"Your brother's getting married? Congratulations, Twilight! That's great news!" Applejack said to the purple unicorn.
"Yeah, great news. That I just got from a wedding invitation! Not from my brother, but from a piece of paper! Thanks a lot, Shining Armor. I mean, really, he couldn't tell me personally?" Twilight said angrily.
"Hey, Twilight, just thought you should know I'm making a really big decision that changes everything. Oh, never mind, you'll hear about it when you get the invitation." Twilight said mimicking her brother's voice, in a mocking tone.
"You know what, I'm with you on that one Twilight. What kind of asshole doesn't his own family that he's getting married."
"Princess Mi Amore Cadenza? Who in the hoof is that?!" Twilight vented, letting out an irritated snort.
"Um, Twilight? Are you okay?" Fluttershy cautiously asked the purple unicorn.
"Sorry, it's just that Shining Armor and I have always been so close. He's my B.B.B.F.F!" Twilight said to her friends, apologizing for her previous behavior.
There was a brief pause as her friends recoiled at Twilight's strange phrase, B.B.B.F.F.
"Big Brother Best Friend Forever?" Twilight said explaining what her phrase actually meant.
"Ohhh!" All of Twilight's friends said at once.
"Before I came here and learned the importance of friendship, Shining Armor was the only pony I ever really accepted as a friend." Twilight said as she began to break out into song.
"When I was just a filly, I found it rather silly
To see how many other ponies I could meet
I had my books to read, didn't know that I would ever need
Other ponies to make my life complete
But there was one colt that I cared for
I knew he would be there for me
My big brother, best friend forever!
Like two peas in a pod, we did everything together
He taught me how to fly a kite (Best friend forever!)
We never had a single fight (We did everything together!)
We shared our hopes, we shared our dreams
I miss him more than I realized
It seems..." Twilight sang as moments from fillyhood flashed through her mind.
"Your big brother, best friend forever Like two peas in a pod, you did everything together..." Twilight's friends all sang in unision.
"And though he's, oh, so far away I hoped that he would stay My big brother best friend Forever... Forever..." Twilight sang as one of the clouds magically transformed into a image of her brother and herself playing with a ball made of clouds. The ball being pushed, along with the image of her brother, toward Canterlot. Which had a pink shield over it.
"As one of your P.F.F.'s..." Applejack said to the purple unicorn, using her own strange acronym. There was another strange pause, as her friend's didn't know the meaning of Applejack's strange phrase.
"Pony Friends Forever..." Applejack said to her friends.
"Ohhh!" All of her friend's said in unision.
"...I wanna tell you that I think your brother sounds like a real good guy." Applejack said to Twilight, trying to cheer her up.
"He is pretty special. I mean, they don't let just anypony be captain of the Royal Guard." Twilight said, sitting on the picnic blanket, looking up at the clouds.
"So let me get this straight. We're helping out with the wedding of not only a princess, but acaptain of the Royal Guard?" Rarity said as she flopped to the ground.
"I guess we are." Twilight said still suspicious as to why her brother hadn't told her about getting married.
Over in the Dragon Empire, King Steelclaw was getting a visit from a guest that had been waiting to see all week long.
His guest warped out of the shadows, arriving inside the large throne that was hidden inside the dormant volcano that the dragon's used as the bases for their capital city.
Steelclaw was getting the last pieces of his steel battle armor on his body the changeling warped out of the shadows.
"It appears that you have a guest your majesty." One of Steelclaw's advisors said, noticing the green-eyed changeling.
"Thank you, that will be all." Steelclaw said to all of the other dragons in the large room. The other dragons followed their King's command and left the room. Leaving the changeling and the King of the Dragons alone.
"So, what reason do I have, for giving me this pleasure for your presence." Steelclaw said to the changeling, walking down from his jewel encrusted golden throne.
"My name is Zulu, I am the leader of the prestigious Shadow Hive of my Queen, your majesty." Zulu said giving a slight bow to the King of all the Dragons, as he continued. "I have come to inform you that the mane part of my Queen's plan is about to commence, and I am under orders from my Queen herself to check on if you have kept your word on your part of the plan." Zulu said to Steelclaw, ready to fight if it was absolutely necessary.
"Follow me Zulu, and you will see the great army that I have built." Steelclaw said to the changeling, and he lead him through the many tunnels that cut through the dormant volcano. The sounds of clanging steel echoing throughout the tunnels.
The Mane Six and Spike were now on a train going to Canterlot for Shining Armor's wedding.
"A sonic rainboom? At a wedding?! Can you say "best wedding ever"?!" Rainbow called excitedly.
"Best wedding ever!" Pinkie's voice echoed, as their train passed through a tunnel.
"So you all get to help with the big fancy wedding, but I'm the one who gets to host the bachelor party! I have just one question. What's a bachelor party?" Spike said not knowing what a bachelor party actually was.
"I'm sorry Spike, I can't tell you this is a kid show."
All of the ponies, excluding Twilight, broke out into laughter at the dragon's comment as they neared Canterlot.
"Why the long face, sugarcube?" Applejack asked the depressed unicorn, who was staring out of one of the windows of the train.
"I'm just thinking about Shining Armor. Ever since I moved to Ponyville, we've been seeing each other less and less. And now that he's starting a new family with this "Princess Mi Amore Ca-whatshername", we'll probably never see each other." Twilight said to Applejack.
