"Mister Shining? Oh dear."

"Oh shit."

The two white unicorns stared at the familiar yet changed visage of one another, in shock over who they were really looking at. Rarity could feel her heart beating faster and faster as Shining forgot how to breathe. Spike looked between the two and grew confused over what was going on.

"Um... do you two know each other?" The young drake asked.

Rarity snapped out of her stare and grew nervous. "Fluttershy... this is the crush I had when I was a foal. Crush, meet Fluttershy. Fluttershy, meet crush."

"Oh, well hello. Rarity often talked about how she kept thinking of you in our weekly spa sessions." Fluttershy said as she hesitantly extended a hoof to meet with his.

"Really? I... wouldn't have guessed." Shining answered, slowly accepting the gesture.

"You... fucking grew. I remember when you were still bite-sized but now... you're a league of your own!" Azure exclaimed, shocked over the mare's transformation from foalhood.

Rarity paused for a moment as she grew lost on who the stallion that addressed her was. "Well, I appreciate the compliment, I think, but who are you again?"

"I'm Azure, the one you'd usually see hanging around Shining every now and then."

Though it took a moment to remember, she finally recognized him from her first outing with Shining and their shenanigans together. "Oh! Mister Azure, I remember you now. You were the one that made fun of Shining when we meet."

"Yeah, good times." Shining said as he gave the other guard a punch to the shoulder.

Spike was already confused to begin with and he still had yet to receive an answer on how the two came to meet. "So... you guys already knew each other? For how long?"

"Spike, Shining Armor used to be my foalsitter a long time ago. We were separated for... various reasons." The fashionista answered.

"If you don't mind me asking-" Fluttershy began.

"I believe, dear Fluttershy, that those kind of questions would be best to go unanswered." Rarity answered politely, not wanting to reveal his past to her.

"Oh. Sorry." Fluttershy whispered, barely audible over the music.

"Quite alright actually. In fact..."

Rarity jumped from her seat and grabbed the stocky guard with a strong grip of her magic, guiding him by the back of his mane. It didn't hurt him much, but the discomfort was enough to take him along for the ride. "Oh boy."

"We have much to discuss and little time to do so. We must catch up."

"I agree. But where are we going?" Shining asked, still being tugged by his mane.

"Away from the noise, darling. We can't speak with all of this riff-raff going about. No harm in a little conversation, right?"

"Well, no."

"Then let's get going." Rarity said as she made a bee-line for the balcony outside. Shining followed closely behind her. He was scared to be around her out of fear for what he wanted to do, but at the same time he saw the experience exhilarating. The mare he chased down months ago, the mare that perpetually haunted his dreams, had turned out to be a friend of his sister and a mare that he knew a long time ago. As he trailed her, he heard Guiltless call out to them.

"Hey, you forgot your drinks!"

"Bring them outside please! I'll be sure to tip you handsomely!" Rarity shouted out from the doorway.

"Will do!" The bartender hollered back.

Meanwhile, Fluttershy stared at the two as they shut the glass door behind them. It was obvious that Rarity wanted to speand some time with him, but then she was left with the questions that tugged against her mind. "Where are they going?"

"Don't know. But I'm gonna watch. Wanna join me?" Azure offered, watching the bartender take the two drinks of their friends outside.

"Oh goodness, I'm not one to peer into a pony's business without permission."

Azure downed half of his drink as he watched the bartender come from outside. "She's your friend, who still has feelings for her foalhood crush, who's going to get married in the next two days, and they're going to have a little 'talk'."

The shy pegasus defended the captain. "Well, I'm more than sure that he would turn her down if she was to make any advances."

"Oh, and bonus points, he's been into her for years." Azure added, trying to make sure that his point got across. Fluttershy only knew Rarity's perspective, but was completely unaware of Shining's situation. To hear that he had an interest in her caused concern to grow within Fluttershy. There was no denying it; Shining Armor was still a bachelor until Saturday, and Rarity was single and still on market. Add their personal feelings and their already established bond and it became a recipe for drama and scandal.

"I... might can see your cause for concern."

Shining and Rarity sat at the balcony, laughing at the stories that they shared and the times that they endured in their time apart. The glasses they drank from lined across an adjacent table beside the tray that they came on. The two ponies were flushed in pink as the alcohol took away from their cares. They were not inebriated to the point where they became careless, but they were loosened in their discussions and decision making.

"...And on that note, I never want to look at another parasprite again." Shining finished, as he told his story on the parasprite invasion of Canterlot.

"Understandable. Especially since they keep multiplying like rats in the spring." Rarity said as she shuddered at the thought of seeing the small bulbs reproduce.

"Oh yeah."

Rarity swirled her glass of wine as their conversation grew quiet. She shied around the captain, watching him take a drink from his glass. Clearing her throat, she braved forward. "Soooooo... Captain of the Guard, how did you get here?"

"Well, I walked here." Shining joked, earning a chortle from the fashionista.

"You're so funny. I meant your position, silly."

Shining took a moment to think as he began."Well, I managed to prevent a faction of a rebel army of the Griffon Kingdom from starting a war between our two nations."

"Oh, so you were around when that incident took place in Canterlot? Interesting."

"Was I there? Twily had to play medic."

"To think that you and Twilight were siblings this entire time."

"To think that you would get to know her via the elements."

Rarity giggled as she sipped from her glass. "So you've heard about our special little bond?"

"Heard? Princess Celestia announced it. You girls are like national heroes. Twice now with Discord out of the way."

Rarity took admiration that he was keeping up with their adventures, but something piqued her curiosity. "In speaking of out of the way, a little birdie told me that Blueblood was ousted. Is that true?"

"Tossed on his ass would be an understatement." Shining answered as he took a swig of his drink, emptying the glass.

"Good riddance! I hated how he treated me at the Grand Galloping Gala! I refused to submit to his ways. Well, I showed him what for."

Shining grew excited over what he heard. "So you were the one that got him covered in cake!? The boys have been on that one for months!"

"At least I've been mentioned." Rarity jokes.

"Adored would be more like it."

Rarity takes a moment to look away from the stallion and looked back to the interior of the club. She was surprised by what she saw. "Oh dear."

"What?"

"We've seem to be getting quite the audience." Rarity said as she pointed out that all of her friends, as well as his own, stopped enjoying the party to watch the two of them speak.

