Twilight and her friends knew each other from the start. Becoming heroes was unexpected, but welcome. Now that the wedding of Shining Armor draws near though, it's time to meet up with an old friend, and execute their true plan.
Twilight Sparkle and her friends have been model Equestrian citizens for years. After finally reuniting with Twilight, their lives were given real meaning. They’d become heroes; Equestria’s protectors, but the girls have always had bigger plans for the kingdom. Now the wedding of Shining Armor draws near, everything is about to come out into the open. Of course, there will always be those whom resist.
Cover image rearranged to show up better. Proof-reader Tatsurou
The train pulled into the station and came to a slow stop. Six particular ponies disembarked; five both excited and nervous, and one very impatient. Foremost now, however, was the more than unsettling giant rose colored bubble they just passed through.
“What the heck was that?!” Twilight demanded.
“And what’s with all the guards?” Rainbow added, “It’s a freaking wedding, not an invasion!”
“Calm down, both of you,” Rarity insisted, “I'm sure they're just taking the necessary precautions. Royal weddings do bring out the strangest ponies.”
Pinkie chose this opportunity to sneeze confetti while simultaneously sounding like a trumpet.
“I rest my case,” the fashionista said with a smirk.
“What’s that supposed to mean?!” Pinkie snapped with an accusative and bug eyed look.
With a pat on the pink mare’s head Rarity calmly said, “Nothing at all Pinkie, I assure you.”
“Okie dokie loki!” The pink party pony proceeded to bounce off aimlessly towards the castle, effortlessly going from one side of the wide path to the other in any single bounce.
“Well if you’ll excuse me,” Twilight fumed as she went off towards the castle, “I have a certain blue haired stallion who’s about to get a piece of my mind!”
“Is it the medulla oblongata?” Pinkie guessed as she popped out of a bush as bounced next to her purple friend.
“No Pinkie, I still need that. I was thinking about the amygdala and hypothalamus though.”
“...Twilight those could do a lot of--”
“I’m mad Pinkie. Very. Mad.”
“Got it!” Pinkie zipped away, knowing full well what Twilight could do in a foul mood.
Twilight marched up to the castle and saw the odd one out of them. Among all those in gold only one of them wore purple: “SHINING ARMOR!” By the time the guards were ready to defend Twilight had already teleported within a breaths distance of her brother. “What’s the big idea buster?!”
The guards took little time to adjust to the change in target position and had all manner of spears and swords pointed at the young unicorn, whom quickly incapacitated them all by holding them to the floor with her magic, several with their legs behind their backs or heads.
Shining Armor didn’t dare flinch, but he couldn’t stop himself from sweating. “Um...at ease stallions. This is my sister.”
“Us?”
“Why don’t you tell her that?”
“Well for starters I’m smart. That and I’d think twice about pointing a weapon at Celestia’s protege...please let them go Twiley?”
The younger unicorn (begrudgingly) complied. “Maybe they should review the VIPs on the guest list, lest they make a hasty mistake,” she hissed.
Shining Armor had seen his sister mad before. In more ways than one. The first was when they were young and he was the first to realize she was prone to anxiety attacks, sometimes over the smallest things. The other was the literal sense. Nopony made Twilight angry for a very good reason: she was very strong. He still shuddered when he remembered her breaking the magic inhibitor their dad had put on her as punishment for bringing the oven to life.
The surrounding guards had been told what to do if Twilight showed up angry. She was right about them acting a bit too hasty. Their orders were simple: run.
As the guards bolted Shining Armor dare not look away from his younger sister’s gaze. He knew Twilight would never really hurt him, but it was hard not to be intimidated by somepony with her kind of power. “I’m sorry?” he tried.
“You’re sorry?!” she yelled at him.
He winced, doing his best to look apologetic. “I was just really busy, and Cadence has been swamped with all sorts of--”
“Cadence shouldn’t have been the one telling me!” Twilight snapped, “And neither should the stupid wedding invitation!”
“I can explain!” he said defensively, and very quickly.
She narrowed her eyes and backed away slowly. “You’re lucky I’m happy about all this or you’d be sorry.” Shining sighed in relief, even though he knew it was a bluff to begin with. “Now. You couldn’t tell me you were getting married why?”
The older brother looked down at his little sister before simply deciding to show her. “Just watch. This, you need to see.” His horn glowed brightly and a pure magic stream left it, strengthening the magical barrier surrounding the cliffside castle, all the while Twilight looked in awe of the display.
For a moment his footing faltered and he stumbled, his sister helping him to stand for a moment. She of all ponies knew how exhausting the spell must have been. He took a moment to stand as he explained, “A threat has been made towards Canterlot specifically. Not all Equestria. Canterlot. The burden of keeping Canterlot safe and secure rests squarely on my shoulders. Staying focused on the task at hoof has been my top priority.”
“And you’re the only pony that can perform a defensive spell of this magnitude,” Twilight finished, adding a sad sigh, “Okay. I understand.” Shining eased up with his own sigh of relief before tensing up again as Twilight poked at his chest. “I’m still mad at you though! You could have at least told me you proposed to her!”
“I tried to warn him, but no. He thought it would be a fun surprise,” said the pink alicorn as she trotted out of the castle, “I told you so.”
“So it begins,” the captain groaned in dismay. That’s one time, and we’re not even married yet.
“Cadence!” Twilight cheered as she bounded to her old foal sitter. The two shared a cheerful embrace, a very surprising one given how angry the magic student was not but five seconds ago. “I could never be mad at either of you for long,” Twilight admitted, gesturing for Shining to share a family hug, which he gladly did.
After a sweet moment Twilight backed out and hopped excitedly. “Can we do the dance Cadence?”
“Oh Twilight. It has been a while,” the princess said in thought, “I’m not sure if I--Sunshine sunshine.” She suddenly started tippy toeing in place with her head low.
“Ladybugs awake,” the two said as they fluttered their hooves over their eyes, “clap your hooves and do a little shake.” Twilight shared a lighthearted laugh with her old foal sitter.
“Glad we’re all happy again. You always got the worst mood swings Twiley.”
“Don’t push it,” she warned.
“Well,” Shining decided to pull his trump card, “Would you forgive me if I made you my best mare?”
“YES!” Twilight squeed as bounced happily. Her bouncing was cut short as Shining Armor stumbled and gripped his head in pain. The two fillies helped him stand as they both alleviated his pain with their magic. After a moment his headache subsided.
“I didn’t know you knew that spell Twilight,” Shining remarked with grateful smile, “Thank you both so much.”
The reunion couldn’t last too long though, as another guard came to take Shining Armor to his new post, orders from higher up. With the groom to be gone Twilight and Cadence could finally catch up.
So Twilight slapped her. “What is wrong with you?!” she demanded, “I was supposed to be told of any new developments immediately! We had an agreement Chrysy!”
“Don’t get mad at me!” she snapped back, “It wasn’t my fault some stupid changeling decided to leave an encrypted message for the guards to find just lying around. This barrier shouldn’t even be here!”
“No duh! Ugh, this makes everything so much more complicated,” Twilight complained. For a moment the two walked the corridors in silence until Twilight finally laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Cadence asked with a bit of amusement, unable to resist the contagious laughter.
“I can’t believe you did the dance,” she giggled.
“Even without the guards around I have to put on a good performance right?”
“I know, but that is so messed up! You got it perfectly.” Twilight broke down into a series of snickers and even fell to the floor for a minute. When she finally caught her breath she asked, “Okay then. Where is she, and when did it happen?”
“I overheard Shining planning to propose a little over a month ago, so I got into position then,” Cadence explained, “I put her in the crystal caverns for safe keeping. A couple of soldiers bring her food daily so she doesn't starve to death.”
“Good. All is well then,” Twilight said happily as the two of them started ascending the tower stairs to Twilight’s old room, “Not to mention...I know it might sound weird, but I don’t want her to get hurt.” A rare moment for Twilight. “We just went through so much together. I want her safe.”
“I understand Twilight,” Cadence assured her, “That’s why I made sure it was actually good food and not gruel. She’s confused about it, but she’s not complaining at least.”
“So...she doesn’t know about my involvement?” Twilight asked with a shaky voice. The two had reached the door to Twilight’s room, and her personal library. Cadence just shook her head. “Why not?”
Cadence looked surprised. “I didn’t think you wanted her to know.”
“...I’m just not sure,” Twilight said as she headed in.
“There you are Twilight!” Spike said as he ran up to her, “I was wondering if you’d ever get here.”
“Oh Spike,” Twilight said with a pat on his head while the purple fire sprung up around her, “You knew I needed to talk with Chrysy, and you knew it was going to take a while.”
“I kno--AGH!” Spike jumped when he opened his eyes to see the real Twilight: chitin black shell, hooves and violet mane the same color as her coat once was; both riddled with holes. Her purple eyes remained, though now with slit pupils. Spike caught his breath while Cadence and Twilight trotted past him just giggling like schoolfillies. “Don’t do that! You know it scares the crap out of me!”
The mares laughed despite him. “Sorry Spike. I couldn’t resist, and I just had to show Chrysy.” She magically pulled him into a hug and nuzzled him affectionately. “My number one assistant. You know I love you right?”
Spike blushed. “Yeah, I know Twilight.” He nuzzled back for a moment before pushing away and saluting. “I managed to copy all the guard postings miss Sparkle. It’s right on that table.”
Twilight looked at the plans. Spike had done a very good job copying everything down to the last detail. Years of living with Twilight had given him a keen eye for detail, something Rarity only fueled. “I couldn’t have done it better myself,” Twilight declared.
“Uh, shucks Twilight,” the baby dragon said bashfully, “It wasn’t that hard with Shining Armor out. I owe you for distracting him.”
“It wasn’t as much me distracting him as it was me fuming to relieve stress,” Twilight said through her teeth, becoming upset at the thought of the barrier again.
“The shield right?” Spike asked full well knowing the answer. He scratched the back of his head in thought. “I know what you mean Twi. How are we gonna get everyone in for the wedding?”
“I don’t know yet Spike,” Twilight admitted, “I didn’t exactly plan for incompetence. I mean, I did have you after all.” She smirked at the baby dragon.
“Stop it,” he insisted bashfully.
After “Cadence” erupted in green flame for a moment, the mare that stood in her place couldn’t help but scoop Spike up. “Oh Twilight I can see why you adore him so much. So helpful and full of love. I couldn’t imagine a better little helper for you.”
“Twilight. Help. She’s smooshing me.”
“Can you blame her?” Twilight laughed. The sight of the older cerulean haired changeling queen cuddling the baby dragon was just to die for. “Alright Chrysalis, let him go. I’d like my little dragon to stay breathing for as long as he can.”
“Seconded,” Spike squeaked.
“Oh alright,” Chrysalis said as she relinquished Spike, “He’s just so sweet.”
Spike blew on his claws cockily, “The ladies just can’t stay away.”
“Don’t get too full of yourself.”
“Baby once you go scaly you'll come back daily.”
The three snickered for the moment before Twilight finally got serious again. “We really do need to figure this out. I don’t get how one of our own troops could be so careless.” She looked through her old window and couldn’t even see the sky clearly, which caused her wings to buzz nervously.
“One of us could go out and tell everypony to dig under the shield?” Chrysalis suggested.
Twilight shook her head. “No. I know this spell all too well. Shining and I are the only ponies apart from the princesses that can cast it, and he can actually do it better than I can. He’s specializes in defense.” She tapped her hoof on the ground anxiously. “Long story short: it’s a magic shield. It affects the physical without being physical. Meaning it cuts through the ground without displacing the existing matter and making us all fall to our collective dooms.”
“Sounds complicated.”
“It is Spike. It is.”
“What would be the strategically weakest point of any shield, or any defense?” Chrysalis asked slyly.
“It’s a magic sphere Chrysy. It doesn’t have a back.”
“But it’s only charged from one point.” Twilight looked at her, finally breaking her gaze from the depressing shield. “The top. Shining Armor’s beam recharged the shield from the top down, so the strongest point, or the front, would be there, and the weakest point?”
“The bottom!” Twilight zipped into the air and hugged Chrysalis happily. “You’re a genious!”
“Well.” The queen stood in mock thought for a moment. “Yes. Yes I am."
Spike quickly shushed them and held an hand to his fin, which served as his ear. “Somepony is coming...Celestia! Hide!” The two changed back into their respective disguises. “That works too.”
Twilight answered the knock at the door as she normally would. “Oh. Hi princess. Just settling back in my old room. Things are, uh, bit dusty.” She gave a sheepish smile. “It’s kinda been a while.”
Celestia, never breaking her warm smile, responded, “I’d imagine so, though I’m actually here to retrieve Cadence. When I couldn’t find her Pinkie guessed that I could find the two of you catching up.” She turned to her “niece”. “Pinkie needed you in the ballroom so you could discuss decorations. She's terribly excited about the whole ordeal.”
“I can imagine,” Cadence laughed, “She was always so excitable.” As she left she gave Twilight a goodbye and flew off.
“Twilight,” Celestia addressed her a bit more seriously, “I’m afraid a threat—”
“I know,” Twilight interrupted with a dismissive wave., “I already ran into Shining Armor and he explained everything. I’ll be careful.”
“Good. I wouldn’t want any harm to befall you Twilight.”
Twilight’s heart swelled as she soaked up her mentor’s love without her knowledge. Ponies had so much love to give. “Um.” Twilight’s smile fell as Celestia left. “Wait.” The alicorn turned and gave her a puzzled look. “You’ll always be there for me. Right?” she asked nervously.
“Of course.”
“No matter what?”
“Yes Twilight.”
“P-p...promise?”
“Twilight where is this coming from?” Celestia looked at her student with a very worried look on her face. “Has somepony been putting doubts in your head?”
“No princess.” Not any that weren’t there to begin with. “I...I just needed to ask.”
“If you say so...I’ll see the both of you later.” With that the solar princess finally departed. She was still worried of course, but with the wedding and the threat on the capital still present matters she just didn’t have the time to pry further.
As the door closed Twilight dropped to her hunches and started shaking uncontrollably. Her shaking only dulled when Spike hugged her and she dropped her disguise. “She’s gonna hate me Spike. I just know it.”
“It’ll be alright Twilight. You’ll see,” Spike tried his best at comforting her.
“No Spike...I don’t think it will this time.” Twilight started tearing up with her head and ears drooping. “I don’t know what I’m gonna do Spike. What if she does hate me? I can’t handle that Spike. She’s always been there. She always loved me, but...what if she calls me a parasite?”
“She wouldn’t do that Twilight. I know you’re not a parasite.”
She finally smiled through her tears. “I know you know Spike, but you grew up knowing that.” Twilight thought back to that day...
***
It was the most exciting day of young Twilight’s life, and the most terrifying. The day of the entrance exam to Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. The blunt of the panic came when she saw the cart with the dragon egg roll in. I don’t have a spell for that! Quick Twilight think of something! Anything!
“Well miss Sparkle?”
Just wing it! What could go wrong? To this day Twilight would never “just wing it” again. She tried her magic again and again with different techniques and different angles, but it didn’t even seem to touch the egg. It’s no use. All this pressure. Even with mom and dad here I feel like I’m starving.
