Camaraderie is Sorcery

by FireOfTheNorth

Chapter 2:25 - The Cant'r Laht Wedding, Part the First

Author's Note:

Translations

Chapter 2:25 – The Cant’r Laht Wedding, Part the First

Spike rushed through the busy (relatively speaking) streets of Ponieville. Spring was nearly here, the vernal equinox just days away, and everypony was preparing for the labor to come as the Equestry Valley would grow lush with crops. Some of them gave the young dragon sidelong looks or grumbled as he ducked under their carts, but they knew better than to interfere with the page of the town’s resident sorceress. Everypony had begun to think of her as such now, since she’d been here for nearly two years and didn’t seem to be planning to return to Cant’r Laht any time soon. At least she didn’t interfere with their business … much. This past year, she’d seemed to be away from Ponieville on journeys more often than she’d been home, which suited the residents of this tiny hamlet just fine, except for when the town came under threat from fantastical beasts or otherworldly invaders. Then they were glad to have her around.

Whether some of them realized it or not, Ponieville had changed since Twilight Sparkle’s arrival. More ponies travelled here, with the purpose of seeing Celestia’s apprentice, something they’d have to travel to Cant’r Laht for previously, and Filthy Rich kept more inns open than usual to accommodate them. In two short years, the town’s permanent population had grown as well, and new homes had been built within and without Ponieville’s palisade. Motions had come before Mayor Mare to expand the town’s walls, and perhaps even plan for some sturdy ones with watchtowers like larger towns had. It wasn’t hard for her to see the benefit: more ponies in her lands meant higher taxes, as well as greater prestige.

That was her key goal, since the lands weren’t really hers. Technically, the lands were part of Celestia’s demesne, and she was little more than a glorified steward, but she intended to be much more. A larger Ponieville would make her son seem more attractive as a marriage prospect to a noble house. Her daughter might do as well, though she still had several years before she could be seriously considered as a candidate for mayor, even if Silver Spoon were old enough to marry. She saw the benefits that Twilight Sparkle was bringing to her town, but she wasn’t sure they outweighed the detriments to herself, since she’d had to be more careful with her scheming now that Celestia’s prized pupil was almost always watching. At least this past year she’d been gone so much that she hadn’t had much time to interfere with the mayor’s plans, and she’d taken her cohort of friends with her as well. She might have even been able to seize part of the Apples’ land if it hadn’t been for the sudden zap apple harvest and the utter failure of those two foreign wizards she’d hired. At least there was always next year.

Spike hurried past the mayor’s residence: the Mayoral Keep. The large shutters on the eastern end of the great hall were open today, to let in the warmer-than-usual air. The primary purpose of the shutters was to display the sunrise at the summer solstice ceremony held here every four years, but they needed to be maintained every year to keep the hinges from rusting. It wouldn’t do one year for Celestia to raise the sun only to have the view blocked because the shutters wouldn’t move.

The Prancynge Ponie was Spike’s destination, and he picked up the pace as he spotted it. Twilight and here friends were seated at one of the outdoor tables, enjoying the pleasant weather, alcoholic beverages, and each other’s company. He hoped they weren’t talking about him and his foray to Ghastly Gorge, but he knew the details would come out sometime. Running up to Twilight, he presented her with the scroll he’d tucked into his satchel.

“What is this?” the sorceress asked as she broke Celestia’s seal and unrolled the scroll.

“Celestia … just sent it,” Spike panted, “I came … as soon as I got it.”

It wouldn’t have taken him quite so long to reach her had he been in Golden Oak’s laboratory, where Twilight expected him to be. Instead, he’d been out by the river, practicing his fire breathing, when the letter had arrived.

“What’s the rush, Spike?” Rainbow Dash asked, “I’m sure Celestia wouldn’t mind if Twilight read it when she got home.”

“She used … the blue wax,” Spike said as he continued to try catching his breath, “She only uses that when the message … is urgent.”

“Yes, thank you, Spike,” Twilight Sparkle commended him before reading the letter aloud, “My dearest apprentice Twilight Sparkle, I am relieved to see that you have not yet left for Cant’r Laht.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Applejack asked.

“I am not sure,” Twilight said uncertainly before continuing to read, “When you depart, I pray that your friends will accompany you. Their aid for the upcoming wedding will be greatly appreciated.”

“Wedding? What wedding?” Pinkamena asked.

“I am not sure,” Twilight repeated herself, wrinkling her nose when she did so, “I wish for you all to reprise your roles from the summer solstice ceremony last year, which was so memorable.”

“I’m pretty sure the event being memorable had less to do with us and more to do with Nightmare Moon returning,” Rainbow Dash said snarkily.

“I look forward to seeing all of you in Cant’r Laht soon. Please make all haste to Cant’r Laht to arrive before the wedding on the 5^th Day of the 10^th Month. All the leaders of Equestria assembled for the summit are also invited to witness the marriage of the Lady mi Amore Cadenza and—” Twilight broke off her reading with a gasp, “Lord-Captain Shining Armor … my brother!”

“I suppose … congratulations are in order?” Fluttershy asked while Twilight was still frozen in surprise.

“I … suppose,” Twilight said as she let the letter slide down on the table, “How could this happen? How could I not find out about it until now? How is this possible?”

“Is something the matter, darling?” Rarity asked.

“Yes … I mean, no … I mean, maybe?” Twilight vacillated, “This took me by surprise, I guess. I never expected to learn that my brother was to be wed through an urgent missive from Celestia, of all things.”

“Who is this … mi Amore Cadenza?” Pinkamena asked as she read the letter upside-down.