Shining looked back at the group of ponies and grew curious. "Those your friends?"

"The girls yes. Your's?"

"The boys, pretty much."

"I suppose they're just trying to make sure that we're careful."

Shining stopped for a moment and looked back at the table. He grew a devious smile as he lifted the tray from it's resting place and placed between them and the window. "Hey, let's give them a show while we're at it."

"Really? Here? Now?" Rarity asked nervously as she backed away a little, only to be caught up to by the larger stallion.

"Sure, it'll be just like old times." He answered.

Rarity was no stranger to the art of flirting, but when it came to the stallion she longed for, she almost grew unfamiliar with the practice. With a smile, she pressed onward, agreeing to his bluff. "Oh Mister Shining, I wouldn't have figured you to be a prankster."

As the tray concealed their faces from view, Shining closed the distance between them. "Yeah, I bet they think that we're kissing right now."

"Should we sell our stunt a little more?"

"I think we're close enough."

Rarity stared at the stallion in front of her. Her knight in shining armor, her prince, her Mister Shining, smiled at her. She took in his refined features, the chiseled structure of his frame. She allowed herself the opportunity to adore every dimple that formed all over his muscular form. The once, evenly-cut mane that was one his had grown nearly unruly, fluttering gently in the wind. The stallion that used to tower over her, didn't stand nearly as tall as she had come to identify him as, but his physique and his height did change for the greater. The scrawny hooves she was so used to seeing had transformed into blue sledgehammers capable of breaking her in two.

"Wow... Um... you've really grown."

Shining blushed deeply at her compliment as he allowed his eyes to travel to the indigo coiffure atop her pristine face. The blue shadow that glazed over her eyelids matched with her very eyes. With each time she blink, he felt a part of his soul become ensnared by the lost gaze and engulfed by the very same eyes that continued to draw him in like a sailor to the siren's aria. Her voluptuous curves sank in and out in perfect proportions. Every valley and elevation of her body was deserving of praise as he drew closer.

"Well, *ahem* so have you."

"I think we've been here a little too long." Rarity whispers, while ironically allowing her body to touch his. The first waves of his heat burning her coat drove her to press her body against him even more.

"Yeah. It's not like you were going to kiss me." Shining joked as he felt her soft fur brush up against him. The sweet smell of lavender radiated off of her body, causing his muzzle to seek her.

"To be honest... we can."

Shining felt a bolt of excitement strike his body as soon as she gave her consent to kiss her. His breathing grew hungry as he tried his best to keep levitating the tray beside them. Her body proved to be too much of a distraction for him to focus on his magic. "Just for performance, right?"

"Yeah... It's... all in good fun." Rarity said as she brought up a hoof to caress his face.

"No harm done?" Shining asked as his hoof traced the curls in her mane, slowly making it's way to her navel.

"Just a second, or a fraction of a second." She painfully urged.

"A quick peck." His answers rushed from his lips as he sought to close the distance between him and her.

"So... may I?" She asked anxiously.

"What's the harm in one little prank?" He said as his nose touched hers, their muzzles finally making contact with one another.

"Quietly now." She whispered softly as she felt the moist air of his exhales vaporize against her skin. Her lips quivered as his touched hers.

For the first time in their lives, they experienced the taboo that was their deepest affection. A quick peck on the lips was all that was as Rarity giggled softly and bit her bottom lip in excitement. She never felt so alive in her life. Much could be shared by her partner in crime, who also giggled a little. But their laughter stopped as they had realized what was done.

They shared a kiss when he was to be married to another. She violated the relationship of a stallion who was going to get married to someone else. It was a betrayal that proved to be hurtful to his future... but it was a betrayal that they continued to commit.

Rarity gave him another peck on the lips. This time, he pressed himself fully against her. As quickly as he retreated, Rarity offered to engage him even more. He fought back with his own advances, forcefully shoving his lips against hers, causing him and her to grant each other passage to their tongues.

Immediately, the invitation were accepted by the greedy stallion who pulled back briefly, only to be stopped by her teeth pulling his bottom lip into her. Drawn in by the act, Shining felt himself loose all means of restraint, not that there was much restraint left in him. Rarity gasped lustfully as she mouthed his name into her lips, letting his tongue scar her senses with his depravity. She felt herself sink into the nape of his neck, finished with the kiss. At this point, there was no turning back. She wanted him then and there. It was pointless to hold the tray up for what she was going to do to him. As she allowed herself to sink lower against his body, he stopped her.

"We really have to get away from each other." He said guiltily, realizing that what they did was a terrible mistake that could've been avoided.

Brought back to reality on what she was feeling, what she was offering herself to do and where she was at the time, she rose from his neck and stood in front of him, not separating the distance between them. "Agreed."

Shining breathed heavily as he knew that this was going to turn out bad if he didn't stop now. Deep down, he wanted to take her, just once before he was taken to the alter; a sin committed before a vow was to be broken. But something inside of him flashed and showed the face of his fiancee, telling him that his love was only for her. Finally, seeing that his mistake was a crucial one, he offered to finish their 'prank'. "Turn to the audience and poke our tongues at them."

"Silly faces are fun." Rarity said as she breathed heavily, still tasting the liquor from his tongue mixed in with the wine she drank.

Shining turned to the tray as he counted. "One...two..."

"Three!" Rarity shouted as he threw the tray away, revealing a stallion and a mare who poked their tongues out at them and made ugly faces. The others who watched either got a laugh from it or they groaned at the joke for being so risque. They could even see Azure's disappointed facial expression when he had to pay Rainbow Dash ten bits for what seemed like a wager.

"Ha! That's what you get for snooping around!" Shining shouted at the stallions.

"Sorry ladies, but it looks like you fell for the old bait-and-switch!" Rarity hollered to her friends.

As the gathering around the window dispersed, Shining turned back to Rarity. "Yeah... so... what happened just now?"

"Nothing worth remembering." Rarity blurted out, shocked and startled from the experience of what she had just done.

"Yeah... nothing at all." Shining seemed hurt by the mare's words, but he understood that she only said it to urge him to move forward with the marriage. That only seemed to hurt him even more.

"I suppose that the night is getting late." Rarity said as she looked at the sky.

Shining became enshrouded with shame and defeat as he did his best to hide his emotions behind a paper-thin smile. "Yeah. Let's mosey on out of here. I'm tired and I need to get on patrol before the rehearsal come tomorrow."

