“I don’t suppose there’s any of that bouquet left, is there?” Minuette asked. She wasn’t certain how long the three of them had been trapped in these caves, but she was cold and hungry, so it had definitely been much too long already.
“Moondancer ate them all,” replied Lyra bitterly.
“They were just so yummy!” wailed Moondancer. The word ‘yummy’ echoed around the tunnels, getting more and more eerie with each repetition, causing Minuette to shiver.
They sat quietly for a while with only the warm light of Lyra’s horn to see by.
“You two seemed pretty eager to catch the bouquet,” Minuette said, in an attempt to break the silence.
Lyra’s face broke into a wide open smile. “Well, I’ve been seeing Bonbon for a few years now. Probably time that I made an honest mare out of her. What about you then, Minuette?" Lyra said, while sidling up to her friend. "Anypony catch your eye?”
Minuette sighed. “I’m still looking for that perfect stallion. I think I’d settle for just reasonable the way some of my dates have gone recently. I love Ponyville, but it’s not exactly swimming in bachelors.”
“What about Big Macintosh?” suggested Moondancer
Both Minuette and Lyra started giggling. “I didn’t know that you were into that,” Minuette said teasingly.
Moondancer looked at the other two with a completely lost expression on her face. “Into what?”
“Never mind,” said Minuette, while still chuckling. “What about you, Moondancer?”
“I don’t think she’s into relationships,” said Lyra, giving Moondancer a sidelong glance. “That’d involve actually getting the stallion’s names.”
“Hey!” Moondancer said, stomping a hoof on the rocky floor. The sharp ‘clop’ on the ground rang out a few more times and then faded. “Are you saying that Moondancer is some kind of harlot?”
“No,” Lyra said, then grinned. “Harlots are usually choosier.”
“I’ll—”
“Easy, girls,” Minuette said soothingly. “Just because we don’t how we got down here, and so have no idea how to get out, doesn’t mean we should take it out on each other.”
“I so got to that bouquet first, y’know,” said Lyra, giving Moondancer a flat look.
“Did not.”
“Did too!”
“Did—”
“Just stop, please,” Minuette said, as the echoes of the foalish argument continued throughout the caves. She got in between and pushed the two of them apart. “Look, I don’t remember much of whatever happened to us, but I’m sure that was Twilight Sparkle from Ponyville back there with the real Princess Cadance. She’ll come get us eventually.”
“Come get us eventually, come get us eventually, come get us eventually...”
“Um,” Moondancer said quietly. “Moondancer does not think that one was an echo.”
Lyra’s horn glowed brighter yellow to give the three some more light. As the darkness retreated back across the cavern, hundreds of green flashes stared back at them.
“Come get us eventually,” said another Minuette in the exact same tattered bridesmaid dress, as she stalked forwards.
Moondancer screamed, and the caves answered with a horrible racket, filled with hisses, growls, and a chittering that sent fur standing straight up all over the three mare's bodies.
“Stay back!” Lyra warned. She picked up a few loose rocks with her magic and floated them around her in a hopefully menacing manner.
Four more Lyra’s joined the Moondancer, and all replied, “Stay back!” Minuette was certain they were repeating Lyra’s tone of voice exactly, but she was sure it sounded more mocking coming from them.
“For what it’s worth it's been an honour being a bridesmaid with you two,” said Minuette ruefully, "even if we didn't quite make it to the actual wedding."
“Same,” Lyra agreed, and Moondancer gave a quick little nod, as they prepared themselves for the inevitable end.
An unguised changeling charged forward, spun in front of the three mares, and started hissing and growling harshly. One of the now-many Minuettes growled back a sharp retort and soon the rest were all joining in.
“I think they’re arguing about what to do with us,” whispered Lyra, to the other two as they huddled down close together.
“I think they’re arguing about what to do with us,” agreed one of the Lyras, while the other changelings continued their unintelligible debate.
“Excuse me,” said Minuette, standing up. “Can any of you understand us?”
The unguised changeling in front of them turned and nodded once.
“Can you let us know what’s happening, please?” asked Minuette.
