The Purest Amethyst

by BOM

Chapter Two

Spike adjusted his top hat again, it just would not stay on his head. Maybe Twilight had been right about not wearing a hat that’s twice his size, thought Spike, but she had also told him that he couldn’t wear a moustache so what did she know anyway? The purple baby dragon overlooked the Ceremonial Hall, it was packed full of ponies dressed in their best. In front of the guests stood the groomcolts on the right and the bridesmaids on the left. One particular bridesmaid held Spike’s attention, a white unicorn with a dazzling purple mane, her turquoise dress decorated with diamonds filling its canvas like stars sparkling on the night sky. Spike felt his heart begin to beat faster and could feel his eyes turning into love hearts, Rarity was just so beautiful, her fantastical mane, her royal blue eyes. He quickly shook his head to snap out of the daze and turned to face Shining Armor. The white Stallion stood to Spike’s right, his uniform and large unicorn horn gave him a presence of authority; but Spike knew that the fierce Captain’s exterior could not be more different than the bubbly understanding pony beneath. However what would normally have been a large grin on his face seemed to have been replaced by a blank slate. Spike knew what the problem was, ever since Twilight’s outbreak the day before Shining Armor had not been himself. Even though he had told Twilight not to come to the wedding Spike knew it hurt him to think she wouldn’t show up anyway.

Spike gave Shining Armor’s leg a small punch to reassure the Captain. The Stallion turned to face the distraction, his face was as blank as unused parchment and it took Spike a second to recover from the unexpected lack of emotion.

“Don’t worry I’m sure she’ll turn up,” Spike said to Shining encouragingly.

Shining Armor just turned his head back to face the large blue double doors at the end of the room. Spike had expected some kind of response from him, he had known Shining Armor long enough to know he must or a least should be really upset. Shining and Twilight had always been so close but much rather than showing some kind of emotion, the captain was just looking dully into space.

Spike was about to push for more information when the music began to play. Fluttershy’s bird choir sang a sweet melody as the large double doors swung open and the bride began to walk up the aisle. Spike admired her for a second, before noticing three fillies bouncing along in front of her; the Cutie Mark Crusaders. The three fillies looked really pretty today, decorating the floor with flowers from baskets that they held in their mouths. All three were wearing similar violet dresses and tiaras made of flowers, not only that but each one was wearing a huge grin. Spike took in the adorable scene, his heart melting a little. A small voice in his head told him; Dragons probably shouldn’t like this, but he quickly pushed that thought aside and continued taking in the scene. Spike looked over the three fillies; Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and… a small lump formed in his throat as he looked over at the last crusader, Sweetie Belle. A quick cough cleared the knot in his throat but Spike didn’t take his eyes of the white unicorn. Her shaded purple and pink mane bobbed up and down as the filly skipped her way forward, the sight bringing a smile to Spike’s face. She veered off and took her place just behind the bridesmaids with Scootaloo and Apple Bloom.

The bride took her place next to Shining Armor as the birds sang their last note. An eager silence had settled on the hall with everypony waiting in anticipation. Spike couldn’t help but get sucked into the atmosphere with all eyes on the altar. Princess Celestia stepped forward to address the crowd.

“Mares and Gentle Colts we are gathered here today to witness the union of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Shining Armor.”

Spike looked over the hall again, taking in the majesty and size of the occasion. He wondered whether his wedding would be as grand. Not that I’m interested in weddings, Spike thought to himself rather defensively, his cheeks turned a slight rose colour, but luckily everypony was too engulfed in Celestia’s speech that none of them noticed Spike’s embarrassment. Well I doubt mine would be as big, this is a royal wedding after all.