"And I have dresses to make." Rarity added as she started to make her way to the door.

"So I've heard."

Rarity held off on opening the door as she turned facing him while still trying to avoid his eyes. "Maybe... it's best that... we don't see each other again. Alone I mean."

"Yeah. Good idea." Shining agreed, wounded from the mare's suggestion.

A mutual silence fell as they both stood in agreement that what had happened should never leave the balcony. Not just for the sanctity of his relationship, but for the safety of her career. With a sigh, Rarity dismissed herself. "Well... goodnight Captain."

"Goodnight... princess." He whispered to himself, taking to the balcony. Though what he didn't realize was that Rarity had heard him.

Rarity wanted to open the door and just simply leave, but she felt a horrid pain that felt as if something dug away at her chest, like a wild animal mauling away at her ribs to take the very thing that pumped blood into her from her veins. With a broken voice as quiet as a whisper, she felt her world come crumbling down before her eyes. "Always one for cruel jokes, I see."

Rarity stormed off and left the scene, running past practically anyone who tried to stop her. Shining stood on the balcony and looked down to the ground below. The streets were well lit with the small patrol of guards posted at every other street corner. It didn't take long to see the white mare he kissed dashing for the palace grounds. A painful sadness tortured him.

"Yeah... or at least I am the cruel joke."

Canterlot Palace Grounds
Royal Guesthouse

The rooms of the guesthouse was filled with the cacophony of glass breaking and shrieks that came from an emotionally distraught Rarity as she lamented her lifelong loss. For many years, she wanted her knight to be with her, to hold her, to marry her and to ruin her. It was a cruel reality that cut her as much as the glass from the broken mirror of the bathroom she locked herself inside of.

"Bridesmaid to Princess Mi Amore Cadenza."

She stood before the remnants of the looking glass, Each fragment that remained held a reflection of her in varying sizes as she gritted her teeth at the pain of her cut-up hooves.

"Dressmaker to Princess Mi Amore Cadenza."

She cursed the name that was the name of her client. If she had known that her client would be marrying what was to be hers, then she would've long planned her attempt to win him over. But her hour grew late and there was little she could do beside finish the dress in the adjacent room.

"Shining Armor, my dearest prince, will be given away to yet another mare."

She felt the pain in her hooves burn away as she allowed the anger to swell within her body.

"This shouldn't even be her dress, it should be mine. It should be my rehearsal tomorrow. Shining Armor belongs to me... and I belong to him... It's not fair."

Her eyes met with the tiny reflections of her face, covered in streaks of mascara and tears.

"It's not fair."

Suddenly, she imagined the face of her client. The pink princess that dared to be beautiful, who dared to have curls in her mane, who dared to smile at her, who dared to take what was hers. The princess' smile pierced her very soul and made something inside of her lose bearing as she picked up the nearest heavy item and shoved it into the broken glass of the mirror.

"IT'S NOT FAIR!!!"

For moments, the white unicorn sat inside of the bathroom, allowing herself to wallow in the despair that caused her to choke on her own sobs. Rarity closed her eyes and curled up on the marble floor, wishing that everything was just nothing more than a bad dream, but the pain she felt in her hooves proved to be a hindrance to her escape to fantasy land. It also didn't help that a knock sounded outside of the bathroom door.

"Rarity? Are you in there?"

The sullen mare perked up at the voice, surprised that she was waiting outside. "Pinkie Pie, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be back at the party?"

"I can't think about a party when one of my friends is screaming in the bathroom." Pinkie responded with concern heavy in her voice. It was unusual to hear her so mellowed in contrast to the lively, bouncy, joyful demeanor she would normally have.

"Sugarcube, come on out. We all wanna talk to ya." A third voice called through the door.

Rarity rose from the floor and opened the door to see that all of her friends were there to check in on her. "Oh, hello girls."

"Rarity, are you going to be okay?" Fluttershy asked as she nuzzled the depressed seamstress that was covered in ruined makeup.

"Why of course." Rarity answered quietly.

Rainbow Dash flew forward, landing on her hooves as she escorted the mare out of the war-torn bathroom. "Normally, you don't leave us hanging like that. So when we saw you leave, we all knew that something had to be wrong."

"I'm fine girls."

"No, you're not." Pinkie intervened.

The sternness in her voice made Rarity fall back in surprise. "Pinkie?"

"You're still in love with him, and he may actually like you in return. I know that I wanna see my friends happy, but I can't let them make mistakes that they'll regret later on in life. You're one of my bestest friends, and it is my duty to make sure that you don't get hurt, even when you're the one who's hurting yourself."

For a moment, the words of the pink mare sounded similar to that of Twilight. Rarity was perplexed at the level of maturity that Pinkie had started to display. "Wow... that was pretty insightful."

"Pinkie Pie has seen a lot of ponies with a lot of problems. Learning how to talk with those who have problems is another way I've learned to make others smile. My destiny and my talents aren't confined to parties and cupcakes, but to be a good friend."

Rarity felt better as she finally accepted the hug of her pink friend. "Thanks. I suppose you-"

"Did you kiss him?" Another voice asked in a low, displeased tone.

"Spike!!!" Fluttershy scolded the purple drake.

Applejack walked up to the dragon and demanded that he take back his question. "Ah don't think that was the least bit called fer. Apo-"

Brushing aside the farm mare, he gave Rarity a long, disapproving glare. "Did you kiss Shining Armor?"

Rarity remembered one crucial detail of how she managed to reunite with Shining in the first place. She remembered that Spike had brought them there and that he could've been watching as they played out their prank. "Spike... I-"

"WELL DID YOU!?" Spike shouted, letting his anger get the better of him.

Rarity knew what they did. She kissed him, more than once. She even dared to allow him the honor of being her first. Rarity couldn't deny that she wanted to kiss him, but she could deny to him that they actually committed the deed. At that moment, she was reminded of a situation in the past, one that involved her mother. And just like back then, the second culprit was none other than Shining Armor. The hurtful months of her youth that she blocked out of her memories flooded back to her. And she remembered that her mother lied to her to protect her feelings.

She finally realized why her mother lied to her. She wanted to protect her personal feelings. There was no way that she could tell Spike the truth because it would hurt him more since he wanted to have a relationship with her, similar to how she wanted a relationship with Shining. Suddenly, she realized that she was more or less in her mother's hoofprints in that situation. She became her mother, and would answer as such.