“Celestia’s heir. Though, she has been a hostage of Dragonlord Ingrirtireth for many years, sent there in exchange for Spike’s egg,” Twilight replied, “Could she have returned? If so, why, and why was I not notified? Unless …”

Her thoughts flew to the letter from Celestia that Spike had received in Ghastly Gorge. The letter that another dragon had destroyed without a second thought. Spike claimed that he had been unable to read any of it and only knew what the other dragon had said. They’d only returned to Ponieville from Ghastly Gorge a couple of days ago, and she’d completely forgotten to send a letter to Celestia asking about it. Cadence’s return had to be the “heartening news” that Celestia had wanted to share with her.

“Anypony can make a mistake,” Rarity comforted the sorceress after she’d explained her theory to them.

“Yes, I just hope there are no ill consequences other than arriving in Cant’r Laht at the last minute,” Twilight said, “Assuming that Celestia communicated news of the wedding in that lost letter, it still does not explain why she was the one to inform me instead of Shining Armor himself. We used to be so close when I was still living in Cant’r Laht. He was probably the pony I was closest to until I met all of you.”

Spike lowered the objecting claw he’d raised when he realized that he wasn’t a pony and didn’t fit into the ranking system she’d referenced.

“I’m sure he ‘as ‘is reasons,” Applejack reassured her.

“He had better, because when we get to Cant’r Laht, he is going to have some explaining to do.”

***

Twilight had been to Cant’r Laht so recently, albeit in secret, she wondered if Cadence had been there already then. Shining Armor had, for certain, but she had been too embarrassed to seek him out. Whenever she’d visited Cant’r Laht, she’d tried to visit him … except, now that she thought about it, she hadn’t tried very hard the last few occasions. She’d grown closer to her Ponieville friends, without a doubt, but had she also grown farther apart from her elder brother in the process? Still, she wasn’t willing to accept all the blame. Distant or no, he should have been kind enough to inform her of his wedding plans, especially since he was marrying Cadence.

The Lady mi Amore Cadenza was Celestia’s declared heir (even if there had been rumors circulating for over a year that Luna would soon jump into that position), but that wasn’t how Twilight had known her as a foal. She’d understood better as she grew older just who Cadence was, but for a time she had just been a kind sorceress who’d wanted to help a struggling filly learn how to practice magic. When she’d gone away, it wasn’t because she no longer wanted to teach Twilight, who at that time demonstrated all too little magical potential, but because an exchange was necessary to maintain peace with Tyrannus. How strange that Twilight had swapped Cadence for Spike, just as Celestia had.

She had never thought that her brother and Cadence would one day wed, though the signs were all there. Oh, how they’d once mooned over each other, but even that was no guarantee of marriage for Cant’r Laht nobles. Marriages were for alliances with other houses, seldom for love. Because Cadence was who she was, however, nopony could rightly refuse her decision, maybe not even Celestia (though a truly egregious choice could get her disinherited, perhaps). Twilight wondered if some arrangement had been made before Cadence’s departure, for not once during those thirteen years had Shining Armor ever been pressured to marry and father sons to carry on the Haltrotsun name. Twilight had been spared that pressure after she’d become Celestia’s apprentice, but why Shining Armor had remained unwed had always been a mystery. She considered the mystery now solved.

The gleaming white walls of Cant’r Laht loomed ahead as the Brave Companions trotted toward the city, the spires of palaces rising in the distance dwarfed by those of Cant’r Laht Castle, clearly visible even from this distance. A large camp was set up outside of Cant’r Laht’s gate, tents pitched on both sides of the path that led to it, filling the few fields that the city had. Cant’r Laht’s city watch trotted along the road in full armor, keeping vigilant and attempting to prevent any mischief. If the red and black livery worn by the servants and soldiers in the camp wasn’t enough to say who was encamped here, the banners waving from the posts driven into the ground on either side of a massive crimson pavilion were. One was the flag of the Kingdom of Manehattan, the True Faith’s tower on Fiery Isle over five horizontal stripes, and the other bore the two-headed dragon of House Vas-Elutria.

“This is Hadish’s camp, alright, but what’s it doing outside the walls?” Rainbow Dash wondered aloud.

“King Hadish,” one of the Manehattanite soldiers corrected her, “Y’d ‘ave t’ be crazy t’ enter that city right now wi’ th’ Ol’ Witch castin’ ‘exes all around it.”

Cant’r Laht was always surrounded by magical protection, though Celestia had dismantled many of the enchantments last year during the summit to prevent foreign mages from getting a peek at the defenses. The second Equestrian summit was due to begin tomorrow, and the delegations from each of Equestria’s nations had arrived, but when Twilight trotted below the city’s gates, she found that the magical defenses were very much intact. Not only that, but they seemed to be bolstered by additional protections. No wonder the Manehattanite delegation was afraid to enter the city; the amount of magical energy surrounding it was enough for even their crude devices for detecting spells to go haywire. Knowing Hadish, he’d probably attend the summit tomorrow wearing chainmail whose links were made from dimeritium to protect himself from witchcraft.

Once within the Ivory City, the streets were filled with locals mingling with and trying to sell things to foreign ponies. They were easy to pick out, since there were really only two kinds of ponies who came along for the summit: elites and soldiers to protect them. The elites trotted about in fine silks, though some of them wore heavy cloaks to protect against the last bite of winter here in the mountains. Nobles and sorceresses and merchants they were, each seeking their own agenda in the city. The nobles and merchants sought out their own kind to make arrangements and alliances. Some of the sorceresses did the same, but most kept to themselves and maintained a keen eye on this city of sorceresses, trying to acquire every bit of knowledge they could on their fellows, and especially on Celestia. The soldiers, when they weren’t commanded to follow the others around and act as muscle, sought out taverns, gambling dens, and other places of ill repute. Still, no matter what their reasons were for coming, all these ponies were here. Celestia’s dream of a united Equestria was not dead, even if it seemed far away.

