//------------------------------// // This day, is... going to be perfect? // Story: Forever Roaming // by Yuki Harima //------------------------------// Forever Roaming Chapter 7 This day, is... going to be perfect? The entire audience was stunned to see two Twilights in the room as well as another Princess Cadence. The room was dead silent except for the faint clicking noises of Chris frantically taking pictures of the scene.   “Damn...I need to change the roll.” Chris muttered to himself. “Now why are there two twilights and two Princesses?” Applejack muttered to Rainbow Dash who looked at the Twilight next to her. “Egghead?” Rainbow asked the Twilight who was standing there frozen. “Because they are Changelings” The Princess Cadence at the altar yelled. By this moment Chris had replaced the roll of film. “So...what the Hell is a Changeling?” Chris asked Pinkie Pie. She shrugs her shoulders not knowing anything about the species. The Twilight that was at the front door yells out. “They are a changeling.” she pointed a hoof at the two up at the alter. “They replace those you love and feed on it.” “No, they are the imposters.” Twilight at the altar yelled. This caused the crowd to look back and forth between the four ponies. Causing William to twitch an eye. He looked at Cadence who was standing next to him. “Permission to open fire your highness?” “No, no, not yet. I want to stay out of violent force for the moment.” Cadence muttered as she glared at the Cadence at the alter. William only nodded his head before thinking on something. “Go on, use some of your magic.” he called to the two ponies up at the alter. he turned to the others. “Okay, use some magic as well. They will hopefully glow green.” The two Twilights grinned and to William surprise the magic was the same color. Along with the Two Cadences. William muttered in ancient Equestrian a Lunar curse. “Language.” The Two Twilights called out in shock causing William to twitch an eye as now they were walking down the aisle towards him and with a sudden poof of smoke William saw that their were two Twilight next to each other, and two Cadences glared at each other. “Shoot.” William muttered as he stepped back trying to understand what to do next. Off to the side of the room Rick finally stood up, starting his walk over to the group. “Stand aside for a moment William.” William looked at Rick. “You are not well, I, I’ll stand at your-” “I am alright.” Rick interrupted William, his gaze set towards the two Cadences, a glare in his eyes. He stood before the two, looking left and right at them. His right hand flickered with a black aura, his fist clenched. With a quick drawback of his hand he proceeded to uppercut the Cadence standing to his left, the one that had been in the room the whole time. All the ponies gasped in shock, while Chris still took pictures, and the guards were already moving to engage Rick before Rarity screamed in horror as the felled Cadence began to be enveloped by green flames as Cadence slowly staggered back onto her hooves but was grinning and laughing. “What a smart looking man, I should have taken care of you sooner.” Rick lowered his arm, the black aura flicking off, still glaring at the fake. “You would have made matters worse.” “My name is Chrysalis, queen of the changelings. Equestria has more love than anyplace I’ve ever encountered and my subjects need food to nourish them. My fellow changelings will be able to devour so much of it that we will gain more power than we have ever dreamed of!” Chrysalis said, while she was walking down the steps to stop, face to face with Cadence. “They’ll never get the chance! Shining Armor’s protection spell will keep them from ever even reaching us!” The real Cadence challenged back Chrysalis started chuckling. “Oh, I doubt that.” She looked over her shoulder to Shining Armor. “Isn’t that right, dear?” Her horn flared its sickly green, Shinings eyes took on a green tint, his eyes glazed over. “Mmm-hmm.” He mumbled. “Soon my changeling army will break through! First we take Canterlot, and then... all of Equestria!” Chrysalis said, smiling. “No. 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.” Celestia said, as she charged her horn and attacked Chrysalis. Only to have Chrysalis return with the attack and drew upon the love of Shining Armor to fuel her magic. To everypony’s shock the magic of Crysalis overtook Celestia blasting her back and harming her. Twilight ran to her mentor with fear only to have Celestia weakly raising her head. “Go, get the Elements of Harmony.” Twilight only nodded her head and yelled out to her friends to get going to get the Elements. William while others were screaming and running out had charged forward and looked at the Guards above them and saw Changelings dropping their guises and William pulled up his rifle and popped off a few rounds upon the smaller insects who were attacking the normal guards. “Fools, take the bipeds first. They are the danger now.” “William, Chris!” Rick yelled, getting their attention. “Follow them, help with what you can!” He said, pointing towards where the Mane 6 headed off to while he ran over to Celestia. “I am not dangerous! I’m a photographer!” Chris frantically yelled and run towards the direction which so happens to be where Rick was pointing. William moved to where Celestia had fallen. “No can do, I am held by laws to protect Luna and then Celestia.” he turned around and popped off a few more rounds causing hissing anger from the changelings that were trying to swarm the Princess and William. Celestia glared at William, “I need you to cover Twilight and her friends. I will be fine. Please, GO!” She commanded in a tone of voice that William could not argue with. He nodded his head before turned and running out of the room. “So, You have sent away your own protection from you, oh how it will be sweet to feast upon this love you have of your nation.” she slowly stepped forward. Rick on the other hand, lowered himself into a defensive stance in front of Celestia. William raced out the castle with a few guards behind him that he