now; I just have to... freshen up quickly. Come on, Shining!"
"Y-Yes.. ma'am. I'm coming." Shining droned off as he followed her into their guest room. Twilight was secretly tailing her to discover what this Cadence look-a-like was up to.
"So, Doctor, you've got a plan by now?" Decoe asked the Doctor.
"I do. But it'll have to happen after their stupid little wedding; too many prying eyes there. We want my Chameleon-Mech to remain undetected."
"Yes, Doctor. We'll have an ambush at the ready. You have the schematics of their interior structure?" Bocoe asked the Doctor.
"I do. We'll wait for the right moment to strike."
"Yes! We'll be successful yet, Doctor." Decoe said, cheering the Doctor on his brilliance.
"Alright then, Shining, dear. I'm beginning to get hungry. Lay down on the bed, now!" Shining obeyed with a dopey look as Cadence climbed onto him and began to lean her face close to his before siphoning away a stream of his love energy from his mouth into hers. He groaned in discomfort as this was happening to him. Cadence then licked her lips with her... forked tongue. "Lovely, Shining, dear. Just as delicious as ever."
"Oh my goodness, that is terrible. I knew that wasn't Cadence. But who is she?" Twilight muttered to herself as she peeked through the slightly opened door and saw the event unfolding before her. Cadence then slowly turned her head towards the door and chuckled as Twilight yelped and dashed away as fast as she could. "S-She didn't see me, did she? Oh man, poor big bro. I have to do something to help him."
Twilight turned around to slip away as she bumped into Cadence and gulped. "Eep. H-Hi there, Cadence. Lovely wedding this is, isn't it?" She sheepishly giggled as she slowly stepped back.
"Twilight, was it? You're far too nosy for your own good. But it won't matter cause nopony would ever believe that sweet and delicate Cadence could be capable of such villainy. And there's nothing you can do to prove it, either."
"I'll find a way to save my big brother and stop you. I don't know how yet, but I will. You won't get away with this, You faker."
"Hmm... I'm pretty sure I will. Thank goodness that everypony here is gullible and dumb. It makes what I'm about to do today easier than taking candy from a foal."
"We're not as dumb and helpless as you think, whoever you're."
"Yes, yes, I'm sure. I dare you to make a scene during the reception. Embarrass yourself in front of many ponies and the princesses." Cadence cackled as Twilight then ran away to her friends. "How precious and so predictable. Tell your friends if you want, but it won't do you any good." Cadence then made her way out, with Shining following behind as she made her way to get her mane and dress fitted on her.
"Luna, it's almost time for the reception to begin. Is Cadence ready yet?"
"Just about. She's getting her mane decorated and prepared for tonight." Luna said to her sister.
"And her dress? It'll be good, right? I'm only worried that this'll be the best for her. It must be the best for our niece."
"Try not to worry yourself too much, Tia; it'll age you faster." Celestia huffed in mild annoyance.
"I'll have you know that I'm only three-thousand years old, Sister. Not eight-thousand."
"I know you're. I'm just teasing you, Tia."
"I want my man to look the best. Show me what you can do then." Cadence said as she laid her head back and let the specialist perform her work.
"Your Highness. It'll look incredible when I'm done." The curtain covered the specialist and Cadence as her work began. This doppelganger believed herself untouchable, confident that her plan would succeed.
"I have to do something. My friends can help me. I can only hope that they'll be willing to listen to me. This is very serious." Twilight was rushing down the hallways and out to the courtyard where her friends were sitting and chilling, "There you guys are. You'll probably never believe me if I told you this, but that lady isn't Cadence. I don't know who she is, but I was right all along."