Twilight only partly recognized the large number of guards patrolling Cant’r Laht’s streets as she led the way to the castle. The summit required increased vigilance, and she’d heard that the City Guard had been stretched thin last year. Judging by appearances, Shining Armor had increased the number of guards two or threefold since then. As Captain of the Guard, it was his responsibility. She wouldn’t find him walking the streets as she once had before his promotion, but she still had a good idea where he was.

“… and make sure to keep the Commons clear,” Shining Armor ordered as he exited the Cant’r Laht Castle grounds, other guards in armor trailing behind, “That means no nosy sorceresses, I don’t care if they’re from Cant’r Laht. Keep the beggars clear of the place as well. I don’t want any unfortunate side effects.”

“Yes, Captain, but some of our own sorceresses can be quite insistent,” one of Shining Armor’s inferiors complained as Twilight spotted them and picked up her pace, “Why, just yesterday, Countess Violet Laxe-Surele—”

“Tell them what I said,” Shining Armor said firmly, “I am under direct orders from Celestia herself. If they have a problem with me, they can take it up with the Matron of Sorceresses. Understand, Markis?”

Markis didn’t seem entirely satisfied with Shining Armor’s orders, but he nodded his acceptance nevertheless. The sorceresses of Cant’r Laht were often troublesome, but they were also the power that drove the city. Sometimes they just needed reminding that they were subservient to Celestia, and any guard who had to remind them of that was in for a rough time.

“Shining Armor Haltrotsun!” Twilight called out to grab his attention.

“Twily!” Shining Armor exclaimed when he spotted here, and he motioned the group of guards to halt, “So glad you could make it!”

“Do not call me that,” Twilight said testily, in no mood for pet names, which she thought he would have picked up on by her addressing him by his full name, house and all, “How dare you not tell me yourself that you were getting married! I am your sister!”

“Twilight, I—” Shining Armor started to apologize before one of the other guards cleared their throats and looked to the sky, “Yes, of course. Can we walk and talk?”

“Why? Are you still too busy to tell me about it?” Twilight asked, but she joined him and trotted alongside as the guards resumed their trip.

“Actually, yes,” Shining Armor said with a sigh, “I wish I had more time, Twilight, but I have been incredibly busy with my duties lately. I have been increasing Cant’r Laht’s protection ever since somepony made a threat against it. We do not know who, but it was somepony with powerful magic, and we cannot afford to take any chances, especially with all of Equestria’s leaders gathered here for the summit.”

“Discord?” Twilight asked, fearing that the Lord of Chaos might have chosen this moment to reveal the last elusive shard of his soul. The Brave Companions had brought the Elements of Harmony with them, but she’d left them with the others to bring to Celestia for safekeeping during the summit. Not that that had stopped Discord before.

“We do not know,” Shining Armor said with a shake of his head, “We intend to be ready for anything, however. This, you need to see.”

Their walk had taken them to the Cant’r Laht Commons at the center of the city. No camp for the visiting monarchs had been set up here, even though the open space would be perfect for one, though there were some tents erected. Guards surrounded the commons, keeping curious ponies at bay, low barricades doing the job between them. They let Shining Armor and his retinue through, including Twilight, and they trotted to the center of the Commons, where the largest tent had been set up.

“Open the top,” Shining Armor ordered, and ponies hopped to pull on cords that were currently hanging limp.

The structure was less of a tent and more of a makeshift pavilion with canvas stretched between iron rods pounded into the ground. The peak above it blossomed open as the cables were pulled taut, turning the pavilion into a nonagonal prism of canvas. Shining Armor pulled a tent flap aside and beckoned Twilight in. Perplexed, she preceded her brother into the pavilion. An apparatus had been set up inside with the largest crystal the sorceress had ever seen suspended overhead. A smaller one surrounded by an array of mirrors hung down below, and various other items used for complex enchantments were nestled in sconces fastened to the rods that gave the pavilion structure.

“Stand back against the wall, and … try to block sorcery from touching you,” Shining Armor said, “Technically, only I am supposed to be in here when I do this.”

Twilight did as she was told and observed carefully. Shining Armor trotted around the central crystal slowly, taking care to step over the lines carved into the ground and mumbling softly as he did so. He came to a halt where he’d started and lowered his head toward the small suspended crystal. Without warning, a bright beam of light suddenly shot from his horn into the crystal and bounced back and forth through the array of mirrors, feeding back into the crystal and causing it to glow until it was nearly blinding. Twilight Sparkle squinted as the beam ceased to flow from Shining Armor’s horn and a new beam shot up from the small crystal to the large one. Nine globules of light with fiery tails shot up from the large crystal into the sky before arcing back downwards.

Shining Armor had his eyes squeezed shut and he was rubbing his head, but he motioned for Twilight to exit the pavilion. She stepped outside just as the globules of light returned to the elevation they’d started at, ringing Cant’r Laht now. Nine magic circles suddenly bloomed into existence around Cant’r Laht, clearly visible though quickly fading. For a moment, there also appeared to a visible dome over the city, though that vanished much more quickly than the magic circles.

“What was that?” Twilight asked as Shining Armor exited the tent, rapidly blinking his eyes and shaking his head, “Is it your enchantment protecting the city? I had no idea you had that kind of power.”

