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"Where did it all go wrong?"

A popular question brought up by many in dark times.

The Wedding between Shining Armor and Princess Cadence marked a turning point in the history of not just ponies, but Zebras, Griffons, Dogs, Donkeys, and all other walks of life. But more specifically, it was the attack on Canterlot by the Changelings. The near successful infiltration by the Queen of the Changelings had weakened the protective barrier enveloping countless ponies. The Queen had come close to actually fulfilling her dreams, having captured Princess Celestia, the Mane Five, and holding the whole city by its throat. But the unbreakable bond shared between Shining Armor and Princess Cadence formed a power so unmatched that it thwarted her invasion and, for the following years, any threat from the Changelings to Canterlot or Ponykind.

To many, it was a decisive victory and a beautiful wedding never to be forgotten in the annals of history. To others, it was a sign of defeat to all of Equestria. Many, from members in the Royal Court to Captains of the Guard throughout Equestria saw how the future of Ponykind was almost lost in one single momentous day. These complaints were brought up to Celestia, who herself was defeated by somepony she had never seen and thus, wrongly underestimated her strength, leading to Celestia's  defeat and capture by the Queen.

It was a dead serious matter that couldn't have been ruled out as 'coincidental'. Within that one year, Nightmare Moon's return almost enveloped the world in eternal darkness, Discord's release brought anarchy to Ponyville and possibly all of Equestria eventually, and finally, the infiltration and near success on the Wedding Day by the Changelings could've brought Equestria down to its knees. And what was scary to these ponies concerned with this was that it had always been mainly thanks to the Mane Five that these threats were stomped out. Who would've been able to stop them if the Mane Five... failed? The growing reports of the gates of Tartarus, weakening and eventual collapse could mean a continent wide disaster, something five gifted ponies can't stop alone.

The most direct complaint was targeted towards Princess Celestia herself. Some have questioned whether she has been aware of these series of unfortunate events and have even considered on acting upon them. Others question have even suggested that she was mainly to blame for jeopardizing everypony.

Princess Celestia finally came to a conclusion several days later.

She was going to give up substantial power she once held before. The Mane Five, who she entrusted with the Elements of Harmony,

from Princess Celestia, the Mane Five of the Elements of Harmony, several important figures in the Royal Canterlot Ministry, and all those within the city.

For better or worse, but at the time, no pony could have seen what