“I’m sorry I wasted your time.” At that moment, what Twilight now knew was Rainbow Dash broke the sound barrier. The resounding crack startled her so badly that she tapped into her own natural magic pool that she scarcely knew she had. The reaction was surprisingly strong, since the first beam of magic hatched the egg that she couldn’t even budge before.
Of course then she couldn’t stop it. She panicked, and when she panicked she panicked more. She was in front of too many ponies, her parents. What if I change back and they all see?! I’ll be run out of the city! They’ll never believe it’s really me. The now grown up dragon (albeit with a baby’s mind) ensured that somepony would come to investigate.
The biggest shock of all was when Twilight saw Celestia herself. Only through sheer force of fear induced will was Twilight able to cease her newfound power’s outburst. She waited for the monarchs first words.
“Twilight Sparkle.”
She cracked. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to--”
“You have a very special gift. I don’t think I’ve ever come across a unicorn with your raw abilities.”
“Huh?” She didn’t dare break her gaze, but she knew from the word “unicorn” that she hadn’t reverted to her true self at least. Everything that Celestia said after that just got the young changeling to trust her more, and even admire her beyond any shadow of a doubt. As if the day hadn’t already been perfect enough it was also the day she got her cutie mark. She didn’t know what was more shocking, the fact that she got it, or the fact that it showed up through her disguise.
Maybe her disguise faltered after all, but only just enough for it to appear on the surface. Maybe the magic that made cutie marks appear was actually strong enough that it came through without her permission. Either way it was the happiest day of her young life.
It had been a busy week for the magic student. She got settled into her new dorm room finally, and while she’d was sad to be away from her parents, she did have princess Celestia to help. That just left one thing...
“So...what do I do with you little guy?”
The baby dragon looked up at her with an adorable smile. It felt weird having the newborn dragon around all the time. When Celestia told her that the egg wasn’t actually supposed to hatch she was surprised alright, but not as surprised as she was when she was told that since she hatched him she needed to be the one to take care of him.
“I finally decided. I think I’ll call you Spike.” The swell of love she felt come off him was surprising to say the least. “I guess you like it.” She smiled.
Celestia told her that dragons learned faster, but aged slower than ponies. Twilight found it a bit hard to believe, but by reading his emotions she determined he could in fact understand everything she said. He was only a week old.
“You’re a pretty smart little guy huh?” The dragon giggled.
Twilight moved to nuzzle him and gave him his bottle. The one thing that made her nervous was that he could understand most everything around him already, including who she was, and if he ever saw, what she was. He might not know the difference right away, but she was sure he’d be scared if he saw her go up in flames and get replaced with somepony else.
His bottle empty, Twilight set him down and pat him on the head. When she moved kiss him on the forehead he burped up a small plume of fire. Small as it was it was enough to startle the young changeling back into her true form. She jumped back as looked at herself in the mirror, and looked at the infant dragon, who looked at her oddly. He saw her cutie mark and crawled over to her anyways, the same happy smile on his face.
“You’re not scared?” she asked surprised. When he shook his head Twilight collapsed. Spike started pushing her, trying to get her up, but she just started laughing. That was enough to tell Spike she was okay, so he calmed down and hugged her. She wrapped a hole riddled hoof around him and snuggled him. “Oh Spike. You can’t imagine how happy I am to hear that. This is the one thing nopony else can know. Not ever. They’ll be afraid, call me names and hate me for it. But you don’t mind. You’re little innocent mind sees me for me, no matter what I look like. I love you Spike.”
Spike responded by cuddling further into her grip, yawning, and falling asleep. Twilight carried him to her new bed and snuggled in with him. This little accident was going to be her best friend ever, she could already tell.
***
As Twilight trotted around the edges of the magic barrier she glanced back at Spike with a smile.
“What’s up Twi?”
“I was just thinking is all.”
“About what?”
“...Thanks Spike.”
“Oh. That.” He chuckled. “You’re always gonna be Twilight to me. Always have been for as long as I can remember.”
“Psst!”
The two looked outside the barrier to see a rustling bush. Twilight’s magic flared up and she traced a heart on the shield with a stick. The changeling on the other side accepted the signal and revealed himself.
“Disguise yourself you idiot!” Twilight scolded, “Incompetence is what got us into this mess to begin with.”
The changeling disguised himself as the unicorn Fancy Pants. “So sorry. The fact that we even have to meet like this is bad enough. I’m just so nervous with this construct here.”
“Listen close and listen fast. I can’t be away for too long. Tell everypony that the weakest point of the shield is at the bottom of it. Information courtesy of Chrysalis’ logic.”
“Thank you ma’am. Now we can get back on schedule.” The changeling turned unicorn galloped off to update their orders.
“We should get back before somepony starts asking where we are.”
“Good idea Spike.”
***
“So how is everypony doing?” Twilight asked as she joined her friends for lunch. The collective response was “could be better”.
“As fun as the idea is, I doubt I’m really gonna do a rainboom after the ‘I dos’,” Rainbow complained.
“Well it’s not like you can’t do it anyways,” Twilight pointed out helpfully.
“Yeah I know, and I know that this is gonna be so much better, but I can’t help but feel disappointed ya know? I was promised a wedding dang it, and I better get one eventually.”
“Why Rainbow dear I didn’t have you pegged as the romantic type,” Rarity teased. The girls laughed as Rainbow grumbled. “Oh, but all joking aside ‘Cadence’ has been awfully picky about the dress. I know she needs to keep up appearances, but Twilight could you ask her to dial it back a bit when you see her? Making a wedding dress on this short of notice is hard enough. I don’t need the bride breathing down my neck the whole time.”
“I’ll be sure to let her know, and no matter what I’m sure it will look lovely.”
Fluttershy took her turn so speak up, “Well one of my birds has been really off key lately.” Fluttershy held up a bird that proceeded to squawk horribly. “I think he might be sick, but he might just have a sore throat too.”
“The cooks ain’t exactly pickin’ up mah family recipes too well,” Applejack grumbled, “They just ain’t used to anything that uses more food than spice.”
“I’m just upset all my decorations are gonna go to waste,” Pinkie pouted, “I worked hard for this party so there had better be a party.”
“There will be plenty of celebrating when it’s all over Pinkie,” Twilight promised, “In the meantime, how about you help Spike plan my brother’s bachelor party? And no kiddy stuff either. Do it right.”
“Soooooo rent out Vinyl’s club, pay for strippers, booze, and plan over the top gimmicks?”
“Pretty much, yeah.”
“Okay, I think we can manage.”
“You get the booze and the barely legal fillies, and I’ll get the club and start planning insanely stupid and fun stuff,” Spike planned, “I’m thinking a fountain of of flaming rum.”
“Unique,” Twilight commented.
Rarity crinkled her nose in disgust. “Honestly I don’t see how any of you three can be okay with this, especially you Twilight. This is your brother we’re talking about. Do you really want him borderline cheating on Cadence? And Spike, you’re not even legal drinking age.”
“I’m just all about the party.”
“Besides Rarity, it’s tradition,” Rainbow chimed in, “Every stallion has to have their last chance to act like an idiot before going fully responsible. So do the girls.”
“And I’m not pony legal drinking age,” Spike reminded her, “There’s a law on pony drinking, gryphon drinking, mule drinking, donkeys, minotaurs, and even changelings surprisingly.”
“The one for changelings is the same as for ponies actually,” Twilight chimed in.
“But there aren’t any laws on dragons drinking, so I can do pretty much whatever I want. Twilight and I went over that one with a fine tooth comb just to make sure. I’m the only dragon that actually lives in Equestria. The princesses aren’t going to make a new law just for me.”
“Another thing, given the circumstances, you’re worried about him borderline cheating on Cadence?” Twilight asked with a raised eyebrow, “I hate to say it, but it’s a bit late for that.”
“That’s different and you know it Twilight.”
“My point still stands.”
“By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask...how is Cadence?” Everypony looked at Fluttershy. “You know,” she whispered, “the real one.”
“Chrysalis has her trapped in the crystal caverns, and she’s being well cared for,” Twilight answered in just as soft a voice, doing her best to mimic her friends naturally soft tone. “She wasn’t going to let Cadence get hurt you know.”
“I know. I just worry. Maybe a bit paranoid when a life is at stake. You’re paranoia always pays off. Remember Nightmare Moon?” Each of them, oddly enough, smiled.
“That was the reason I got to stay in Ponyville with all of you.”
***
The princess said she trusted her? HAH! Then why was she just being dismissed and sent to “oversee preparations”? “It’s an insult to my insight Spike! I’ve always been right before!”
“You didn’t predict the end of the world before,” Spike pointed out indifferently.
“It’s not the end of the world to Nightmare Moon! She thinks what she’s doing is right! Do you know what eternal night would do to the whole world?!”
“Freeze everypony to death?”
“Freeze everypony t—hey you got it right.”
“The sun would still be on the other side Twilight,” Spike reminded her, “I know we don’t know much about that side, but I’m sure people wouldn’t appreciate 24 hour sunlight either.” That did not help Twilight’s mood. As the two started their descent Spike assured her, “I’m sure Celestia believes you. I mean, who else could have been the older sister that raised the sun in the book?”
“Yeah, our loving monarch is the older sister of a pony who got jealous and nearly succeeded in destroying the world unintentionally,” Twilight deadpanned, “That’s a comforting thought.”
As they landed Spike said, “I’m sure she has a plan Twilight, and if I had to guess, you’re at the center of it.”
“Thank you kind sirs.” She even managed to get a snack out of their appreciation and general attraction to her. Just a little one, but she couldn’t help but snicker a bit at how much attention she always got just being there. “Now what makes you think that I’d be at the center of any of Celestia’s plans?” Twilight and Spike both barely had time to look at Pinkie while she gasped and zipped off. “And what was that about?”
“Well I think Celestia trusts you enough to find the answer she couldn’t,” Spike answered, “She could only seal Nightmare away. Maybe you can fix her. And Pinkie? ...Well she’s just Pinkie.”
“Eeyup,” said the passing stallion.
“Wait a minute!” The stallion stopped and looked her her a bit puzzled. “You’re Big Mac right? Applejack’s brother?”
“Eeyup. How’dya know?”
“Ponies talking around town about what a great honor it is that your family gets to make food for the Celebration, which is why I’m here. I’m sorry I haven’t even told you my name.” Twilight steadied herself with a breath and officially introduced herself. “I’m Twilight Sparkle, and I need to speak with your sister about food preparation for the Summer Sun Celebration.”
“Well then, right this way miss Twilight,” Mac said as he continued on with his cart, “Ah was jus’ headin’ home with some supplies we needed for just that.”
“Lead on.” I wonder what AJ will have to say about all this...
***
“Nightmare Moon huh? Yer sure about that?”
“Oh I’m sure alright. I counted the dates twice. I just wish I’d read up on this sooner.” Twilight hung her head in dismay. “And the princess just dismissed it.” She sighed as the two walked through the orchard. “Spike thinks that she thinks that I’m going to be able to stop her.”
“Nightmare Moon would hate Celestia right?”
“Yes?” She looked at the farmpony suspiciously. “Why?”
“Well let’s just say she is comin’ back. Wouldn’t she want the biggest way to spit in Celestia’s face to be her grand entrance? She’s gonna pop up in her place during the ceremony!”
“Oh geez you’re right! She’s gonna be here in front of everypony! What do I do AJ? WHAT DO I DO?!”
Applejack stared blankly at her. “First of all, let go of mah face.” The unicorn grinned sheepishly and stepped off apologizing. “Second, nopony said ya gotta go it alone. Ya got the five of us to back ya up now.”
Spike perched himself on Twilight’s head and looked her in the eyes. “Yeah, the whole gang's here in Ponyville Twilight—except for Chrysalis—what can’t you girls do?”
Twilight rubbed his head in thanks. “You’re both right. I shouldn’t really have anything to worry about. Nice and calm.” She took a few breaths to relax herself. “So, how about I meet that family now?”
***
After meeting Applejack’s very enthusiastic family she had to leave. “Bye Applejack and family,” making sure not to sound too familiar as to draw suspicion. As far as the family knew, this was the first time she’d ever met AJ.
“They were nice.”
Twilight groaned, practically throwing up. “Too nice.” She burped involuntarily. “I feel like I’m gonna burst.” The poor changeling had been forced to gorge herself on more than just pie, speaking of which, “And I ate way too much pie.”
“Well I think we know now why AJ’s so active all the time,” Spike laughed, “She’s gotta have some way to burn all that off.”
“Yeah, and I better find a way to burn all this off.” Spike poked the bulge in Twilight’s belly, causing her to lurch and glare at him. He grinned sheepishly. “Anyways, who’s next on the list?”
“Uh.” Spike pulled the list out of his pack. “Rainbow Dash is supposed to be clearing up the clouds.”
Twilight looked up. “Looks like she’s goofing off somewhere else.” The sky was of course littered with clouds, which meant Rainbow was putting her stunt career before work...again.
Spike’s fin twitched a moment before he deadpanned, “Incoming.”
The two stepped outwards and the blue pegasus crashed in between them. She didn’t crush anypony, but she did manage to land in a puddle of mud to soften the landing. She stood up looked at the two...who were both now covered in mud. She laughed sheepishly, “Um, oops?”
“I will destroy you for this,” Twilight seethed.
“I just got my scales buffed this morning!” Spike complained.
She floated over them still laughing sheepishly. “Uh, sorry?” They still glared. “Here, lemme help you.” As the pegasus hovered over her with a cloud Twilight tried and failed to protest while she was soaked to the bone. Still laughing, “Oops, I guess I overdid it. Um, uh, how about this? My very own patented Rain-Blow Dry!”
Before Rainbow reached maximum speed Twilight magically yanked her out of the air and forced her to sit. “I’ll air dry, thanks.”
“If you insist.” Rainbow shrugged. “So what brings ya here anyways Twi—”
Twilight shoved her hoof in Rainbow’s mouth and spoke through her teeth, “You must be Rainbow Dash. I’m Twilight Sparkle and I’m here to check up on preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration.” She winked as obviously as possible.
After managing to spit Twilight’s hoof out of her mouth Rainbow pointed out, “There’s nopony else here.”
Twilight groaned along with Spike. “Is it too hard to just stick with the act?” they asked.
“It’s boring, and it’s stupid,” Rainbow deadpanned.
“Like your job?” Twilight countered, “Which you still haven’t done.”
“I can get it done anytime I want,” she boasted.
Twilight knew full well Rainbow would rather just put it off until the last minute. Even if it was done in time, Twilight hated that about Rainbow, but she knew her well enough. A slick smile crept across her face. “Alright then. Don’t do it. I can get it done faster anyways.”
“WHAT?!” Rainbow yelled indignantly, “No way! I’m the fastest pony in Equestria! No way you can do it faster!”
“Sure I can. All I have to do is blast them with my magic. I don’t even have to move,” she bragged, “You would need to fly from cloud to cloud and bash them all into rainwater. I don’t care how fast you are. Magic. Is. Faster.”
“Oh yeah?! Prove it!” the pegasus challenged, “I bet I can bust more clouds than you can blast and have the sky clear in 5 seconds!”