had pulled together they were from three different guard units. “Okay, start helping the citizens, and preparing for-” He was overpowered by the sound of the dome crashing down like shattering glass. “Oh snap.” he muttered. “OKAY MOVE!” he yelled as they all took off. William turned a corner and saw Chris staring at the crater that a Changeling created. “USE FLASH-” William shouted only to be cut off as his shouting jerked Chris out of his frozen state.Chris saw a changeling about ready to pounce him. In a fit of panic, he pushed the flash button on his camera and stunned the changeling. “Heh...the only time the move flash is good in the heat of battle.” Chris joked to himself. More changelings started to approach Chris. A devilish smile appeared on his face. “Chris used flash!” He pressed the button on his camera again to blind more of the changelings. “It’s super effective!” William only laughed at the joke and worked on his own set of changelings. “There’s just no end to these guys.” he muttered at the invasion force. William looked towards one of the balconies and saw Twilight and her friends battling their own changelings. In fact a Pinkie Pie Changeling was flung from the landing and landed right in front of William. Only to have another Changeling crash into the Pinkie Changeling causing both to be knocked out and the Pinkie to revert to normal. William looked to the right and saw Octavia already fighting another Changeling. William only nodded his head in thanks as he fought towards Twilight and friends. Chris was surrounded by a group of changelings. He tried to use his camera but it wouldn’t go off. He checked the camera to see that the battery died out. “Ahh... Crap.” He mumbled to himself. While Chris and William had gone to help with what they could, Rick stood in front of Celestia his arms raised up with his left hand covered in a black aura. He held his glare against the Changeling queen while looking around to understand his environment. With a glance at his aura he began to mumble, frustration in his voice. “What’s wrong? Having trouble with your magic?” Crysalis asked with a condescending laugh. “Not again...” He mumbled slightly louder, still not loud enough for Chrysalis to hear. “So, you have troubles like this? Is it because of my lovely personality?” She asked as she placed a hoof to her chest with a fake sweet smile. “I am honored by that.” She looked to the other Changelings in the room. “Go on, Feed upon this human.” Her minions grinned and hissed as they moved in to swarm Rick. “I shall not fall again!” Rick yelled, his hand flickering with a powerful blue hue. With a swing of his fist he planted his hand on the ground pulsing outward, knocking changelings away from him. He stood tall once again, anger clear on his face. “I will not fall to the likes of you.” He said, slowly reaching for his sword. With a roll of her eyes, Chrysalis chuckled. “You’re going to need more than a little sword to help you.” Rick smirked. “That is why I did not bring a ‘little sword’.” He said while uncovering the handle of the sword on his back, it’s gem glowing, ever so slightly. With a tug he unsheathed the blade, it’s clear and fogged blade reflecting light around. Rick held the sword in his right hand, his left having a strong blue fire-like aura around it, and stood, prepared for a fight. “I defeated Celestia, I can handle anything you can throw at me.” She hissed and charged Rick. Chrysalis was cut short of her charge as she slammed into what felt like a wall. Before her stood Rick, his left hand raised, his palm pointing towards her. His expression was that of anger and disgust. “What a queen you seem to be.” Rick said, his voice mixed, anger seemed the most obvious. With a shove of his hand Chrysalis was pushed back. She only smirked and lowered her head drawing on the love of Shining again to shoot a beam of light at Rick’s shield. “I am not done yet foal.” Without a second thought Ricks shield canceled out, his sword slanted with his hand on the flat part of the blade, braced for impact. The spell collided with the sword, but no movement had happened. With a swipe of his blade he pushed the blast, redirecting it to somewhere off to his side. He returned to his stance, prepared for the next move. Her eyes narrowed. She looked at her hive and directed them to charge Rick again while she also attacked with her magic. Lowering himself, Rick prepared for what was to happen. Chris was surrounded by changelings and was about to get attacked when Rainbow Dash came down and dive bombed them out of the way. “Thanks Rainbow Dash.” Chris thanked. She was about to say something when another Rainbow Dash came flying towards her. Chris started to look around the battle scene in front of him. Over to his left, William himself was pinned down in an ally as he faced another horde of Changelings. He was working hard with his weapon and starting to make himself a little bit of a problem with having him taking out changelings. Behind him were a group of young fillies and colts that he was protecting to his best abilities. Rarity was trying to use her magic to zap some of the Changelings while Applejack stood next to her bucking every changeling the was getting close to them. Fluttershy was kicking at nothing but the air in front of her with her eyes closed. For some reason the changelings thought that she was one of them and avoided her. Twilight and Pinkie Pie were fighting side by side of each other. Pinkie Pie got a brilliant idea and picked up twilight in her hooves like she was using a gatling gun and started to fire magic shots at the changelings taking them out left and right. This made an open path for the group to reach to the door. From the distance they heard a strange noise that Chris could tell was the firing of a weapon. it lasted for a little bit before falling silent as they charged the doors where the Elements of Harmony was stored. “Quick we must head to the door before more changelings come after us” Twilight urged the group. The group rushed to the door, fatigue took over them from attacking the