"...No."

"Did you want to?"

"...Yes. I wanted to. But I didn't. It was all an act to play with you guys. I didn't mean to upset you, Spike." She lied, feeling remorse for what she did to him and for what she did to Shining's relationship.

Spike grew jealous of how she felt towards one of his friends. It was painful to say the least, but to him, it cut far deeper than that. "It's okay. After all, you said you needed more time to think about us. I guess it's fair that you may not ever see me that way."

"Spike, it's not like that." Rarity tried to reassure him, but he did the one thing that she never thought he could do. He ignored her.

"Goodnignt girls. We should be going to bed anyways." Spike answered as he started to make his way out to the palace, hoping to find an open guestroom far away from Rarity.

"Goodnight, Spike." She said, feeling guilty for what had occurred between him and her.

"Goodnight, Rarity." Spike responded before shutting the door behind him. The five mares stood in the lobby, staring at the door the dragon just left out of. Rarity offered to pursue him, but was stopped by a pink hoof pulling against her. Pinkie shook her head, notifying Rarity that he needed some time alone. One by one, the mares left the area, all with the exception of Rarity, who made her way to the outside balcony, giving her a view of the upset drake that trekked to the palace.

"It isn't fair. It just isn't fair." Spike muttered out as he walked across the moonlit courtyard, unaware that Rarity could still hear him as she watched from the balcony.

"Life never is, Spikey-poo. It never was."

~Friday~
April 15th, 1 S.R.
Canterlot Royal Chapel

The following day, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Pinkie Pie attended the rehearsal for the wedding. Rarity tried her best to mask herself as she conducted the ceremony, even going as far as joining the others for a laugh. As they walked down the isle, the five mares smiled and giggled as they received instruction from Celestia herself.

"Perfect girls. No need to rush. Then of course, Cadance will enter."

"Stay focused Rarity. No need for outbursts." Rarity muttered to herself, trying to keep her poise.

"I'll say a few words, and then we'll begin with the vows. Shining Armor, you'll get the ring from your best mare."

They turned around to see that the mare who was assigned the position didn't show. Shining started to question what seemed to bother his sister. Since she came back to the city, she's been up at arms about the marriage. Perhaps she might have gotten caught up with something important. "Hey, has anypony seen Twilight?" Shining asked.

In miraculous timing, his younger sister broke through the doors screaming. "I'm here! I'm not gonna stand next to her! And neither should you!"

Shining cringed at the thought of her being so confrontational with Cadance. Not only was it embarrassing, but it also made the whole situation in general awkward. "I'm sorry, I... I don't know why she's acting like this."

"Maybe we should just ignore her." The pink princess whispered.

"You have to listen to me!" Twilight shouted from the back of the room.

"Oh, goodness! Are you okay?" Fluttershy asked as she offered to intervene.

"I'm fine!" Twilight answered.

"Ya sure about that?" Applejack asked before she promptly received a face full of her stetson.

"I've got something to say! She's evil!"

Shining stood in front of his fiancee, realizing that the mare had gone mental. He already knew that Twilight was deeply affectionate towards him, but to see her go to such strenuous lengths made him angry. Twilight teleported behind him as she started to back the mare into a corner.

"She's been horrible to my friends, she's obviously done something to her bridesmaids, and if that wasn't enough, I saw her put a spell on my brother that made his eyes go all wobbly!"

Everyone in the room looked back to the two mares. Twilight closed in on her target, giving her a dark grin as she felt her victory was assured. "That's right. You don't have a prayer of being with my brother. Now confess!"

The pink princess knew that she had no way of answering everything at once. She needed an escape plan, one that would convince the others to side with her. After all, they should side with her considering that she made all of their wildest dreams of taking part in a royal wedding. She could try to fake her way out of the room and cause the others to sympathize with her. Besides, manipulation was always a changeling's art. Forcing herself to cry, 'Cadance' sobbed as she tried to make her way out of the chapel. "Why are you doing this to me?!"

The pink mare galloped out of the chapel bawling as Twilight teleported to the doorway. "Because you're evil! Evil! And if I don't stop you, you're gonna ruin my brother's life!"

The others remained slack-jawed over Twilight's brashness and accusations. Twilight, feeling proud of her work made her way back into the room, only to run into a large wall that was her older brother staring down at her. She gave him a light smile while he grew livid over his sister's selfishness.

"You want to know why my eyes went all-arrrgh!" Shining rubbed his head as another one of his migraines caused him a great deal pain. "Because ever since I started having to perform my protection spell, I've been getting terrible migraines. Cadance hasn't been casting spells on me. She's been using her magic to heal me!"

Twilight started to see what exactly was going on when it came to her casting the spell on him. She grew from confident and proud to shameful and unsure. "And she decided to replace her bridesmaids because she found out the only reason they wanted to be in the wedding was so that they could meet Canterlot royalty! And if she hasn't been on her best behavior with your friends, it's because with me being so busy, she's had to make all the decisions about the wedding!"

Twilight didn't want to hurt his feelings, she only wanted to protect him. Now she felt that her means of protecting her brother that she loved so much had proven to be a wedge in their relationship. Her unsure composure fell even further into remorse. "I was just trying to-"

"She's been completely stressed out because it's really important to her that our big day be perfect! Something that obviously wasn't important to you!"

"Shining, just liste-" Twilight started off before Shining buckled over in pain from his migraine. She grew horrified over what she had done. Now her older brother was genuinely angry with her.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go and comfort my bride. And you can forget about being my best mare... In fact, if I were you, I wouldn't show up to the wedding at all."

Twilight grew saddened over her actions. She made a mistake that ultimately caused her and her brother to fight for the first time. They never found themselves getting into an altercation over anything, but now, she let her personal desire to protect her older brother become an obsession that started to get out of control. She's been obsessing over him and now, even her friends have had it up to their eye sockets with her antics.

"C'mon, y'all. Let's go check on the princess." Applejack said, causing the others to follow behind her. As they passed the purple mare, Twilight felt herself become disheartened and become depressed over what she had started to lose. Finally, she saw her mentor pass by her.

"I was-"

"You have a lot to think about." Celestia answered sternly, angry that Twilight could be so careless and selfish. Though Celestia was aware of Twilight's personal feelings for her brother, she never thought of it to be something that would stem out of control. Frankly, her assumptions proved to be wrong. Slamming the door behind her, Celestia looked back at her student with disappointment.

