The Jerk
Chapter 13
"Discord, how much longer do we have?"
You are walking to Canterlot. It takes about a day by train.
"So how much longer by walking?
I'd say a few days at the least.
"Fuck."
~~~~~~~~~
Heavy Shot was lying on the ground, contemplating the situation. He was chained up in the dungeons beneath Canterlot, awaiting his death at the hands of the Changelings...or worse. He shuddered.
"Princess," he said, wincing when he spoke. "what happened when the Changelings invaded? I never learned what happened that day. I was in Ponyville when it happened." Celestia let out a long drawn out sigh from the cell across the room. Heavy Shot couldn't see her, but he knew she was there.
"The day they invaded was the day of the wedding." Celestia began and Heavy Shot nodded, momentarily forgetting that she couldn't see him either. "After Chrysalis defeated me using Shining's love for her, Cadence tried to help him create a shield to push them out of Canterlot using both of their magics, but something happened. The spell failed, for reasons we have not determined yet." Shining Armor let out a * Harrumph* in anger.
"Princess, we both know why the spell failed. You don't need to flatter me. It was all my fault." He said darkly.
"Shining don't say that! No one could have kno-"
"SHUT UP!" He shouted suddenly and startled the princess into shock. "IT WAS MY FAULT! I WAS TOO WEAK!" He slumped to the floor. "I was too weak," he said, gently pounding the floor. "I let them in because I couldn't tell who my wife was, and I didn't listen to Twilight."
"SHINING ARMOR!" Came a fourth voice, belonging to Princess Luna. "Don't you DARE say that! There was no way that you could've known that Cadence wasn't your wife."
"But, I loved Chrysalis, not Cadence. That's why the spell failed, I loved her too much to get rid of her...and I still love her too much to fight properly." He said slowly shaking his head, as he relived the moment yet again in his head.
“Princess Cadance and Shining Armor, it is my great pleasure to pronounce you...” Princess Celestia was interrupted before she could finish.
“Stop!” Came the voice of Twilight Sparkle.
“Ugh! Why does she have to be so possessive of her brother? Why does she have to ruin my special day?” said a sobbing Cadence.
“Because it's not your special day. It's mine.” Came the voice of the second Cadence that had bursted in.
“What? But how did you escape my bridesmaids?”
“I WANT IT!” Shouted three mares that were vying for a bouquet of flowers.
“Hmph. Clever. But you're still too late.”
“I-I don't understand. How can there be two of 'em?” Asked Applejack, in a confused tone.
“She's a changeling. She takes the form of somepony you love and gains power by feeding off your love for them.” said Cadence
“Right you are, Princess. And as queen of the changelings, it is up to me to find food for my subjects. Equestria has more love than any place I've ever encountered. My fellow changelings will be able to devour so much of it that we will gain more power than we have ever dreamed of!” She said laughing and revealing her true form.
“They'll never get the chance! Shining Armor's protection spell will keep them from ever even reaching us.” Said the real Cadence.
“Oh, I doubt that. Isn't that right, dear?” she said with a chuckle.
“Mm-hmm.” Mumbled Shining Armor.
“Ah, ah, ah. Don't want to go back to the caves, now do you? Ever since I took your place, I've been feeding off Shining Armor's love for you. Every moment he grows weaker and so does his spell. Even now my minions are chipping away at it.” She said as Twilight prepared to rush at her.
Suddenly there came a resounding laughter from thousands of Changelings outside of the barrier ramming into it.
“He may not be my husband, but he is under my total control now.”
Twilight Sparkle and Princess Cadance let out a gasp.
“And I'm sorry to say, unable to perform his duties as captain of the royal guard!”
“Not my Shining Armor!” cried Cadence.
“Soon, my changeling army will break through. First, we take Canterlot. And then, all of Equestria!”
“No. You won't. You may have made it impossible for Shining Armor to perform his spell, but now that you have so foolishly revealed your true self, I can protect my subjects from you!” Said Celestia.
Chrysalis watched as Celestia flew upward and fired a beam of energy at her, to which she counter-attacked. For a few moments it seemed that Celestia would win, and everything would be over, but then the green beam started pushing it back, farther and farther until it hit Celestia’s horn and the feedback hit her.
She flew to the ground wincing in pain.
“Ah! Shining Armor's love for you is even stronger than I thought! Consuming him has made me even more powerful than Celestia!” She shouted in triumph.
“The Elements of Harmony. You must get to them, and use their power to defeat the queen.” said Celestia, trying to stay conscious long enough to deliver her message. The elements of Harmony nodded and ran off to find the elements.
“You can run, but you can’t hide!” she said, cackling maniacally.
“You won't get away with this! Twilight and her friends will...” Cadence shouted, when several Changelings brought in the elements of harmony.
“You were saying? You do realize the reception's been cancelled, don't you? Go! Feed!” She shouted to her Changelings, and she started laughing. “It's funny, really. Twilight here was suspicious of my behavior all along. Too bad the rest of you were too caught up in your wedding planning to realize those suspicions were correct.”
“Sorry, Twi. We should've listened to you.” Said Applejack, head hung low in shame.
“It's not your fault. She fooled everypony.” Said Twilight.
“Hmm, I did, didn't I?” Gloated Chrysalis.
“Your spell! Perform your spell!” Shouted Twilight at her big brother.
“What good would that do? My changelings already roam free.” Said a smug Chrysalis.
“No! My power is useless now. I don't have the strength to repel them.”
“My love will give you strength.” Said Cadence as she began to aid his magic with hers.
“Ahaha. What a lovely but absolutely ridiculous sentiment!” Said Chrysalis and as if on cue, Shinings horn emitted a few sparks, and fizzled out.
“I-I’m sorry.” said Shining. “I can’t. I can’t hurt her.”
“Why?” asked Cadence in concern.
“I don’t love you.”