Flare of Hope

"Hey, Cadance!" It was the day before the wedding, and all of Equestria was buzzing with anticipation. "I haven't gotten to hang out with you in days. Are you alright?"

Cadance looked at the powder blue unicorn, who had just entered the room with a slight air of disdain about her. "And who are you? And who gave you permission to speak to your princess in such a manner?"

Star raised an eyebrow at the princess. "Um Cadance, it's me. Y'know... Falling Star? Your best friend?"

"Hmmm. Doesn't ring a bell. And for the record, my name is Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, and you will address me as such. Is that understood?"

"Yeah, whatever. You're such a joker, Cadance."

The princess was now starting to show signs of anger, something that Star had never seen in Cadance. "Alright, Cadance, what the hay is wrong with you?" Star took on a stern tone with the princess, which frankly shocked the ponies who were cleaning the room to the point that they ran out of the room. Ever since the rumor spread about how Star beat down Twilight Sparkle, none of the servants dared to mess with her, and most would evacuate the area at any sign of her possibly getting angry. "All the servants have been complaining about your treatment of them, and even Flare says that you've just been a royal bitch lately! What has gotten into you?!"

At this point, even the princess was speechless. Speechless, and slightly distracted. So distracted, in fact, that she stopped focusing on her disguise, and accidentally flashed her true form, which Star caught full view of.

Star gasped at the brief, half-second view of what she could tell was definitely not Cadance. "Oh no! I have to tell the princess!" She turned to run for the door, only to smack into it, as it was slammed shut by a green aura. She fell to the ground, losing consciousness, as she was slowly surrounded by a green flame.

"You will not ruin my plans!"

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"Hey, Glimmer?"

The pegasus mare in silver armor popped to attention, and saluted. "Yes, your highness?" Glimmer Steel, was one of Flare's two personal guards that his mother had allowed him to hoof pick, and the mare's incredible talent of observation had never ceased to amaze him.

"Have you seen Star, lately?"

It had been a few days since Flare had gotten Shining Armor completely plastered, and the wedding was tomorrow. All the planning had been rather stressful on everypony, Flare included. He had been in charge of making sure the groom-to-be didn't overload himself with work to the point of madness. And in a way, Shining had kind of helped Flare in his relationship with Star, with some useful advice as to letting her know how he feels about her. Although, earlier that morning, Star decided to check up on the overstressed princess, and Flare hadn't seen her since. The thing that worried him the most was that it was now almost evening, and Star was nowhere to be found.

The other armored pegasus mare at the door piped upto in response to the question. "No, your highness. My sister and I have not seen Lady Star since this morning."

"Now Shim, what did I tell you two about titles?"

The mare began to sweat. "My apologies, your highne- I mean Si- er Flare." Even Flare had to admit. Shimmer Blade was pretty cute when she was nervous. He had even admitted on more than one occasion that if he didn't feel so strongly for Star, he'd put the twins in bed in a heartbeat.

"Well, if either of you see her, tell her to come here."

"Got it, Flare."

"See, Shim? Glimmer can do it. Now, which one of you wants to fill the empty space in my bed?" This elicited the cutest, most hilarious response imaginable. The two mares simply blushed, and looked at each other. Thankfully, Flare intervened before the two mares killed each other for the chance to get with Equestria's most sought after royal. "I was kidding, ladies. Relax."

It was the day of the wedding, and everypony was erupting with joy, except for Prince Flare, who was only worrying about Falling Star. "Hey, Mom. Have you seen Star? I haven't seen her since yesterday morning."

"Don't worry so much, dear. I'm sure she just took the day off."

"Then why do I feel like something bad happened?"

"We all get those feelings, Flare. Now, go get ready for the wedding."

"Mom, I already told everypony that I'm not going unless Star's there with me."

"Fine. Maybe you should go visit Lady Star in her home. A little time away from the castle should do you some good." The princess affectionately nuzzled her son. "You've grown up so much since you came here. I just wish I could've raised you myself. I feel like such a horrible mother for-"

Flare interrupted his mother with a gentle hoof to her lips. "Don't, Mom. You're not a horrible mother. You did what you had to do to protect me. And that's something only a good mother would do." Luna hugged her son tightly, nearly at tears.

"Am I interrupting something?" The two alicorns looked at the doorway, and spotted the bride-to-be looking at them with a raised eyebrow.