“That’s kind, but it’s only partly my enchantment,” Shining Armor admitted, “Many sorceresses and sorcerers are contributing to Cant’r Laht’s protection, by Celestial decree, and it is my spell that binds all the enchantments into one and allows them to work as a single shield. I am the … keystone, so to speak. But the spell doesn’t last forever, so I need to refresh it every few hours to keep the shield from falling apart.”

“Every few hours,” Twilight said, following her brother as he retrieved his helmet from Markis, who’d taken charge of it before he’d entered the pavilion, “The kind of magical energy you are expending, that must be exhausting. Are you eating and resting enough to keep up?”

“I’ve already got one mother in Cant’r Laht telling me to eat right, I don’t need two,” Shining Armor said with a wry smile, “But yes, I am. I thought you were mad that I was too busy to inform you of my wedding.”

“Well, yes, I suppose I still am,” Twilight said, feeling foolish now that she knew what he’d been going through, “I do understand that you are busy, though. I just … hoped that you would still have time for me.”

“I am sorry that I didn’t tell you myself, Twily,” Shining Armor said, and he smiled when she snorted at the name but didn’t correct him, “I didn’t mean to hurt you, and I see that I should’ve made time for it. Can you forgive me?”

“Of course I can,” Twilight said, as most of her frustration melted away, “Do not think that this gets you off the hook in the future, of course.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Shining Armor said innocently, “Just so we’re clear, your forgiveness does mean you’ll agree to be my best mare, right?”

“Me?” Twilight asked in surprise. Just what all was in that lost letter?

“No, Saint Cassius,” Shining Armor said sarcastically, “Of course you!”

“I would be honored,” Twilight said, not knowing what else she could say.

“Good, that settles that, then,” Shining Armor said, “I am glad to see you here, and not just because I’ve been too busy preparing for the summit and Cant’r Laht’s defense that I haven’t had time to plan my own wedding. I’m sure Cadence will appreciate you and your friends’ help.”

“Of course! Cadence!” Twilight exclaimed, kicking herself for having forgotten, “Where is she?”

“Back at the castle, of course,” Shining Armor said, gesturing ahead as some of the guards accompanied them back to where they’d started, “That is one thing I wasn’t worried about. I knew you’d approve of her.”

“Well, why would I not?” Twilight asked, giddiness overcoming her earlier frustration, “Cadence is the best. She is kind and wonderful and powerful. When I decided I wanted to be a sorceress, she is the one who helped me learn. I could barely believe it when I learned that not only has she returned after being gone for so many years, but she will soon be my sister-in-law!”

“I know what you mean. I can hardly believe it either,” Shining Armor admitted, “I almost believed I was dreaming when she trotted into Cant’r Laht. And then, when she insisted that we wed right away, it was like a dream come true. I only wish I could focus on this instead of Cant’r Laht’s protection.”

“Do not worry, we will take care of everything for you,” Twilight assured him, “How did she manage to return? I cannot believe that Ingrirtireth gave her up willingly.”

“That’s just it. He did,” Shining Armor said as he beckoned her through the gates to the castle grounds, “Cadence doesn’t understand it either, but he just let her go. He said he wouldn’t learn anything else from her, and it was more work to keep her there than let her return, so she was free to go.”

“What about the treaty between Celestia and Tyrannus?” Twilight asked, worried that it would now be considered invalid since Ingrirtireth had lost his hostage.

“Still in place. Ingrirtireth even sent assurances that he would uphold his end of the bargain even without a hostage,” Shining Armor explained.

The bargain that Celestia had struck with the dragonlords of Tyrannus years earlier had managed to prevent dragon attacks not only on the Dominions of Cant’r Laht, but also all of Equestria. Cadence, Celestia’s heir, had been traded for Spike’s egg, an egg laid by Ingrirtireth’s chief consort, Olénûnthar. With hostages, neither side would dare attack the other, but now Ingrirtireth had given up his hostage. Why would he do such a thing?

“There you are!” called out a voice from Twilight’s past, though it seemed a bit shriller than she remembered it, “The Grand Galloping Gala will be starting soon, and you still aren’t dressed for it.”

Cadence hurried down the garden path toward her fiancé and her future sister-in-law. The pink alicorn looked quite severe, even in a creamy dress that seemed all ruffles and bows. Of course, simply being an alicorn came with its own standing and intimidation factor. Cadence was only the fifth pony ever to achieve alicornhood, which was why she was Celestia’s heir. That, and the fact that she’d been Celestia’s first apprentice, under the elderly sorceress’s tutelage long before Twilight had been. Still, even knowing all that, Twilight Sparkle still remembered her most as the kind sorceress who’d come all the way from Cant’r Laht Castle to Haltrotsun Manor to teach a young filly who at the time knew nothing about magic but had a great hunger to learn.

“Cadence!” Twilight exclaimed as she bounded toward the alicorn, giddy as a foal again.

“Fire, Water, Air, and Earth,”

“Present at the world’s rebirth.”

“Speak their names, they come again:”

“Bei, Ill, Caen, nof Eren!^[1]”

As she sang the foalhood rhyme that Cadence had taught her, she performed the hoof-motions, but Cadence didn’t follow along. Twilight didn’t mind, though, at least not until she finished, and Cadence continued to look confused.

“Cadence, it is me, Twilight Sparkle!” the sorceress said.

“Oh, yes, of course,” Cadence said with an insincere smile and trotted right past her to Shining Armor.

“Sorry, dearest,” Shining Armor said, “I had to renew the enchantment over the city.”

“You work too hard,” Cadence cooed.