“Okay,” Twilight said slyly, “You’re on. Ready?” Rainbow prepared for take off. “Go.”
Rainbow blasted off as fast as she could and started bashing as many clouds as she could as fast as she could. Twilight was sure between the two of them they could really clear the sky in five seconds, but she was teaching that airhead a lesson about laziness. She just sat there magically ringing out her mane until Rainbow landed a little more than ten seconds later with her eyes closed, and bragging.
“See? I told you there was no way. I took those clouds down so fast I didn’t even see one,” her smile faded, “...single...shot.” She finally opened her eyes and looked at Twilight, who was just sitting there with Spike, both with an innocent smile on their faces. “I’ve been had. Haven’t I?” She nodded. “Curse you.”
“Oh Rainbow,” Twilight laughed as she trotted off, “You know better. Curses. Don’t. Exist.”
“She got you good, Rainbow!” Spike taunted.
“This! Isn’t! Over!”
The young mare and the baby dragon just laughed.
“All right then,” Spike said as he retrieved his checklist, “Next is...decorations.” He smiled dumbly.
Twilight looked around a moment to make sure nopony was watching them. When she confirmed there weren’t any she asked, “You still have a crush on her don’t you?”
Twilight couldn’t even breath as she sank down into the crystal caverns. Literally. She had to pass through solid rock to do it. The cavern crystal for which it was named could naturally reflect magic if struck correctly, so simply teleporting in could be risky.
She touched down with her saddlebags in tow. Looking over herself she quickly gave herself the appearance of a blank flank, like a normal changeling. Thinking it over she decided to give herself an overall ratty look to her hair, lengthening it and letting it hang limply over her face and neck. Looking at herself in the reflection of a crystal, she looked like herself, but not like herself at the same time. The changeling she knew herself as was there, but the unicorn everypony else knew was nowhere in sight. It was...satisfactory.
She sniffed around looking for any trace of love in the air. It didn’t take long, and she set off looking for her. As she trot she worried about seeing her, after what had happened to her; what Chrysalis had done. It didn’t give the best first impression to a people, but she’d said she’d taken good care of her. Twilight hoped good enough.
Twilight found herself looking at...a door. One that looked like it didn’t belong, but it fit the architecture. A little pink crystal doorknob was fit in as well. Twilight hesitantly knocked.
“Why do you even bother with that, Chrysalis?” She sounded annoyed. At least she didn’t sound mad.
“I’m not Chrysalis,” Twilight told her. Her voice as a changeling had enough of an odd pitch and vibration to it that she didn’t sound normal, so Cadence didn’t suspect.
“Well if you insist on keeping up the illusion then ‘please come in and make yourself at home’.”
As Twilight trotted in she realized what Chrysalis meant by “well taken care of”. The room was actually fully furnished. A large bed that actually looked a lot like Cadence’s bed at home was pressed against the back wall. A few tapestries in the likeness of the castle’s own were hung on the walls, and a decorative rug was placed in the middle of the floor. A couple nightstands and a dresser were even added for her convenience.
“Um, wow. Chrysy wasn’t kidding. I really underestimated her this time.”
“Ahem.” Twilight saw the alicorn sitting on the bed, and despite not looking like a captive, she did look like she wanted to be elsewhere. “Was there something you wanted?” she asked impatiently.
“Why are you so grumpy?” Twilight snarked back, “You’re being treated like a princess in here.” Cadence arched an eyebrow. “Oh. Right. You, uh, are a princess.” That left an awkward silence. “To be fair you’re not really acting like one, so it was easy to forget for a moment.” Stay distant, don’t get too friendly.
“How do you expect me to react?” Cadence asked, “Just because your queen put a door in my room to simulate that I’m free to go at any time, or that I actually have some means of privacy, it doesn’t change the fact that I’m trapped here while somepony else is at my wedding!”
“She is not my queen,” Twilight snapped at her.
“What?” Cadence looked at the filly now, rather than just at the changeling. “You’re different from the others,” she said quietly as she realized it, “What makes you different?”
“Does it matter?”
“Then what’s different?”
Twilight’s eyes glanced away for a moment. “Chrysy...she’s kinda my sister,” Twilight admitted.
“Sister?” Cadence parroted in surprise. “Well, now that you say it, I guess you kinda look—”
“Not literally I mean,” Twilight corrected, “I mean, we’ve known each other since the day I was born. I was always raised by my pony parents, so Chrysy showed me the difference between me and them. Taught me what I was in addition to what changelings were.”
“She filled a big sister role when you needed it,” Cadence simplified.
“Exactly!” Twilight said in a much more chipper voice as she finally made eye contact again with a now very curious Cadence. “Why the look?”
“You still look like her,” she pointed out.
“Ugh.” Twilight rubbed her head in annoyance. “We’re both queens,” she explained thusly, “We’re bred differently, and we’re more powerful.”
“So there can be more than one queen to a hive then. Interesting. Then how do you divert power between the two of you?”
“We fulfil roles based upon convenience and need both. I’m out and about more keeping an eye on Equestria. I’m pretty well connected actually, so I can keep an eye on things,” Twilight explained, “Chrysy keeps an eye on the swarm, which is what we call the majority of changelings. Taking care of them and generally keeping them safe. We take care of our own you know, just like any other pony.”
“But you’re not ponies.”
“Yes we are!” Twilight yelled angrily, “Why does everypony think changelings are bugs or something?! We! Are! Ponies! Just like you are and anypony else for that matter!”
Cadence just looked at her in astonishment. “You’re...mammals?”
“YES! Do I look like I have weird antennas? Do I look like I can use this little weird sticky hairs on my legs to walk up walls and on the ceiling? Do I look like I have convex eyes? Do I look—”
“I get it!” Cadence finally snapped back.
“Apologize!” Twilight demanded, “Right! Now!”
Cadence was taken aback by the blatant demand. All while she’d been down there she’d never actually been told to do or say anything. Chrysalis said she’d already known all she needed to imitate her perfectly, so she wasn’t even interrogated. “Why?” she asked.
“Calling a changeling an insect is racist! That’s why!”
“I didn’t know that,” Cadence stated calmly, “But you’re getting ahead of yourself. I didn’t actually call you an insect or a bug.”
Twilight stopped for a moment and ran through her thoughts, suddenly laughing nervously when she realized Cadence was right. “Uh, sorry. I kinda got ahead of myself. I’ve just heard so many ponies say bad things about us, I guess I just wanted to snap on one about it for once, before I actually had a reason too.”
Cadence stayed surprisingly calm about it. “Your kind endures such hardship does it?” Twilight nodded meekly. “You know it has to be because of ignorance right? I don’t even know how changelings came to be.”
“So?”
“I just explained.”
“Okay...where do unicorns come from?” Twilight countered.
“I beg your pardon?”
“It’s just as valid a question,” Twilight rationalized, “How did unicorns come about? Or pegasi, of earth ponies? How about manticores? Oh, I always wanted to know where minotaurs came from!” Twilight dropped a deadpan expression. “We’re just ponies. I don’t know where we came from. You can argue evolution and such, but changelings don’t exactly have the same luxury of keeping our distant history as neat as Equestria has. We just know we are ponies, and maybe we’ve evolved outwards and away from the ‘traditional’ pony races, but we exist all the same, just like they do. That’s all we know, and all we need to know.”
“I see...can you speculate?” Twilight groaned. “Just humor me.”
“We can’t really tell you how or why changelings became what they are. We rationalize that it was a time of famine and we eventually evolved to a different state of being, one that doesn't require physical nutrition, but rather magical nutrition.”
“You feed off love,” Cadence deadpanned. “Actually, since you’re so chatty, how does that work?”
“I was getting to that.” Am I this annoying when I’m asking questions? “All creatures produce magic. Emotions alter the magic that all creatures exude, creating different magical frequencies. Changelings are nourished by the ones created by love and kindness. The Element of Kindness is therefore revered by changelings. If one were to bear it, they could be fed forever.” She couldn’t help but think of just how lucky Fluttershy was at that moment.
“And it would make you more powerful too, right?” More of an accusation on that one.
“Well, yes,” Twilight admitted, “Love and kindness create similar enough emotional frequencies for us to feed on, and it does give us power. It’s like when you eat. Your body breaks it down and converts the food into energy. It’s similar, but different for us. When we feed on love our bodies process the energy and convert it into magical strength. Changelings are not known for physical prowess to be perfectly honest.”
“So how powerful would it make you? In theory of course.”
“It’s not about power,” Twilight stated more calmly than she thought she would have, “It’s just about living, like anypony else. The Element of Kindness isn’t like the changeling equivalent of the apple from the tree of life. It’s just an artifact used to protect ponies from anything that threatens them. You know that.”
“If it’s not about power, than why lock me up and have your sister steal my fiance?” Cadence finally asked with all the spite that came with it.
Twilight flinched at the resentment she could feel rolling off Cadence. “This wasn’t what we wanted, but she needs her strength right now. Shining Armor was the best candidate.” That was the honest truth. “Couples during their engagement share more love then more than any other period during their relationship.” That was a lie.
“Really?” She didn’t sound too convinced. “There’s no period of time other than the time leading up to the actual wedding that—”
“Okay I lied,” Twilight admitted in annoyance, “Most of the time it’s during the honeymoon.” Her tone lightened a bit to try and comfort Cadence. “But...we wouldn’t actually take that from another pony.” Cadence seemed surprised. “It doesn’t matter what it brings to us. It’s about the other ponies. We only replace temporarily if we’ve been starved to near death, or if we need to take...drastic measures.”
“And taking over Equestria would count as ‘drastic measures’, right?” She glared through Twilight again, at the changelings she represented to the alicorn princess.
“It’s not like that,” the young queen tried and failed.
“Then what is it like?” Cadence demanded, “What good reason could you have for wanting to take over Equestria?! What?!”
Twilight stayed quiet. “I...can tell you wouldn’t believe me.” She dropped her saddlebags. “Inside you’ll find some of your favorite perfumes, some bath salts for the underground watering hole, a new charm to heat the water, more soaps, and your dress.”
“My dress?” she parroted in confusion.
“She told you didn’t she?” Twilight asked in confusion, “Chrysy wouldn’t actually take your big day away from you. Granted it’s going to be postponed a bit, but I thought you’d like your wedding dress. Rarity made it special for you, just so you know.”
“Oh, I, um...thanks?” Cadence wasn’t entirely sure just how to react to that. “Wait, you know Rarity?”
Said too much. Twilight trotted out the door as indifferently as she could, but Cadence followed her.
“How do you know Rarity? Who are you posing as?”
Twilight stopped dead a few steps ahead of the princess. “Most changelings don’t pose as anypony. They just make up their own image and live undetected for as long as they can. I’m no different in that aspect.”
“You said your pony parents,” Cadence reminded her.
Reeeally said too much on that one. “I was raised by a pair of unicorns, why?”
“Who? What poor couple never got to see their baby?” Cadence demanded.
That was going too far. Twilight glared at her and gave up her facade by putting on the one Cadence knew. “NOPONY!” Twilight screamed, “I love my parents and they love me! That’s all it’s ever been!” She marched up to Cadence and got eye to eye. “I’ve never lied to them in my entire lifetime. They just don’t know what I really look like.” She revealed her true unaltered changeling appearance. “This is what I look like Cadence. That’s the truth. The only thing I never told you.”
“You’re lying!” Cadence said in disbelief, “You can’t be...I’d...I’d be able to spot a changeling a hundred miles away.”
“Sunshine, sunshine. Ladybugs awake. Clap your hooves...”
“And do a little shake.” She almost believed it, but only for a moment. “Thats doesn’t prove anything! Twilight and I did that everyday, everypony knew that.”
Twilight just looked at her. Honesty was the best way to get Cadence to believe her. She’d either see a monster or the little filly she loved, and she was about to find out. “We...we...” She could barely stand to admit it. “We practiced...kissing. We said we’d never tell anypony else, remember?”
Cadence looked at the real Twilight in shock. Just shock. Not sure what to make of it. The Twilight she knew was a changeling. “Why are you doing this?” She looked away. “Tell me!” She flinched. “Tell me there’s a good reason,” she begged softly, “Please Twilight.”
She looked back with teary eyes. “Because some things just need to be done, and that’s that.” Twilight couldn’t take another moment of it. She was scared to hear the response, so she flew off at quickly as she could. She thought Cadence would see either her or a monster. It seemed even worse.
She saw both.
***
It had been a long day for Twilight. She almost lost her friends for good because of Discord. She wasn’t sure if Discord knew the truth, but she could have easily died that day. It left the lot of them drained.
The six of them couldn’t even hold their respective disguises as the dropped to the floor of Twilight’s library.
“I’m starving,” Rainbow muttered, her now bluescale mane more disheveled than ever.
“Where’s Spike?” Rarity asked, her white curls reduced to a split ended nightmare.
“He’s upstairs resting off a lot of delivered letters,” Twilight answered.
“Please wake him up,” Pinkie begged, her strangely still bouncy mane starting to deflate like a balloon.
“I don’t think I can last much longer,” Fluttershy wheezed, her own yellow mane more limp than ever.
“Well one of our critters better get here soon, or I think Ah’m gonna pass out from hunger,” Applejack muttered softly, the band lost from her orange mane, making it hang freely.
An unfamiliar looking pony knocked in pattern and entered the library with a certain dog with her. The six of them instantly looked at the door and calmed down seeing the pony. Anypony else wouldn’t have noticed from a distance the one thing they noticed up close: her slit pupils.
Winona ran up to the familiar smell of Applejack and started revitalizing her strength by licking her face. “Boy howdy am I glad to see the both of you!”
“Hey come on, AJ. Quit hoggin’ the dog,” Rainbow complained.
The six of them started arguing over who got the dog first. The pony finally erupted in green flame and scolded the lot of them. “For goodness sake, you’ve saved Equestria from certain doom twice now, certainly you’re above this sort of pathetic bickering.”
“No duh,” Spike added as he all but fell down the stairs. He yelped as Twilight magically dragged him over and hugged him with the last of her natural magic pool.
“Help me and Rarity for a bit would you Spike?” Twilight asked sweetly.
“Well it’s not like I have to move,” Spike said with a roll of his eyes and a blush in his cheeks as the two mares squeezed him between them.
“One more thing,” Chrysalis said as she pulled the baby alligator out of her mane and the small rabbit out of her tail. She passed them to their respective owners. “These ones missed you.”
“Angel bunny!” The rabbit cuddled up in Fluttershy’s hooves.
“Gummy!” The baby gator chomped on her hole riddled mane.
“Yes, yes, I am great, you’re very welcome,” Chrysalis bragged, cockily rubbing a hoof on her chest.
“Okay, you fed them, don’t get ahead of yourself,” Spike grunted from between his mares, “You hardly have the time to show up for a casual visit though.” Spike narrowed his eyes, which looked strikingly similar to the tallest changeling’s own, albeit a slightly lighter color. “Why are you here, and what made you bring everypony’s pets?”
Chrysalis clammed up for a moment. “Ugh,” she groaned finally, “Am I that transparent?” Spike nodded. “Very well.” She stood to her full stature, looking as regal as possible. “It’s time.”