"Come on, now. You're his sister. He'll always make time for you." Applejack said the depressed unicorn, doing her best to cheer her up. To prevail.
"Couldn't seem to make time to tell me he was getting married." Twilight said to the cowpony, and an awkward silence fell upon the train car as the six ponies and one dragon neared Canterlot.
"We're here, we're here!" Pinkie said excitedly as the train was at the city limits of Canterlot.
The train then passed through the pink bubble shield that surrounded the city. The barrier passing through the interior of the train. A strange magic surge passing through the ponies' bodies.
As the train arrived at the station at Canterlot the six ponies exited the train to see that the station was surrounded by royal guards.
"Whoa, what's with all the guards?" Rainbow said, taking notice of the presence of all the guards.
"I'm sure they're just taking the necessary precautions. Royal weddings do bring out the strangest ponies." Rarity said as the white unicorn exited the train.
"Aaaaaaaaa" Pinkie sneezed like a trumpet, confetti coming out her nose. Making the white unicorn rolls her eyes at the pink pony's actions, that seemed to have no logic to them what's so ever.
"Now, let's get going! We've got work to do!" Rarity said to her friends.
"And you've got a big brother to go congratulate." Applejack said to Twilight, who was still mad at her brother.
"Yeah. Congratulate." Twilight said sarcastically as she trotted off, passing two guards that were guarding the train station.
"And then give him a piece of my mind." Twilight mumbled to herself as she passed the two guards. The two guards sharing a look of concern from the unicorn's words.
Back in the Dragon Empire, Zulu was following King Steelclaw throughout the many tunnels and caves that were carved into the dormant volcano that the dragon's used as their capital city. The only lighting in the caves coming from torches placed every hundred feet or so. Although Zulu liked the shadow, as they were his mane mode of transportation. He still couldn't stop himself, but have a slight hint of fear forming inside of him, as he didn't know if Steelclaw was going to lead him into a trap.
It didn't take long for Zulu realize that the King of the Dragons was in fact leading him upwards, toward the mouth of the cave network. As the dragon and the changeling neared the entrance of the caves, they both heard the roars of, at least to Zulu, ten thousand armored dragons.
As the two reached the top Zulu had to shield his eyes as the hot sun burned down. Changelings, partially Shadow Hive changelings, not that fond of sunlight. As Zulu's blank eyes readjusted to the sunlight. He noticed the ten-twenty thousand dragons standing in front of him. Each and everyone of them clade in full steel body, and carrying at least two weapons of war. Their weapons attached to either a small pocket underneath their wings, or strapped to their backs.
Zulu couldn't stop his mouth from falling wide open at the sight. Even the army that his Queen had amassed was nowhere near the size, or as well armored as the dragon army that was currently standing at action in front of him.
"Is that enough troops for you, and your queen." Steelclaw said to the shocked changeling. Zulu only nodding dumbly in response. "Excellent, now would you be so kind as to leave my Empire. I don't want any losses in this fight other than my own." Steelclaw said to Zulu, who simply nodded in response, as he retreated back into the safety of the shadows.
Steelclaw couldn't stop a pleased grin that escape his mouth, his white dagger-like teeth shining in the sunlight as he did. He then turned to address the massive army of fire, scales, and steel that he had amassed.
Back in Canterlot, Shining Armor, a white unicorn stallion, who was clad in the golden armor of Royal Guards, was addressing the soldiers under his command of their duties to defend the city. All of them unaware that their captain's fiance was in fact the Queen of the Changelings in disguise. Yet alone the massive dragon army that had assembled in the heart of the Dragon Empire.
"I've got something to say to you, mister!" Twilight called up to her older brother. The guards on the baloney of the castle readying their spears, believing that the purple unicorn was a treat to their commanding officer.
"Twily!" Shining Armor said recognizing his little sister. He then took of his golden helmet, putting the his fellow guards at ease, and ran down to his little sister. This being the first time the two of them had seen each other since the Grand Galloping Gala.
"Ah, I've missed, you, kid. How was the train ride? I..." Shining began talking to his little sister, only for Twilight to interrupt him, still mad at him.
"How dare you not tell me in person that you were getting married! I'm your sister, for pony's sake!" Twilight said angrily at her big brother, poking him in the chest with her foreleg.
"It's not my fault! Princess Celestia has requested a major increase in security. Didn't you see all the guards at the train station?" Shining Armor said to his little sister, doing his best to calm her down.
"Yeah, there's a big wedding coming up. Maybe you heard about it?" Twilight said, misinterpreting her brother's meaning.
"It has nothing to do with the wedding. A threat has been made against Canterlot. We don't know who's responsible for it, but Princess Celestia asked that I help provide additional protection. This, you need to see." Shining Armor said to his sister.
He then fired a magenta beam from his horn into the air. The beam hitting the bubble-like shield that covered the city, strengthening it. After Shining Armor finished his spell he nodded his head as he was hit with a massive headache, something that he had been hit with ever since he began his shield spell over Canterlot.
"The burden of keeping Canterlot safe and secure rests squarely on my shoulders. Staying focused on the task at hand has been my top priority." Shining Armor said to his little, Twilight finally realizing the true reasons for her brother's absence.
"Okay, okay, I get it. You've got a really important job protecting all of Canterlot with a force field only you can conjure up." Twilight said to her brother, staring up at the bubble shield he created.
