Princess Celestia smiled softly as she watched the bridesmaids walk to her. “Perfect girls. No need to rush.” The girls looked at each other, giggling. “Then of course, Cadance will enter.” Right on cue, the doors opened, revealing Cadance. Shining’s smile grew as his eyes lit up; she was truly beautiful.
Cadance began her walk to the front, her mane and tail swaying with her every step. “I’ll say a few words,” Celestia continued, “and then we’ll begin with the vows. Shining Armor, you’ll get the ring from the best mare.” He looked to his side, smiling.
The music stopped. Twilight was nowhere to be seen. Shining shook his head - how had he not noticed Twilight was there? “Hey… Has anypony seen Twilight?...”
The doors opened, and Twilight entered. Everypony looked at her. “I’m here,” she said cooly, careful not to let anger control her. She strode forth confidently. Nopony was going to ignore her now. They were going to listen. “I am not going to stand next to her, and neither should you,” she said to Shining.
Shining turned to Cadance, biting his lip. “I-I’m sorry… I don’t know why she’s acting like this.”
“Maybe we should just ignore her.”
Twilight huffed lightly. Ignore me? It will be hard to soon. “You have to listen to me - ALL of you. Listen to me!”
“O-Oh goodness!” Fluttershy flew over to Twilight. “A-are you okay?”
A surge of hope rose in Twilight. Could it be… did they still care? “I’m fine, Flutt-”
“You’re sure about that?” Twilight jumped as Applejack interrupted her.
So that was what they were playing at. Her friends were trying to make her see ‘reason’. She scoffed, using magic to cover Applejack’s face. No more interruptions. "I've got something to say to you all. She's evil," she said, pointing directly at Cadance.
Everypony seemed startled by this declaration. "She's been horrible to my friends, she's obviously done something to her bridesmaids, and if that wasn't enough, I saw her put a spell on my brother." She paused. Time for the real part of this conversation. "Princess Celestia."
Her highness watched Twilight with a chilly gaze. "Yes?"
"Tell me - what color is Cadance's magical aura?"
Celestia rose her eyebrow. "Blue."
"What color is her magic, Shining?"
"I... I don't know."
Suddenly, there was the sound of sobbing. Twilight looked at Cadance curiously. She was crying. "W-why are you doing this to me?!"
"Because you're evil!" Twilight walked closer to the sobbing mare. "You're evil, and if I don't stop you, you're going to ruin my brother's life!"
In an emerald flash, Cadance disappeared. She reappeared outside the doors, running away and sobbing. The guards gasped and ran after her. "See?" She turned triumphantly to her friends; surely, they would see it now.
She gasped as she felt a smack to her face. Time seemed to stop for an instant. Her cheek stung, but her heart stung more. Had her brother just... She slowly looked back at him, her eyes wide with tears. There was silence in the hall for but moments - all Twilight could hear was Shining's angry breaths, her own pounding heart, and the buzzing in her aching head. Then, as suddenly as it had all seemed to stop, it started again.
Shining glared at her in fury, unsympathetic of the pain he just caused. "You want to know why she's casting spells on me?! Ever since I started having to perform my protection spell, I've been getting terrible migraines! Cadance hasn't been casting spells on me - she's been using her magic to heal me!"
Twilight gulped, taking a step back. "And she decided," he continued, "to replace her bridesmaids because she found out the only reason they wanted to be in the wedding was so that they could meet Canterlot royalty! And if she hasn't been on her best behavior with your friends, it's because with me being so busy, she's had to make all the decisions about the wedding!"
"B-but what about her m-"
"She's been completely stressed out because it's really important to her that our big day be perfect!"
"I'm stre-"
"Is this not important to you?!" She stopped. "I can't believe you'd be this insensitive!" He trotted past her. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go and comfort my bride." He stopped, hanging his head. "You can forget about being my best mare. In fact, if I were you, I wouldn't show up to the wedding at all."
Shining walked out. Twilight was paralyzed. "C'mon, y'all. Let's go check on the Princess." Twilight watched as her friends walked out. None of them looked back.
She realized what that meant.
There was a moment of tense silence. "What about you, princess," she said softly, yet scathingly. "What do you have to say about my 'outburst'?"
There was silence behind her. Slowly, she turned. She saw Celestia. Her slender hooves, that dove white fur; she was beautiful, and terrified. Twilight could have sworn she saw tears in the princess's eyes.
"Ardor..."
Twilight felt that very familiar power rising inside her. She stood tall now, however; she would not cower before the princess. She might be hurting, aching from what just happened, but she would not show that weakness now. She wasn't going to break down now!
She grinned. Those violet eyes flashed white, then remained a dim magenta, almost red. "Nice to meet you again, Tia," she said in a voice not her own. A confident voice.
No more hiding.
"W-What have you done to Cadance?!"