changelings so they weren’t running as fast as they could. They manage to reach the door without any incident. The group kicks the door open and to their horror triple the number of changelings they just fought were hovering and crawling all over the walls, in the air, on the ground, and all were staring and hissing at the group. They turn around to make a tactical withdrawal only to have another huge swarm land in the space they just fought cutting off any retreat. The six ponies and the human all stared in horror as they watched the changelings slowly advanced upon them. As the captured ponies and one human were escorted through the streets with a large group of Changelings guarding them. Midway through their parade a group of Changelings flew to the front of the group with a large cocoon with a clear membrane that as Chris and the others saw William eyes open and looking around the fluid filled membrane still in his hand is the shape of his rifle. He was immobilized at the moment. Around one of the changelings necks he was carrying Chris’ camera. The rest of the trip was in silence as if the very air was holding its breath at the situation of near defeat. Chris was being very quiet as he continued to hold his hands on top of his head so the Changelings could see them at all times. Soon they were at the doors of the once grand wedding hall. Without any ceremony the guards pushed the doors open to reveal a still raging fight that was finished as Rick turned his head at the sudden noise giving Chrysalis the perfect opening to hit Rick with all her might. The power sent him flying across the floor to the wall before finally slamming into it, leaving an imprint before he fell forward a little and landing on his feet albeit staggering. He wavered on the floor a little and looked like he might actually try to fight before falling forward onto his knees, then his face, out cold, the sword clattering to the ground as he lost his grip. William could only watch on in horror at seeing the situation deteriorate around him and unable to move. Chris just stared in shock at seeing the final moment of the battle. The others were also stunned. “HA, even you alien champions mean no match for me. I shall become the undisputed ruler of all of Equestria, Feed my Changelings, feed upon the city.” With that a good chunk of her army in the room left to terrorize the world outside while Chrysalis slowly walked towards the window. Music began to play a little in the background as she sang the first line. “This day has been just perfect. The kind of day of which I’ve dreamed since I was small.” She smiled at the terror of the streets. “Everypony I’ll soon control, every stallion, mare, and foal.” She began to laugh as the music ended at her last lines. “Who says a girl can’t have it all.” While all were stunned and looking like all hope was lost. Twilight began to sneak towards the real Princess Cadence. “Go to him.” Twilight whispered as she used her magic to strip away the gunk. Cadence only nods her head and quickly moves to Shining Armor. “You think you can stop me? I have already won and poor Shining Armor is still too weak to beat me. Face it, I have won.” Crysalis began to cackle while Twilight moved to her mentor and did her best to help her. “Wake one of the humans, caused a distraction.” Celestia muttered as Twilight was about to free the gunk from Celestia. “I will be fine my faithful student, but we must give the others time to do something.” Twilight only nods her head slowly and with pain. “Of, of course Princess.” She began to move only to epp and jump as Crysalis began to blast magic at her. “Oh no, I won’t let you get any more freed, you are too much of a threat.” She began to try to incapacitate Twilight. Twilight finally paused long enough to blast a burst of magic at William’s cocoon before she was hit and knocked into a wall and knocked out. William rolled out of the ruined cocoon coughing and hacking and looking a little weak. However he grinned a little and pulled the rifle up a little as he still lay prone on the ground and weakly pulled the trigger of the rifle causing the Changeling Queen to erect her own barrier that was keeping the bullets away. This allowed Cadence to free Shining Armor and helped add her love to his shield magic as it surged and blasted the monsters away. As well as pushed William into a wall as it stripped the gunk off him and his weapon. It still hurt a little. Chris blinked as a warm fuzzy feeling engulfed his body as the shield passed over his own body. The others were silent as they saw the city purged of the Changelings and their gunk before the five ponies began to move to help Twilight up while Cadence and Shining Armor went to help Celestia up. While Chris moved to poked William a little before offering a hand for him to take. William takes the hand while coughing a little. “Thanks.” he muttered, “That, hurt behind slammed against the wall hurts.” He began to move a little before seeing Rick. “Oh dear, we better go help him.” he muttered and without thinking about anything else moved to Rick’s side and blinked in worry. Chris walked over as the other Ponies moved to stand around Rick. William was already kneeling and had rolled him over onto his side and he was staring at Rick’s face. “That, is not good. I have a very gut dropping feeling at this.” he muttered. Rick’s right side of his face had dark grey almost black colored veins leading from the neck and surrounding the closed eyes. “I don’t like this at all.” William muttered in fear. “I knew something was up with Rick.” Chris stated when he walks over to Rick’s body. “Wha’ do ya mean somethin’ was wrong with him?” Applejack asked. “His body was showing some signs like that before the wedding while he was asleep. Took some pictures on my camera if you want.” Chris told the group. “I wasn’t going to pressure him until after the wedding.” William looked up and at the group. “Contact Princess Luna, she might know more than what we do.” He looked back at Rick. “Right now, we need to get him out of the way and under medical care.”