"But seriously. You have one God, no two, make that three Gods in the city and none of them are capable of holding up a shield. While I guess plot convenience is magic."
Anyway back to the story.
"But still... how could you not tell me about something as big as your wedding? Am I not that important to you any more?" Twilight said to her brother, looking down at her hooves.
"Hey, you're my little sister. Of course you're important to me." Shining said, giving his little sister a small hug. "But I'd understand if you didn't want to be my best mare now." Shining said pulling away from the hug, a shy smirk across his face.
"You want me to be your best mare?" Twilight asked her big brother, her eyes widening at his words.
"Well... yeah." Shining said to his little sister, his white cheeks slightly blushing.
"I'd be honored! But I'm still pretty ticked you're marrying somepony I don't even know! When did you even meet this 'Princess Mi Amore Cadenza'?" Twilight said to Shining Armor, not knowing that she had already met the mare that he was about to marry.
"Twily, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza is Cadence, your old foalsitter." Shining said to Twilight, not able to stop a small chuckle coming from his mouth.
"Cadence? As in the Cadence? As in the greatest foalsitter in all the history of foalsitters?!" Twilight said excitedly, realizing who her brother was marrying.
"Such a great foalsitter. I didn't bother to learn what her full name was."
"You tell me. She was your foalsitter." Shining Armor said, letting out a light chuckle.
"Ohmygoshohmygosh! Cadence is only the most amazing pony ever! She's beautiful, she's caring, she's kind..." Twilight said as a memory from her past coming rushing into her head.
"I am so lucky to have you as my foalsitter!" A younger version of Twilight, about six or seven, said to a younger version of Cadence, in her mid to late teens. Who was pushing her in a swing.
"I'm the one who's lucky, Twilight." Cadence said to the young foal.
"You're a princess. I'm just a regular old unicorn." Twilight said to her foalsitter, not knowing of the later irony in her words.
"You are anything but a regular old unicorn." Cadence said to Twilight, picking up from the swing.
"Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!" Twilight and Cadence both said at the same time, doing their special hoof shake. As another memory from Twilight's past of Cadence flashed before her eyes.
Twilight and Cadence were wondering through Canterlot, when they heard a couple arguing.
"I am going for a hooficure and that is that!" A amber colored pegasus said to her boyfriend/husband.
"You are not going..." A light gray earth pony said back, only to be interrupted by the pegasus.
"I am! I am!" The pegasus responded back, as the two ponies continued to argue.
"I've already paid for three this month!" The gray earth said back, as Cadence's horn glew her blue magic aura, a small magical heart coming out of it.
"I... no! My marefriends are all getting their hooves done! And you said that onl..." The amber pegasus continued to argue, as the small heart floated over to the arguing couple.
"Please, we've done this at least..." The gray earth pony began to argue, only to stop when the heart hit the two ponies, feeling the both of them with the unmatched love magic from Cadence.
"How many unicorns can just spread love wherever they go? I only know of one! And you're marrying her!" Twilight said her thoughts returning to that of the present.
"You're marrying Cadence! You're marrying Cadance!" Twilight said in a sing-along voice as she hopped around her brother in a circle.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything important." Cadence said walking in on the brother and sister.
"Cadence! Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!" Twilight said to her former foalsitter, beginning ther normal special hoof shake.
"What are you doing?" Cadence, who was really Queen Chrysalis in disguise, said to the purple unicorn. Giving her a look that said ' you are one strange little pony'.
"Cadence, it's me, Twilight!" Twilight said to the pink alicorn, making her blink in confusion.
"Note to self. I have seem to fail to subject's little sister. Who seems to know of the form I have taken, this could prove problematic. I dispose of her before she can discover our true identity." Chrysalis thought to herself, still able to keep herself in character, sort of.
"Uh-huh." The disguised changeling said to Twilight disinterested. The purple taken aback by the pink alicorn's actions.
"I've gotta get back to my station, but Cadance will be checking in with all of you to see how things are going. I think I speak for both of us when I say we couldn't be more excited to have you here. Right, dear?" Shining Armor said, taking who he thought was his fiance in his arms.
"Absolutely." Cadence said, a devilish grin appearing on her face. Twilight taking a step back from the alicorn's strange display.
"Well, we'll let you get to it." Shining said as he left the two ponies, heading back to his post. As another army prepared to attack over a one thousand miles away.
Back in the Dragon Empire, Theta and his brother Sigma were both lined up almost in the exact middle of the dragon army that was going to invade Equestria, as their King began to address his troops
"Sigma... do you really think that this a..." Theta began to whisper to his brother, only for Sigma to interrupt him.
"Shh Theta... he's about to start." Sigma said as Steelclaw began his speech. Theta reverting his eyes toward the volcanic rock ground.
"My dear brothers in scales and steel. It is my pleasure to lead you all in the greatest battle in this once great Empire's long history." Steelclaw called out to his giant army. The armored dragons erupting into a loud roar in agreeance.
"Today we all get want and what we all deserve, respect!" Steelclaw roared, him no pacing back and forth in front of his army. The dragons in the front rows of the army now on their hind legs, roaring even louder than before.
"Today we will show all of those pesty ponies of Equestria, who are the real bosses around these parts. Today will march onto Equestria and reclaim the land that we once held." Steelclaw said, talking about the almost five hundred years that dragons ruled over the land would later become Equestria.
