Shining Armor awoke much later than he normally had, having been up much later than he normally was. He felt the unusual weight of another pony in bed with him, and looked to his left, where the weight lay. A moment of terror pierced his heart as he saw the Changeling next to him, then a smile graced his face as he remembered what happened. He leaned over and lightly kissed her muzzle, the action gently rousing her from sleep.
“Good morning, my love,” Shining greeted.
Chrysalis’ only response was a broad smile, as tears started to form in her eyes.
“Hey, hey, it’s ok. It’s ok, remember, we just need to decide who we can and can’t tell, and when. But no matter what, I will love you. You know I will. Ok?”
Chrysalis nodded. “I love you too, Shining Armor.”
“Shining Armor? Are you awake? Can I come in? I need to talk to you.”
Shining Armor and his wife shared a terrified look. “Honey, you need to get changed, right now.” Oh, crud, what’s my sister doing here?
Chrysalis said nothing, but nodded, a green, cool flame encircled her as she returned to the somewhat more familiar form of Princess Cadance.
“Get changed? If it’s a bad time, I can come back later, I just wanted to give you something… and apologize again.”
“Twiley, it’s fine. Just a moment,” Shining Armor said as he rose from bed, moving across the room and unlocking the door. He was greeted by the smiling face of his beloved little sister, whose face abruptly changed at the sight and smell of her newlywed brother.
“You… haven’t been out of the bed since last night, have you,” Twilight said, a slight blush creeping to her face, leaning around Shining Armor to see Cadance lying in the bed. “Nope, you haven’t. Goodness you two, you didn’t have to answer the door.”
“Of course I did, you’re my little sister. How are you doing, Twiley?”
“I’m doing well. I brought something for you and Cadance, a small cake that Pinkie Pie and Applejack worked on together, and Rarity added her own little twist of love magic. She was very clear in instructing me not to eat any of it, but that you two would get some great use out of it. I can only imagine what she means for the spell to do,” the purple unicorn added with a wink to her former foalsitter.
“That was very kind of you, Twi-” Cadance cut herself off. Why… why do I sound like... me?
Twilight took a moment to process and recognize the strange voice that emerged from Princess Cadance’s lips, before dropping the cake and taking an aggressive stance. “Shining, get back! That’s not Princess Cadance!” Twilight attempted to lift the pink mare, who was growing visibly more terrified by the moment. However, her own purple aura was covered by a blue one, forcing her to release her magical grasp. “Shining, what are you do-”
“It’s alright, Twiley.”
“What? That’s Chrysalis, how can you ju-”
“I know.”
“What do you mean you know?”
Shining Armor sighed. “Well, I found out something interesting last night. Chrysalis, dear, you can drop the disguise now.”
“Shining, love, are you sure…” once again, ‘Cadance’ trailed off, her hoof coming to her mouth in confusion.
“See? It’s the Changeling Queen in disguise again!”
“I KNOW!” Shining roared, Twilight’s eyes going wide in fear. This marked the second time in two days, and the second time ever, that he had yelled at her. However, the issue still stood that this was not Cadance.
“Look, Twiley… I’m sorry I yelled. Just please, listen to me. Yes, this is Chrysalis,” as if on cue, Cadance evaporated, leaving Queen Chrysalis in her place, “I know this, and I love her. Look, Twiley – Twiley, listen to me – there never was a Princess Cadance. Not for us. We never knew the real Cadance. She died in an accident years before either of us met her. The pony that foalsat you all those years? Queen Chrysalis. The pony I started dating, fell in love with, and eventually married? Queen Chrysalis.”
Twilight sat on the floor with a look of dumbstruck disbelief on her face She didn’t want to – no, she couldn’t believe this was real.
“No. No. That’s not true. She’s got you under a spell again. I’m going to go get Celestia. We’ll find the real Cadance. You’ll be banished. For real this time,” Twilight unsteadily rose to her hooves, shuffling backwards out the door, before turning and running.
“No, Twilight, wait! Please… I wanted you to know who I am…” Chrysalis slowly trotted over to her husband, leaning against his neck. “I could sense it. Her love for Cadance. It faltered, shifted… it tried to conform to me and then… it dissipated, completely. I’m scared that love and trust is gone forever.”
“It’s ok. She’ll come around eventually. Celestia will have to set her right, that’s all. Twiley listens to ANYTHING Celestia tells her. It’s kind of scary actually – I’m sure if Celestia told her to jump off a cliff, my sister would strongly consider doing it. It’ll be ok,” Shining said, turning his head to kiss his wife. “You wanna try that cake?” Chrysalis drew back, curious at the sudden mood whiplash, but knew he was just trying his best to cheer her up upon seeing that familiar, toothy grin on his round, white face. She giggled a little and nodded.