“It’s my job. We all do our part to protect Cant’r Laht,” Shining Armor said, “Cadence, Twilight and her friends are going to help you prepare for the wedding while I’m away.”

“Lovely, I’m sure with your help we’ll get things whipped into shape in no time,” Cadence said, though her enthusiasm sounded fake to Twilight. But that can’t be, can it? Did her time in Tyrannus change her so much? “For now, dearest, you need to get ready for the gala.”

“Okay, okay, I’m coming already,” Shining Armor said as he trotted off with Cadence, “I’ll see you later, Twily. Thanks for coming again!”

“Do not mention it. I am sure everything will be just … fine,” Twilight said with a puzzled frown.

***

Unlike the year before, the Brave Companions were totally unprepared for the Grand Galloping Gala. Well, maybe not totally unprepared. When Rarity had realized they’d arrive just before the gala was to start, she’d brought along supplies on their journey and thrown together something for all of them. She never claimed it was her best work, but it was still quite nice, more than nice enough for the gala. This year, they even got the chance to enjoy themselves without looking like fools in front of the Equestrian delegations.

Twilight tried to enjoy herself at the party, but her mood was spoiled whenever she spotted Cadence. She knew it was unfair to judge a pony based solely on a short interaction, but she still had the irksome feeling that she didn’t like this new Cadence who’d come back from Tyrannus. She certainly didn’t seem like the sweet pony she’d known long ago. Eventually, though, she had to admit to herself that she was being unfair to Cadence. After all, she’d been gone a long time, and she’d only spoken to her briefly. Celestia’s heir was dealing with the stress of the gala, the summit, and her wedding all at the same time; she had every excuse to be curt. Once Twilight convinced herself of that, she found it easier to enjoy the gala. It was especially easy to enjoy herself once they left the gala and sought out other celebrations on the streets.

There were some differences from last year, besides the Brave Companions running around trying to pursue their own goals and failing horribly. For one, the Griffon Free Companies were absent, a fact that would be reflected in the summit tomorrow. They were currently off engaged in a contract on the Eastern Continent, dealing with some dispute between Banner and Noya Varon. The Manehattanite delegation was also missing, which hopefully wouldn’t be reflected in the summit tomorrow. Something would have to be done to convince King Hadish that it was safe to set hoof inside a city surrounded by “witchcraft,” but Celestia surely had something planned.

This year, the Brave Companions weren’t invited to the summit, but they also had no mystery to solve about the death of the Prince of the City, something Twilight was incredibly thankful for, since her father now bore that title. All of the Brave Companions were at work preparing for Cadence and Shining Armor’s wedding in other parts of the castle while the summit was held in the great hall. Celestia wanted them all to reprise their roles from the summer solstice ceremony in Ponieville, which meant everypony else worked while Twilight supervised. Even Rainbow Dash, who had nothing to do until it was time to clear the clouds on the wedding day, pitched in helping others.

Currently, she was checking in with Applejack, who was whipping the castle’s kitchen staff into shape. Having just catered the Grand Galloping Gala and still busy feeding those at the summit, they didn’t much appreciate her showing up and ordering them around at first, but gradually she was earning their respect. She was going to need it to pull off the feast she had planned. She didn’t have her extended family to help her out this time, so these strangers would have to do. Everything seemed to be running smoothly and Twilight was about to move on when Cadence stepped into the kitchens, and the kitchen staff hopped to make their bows.

“Welcome, Miss Cadence,” Applejack greeted her with a bow.

“Please, address me as Lady mi Amore Cadenza, or ‘my lady,’” Cadence told her, and that irksome feeling resurfaced in Twilight’s mind. Cadence was never prickly about her title before.

“Welcome, milady mi Amore Cadenza,” Applejack said, unfazed, “Did y’ come t’ sample what we’ll be preparin’ for th’ weddin’?”

“Of course,” Cadence said with a smile showing too many teeth, and Twilight watched her skeptically. I want to give her a fair chance, I truly do, but she’s not making it easy.

Cadence followed Applejack around the kitchens, Twilight discreetly shadowing them, and she sampled the different dishes that had been prepared. Some she liked and others she had criticisms of, but her praise sounded hollow in Twilight’s ears. Applejack didn’t seem to notice, going along with everything that Cadence said and promising that some of the dishes were still works-in-progress. When they finished their rounds, Applejack gave her some of the food to take with her and Cadence accepted, though she seemed reluctant to do so.

“All finished ‘ere, Twi’?” Applejack asked as the sorceress watched Cadence leave, and she nearly jumped out of her skin in surprise.

“Yes, I think so,” Twilight said as she pretended to check her checklist, “I … should probably see how the others are getting on.”

“A’right, then,” Applejack said, completely unfazed, “That Cadence sure is somethin’, isn’t she?”

“Yes … something,” Twilight said as she headed for the door Cadence had exited through, sure that she didn’t mean the same thing her friend did.

***

Twilight’s foul mood that had plagued her on the way to Cant’r Laht had returned by the time she checked up on Rarity later. After leaving the kitchens, she’d found some castle servants devouring the food that Applejack had given to Cadence. They claimed they’d found it thrown out, and Twilight believed them. Maybe it was just her desire to see her suspicions about Cadence justified, but it fit right in to what she’d expect. She hadn’t liked the food Applejack had been preparing at all.

“You should have heard her,” Twilight complained to Rarity, “‘Please, address me as Lady mi Amore Cadenza.’ Really?”

“Did somepony call me?” Cadence asked as she entered the room at that moment, “Oh, Twilight, it’s you.”

“Milady!” Rarity exclaimed as she hurried to bow before Cadence, “Might I just say what an honor it is to have been given this opportunity.”

