Chapter 1
Arrival
The train pulled into the station and came to a slow stop. Six particular ponies disembarked; five both excited and nervous, and one very impatient. Foremost now, however, was the more than unsettling giant rose colored bubble they just passed through.
“What the heck was that?!” Twilight demanded.
“And what’s with all the guards?” Rainbow added, “It’s a freaking wedding, not an invasion!”
“Calm down, both of you,” Rarity insisted, “I'm sure they're just taking the necessary precautions. Royal weddings do bring out the strangest ponies.”
Pinkie chose this opportunity to sneeze confetti while simultaneously sounding like a trumpet.
“I rest my case,” the fashionista said with a smirk.
“What’s that supposed to mean?!” Pinkie snapped with an accusative and bug eyed look.
With a pat on the pink mare’s head Rarity calmly said, “Nothing at all Pinkie, I assure you.”
“Okie dokie loki!” The pink party pony proceeded to bounce off aimlessly towards the castle, effortlessly going from one side of the wide path to the other in any single bounce.
“Well if you’ll excuse me,” Twilight fumed as she went off towards the castle, “I have a certain blue haired stallion who’s about to get a piece of my mind!”
“Is it the medulla oblongata?” Pinkie guessed as she popped out of a bush as bounced next to her purple friend.
“No Pinkie, I still need that. I was thinking about the amygdala and hypothalamus though.”
“...Twilight those could do a lot of--”
“I’m mad Pinkie. Very. Mad.”
“Got it!” Pinkie zipped away, knowing full well what Twilight could do in a foul mood.
Twilight marched up to the castle and saw the odd one out of them. Among all those in gold only one of them wore purple: “SHINING ARMOR!” By the time the guards were ready to defend Twilight had already teleported within a breaths distance of her brother. “What’s the big idea buster?!”
The guards took little time to adjust to the change in target position and had all manner of spears and swords pointed at the young unicorn, whom quickly incapacitated them all by holding them to the floor with her magic, several with their legs behind their backs or heads.
Shining Armor didn’t dare flinch, but he couldn’t stop himself from sweating. “Um...at ease stallions. This is my sister.”
“Us?”
“Why don’t you tell her that?”
“Well for starters I’m smart. That and I’d think twice about pointing a weapon at Celestia’s protege...please let them go Twiley?”
The younger unicorn (begrudgingly) complied. “Maybe they should review the VIPs on the guest list, lest they make a hasty mistake,” she hissed.
Shining Armor had seen his sister mad before. In more ways than one. The first was when they were young and he was the first to realize she was prone to anxiety attacks, sometimes over the smallest things. The other was the literal sense. Nopony made Twilight angry for a very good reason: she was very strong. He still shuddered when he remembered her breaking the magic inhibitor their dad had put on her as punishment for bringing the oven to life.
The surrounding guards had been told what to do if Twilight showed up angry. She was right about them acting a bit too hasty. Their orders were simple: run.
As the guards bolted Shining Armor dare not look away from his younger sister’s gaze. He knew Twilight would never really hurt him, but it was hard not to be intimidated by somepony with her kind of power. “I’m sorry?” he tried.
“You’re sorry?!” she yelled at him.
He winced, doing his best to look apologetic. “I was just really busy, and Cadence has been swamped with all sorts of--”
“Cadence shouldn’t have been the one telling me!” Twilight snapped, “And neither should the stupid wedding invitation!”
“I can explain!” he said defensively, and very quickly.
She narrowed her eyes and backed away slowly. “You’re lucky I’m happy about all this or you’d be sorry.” Shining sighed in relief, even though he knew it was a bluff to begin with. “Now. You couldn’t tell me you were getting married why?”
The older brother looked down at his little sister before simply deciding to show her. “Just watch. This, you need to see.” His horn glowed brightly and a pure magic stream left it, strengthening the magical barrier surrounding the cliffside castle, all the while Twilight looked in awe of the display.
For a moment his footing faltered and he stumbled, his sister helping him to stand for a moment. She of all ponies knew how exhausting the spell must have been. He took a moment to stand as he explained, “A threat has been made towards Canterlot specifically. Not all Equestria. Canterlot. The burden of keeping Canterlot safe and secure rests squarely on my shoulders. Staying focused on the task at hoof has been my top priority.”