"Now all of my loyal subjects, move out and bring Equestria to its knees." Steelclaw called out to his troops. Each row then made a complete turn as they began to start marching toward the burning sun. The very thing that Celestia commands now being the thing that leads her enemies for her destruction.
In another part of the castle Twilight was helping Applejack get all of the food for the Shining Armor and Princess Cadence's wedding.
"Cake..." Applejack said putting the final touches on a large multilayered wedding cake.
"check." Twilight said robotically, putting a checkmark on a notebook. More focused on the strange behavior by Cadence. As Applejack ran across the kitchen in front of her.
"Ice sculpture..." Applejack said, finishing a large ice sculpture that looked like a large heart made of ice.
"check." Twilight said in the same robotic monotone.
"Best darn bite-size apple fritter you ever tasted..." Applejack said quickly, placing a small cupcake-like treat in Twilight's mouth.
"Mmm. Check." Twilight said, the treat taking her mind off the strange behavior of her former foalsitter.
"I do. Do you?" Spike said in a deep voice imitating Shining Armor's voice, as he played with the two dolls of the couple. "I do!" Spike said now imitating Cadence's. He then made the dolls kissing, making his kissing sounds to go along with the action. Twilight then trotted over to him, taking the two dolls with her magic and placing them on the counter of the kitchen. Spike laughed nervously at the purple unicorn, who was spending him a glare, afterwards.
"Damn it Spike, go play with the ones that don't go on the cake."
Not long afterwards Cadence walked into the kitchen, all of the ponies present, excluding Twilight, bowing to her.
"Hiya, Princess!" Applejack said, greeting the princess as she entered the kitchen.
"Please, call me Princess Mi Amore Cadenza." Chrysalis disguised as the pink alicorn said, her earning a death glare from the purple unicorn.
"Hiya, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. You come to check out what's on the menu for your big day?" Applejack greeted the pony she thought was the Princess of Love.
"I have!" Cadence said, faking a smile. Only for her face to drop when the orange earth turned her back. Twilight watching the pink alicorn's every moment. Her suspicions of her growing every second.
"Delicious! I love-love-love them." Cadence said after eating one of the apple fritters, as she laughed nervously. Actually not likely the treat, as most changeling cannot eat solid food.
"Aw, shucks. Why don't you take a few to go? I know how you brides can be. So busy, you forget to get a little somethin' in your belly." Applejack said either not noticing the pink alicorn's lie, or just not caring.
Applejack than gave Cadence a brown bag filled with five other apple fritters. Cadence took the brown bag with her green magic, the only part of her changeling form that stayed the same.
She then threw the bag in a metal trash can on her way out. The brown bag hitting the bottom of the trash can with a loud thud.
This action made Twilight gasp at her former foulsitter's out of character behavior. The door to the kitchen magically closing behind the pink alicorn.
"Oh, you should have seen how she acted back there. I don't know when she changed, but she changed!" Twilight vented at Rarity, as the white unicorn worked on the princess' wedding dress. Rarity only half listening to the purple unicorn.
"Please, call me Princess Mi Amore Cadenza." Twilight said imitating Cadence's voice, and at that exact moment the pink alicorn entered the room.
"Did I hear someone say my name?" Cadence said, taking Twilight a little off guard, sending the pink a death glare. A glare that the disguised changeling took as a sign that her plan was working. The disguised changeling's three bridesmaids closely behind.
"Your highness! Let me just start by saying what an honor it is to play a role in such a momentous occasion." Rarity said to the pink alicorn, bowing to her. This was then followed by a round of nervous laughter, as Cadence stared down at her with a blank look on her face.
"Uh-huh." Cadence said enthusiastically, trotting passed the white unicorn. "Is my dress ready?" Cadence said in a commanding tone, earning her another death glare from Twilight.
"Yes, of course. Um, I've been working on it ever since I was given the assignment, and I think you'll be pleased with the results!" Rarity stammered, showing the pink alicorn her dress.
"I was hoping for something with more beading and a longer train." Cadence said to Rarity, as she thought to herself. "It needs to 20% eviler."
"Oh, yes, of course." Rarity said writing down a few notes on a small notebook.
"And those should be a different color." Cadence said, talking about her bridesmaids dresses.
"I think they're lovely." Twinkleshine said
"Me too!" Minuette added.
"I love them." Lyra said, making the pink alicorn shoot glare their way. Despite putting them under her mind control she still allowed them to speak freely, as a way to avoid any suspicion. She was starting to regret that decision.
"Make them a different color." Cadence said, before she stormed out of the room, her three unicorn in tow.
"Gee, maybe her name should be "Princess Demandy-pants." Twilight said more to herself after the pink alicorn stormed out. Catching Rarity's attention for about a second before returning to her task.
In the mane ballroom of the castle, Cadence was checking over the planning of the reception with Pinkie Pie.
"Okay, let me see. We've been over the games..." Pinkie said, as she rattled dice on a board game.
"...the dances..." Pinkie said as she did a strange dance.
"I think this reception is gonna be perfect! Don't you?" Pinkie gasped.
"Perfect!..." Cadence said sarcastically, before continuing. "If we were celebrating a six-year-old's birthday party." Cadence said in a deadpanned nature.
"Thank you!" Pinkie gasped, not registering that the pink alicorn had just insulted her.