“Please Minuette,” said Moondancer, clutching at one of Minuette’s hooves. “Don’t upset them!”
The changeling shook its head, then tilted it to the side for a moment. Without warning it let out a high-pitched screech that caused the three mares to hold their forehooves tight against their ears.
Several moments passed, and then a smaller changeling pushed his way out of the arguing throng. It looked much the same as the others that weren’t currently posing as ponies, but Minuette thought that he was older than the others. Maybe the black chitin was just that bit less shiny.
“Can you talk to us?” asked Lyra.
The changeling smiled and its horn began to glow green. “Foolish little morsels, believe me I can hear you well enough.” The voice was a deep basso, and Minuette was sure she’d heard a crackling fire behind it.
“Well Moondancer doesn’t see any need for that kind of attitude,” Moondancer said sharply, her earlier fear overridden by sheer force of petulance.
“Ah, it's no worries, mates!” the changeling replied, with his horn still glowing. In yet another different voice, it added sombrely, “Reckon it might be rain again tonight. I feel it in my old horns.”
“That was Thestralian!” Lyra exclaimed. “I’d know that accent anywhere. I’m not sure on the other one though.”
“I think it might have been a minotaur,” Minuette said uncertainly, and the changeling nodded. “I didn’t think I’d ever heard of one of their mares, or whatever they call their females anyway, ever leaving that island of theirs before.”
“Oh, you get all sorts out here in the badlands,” answered the changeling jovially, causing Lyra to gasp in a sudden shock of recognition. “There’s mercenaries from as far abroad as Tailea, colonists heading to New Tartaurus, bored griffons looking for a fight, diamond dogs of course, changeling hives which you do not want to go anywhere near, all sorts of wandering monsters, and things that some of my learned colleagues back in Canterlot still prefer to dismiss as bedtime stories, rather than admitting the plain and simple fact that they’re terrifyingly real.”
“That’s Dr. Risky Passage, I’m certain of it” whispered Lyra. “He taught geography back at the school.”
Minuette frowned. “I’d heard he never came back from his last expedition.” She swallowed hard. “Guess we know why now.”
“Never mind that!” Moondancer said loudly, causing some of the closer disguised ponies to hiss at her sharply. “Are you going to do anything to us?”
“The tide is changeable, and ever treacherous,” the changeling replied gruffly. There had been no doubt in Minuette’s mind that there’d been a seagull’s cry in the background during that sentence. It was less that the changeling was actually speaking, she realised, but repeating relevant sentences it had somehow heard in the past.
“I think that’s a maybe,” said Minuette, her voice starting to shake slightly.
The changeling started to speak again in a female voice that this time they all recognised, as it would haunt them for the rest of their days, given how it had ripped their minds apart the previous night. “You, you and you, go out into the city and tell every changeling to stop what they're doing. You two, do the same for any in the palace itself. Absolutely nopony is to be harmed or fed upon from this moment on, understand? You will gather the hive and wait for my command in the caves beneath the mountain.”
“We’re safe!” said Moondancer laughing, while clapping her forehooves excitedly on the cave floor. “Hear that? She’s got them all to stop attacking.”
“Oh,” said Lyra, her heart sinking. “I think I might see the problem...”
“We’re not in the palace, or the city, we’re under it,” said Minuette, completing the thought. “Guess some of them think there’s some room for debate. Especially as that fake Cadance isn’t here to say otherwise.”
“But, but she said...” said Moondancer, sounding like she was about to cry.
“And we ain’t half parched,” The changeling said in a Trottingham accent. The cacophony of hissing and growling got even louder, as more and more eyes glowed out of the darkness.
~~~
Princess Cadance gathered herself up and stood proudly before Celestia. “I saved Canterlot,” she answered. Chrysalis, who was still behind her, nodded vigorously to back her up.
Celestia stalked past Cadance and Chrysalis. She turned her head to look back at them, and said, “And her invading army of changelings is where?”
“I sent them down into the old gem caves below Canterlot where I had been keeping my love,” said Chrysalis, her voice shaking a little under Celestia’s steady gaze.