The halls grew silent, the rehearsal that filled the chapel with laughs of joy and celebration had grown quiet as Twilight laid herself at the front of the alter. "Maybe I was being overprotective. I could've gained a sister. But instead... I just lost a brother. And now, we'll never do anything together. And it's all my fault."

Twilight started to weep on the steps of the alter. She became brokenhearted over her loss of her friends, her mentor, her future sister and now her brother. She was alone, or at least she thought she was. Quiet hoofsteps sounded closer and closer to her. She rose to see the mare she accused of wrongdoing. "I'm so sorry."

The pink alacorn wore a gentle smile on her face. Suddenly, her eyes flashed green and her smile disappeared into a angry frown. "You will be."

Twilight backed away from the mare. Before she could say anything, Twilight saw green flames erupt around her body. The mare smiled maniacally at the mare as her face shone brightly in the emerald colored flames. Twilight felt her entire world rising above her, or so she thought as she started to sink into the floor. The flames then snuffed her out, making her breathe in the harmful fumes, causing her to fall unconscious. As the green dome of her magic sank into the floor, the princess made her way out to the hallway.

"And now, to the final act of my plan. This is going to be a treat."

Private Chambers of Mi Amore Cadenza
Canterlot Royal Palace

In the room of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, 'Cadance' stood over her bed as she continued to siphon energy from the sleeping stallion that rested. Her spell ensured that he would be under her total control by the morning's light. She also made sure that he was unable to wake. As she continued to cast her spell, a knock set in a cryptic pattern sounded at the door.

"Enter." The pink mare sounded to the door. Allowing a guard in black armor to walk into the room.

"Your majesty." He said as he bowed before her.

Turning her attention to the stallion, she continued to drain the energy from the captain. "So I trust that you will be ready come tomorrow?"

Speaking softly, the guard used his magic to close the door behind him. "More than, my queen. We will crush these pathetic Equestrians before the afternoon's completion."

"Well done, my useful drone."

The impostor guard smirked as he rose from his bow. "Please, your highness, call me Wrath."

"Well then, Wrath, I would have you await my signal come tomorrow to start the siege."

"Your highness. But what of the prisoner?"

The fake princess gently caressed the sleeping stallion, smiling as she took in his serene form. "She should be very much on her way out. It's been five days, she should be suffering the final stages of thirst."

"Unless she decided to cast her dignity aside for the sake of her survival, but even then she would have only a few more days. To think that a princess would resort to drinking her own urine." Wrath joked, much to the disgust of his superior.

"Quite an amusing thought. But at least she won't die alone."

His smirk grew into a frown of concern. "This Twilight Sparkle, my queen, she is not to be underestimated. She is the captain's sister."

"She will be a bargaining chip for Celestia to surrender. That mare is so soft, I bet she would barely be able to put up a fight." The queen mocked as she realized that her spell was upon it's completion.

"Then she will be no match for us." Wrath deduced, bowing before the princess as he dismissed himself.

"Precisely. Now go. You will need to take to the shadows while I stay behind and welcome our new prisoner."

~Saturday~
April 16th, 1 S.R.
???

Twilight awoke in a dark cavern. Rubbing her head from resting on a nearby rock, she rose and illuminated the room to get a better view of where she was. All around her, showed the reflection of herself on the walls. The purple mare grew frightened.

"Hello? Is anyone there?"

Walking forward while looking in every other direction, she bumped into a wall. As she looked at the bewildered expression on her own face, she came to realize that she was the furthest thing from safe.

"Where am I?"

A laugh sounded from the darkness of the cave before a voice called from the wall behind her. "The caves beneath Canterlot, once home to greedy unicorns who wanted to claim the gems that could be found inside. And now, your prison."

Growing scared, Twilight ran to the other side of the room, not wanting to see the the face of the mare that defeated her. She screamed out to the top of her lungs. "Help! Help!"

The faux princess showed her images on many of the facets of the walls around her. "It's no use. No one can hear you. And no one will ever think to look for you, either. Most ponies have forgotten that these caves even exist, which is why they are the ideal place to keep the ones who try to interfere with my plans."

"Plans? What plans?" Twilight asked.

"The plans I have for your brother, of course."

Twilight felt her fear transcend into anger and hatred. Her horn that illuminated the room started to spark with a volatile energy that acted as an active volcano. Twilight could not stand by as 'Cadance' took advantage of her older brother, the brother that she loved in more ways than one. "Don't you dare do anything to my brother, you... you monster!"

"Only way to stop me is to catch me!" She said as she disappeared before Twilight launched a bolt of energy at the reflection. As the bolt ricocheted off of the many facets of the walls, she sidestepped the incoming bolt. As she landed, the evil mare's visage could be seen on the floor and on every wall at once.

"Over here!"

Twilight amplified her output and shot a bolt at every reflection she saw. As the bolts hit their targets, the gemstone crumbled and broke from the impact.

"Nope! Over here!" The mare's voice called out from behind before erupting into laughter. Twilight turned around to fire another bolt of energy and blasted an entire wall to bits, revealing the same pink mare that placed her in the caves. She lunged for the mare who sat behind the busted wall.

"No! Wait!"

Twilight ignored her please as she tackled the mare and pinned her down to the ground.

"Please! Don't hurt me!" The mare asked as she raised her hooves to protect herself from any incoming blows, but she let her guard down as soon as she recognized the magenta streak in the purple mane. The familiar face of the foal she used to care for.

"Twilight, it's me! Please, you have to believe me. I've been imprisoned like you. The Cadance who brought you down here was an imposter."

"Likely story!" Twilight screamed as she readied herself to attack again.

Freeing herself from Twilight's grasp, she started to speak the same greeting that she and Twilight managed to use in the past. "Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake. Clap your hooves..."

"...And do a little shake." Twilight finished, seeing the mare smile back at her.

"Now do you see?"

Twilight grinned widely as she hugged her old foalsitter. "You remember me!"

"Of course I do. How could I forget the filly I love to sit for the most?" Cadance asked before an ominous laugh interrupted the moment they shared. As Cadance looked up, she could see a glimmer of light sparkle in the distance. Luckily for her, Twilight was on the same page. They separated themselves and agreed that their reunion would have to wait until later as they made their way down the caves, with Twilight being the motivational speaker as they ran.