As night fell across Equestria, Luna switched duties with her sister of watching over Equestria for the night. She used a telescope to look out across the countryside, but the one thing that not even her telescope could see was the massive dragon army that had formed at the snow capped mountain ridge that marked the border between Equestria and the Dragon.
One top of one of the snow capped peaks there was a large tent that worked as the headquarters for Steelclaw and his top lieutenants, four of them to be exact. Two of those being the wingless twins Theta and Sigma.
"Aren't we going to attack Equestria tonight, when all the guards are asleep." One Steelclaw's lieutenants, a dark blue dragon slightly smaller than Steelclaw clade in the same steel armor that every other dragon was wearing, asked his King.
"No. As much as I would like to take the tactical advantage of the darkness. We must wait until we get the go ahead for attack from our allies." Steelclaw said to the blue dragon, the only other dragons knowing of who the secret allies of the dragons, being Theta and Sigma respectively.
"Theta, Sigma I want you two, to be our lookouts for the night. Alerts me if you notice any moment of the ponies and their forces immediately." Steelclaw ordered at the two twins.
"Yes your majesty." Sigma said saluting his King, leaving the tent without further questions. Theta stayed their standing there for a few seconds before he followed his brother out of the tent. An uncountable amount of questions still circling around in his head.
"Bet I can guess what you're all thinking. Cadance is the absolute worst bride-to-be ever." Twilight said to her friends, who were all gathered around a large table. Just outside of a popular restaurant in the city. All of her friends shared a look of confusion, not noticing any behavior that was out of the ordinary
"Who, me?" Spike said imitating the pink alicorn's voice, while holding up the doll that looked like her.
"Spike! That goes on the cake." Applejack scolded the purple dragon, making him laugh nervously.
"Twilight, whatever are you talking about? Cadence is an absolute gem!" Rarity said to Twilight, leaving the unicorn almost speechless.
"Rarity, she was so demanding!" Twilight said back, surprised that the white unicorn was taking Cadence's side.
"Well, of course she is! Why shouldn't she expect the very best on her wedding day?" Rarity said to the frustrated unicorn, rolling her eyes a little bit.
"Applejack, did you know that after she told you how much she just 'love-love-loved' your hors d'oeuvres, she threw them in the trash?" Twilight said, changing tactics.
"Aw, she was probably just trying to spare my feelin's." Applejack said, waving off (literally) the action by Cadence.
"No, she was just being fake and totally insincere!" Twilight said her frustration toward Cadence beginning beginning to be directed at her friends by accident.
"Oh, come on Twilight, you grew up in the richest city in the world, and you never heard of a Bridezilla before."
"She did raise her voice at one of my birds during rehearsal." Fluttershy said in a near whisper.
"See? Rude!" Twilight exclaimed, no getting confirmation from one of her friends.
"But he was singing really off-key." Fluttershy said, holding up a red bird. That then began to sing, if can even call it that, terribly off key. Forcing the six ponies, and one dragon, to cover their ears.
"Pinkie Pie, you had to have noticed how Cadance treated..." Twilight began to say to the pink earth pony. Only to stop when she saw Pinkie and Spike playing with the two dolls of Cadence and Shining Armor. Giggling to themselves as they made they made the two dolls kiss, them creating their own kissing sounds to go along with it.
"Never mind. Rainbow Dash, you're with me, right?" Twilight said shifting her attention to the cyan pegasus.
"Sorry, Twi. Been too busy prepping for my sonic rainboom to pay much attention to the bride's bad attitude." Rainbow said stretching out her feathered wings. Making the purple unicorn growl in response.
"The princess is about to get married. I'm sure any negative behavior she might be displaying is simply the result of nerves." Rarity said to the purple unicorn, doing her best to calm her down.
"And I'm sure it's the result of being an awful pony who doesn't deserve to even know Shining Armor, let alone marry him!" Twilight shouted, slamming her drink on the wooden table.
"Think maybe you're bein' just a tiny bit possessive of your brother?" Applejack asked Twilight, the rest of her friend's all "Uh-huh"ing in agreeance.
"I am not being possessive, and I am not taking it out on Cadance! You're all just too caught up in your wedding planning to notice that maybe there shouldn't even be a wedding!" Twilight shouted, slamming her hoof on the table, making all of the drinks fly off the table. As she stormed off, leaving her friends utterly speechless.
Back on the border between Equestria and the Dragon Empire. Theta and his brother Sigma arrived at the location on the rocky mountains that gave them a perfect view of the Equestrian camp.
Theta and Sigma took turns looking down a single pair of binoculars, taking some delight the incompetence that the two witnessed.
"Hey Sig, you got see this." Theta said handing his brother the single pair of binoculars.
"Ok, what am I looking at?" Sigma asked his brother, taking the binoculars from him.
"Look at the east side of the camp." Theta said, pointing one his claws in the direction he was speaking about.
Sigma couldn't stop himself from laughing at the sight. What he look at through the binoculars was two unicorn ponies, one a lighter tone of blue than the other, arguing at each other.
The two dragons were too far away to know exactly what they were saying, but the facial expressions of the light toned blue unicorn made them know that he wasn't to pleased at the dark toned blue unicorn. The dark blue unicorn looking down at his hooves, as the light blue unicorn ranted at him. The thing that made it funny that every time that the light blue unicorn would finish talking to the blue unicorn, the blue unicorn would began talking to him again, only to say something that would piss the light blue off again.
