//------------------------------// // The Royal Wedding Pt. II // Story: Earning Freedom // by Daxisle //------------------------------// The Royal Wedding Pt. II "- and that's why you simply must return with me back to Unitas. That was your brother's one and only condition, you see." Fatchitaz proclaimed. Sin wasn't sure what to make of the mare right now. It sounded like Malich really did agree to marry her, under the sole condition she bring him back to the Federation. Was this a joke? Was it a way to get rid of her? Or was it a legitimate attempt to get him to come home, and there by, an insult by pushing the mare onto him? Growling in irritation, Sin told Fatchitaz point blank he wasn't going back to their country. No sarcasm, no snark, just the cold hard truth of the matter. "Oh Sinbad, what reason could you possibly have to stay in the Old World? The Federation is so much richer than Equestria, full of the finer things in life." The unicorn argued. The pegasus didn't bother replying, what business was it of hers that he didn't want to go back? He was staying here and that was final. Fatchitaz, being the sort who didn't know what not getting her way was, continued to pressure him. "Dear Sin, you simply must come. Your brother wants you home! Don't you want to see him and I get married." 'As absolutely hilarious as it would be to see, I'd pass.' "Not really. My brother's an ass hole. Frankly, the fact you want me to go back because of him makes me want to not go even more. Now, if you'll excuse me, I find our business concluded." Turned around and walked away before she could get another word in. It was blunt, crued and to the point. There was no way for it to be misinterpreted and misrepresented, even in the mind of the dim witted idiot known as Lady Fatchitaz. He couldn't have made the point any clearer if he tried. The fact she was in front of him once again, asking him to come back, convinced Sin 100% that she was either insane, or just tuned out whatever she didn't want to hear. How? How was she still asking? What did he have to do in order for her to leave him alone?! He checked the clock to see the wedding wouldn't start for another hour or so, so that was out of the question, where the hell was Uppity? Sweet Miliki, Fatchataz was still talking! 'Dude, I know you've got a code of non-aggression and all, but seriously. SERIOUSLY, I am begging you to make an exception here. She's less than sentient anyways, so what's the harm? Just take her up to the balcony, tell her to stand by the edge, write up a suicide note and be done with it. The world will be better off, I promise you.' If only Sin could. Morals and honor was all he had left in the world, he couldn't compromise it now just because it would make life convenient. Even if it was a convenience that would make the world a better place over all. He looked around for something, anything to get away from her. He saw all five of Twilight's friends walk by in succession and excused himself, saying he needed to speak to a friend. Fatchitaz began to pursue, but her girth slowed her down considerably. "Hey, Rainbow Dash!" Sin called, running to catch up. "Have you seen Spike?" The mentioned stayed, but the rest continued on. "Yea, he's back with the home wrecker." She pointed in the other direction. Home wrecker? What was that about? Rainbow just snorted and turned away to continue after her friends. 'Loads of help she was.' Groaning, the stallion reserved to look for the drake himself and get the explanation he wanted, as well as apologize for what he said. "Sinny! Sinny please come back!" Then again, Spike would understand if he waited until after the wedding to do so. "Spike! Twilight!" Cadance cheered, embracing her two friends. The drake, more confused than ever, pushed the dirty and disheveled alicorn off. "What the hay, Cadance?! Why did you do that?" He barked. Twilight responded in much the same manner, but with her horn charged a spell to give the pink alicorn more than just a verbal assault. "No, no, wait!" Cadance cried in alarm, but Twilight had already loosed her spell, sending a bolt of lavander magic directly at the pink pony and slamming her against the cavern wall with a crash. Shade watched on with an passive disinterest. Why Purple was attacking what he thought was their friend was beyond him, but it was entertaining enough to watch. Certainly enough to get his mind off of all the time he'd wasted today. "Shade? What are you doing down here? Are you in on this too?" Spike asked, lowering his stance. He didn't want to fight the lunar pegasus, but if Twilight was throwing magic around already, than things might go smother to kick ass now and ask questions later. "Dragon boy please, I'd break you." Shade dismissed with an annoyed tisk. "But I don't really get why Purple over there is attacking Candy. I thought those two were friends." "Tw-Twilight, please..." The Alicorn wheezed, forcing air into her lungs. "It's me, the real Cadance." Twilight snorted, picking "Cadance" up in her aura. "Oh yea? Than tell me why you're trying to hurt my brother and turn my friends against me!" She snarled before tossing her foe into another wall. Spike cringed