The seven of them froze. Twilight was the first to say anything. “You mean...Canterlot?” Chrysalis nodded. “It’s really coming then?” Another nod. “Any plans?”
“Why now?” Rainbow asked, “It could have happened years ago or years later. Why now?”
“I wish I could say,” Chrysalis said solemnly, “Now is the time though. We need to amass our forces. The question is when, and how. So no, Twilight, I do not have a plan. I didn’t think it would be happening this soon either.”
“Another problem is, well, to be completely frank, ya don’t exactly have as much means of gatherin’ yer strength as we do.”
“You could replace me for a couple days!” Pinkie suggested.
“Pinkie, no,” Rainbow stated firmly, “We need her to build her strength, not explode.” The only reason Pinkie herself didn’t “explode” most days was because she was naturally hyper, so she burnt off her energy very quickly.
“I think we should plan a date to invade first,” Fluttershy wisely suggested.
The eight of them silently agreed and thought hard on when it should happen. “Well...” Twilight started nervously. The others instantly had eyes on her. That was her “I have an idea, but it’s not exactly my favorite” tone. “There is...Shining Armor...and Cadence.”
“We need a date Twilight dear, not a pony,” Rarity reminded her, “Although I wouldn’t exactly be opposed to standing in as Cadence for a date or two.” Rarity couldn’t help but melt at the idea of Twilight’s brother—
“Do not think about that when you are this close to me Rarity,” Twilight snapped, “Or when you're hugging another boy. That’s just weird.”
“And insulting, and emasculating,” Spike added, with enough spite on his voice to give the white eyed changeling a good jolt.
“I was actually suggesting Shining set the date...without knowing it,” Twilight explained hesitantly. The others looked at her in confusion. “Well...you see...Shining and Cadence have been getting serious lately...and Shining has been talking about her a lot in his letters...I think...he might be getting ready to propose.”
The others looked at her with dropped jaws. Rainbow was the first to saw anything, “You’re kidding.”
“Yer thinkin’ of havin’ Chrysalis replace Cadence leadin’ up to yer brother’s weddin’?!”
“I know it sounds messed up, but it’s not like Chrysy would actually marry him, and it’s not like they can’t reschedule and make a real wedding,” Twilight argued.
“And we could help with the real wedding as an apology,” Fluttershy added.
“But this is supposed to be a sacred time!” Rarity argued against the idea, “And not to mention—”
“From a strategic standpoint it’s brilliant,” Chrysalis finally said, much to everypony’s shock, “Of all of us I’m the only one without any connections to Canterlot. Spike is always with Twilight and the six of you hold the Elements of Harmony, and are all friends with the princess. This will require all of us, and I need a way in.”
“Not to mention my brother has a huge heart,” Twilight rationalized, “If anypony alone can bring Chrysalis up to full strength it would be him, not to mention the additional support from the princesses. Cadence wouldn’t be too difficult to overpower. Alicorn or not, she deplores violence, and doesn’t actually have any offensive spells at her disposal.”
“What if Shining wants to have sex?” Rarity asked bluntly.
“What if Chrysalis, as Cadence, suggests that they don’t have sex again until their honeymoon?” Fluttershy reasoned, “That sounds like something Cadence would do.”
“He wouldn’t like it, but he’d do it,” Twilight agreed.
“Well.” Rainbow still didn’t like it, but, “Okay fine, but we have got to go all out to make it up to both of them.”
“Then it’s agreed,” Chrysalis stated, “I’ll pose as princess Cadence once Shining Armor proposes, and then Operation: Hidden Blizzard is on.”
Twilight was nervous as she could be. This day wasn’t exactly on her bucket list so to speak. “Maybe if we just talk to her?” she suggested one last time.
Chrysalis, as Cadence, groaned in annoyance. “Twilight I know you don’t like this, and neither do I. We don’t have much choice anymore now do we? If I thought there was another way I’d bring it up in a heartbeat and cling to it like my life depended on it, but I don’t.” Her own heart sank as she looked her dress. It disheartened her to know that Rarity’s fine hoofmanship would just go to waste.
The eight of them were in Cadence’s dressing room. Chrysalis had of course named them her bride’s maids, with the exception of Twilight being her brother’s best mare. She looked at “Cadence” with her dress, and it filled them all with a sense of guilt.
“I gave Cadence her dress,” Twilight told them. Each of them looked at her in shock.
“Twilight, darling, what did you tell her?” Rarity asked nervously.
“Not much important,” Twilight assured them, “I just got her asking some stuff about changelings. She seemed kinda curious, so I just answered the best I could.” The seven of them let out the breaths they were holding. “Then when I was leaving…I kinda got a little too emotional and told her it was me.”
“TWILIGHT!!!” everypony yelled at her.
“We could have done this without anypony having to know it was us!” Rainbow yelled.
“Yeah. We get taken hostage and disappear for awhile, and six new mysterious changelings pop up and take over with Chrysalis. Now we can’t do that cause Cadence knows who ya are,” Applejack scolded her harshly, “It’s not like we can jus’ keep her locked up the rest of her life.”
“How did she take it?” Fluttershy asked, “I mean, did she even believe it was you?”
That was the question they were all asking themselves. They were all a bit afraid to hear the answer. “I don’t know,” Twilight admitted, “I got her to believe me, but I don’t know how she took it. I got scared and flew off.”
“She seemed awful quiet when I saw her this morning,” Chrysalis told them, “Barely said a word to me, but she did stare. Seemed to be judging me. It was rather disconcerting.”
“Come on girls, this is Cadence we’re talking about,” Spike reasoned, “She could never hate Twilight. Might be a little peeved that she never told her the truth, but it’ll blow over. Heck, I’m glad she did it.”
“Cadence isn’t a meanie,” Pinkie agreed, “I mean, if anypony would love Twilight for Twilight that isn’t one of us, it would be Cadence, or her brother, and probably her parents too. Speaking of Shining, boy did he have fun last night. Of course that means he got up pretty late with a really really bad headache, and—”
Fluttershy put a gentle hoof to Pinkie’s lips with a look that said all she needed to say. “Not the best time”. Pinkie just nodded and shut her trap. “Twilight, Pinkie does have a point. I’m sure Cadence is just reeling in shock at the moment. She’s just confused, but she watched you grow up with Shining and your parents. She’ll accept you, I’m sure of it.”
“How can you be so sure?” Rarity asked, “She is a princess, and as such she’s supposed to put the kingdom’s best interest first. Changelings are not widely accepted.”
“But Cadence is mostly just a pretty face,” Fluttershy pointed out, “She’s barely old enough to be taking on any real responsibility. So far she’s just been a public figurehead to make sure everypony feels safe and loved. If she really was curious about Changelings, then she should be a little objective about Twilight’s true nature.”
Spike cupped a hand to his fin again and everypony went silent. “Luna…and Shining. Act natural.”
The knock came. “Girls,” went Luna’s voice, “I’m here with Shining. Is everypony decent?”
“We’re all naked!” Twilight sang.
“Egad!” Shining joked. Even Luna laughed as the two trotted in the door. “Okay, all joking—and my headache—aside, I would like to talk to the my two favorite mares for a minute.”
“I’m merely here to sorrowfully inform you that I won’t be able to make the wedding,” Luna explained sadly, “As captain Armor wisely pointed out, my abilities would be better put to use patrolling the border of the castle in his place. My presence should deter any foolish enough to try and break in.”
“I understand Luna,” Cadence said sadly, “I just wish you could be there.”
“Farewell girls.” Luna quickly departed.
As the other girls started to leave as well, Shining held up a hoof, telling them to stop. He eyed Luna leaving and as soon as she was out of sight, he kicked the door shut and motioned for them all to sit down. “Tell me the truth,” he demanded with a sad and serious look in his eyes, “Where is Cadence?” The lot of them froze, Chrysalis nearly dropping altogether in shock. “Where is my fiance?”
“Shining,” Twilight started, “What makes you think—”
She was cut off by a quick look, not an angry one, just a sad one from her brother. “Cadence has been acting differently ever since I proposed. Just little key words and other small things that nopony else would bat an eye at. Saying ‘sort of’ instead of ‘kind of’. Putting her left hoof over her right instead of vise versa. Little things that don’t just change overnight.”
“…She’s safe in the crystal caverns hidden beneath the castle, and well cared for,” Chrysalis said in her real voice, surprising everypony with how quick she gave up on her rouse. Chrysalis was smarter than to play a hand she’d already lost though. “…You never said a word,” she pointed out curiously as she revealed herself for what she was, “If you knew then why didn’t you say anything?”
The slit pupiled eyes didn’t intimidate the captain for a moment. “Because I didn’t want to end up on the bad end of a mind washing spell,” he said flatly, and without missing a beat, “I didn’t want to believe it either. Everything else was nearly spot on. I always knew Cadence would be ecstatic about the wedding, but she would never rush it like you did.” Chrysalis suddenly found her hole riddled hooves very interesting. “What’s the reason for this? I know I’m just a pawn here.”
“What makes you think that?” she asked without looking at him.
“Because when Twily got here I heard her talking with you,” he said to their collective shock, “I was running back to give a kiss goodbye, but I stopped just around the corner and heard Twily getting mad at you for not telling her about ‘any new developments’. I heard the word changeling and that’s all I needed to know my fears really were grounded. I couldn’t very well follow you down the corridor without being seen, so I left for my post again.”
Twilight sighed sadly. “…What makes you think you’re just a pawn?” Straight to the point, not bothering trying to lie to him or deceive him.
“Instinct,” he answered simply. “What’s the endgame here? What are you planning? And how long have you been planning this for?” The girls and Spike looked between one another. “And how many of you are changelings?”
The question caught them off guard. Spike was the one that answered honestly. “All of them, except me. I’ve been helping Twilight even since I was born by honing my hearing, so she can calm down and not worry about somepony dropping in and seeing her unexpectedly.”
“Ah’ve always had Winona to tell me when somepony was comin’.”
“I run a place of business, so whenever somepony enters I have the bell to tell me. I’m just smart enough not to be me in the front room.”
“I live in a private residence made completely of clouds. Plus nopony is dumb enough to break into my place since I don’t have anything worth stealing and I’ll kick the ass of the moron who does.”
“I have a lot of different animals that would warn me ahead of time, and they can get really loud.”
“I have a Pinkie Sense for that.”
“Of course you do,” Shining deadpanned. He looked at Twilight, who just shrunk under his blank gaze.
“Why would you risk this?” Twilight asked him hesitantly, “If you know there’s a plan, and you know you’re a part of it, why would you risk telling us you know everything?”
“Because I knew—changeling or not—my sister wouldn’t just have me locked up and replaced.” Each of them just looked at him wide-eyed, hardly able to believe what they heard. He just looked at his hooves and dropped on his flank. “I ran over it a million times over the past few days. Trying to figure it out, when I realized that unlike Cadence there wasn’t a single thing about you that was different. Not. One. Thing.
“You were the same Twilight I knew when you moved to Ponyville. The same Twilight I knew growing up. The same Twilight I helped grow up. The same little sister I’d protected her whole life. I started running over every interaction with you after that, trying to see if I could find the one point in time when there could have been a switch. I can’t find one.” To his credit, his voice never broke it’s tone. He wasn’t mad. He wasn’t sad. He was just confused by the sound of it.
“Look at me then.” His head lifted ever so slowly. Twilight looked like she was on the verge of flying off again, but she stood her ground and went up in her purple flame. “This is what you’re afraid to ask right?” He nodded. “You want to know if it was really me since the day Twilight was brought home?”
He shook his head. “I already know,” he said softly, “What I want to know is how. How is my sister a changeling?”
Twilight knew exactly how to answer, but she wasn’t sure if she should yet. She turned and showed that her cutie mark was still there. “You know…this was one of the happiest days of my life…when I got this. It’s almost funny since it’s so ironic. When that loud crack startled me I was almost certain that I revealed myself, but instead I got this.” She got quiet for a moment. “It…will be easier to tell everypony at once.” That caused everypony to get their breath stuck in their throats.
“Twilight I don’t think the whole kingdom is going to be as accepting of this as I am,” the captain reasoned, “This isn’t like somepony coming out of the closet. That’s nothing nowadays, but you’re a changeling. The princesses hate changelings for what they’ve done in the past, and so does most of, if not all of the rest the kingdom.”
“Well maybe that’s why we’re doin’ this,” Applejack snapped, “Dang near all Equestria hates our kind!”
“Maybe we should give them a reason to,” Rainbow grumbled.
“Take that back and shut your mouths right now!” came the scream. Not from Chrysalis as they’d expected, but from Fluttershy of all ponies. That floored them more than anything else. “That is not what this is about, and you know it!” She punctuated her sentence by going up in her own yellow flame, with her now yellow eyes boring into the pair’s respective skulls. “This is about changing history, and righting wrongs. Not. Revenge.”
“Sorry sugarcube,” the cowpony whimpered, “Ah was outta line.”
“I overreacted,” Rainbow admitted bitterly. “They just get under my skin like that. Bigoted bastards.”
“Something we intend to change in the coming days, remember?” Chrysalis reminded them. The two nodded shamefully.
“Speaking of bigots,” Shining spoke up nervously with the question that he needed to ask, “Just so we’re clear on what words I should stay away from?”
“For one, we’re not insects,” Rarity sneered, “Bugs. Are. Disgusting. We, are not they. Comprende?”
Shining Armor nodded. “Not bugs. Got it.”
Pinkie wrapped a holed hoof around him and whispered in his ear, “The only other major one is the one thing you never say EVER. The P word.”
Shining drew a blank. “Um, piss?” he guessed.
Pinkie’s nose scrunched up along with Rarity’s. “One, gross. Two, no. P—A—R…”
“…Parasprite?”
“SSSHHH!” Pinkie hissed, “No, and way too close. Just do not say it out loud.”
Um…parasite. That makes sense. He nodded upon the revelation. “Okay, I’m pretty sure I have it this time.”
“Good. Now never, ever, EVER say it in front of Twilight,” she warned gravely.
“Do I want to know why?” he asked nervously.
“Let’s just say the best way to get rid of one of your enemies is to get them to say it in front of her,” Rainbow said slowly and carefully, “You will never hear from them again.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Ever.”
“Uh-huh.” That took a moment to process.
“She’s exaggerating,” Chrysalis assured him.
He nodded. “Um…why?”
“Well, let’s just think logically for a moment,” Twilight growled, “It’s the worst racial slur for a changeling. They had to grow up in Cloudsdale, Ponyville, and rock farm out in the middle of nowhere respectively, with Chrysy keeping mostly to the hive. We grew up in Canterlot. They heard it maybe every couple of months at most when changelings came up in conversation. I heard it” her eye started twitching madly “every. Damn. Day.”
“Word of advice darling,” Rarity said as she passed Twilight her Smarty Pants doll, “Do not ask that again.”
Shining just nodded nervously as he watched his changeling sister brush the doll he made for her as a filly, talking to it like a madmare. One thing was for sure at that point: changeling or not, Twilight was still Twilight. A completely academically focused neurotic mess.