“And you’re the only pony that can perform a defensive spell of this magnitude,” Twilight finished, adding a sad sigh, “Okay. I understand.” Shining eased up with his own sigh of relief before tensing up again as Twilight poked at his chest. “I’m still mad at you though! You could have at least told me you proposed to her!”
“I tried to warn him, but no. He thought it would be a fun surprise,” said the pink alicorn as she trotted out of the castle, “I told you so.”
“So it begins,” the captain groaned in dismay. That’s one time, and we’re not even married yet.
“Cadence!” Twilight cheered as she bounded to her old foal sitter. The two shared a cheerful embrace, a very surprising one given how angry the magic student was not but five seconds ago. “I could never be mad at either of you for long,” Twilight admitted, gesturing for Shining to share a family hug, which he gladly did.
After a sweet moment Twilight backed out and hopped excitedly. “Can we do the dance Cadence?”
“Oh Twilight. It has been a while,” the princess said in thought, “I’m not sure if I--Sunshine sunshine.” She suddenly started tippy toeing in place with her head low.
“Ladybugs awake,” the two said as they fluttered their hooves over their eyes, “clap your hooves and do a little shake.” Twilight shared a lighthearted laugh with her old foal sitter.
“Glad we’re all happy again. You always got the worst mood swings Twiley.”
“Don’t push it,” she warned.
“Well,” Shining decided to pull his trump card, “Would you forgive me if I made you my best mare?”
“YES!” Twilight squeed as bounced happily. Her bouncing was cut short as Shining Armor stumbled and gripped his head in pain. The two fillies helped him stand as they both alleviated his pain with their magic. After a moment his headache subsided.
“I didn’t know you knew that spell Twilight,” Shining remarked with grateful smile, “Thank you both so much.”
The reunion couldn’t last too long though, as another guard came to take Shining Armor to his new post, orders from higher up. With the groom to be gone Twilight and Cadence could finally catch up.
So Twilight slapped her. “What is wrong with you?!” she demanded, “I was supposed to be told of any new developments immediately! We had an agreement Chrysy!”
“Don’t get mad at me!” she snapped back, “It wasn’t my fault some stupid changeling decided to leave an encrypted message for the guards to find just lying around. This barrier shouldn’t even be here!”
“No duh! Ugh, this makes everything so much more complicated,” Twilight complained. For a moment the two walked the corridors in silence until Twilight finally laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Cadence asked with a bit of amusement, unable to resist the contagious laughter.
“I can’t believe you did the dance,” she giggled.
“Even without the guards around I have to put on a good performance right?”
“I know, but that is so messed up! You got it perfectly.” Twilight broke down into a series of snickers and even fell to the floor for a minute. When she finally caught her breath she asked, “Okay then. Where is she, and when did it happen?”
“I overheard Shining planning to propose a little over a month ago, so I got into position then,” Cadence explained, “I put her in the crystal caverns for safe keeping. A couple of soldiers bring her food daily so she doesn't starve to death.”
“Good. All is well then,” Twilight said happily as the two of them started ascending the tower stairs to Twilight’s old room, “Not to mention...I know it might sound weird, but I don’t want her to get hurt.” A rare moment for Twilight. “We just went through so much together. I want her safe.”
“I understand Twilight,” Cadence assured her, “That’s why I made sure it was actually good food and not gruel. She’s confused about it, but she’s not complaining at least.”
“So...she doesn’t know about my involvement?” Twilight asked with a shaky voice. The two had reached the door to Twilight’s room, and her personal library. Cadence just shook her head. “Why not?”
Cadence looked surprised. “I didn’t think you wanted her to know.”
“...I’m just not sure,” Twilight said as she headed in.
“There you are Twilight!” Spike said as he ran up to her, “I was wondering if you’d ever get here.”
“Oh Spike,” Twilight said with a pat on his head while the purple fire sprung up around her, “You knew I needed to talk with Chrysy, and you knew it was going to take a while.”