“I see,” she said, keeping her face entirely without expression. Celestia finally stopped by Shining Armour and her most favourite student. “Would you like to explain exactly how you accomplished such a feat, and why your betrothed is currently unable to even look at you?”
Cadance glanced back at Chrysalis and bit her lower lip. “May we talk in private about that, if that’s at all possible?” she ventured hesitantly.
Celestia looked at her for a while, and the entire room seemed to be holding its breath before she spoke again. “Yes, that would be acceptable.”
“I’d like to stay with my—” Chrysalis started to say before Celestia cut her off.
“You are going straight to the dungeons to await my judgement,” Celestia stated, “or you will see what happens now that I have learnt not to underestimate you.”
“No, she’s not.”
“Cadance, what do you think you are you doing?” Twilight said loudly, no longer able to contain her shock at how her former foalsitter was talking to her beloved mentor.
“Enough, Twilight Sparkle!” Celestia did not raise her voice at all, but everypony present felt the rebuke, and Chrysalis cringed back.
“As a princess of Equestria,” said Cadance levelly. “I have placed Queen Chrysalis under my protection.”
The room fell deadly silent for several moments.
“As is your right,” Celestia replied, after what seemed like centuries had passed. “Though given her actions, I’m sure you would agree, that it would be sensible for everypony concerned if she was confined until order can be fully restored. Would your room here at the palace be acceptable?”
“That... That would be fine, Princess,” replied Cadance, her eyes darting.
“As I still seem to be missing my royal guards, Rainbow Dash, Applejack,” Celestia said. “Please would you be so kind as to escort Queen Chrysalis to Princess Cadance’s quarters. I’m sure that she knows the way given she has been enjoying their accommodation so recently.”
“Will do, Princess,” said Rainbow Dash promptly. “You can count on us.” She threw off a quick snappy salute before flying over to poke Chrysalis sharply with a hoof to get her moving.
“C’mon, Varmint,” said Applejack, moving to flank Chrysalis’ other side. “No funny stuff, alright?”
Chrysalis gazed longingly for a moment at Cadance, and then submitted quietly to being led out of the throne room.
“Twilight Sparkle,” said Celestia. “Please can you take my captain elsewhere and begin to investigate what has been done to him to find a cure.”
“But, Princess!” Twilight said. “I’m your faithful student, not a doctor.”
“I know, Twilight,” Celestia replied, leaning down next to her. “But this is magical in nature and I have every faith that you’ll find out the answer.”
“I won’t let you down, Princess!” Twilight said eagerly, at the prospect of the new challenge, and being able to help out Shining Armour at the same time. Not giving her brother time to protest, she lifted his entire body in a purple field, and trotted purposely out with Shining Armour in tow.
“I believe we also have things to attend to,” said Rarity, giving Fluttershy a significant look.
“Um, oh yes, Rarity,” replied Fluttershy. “We need to go do the...” she trailed off.
Rarity jumped in. “Oh, it’s totally just a minor fashion emergency that’s cropped up that needs to be addressed. Still I do also need my dear friend Fluttershy’s knowledge of haute couture to resolve it.”
“Yes, um, that thing, right,” Fluttershy said, barely above the level of a squeak, before she was rapidly hurried out of the room by Rarity.
Once the door had stopped swinging, Spike sighed and looked down at the floor. “Aww, now I’m never going to get to throw a bachelor party. I’d already written to the Stag embassy in Canterlot to ask if one of them wouldn’t mind attending and everything.”
“Spike, I don’t think—” Celestia started to say.
Pinkie wrapped a friendly forehoof around Spike’s shoulders. “Oh, Spikey-wikey! The bachelor party might be off, but just you wait till I explain how to pull off the perfect hen do! It is going to be the most superest-duperest-bestest excuse to get the drinks in ever.”
Spike was pretty much dragged out in Pinkie’s unstoppable orbit, as she explained they were going to need special hats, streamers, balloons, shots, ironic badges, games, and a number of things that Spike was most definitely going to need to repress at a later date.
“I’m going to have to ask Chrysalis what my first hen do was like,” said Cadance thoughtfully. “Seeing as I was trapped down in the caves at the time, and that wasn’t one of the things I got to witness. Lyra said there was even going to be a Wonderbolt there, or it might just have been she was going to get a stallion in a Wonderbolt costume, I’m not sure.”