"We have to get out of here. We have to stop her!"

The Royal Chapel
Canterlot Royal Palace

"Dearly beloved, we have gathered here today to join this mare, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, and this colt, Sir Shining Armor Aegnus Sparkle, in holy matrimony."

As Celestia continued to conduct the ceremony, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Rarity sat on the one side of the alter with Cadance, as Poindexter, Longshot, Azure, Shadow Star and Silverleaf stood on the other with Shining Armor. As they all stood in front of the small, privatized congregation, Rarity couldn't help but to be unnerved by the situation.

"Remain calm, Rarity. Remember your promise to the others. You were done with this crush thing. You can prove it to them by not making a fool out of yourself." She thought to herself as he tried her best not to let her emotions show as Celestia continued to carry on with the ceremony.

"Marriage is considered to be a sacred union between two who commit themselves to an eternity of fidelity. If there should be anypony who finds this union to be objectionable under reason of law, let them speak now or forever hold their peace."

"No... this cannot be happening! Rarity Andalusia Belle, say something! SAY SOMETHING NOW!" Rarity felt her body move on it's own accord, offering to object, but stopped short when she heard a voice whisper from beside her. She looked to see who it was, only to find that all of her friends were looking at her. Rarity wanted to object despite their disapproving looks, but she knew that she would ultimately be going back on her word to leave her crush in the past. Finally, she surrendered to reality. "No, they're right. He has chosen to move on. I should do the same... no matter how much it hurts."

Celestia waited a few moments before turning back to the bride and groom. "Very well then. Princess Cadance, do you have any vows to share with your groom?"

Feeling bitter, Rarity held an inward scowl as she forced herself to smile. "It better be worth it! If you dare love him halfheartedly, I will cut you down like a rabid stray dog!"

With a long pause, 'Cadance' brought herself to speak. "There are no words to describe what I feel for you. I want everything from you and I would do anything to have just that. I truly do love you, and I can only fail in listing the many ways I find myself completely infatuated with you. You are my dawn, my dusk, my darkness and my light. You are the world's creation to me and I will forever hold true to what we have: a special bond. I could... I could never imagine my life without you..."

"What a performance. What an act. Quite a show you're putting on. But I know this, you will never love him like I do now, like I always have!"

"Shining Armor, do you have any vows to share?" Celestia questioned to the groom.

Shining cleared his throat and turned to the bride. "It's been nine years since we've first met. I could still remember the days you would often play pranks on me. I still recall the times you tried to make my life a living hell by trying to convince me to date you. Looking back at those moments, I laugh at what we were, what we are now, and what will be of us in the future."

Shining let his eyes trail to the bridesmaid that stood behind his soon-to-be wife. He looked at Rarity for a brief moment and saw her eyes look to him. Rarity gasped to herself. "Shining Armor, why do you not say these things to me? I know what you really want."

The bride took notice that his eyes were no longer focused on her, and tapped a hoof against the floor quietly, knocking her spell back into motion. With a sly grin, she "allowed" him to continue with his vows.

"...I find that you haunt me, even to this very day. Our past may have not been perfect, but we've still made it through. You were there when I was at my best, and you even lifted my spirits when I was at my worst. You even consoled me over what was lost to me. And even now, all it took was one kiss from you to know what was meant to be... All it took was one kiss. I'm sure that the wheels of fate turned, and brought to me a perfect moment of tenderness and happiness. From now on... every minute, every second that I have, I will spend beside you, to make you happy."

Rarity watched as he finished the vow and Celestia stepped forward. "Mi Amore Cadenza, do you take this stallion to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, for better or worse, for richer of poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?"

"I do."

Rarity started to tremble in fear of what was inevitable. She still held hope that he would change his mind as the ceremony turned it's attention to his response. "Shining Armor Aegnus Sparkle, do you take this mare to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, for better or worse, for richer of poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?"

Rarity screamed internally at the stallion. "No... no... that's not fair. You belong with me. PLEASE DON'T SAY IT!"

"I do."

Rarity looked up to him, her heart stopping as she stared past the cascading purple, pink and blonde streaks of hair, past the veil that she painfully designed with my very being and into his azure eyes, her tears hitting the ground. She was so broken at that very moment that it took her everything in her very existence to prevent herself from either kissing him past the veil or running away as she wept in everlasting sorrow. She turned her head, breaking her contact from the stallion at the alter and grew bitter towards him.

"I love you Shining Armor, for speaking those words into the cosmos. But I hate you even more Shining Armor, for denying me those words that should have been mine after all these years. I curse your name, as you have enraptured my heart only to take it all away without so much as a second thought. Go to hell, Shining Armor Aegnus Sparkle."

Celestia turned her attention to the young dragon on the far end of the alter. "Spike, may I have the rings, please?"

As the princess readied to place the rings on each of their horns, 'Cadance' smiled and took joy in her victory. Shining Armor was hers to wed and there was nothing that could stop her. With a smile, she looked at the stallion's green glowing eyes. "And it's a done deal."

"Princess Cadance and Shining Armor, it is my great pleasure to pronounce you-"

"STOOOP!!!" A voice rang from the back of the room. The audience gasped and mumbled at the sudden interruption. Rarity and the others looked back to see who it was and became perplexed over who they saw.

"Twilight?" She whispered as she saw her friend standing in the doorway. She wanted to cheer and leap for joy, but doing so would make things awkward for the both of them. For now, she decided to play along with a subtle facehoof. Spike looked defeated as soon as he saw that his caretaker was the one who objected to the wedding. He wasn't upset that Twilight was out to embarrass herself, but she stopped a wedding that would raise any chance of him and Rarity being together.

"Ugh! Why does she have to be so possessive of her brother?" 'Cadance' blurted out, before gaining a odd look from Celestia. She then offered to correct herself. "Why does she have to ruin my special day?"

"Because it's not your special day!" Another voice rang out from the back. "It's mine!"

The entire audience gasped once more at the development before them. At the alter was Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and the mare that stood in the back of the room was none other than Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. Two Cadances and only one was to be married. The chapel erupted in confusion as the bride shouted back to the two mares who objected her union. "What? But how did you escape my bridesmaids?"

Cadance rolled her eyes. "Seriously? You chose those three mares, over my Twilight? Those three fell for a fake bouquet I tossed into a dark cavern. My Twilight could see through your little game."