“I kno--AGH!” Spike jumped when he opened his eyes to see the real Twilight: chitin black shell, hooves and violet mane the same color as her coat once was; both riddled with holes. Her purple eyes remained, though now with slit pupils. Spike caught his breath while Cadence and Twilight trotted past him just giggling like schoolfillies. “Don’t do that! You know it scares the crap out of me!”
The mares laughed despite him. “Sorry Spike. I couldn’t resist, and I just had to show Chrysy.” She magically pulled him into a hug and nuzzled him affectionately. “My number one assistant. You know I love you right?”
Spike blushed. “Yeah, I know Twilight.” He nuzzled back for a moment before pushing away and saluting. “I managed to copy all the guard postings miss Sparkle. It’s right on that table.”
Twilight looked at the plans. Spike had done a very good job copying everything down to the last detail. Years of living with Twilight had given him a keen eye for detail, something Rarity only fueled. “I couldn’t have done it better myself,” Twilight declared.
“Uh, shucks Twilight,” the baby dragon said bashfully, “It wasn’t that hard with Shining Armor out. I owe you for distracting him.”
“It wasn’t as much me distracting him as it was me fuming to relieve stress,” Twilight said through her teeth, becoming upset at the thought of the barrier again.
“The shield right?” Spike asked full well knowing the answer. He scratched the back of his head in thought. “I know what you mean Twi. How are we gonna get everyone in for the wedding?”
“I don’t know yet Spike,” Twilight admitted, “I didn’t exactly plan for incompetence. I mean, I did have you after all.” She smirked at the baby dragon.
“Stop it,” he insisted bashfully.
After “Cadence” erupted in green flame for a moment, the mare that stood in her place couldn’t help but scoop Spike up. “Oh Twilight I can see why you adore him so much. So helpful and full of love. I couldn’t imagine a better little helper for you.”
“Twilight. Help. She’s smooshing me.”
“Can you blame her?” Twilight laughed. The sight of the older cerulean haired changeling queen cuddling the baby dragon was just to die for. “Alright Chrysalis, let him go. I’d like my little dragon to stay breathing for as long as he can.”
“Seconded,” Spike squeaked.
“Oh alright,” Chrysalis said as she relinquished Spike, “He’s just so sweet.”
Spike blew on his claws cockily, “The ladies just can’t stay away.”
“Don’t get too full of yourself.”
“Baby once you go scaly you'll come back daily.”
The three snickered for the moment before Twilight finally got serious again. “We really do need to figure this out. I don’t get how one of our own troops could be so careless.” She looked through her old window and couldn’t even see the sky clearly, which caused her wings to buzz nervously.
“One of us could go out and tell everypony to dig under the shield?” Chrysalis suggested.
Twilight shook her head. “No. I know this spell all too well. Shining and I are the only ponies apart from the princesses that can cast it, and he can actually do it better than I can. He’s specializes in defense.” She tapped her hoof on the ground anxiously. “Long story short: it’s a magic shield. It affects the physical without being physical. Meaning it cuts through the ground without displacing the existing matter and making us all fall to our collective dooms.”
“Sounds complicated.”
“It is Spike. It is.”
“What would be the strategically weakest point of any shield, or any defense?” Chrysalis asked slyly.
“It’s a magic sphere Chrysy. It doesn’t have a back.”
“But it’s only charged from one point.” Twilight looked at her, finally breaking her gaze from the depressing shield. “The top. Shining Armor’s beam recharged the shield from the top down, so the strongest point, or the front, would be there, and the weakest point?”
“The bottom!” Twilight zipped into the air and hugged Chrysalis happily. “You’re a genious!”
“Well.” The queen stood in mock thought for a moment. “Yes. Yes I am."
Spike quickly shushed them and held an hand to his fin, which served as his ear. “Somepony is coming...Celestia! Hide!” The two changed back into their respective disguises. “That works too.”
Twilight answered the knock at the door as she normally would. “Oh. Hi princess. Just settling back in my old room. Things are, uh, bit dusty.” She gave a sheepish smile. “It’s kinda been a while.”