He returned his gaze to the changeling that had never really fooled him. “Another thing,” he said suddenly, “You did a good job of imitating Cadence other than a few small key details…actually, that’s one of the things that helped me reason that I wasn’t going to be harmed confronting you about all this.”
“Oh?” Chrysalis raised an eyebrow, “What makes you say that? You’re right of course, but I am curious of your reasoning.” She layed down and tapped her hooves together anxiously. “You are an interesting stallion. What makes you think a changeling that would jump through nearly any hoop to keep you fooled wouldn’t harm you if you confronted them? I understand you believing your own sister wouldn’t hurt you, but you had never known me before now. What persuaded you to make that leap of faith?”
“What you said about waiting,” he said simply. In an instant they all knew he was referring to what they’d planned about “Cadence’s” suggestion to wait until the honeymoon. “It took me a bit to realize it, but you actually respect that boundary. If you didn’t actually care about my well being or state of mind you would have been draining me for all I was worth, wouldn’t you?”
Chrysalis couldn’t help but laugh to everyone’s confusion. “I always knew mercy would just let ponies see straight through me,” she said as she wiped her eye, “You know Shining you are right about me. I should have been more ruthless.”
“Chrysalis!” Twilight gasped.
“But I just can’t,” she admitted melodramatically, “Even when I know I should, cruelty just isn’t in my nature.” She hovered in the air with a buzz from her wings, and pressed together the backs of her front hooves, making a little heart with two of the connecting holes. “It is…my nature. I can never deny what I am in the end. I’ve always chosen subtlety over cruelty. I’d rather cut my losses and leave before I hurt somepony.”
She dropped to the ground and approached the captain. “But now.” Her melancholic smile faded to a frown. “We just don’t have that luxury. Too much is riding on this day, and I can’t risk you interfering with our plans.” She held his jaw in her hoof and looked him dead in the eye. “I need a pledge of allegiance from you captain.”
“Eh-ah-wh-what?” he stammered.
“I need to know whose side you’ll be on this day,” she clarified.
“We can’t trust you with the full details right now,” Rarity repeated as she formed up with Chrysalis, taking her own changeling from. She hovered on the older mare’s right, her white eyes pleading with his blue. “I can however tell you that there are lives at stake pending our success.”
Rainbow took her place on the left, her now blue eyes locked with the captain’s as well. “We need you on our side,” she added, “Even if you’re fencing on whether or not you trust the rest of us, you do trust Twilight. You already said you know there’s a good reason just based on your faith in her.”
Applejack started hovering above them. “We don’t like the thought of fightin’ Celestia, and Ah figure that’s why ya already sent Luna off; to improve our chances. We can only do so much without rendering somepony comatose, and we don’t wanna do that.”
“Our power is in fact limited,” Chrysalis admitted, “And the fact that seven changelings stripped Equestria’s beloved monarch of her throne isn’t going to go over well. We will need at least one respected pony to back us.”
The captain was stuck in a tough spot; between a rock and a hard place. The way things had turned out he was going to make the biggest decision of his life. It was either Celestia or the changelings. His kingdom or his sister. He had to decide between the two things that were supposed to come first above all else in his life.
“I want to see Cadence,” he told them, “If I’m going to trust all of you I need proof that I can. I need to see that she’s safe.”
“I’ll take you to see her whenever you please, captain,” Rarity promised him.
“I’ve taken every step to ensure that she’s safe and comfortable,” Chrysalis reminded him, “If anything she’s safer down in the caverns, rather than up here where Discord levels of chaos are soon to break loose.”
The four mares, his sister’s involvement, and everything he heard already wouldn’t allow another answer, even if it wasn’t ideal. “I...I’ll stand with you, but only as long as I know Cadence is safe,” he agreed. “If anything happens to her so help me—”
“We promise that no matter what the outcome not a hair will be touched on her head,” Chrysalis assured him, “That was the plan to begin with.”
Shining sighed in relief. “Okay, good. Now what do I have to do?”
The seven changelings formed up in a line with Chrysalis in the middle, Twilight to her right. “Just go about the wedding as usual,” Spike explained from in between Twilight and Rarity, “We planned for you to not know and try to beg you to understand later. It’s not like we need you to do anything different.”
“Spike is right Shining,” Rainbow agreed from the opposite side of Chrysalis, “You weren’t supposed to know anything to begin with, so just don’t draw any more attention to yourself than you already do. Sending Luna off was a nice touch though, very subtle.” She winked.
“Alright, I’ll go down and get ready for my part,” Shining relented in disappointment. He thought they’d have something somepony of his talent could do. “Just…what are you going to do about Celestia?” he asked suspiciously as he approached the door looking back.
“If she resists we’re jus’ gonna have to give her the what for,” Applejack said firmly, “Ah really hate the idea of doin’ that, but that’s probably the only choice she’ll give us.”
“What makes you so sure?” Shining pressed.
“Are you kidding?!” Pinkie yelped from the far left of the line, “Celestia can’t stand changelings! Twilight said so herself!”
“It’s true,” Twilight admitted, “The one time I asked her about it she warned me never to bring up the ‘subpony tar-stains’ again.” That sent a twinge of pain through all of them.
“As much as we hate to admit it,” Fluttershy lamented, “We’d have had an easier time getting Nightmare Moon on our side given the circumstances.”
“Don’t you think that’s a bit extreme?!” Shining said as he reeled back in shock of the blunt metaphor.
Each of them just looked at him. “NO,” they said in unison.
And now I feel like I’m on trial. Shining gulped. “Why?”
“I heard enough the first time I asked,” Twilight spat out in disgust, “I didn’t want to here anymore bigoted nonsense, so I didn’t ask again.”
Well I’m not going to get anywhere with this. “One last question then?” Chrysalis nodded for him to speak. “Fluttershy.” Her ears perked up. “You said this was about changing history and righting wrongs?” His eyebrow raised, “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
“History is written by one of two people Shining,” Chrysalis said with a bladed tongue, “Either the one who wins, or the one who survives. If two ponies survive, then it’s written by the one with the better reputation.”
“So then you want to re-write something Celestia lied about then, since she doesn’t like or trust changelings.” That made sense. “That’s not all it is though, is it?” he asked knowingly, “If that’s all it was about then all it would take is Twilight conveniently finding a book she knew had incorrect information and demanding Celestia change it with her five friends to back her up. What’s really going on here?”
Each of them remained quiet, not daring to speak a word.
“Fine, but when night falls, I want my answer,” he told them as he opened the door.
“Remember.” The door stopped as Chrysalis spoke again, “Those who do not remember history, are doomed to repeat it. That is the purpose of this invasion.”
“So whatever it is, it’s happened before, and it’s going to happen again?” Shining asked in shock. She nodded. “Then why not just tell her it’s about to happen as somepony else?”
“Because history is also doomed to repeat itself, in the hooves of those too stubborn to change it,” Twilight answered on the verge of tears, “I tried Shining. I really tried to tell her, but she was so sure, she wouldn’t listen.
“Look around Shining; look outside.” He glanced out the door. “Canterlot has been the same way since Nightmare Moon. Ever since Celestia’s been too afraid to lose control, so she keeps everything the same.”
Shining felt a pit starting to sink in his stomach as his eyes were opened to the truth that his sister gave him laid bare right in front of him. Like everypony else, he’d just chosen to remain blind.
“She’ll do the same thing again, because she’s afraid of a different outcome that’s worse than before. She won’t let us do something different independently for the same reason,” Twilight continued, Rarity, Spike, and Chrysalis comforting her. “As wise as she is, a thousand years of fear has made her a stubborn fool.” She pulled her brother’s gaze to her with a flick of magic, and looked at him with a fiery determination. “You can’t live in fear, and as sure as Tartarus is horrifying, you can’t rule in it.”
Shining couldn’t fathom a good response. Any doubt in his mind was washed away with a few simple truths. Celestia was afraid to change, and according to his trusted sister, that would cause disaster. “Okay then,” he said softly. Before he trotted away he added, “Oh, by the way, the shield is weakest at the bottom.”
“Hey, Twily,” Shining said as he walked up to Twilight, sitting on her new dorm bedroom’s bed, “How ya doing?”
The room was a bit bland at the moment, Twilight only just getting her things moved in. Her bags were still huddled in the corner. She had a nightstand with a lamp next to her bed, a window over the bed looking out at the city, and a few bookcases on the far wall. Bookcases now bare with their contents littering the bed.
Twilight responded to the question by jumping over the mountain of books she already had and running to hug him. “I missed you!”
“I can tell,” he laughed happily. He started walking the two back to her mess of a study session. “What’s all this? Any particular subject?”
Twilight hopped back up the large bed with a bit of comical difficulty. “Nope,” she said, “I’m just looking at everything I have right now. There’s this one on the magical properties of plantlife. This one has some stuff about teleportation that I’ve been reading. Oh and this one is all about illusions! How cool it that?”
“Very cool,” Shining said proudly as he looked over some of the more advanced stuff she’d already started reading up on. His smile faded when he looked at one that detailed an infamous war from years past. He tried to slip it away while Twilight was distracted, when she started tugging at it with her magic.
She grunted in frustration and saw her brother had it. “Oh, sorry. Did you want to read that one?”
“I’m wondering why you’re reading it,” he said in disappointment, “This is about war Twilight. You don’t need to be reading this kind of stuff.”
“But it’s got things I’ve never seen before in it!” Twilight argued as she pointed at the black figures in the book. “You know what they are, right?”
“They’re called changelings Twilight,” he explained slowly, “They aren’t welcome in Equestria.”
“Why not?” She tilted her head.
Shining sighed. “They’ve been responsible for many attacks in and upon Equestria. We’ve had wars with them more than once, and that’s not something a little filly like you should be reading about.” He wrestled the book out of her magic grasp with his own. She gave him a teary eyed look. “I’m only trying to protect you.”
“I don’t need to be protected from a book!” she snapped as she suddenly snatched it away from him. Shining had already been told about Twilight’s emotionally fueled magic flares. She frowned when she realized she’d snapped on her brother though.
Shining pulled her closer to him and shushed her before she could start crying. “I know you’re curious Twily, but changelings have never been anything good.”
“What do you know?” she asked quietly.
“What?”
She quickly gathered herself again. “What do you know,” she said more clearly and curiously, “You know, about changelings.”
“What do I know?” he parroted. “Uh.” Shining debated with himself whether to answer or not. “To be honest, I know a lot about changelings.” He opened the book. “This is the very first battle with them after the lunar princess was sealed in the moon.”
“You mean ‘the mare in the moon’?” Twilight asked, “I thought that was just an old mare’s tale.”
“I’m not so sure,” Shining told her oddly, “I mean, there’s parts of history that support the story.” He shook his head. “Okay, I won’t bore you with that. I don’t know enough about it. You should ask Celestia if you want to know about that kind of thing.”
Twilight nodded. “Okay.”
“As I was saying.” Shining turned the pages until he found a good picture of one. “We know what they are, but that’s about it. They appear to be insects by their wings. The holes in their wings and hooves have no known purpose. They can perform magic if sufficiently nourished, in addition to being able to fly. That and the fact that they’re shapeshifters makes for a very dangerous combination. Finally they’re nourished by, well, love.”
“Love?” Twilight asked in feigned surprise, “They eat an emotion?”
Shining gave a small laugh hearing how silly his little sister made it sound. “I’m not really sure how the process works, but yeah. They’ve been reported to disguise themselves using their powers to steal your love for another pony. Apart from that…” Shining stopped for a moment. “Not everypony reads up on this stuff, but I have.”
“You did?” Shining nodded. “Why?”
“I was curious,” he answered simply, “And the more I read into it, the more curious I got. I looked all over the place, but changelings have only ever been seen in Equestria to the best of my knowledge. Nopony knows why, but they want something here. I just want to know what…” He drifted off as the thought consumed his mind again.
“Are they all bad?” Twilight asked suddenly. She knew what she was, but he didn’t. She needed to know what he thought, even if it ended up hurting. That didn’t mean she wasn’t scared though.
“Well.” Shining thought without even looking at her. “I’m not so sure they are at all.”
“Huh?!” Twilight gaped at her older brother. The one answer she thought she could only dream of, and it came from the most important pony in her life. “W-why do you say that?”
“At first glance they seem obsessed,” he explained, “but the more I looked into it the more I saw the pattern; a path of progression.” He shut the book, it having served its purpose. “Earliest reports in Equestrian history is just a few sightings. Details nonexistent, but I’m guessing they weren’t good. Later there’s reports of foalnappings. Seems bad at first, but the ones I could find with details normally say that the foalnapped returned without incident or harm.”
“So they just want to survive?” Twilight asked hopefully.
“Then the attacks started,” he continued to her dismay, “Always Equestria, but hardly ever the same place. Around or at the capitol most of the time. I don’t think it’s obsession that’s driving them, assuming it’s been the same thing in the last thousand years.” He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I think it’s desperation.”
“Desperate for what?” Twilight asked in growing excitement and curiosity.
“I don’t know,” he answered quietly, “It’s not as though they couldn’t just disguise themselves and integrate right under our noses. Why take over?” He looked at Twilight in his hooves and saw her smiling happily. “What are you so happy about suddenly?”
She hugged him tightly, as best she could anyways, since her forelegs couldn’t actually fit around his neck. “I love you big brother.”
While surprised by the sudden affection, Shining just returned the hug. “Love you too Twily.”
Spike started turning in his basket, which Twilight had placed on the other side of the bed.
“Oh! Spike is waking up,” Twilight gasped as she bounded to the little bed in her bed. “Shining you have to watch, he’s so cute when he wakes up!”
Shining crawled over next to his little sister and watch the infant dragon claw his way out of his confines and started stretching out like a cat. Finally he sat up and yawned up a little plum of green fire. He had to admit, that was pretty cute.
“He always has that little green fire when he wakes up yawning,” Twilight told him excitedly, “And when he burbs. Startled me the first time pretty good.”
“Very cute,” he agreed with a carefree smile.
“He already walks a bit too!” Twilight told him, “Wanna help me take him out for a walk? He loves seeing new sights.”
“That sounds fine Twily.”
***
“Beautiful,” Spike swooned as they entered Ponyville town hall. Twilight grunted jealously. It wasn’t a well kept secret that Spike had a crush on Rarity. It was a well kept secret that Twilight was jealous of Rarity for the attention she got from Spike. Not so much for romantic reasons as it was because...she lived with Spike! And somehow Rarity still got more attention from him overall. How is that even possible? Needless to say it wasn’t a romantic thing; it was a changeling thing.
“Hi Rarity,” she said sounding as chipper as she could. At least with Rarity they didn’t need to act like they were strangers, even if somepony was around. Rarity did her best to make a name for herself in Canterlot, and after “accidently” bumping into Twilight one day the connected mare started advertising Rarity’s clothes to a good number of nobles. She even started wearing them to social gathering for added publicity. “I’m just here checking up on decorations for the Celebration. Looks like everything's fine, so I’ll get out of your hair.” Twilight tried to walk away as fast as she could to avoid—
“Hold it right there,” Rarity demanded.
Twilight inwardly cursed. So close.
“I know you’re trying to avoid it, but I can clearly see that Rainbow Dash messed up your mane again.”