By the end the light blue one just gave up and mouth to him. "You know what I bucking hate you." Only for the blue one to mouth back "Hey, I love you to." Only making the lighter blue one roll his eyes and trot off.
"Theta, you find way to much enjoyment in this, don't you?" Sigma asked his little brother by five minutes. Making his brother slightly blush in embarrassment. This making Sigma chuckle to himself.
The two brothers then went back to spying on the ponies that guarded, if you can even call it that, enjoying every second of it.
"Twily!" Shining Armor, dressed in his formal captain's uniform, said opening his house door to see his little standing in front of it. "Your big brother's looking pretty good, don't you think?" Shining Armor continued as the purple unicorn entered his house. "Huh. Everything okay?" Shining Armor said, noticing the distressed look on Twilight's face.
"We need to talk. I think you're making a big..." Twilight began to say to her big brother, only to be interrupted by Cadence's clearly her throat.
"Oh, uh, hi, sweetie." Shining Armor said noticing his fiance at the top of the stairs.
"She sure has a way of sneaking up on people." Twilight grumbled to herself.
"Could I speak to you for a moment, dear?" Cadence said in a blunt tone of voice.
"Better see what she wants." Shining Armor said to Twilight, lightly nudging her in the shoulder. He then followed his future, or so he thought, into a small room. Closing the door behind him, but leaving in open enough for Twilight to see the couple in the room and her their conversation.
"Look, we need to talk." Twilight heard Cadence say to her older brother, her words slightly muffled by the partially closed door.
"I'm here to talk." Shining said back to his fiance.
"It's about your sister, okay?" Cadence said to Shining.
"I... look, look, she's okay." Shining Armor said back to his fiance.
"Just... listen to me."
"I'm listening, I'm listening."
"I thought I made it perfectly clear I didn't want you to wear that." Cadence said to Shining Armor, shifting the argument to Shining's clothing.
"This was my favorite uncle's." Shining said back to Cadence.
"And?"
"And I think I should wear it."
"Are you disagreeing with me?"
"I guess I am... Ah!" Shining Armor said to his fiance, as he was hit with a massive headache. As he collapsed to the ground.
"Oh, dear. Are you getting another one of your headaches?" Cadence said down to Shining Armor, as her horn glowed green as she shot him in the head with her magic. Twilight watched in horror as her brother eyes glazed over and turned the same green color as Cadence's magic.
"Feeling better?" Cadence asked Shining Armor, who nodded dumbly in response.
"She isn't just unpleasant and rude. She's downright evil!" Twilight exclaimed to herself in horror, as she ran out of the building, looking for her five other friends.
"Twilight!" Shining called out to his little sister, as she ran out of the of his house.
"Let her go." Cadence said to Shining Armor, a slight smirk appearing on her face. As her plan became close to becoming accomplished.
"Huh. It seemed like she had something else she wanted to tell me." Shining Armor said more to himself.
"Who goes there?" Luna called down to the ground when she heard movement, to see Twilight running across the court of the castle. "Stay indoors, Twilight Sparkle." Luna said down to the purple, who didn't seem to notice the princess' words.
"Shining Armor's in real trouble! You have to help.." Twilight said bursting into Rarity's room, to find her five friends all dressed in their respective dresses matching their personalities.
"Dresses? What are you...?" Twilight began to ask her friends, confused as to why they were all her friend's were wearing a dress.
"Can you believe it? We're gonna be Princess Mi Amore Cadenza's new bridesmaids!" Fluttershy said to the purple unicorn, doing her best to contain her excitement.
"New bridesmaids? What happened to her old bridesmaids?" Twilight said shocked.
"She didn't say. But she did tell us that she would love-love-love it if we'd fill in for them." Applejack said.
"Seeing as we've been working so hard and everything." Rarity said.
"And you had your doubts about her." Applejack added.
"Told you she was an absolute gem!" Rarity added, leaving the purple unicorn completely speechless.
"You sure this is what I should wear? Doesn't seem all that aerodynamic." Rainbow said to the white unicorn, not sure if her dress would be the best for creating a sonic rainboom.
"Hmm. I'll see what I can do." Rarity said to cyan pegasus, the two of the ponies trotted off. So that Rarity could make her last modifications to Rainbow's dress.
Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Applejack all exchanged in joyful laughter, as the dumbfounded Twilight left the room in the cool night air. He truly being alone.
"Looks like I really am on my own." Twilight thought to herself outloud.
Back on the mountainous border of Equestria and the Dragon Empire, the two wingless dragon twins were getting an unexpected visit from King Steelclaw himself. Steelclaw was at first confused when reached where the two dragons were using to spy on the pony forces, as he heard the two brother laughing.
"This there anything to report?" Steelclaw asked Theta and Sigma, taking the two dragons off guard. They both scrambled to their feet and saluted their King.
"No, nothing to report your majesty." Sigma said to Steelclaw.
"Are you sure, because it seems that are some delight in your work." Steelclaw said, making the two dragon gulped at his words.
"As far as we can tell it may be much easier than we had originally expected to overrun their defense, your majesty." Theta said to Steelclaw.
"And how is that?" Steelclaw asked the two dragons.
"See for yourself, your majesty." Theta said hanging his King the binoculars, and directly him in the direction of where two pony guards were.