Celestia, never breaking her warm smile, responded, “I’d imagine so, though I’m actually here to retrieve Cadence. When I couldn’t find her Pinkie guessed that I could find the two of you catching up.” She turned to her “niece”. “Pinkie needed you in the ballroom so you could discuss decorations. She's terribly excited about the whole ordeal.”
“I can imagine,” Cadence laughed, “She was always so excitable.” As she left she gave Twilight a goodbye and flew off.
“Twilight,” Celestia addressed her a bit more seriously, “I’m afraid a threat—”
“I know,” Twilight interrupted with a dismissive wave., “I already ran into Shining Armor and he explained everything. I’ll be careful.”
“Good. I wouldn’t want any harm to befall you Twilight.”
Twilight’s heart swelled as she soaked up her mentor’s love without her knowledge. Ponies had so much love to give. “Um.” Twilight’s smile fell as Celestia left. “Wait.” The alicorn turned and gave her a puzzled look. “You’ll always be there for me. Right?” she asked nervously.
“Of course.”
“No matter what?”
“Yes Twilight.”
“P-p...promise?”
“Twilight where is this coming from?” Celestia looked at her student with a very worried look on her face. “Has somepony been putting doubts in your head?”
“No princess.” Not any that weren’t there to begin with. “I...I just needed to ask.”
“If you say so...I’ll see the both of you later.” With that the solar princess finally departed. She was still worried of course, but with the wedding and the threat on the capital still present matters she just didn’t have the time to pry further.
As the door closed Twilight dropped to her hunches and started shaking uncontrollably. Her shaking only dulled when Spike hugged her and she dropped her disguise. “She’s gonna hate me Spike. I just know it.”
“It’ll be alright Twilight. You’ll see,” Spike tried his best at comforting her.
“No Spike...I don’t think it will this time.” Twilight started tearing up with her head and ears drooping. “I don’t know what I’m gonna do Spike. What if she does hate me? I can’t handle that Spike. She’s always been there. She always loved me, but...what if she calls me a parasite?”
“She wouldn’t do that Twilight. I know you’re not a parasite.”
She finally smiled through her tears. “I know you know Spike, but you grew up knowing that.” Twilight thought back to that day...
***
It was the most exciting day of young Twilight’s life, and the most terrifying. The day of the entrance exam to Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. The blunt of the panic came when she saw the cart with the dragon egg roll in. I don’t have a spell for that! Quick Twilight think of something! Anything!
“Well miss Sparkle?”
Just wing it! What could go wrong? To this day Twilight would never “just wing it” again. She tried her magic again and again with different techniques and different angles, but it didn’t even seem to touch the egg. It’s no use. All this pressure. Even with mom and dad here I feel like I’m starving.
“I’m sorry I wasted your time.” At that moment, what Twilight now knew was Rainbow Dash broke the sound barrier. The resounding crack startled her so badly that she tapped into her own natural magic pool that she scarcely knew she had. The reaction was surprisingly strong, since the first beam of magic hatched the egg that she couldn’t even budge before.
Of course then she couldn’t stop it. She panicked, and when she panicked she panicked more. She was in front of too many ponies, her parents. What if I change back and they all see?! I’ll be run out of the city! They’ll never believe it’s really me. The now grown up dragon (albeit with a baby’s mind) ensured that somepony would come to investigate.
The biggest shock of all was when Twilight saw Celestia herself. Only through sheer force of fear induced will was Twilight able to cease her newfound power’s outburst. She waited for the monarchs first words.
“Twilight Sparkle.”
She cracked. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to--”
“You have a very special gift. I don’t think I’ve ever come across a unicorn with your raw abilities.”
“Huh?” She didn’t dare break her gaze, but she knew from the word “unicorn” that she hadn’t reverted to her true self at least. Everything that Celestia said after that just got the young changeling to trust her more, and even admire her beyond any shadow of a doubt. As if the day hadn’t already been perfect enough it was also the day she got her cutie mark. She didn’t know what was more shocking, the fact that she got it, or the fact that it showed up through her disguise.
Maybe her disguise faltered after all, but only just enough for it to appear on the surface. Maybe the magic that made cutie marks appear was actually strong enough that it came through without her permission. Either way it was the happiest day of her young life.