It was true. Being doused in rainwater wasn’t exactly the greatest way to stay presentable. Twilight’s hair had lost all volume. “Let me finish here and you can get cleaned and pampered at Rarity’s Carousel Boutique.”
Twilight groaned in dismay.“Rarity I can just go to the spa if I need to—”
“That’s a wonderful idea,” Rarity beamed as she put the last ribbon on the column, “We can go together!”
Twilight needed to resist banging her head on the marble columns. The last thing she wanted to do today was go to the spa with Rarity. Not that she normally didn’t enjoy the spa or Rarity’s company, but she was still focused on the Nightmare Moon issue at hoof. Then again. Twilight glanced at Rarity. Maybe she’ll have something helpful to say too.
“Fine, but if we have to do this, at least let me get Fluttershy first,” Twilight bargained, “There’s something I needed to talk to you about anyways.”
“Very well, I’ll wait there for you,” Rarity agreed as she trotted past, Spike still just staring at her, “I’m sure whatever it is we’ll be able to work through it, dear.”
***
“Well the last one on the list is Fluttershy,” Spike read off, “Let’s foalnap her and go to the spa to meet up with Rarity already.”
Twilight groaned inwardly. Just a schoolyard crush Twilight. He’ll get over it…eventually.
The two rounded the path after searching for nearly an hour to find Fluttershy leading a chorus of birds. Finally. “Sounds nice,” Twilight called out, trying to sound nice despite her foul mood. She realized she really did need the spa today. Twilight’s shout startled the birds though and they flew off in every which direction, Fluttershy herself also gasping in surprise. “Sorry,” she lamented.
“Oh, um, it’s okay,” she practically whispered as she floated down, “They’re just startled. They’ll be back as soon as they see us talking and they know you’re not a threat. They’re timid like that.”
“Spike?” Twilight addressed the dragon with the silent “is anypony around” question.
“Clear,” he confirmed. “So how’s things?”
“What do you want?” Fluttershy asked bluntly.
“I am insulted!” Spike gasped dramatically, doing his best Rarity impression, “Here we come all the way out here looking for you, and you think we want something from you?!”
“Yes,” she said flatly.
“The birds sound nice, Spike, check it off the list,” Twilight deadpanned. Spike grumbled and did as he was told. “Anyways, we do need something, and we do need to talk. Rarity is actually waiting for us at the spa.”
“Well that sounds nice,” Fluttershy said happily, “I was hoping to go later today actually. Go home sweeties, practice is over.” The birds tweeted in song as they flew off. “Mama will be home later tonight for a little nap.” She started off into town with Twilight following. “So what’s so important apart from the Celebration that brings you out here?”
“Another thousand year old legend,” Twilight sighed, “I’ll tell you more about it at the spa.”
***
“I’m Aloe!”
“And I’m Lotus!”
“What can we do for you?” the twins asked.
“Hi girls,” Fluttershy said sweetly, “This is Twilight Sparkle. We’re supposed to be meeting Rarity here.”
“Right zis vay,” the blue pony said in a very thick accent that for reasons of regional sensitivity or some bullcrap is kept very indistinct. The two mares followed Aloe into the back, where Rarity was already getting a back rub and a horn filing from two other spa ponies.
“Hi Rarity,” Fluttershy said as she hopped on her own table, “It was nice of you to invite me.”
“Of course deary, what are friends for?” Rarity asked casually.
Friends. The word echoed silently in Twilight’s mind as he climbed onto her own table.
“Now Twilight, isn’t there something you wanted to talk about?” Rarity called out. After a moment of silence Rarity lifted her head to see Twilight still zoning out. “Twilight!” The purple mare snapped out of her trance and finally focused again. “You had something to talk about?”
“Right, sorry.” Twilight took a moment to pull her head back together. “It’s just…” She wasn’t quite sure how to go about it with Rarity and Fluttershy. With Applejack it was easy: just spit it out and wait for the answer. Rarity was much more dramatic.
Unfortunately Spike wasn’t as patient. “Twilight thinks Nightmare Moon is coming to the Summer Sun Celebration.”
Fluttershy and Rarity just looked at him with a bit of surprise before glancing at Twilight. “Twilight, Nightmare Moon doesn’t exist,” Rarity told her as if she were talking to a foal, “It’s just an old mare's tale.”
“So you’ve seen the stars too huh?” Fluttershy asked bluntly, making Twilight’s jaw drop in surprise. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
“I just realized it last night!” Twilight said as she stood, flinging the magic hooves off of her, “How long have you known?!”
“About a week,” she whispered sorrowfully, “I’ve been trying to either convince myself it isn’t real or actually find a way to stop it. I can’t think of anything.”
As Twilight lay back down she couldn’t believe Fluttershy didn’t bring it up earlier.
“You mean…Nightmare Moon is real?!” Rarity finally yelped.
“And we think she’s Celestia’s little sister,” Spike blurt out from his chair and magazine again.
As Rarity began to faint, Twilight used a small jolt of magic to give her a small adrenaline rush to keep her up, to the white mares mild annoying and slight appreciation. “The story goes that the older sister used the Elements of Harmony to seal Nightmare in the moon. Our best bet would be to find those I think.”
“How would we go about finding those exactly?” Rarity asked hopefully.
“I was hoping you two might have an idea,” Twilight admitted. “With as many fantasy books the two of you have read, I was hoping one of you might have some clue.” The two shook their heads and Twilight hung her head in defeat.
“Celestia sent you here right?” Fluttershy asked curiously.
“Yes?”
“I see why you’d think Celestia is the older sister in the book,” Fluttershy agreed, “But if she sent you here, and you’re right about Nightmare deciding to appear at the Celebration, then wouldn’t Celestia leave you a clue somewhere?”
“Nice idea,” Spike said mockingly, “but exactly what kind of clue would we be looking for?”
“Where are you staying?” Fluttershy asked.
“A library?” Twilight caught on to the false pegasus’ line of thinking. “You do realize that’s like looking for a needle in a haystack right?”
“More like a special piece of hay in a haystack,” Spike grunted, empathic with Twilight as he often was.
She shrugged. “Sorry. I wish I could help more.” Her masseuse hit the right nerve and her wings spread violently, causing her to blush and hide in her pillow. Spike couldn’t help but laugh, which got a magically rolled up magazine to smack him upside the back of the head, courtesy of Twilight.
“Well it’s a start at least,” Twilight said thankfully. She was already back into enjoying her own massage, which she had to admit she needed. “After we’re all suitably pampered here,” she said in a bit of a daze, “I’d appreciate it if you could help me look. M’kay?”
“I couldn’t very well live in eternal night now could I? How could I possibly expect anypony else to do so?” Rarity asked rhetorically. “Of course I’ll help. I wouldn’t wish that on anypony.”
“My neither,” Fluttershy agreed as her wings slowly started to fold again, the mare herself starting to come out of her pillow. “I’ll do what I can too.”
“Thanks girls.”
***
After sufficiently enjoying their impromptu spa date, the mares went on their way to Twilight’s temporary abode. Twilight had already gone over everything she needed to for the festival, so she didn’t need to waste any more time.
“It’s right down this road I think,” Twilight told the three as she rounded a corner, looking for the base of the large tree she’d seen. “There it is!”
When the young mares finally reached the treehouse it had already past sunset. The light was leaving the small town and the moon was rising. Small stars could already be seen dotting the twilight sky.
The four of them trotted in while Twilight worked on finding the light switch. The windows were all shut, so any of the afternoon light that would have helped was inconveniently blocked out.
“Oh, I nearly forgot,” Rarity said urgently, “Twilight I think that Pinkie is—”
Before Rarity could warn Twilight, the lights were finally thrown on and a crowd of ponies yelled, “SURPRISE!” with Pinkie as the ringleader.
Twilight groaned in dismay. How did I not see this coming?
“Were ya surprised? Huh? Were ya? Were ya?” Pinkie asked so quickly, and in so much excitement that Twilight had to back away from the hyper mare.
“Yes Pinkie, I’m surprised,” she grumbled as she trotted past her. Though I can’t imagine why.
The ponies around the four mares were hardly paying attention to the pair. Just concerned with enjoying the punch and food that Pinkie along with many other ponies had brought, or otherwise just chatting with one another. Some ponies were even playing a pseudo version of beer pong with punch just for fun. Of course Pinkie new better than to bring booze on the eve of the Summer Sun Celebration. Especially after the last time. It was a good thing Pinkie didn’t drink herself.
Twilight made her way through the crowd, doing her best to ignore Pinkie’s constant questions, getting to the snack table. “Pinkie I’m just not in the mood for a party,” Twilight told her as she poured herself a drink from a random bottle. She’d not had anything to drink since lunch. Although she fed on love (and there was certainly enough excess of it in the air) Twilight’s mouth just felt physically dry from her walk.
“But Twilight!” Pinkie whined, “You’re new here in Ponyville! I have to throw a ‘welcome to Ponyville’ party for you! It’s what I do!”
“Pinkie I really doubt I’m staying here,” Twilight explained as calmly as she could manage, “I’m just supposed to be here for the Celebration and that’s it.” Twilight took a deep drink out of the straw in her glass. It was tangy, but acceptable.
“Supposed to be, but probably not, right?” Pinkie guessed slyly, knowing full well that she had to read between the lines with Twilight when she was hiding something. Twilight just groaned in response, which told Pinkie she was right. “…You do know you’re drinking hot sauce right?”
Twilight eyes widened in panic as she felt the heat welling up in her mouth. After her eyes started watering Rarity and Applejack had to asked if she was okay or not. Twilight’s only possible response at the point was to yell, “HOT!” and zip up the stairs to the bathroom, and hopefully a source of water, as quickly as she could (without flying that is).
The five girls, who had all converged on Twilight by that point, followed her in concern, assuring the other party guests that they’d check on Twilight. Spike had fallen off of Twilight’s back in her panic and followed as quickly as his legs would let him.
The six of them found Twilight prancing about the upstairs trying to find the bathroom, and hopefully a sink. When she finally spotted the door she bolted through it and turned the faucet on, both the sink and the tub, having the side intention of taking a relaxing bath once her mouth wasn’t on fire. Once everypony was inside she slammed the door with her magic and locked it, finally giving up on keeping her disguise up.
Once she stopped drinking long enough to breath she shot Pinkie a glare. “You could have warned me sooner!”
“Sorry, Twilight,” Pinkie whimpered, “I thought you knew at first…”
“Who in their right mind would drink hot sauce?!” Twilight half-asked half-scolded with her trademark “I’m going ballistic” bug-eyed look.
“I did once. Y’know, on a bet,” Rainbow mentioned.
“I hardly think that counts, Rainbow,” Rarity snapped.
“Well she did answer the question,” Fluttershy said in Rainbow’s defense.
“That doesn’t count!” Twilight snapped.
“Alright let’s everypony just calm the fuck down!” Applejack said finally, causing each of them to look at her in shock. Applejack didn’t use that language often, and if she ever did, it meant she was close to snapping. “Ah’m pretty sure we’re all more than a little stressed out at the moment, Twi especially given what’s goin’ on here.”
“What’s going on here?” Rainbow asked oblivious to the imminent disaster.
“I’ll explain in a minute,” Twilight grumbled as she stuck her head under the faucet again and shut the now full tub off with a flick of magic.
“Ah got it,” Applejack told her. “Alright Rainbow, here’s the deal. Ya’ve heard of Nightmare Moon, right?”
“Duh.”
“She’s real, and she’s crashin’ the party tonight we think,” AJ explained bluntly.
“No way,” Rainbow said with her hooves crossed as she hovered, ‘Nightmare Moon is just a story.”
“Look out the window,” Fluttershy told her. Rainbow did, although she didn’t see the point. “See the moon and the stars slowly converging on it?” Rainbow nodded. “‘Legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape, and she will bring about nighttime eternal’. The stars look like they’re aligning don’t they?”
Rainbow dropped to the ground and stopped moving for a minute.
Twilight finally pulled her head out of the sink; her mouth finally cooled down. Spike started nudging her and pointing at the pouting Pinkie. Twilight sighed. “I’m sorry I snapped at you Pinkie. Applejack is right, I’m just stressed out and I took it out on you.”
“It’s okay,” she pinke mare mumbled. Twilight tugged her into a hug that left the party pony giggling happily again. “Okay, I forgive you, Twilight.”
“Why can’t you mares get along unless I tell you to?” Spike asked Twilight smugly.
“Well…” Twilight had to think on that for a moment. She’d never realized it before, but Spike was right. “To be honest, we’re not really friends.”
“Wait, what?” Spike asked in confusion, ‘But you’ve known each other since you were little fillies!”
“Well I’m friends with Rainbow and Rarity at least,” Fluttershy pointed out.
“Yes well, you grew up with Rainbow protecting you and the two of us spend time with one another in the spa,” Rarity countered, “Not only that, but you also model my dresses when I need you to. That’s why you’re friends with the two of us.”
“Ah compete with Rainbow a lot, so that’s why we’re friends,” Applejack added. Applejack rubbed her chin in thought. “Ah never realized it, but we ain’t as close as we should be.”
“Friends or not, we gotta do something!” Rainbow yelped as she finally got back into her right mind.
“All we need to do is band together and win, win, win!” Pinkie bounced up with a grin.
Applejack just looked at her. “Well…that’s step one at least.”
“I’m more than a bit scared,” Fluttershy whispered. She curled up on the tiled floor and shivered. “This is Nightmare Moon we’re talking about. Even Celestia couldn’t stop her forever. What can we do?”
“Celestia, no matter how powerful, is just one pony!” Rainbow declared bravely, “We’re six ponies! Heck, we’re six great ponies! We can do this!” Rainbow looked at Twilight. “Right?”
“We’ll have to,” Twilight breathed. She lifted her head and spoke dutifully, “Before we do anything, we need to find out all we can about the Elements of Harmony. Those are what Celestia used to beat Nightmare to begin with, and if we can’t think of something better, then that’s our best option.”
“Did that sound eerily familiar to something Chrysalis said to anypony else?” Rarity asked. They all nodded. “Just checking.”
“That’s different,” Pinkie argued, “We don’t have time to think of something better this time. Now let me think…” Pinkie squinted her eyes and rubbed her temple for a moment. Just as Twilight was about to speak up Pinkie’s eyes finally lit up. “There are six Elements, five known. Laughter, Kindness, Honesty, Loyalty, and Generosity. The sixth remains an enigma.” Pinkie smiled proudly with an odd squeak.
Twilight looked at her completely dumbfounded, similar reactions of shock varying between the group. “Pinkie…how did you—”
“Got bored waiting and started reading things,” she answered matter-of-factly.
“Oh.” Twilight looked between the rest of the mares. “Anypony else? Spike?”
Spike shook his head. “I only know as much as you do.”
“Weeeeell,” Pinkie started nervously. Twilight looked at her urgently. “There is one more thing.”
“Yes?!” Twilight urged with a smile.
“The last known location of them is…”
“YES?!” the rest joined in.
“The abandoned castle of the ancient pony sisters located in the middle of the forest,” Pinkie squeaked, “The Everfree Forest to be exact.”
Once Chrysalis was settled in her own role once again, Twilight thought it best to check on her brother. It was an awkward silence between them. He’d told the servants to leave, making it just the two of them.