"Indeed... you two return to camp. You'll both need your rest." Steelclaw said to the two dragons, happy at what he had just seen.
"What do you mean your majesty?" Theta asked Steelclaw, as their King turned to leave.
"We are invading in the morning, you will both need your strength for the battle that will follow in the morning." Steelclaw said to the two dragons, leaving no need for clarification.
Back in Canterlot, Princess Celestia was leading Shining Armor and Cadence in their wedding rehearsal.
"Perfect, girls. No need to rush." Celestia said as Cadences five new bridesmaids entered the hall were the wedding was going to be held. "Then of course, Cadence will enter." Celestia said as the double doors to the hallway opened revealing the pink alicorn. Shining Armor's eyes widening at the sight of his future bride.
Cadence then gracefully trotted up to the platform, standing next to her future husband.
"I'll say a few words, and then we'll begin with the vows. Shining Armor, you'll get the ring from your best mare." Celestia said explaining how the wedding would work.
"Do you?" Spike said imitating the voice of Shining Armor, still playing with the dolls of the couple. "I do!" Spike now imitating the voice of Cadence, as he threw the dolls of the couple behind him.
"Hey... has anypony seen Twilight?" Shining Armor said, taking note of the lack of his sister.
"I'm here!" Twilight called bursting through the doors. "I'm not gonna stand next to her! And neither should you!" Twilight called up to the young couple, making all the ponies cringe at the purple unicorn's words.
"Twilight, a dramatic entrance just doesn't work at the rehearsal."
"I'm sorry, I... I don't know why she's acting like this." Shining Armor said to Cadence, apologizing for his little sister's actions.
"Maybe we should just ignore her." The disguised changeling said, Twilight falling right into her hooves.
"You have to listen to me!" Twilight called up to the young couple.
"Oh goodness, are you alright?" Fluttershy asked the enrage unicorn.
"I'm fine." Twilight said to Fluttershy.
"Ya sure about that?" Applejack asked rather sarcastically, only adding to Twilight's anger. Using her magic to push the cowpony's hat in her face.
"I've got something to say! She's evil!" Twilight said, pointing her hoof at the pink alicorn. Shining Armor then stood protectively in front of Cadence, a look of anger and disgust on his face.
All the ponies present gasped in horror at Twilight's words.
"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 that made his eyes go all..." Twilight said, her eyes looking in random directions. As she backed the pink alicorn into a corner.
"Why are you doing this to me?!" As she began to cry from Twilight's words, as she began to run out of the room.
"Because you're evil!" Twilight called out to the crying alicorn as she ran out of the room.
"Evil! And if I don't stop you, you're gonna ruin my brother's life!" Twilight called out as she turned around, bumping into her older brother. An angry snorl on his face.
"You want to know why my eyes went all?" Shining Armor said mimicking the same eye moment that his sister big earlier, as he was it by another large migraines. "Nuh! Because ever since I started having to perform my protection spell, I've been getting terrible migraines. Cadence hasn't been casting spells on me. She's been using her magic to heal me!" Shining Armor said to his sister, her purple eyes beginning to tear up as she realized her mistakes.
Twilight began to open her mouth as she tried to respond, only for her brother to continue.
"And she decided 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...stomps his hooves... friends, it's because with me being so busy, she's had to make all the decisions about the wedding!" Shining Armor said as she continued to explain, at least to his knowledge, as to why Cadence was acting so differently.
"Seriously Twilight, bridezilla. Everypony else has heard of it."
"I was just trying to..." Twilight said up to her brother, doing best to apologize.
"She's been completely stressed out because it's really important to her that our big day be perfect! Something that obviously wasn't important to you!" Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go and comfort my bride. And 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 Armor said as she left the room, rejecting his little sister.
"C'mon, y'all. Let's go check on the princess." Applejack said, as the rest of her friends followed Shining Armor out of the room.
"I was..." Twilight began to say to her friends, her eyes tearing up as she began to comprehend just how badly she bucked up.
"You have a lot to think about." Celestia said to her star student, leaving Twilight completely speechless.
"Maybe I was being overprotective. I could've gained a sister. But instead... I just lost a brother." Twilight said as she laid up against the stairs that lead to the platoff of the room.
He was my big brother, best friend
"Forever...
And now, we'll never do anything
Together..." Twilight sang as a image of her playing with her brother appeared before her eyes.
The image was then smashed like glass by Cadence as she placed her pink hoof gently on the purple unicorn's head.
"I'm sorry!" Twilight apologized to the pink alicorn, her purple eyes filled with tears.
"You will be." Chrysalis said her eyes flashing back to their originally olive green color, as her horn erupted in her green magic. Twilight was then surrounded in a circle of green fire that transported down into the crystal caves of Canterlot. Chrysalis smirked to herself as the final part of her plan was about to commence.
"Zulu, where are you!" Chrysalis called out, now all by herself in the room where the wedding was going to be held. The carpet where Twilight was captured slightly burned.
The shadows of the room then warped into the form of the leader of the Shadow Hive changelings. "You summoned for me your majesty." Zulu said giving a slight bow to his disguised Queen.
"Drop the formalities Zulu. I need you to deliver a message." Chrysalis said to the bowing changeling, taking him a little off guard.