“It would be a shame to let it go to waste.”
---
“Princess! It’s horrible! The Changelings are back! Queen Chrysalis is back! She’s put my brother under a spell again!” Twilight yelled as she burst into the throne room. Princess Celestia looked up at her from the paperwork she was reading, and took a sip of her tea.
“Back? I was under the impression she’d never left,” the Alicorn replied, taking another sip of tea and returning her attention to her paperwork.
“Yes! She’s in the honeymoon suite right now and we need to find the real Cadance and – she never left?” Twilight’s anger flared for a moment and evaporated into confusion.
“Oh my. I forgot you didn’t know. It’s funny, actually. I was so used to it that I forgot your brother didn’t know when they got married,” Celestia said absent-mindedly, almost as though simply thinking aloud.
“You… you knew? And you didn’t see fit to tell my brother? That the pony he was marrying wasn’t the pony he thought he was marrying?” Twilight’s confusion had cycled back to her original anger, which, much to her horror, was being directed at Princess Celestia.
“You are wrong, Twilight Sparkle,” Celestia said, a sudden sternness present in her voice. “Your brother knew exactly who he was marrying. A kind, tender, caring pony extremely gifted in love magic, who made a wonderful foalsitter and marefriend, and will make an excellent wife, sister in law, and one day, mother. I don’t know how much of the story you’ve heard, Twilight, but know this – it is the truth. For a pony whose existence in our lands is based on a lie, she has shown on multiple occasions an intense desire to reveal the truth. However, I always advised her against it, and given yesterday’s events… I cannot allow her to reveal her true nature to the public. Not yet. In fact, I was not particularly fond of her intent to reveal herself to Shining Armor. Queen Chrysalis was, however, determined to stop living her life as a lie, at the very least to her husband and your brother, a pony she loves most dearly. However, it seems you found out anyways – and judging from the fact that you’re alone, it seems Shining Armor has been receptive to this news. That is a blessing.”
Twilight shrunk down under the authority and firmness in her mentor, her ruler’s voice. The thought that perhaps even Celestia had been brainwashed by the changelings occurred to her, but she quickly banished it. Celestia began to speak again, with a softer tone, almost somber.
“Princess Cadance was one of only four recorded Alicorn births outside the direct royal bloodline. Naturally, I was elated when I learned of my niece’s birth, and I loved her dearly. I was there when she got her cutie mark, when she discovered her proficiency in love magic. Oh goodness, those bunnies were going at it for days…” Celestia trailed off, an amused smile gracing her lips, before going on, “When she walked into the throne room one day, I immediately knew something was wrong – the Princess loved to fly, and hovered everywhere she could. I could sense that she wasn’t who she appeared to be. The Changeling Queen’s honesty and apparent distress at the situation touched me, and I granted her request to fulfill Cadance’s last wish to her best ability. And so she did. Then she met you, your family. The act disappeared. Everything she did with you and your brother and your family? Every action, every word, every play date – every single moment of her with you was genuine, with the exception of her appearance. She loves you and your brother with every ounce of her being, Twilight Sparkle. Never for a moment doubt that. Now please, go meet with them. I’ll explain the wedding fiasco later. For now, though? Based on how you arrived… I’d say you have some apologizing to do. Go to your brother and his wife, and do not forget that for you, Chrysalis is Cadance.”
“I… yes… I’m sorry for bothering you. Thank you, Princess,” Twilight said, stumbling over her words a little bit as she exited the throne room.
---
“Wow, that cake was delicious…” Shining Armor said, heart content and belly full.
“Indeed it was. I’ve never tasted pony food so delicious,” Chrysalis said, in an equivalent position.
“So… earlier… why didn’t you change your voice?”
“I… I don’t know. It’s not like I didn’t try. This has never happened before. I’ve never failed to flawlessly imitate a pony’s physical features before. I’m scared, Shining.”
“It’s ok, Chrysalis. If something does go wrong, the Princess has always been gifted at illusion spells, I’m sure she can work something out if you can’t figure out why your voice didn’t change. Even if she can’t, well… we can make something up about a sickness or something. Look, dear – I would love to go public with this as much as you. I know you don’t want to lie, to hide at all anymore. With yesterday, though… we’ll have to wait,” Shining Armor’s vision flashed pink as the spell in the cake took its effect, “In the meantime… we’re alone,” Chrysalis experienced the same magic now, a hunger, a raw, carnal lust for her husband rising in her chest.
The door slammed shut just as Twilight reached the top of the stairs.
Upon hearing the sounds coming from within, Twilight knew for certain what Rarity’s spell had done, and decided she could apologize later.