It was true, Spike had attended a couple of weddings in his time but none were on this vast scale, so why would his be any different. Spike looked over at Rarity. Knowing my sweet Rarity, our wedding will probably be twice this size, Spike chuckled to himself. I wonder if a wedding with a dragon and a pony is the same as a normal wedding. Spike had never seen a dragon and pony date before so, he wasn’t that sure how it worked. Now that he thought about it he had never even heard of a dragon dating a pony. Spike’s heart began to quicken. What if a pony had never dated a dragon? What if it’s forbidden? What if dragons didn’t date at all? If any of those were true how could he date Rarity? Spike’s heart was close to bursting out of his chest at this point. He realised that he was also gasping and gaining the unwanted attention of a couple of ponies in the crowd. Spike closed his eyes, took in a deep breath, brought his claws up to his chest and let out a long sigh. The smallest waft of green flame escaped out as Spike let his worries go.

He returned his attention to the altar, realising that he had missed a large chunk of the vows. Princess Celestia was just about to finish the ceremony.

“Princess Cadence and Shining Armor it is my great pleasure to pronounce you-“

“Stooooop!”

A wave of shock rippled throughout the hall. Spike turned to see who had made the outburst, even though he would recognise that voice anywhere. Spike held onto hope that it was any other pony but sure enough, standing at the double doors was a purple unicorn, her mane a darker shade with a pink highlight which added variety. Twilight Sparkle had stopped the wedding, her eyes piercing the room like daggers. Spike suddenly found the floor a lot more interesting than Twilight. I can’t believe it. She had gone and done it, she had ruined the most important day of her brother’s life all because she couldn’t let him go. The Princes sobbed a comment that Spike couldn’t hear, he was too busy studying the different angles at which the light bounced off the floor.

“Because it’s not your special day, it’s mine!”

Spike’s concentration on the floor was shattered as there, standing next to Twilight, stood another Princess Cadence. Her mane had split ends and was out of place, her coat was bruised and covered in dust patches but it was unmistakably her. If Twilight’s eyes had been daggers then, this new Cadence had swords. Spike looked over to the bridesmaids. Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Apple Jack and Rarity stood on the front; behind them was Fluttershy with her choir of birds, next to her stood Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle.

“I-I don't understand. How can there be two of 'em?” Apple Jack questioned. Leave it to the dependable orange pony to ask the question on everypony’s mind.

"She's a changeling. She takes the form of somepony you love and gains power by feeding off your love for them,” proclaimed the new Cadence whilst pointing an accusing hoof at the bride.

A ring of emerald flames encircled the accused Princess, they slowly began to grow in intensity, crackling as the edges of the flames whipped out at anypony nearby. Reaching a critical mass, the flames erupted producing a blinding flash of light. Spike was forced to turn away, his dragon eyes unable to adjust quickly enough. Rubbing the stars out of his eyes, Spike turned back to the tower of green flame. The pillar of fire collapsed revealing the Princess inside. A surge of energy was rippling through her, shredding off the purple and pink she used to wear; an emerald lightning scurried across her body moulding a new figure. The energy left the new body crackling around their creation before dissipating into nothing. A laugh erupted from the new foe, her voice echoed throughout the hall sending a shiver through Spike’s scales. The changed Cadence had a tall slender neck and legs, her coat was as black as shadow, transparent wings buzzed on her back and a horn sat atop her head, its crooked nature didn’t help ease Spike’s sense of dread. But worst of all was the eyes. Green as envy they scoured the room hunting for fresh prey.

“Right you are, Princess. And as queen of the changelings, it is up to me to find food for my subjects. Equestria has more love than any place I've ever encountered. My fellow changelings will be able to devour so much of it that we will gain more power than we have ever dreamed of!”

Spike didn't need to listen to the real Cadence’s response, he knew where this was going and so quickly jolted over to the other side to join the bridesmaids. Apple Jack had a hoof on Rainbow Dash’s shoulder trying to talk her down.

“Hold ya’ horses sugar cube leave this’un to the Princess.” The Cyan Peagasus was on edge looking as if she wanted to tackle the Queen to the ground and plant a couple of left and rights into her face. She blew a strand of her rainbow coloured mane out of her face.