at the impact, and moved to stop Twilight from her assault. He tried to calm her, convince her to take a moment to try and figure out what was happening before causing any more harm. "Spike! Didn't you just see what she did to us?!" The irate librarian argued, pushing the dragon aside, only to have him jump back in front of her. "Twilight, listen to me! We both saw and felt what happened back there. Why would she just appear to us and let you beat her up?" Spike argued, his logic halting Twilight in her tracks. "What if that Cadance was an impostor, and this is a real one? Think about it, we were brought down here to get us out of he way, right? Well she's down here too, isn't she?!" Taking a moment, the lavender unicorn looked down at the drake than over at Shade, who stood with even more disinterest now that the fighting stopped. She turned her gaze back to Cadance, a small sliver of hope cutting through her cynicism. She pushed her former assistant aside again and carefully walked to the fallen alicorn. "Sun shine, sun shine, lady bugs awake." Cadance coughed and smiled at her. "Clap y-your hooves and- d- do a little shake." Her words were weak and breath shallow, but there was no denying the accuracy in the poem she finished. "Cadance!" Twilight cried, all her anger immediately turning to guilt and worry over what she'd done. "Oh my gosh, Cadance, I'm so sorry!" She extended her hoof, helping the pink pony to her hooves. "It's fine, Twilight. I'm just glad you didn't kill me." Such a thought put Spike on edge and he was glad he'd intervened when he had. "But we need to go, we have to stop her before it's too late!" "Aww, you can't leave so soon, you just got here." Declared a harsh and manacle voice that reverberated off of the cavern walls. Spike looked around, trying to see where it was coming from when a glowing pink face of the impostor appearing on the wall. "And here I was hoping you'd dispose of the good princess for me." Demanding to know what was going on, Twilight shot a spell at the reflection, shattering the stone on contact. "Well, since you've asked so nicely, I plan to use his love to conquer Canterlot!" The answer merely served to stir Twilight's rage farther, and she shot another spell, destroying the stone reflection once again. "You'll need to do better than that." "Twilight, stop, she's just making you tire yourself out." Said Spike, watching helplessly as his mother stomped in frustration. Her bellowing laugh echoed and taunted the ponies and dragon she'd captured, declaring their inability to stop her from achieving her plan. Cadance limped forward and asked Shade if he knew how to get back out side. The bat pony shrugged and began walking, mumbling to himself about finding something or another. "Shade please, we need your help getting out of here, okay?" Spike asked, hoping that the pony would help him out. Sighing, Shade shrugged. "Fine, I'll get us out of here. Guess the foal factory really isn't down here anyways." He pouted and turned to lead them all to the exit. The pace could have been faster, but with no idea how to get out, all three of them followed their guide, hoping that they would reach the alter in time. Standing at attention, Sin looked around at all the Canterlot nobles. This was not his scene at all. The stuffy ponies around were smiling joyously on the outside, but he could tell none of them found the event as interesting as they lead on. Not that he could blame them though, how many of these ponies actually knew either the bride or the groom? Most likely none of them, it was just an important imperial event and they wanted to feel important by attending. He looked at the alter and saw Shining Armor Smiling dumbly. Not the kind of dumb that a stallion gets when he sees a pretty mare, but the kind of dumb that made one think he was simple. It didn't suite the good captain at all. Besides him, Celestia stood to read the rite and give the ceremony proper, her eyes closed with that smug, overly tranquil grin she always had. There was one saving grace to the entire event, and that was the mare standing beside him. Uppity had gone from beautiful to stunning in the course of a few hours. Her single braided mane had been redone so it would droop lazily over her shoulder, a rather classy but still practical dress of red and black covering her body, the entire outfit complete with a small rose delicately placed onto her chest. her make up wasn't anywhere near the over done, clown stuff the other nobles had. Simple eye liner and lipstick was enough to compliment her features and bring out a look that had more than a few stallions turning their heads. "You look beautiful." He grunted, his attempt at sincerity a miserable failure. Uppity didn't seem to mind, blushing and thanking him for the compliment by leaning her head onto his neck. Had it not been for all of the ponies around, he'd have happily returned the gesture. Instead he did what he did best and changed the topic. "So, are we supposed to just stand here and hope she walks through the door, or what?" Chuckling, the unicorn lifted a hoof and pushed down his mane in a futile attempt to straighten it. "The bride will come when she's ready, until then, we just stand here and wait for her." Sin shook his head and sighed. This was half the reason he hated weddings. Such a waste of time, why did they need to stand here like a bunch of idiots? Was it really too much trouble for her to give five minutes warning before hand so they could mingle a bit? 