"Hmph, clever. But you're still too late." The other Cadance shouted back.

"Ah don't understand. How can there be two of 'em?" Applejack asked as the other mares agreed.

Cadance, the real Cadance, walked into the isle and called her imposter out. "She's a changeling. She takes the form of somepony you love and gains power by feeding off your love for them."

The audience turned to the princess in the wedding dress as the fake Cadance grew furious. "You... little... SLUT!"

Green flames erupted around her body. The pink feathers that were her wings then exploded to reveal a set of insect-like wings. The pink hooves turned black, filled with holes. Her pink horn set in a straight spiral was now jagged and curved. The mare's frame grew to the size of Celestia herself as a dual-toned laugh erupted form the flames. The light show dispersed to reveal none other than Queen Chrysalis herself.

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

Cadance challenged the queens theory. "They'll never get the chance! Shining Armor's protection spell will keep them from ever even reaching us!"

"Oh, I doubt that. Isn't that right, dear?" Chrysalis turned her attention to the stallion at the alter, lighting her magic and causing the stallion to agree. Cadance grew angry and charged for her fiancee, only to be stopped by Chrysalis readying a spell to send her back from where she escaped from.

"Ah, ah, ah. Don't want to go back to the caves, now do you?" She asked, causing the pink princess to back down out of fear of not being able to rescue Shining. "Ever since I took your place, I've been feeding off Shining Armor's love for you. Every moment he grows weaker and so does his spell. Even now, my minions are chipping away at it."

As it was mentioned, Longshot looked outside of the window to see a large army outside of the barrier bashing against the shield over the city. "Uh, guys."

Azure took notice and ordered the guards to ready themselves. "MOUNT UP! SPEARS SHARP!"

"He may not be my husband, but he is under my total control now. And I'm sorry to say, unable to perform his duties as Captain of the Royal Guard." The queen said as she glared menacingly at the pink princess.

"Not my Shining Armor!" Cadance yelled as she was held back by Twilight.

Chrysalis took to the air above the alter. "Soon, my changeling army will break through. First, we take Canterlot. And then, all of Equestria!"

Azure ran back into the chapel, armed with his spear. "Like hell yo-"

"No." Celestia interrupted, waiving him off of his attack. "You won't."

The changeling queen landed on the ground as Celestia decided to take matters into her own hooves. "You may have made it impossible for Shining Armor to perform his spell, but now that you have so foolishly revealed your true self..."

Celestia and Chrysalis charged at each other, meeting halfway with horns clashing like swords. "I can protect my subjects..." Pulling off of the queen, Celestia took to the air and fired a bolt of energy at the queen. "FROM YOU!"

Chrysalis struggled as she tried to stave off her opponent's magic. It was true that her powers alone was not enough to challenge her, but with an additional source of power reserved inside of her, she could rival, possibly even dwarf Celestia's own. Feeling the intensity of the suns heat raining down before her, she tapped into the hidden reservoir of energy she obtained from her victim.

She started to press the heat back to the caster and grew emboldened over the large influx of power she was releasing. In mere seconds, Celestia realized that her power alone was too little in comparison to love itself. She tried to erect a barrier over her body before the beam hit her horn, but it was too late. An explosion sounded and sent Celestia falling to the floor. The impact of the blow even sent Celestia's crown off of her head and landing beside her.

"Princess Celestia!" Twilight screamed as she saw the surreal sight of her mentor being brought down before her. The audience started to flee from the scene and push their way into the halls.

"BOYS, GUARD THE PRINCESS AT ALL COSTS! FOR EQUESTRIA!" Azure ordered as he and the other guards surrounded their fallen leader.

Chrysalis stood in shock over what she was witnessing. She didn't think that she'd be able to pull it off but now, there was a sense of certainty that she had in defeating the princess of Equestria. "Ah! Shining Armor's love for you is even stronger than I thought! Consuming it has made me even more powerful than Celestia!"

The six mares remained at the princess' side as Celestia whispered to them their orders. "The Elements of Harmony. You must get to them and use their power to defeat the queen."

The mares all nodded in approval. Casting their dresses aside, they made their way to the exit. All except Rarity made their leave for the vault as she tried to keep her dresses off of the floor.

"Rarity!" The other five called out to her. Finally giving up the pointless task, she cast her own dress aside to take after them.

Chrysalis laughed at the group who left for the elements and shouted out to them. "You can run, but you can't hide!"

Azure held his spear and the others followed him as they ran for the queen who wounded their ruler. "Get speared, you ugly skank!"

"AZURE!" The princess shouted as she struggled to get back on her hooves.

"Princess!" He answered back, halting his advance.

"You are now acting Captain of the Royal Guard. I hereby order you, Poindexter, Longshot, Silverleaf and the Shadow Star to escort those girls to the vault."

"But princess-"

"DO AS I SAY! THE FUTURE OF THIS NATION REST WITHIN THE ELEMENT BEARERS, NOT ME!" She shouted, letting her wings span out in full.

"But-"

"I will handle this usurper. NOW GO!"

Azure didn't like his orders but knew he had no other choice but to obey. As a guard, he was taught to obey the order, no matter how questionable it was. With a salute, he and the five guards took after the six element bearers. "Yes, your highness."

The chapel was now emptied with only two witnesses, being Spike and Cadance. Shining stood motionless at the alter as the spell continued to render him useless. "It's just you and me, Chrysalis."

Celestia struggled to walk forward, earning a pitied laugh from the changeling queen. "Should you even be fighting in your current condition?"

Still a bit disoriented, she wobbled towards the queen, with determination in her eyes. The sun shone for a brief moment. "I will break that thing you call a horn off of your head and use it as a bludgeoning tool."

With a strong bolt of energy, Chrysalis sent Celestia flying to a nearby wall, causing her to land head first into a pillar and falling to the ground unconscious. As she wiped her foreleg against herself, she spat back at the downed princess.

"I think that would require you to stand up, first."

"Go, go!" Twilight shouted as the shield collapsed around them, causing the changelings to fall from the sky. The six mares ran down the street as multiple changelings landed all around them. One even landed before Twilight, but she immediately took the liberty of crushing it's head as she pressed onward.

"Keep running, girls!" Twilight lead the others into a turn, a shortcut to the vault when they were ambushed by a large group of changelings. Many of them grinned and hissed as they walked closer to the group of mares.