“I am sure she’ll enjoy that very much,” Celestia said, keeping her voice conversational. “Now, would you like to explain yourself?”
Cadance jumped slightly as she remembered exactly again why it was just now her and Celestia in the royal throne room of Canterlot. “There wasn’t any other way,” Cadance said softly, her ears flattening against her head. “What would you have had me do? Embrace him and just hope that everything fixed itself miraculously by some kind of unseen before magic?”
“Please, Cadance,” Celestia said, moving to stand beside the smaller princess. “Just explain what you did.”
“I...” Cadance swallowed. “I used my spell to make Chrysalis love me so that she’d stop trying to hurt everypony.”
“I thought your spell only worked in rekindling love that was already there?”
“Normally yes,” Cadance replied slowly. “But I took the love that had existed between myself and Shining Armour and forced it onto her. I didn’t know what else to do, but I love her now, and I did that to her.” She let out a broken sob. “How could have I done that to her?”
Celestia wrapped a wing around the other alicorn until Cadance had stopped shaking. “And what about Shining Armour?”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t know,” Cadance said, and sniffed. “I thought it would just sacrifice our love, and now he’s looking at me like I’m some kind of vile monster.” She sank down to lay on the floor without a sound. “Which I guess is appropriate now, isn’t it?”
“Cadance, I’m sure we can fix this,” Celestia said kindly. “We’ll find a way to get this reversed and you can still have the perfect wedding that you’ve always dreamed off. As soon as Luna returns we should easily be able to deal with Chrysa—”
“No!” Cadance yelled, jumping to her hooves. “You will not touch her!”
“Cadance,” replied Celestia, completely unaffected by the experience of having an angry alicorn in her face due to having prior experience. “It’s the spell you’ve cast. You don’t know what you’re doing.”
“I do,” Cadance said, flaring out her wings. “Please, Princess! Just give me a chance to make this work.”
“And what about Shining Armour?” Celestia said, now somewhat more coldly. “Have you entirely forgotten all about him now?”
“After what I’ve done to him?” said Cadance, walking away from Celestia. “He deserves somepony better than me.” She turned and looked back. “Breaking one heart was bad enough. I may be a monster now for what I’ve done, but I refuse to allow it to happen all over again.”
“I see,” Celestia said, sitting down on her throne. “You know you can talk about this anytime with myself if you want. Whatever decision you make regarding Chrysalis, as long as it does not threaten any pony in Equestria, and that includes yourself, I will support it.”
“Thank you, Princess,” Cadance said, bowing her head.
Celestia’s face was impassive. “You really don’t know what they’re truly like, do you? Then very few do now in this age, I suppose. I suggest you ask Chrysalis about where the changelings actually came from. She might even tell you the truth.”
“Why would that matter?”
“You might not want to ever touch her again when you do.”
Cadance stared at Celestia with wide open eyes. She’d never heard the princess sounding so disgusted—well, she’d never heard her be disgusted at all, she realised—so she had no idea what could cause such a reaction.
Unable to stop herself, she blurted out, “Can’t you just tell me?”
Celestia actually laughed. “Oh, I don’t think I could do it justice. Too much of a grudge and one held for much too long, I’ll easily admit it. Chrysalis wasn’t even a glimmer of a hatchling back then, so I really shouldn’t hold it against her personally for the sins of those who came before her.” For a moment an uncharacteristic look of pure hatred marred the sun princess’s features. “Still, I’d prefer to give even Discord a chance to redeem himself, over one of the changeling progeny that resulted from their arrogance. They hurt my little ponies by their inaction and that is the one thing I can never, ever forgive.”
“Their arrogance? Who are you talking about?” Cadance asked, completely confused by how Celestia was acting, and more than a little terrified.
Celestia smiled. “Not anypony important. Not anymore. Anyway, I’m sure Chrysalis would just love to tell you all about it.”
“I’ll... I’ll think about it,” Cadance said, before swiftly fleeing the room, leaving Celestia alone.