//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 - Wedding Preparations // Story: Family Ties // by The Blackcuno //------------------------------// Twilight was fuming that she had been informed of the royal wedding by mail and not her brother in pony. Sure he was the ‘captain’ of the royal guards of Canterlot, but it was no excuse. With her in the cabin were Spike, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and Applejack. Each talking about how awesome it was going to be to actually be a part of the wedding, though Twilight was pissed off. She was 21 and her brother 25 but regardless, she still held him to a standard. If this Mi Amore Cadenza was a ‘hussy’, as Rarity had put it, then he would get a stern talking to about it. She looked out the window to see a huge bubble like skin covering Canterlot in a rich pink. As the train passed though she glanced briefly at her mane, sure enough, the spell removed her own enchantment and returned it to its vibrant orange and pink coloured stripe that she hated. She re-casted her enchantment, changing it back to purple and hot pink, with no-pony noticing the change in the mare. She muttered a few choice words in Germane; her father was from Germaney so she learnt the language but kept to English most of the time, unless she was really pissed off then somehow she defaulted to it. As the train jarred to a halt at the main station she was thrown into the table by the sudden stopping motion. Twilight didn’t miss a step as she bolted for the main doors and dashed out at speeds that would impress Rainbow Dash. As she darted and weaved through the confused crowd of ponies she managed to get to the main barracks were Shining Armour would be. She rushed into the main courtyard and found herself swiftly tackled to the floor by a pair of guards. “Shining armour!” she shouted as they held her down. “Bekommen Sie heir unten jetzt bruder” “Twili?” Shining armour asked as he walked into the courtyard “let her go guys, she isn’t a threat” “Dank” she replied, Getting up and dusting off her coat and getting the grass seeds out. “Umm Twilight you know that you are speaking Germane again” Shining said. She looked at him, and then blushed. “What? Sorry” she admitted “You’re pissed off again aren't you?” Shining said. This comment probably wasn't the best comment to make. Her face went from embarrassed to shear pissed off. “That is the understatement of the century, of course I’m bucking pissed off here! You don’t even have the gall to tell me in pony but via letter and getting married to some princess Cadenza!” Twilight began. The pair of guards had to admit, watching this mare rip shreds off their captain as quite amusing in its self. “Twilight you must understand that I would have. There have been threats made against the throne. That’s why I couldn't come down with her to say the good news” he said, she glanced up to see the shield go hexagonal before becoming a solid piece again “Yeah I noticed. It kind of got rid of my own enchantment. Nice job on that” she dead panned. “You mean your hair colour one?” Shining asked, Twilight nodded. “You know I still don’t know what that is” Twilight glared at him. He knew she hated when that was brought up. “And it can stay that way” she said. “Stop changing the subject. Who is this Mi Amore Cadenza?” she asked. The sound of horseshoes on the pavement followed by a sweet sounding voice came from one of the side doors. “That would be me Twilight” the Alicorn said. “It’s my full name. Celestia demanded that I put it instead of just ‘Cadance’ on the invites” Twilight’s expression changed to happiness as they both burst into their special hoof shake. The guards smirked under their helmets at the sight. The pair laughed it off though. “Cadance, I cannot believe it? You’re marrying Shining Armour!” twilight exclaimed. “Yes I am. Well we both agreed that dating for over 2 years now. We better tie the knot” She said. “Besides, I want you to help me with the preparations” “Really?” Twilight asked, “I would love to help!” “That’s good to hear” Cadance said. She kissed Shining armour, “ I'll be home before you tonight, so don’t over exert yourself okay” “Okay dear I won’t” He said, he glanced over at the pair of guards who noticed and went ramrod still. “I got a guard to organise” “Okay then. I'll see you tonight” Cadance said. “Come on Twilight; I want to check on how your friends are going” “Sure!” she exclaimed as the pair walked off. “Okay then. You two follow me. I got something planned for you” Shinning said, The Guards gulped at that comment. Last time the captain had said that, they got toilet duty in Luna’s quarters. ~0~0~ Changeling hive of operations, below Canterlot castle The mare was slammed hard into the rock floor before her queen. She gasped and spat out green blood. A pair of drones held her to the floor as the largest, a Queen, stood over her, tutting as she did so. The mare looked remarkably like Twilight Sparkle, but she had a metallic green saddle like carapace on her back, a pair of insect wings and a horn that was bent. Her mane and tail was a rich green colour to offset her light gray coat. Her hooves had small holes through them, but nothing huge like the queen before her. “Chrysalis, again you have disobeyed me” the Queen stated, “first you refused your heritage as a changeling queen. Secondly you refuse to aid us in the invasion of Canterlot. Now I find that you warned the enemy of our intentions!” she shouted at the end. The drones cowered at the raging Changeling queen. The mare remained still. Her eyes were like that of a pony rather than the orbs of pure colour like her brethren. Her wings lay limp thanks to the changeling drones shattering them, again. Her own horn was bent and holes present. “Chrysalis. I though I brought you up. Not dragged you up. I gave you everything you could ever want. All the love you could ever need. And this is how you repay me?” the queen said. In her magic was a small crown that ended in small spheres. The mare before her looked up in anger more than fear “I never asked for your love!” Chrysalis said firmly. “And my name is Evening Star not Chrysalis!” she spat. The Queen tutted in annoyance as she showed the crown to the mare before her, “This is a special crown Chrysalis. It links the wearer to the hive and acts like a conduit. You will be that conduit, our spear against the ponies and you will obey me” “Buck you Amaryllis” Chrysalis spat. The Queen sighed and placed the crown behind her horn. Chrysalis screamed in pain as it embedded it’s self through her carapace and sent waves of pain through her body. The Drones backed off as sickening cracks and pops could be heard as her body reconfigured it’s self to the form of the queen before her. Her legs elongated, her horn increased in size, her fangs grew in and her body became a true queen to the changeling hive. “Now then, my daughter Chrysalis, how do you feel?” Amaryllis asked. The new queen was shaky on her legs. She looked up with reptile like eyes. “Much better mother, I do not know what came over me” She said standing at her new height. “Do you have a potential target? This wedding is going to be crashed” “Why yes we do my daughter” the queen said, beckoning her over to a large crystal. In it was a reflection of Twilight and Cadance. “Taking the princess will be far too hard. You will need to go after the unicorn mare Twilight Sparkle. Take her out, and feed off the love from her brother, Sister in law, her friends. Enjoy” “I will mother. I will”