*hiss*

"Now what do we do?" Fluttershy asked as she started to scamper backwards.

"Keep going!" A voice called out from behind. As a spear came falling from the air, it landed into the changeling's chest. As the creature fell over dead, the six mares shielded their eyes from the gruesome expression of it's face. Before they could turn around, a party of five guards stood before them and started to fend off any stragglers that dared to attack.

"Azure, what are you doing here!? The princess is in trouble and you're out here!" Twilight shouted.

"The princess ordered us to protect you and to make sure that you get to that vault!" Azure answered.

"Azure-" Twilight called back angrily.

"Shining's no good right now. So I've been made captain in his place. And it was orders from the princess that you get your asses out of here and get to that damn vault."

Feeling angry over his statement, Twilight stood firm. "I'm not taking orders from you!"

*hiss*

As she answered Azure, a changeling ran over to them. But before it could get within striking distance, Azure took the initiative and drew his sword from it's sheath and gave it a single swipe at the changeling. The drone that barreled towards them stumbled short as it fell to the ground. As it landed, blood spilled forth as the head rolled a short distance, stopping shy of Twilight's hooves.

"Do you really wanna argue with me right now!?"

"No." She squeaked.

"THEN GET THAT ASS MOVING!!!"

"This way girls!" She said as she dragged the first mare she could reach. As they made their escape, more of the changelings, made their way over to the the mares, only to be stopped by Longshot and Poindexter.

Rarity stepped forward before running off. "Thank you all so much."

"Hey, that order applies to you too. Now go save Equestria for a third time. We'll hold them off here." Longshot said as he shoved a changeling off of him and shot it in the eye with his crossbow.

"Howdy." Applejack said to a familiar face.

"Hi. Lovely weather we're having, eh?" Poindexter joked as he thrusted his spear into the neck of an incoming changeling.

"If'n ya call rainin' changelings lovely weather." Applejack answered as she watched the lifeless body fall before him.

"You're gonna leave or not?" Poindexter asked as he retracted his spear from the carcass below him.

Applejack blushed lightly as she took a step back. "Ah was wonderin'..."

*hiss*

Poindexter raised his spear to avoid being bitten by another changeling that offered to rip his neck open. Catching the wooden rod in it's teeth, he shoved the creature back and sent it tumbling to another guard that accompanied them. "Ask me later."

"Loud and clear." Applejack said as she was drug away by a magenta aura that propelled her towards the direction of her friends. Shadow Star finished off the changeling that Poindexter sent his way and sliced into it's hide with a large halberd. Meanwhile, Twilight chided her friend on her inability to run when told to do so.

"What was all of that about?"

"Nothin' at all. A guard Ah met at the Gala."

Back over on the streets of Canterlot, the five stallions started to rack up a large body count. Dead changelings littered the street as they forced themselves through. As they looked around, they saw a family made of a stallion, a mare and their young filly, trying to run from an incoming squad of changelings.

"Shit! Looks like we need to clear these streets so that family can get out of here." Longshot pointed out.

"Your orders, captain?" Poindexter asked as he brandished his spear.

Azure shook his head. "And I'm reminded on why being called captain feels weird. Longshot, Shadow Star, you take the street to the left. Poindexter, Silverleaf, you take the street to the right."

"What about you?" Silverleaf asked.

"I'm gonna do the one thing that my mom always told me not to do when I was a child." Azure said as he looked at the family making a run for it.

"That being?" Shadow Star asked.

Azure pulled out a second blade and held both of them in his magic. "Run around while playing with sharp objects."

"Seems fair." Longshot answered back, readying his crossbow and his sword.

"Might try that myself." Poindexter said as he readied his spear for a charge.

"SPLIT UP!" Azure shouted, causing the five to go their assigned routes.

Azure took the center and charged into a group of incoming changelings that transformed into him, weapons and all. They all tried to subdue the guard, but fell short as his blades sliced into their hides, severing flesh and bone alike. Two tried to take a swing at him from his left side, but he responded with a quick dash in between both of them and found their open necks a good place to bury his blades. Another three came from his right, he turned around and drove his sword into the skull of one and parried off a blow from the second. In rapid succession, he pulled the blade from the changeling's skull and struck the other in the shoulder and used the other blade to pierce into it's chest. The third surprised him and tried to force a blade into his side.

"Oh you did not just try to stab me!" He said angrily as he knocked the sword from the changeling's magical hold and used the other sword to bury itself into the skull of the insectoid, cleaving it's skull in two.

Covered in changeling blood, he shouted out to the three civilians and held off yet another changeling. "Hey, you three! Get going!"

"Thank you, kind sir." The stallion said as he and his family ran the opposite way of the incoming squad of changelings. As they ran for the other streets, he turned his attention to the changeling before him. Curving his slash inwards, he severed both of the changeling's forelegs and allowed his blade to dive deep into the chest of the changeling.

"No problem. Now where was I?"

"Somewhere between a blade and a hard place." A voice called out from beside him. Azure turned around, only to be flanked by the same figure. As he tried to react, he felt his entire body jolt in shock. He stood motionless as the changeling stood beside him, pushing his body into a wall.

"You... you can... talk?" Azure asked, still in a state of shock as he looked down to see a blade protruding his body from one side to the other. Blood poured down from his chest and onto the wall he was pinned against.

"Wrath is my name. But before I leave you here to die, I will tell you something."

As the figure spoke into his victims ear, Azure could feel a dull throbbing coming from where the blade was slowly being pulled from his body. The throbbing started to grow painful until it started to override his other senses. As he slinked against the wall, a trail of blood followed his descent as he held himself, cringing at the unholy amount of pain he was experiencing. The cold emptiness of his wound grew warm with the flow of blood replacing it. Azure was left shaking and stuttering as the pain grew unbearable while Wrath walked towards his mission objective.

"Now, where was I? Oh yes... now I remember."

Author's Note

This... was... a very hard chapter to write. I wasn't exactly a fan of the scene where Twilight was cast aside, but I had to make their abandonment of her as close to reasonable as possible. And yeah, Celestia knew of Twi's feelings of Shining (he told her in a conversation prior to Twi receiving the tickets to the gala).

Please forgive me for this chapter, but I know that you will enjoy the next chapter a little more. A lot of action will take place the next chapter. I would personally call it the royal rumble chapter due to how many conflicts there will be in it.

Now who wants some free rugs?