Ardor laughed, lifting a hoof up. "What have I done? This is not my doing, Celestia. You know how weak I grew after you all but murdered me."
"You must be behind this!" Her wings flared out, rage and sorrow burning in her eyes. "I'll not let you hurt my family again!"
"You are blind and evil as you always have been, Celestia." Ardor bowed his head. "You should have listened to Twilight."
"The only evil being here is you, Ardor."
Twilight shook her head, looking back at the princess. "Then why are we so scared of you?"
Celestia took a step back. She shut her eyes tightly. In a single flap of her wings, Celestia rose. Her horn began to glow, and she was gone. Twilight sighed softly. Somehow, this did not feel like a victory.
She trotted over to the stairs, sitting on them. Did I do that correctly, Ardor?
It is impossible to say, Twilight. In my eyes, you did splendidly. I forever marvel your cunning, Miss Sparkle, even if the outcomes do not match the goal.
I’m glad that ended well. I was scared when you took over my body…
I’m sorry to have scared you, Miss Sparkle. I will ask permission from now on. I am surprised it even worked; one must have absolute trust in the host and soul for that control to occur. I thank you for your overwhelming trust, Twilight.
Twilight smiled softly. She felt tears in her eyes. She was finally branching out; trying new magic as her element symbolized, freeing herself slowly of the burden of keeping her duality a secret. She cried tears of relief and fear, at least solid in the fact that one day, somepony might understand. Hopefully, her friends would see. Hopefully. Until then, she had Ardor. Ardor could show her the way, for now.
What would happen now? Shining hated her. Her friends had abandoned her. Even Celestia ran off in fear. And what about Cadance? What could she do, now, to stop the changeling threat? Shining was being poisoned by her, and her friends would do nothing.
Her ears twitched; a noise came from behind her. She turned and gasped, her eyes wide.
Cadance's horn was glowing a deep shade of green. Fire formed around them both. "You'll pay for that, Twilight Sparkle." She grinned as the fire surrounded the speechless unicorn. She turned her back and walked away; she had a wedding to plan.
In a fiery blaze, Twilight was gone.
*~*~*~
Twilight sat up, groaning. Her head was pounding. The buzzing seemed even louder. Apparently, fainting and being knocked out both do incredible damage to ones mental and physical state. "Ugh... Where are we?"
"You're in the caves beneath Canterlot." Twilight looked around frantically. It was too dark; focusing, she lit her horn and gasped. The reflection in the crystals around her was shocking; a black Alicorn with green eyes, holes riddled through her body. A-ardor? Is this real?
Yes, Twilight. She is the one impersonating Cadance. Worse still, she is a queen of her hive.
Queen? Hive?
Just pay attention to her ramblings. She may give you a clue on how to get out of here.
“Why am I down here,” Twilight shouted, standing up. She still felt wobbly on her hooves.
“This place was once home to greedy unicorns who wanted to claim the gems that could be found inside.” The changeling smiled, her fangs glinting in each reflection. “And now… this is your prison. This is what you deserve after your little show today.”
Twilight stood tall, scowling. “Do you think some measly little labyrinth of crystal will stop me? You are NOT going to marry my brother!”
“It’s no use, Twilight. You’ll never be able to navigate these caverns alone, and no one can hear you down here. Nopony up there will even think to look for you, either. That’s why these caverns are the perfect place to hide those who interfere with my plans.”
Twilight shook her head. “But I’m not alone.”
The crystalline image laughed. “Ah, yes, you have your friends. Tell me, what has friendship done for you?”
If I may, Twilight, might I speak with her? She will listen if I speak.
Twilight smirked and nodded. “Friends aren’t what will save me…”
Her eyes flashed white. Ardor glared at the reflection as the light from Twilight’s horn shifted to a charred red. “I am what will save her.”
The queen gasped, her eyes widening. “The… That… You’re…”
“I am your God. State your name, you miserable creature.”
The changeling shook her head quickly. “I will not bow to t-this foalish attempt at trickery! You are not changeling! I can sense you, even from this far away; you are not a changeling.”
“Look deeper. Surely a queen can see into the mind of a pony as easily as through a window.” The queen flinched as though stung. “Ah… so you cannot. Such a pity.” Ardor stepped closer, seeing his own reflection in the crystal now - the body of Twilight stood tall and confident once more, demanding respect. “You are starving. You are lusting after love.” Ardor laughed bitterly. “You are weak as a wriggling larva on their first hunt. Pathetic…”
They turned their back on the quivering reflection. “Now… state your name.”
“... C-Chrysalis... “
“At the very least, you have a regal sounding name.” Ardor shook his head, glancing at the crystals around. “Now… You have made the grave mistake of stopping my pupil from reaching her goal. What has driven you to this miserable pursuit of stolen love?”