“I think you just did,” Cadence said drily.

“Oh, of course,” Rarity giggled, “Would you like to see what I have so far?”

Cadence nodded curtly, and Rarity led the way through her mess of scattered fabrics and supplies to the center of the room. On it was the beginning of a wedding dress with sketches and designs pinned to a board next to it. Technically, this had not been Rarity’s job at the summer solstice ceremony, but after she’d been offered the chance to design the attire for the wedding, she’d leapt at it. Such a task would gain her prestige in Cant’r Laht that she wouldn’t obtain even with years of working for Hoity Toity or selling her gowns on her own. It was a dream come true for Rarity.

“Well, it’s a start,” Cadence said after examining Rarity’s work, and Twilight couldn’t help grinding her teeth, “It needs a larger ruff, a shorter veil, and a longer train. The scrollwork here will need to be more complex and I’ll need a shawl for my wings.”

“Of course, I should have thought of that,” Rarity said after writing everything down, “I’ve never had to design a wedding dress for a pegasus before.”

“I’m an alicorn,” Cadence said firmly, eyes narrowed confrontationally.

“Yes, of course, I just meant I wasn’t accustomed to the wings,” Rarity said, gesturing to the nonexistent ones on her own back, “Shall we look at the dresses for the bridesmares?”

Twilight Sparkle fumed while Cadence picked apart the rest of Rarity’s designs one by one. Rarity didn’t seem to care at all and took everything in stride, writing down all of Cadence’s complaints. There was no doubt in Twilight’s mind now that Cadence had changed during her time in Tyrannus. Nopony else seemed to notice, but she knew that Cadence had changed, and she didn’t think she cared for this new Cadence much. In fact, she wasn’t sure that she much cared for this new Cadence marrying her brother.

***

The rest of the day had been much the same for Twilight. As she toured the castle and checked in on her friends, Cadence always seemed to be right behind. Since Rarity was busy designing clothing for the wedding, Pinkamena had stepped into the role the blacksmith had played for the summer solstice ceremony: decorating. The wedding was to be held in Cant’r Laht Castle’s grand hall, so she couldn’t begin decorating at the moment since it was currently occupied by the attendees of the summit, but Celestia had offered her use of the south ballroom to try things out. When Twilight checked in on her, she’d thought the decorations a bit eccentric and had some suggestions for how to appeal to Cant’r Laht tastes. She promptly changed her mind, however, when Cadence began tearing apart Pinkamena’s ideas and suggesting new ones, some the same as Twilight’s. Somehow hearing her say them made Pinkamena’s original plan sound better. It was much the same no matter who she visited.

At the end of the day, the Brave Companions and Spike were assembled at Joachim’s Castle to rest and talk about their day. As Twilight understood it, the second Equestrian summit had wrapped up in a single day again, and there had still not been much motion in the direction Celestia wanted. There was no agreement this time to assemble again at the next vernal equinox. There was no agreement not to ally with the Zebrikaanian Empire, whose new Padishah was now firmly established. Not only had there been no agreement on a Conclave of Mages again, but the Council of Mages had been disbanded. At least there was no looming war this year, and though they hadn’t agreed to a date, the monarchs of Equestria were open to assembling for another summit in the future, more open than they’d been before Celestia had announced hers last year for certain. What hadn’t been said in the summit, the Matron of Sorceresses was sure would be said during the time between now and the upcoming wedding. All of Equestria’s leaders would still be in Cant’r Laht, except for King Hadish, who wanted to spend no more time near the city than necessary and was departing this very night. All this was in the back of Twilight’s head as she mulled over the problem that seemed more significant to her at the moment.

“I am sorry for bringing you all into this,” she apologized to her friends.

“Why would y’ be sorry?” Applejack asked in puzzlement.

“I did not except Cadence to be such a terrible bride,” Twilight groaned in frustration.

“Whatever do you mean, Twilight, darling?” Rarity said, “Cadence has been just fine.”

“How could you say that?” Twilight asked, “She was so demanding with you and dismissive of your designs.”

“Well, of course she was,” Rarity said matter-of-factly, “It’s her wedding, and I’d rather she tell me what she wants than be disappointed with the results when she didn’t speak up. I assure you, I have dealt with far more difficult ponies.”

“Well, what about you, Applejack?” Twilight asked, and the farmer’s eyebrows rose in surprise, “After she left the kitchens, she got rid of the food you gave her. I found some servants eating it.”

“Well, wasn’t that nice o’ her, givin’ a treat t’ th’ servants,” Applejack said.

“No, it was not ‘nice,’” Twilight said in frustration, “She was just being rude and dismissive, just like she has been ever since she got back from Tyrannus!”

“Twi’,” Applejack said, clearing her throat as she tried to figure out how to proceed nicely, “Is it maybe possible that y’ don’t like Cadence b’cause you’re a li’l too possessive of your brother?”

“No, I am not,” Twilight said angrily.

“I think what Applejack is trying to say is that maybe you’re finding faults with Cadence because nopony will ever be good enough for you to marry your brother,” Rarity suggested.

“No!” Twilight insisted, “I am not in the wrong here! Nopony else seems to be able to see it, but I can! Cadence has changed! I do not know how you can all be so caught up in wedding planning so as not to realize that maybe there should not even be a wedding!”

With that, the sorceress slammed her drink down on the table and left, leaving the others wondering what they should or could do to help her.

***

Twilight tried to sleep that night in her old bed in her old tower, but couldn’t rest well with everything weighing down on her, and especially not with all the partly-assembled dresses waiting in the next room. The next day was sure to bring even more involvement with the wedding as the castle servants shifted their focus from the summit to the upcoming nuptials. Shortly before dawn she arose and tried to read, but even perusing her old tomes couldn’t quiet her worry.