“You know Twily,” he said finally, “Some of the things you said growing up finally make sense.” He looked at the full body mirror as Twilight straightened the crest on his chest. “You’d ask some of the strangest things, but I always passed it off as you being curious. Just part of your lust for knowledge. I guess…that’s what you wanted me to think.”
Twilight just nodded at first, not really sure how to respond outside of that. “I…you were the one pony I trusted most growing up,” she told him, “I thought I never needed any other friends, because I had you. Now the girls are my friends.”
“Now or always?” he wondered aloud.
“Not always actually,” Twilight told him honestly, much to his surprise. “I mean, sure we’ve always known each other, but we weren’t always friends. Just…I don’t really know what you’d call it.”
Shining finally looked at her directly. “Why can’t you tell me what the endgame is here?”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” Twilight sighed. “I almost didn’t believe it myself when Chryssi told me.” Twilight gave him a reassuring smile. “I’ll tell you everything when I can gather the proper proof. Okay?”
Shining was beginning to need more than that. “Can you at least tell me what’s going to happen to Canterlot?” he asked desperately, “I need something here Twilight.”
Twilight hangs her head and looks away sadly. “I...I can’t.”
“Why not?!” he demands, stamping his hoof angrily. Twilight flinches at the outburst. “Twilight, I love you dearly, but you’re asking me to let you commit treason! I have to know what’s going to happen, and I have to know why!”
Twilight shies away from him. “Shiny, I...I really, really want to tell you, but I just can’t.”
Shining looks at her sadly. “Why not?” he begs, “Why can’t you tell me?”
Twilight sighs heavily. “It’s…” She couldn’t tell him the whole truth. “...I’m trying to protect you.”
“Protect me?” he parrots.
Shining was about to question further when Rarity trotted in on them. “Ready to go yet? It’s not polite to keep a lady waiting you know, especially a princess,” the white changeling in disguise scolded.
Shining had been so caught up in his conversation he almost forgot he was going to see Cadence before everything had a chance to go down. “Yeah, let’s go.” As he follows her he briefly stops Twilight at the door. “We’ll talk afterwards,” he tells her before continue.
Twilight stands back for a moment with a heavy heart. “Shining...if only you knew.”
***
Cadence was furious. It was bad enough knowing that she was locked up as barely more than a prisoner of war (albeit still treated like the princess she was), but now she was locked up on her own wedding day!
A knock came. “WHAT?!” she shrieked.
“I’ve heard of pre-wedding jitters, but this is ridiculous,” came a nervous joke.
Cadence looked at the door in disbelief. It has to be a trick. It just has to be. She opened the door slowly and Shining Armor bounded over to her and hugged her.
“It’s so good to see you finally!” he said happily. He backed up and gave a quick once over. “You’re not hurt are you?” he asked with the expected concern. After failing to find a hair out of place he looked at the room he’d stepped into. “How is it you can get taken prisoner and still have a fancier bedroom than I could ever dream of?”
“Focus, Shining,” Rarity chastised from the door, flicking her white mane out of her eyes. “Honestly, I think the stress is starting to break you.”
“I’m in a hole in the ground!” he argued, “Of course the stress is getting to me!” He turned back to Cadence, who was still in shock, and hugged her again. “I’m so glad you’re safe, Cadence.”
A thought popped into her head: If it was really him... “Shining calls me by my full name when a royal is present,” she stated, seeing Twilight at the door, trying to stay out of sight.
Shining looked at her oddly. “No I don’t,” he said in confusion, “Celestia gets on me about that all the time, remember?”
She leaped at him. “It is you!” she cried happily. She leaned back in his hooves with her eyes widened suddenly, a panic overtaking her. “Did you find out what’s going on?” She gasped. “They’re not locking you up too are they?!”
“Yes to the first, no to the second,” he answered hesitantly. Cadence didn’t know how to respond to that other than asking “why”. “To be honest, I’d rather side with my sister,” he answered softly, “I’m not entirely sure what’s going on here, but I do trust her. Not only that, but what I need to know most of all is that my family is safe in all this.” He smiled at her. “Just because we’re not married yet, doesn’t mean I don’t consider you family.”
She smirked. “Only you would say something that corny.” He laughed. After taking a moment to think, Cadence had to ask, “What exactly is going to happen today, Twilight?” Twilight froze outside the door. “Yes, I can still see you over there,” the princess confirmed.
Twilight gulped, still not ready to know what Cadence thought of the real her.
Shining groans. “I’ve been trying to get that answer from her since I confronted them.” He rubs the back of his neck. “She’s been pretty stubborn about it.”
“Oh, captain Armor,” Rarity chided, Cadence gasping as she realized who the other changeling really was, “You really couldn’t imagine what’s going on here. Rest assured we’ve already secured our primary goal. Everything from here is merely going to be icing on the cake as Pinkie would say.”
“Rarity?!” Cadence looked at Shining, who just nodded nervously.
“Yeah, all six of them actually,” he admitted, “I only found out today too. Turned out Spike has been helping Twilight hide her true self the whole time.”
Twilight, still creeping closer to bolting by the second, felt that urge spike all the faster.
Finally Cadence had enough and decided to confront her. “Why didn’t you ever tell me?” she asked sadly, “Twilight?” The young queen’s wings started buzzing. “Are you afraid of me?” Twilight shook her head slowly once. “Then why?”
“I was afraid,” she admitted.
“But you just said—” Cadence started, but Twilight quickly cut her off.
“I was afraid you’d hate me,” she sobbed. Tears streamed down her eyes. “You’ve always been with me, just like Shining, and mom and dad.” She sniffled. “You were always like my big sister.”
“You’ll have to forgive the tears,” Rarity cut in, “Changelings are largely in tune with all emotions around them, making us natural at empathy, but the drawback is that some of us can’t cut ourselves off from that easily. This can give a changeling mood swings from time to time, as well as make them over emotional at other times.” She looked at Twilight’s slowly collapsing form with a touch of pity. “Twilight is one such case. She’s highly emotional at times, and I can’t begin to imagine what she’s going through right now.”
“We don’t want to do this, but we can’t come up with a better plan,” she insisted.
“You’re reinforcing negative stereotypes!” Cadence argued, “If this is your plan it’s a horrible one! They’ll never accept you like this!”
Twilight looked up at her sadly, but with an off look in her eyes. “They?” she repeated hopefully.
“Oh just come here and hug me already,” Cadence said finally.
Twilight scampered across the floor and huddled into the alicorn’s hooves. “I’m scared Cadence. So much is going to happen and I’m terrified of it all,” she sobbed.
“If you explain yourself I’m sure the citizens of Canterlot will understand,” Cadence reasoned.
“I don’t doubt that,” Twilight admitted, “I...I’m afraid she’s going to hate me.”
“Why?” the princess asked in confusion, knowing she was referring to Celestia, “I have faith Celestia would put her care for you and your friends above any prejudice she may have against changelings. She’d listen to you, I’m sure of it. Whatever you’re trying to get or do, I’m sure she’d help you.”
“We don’t want Celestia to help us,” Rarity stated firmly, and a bit coldly, “I love Celestia as much as any other Equestrian, but we cannot have her interfering with our plans. She can’t be trusted to follow our wishes or plan of action.” The young mare sighed in dismay. “This is so clustered, and it would be hard to explain without the book as proof.”
“Book?” the couple parroted in curious unison.
“Rarity!” Twilight yells in frustration of the slip up.
Rarity’s ears splay back. “Um...sorry.”
“Twily?” Shining speaks up.
Twilight groans. “It’s the only proof we have that what we’re trying to do is true. Changelings have kept it safe for years.” Twilight took a couple breaths to calm herself a bit before continuing. “It’s…well, two books really.” She quickly slaps a hoof over her mouth.
“Twilight!” Rarity scolds.
It was Twilights turn to splay her ears back and apologize. “Sorry.” She sighs heavily, trying to get rid of the nervousness. “The second is a record book, sort of a history book too. Changelings have written in it over the years to keep a record of our history for a little over the last millennia.”
“What’s the first book Twilight?” Cadence asked firmly.
Twilight tried to think of the best way to explain it without actually telling them what was going on. In the end she couldn’t think of a satisfactory answer. “I can’t tell you,” she says finally.
“Twilight, why are you so desperate to keep us in the dark?!” Cadence demanded, a sad tone in her voice. “Don’t you...don’t you trust us?”
Twilight’s heart sank. “I-I do, but…”
“She told me she was trying to protect me earlier,” Shining tells his fiance. Cadence and Shining give Twilight a curious look. “Twilight, protect us from what?” he asks.
“That is a very good question, and I would love to answer it,” Rainbow yelled as she zipped through door, “Unfortunately for you pretty boy, it’s just about show time.”
“Have we so little time, Rainbow?” Rarity asked in surprise.
Rainbow landed with a thud and started pushing Shining Armor out the door. “I know it’s hard to tell time down here, but yeah. We’re about out of time and I’ve given you as much as I can. Now let’s move it!”
“Hold on a minute!” Cadence slammed the door shut and put her own lock on it. “Exactly how is this going to play out?” she asked seriously with an eyebrow raised. “Am I really meant to sit here, while what was supposed to be my wedding day is just ruined and associated with a terrible memory forever, and not even told why?”
Rainbow backed up and started prancing about anxiously.
“I don’t like this either, princess,” Rarity told her with a sigh, “But we really don’t have the time and for once I actually agree with Rainbow on the necessity to make a great big scene.”
“Yeah, yeah, big scene, worse than the Gala. Can we hurry this up?!” Rainbow was practically jumping out of her skin with how much she was twitching.
Twilight opened a drawer on the dresser, half emptied a small sachet of calming herbs and passed it to the blue-eyed changeling. Rainbow started breathing into it like it was a paper bag, the lingering scent of the calming herbs working wonders on her nerves. Finally after a large amount of quick huffs [that was frankly starting to worry the other ponies in the room] she slowed down and her wings stopped twitching.
“Hoo…I’m good,” she said finally. She looked at the herbs and then the bag. “I will say I’m a bit tempted to ask if this stuff is legal though.”
“They are very strong calming herbs,” Twilight stated firmly, “I got them from Zecora, and I can assure you they are perfectly legal.” Rainbow just nodded.
Cadence raised an eyebrow at the leaves. “Just curious, but why is that in my room?”
Twilight gave Cadence a sheepish smile. “Well, I honestly thought you’d need it today.” She took on a more serious face suddenly. “Do not eat those. They are toxic and you will get sick.”
“Duly noted, but on to more pressing matters,” Rarity urged while fumbling at Cadence’s magic lock, “We really must be going. We’ve already made it a personal promise to each other and you that we will see your wedding done right.”
Cadence strengthened her lock despite Rarity’s best efforts to crack it open. Magic locks were a curious thing. Like real locks they could be forced open, though only by magical means. Otherwise they work on a tumbler, or code system, and either method can be made more intricate on the fly by the original caster. “Twilight, I’m begging you. Tell us the truth,” Cadence pleads.
“I…have you ever wondered why changeling’s chose Equestria to live in?” Twilight asked out of nowhere.
Cadence and Shining Armor exchanged confused glances, neither one of them coming up with a viable answer. The fact that changelings did in fact live in Equestria was a scarcely acknowledged fact. So much so that nopony ever bothered to question it.
“What if I told you it was familiarity? Because Equestria reminded us of our real home?” Twilight asked the two.
“Real home?” Shining parroted.
“But you told me that it’s unknown where changeling’s originated,” Cadence reminded the young queen.
“True,” Twilight said with a small nod as she left the princess’ embrace, choosing to trot about the room as she spoke, “There is one truth I didn’t really mention though. Changeling’s have existed for thousands of years, granted not nearly as long as the other races of pony, but still pretty long.”
“So what’s your point?” Cadence asked without a clue.
Shining however picked up on it very quickly. “But the first sightings of changelings in Equestria only happened roughly between twelve and thirteen centuries ago,” the captain thought aloud, “So they had to have lived somewhere else first.” He looked at his sister, who smiled sadly knowing he’d already come to the logical conclusion. “Something Celestia did caused the changelings to lose their home. Is that right?”
Twilight hung head slightly. “Luna was involved too, and they still don’t know the entire consequences of what they did, but yes, you’re right.”
Cadence gaped in shock while Shining’s ears drooped sadly.
“Now you begin to fully understand our position in this attack. This is why we can’t afford to have the celestial sisters involved,” Rarity explained, “That book we mentioned is from the ancestral home, but we don’t actually have it. It’s here, somewhere in the castle, and we need it to stop what’s going to come. History cannot be allowed to repeat.”
“Twily,” Shining says softly, “Is something coming? Something dangerous? If there is, please tell us. We can help you.”
Twilight quivers. “N-no. You...you should stay where it’s safe...we’re leaving after the invasion.”
Cadence and Shining Armor gape at her. “What?!”
“The invasion isn’t a takeover,” Twilight explains, “It’s a distraction. We need Celestia and Luna’s focus somewhere else while we execute our true plan.”
“What kind of logic is that?!” Shining demands, “You need to distract them by drawing attention to yourselves?! That’s insane!”
“Believe me, we know how it sounds, but we have a plan,” Rarity explains, finally giving up on the lock and conceding to Cadence’s will, “It’s hard to explain, but we need Celestia and Luna focused on protecting Equestria completely. They won’t have time to notice what we’re really up to.”
‘Twilight, let’s just assume that all this goes the way you want it to,” Shining challenged, “You want Celestia and Luna distracted? How are you going to keep her from tracking you down afterwards?”
“We have a freaking plan! Geez!” Rainbow snaps, her nerves getting worse by the moment.
“Cadence, please. We’ve tried to keep you in the dark because we don’t want you to wind up getting hurt,” Twilight begged, “Changelings have been waiting over a millennia for this. This isn’t your fight. Let us go, I’m begging you.”
Cadence softens seeing the desperation in the mares in front of her. “Twilight, I…”
“Cadence.” Shining Armor put a hoof on her shoulder. “I don’t like this either. This day was supposed to be ours, and ours alone.” A sad smile betrayed him, not hiding his grief in the least. “We will get married, I promise you that. Today though, Twilight and her friends have to do what they feel is right.”
“We swear, nopony needs to get hurt,” Twilight promises, “The swarm can take care of the guards through non-violent means.” Her eyes begged desperately with the princess, whose resolve weakened more and more by the second.
Shining squeezes her shoulder slightly. “Please, Cadence.”
“Shining I…what about you?” she asked, “How do you intend to get out of this unscathed?”
“Shining is supposed to play vegetable during the invasion,” Rainbow explained, “You come in afterwards and ‘cure him’ and he gets off scott free.”
“Then you and I can have a real wedding,” Shining finished. Cadence shrank a bit, but she didn’t falter. “I can’t let Twilight face this alone.”
“Big brother…”
“I…” Cadence submitted. “Oh alright, but promise me one thing,” she bargained. The four of them nodded. “Don’t get hurt.”
Twilight and Shining pulled her into a tight hug. “I promise everything will be fine,” Shining whispers in her ear.