"Yes... yes of course... clears throat... what is it that you want message do you wish for me to send?" Zulu asked his Queen, a devilish smirk appearing on Chrysalis' muzzle.
"Tell King Steelclaw that he can now invade Equestria if deems it fit." Chrysalis said, leaving the changeling she was talking to dumbfounded. There was a few moments of awkward silence as Zulu tried to find his words.
"What is it Zulu, has a dragon caught your tongue." Chrysalis said mocking her most trusted lieutenant. Her words arguably even creepier, as she was still in the form of the Princess of Love.
"No, right away your majesty." Zulu said as she warped back into the shadows, leaving Chrysalis with the same devilish smirk reappearing to her face.
"Just wait Equestria soon your world will come crumbling down..." Chrysalis said staring up at the pink bubble shield that protected the city. "Literally."
Zulu shadow traveled to the camp that Steelclaw was using on the mountains that marked the border between Equestria and the Dragon Empire. Surprised to find that it was a buzz, with dragon of all different shapes and sizes going every which way, carrying various different weapons of war.
Zulu went straight for the tent that Steelclaw using as his headquarters. Zulu walked into the tent to find the King of the Dragon standing in front of a large table, a map of the area spread across it.
"Now I want our mane attack to come from the front, while we use our best warriors to cut through the mountains and invade the camp from the side." Steelclaw said to one of his lieutenants, just before he noticed the entrance of the changeling.
"If you two would give me a moment with our guest." Steelclaw said to the two other dragons in the room, knowing exactly what the changeling wanted to discuss with him.
The two dragon followed the orders of their King and left the tent. Leaving Steelclaw and Zulu alone in the tent.
"So what occurance brings you here, Zulu if I am not mistaken." Steelclaw said to Zulu, the changeling taking a step closer before he spoke.
"Yes, you are correct your majesty. I am on a mission from my Queen to give you a message." Zulu said to Steelclaw, getting a soft chuckle from the dragon in return.
"And what message would that be?" Steelclaw asked, leaning up against the large table in the tent.
"I have just come to inform you that my Queen has completed the beginning phases of her plan to invade Canterlot and gives you permission to invade Equestria whenever you deem fit." Zulu said to Steelclaw, putting the dragon into deep thought before he responded.
"First off, I don't take orders from Queen, second off I was going to invade Equestria regardless if I got assistance from your Queen, thirdly in case you didn't notice I am going to invade Equestria at dawn." Steelclaw said, raising from his leaning position, making Zulu take a step back out of both fear and in manner to defend himself if necessary.
"Right, while I guess I have exceed my welcome. I will be going now." Zulu said as he retreated backwards, his lower half warping into the shadows of the tent.
"You do that, but before you do, will you send a message back to your queen for me?" Steelclaw said to Zulu, catching his attention.
"And what message would that be?" Zulu asked Steelclaw, not sure at what he would get in response.
"Will you tell your Queen that if intends to double cross me, she would to deal with not just the armies of Equestria, but also the combined firepower of the entire Dragon Empire." Steelclaw said to Zulu, getting a slow nod from the changeling from response.
"Good, now begone, it's not very safe for a pony-like in this camp right now." Steelclaw said to Zulu, as the changeling warped back into the shadows.
"Wow, what insanity have you gotten yourself into Zulu." Zulu thought to himself as he arrived back at the mane hive of the changelings. All of the warriors changelings ready for the invasion of Equestria the following day.
Zulu continued to trot through the hive until he came across the large cavern that held Chrysalis' secret weapon. His giant body was sleeping on the hard floor fully aware of the events that were going to transpire the following day. His giant body only moving when he breathed. His dreams being the same thing that he had been having for the last fifteen hundred years. All of his dream being about the same giant red dragon that he used to call as his twin brother.
His dreams always ended the same way, with the red dragon clad in multicolored battle armor standing over his deceased corpse, rainbow colored flames coming out of his mouth. A dream that he never wanted to come to pass.
The very creature that lay just underneath the city of Canterlot that stirred as its fifteen hundred slumber began to come to an end.
Underneath the city of Canterlot the Alpha stirred in his sleep as the fire inside of him reignited for the first time. His orange fire rushed through the very veins and arteries of his body.
As his fire rushed all throughout his body the blackened dust covered scales of his body slowly began to regain their original reddish-orange color as he seemed to be raising from the dead.
His massive head raised off the ground the bones in his neck cracking from over a millenia of usage, the sound echoing throughout the crystal caves. The top of his head slamming into the ceiling of the cave that he was hidden in, multiple large boulders plummeting to the ground. As a slight growl escaped from his mouth, his surprising razor sharp teeth showing.
His giant tail swag around hitting a large stone pillar, turning it into nothing but a pile of dust. This action causing a small earthquake to shake the city. Something that the ponies of Canterlot even give a second thought about. All of them unaware that the most powerful creature in all of Equestria was awakening from an over one thousand year long nap, less than a mile beneath their own hooves.
He lowered his massive head as his massive eyes began to stir, the final part of the spell that held in an eternal state of slumber began to weaken. His eyelids began to shudder before his giant eyes finally flashed open, his giant emerald green eyes seeing anything for the first time for over fifteen hundred years. This was shortly followed by the first and then second blink in over a millenia. His giant green eyes widened to adjust to the darkness of the room as he breathed in one long breath. The fire that was burning inside his chest getting some much needed oxygen.
"I awaken."