She decided to trot around the castle, a place that had been a home to her for years. She still remembered all the chambers and corridors, all the stairs and spires. Golden Oak’s laboratory was a fine enough place for her to live now, especially since it allowed her to live close to her friends, but she still had fond memories of this place. Some things had changed since she’d left. Blueblood’s chambers were now empty and under renovation, by the look of things. Though her father, Night Light Haltrotsun, was now Prince of the City, he refused to move into the castle, preferring Haltrotsun Manor and its far humbler comforts. Twilight wondered if he’d ever move in here. Probably not, and the chambers would be occupied by Cadence and Shining Armor instead. That thought spurred Twilight to walk faster.

Cadence wasn’t living in Blueblood’s chambers yet, but she’d returned to her old rooms that had been vacant for years. Candlelight peeked out from under the door as Twilight trotted past, so Cadence must’ve been up as well. She was in such a hurry to avoid the sour alicorn that she nearly ran into a servant carrying pails of hot water. After apologizing and getting a quizzical look from the servant, the sorceress heard raised voices ahead. Eavesdropping wasn’t usually in her repertoire, but she recognized the voices and trotted forward quietly. She peeked carefully around the corner and caught sight of Shining Armor and Cadence standing just down the corridor.

“She is going to be my best mare, and that is final,” Shining Armor was saying argumentatively, his words reaching Twilight’s ears faintly, “It is Cant’r Laht tradition for the groom to choose the best mare and the bride to choose the stallion of honor.”

“Tradition or not, she has her back up over me for some reason,” Cadence said, “She doesn’t like me, Shining Armor, pick somepony else.”

“She is my sister, Cadence,” Shining Armor hissed, “My only sister. And I don’t believe that she has anything against you. She has only fond memories of your time together.”

“I don’t want her in my wedding,” Cadence insisted.

“And I do. It’s bad enough that I let you convince me Celestia should be the one to tell her about the wedding. I have to make it up to her. She is going to be my best mare, Cadence.”

“Are you really going to take this stand against me?” Cadence asked menacingly (at least Twilight heard it that way).

“Yes, I am,” Shining Armor said before crying out in pain.

Twilight had looked away after confirming the conversation was between who she thought. Now, she quickly peeked back around the corner, worried about Shining Armor. Her brother was on the ground, eyes squeezed shut, while Cadence towered over him. Runes in a script that Twilight couldn’t recognize flickered around Shining Armor’s head as Cadence cast some sort of spell on him. Twilight could sense her magic, but it felt wrong somehow, not like with Discord’s magic, but more like that of the White Procession. Either way, it was bad news for Shining Armor. She was using some kind of spell on him, mind-related by the look of things, to either punish him or make him obey her commands. Was that why nopony stood up to her?

Twilight considered rushing in to save her brother, but this was too much for her. To face an alicorn was far beyond her abilities. She hurried away, teleporting once she was far enough that Cadence wouldn’t sense her do it.

***

Twilight agonized over what she ought to do as night turned to dawn turned to morning. Surely Celestia could help, but how to ask her for it? If only she had some evidence other than observation to prove that Cadence was abusing her sorcerous powers to take advantage of Shining Armor. But of course! If they are both present, it should be a simple matter of identifying if she has done anything to him recently, and Celestia can deal with her right away as well.

Twilight now had a plan, and she also knew how to do it. The sorceress had a memory for schedules, and she could recite the timelines of the wedding preparations flawlessly if needed. That morning, Celestia, Cadence, and Shining Armor would all be in the castle’s great hall to run through the wedding schedule and placement of the various parties. What’s more, Twilight was supposed to be there as well, so it wouldn’t be like she was intruding. When the time came, she hurried down from her tower, taken aback only a moment by the fact that Rarity wasn’t there working on the dresses.

When she arrived at the great hall, she was surprised to see the rest of the Brave Companions there. Pinkamena was working on her decorations while the others made sure they understood the plans for the wedding day, laid out by Celestia with occasional comments from her page. Other ponies involved in the wedding milled around the room, including Twilight Sparkle and Shining Armor’s parents, her father uncomfortably shifting the crown on his head from time to time. At the head of the room, on the raised section that was home to Celestia’s throne, stood the wedding party and Celestia, standing in the place of the priestess who’d perform the ceremony. Cadence was to the left with her bridesmares (all Cant’r Laht sorceresses) and Shining Armor to the right with his groomstallions (all Cant’r Laht guards). Directly to the right of Shining Armor was the stallion of honor, some obscure noble that Cadence knew, and the spot to the left of Cadence was empty, left for Twilight.

“Twily, there you are!” Shining Armor called out to her, “Come on up, right next to Cadence.”

“I am not going to stand next to her,” Twilight Sparkle said, putting her hoof down at the foot of the stairs, “And neither should you.”

“See?” Cadence said pitifully to her fiancé as several ponies in the room gasped.

“I’ll handle it,” Shining Armor told her before addressing his sister, “What is the problem, Twilight?”

“She is!” Twilight exclaimed, jabbing a hoof at Cadence, “She is despicable!”

“Twilight!” Shining Armor barked.

“No, something has changed while she was away!” Twilight plowed on, “She has been horrible to my friends, though nopony seems to notice, and this morning I saw her casting a spell on you that brought you to your knees because you disagreed with her!”

“Why are you doing this?” Cadence asked plaintively.

“Twilight! That’s enough!” Shining Armor yelled.