“W-we are starving… Our GOD has abandoned us,” she spat out, glaring at them.
“Yes, I have. Did I even mention just how much you disgust me?” He scoffed. “I will give you one chance. End this desperate display of prowess and release us. Go back to your hive, and I may give you enough love to survive, should it please me to do so.”
“Never.” The changeling's eyes narrowed. “God or illusion, I shall not abandon my kind.”
Ardor turned quickly to face the reflection, a sickening grin on their face. Chrysalis flinched, gasping. “Then on your own head be it.”
Twilight gasped as her horn began to glow a bright lavender. A blast fired from it, ricocheting off the crystals around her. She collapsed, dodging the blasts as her body shifted back to her control. She shuddered as the wall behind her shattered.
“Twilight?!” She looked behind her and dimly saw an alicorn run towards her. She looked pink; but as Twilight watched, she turned purple, then nearly black. The rest of the world faded as well, and Miss Sparkle went back to sleep.
*~*~*~
Twilight sat up, sitting in the nothingness of her own mind. Her library was nowhere to be found. Her head felt… clear. Nothing ached - there was no pain. Only peace. Ardor?
I am here, Twilight. She looked to the side. There he stood, the same serene alicorn she had always known. I am sorry if I exhausted you. I shall refrain from taking control again. He sat. I was hoping that by commanding her as I once did her race, she might see reason. They have lost me, however; they have lost all hope.
What did you mean when you called yourself their God?
That is what I am to them, no? Giver of love and land and the possibility of life? Twilight nodded. I am sorry you had to hear all of that. I must speak with them that way; else they would rally themselves against each other, fighting in meaningless, bitter war to find who is the better thief of love. By degrading them all, I buy them peace.
I understand. Twilight looked around. Why are we here? Where is the library?
The library is fading, Twilight. You are moving on.
Moving on?
You will find out, soon. Ardor stood. The time is coming when all will be revealed.
All? As in.. everything about you?
Everything about Celestia, Luna, the past, and I. Everything you have ever wanted to know about us will be told. The time is coming when you will ascend all greatness. As has been your destiny since time began. I was only a bystander here to witness it.
Twilight stood, her eyes full of fear. I’m scared, Ardor. I don’t know what you mean by any of this.
I do not expect you to. Ardor smiled, embracing her. She gasped, but accepted the hug. Somehow, it just felt right - like a hug from a close friend. You need not worry, Twilight. That day is still to come.
Twilight took a deep breath, looking him in the eyes. She had truly known him for all her life; though she had met him when she came to Ponyville, she still felt a strange bond with him. Ardor… I… I need to know. Why me? Why did you come to me in particular?
Ardor looked at her and nodded. Do you remember how I told you that Celestia thought I took over Luna?
Yes.
That is because… When I first corrupted… I tried to rule all ponies. Every honest being was my disciple; every dishonest being was to burn. That included the other elements. They had lied to me, in a way. Told me our friendship mattered while still ignoring me.
But you couldn’t kill them without killing Star Swirl.
They knew that. I, however, still longed for another way to kill us. And… I nearly found one.
Twilight tilted her head. I… thought you said…
I did tell you honestly - there is no way to kill us without killing Star Swirl. But I did know of a way to effectively separate us all. Ardor sighed. I knew that if drove the right wedges between us all, we would scatter. For awhile, it worked…
But?
Ardor hung his head. Twilight saw a rueful smile on his face. But then, Luna came to me. She still trusted me, even after all of this. She told me I could be a good man. She brought me back to the being I was made to be. She told me that she trusted in our friendship… Ardor laughed lightly, for once sounding happy. She told me that through the darkest times, friendship would be there to guide me through anything.
Was… was she right? Twilight thought back to how each of her friends had abandoned her. Was friendship really… worth it?
Ardor gently lifted Twilight’s chin up, smiling. It made me the stallion I am today. Do not let my past friendships that failed influence your current ones. You and your friends… perhaps you have what Luna and I had. A true friendship. That is why I came to you, Twilight. You are so much like her, in so many ways. You were both the Element of Magic… You both are so kind, so loyal, so trusting… You are every element, just as she was. I trust you, Twilight, as I did her; that is why I chose you.
But… Luna corrupted.
Ardor flinched lightly as she said this. He sighed, looking off into the vast oblivion around them. That is why… I fear Celestia may be right, in a way. Luna… I did make her Nightmare Moon. I did not help her in her time of need…
But you didn’t do that on purpose! You are no more to blame than Celestia herself! Twilight stood tall and proud, smiling. I swear this to you, Ardor; I will show Celestia our power. I will show her the good you have done for me - for all of us. She will trust us once again.
Ardor smiled. Thank you, Twilight… You are truly… a true friend. He nodded. Now… it is time to wake, Miss Sparkle.
Good Luck.