'Hey, look at the bright side. At least Fat ass isn't here to- No! Why? Just why? Why do you have to keep testing Murphy like that? And on Que, shuffling began outside the door, with muffled voices going back and forth. Everyone watched with eager anticipation, the pianist readied to play, and Celestia straightened her posture. Sin, however merely slumped his shoulders, already knowing what was about to happen. The door opened and the piano began to play "here comes the bride". Though, the gasps from all the noble ponies quickly silence him. "Please, I just need a moment, I've got a friend in here that I need to speak with." Fatchitaz implored the guards who continually failed to wrap her up in their forelegs due to he excessive girth. Her attention was pulled from them to the room at large, every eye looking directly at her. "Oh, um. Sorry, everybody, I'm ummm, just here to see someone." She declared happily before peering through the crowd. Sin looked away and slumped his shoulders, it wouldn't be any use though, he was too close to the front. Dammit, the one time he doesn't stand in the back is the one time he really needed to. "Let's see here, I could have sworn- Aha! There you are, Sinny!" "Is she a friend of yours?" Uppity asked leaning over. Sin shook his head. "That, my dear Uppity, would be lady Fatchitaz. I thought you saw her." The unicorn shook her head, saying she, some how, never really got a good view of her in the market district. As anticipated, Fatchitaz began to approach, the nobles in her way quickly opening a path for her. "Hello Sinbad, so have you had time to reconsider what I said about the wedding?" Every single eye in the room fell onto the stallion, despite their outward appearence of not listening in. "Look, I've told you already, I am not going." "Oh but you must, the wedding can't happen with out you there. You're one of the most important ponies to attend!" The white unicorn pressed. Uppity quirked her head. "Oh? And why are you one of the most important ponies to attend this wedding?" She asked with no small amount of playful indignance in her voice. "Are you seeing another mare behind my back?" 'That's it! she's going on the list!' His face firm as stone, Sin turned his head to face the mare. "You're a very sick mare, you know that? But that's part of why I think I'm falling in love with you." Uppity awwed and turned away. "Tell my brother that I will not be attending your wedding, and that my decision is final." Fatchitaz stared blankly, her dumb smile never once leaving her face. For a moment, it was almost like she finally registered that her request had been denied, but the next words that left her mouth destroyed any hope the stallion had. "I'll just let you think on it until the end of the wedding." She pushed her ways past a few of the nobles, but instead of walking out the door, found a place closest to the front and stood as if she was a regular attendant of the wedding. However, the mare and two stallions who's spots she'd taken contested her new position and continually tried to push her out into the aisle to regain their rightful places, only to have Fatchitaz push them back again. Sin watched with growing interest as the shoving match grew in both intensity and physical aggression. 'And so it begins...' They'd been walking for what had to have been at least an hour, yet still there wasn't a single trace of sunlight. Spike was beginning to wonder if Shade had any idea where they were going at all, but knew better than to ask any questions. The dragon was all too aware of just how volatile and bi polar the night pony was, and simply asking a question could make him abandon anything he was doing. "So, you were placed down here two days ago, by that impostor who's actually a Changeling?" Twilight asked, stunned by the story she was being told. Cadance nodded. "Shining was so worried about Valiar's absence. He was continually blaming himself, thinking the colt had died. When I'd gotten that letter stating that he was in the hospital, I wanted to get there before Shining did to make sure he was in a condition that wouldn't send my Shining into a mental break down. When I'd turned down one of the alley streets to get there more quickly, that's when a bunch of seemingly normal ponies attacked me. Next thing I knew, I was down here with Chrysalis draining me of my love magic." Spike was absolutely shock at the deplorable scheme this "Chrysalis" concocted. Not just about using a pony Shining cared about against him, but that she'd be so callous about leaving Cadance down here for dead. According to the alicorn, the changelings fed off of love, and planned to use the love that all of Equestria held to feed her brood. Shade stopped walking looking up and off to the distance. "What the buck?" "What, what is it?" Twilight asked, her voice full of anticipation. Her