“No, she has put you under her spell! You, and who knows who else, so you are blind to how she is acting! I know what I saw!”

“Why? Why do you hate me?” Cadence sobbed, the urge to weep that had been mounting ever since Twilight began her accusations finally bursting to the surface.

“These are serious accusations, Twilight,” Celestia said gravely, “Do you have any means to back them up?”

Shining Armor was trying to comfort Cadence, but she pulled free of his embrace and ran out of the great hall crying.

“Stop her!” Twilight Sparkle yelled to the very uncomfortable guards.

“Don’t bother!” Shining Armor countermanded the order as he angrily made his way down the steps to speak to Twilight face-to-face, “I don’t know what has gotten into you, Twilight! I didn’t want to believe it, but Cadence was right! Why would you accuse her of something like that unless you hated her?”

“But I saw—” Twilight tried to object before being interrupted.

“Cadence hasn’t been using her magic to hurt me or influence my mind! She has been using it to heal me, because ever since I began performing the spell to shield Cant’r Laht I’ve been getting terrible headaches!”

“I—” Twilight said.

“And if she hasn’t been the nicest to your friends, it’s because she’s been trying to plan this wedding without me and is completely stressed out! I hoped you would help, but you only made things worse! She’s been worried about my health and worried about the wedding, and now she has to worry about her sister-in-law hating her for no reason!”

“I was just trying to—”

“Maybe Cadence was right about other things too! If this is how you’re going to act toward her, you can forget about being my best mare!” Shining Armor shouted, “In fact, it might be best if you don’t show up for the wedding at all!”

“I … I …” Twilight stammered as Shining Armor stalked off.

Those who hadn’t already fled during the confrontation began to leave as well, none with any kind looks for Twilight, and that included her friends. Soon she was alone in the great hall with Celestia, who strode up to her. Twilight looked up at the ancient alicorn sorceress who towered over her.

“Celestia, I was—”

“I am very disappointed in you, Twilight,” Celestia cut her off before trotting out of the room.

Twilight Sparkle had no idea what to do, so she sat down where she was, alone in the great hall, the beginnings of wedding decorations all around her. How could things go so wrong? I was so certain that I was in the right. Could I really have been horrible to Cadence instead of the other way around, judging her harshly because I don’t want to let Shining Armor go? As she thought back, she realized that she had perhaps been too harsh to Cadence in some places. She had jumped to conclusions and thought the worst of her when Cadence was under tremendous pressure. So, Cadence was curt and dismissive sometimes. So was I before I moved to Ponieville, and I didn’t have the excuse of planning a royal wedding on my own. What have I done?

Twilight had been so worried that she and her brother had grown apart during her time in Ponieville, but that hadn’t been the case until she’d spoiled everything. She had adored Cadence once. Had she built up an unattainable fantasy Cadence who would satisfy her criteria for a sister-in-law? Had she judged Cadence unfairly? I could have gained Cadence as a sister, but instead I have lost Shining Armor as a brother! What have I done? How can I make this right?

Twilight shivered as she felt a wing stroke her mane. Wiping her eyes—she hadn’t even realized she’d been crying—she looked up. Cadence stood over her, looking down with compassion. That was the Cadence she’d once known. She wasn’t gone or changed at all, and if she was, then it didn’t matter.

“I’m so sorry,” Twilight said, her voice breaking as she did so.

“Oh, rest assured, you will be,” Cadence said.

Twilight felt all her muscles stiffen in place and her voice died in her throat. Cadence was casting some sort of enchantment on her! She tried to cast a spell, but her thoughts were all fuzzy; if felt like her head was stuffed with cotton. Emerald flames leapt up around her in a swirling pattern as her mind deadened even further until she lost consciousness.

Comments

[TasermonsPartner]

Using Spike's "lost" letter as a backdrop for why they didn't know of the wedding sooner was a nice addition that makes alotta sense.

However, I do think there was a great deal of lost potential here concerning Spike and Cadence. He's obviously interested in his dragon culture, and Cadence has just spent years in the dragon homelands, yet he does not even attempt to ask her about it...nor does Twilight or anypony else, apparently. That seems rather...odd? It could even be used as a further evidence by Twilight to back up Cadence's odd behavior if the mare was short or not forthcoming with Spike, but it was kinda ignored.

Though, I do like your version of events playing out better, and they leave you wondering with much more uncertainty till the very end than the show did, so it's much more suspenseful and would be much more of a guessing game (if we didn't already know the result).

[FireOfTheNorth]

10727354

However, I do think there was a great deal of lost potential here concerning Spike and Cadence. He's obviously interested in his dragon culture, and Cadence has just spent years in the dragon homelands, yet he does not even attempt to ask her about it...nor does Twilight or anypony else, apparently. That seems rather...odd? It could even be used as a further evidence by Twilight to back up Cadence's odd behavior if the mare was short or not forthcoming with Spike, but it was kinda ignored.

You make a good point. I'll have to remember that in the future. While Cadence was largely isolated during her time in Tyrannus (mentioned in Lady of Love's epilogue, she would still know more about dragon culture than probably any other pony and I should use that.

[Anonymous Critic]

Twilight agonized over what she ought to do as night turned to dawn turned to morning. Surely Celestia could help, but how to ask her for it? If only she had some evidence other than observation to prove that Cadence was abusing her sorcerous powers to take advantage of Shining Armor. But of course! If they are both present, it should be a simple matter of identifying if she has done anything to him recently, and Celestia can deal with her right away as well.

...is observation not enough? She can just have Celestia use the same spell on her that she used to ultimately find out who killed Blueblood... or is that type of evidence just conveniently invalid now that it could easily save the day?