“If not a little chaotic for a bit,” Twilight adds honestly, “But it’ll pass soon enough. Promise.”
Cadence squeezed back for a moment before pushing them towards the door. “Go do what you have to then. And be careful!”
The four of them nodded and rushed out the door as soon as the lock was removed. As the three of them ran, Rainbow flying, Rainbow looked down at Twilight. “Can you promise me something too, Twi?”
“Um, sure,” Twilight responded oddly, “Though I’m not sure if this is the best time.”
“Promise me you’ll get some of those calming herbs for Pinkie…” After a moment she added, “And yourself.”
Shining raised an eyebrow in thought. “It would be good for your panic attacks.”
Twilight groaned, “Fine, I’ll get some for my panic attacks.”
Chrysalis trotted down the path to the altar. Everything was in place, and everything was set to go off in a carefully planned series of events, even accounting for several variables. Now all that was left to do was pull it off. She looked to the six particular changelings standing at their designated spots, each fulfilling their role perfectly. Finally Shining stood their, a blank smile on his face, looking tired and lethargic.
He was the one thing that could be a metaphorical bump in the road if he didn’t act right. It wasn’t the changelings that were at risk if he faltered, but rather his own career and well being. If it was discovered that he knew all of what was to come, it would be all over for him.
Chrysalis had very little to lose, very little at risk, so she was the ideal one to put in the spotlight.
The smiling faces plucked the eight pony’s heartstrings. They were so unprepared, and they’d be so scared. Twilight’s parents were there to see their son married. They’d be disappointed.
Celestia read from memory, uneventfully leading up to the “I dos”, “Do you, Shining Armor, take princess Cadence to be your lawfully wedded wife, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?”
“I do,” he said blankly.
“And do you, princess Cadence, take Shining Armor to be your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?”
Chrysalis stood silent for a moment, waiting for her cue.
It took one moment for everything to fall into place. A pink pony burst through the doors, tattered and exhausted. “That isn’t princess Cadence!” she yelled, “I am!”
Everypony gasped seeing a desperate, practically malnourished and filthy alicorn princess at the door.
Chrysalis looked at the door with a face that was seething with rage. “She’s a fraud!” she accused.
“Listen to me!” Cadence begged, “She’s a changeling! They pose as somepony you love and feed off your love for them, growing more and more powerful until the pony is nothing but a withered husk!” She pointed at Chrysalis with an accusative hoof.
Celestia glared at Chrysalis instantly. “You dare impersonate my family?!” she bellowed.
Finally Chrysalis heard the sound she was waiting for. A loud crack sounded through the whole city, and the barrier began crumbling from below. Finally “Cadence” smiled and looked up at Celestia with her true eyes. “I do.”
This was a perfect performance. Just as the shield chipped apart like glass behind her, the green flames surrounded her, rising at the same time. In perspective to the audience watching it looked like the flames and falling shield were on the same level, a true spectacle to behold. Appearing completely black for a moment Chrysalis gave her best malevolent laugh.
“Oh and it was so easy too,” Chrysalis bragged as she trotted about the altar, everypony else in the room mortified by what they were seeing. “Now is the time of our rise!” she declared.
The changeling swarm emerged from below, coming from all directions at once in a perfectly coordinated attack, dive bombing into position faster than the guards could react, overpowering and trapping many of them in seconds in a sticky substance they couldn’t escape from.
Celestia looked on in horror as her ponies were trapped, one after another, falling like flies. Several other changelings arose from the gathered guests, attacking the bridesmaids as well. “How dare you attack here,” she bellowed.
Chrysalis laughed lightly. “My name is Chrysalis, and I am the queen of the changelings in case you were too thick to figure that out. You were too thick to deduce your own niece was an imposter after all.” She stood eye to eye with Celestia as they locked horns, trying to overpower one another. Celestia was the physically stronger of the two, but Chrysalis was strengthened by Shining Armor’s love to even the field a bit. It was hardly a good compensation for the current playing field.
While the two stood deadlocked, many of the attending ponies attempted to run and hide, though Shining Armor stood dumbly at the altar like a zombie. The six bridesmaids ran for the door, only to be caught between the first squad that ambushed them, and another squad that had already captured the Cadence that outed Chrysalis. They fought back at first, putting on a good show, but they were overpowered and held down to the floor.
“You have foolishly attacked on a day that I was most prepared for!” Celestia spat at her, pushing her back with all her might, “Now that you have so foolishly attacked here, I can protect my subjects from you!” Celestia flew back into the air and shot a mighty beam of magic, teeming with celestial power.
Chrysalis countered with her own beam of magic, pushing back with all the might she could muster.
***
“Now what exactly is the plan here?” Shining asked, hoping for a last minute run down of the events to come.
“We’ll have to make it really, really quick so we’re not late,” Pinkie said as the rest of them were putting on their dresses on the other side of the room, separated by the door at the top of the towers stairs.
“Couldn’t be simpler really,” Applejack told him, “Well, in explanation anyhow. Pullin’ it off is gonna be a mite harder, but ya don’t need to worry ‘bout none of that. First of all, Twilight already gave yer eyes that green tint and all, right?”
Shining thought of the sickly stallion that looked back at him from the mirror, with green tinted eyes and bags under them. “Yeah, she did, but I’m a bit confused on why.”
“Well, that part really is simple as simple as it sounds,” Fluttershy spoke up, “When any creature feeds off another in large quantities for extended periods of time, visible side effects become apparent. Those illusions are to trick Celestia into thinking you’ve been sucked nearly dry, thus clearing any suspicion that you’re willingly involved in any way.”
That put several worries to rest. “Wow. That’s actually pretty smart.” Shining thought a little more. “How are you going to instigate a situation where Chrysalis is forced to reveal herself?” he asked wisely, “It’s not like she can just reveal herself for no reason. Ponies will be questioning why she didn’t stab Celestia in the back while she was still disguised, or actually marry me.”
“Got it covered,” Rainbow told him, “When you’re about to do the ‘I dos’, one of our own changelings, hidden in plain sight here in the castle, will put on a little show and out her as a fraud, at what would appear to be the worst possible moment. Just before you’re legally bound to her forever by Equestrian law. If that were to happen, and you were really hypnotized, there’d be nothing anypony could do to fix it. Outing her then would look like a tragedy on our part, and a miracle for, say, your folks.”
That added up pretty well too. “Okay then, how are you going to disappear exactly? I mean, you have to join the other changelings right? You can’t be in two places at once.”
“That one was a bit trickier,” Rarity admitted, “We’ve mixed in some rather choice ponies into the guest list, who are really other changelings in disguise. As soon as your barrier drops, they’ll reveal themselves with Chrysalis and nab the six of us, dragging us away to who knows where. It will of course be tricky, looking to be overpowered without blatantly surrendering, so it will take some time to put on a proper performance.”
“Alright then.” Now came the most important question. “Exactly what do you plan to do about the resisting guards?” he asked suspiciously, “It’s not as though my stallions and mares would surrender.”
“Well, that would be a problem, if changelings weren’t masters of non-violent resistance,” Chrysalis responded, her true voice sounding out without the need for caution. “We can produce a substance that will bind them to the ground. Only a magic blast on a certain frequency, created with a sufficient amount of power will evaporate it.”
“So…nopony will have to get hurt?” Shining asked hopefully.
“Not quite,” Chrysalis responded sorrowfully, shifting back into the form of Cadence to put on her dress, while still keeping her true voice, “Celestia will no doubt try to expel us from the city, if not capture us altogether. She will need to be dealt with directly, and non-violent capture is not an option, as she knows how to escape our standard bindings.”
The captain’s ears fell along with his other features. “You’ll have to fight her.”
The air felt infinitely heavier with the words finally spoken aloud. Everypony involved knew that was exactly what was going to have to happen, but not a single one of them wanted to admit it.
“Yes,” the queen said sadly, “but that is a burden I shall shoulder alone. I have the fewest attachments to Celestia. My only quarrel with the issue is that of morality, which, for the sake of my people, I can look past.”
Shining slumped against the wall, finding it harder to hear the words than he thought. “…One last question,” he said quietly, “How are you going to hold her so she can’t escape?”
“Large enough quantities of our special fluid can be shaped and solidified in such a way that it would create something resembling a cocoon. Personally, we use it in case we need to hibernate, but in this case it will force Celestia into a conscious stasis, without need for air or food. She’ll be trapped, and no longer a threat.”
The false bride and her bridesmaids looked each other over, making sure not a thread, nor a hair was out of place. Twilight, having heard everything and not said a word however, sat in the corner sulking. Not one of them knew how to comfort her.
“Twi,” Applejack tried, but the words died on her tongue.
“I’ll be fine,” she insisted. Each of them, Shining especially, found it hard to believe the hollow words. “As long as I don’t have to face her directly…I’ll be fine.”
“If you say so,” Chrysalis said in Cadence’s voice, unconvinced of her little sister’s words. “The wedding draws near. Shining Armor, you get to the altar and wait. Remember: you are a zombie. You feel nothing but an ignorant bliss.”
Shining nodded even though it wasn’t seen and walked off, his hoofsteps being heard clearly as the went down the stairs.
Twilight took a deep breath and stood up, already having donned her dress ahead of time. “I’m ready,” she said quietly, her voice rising to her full authority thereafter, “We have a job to do. Now let’s do it.”
***
The invading changelings had scared out most of the guests, save for a few that hadn’t quite managed to get out the door before it was blocked by a mass of black. The bridesmaids, still appearing to be struggling were slowly dragged out the doors, slow and rough enough to seem realistic. Rarity in particular was throwing a verbal fit over her dresses being ruined, and a physical one. Several changelings were rubbing their sore noses.
Chrysalis pushed back with all the might she could muster, and for a moment she seemed to be winning the power struggle. Then Celestia let loose much more power than Chrysalis, or even Twilight could have anticipated. The golden stream of power barreled down at the hostile queen.
The girls looked on, completely forgetting their act for a moment as they saw Chrysalis losing. The plan could still succeed though, they had to keep up their show.
Twilight, on the other hoof, panicked. “Let me go!” she yelled at the changelings dragging her off, threatening to blast them for real.
“Not a chance!” they said, still thinking it was part of an act.
Twilight was in a very delicate position to begin with in this plan. At that moment, everything was about to fall apart because of one miscalculation she should have accounted for. Moreover, her elder sister was in serious danger, so it could be very easily assumed that when Twilight suddenly shifted into her real form and glared daggers at them, she’d officially stopped thinking with any rationality or reason. “I’m not asking you!” she yelled, drawing the collective attention and shock of the remaining crowd.
Her friends gaped at how reckless and idiotic she was being, and her parents gaped in utter disbelief. “Have you lost your mind?!” Rainbow screeched.
Her cry however, fell on deaf ears. “Leave her alone!” she screamed, tears strolling down her face as she took aim. A magic blast left her horn faster than anyone could stop her, catching Celestia completely by surprise as she was struck square in the ribcage.
As Twilight’s beam started to push Celestia back her concentration was shattered, and Chrysalis’ beam struck her in the side of the head. Celestia was flung into the ceiling, both beams colliding with within a mere second of one another. Time seemed to slow as she painfully dropped from the ceiling.
“Twilight?” The dual voice went unheard by all but Shining Armor and Twilight.
The first stammered looking at his parents, trying to figure out a plausible way to explain what just happened. He wasn’t doing very well, and he’d broken character.
Twilight however, suddenly realized what she just did, panic setting in full force.
Chrysalis looked on at Twilight with dread as she realized what she’d done. “Chryssi, I-I just…” the words died on the young queen’s tongue as she heard the thud.
All eyes were focused on the dazed sun princess, who’d barely managed to get on her hooves. “Who’s the one that blindsided me?” she asked wearily, regaining her footing.
“This is gonna end badly,” Rainbow muttered with a sudden cotton mouth.
“No kidding,” one of the changelings said.
Celestia looked up and saw the only one who looked to have any amount of power that could hurt her, seeing a very familiar looking changeling queen. Her eyes widened, her breath caught in her throat, and she stepped back in disbelief and shock. “T-Twilight?” she asked weakly.
Twilight looked between her mentor and Chrysalis, her heart ripped between the two in a way no other could know. “I...I’m sorry.” She clamped her eyes shut and teleported to Chrysalis’ side. “I’m sorry, but I won’t let you hurt her!” she yelled at Celestia, tears forcing their way past her closed eyelids.
“Th-that’s not possible!” Celestia stammered, “I’d have known! I’d have known if Twilight was a changeling. I’d know the difference in her magic!”
A very meticulously laid plan was quickly falling apart and had to be salvaged somehow before everything fell apart. Twilight wasn’t in a well enough mental state to figure it out, while Fluttershy, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie were still being dragged out in a desperate attempt to salvage things by the rest of the changelings. Thankfully, Chrysalis was able to think quickly.
“You wouldn’t know the difference in a hybrid,” Chrysalis explained, shocking all the non-changeling’s in the room, “A changeling queen is a special hybrid; always female, produced when a changeling mates with any of the three other races of pony. We are different in the fact that we inherit the abilities native to our non-changeling parent: stronger muscles with earth ponies, greater ability for flight and weather manipulation for pegasi, or a natural pool of unicorn magic for unicorns.”
“Hybrid?” Celestia repeated.
“You’d never know the difference,” Twilight said to her mentor.
Chrysalis caught sight of Twilight’s parents out of the corner of the eye, giving a small, subtle flick of her head to a couple changelings; ordering them to grab them before they jeopardize the situation even worse. The changelings snuck up on them just as they were about to speak and covered their mouths as they dragged them away.
With Twilight’s intervention in the attack, Chrysalis knew there was only one way to salvage her act: act like Twilight was her spy. She stepped forward, and put a hoof on Twilight’s back.
Twilight flinched at the touch knowing full full she’d have to commit to her act of betrayal. That knowledge couldn’t keep tears from forming in her eyes.
Celestia tried to talk to her once she saw the watery glint in her eyes, “T-Twilight, I--”
“Don’t waste your breath,” Twilight snapped, making Celestia flinch in shock. Twilight did her best to steel herself and shouted, “You already told me what you think of my kind!”
Before Celestia could react Chrysalis took advantage of her shock and struck her with another magic blast to her horn. As Celestia screamed Chrysalis ordered her changelings to attack while she was weakened. Celestia managed to knock away some of her attackers, but she was quickly being overpowered. Their combined strength overwhelmed her own, and her magic was stunted by Chrysalis’ blast to her horn.
Twilight couldn’t bear to look, and looked away with her eyes clamped shut. “I’m sorry,” she whispers softly, “I’m so sorry, Celestia.”
Chrysalis looks down at her little sister sadly. “I’m sorry, Twilight,” she tells her sadly, “I know it hurts, but watching will only make it hurt more. Take your brother and go.”
Twilight sniffles and nods. “Y- yes Chryssi, “ she says shakily.
Chrysalis turns to Shining Armor, who had been too shell-shocked since the fight began to do anything.. “Console her,” Chrysalis orders, “I need to finish things here.”
Shining Armor nods quickly and teleports away with his little sister.
Chrysalis sighs heavily and looks at Celestia, who was halfway through being sealed in a stasis pod. “...This day was going to be perfect…”