“But she impersonated a Princess, got us all to trust her and she… she…” A lump had formed in Rainbow’s throat. “She made us doubt Twilight!” Rainbow Yelled the last bit, Apple Jack removed her hoof they were both looking at the ground.

It couldn’t be easy for the element of loyalty to have turned her back on a friend, especially when they had been right. Rainbow Dash felt like she had betrayed Twilight, and wasn’t handling it too well.

“Plus she’s ruining the party that chay chang changeychangey.”

“She’s a Changeling Pinkie Pie darling,” explained Rarity, a slight trickle of fear had been edged into her voice.

“Yeah what she said,” the Pink earth pony responded.

Spike turned back to changeling Queen. She was just about to square off with Princess Celestia. The princess spread her wings and took flight.

“Now I can protect my subjects from you!”

The Princess rose up and fired a stream of light with the intensity of the sun from her horn. The Queen countered with a crackling stream of green energy. Spike planted himself bracing for the impact. The two beams met in mid-air. A shockwave knocked all the ponies in the hall to the ground, it knocked Spike back causing him to balance on one leg but he managed to stay upright. Spike quickly checked on his friends. The Crusaders seemed fine, if a little shaken, and the rest were picking themselves up. Spike turned his attention back to the confrontation. The Queen’s green light engulfed the Princess sending her crashing to the ground, her horn singed and eyes closed. Spike’s insides did a three sixty, Celestia had been beaten. The Princess had always been an unbeatable fixed point. If she’s been beaten how can we win? Spike shook himself out of hopelessness and remembered their secret weapon, the Elements of Harmony. Twilight had run over to the Princess along with her friends, a wave of worry hit Spike as it always did when something like this happened. Every time Twilight sent herself into danger Spike couldn’t help but feel like he needed to protect her. If anything, she would protect me, chuckled Spike to himself, he let himself have that small joke as although he knew she could take care of herself that didn’t make it any easier. Spike closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh, he hated that it had to be this way, but it did. When he opened his eyes again Apple Jack was addressing him.

“Look sugar cube, me and the girls are going for the Elements.” Even though he had known that was coming, Spike’s heart sank a little lower when he heard it. “That means I can’t look after my sis’, what I’m saying is me and Rare need yu’ to look after the girls.”

Spike followed Apple Jack’s raised hoof to the Cutie Mark Crusaders, they were huddled together sheltering next to a pillar. Spike turned back to Apple Jack and nodded.

“You can count on me,” he said forcing a smile. Apple Jack returned it and without another word she ran after her friends who had already started after the Elements. Spike watched until he lost sight of them his smile quickly vanishing. Composing himself he looked back for the CMC. His insides did another three sixty. Three violet dresses and flower tiaras lay on the floor.

The fillies were gone.

Comments

[Magical Trevor]

Spike adjusted his top hat again, it just would not stay on his head. Maybe Twilight had been right about not wearing a hat that’s twice his size, thought Spike, but she had also told him that he couldn’t wear a moustache so what did she know anyway? The purple baby dragon overlooked the Ceremonial Hall, it was packed full of ponies dressed in their best.

You uh... Need some help. Get a pre-reader or editor or both. You have two run-on sentences, improper pronoun use for his instead of my, mustache isn't spelled with an o, there needs to be a comma after mustache, overlooked isn't used correctly, and, finally, though this is more of a personal grievance than proper grammar... You don't end a sentence in 'best' unless it's part of a phrase, like 'Sunday best'. Then it's understood that they're as dressed up as they can be, but as is, it's left with best WHAT? Their best pet? Their best paper bags? There's nothing for 'best' to describe.

You need someone to help, dude. There's potential here, but huge chunks of text are just ugly and off-putting to readers. Needs formatted.

[Exterminate Regenerate]

chay chang changeychangey.

Abzorbalof.