eyes followed his to a bright light that spilled in through the darkness, bathing a small part of the cave in light. "An exit! Cadance, we're almost out!" The pink pony smiled and unfurled her wings, pulled Twilight on her back and began her quick assent to the crevice. "Well, not the way I came in, but I guess it'll do." Shade shrugged before picking up Spike and giving chase to the other two. The drake breathed a sigh of relief, they were going to make it! They were going to stop Shining from marrying the wrong mare and save Equestria! Just as they were about to make contact with the opening, a bolt of teal shot past, missing Twilight by mere inches, and clipping one of Cadance's wings. The blow was enough to set the alicorn's flight off track and send them spiraling to a small cliff side. Spike urged Shade to follow them. "What in the world?" Twilight asked as Spike landed. Her eyes bulged as three unicorns skulked forth from the shadows, their eyes glowing green and smiles twisted in evil grins. "You're not going anywhere." They all said in unison, their synchronized advance pushing the weakened alicorn back. "We don't have time for this." Cadance groaned, her face lit up and she turned back to her companions. "Shade, what was it you were talking about before? The foal factory?" The mention stallion quirked a brow and nodded. "They work there! They can take you to it!" Spike's eyes widened, what had she just done? In a flash, Shade tackled all three of the mares, neutralizing any threat they may have posed. Using the last bits of magic, Cadance picked up both Twilight and Spike and made straight for the entry way, knowing that her escape was covered. "Good afternoon, laydies." Shade smirked as he watched the unicorns stand back up. "Word has it you know where the foal factory is, and I want to go there. So, if you just tell me-" THWAK! Shade's eyes hot wide as a stinging sensation burned through his cheek, curtisy of the teal mare upfront. Taking a breath, the bat pony turned his head back to them, slowly forming a grin. "Did you just slap me?" No answer, only another synchronized step forward. Shade felt his muscles twitch with anticipation. "I don't think you know who I am, but you gone leARN TODAY, BOY!" The wedding would start soon, more guards were being brought in to replace the six unicorns it took to sweep up Fatchitaz and throw her out of the hall. Sin was kinda disappointed, during the struggle, she'd managed to knock over two banners, elect a few gasps and an order from Celestia, but nothing more than that. Sick as it may have been, he was kinda looking forward to how she managed to ruin the wedding. Looks like Uppity had this bet in the bag. The doors burst open, drawing everyone's attention to the front. Cadance walked down the velvet carpet to the alter. "Oh doesn't she look beautiful, Sin?" Uppity swooned, The stallion grunted ambiguously. "Oh come on, coming up to stay with me for a week isn't that bad, is it?" "No, I just don't like losing bets is all." He whispered back. Of course, being anywhere near this many ponies wasn't his cup of tea, maybe he could just hide out in her apartment the whole time. "Princess Cadance and Shining Armor" Celestia bellowed. "It is my great pleasure to pronounce you-" "STOOOOOOP!" A faint hope shot through him at the interruption. The crowed looked at the door to find Twilight Sparkle standing in contest of the wedding, declaring that the mare at the alter wasn't the real Cadance. Sin quirked a brow, this was going to be interesting. Suddenly another pony entered the room, one that sent the entire hall into an uproar of confused mummers. "This isn't your special day! It's mine!" Declared a second Cadance. 'Wait, what?' The bride Cadance demanded an explanation as to how she'd gotten away from something or another, to which Shade's name was mentioned. Applejack asked what was going on, which promoted the second Cadance to accuse the first of being a changeling, bent on impersonating a pony who is loved and feeding off of that love. 'Wait, did she say changeling?" Sin looked back to find the first alicorn engulfed in a pillar of bright green magical fire, her form lengthening and coat turning a midnight shade of black. Her once pristine pink and golden curls straightened into dark green, matted locks that clung down her carapace ridden face. Anything once beautiful about the mare was gone, replace with a hideous insectoid that put the entire crowd on edge. 'Yep, she's a changeling.' As if to show her power in confidence, the changeling queen, as she called herself, descended the stairs with nary a shred of concern. Her green eyes looking all around the room as she gave undue exposition to her plan through a seductive, but double toned, almost animatronic voice. "Equestria has more love than anywhere else I've ever encountered..." Sin looked at the guards up front who stood aghast at the changeling queen. All sixteen of them made no motion to stop her, despite the fact she was alone. "... that we will gain more power than...." 