Luna let go of her son, and trotted toward her niece. "Of course not, dear. What's on your mind?"

"My mother wanted to see you. She says it's important."

"Of course. Tell her I'm on my way." She turned to her son, and nuzzled him again. "I'll see you after the wedding, dear."

"Bye, Mom." Then Luna left, and Cadance left soon after, leaving Flare alone in the study. After a few moments, Flare's horn erupted in a blaze of light blue, and he was gone.

He reappeared in front of a small house in the residential area of Canterlot. It was a good thing that nearly everypony was at the wedding, otherwise he would've needed a disguise. He lifted his hoof, and knocked softly on the door. After a moment, the sound of hoofsteps scurrying to the door were easily heard. Then the door opened, revealing a very tired looking Falling Star. Upon seeing the prince, she quickly dropped into a bow. "Oh, my apologies, your highness. I didn't expect you to grace me with your presence. Am I late?"

Flare raised an eyebrow at the pony. "Are you alright?" He couldn't remember Star ever being so formal with him.

"Of course, your highness. I just slept late is all."

There was definitely something very strange about Star, and Flare could tell. Star never slept late. And on top of that, she made it abundantly clear that she refused to bow to him, and only called him "your highness" when she was teasing him. And her scent was off. Star seemed to be wearing perfume. She never wore perfume. "May I come in?"

"Oh, but of course, your highness." Star stepped aside, allowing the suspicious prince to enter the abode. As he began to look around for anything strange, he managed to notice the sound of the door slamming shut and locking.

In that split second, all his suspicions were confirmed. He turned around, and saw the powder blue unicorn fading away to reveal a black creature that almost looked like a pony, with the exception of the holes throughout its legs, the mangled looking horn, and insect-like eyes and wings. "I knew it! Where is Star?!"

"And wouldn't you like to know?" This creature had almost pushed Flare's rage button with that one. This thing must've had a death wish to test the prince like that, because it just kept pushing. "Right about now, I imagine all my friends are having quite the meal at her expense. Shame, really. She was such a lovely young mare. No matter. Soon, all of Equestria will be under our control. But first, we can't leave any stone unturned, or any flare unextinguished."

Flare was definitely not going to let that happen. "Oh yeah? And just who the hay do you think you are?"

"Oh, of course. I am Larvaea. One of the most valued assassins to the queen, and loyal servant of the four Shades. And obviously, you're Midnight Flare, the pesky little bastard child of the princess. You really are rather handsome. I'm sure Lady Seduction would love to take a piece of you. Too bad you won't live to meet her."

Flare glared at the creature, charging his horn. "Oh yeah? And who's gonna make that happen?"

"I am!" The creature pounced at Flare, fangs bared and hissing wickedly. This was a poorly thought out move for the creature, and it showed, when its entire mouth burst intothe an explosion of blue flame. The creature landed on the ground with a thud, screeching and writhing in agony, as its mouth boiled.

"So. Are you gonna tell me where Star is, or am I gonna have to boil the rest of you?"

The changeling looked up. "Not on your li- Aaaaaah!" Flare really didn't like where that was going, so he proceeded with his plan, starting with the assassin's stomach contents. As the creature ejected a bubbling pool of bile onto the ground, Flare stepped back, and waited.

"Do you know what happens when the contents of your bladder boil? All the salts, and waste products that are carried in your urine are left behind when the liquid evaporates into steam, and the salts rip away at the lining of your bladder. Everbeing spilled salt on a wound? And on top of that, the toxins enter your blood stream, causing you to die a slow, painful death. I've never seen the face of somepony dying like that, but now that I have the chance..."

"Alright, I'll talk! The unicorn is being held in the tunnels under the city. But there will be an army of my kind there. You won't even make it to her! Hahaha-" Boom! The creature's head exploded in a burst of flame definitely not caused by Flare. Even though he was showered in the bi-product of green ooze, the shock of both events causing him to drop the changeling assassin.

"That thing really talks too much."

"Star! Wait... it's really you this time, right?"

"The one and only. Cadance is a changeling! She knocked me out, and imprisoned me in the tunnels."

"How'd you get out?"

"I teleported. Duh. What kind of idiot would actually try to go through all the crazy stuff down there?" Star hardly had a chance to catch her breath, before nearly having the breath squeezed out of her by the stallion, who had locked her in a crushing hug. "I was so worried about you!"

"Can't... breathe!"

"Shut up, you're ruining the moment."