'Sooo, is anyone going to... you know, stop this? I mean, she's kinda interrupted a pretty big event here.' Yea, you know, I would, but I've got a bet to win. It wasn't over yet, there was still opportunity for running, screaming and crying. "...Shining Armor's shield will keep them from ever even..." 'Wow dude, you're seriously going to let this drag on because of a stupid bet?' Well yea, you know how much I hate to lose. Besides, it's the royal guard's job to stop this kind of thing, right? Who am I to go and interfere with it? 'Say's the guy who releases falsely accused prisoners.' Cadance charged forward, only to have the changeling queen stop her advance. 'Fucking seriously? Nobody is going to do anything about this right now? You're all just going to stand there as an invader comes in, explains her plan, and eventually sicks her brood on you? Are you kidding me right now? Do you have a bet going on with them too, or something?' No, but right now, I kinda wish I had. "... I've been feeding off Shining Armor's love..." 'Sweet Miliki, is she still talking? C'mon you guys, there's like, seventy of you Equestrians out there! Just bull rush her, or capture her in a magical shield, or.. something, anything! Why are you all just standing there like slack jawed idiots?!' "even now, my minions are chipping away at..." Sin smirked as his inner critic quickly became frantic with the situation. It begged him to go into action, that there was absolutely no reason that someone shouldn't have done something by now. Sin speculated that it might be out of fear that nobody intervened. 'Dude, the numbers are there! The ponies have the power to end this right now. Even if it was just the unicorns, with Twilight, Cadance and Celestia, they could all easily over power her... I'm just saying that the fact her speech has gone on this long is astounding.' Yea, and it doesn't seem like she's running out of steam either. "...be my husband but he's under..." 'Sooo, about that whole charging forward and stopping her thing? Anyone? Anyone at all? Royal guards? No? Just going to stand there like a bunch of piss ants? Alright, umm, how about Twilight and Cadance? No? Okay. Sin, you going to do anything, buddy? Is there screaming, running and crying yet? No? Than I don't plan on lifting a damn hoof until there is. "Soon, my changeling army will..." 'Okay, okay, you know something? I don't even care anymore.' Really? Because you seem kinda upset. 'Me? No, no, no. I mean, Celestia's right here, she's right. Freaking. There! All she would need to do is lower her horn and bam! Right on the back of Chrysalis' neck and it's over and done with. It wouldn't even be hard! But she's just standing there and letting this bitch continue touting her plan. So, you know what? If she doesn't care, than why should I?' "No." Sin's attention was directed to Celestia, who stepped forward, someone willing to FINALLY challenge this nonsense. "You may have made it impossible for Shining Armor to preform his spell, but now that you have so foolishly revealed your true self-" She pressed her horn against Chrysalis's -for some reason- before jumping back into the air. "I can protect my subjects from you!" Celestia tilted her head slightly, a brilliant beam of light descending down onto the changeling queen below. Chrysalis reacted instantly, shooting her own spell of sickly green magic to intercept the solar alicorn's. Finally! Celestia was finally taking charge and defending her subjects herself instead of sending Twilight and her friends to do her fighting for her. Sin's anticipation died as quickly as it came, though. In a matter of mere seconds, the power struggle between the colliding magicks ended with the solar alicorn falling to the ground, her crown appropriately scattering across the floor. Twilight called out to her as she and her friends abandoned their stupor to see to their fallen hero. 'Wow...The one freaking time you decide to step up, and you fail. Freaking useless.' Suddenly, everyone in the wedding hall finally found their will to move and began running and screaming to the entrance, eager to escape the cackling changling queen whom promised the consumption of their most treasured emotion. 'Oh yea, okay. NOW you suddenly figure out that you can move! That would have been a lot more useful thirty seconds ago!' Through all of the chaos and panic, Sin feeling Uppity pulling on his foreleg, refused to move. He just stood and smiled at scene around him, watching as the Canterlot nobles fled, cried, and shouted for those in front to move out of the way. "Sin! What are you waiting for?" Uppity demanded, trying to use her magic to get him to move. The stallion then turned to her, his smug, shit eating grin more than enough to answer her question as to his stationary positioning. Her pink eyes shooting wide, the orange unicorn released her grip and pointed a hoof. "Noooo. No, this doesn't count!" Sin didn't reply, he simply stood with a posture that would put Prince Blueblood to shame. "No, no, no! Stop smiling like that! The bet was that what's her name would do it!" She pointed to Chrysalis. "As we can clearly see, this was the work of that monster over there." The room was quiet now, the Federalist's smile slowly disappearing as he remembered the exact terms of the bet. "Son of a bitch."