Rising Hope 2: The Harmony Of Equestria.

Jamir's Pov:

The first thing I noticed that was the very center of my attention is the darkness. So dark that it seems like a living nightmare. I can't even tell where my hands are, it's that dark. If only I can- ''Oh! That's my eye.'' Twilight complained.

''Sorry, are you okay?''

''I'm fine, but think you can provide some lighting? I'd like to know where we are.''

''Got it.'' I brought my hands forward, bringing my magic to my hands, creating a bright golden glow of magic while I put a little extra into my eyes to better compensate and enhance my sight. The light refracted, filling our surroundings of visions with images of ourselves.

''Wait, are these-''Ouch!'' crystals?'' I ran a finger down the surface: smooth and cold with jagged edges.

''Correction: raw crystals, but where are we?''

''Hahahahaha!'' A voice echoed throughout, causing me to look around. ''Why you're in the caves beneath Canterlot, once known to be the home of greedy thieves, brigands, and petty crooks...and now you're prisoners.'' Cadence's voice trailed to a nearby rock where her face was highlighted in green.

''Help!'' Twi yelled.

''It's no use,'' - She smirked. - ''most have forgotten of the existence of these very caves which is why I chose it to be the ideal place for those who interfere with my plans.''

''What plans?''

''The ones I have for Twilight's brother, of course.''

''Don't,'' - She brought her horn to life. - ''don't you dare do anything to him, you monster!''

''...Only way to stop me is to catch me! Hahahahaha!''

''Why, you-

''Nope, over here!''

''Huh?''

''Over here.''

''Stop this you coward!'' I stomped my foot.

''Hahahahaha!''

Blast!

A giant hole formed from blasting a weak spot, revealing the tratious mare who looked scuffed up from the shock of the blast.

''Wait, no- oof!'' Twilight tackled her down. Acting quickly, I summoned both my swords, rushing over and planting one to the ground while the other was set near her neck.

''Don't move.'' I growled.

''Wait, please don't hurt me! Twilight...it's me, Cadence, don't you remember?''

''Yeah, right faker! The Cadence I know would never betray me!''

''Please, the Cadence that brought you down here is an imposter!''

''Likely story, and not one we'll be so easy to believe.'' I brought the sword closer, but heard a trace of actual fear in her voice so I decided to withdraw for a second.

''Sunshine, sunshine: ladybugs awake: clap your hooves and do a little shake.'' Cadence performed the same motions as Twilight when we first got to Canterlot.

''Cadence...it really is you, you do remember me!'' Twi embraced her in a hug.

''Of course, how could I forget the filly I loved to sit for the most?'' She asked. ''wait, when and how did you get pregnant? And who is this?''

Momentarily paying them no mind, I looked to the distance and saw a faint, but noticeable twinkle.

''That,'' I sheathed my weapons. ''can be discussed on the way out of here: come on, we have to stop whoever's impersonating you, stop the wedding and clear our names.'' Breaking off into a run, Twi and Cadence trailing close behind me as I took a left through the jagged caverns, trying to make headway of where to go. Hearing that same laugh echo through the caverns, all sorts of thoughts flooded my mind.

''So who and what are you?'' Cadence asked.

''My name Is Jamir, the one and only human in Equestria that I know of.''

''And how and why is Twilight pregnant?''

Ugh, some many personal questions, we could focusing our efforts on getting out of here.

''Let's just say...it was under unforeseen circumstances.'' I chose not to say any more at this point.

Canterlot, 'Cadence's' Pov:

Looking over the dresses along with mild interest, a smile came to me. How simple it was to deceive everypony. Ha! I deserve an award. After all this time, I will be one step closer to achieving my destiny. Plucking a lone rose from the bouquet, an urge to sing came to me.

This day is going to be perfect, the kind of day which I dreamed since I was small...everypony will gather 'round, say I look lovely in my gown, but what they don't know is that I have fooled them all...

This day was going to be perfect, the kind of day which I dreamed since I was small...but instead of having cake with all my friends to celebrate, my wedding bells they may not ring for me for me at all...

I could care less about the dress, I won't partake in any caaaake, vows well I'll be lying when I saaaaay that through any kind of weather, i'll want us to be together, the truth is I don't care for him at alllll! No I do not love the groom in my heart there is no room, but i'd still him to be all mineeeeeee!

We must escape before it's too late, find a way to save the day, hope i'll be lying if I saaay I don't fear that I may lose him to one who wants to use him, not love him, care for him and cherish him each daaaaay. For I also love the groom, all my thoughts he does consume, oh Shining Armour, i'll be there very soooooooon!

Finally the moment has arrived for me to be one lucky brideeee! Oh, the wedding, we won't make it, he'll end marrying a fake! Shining Armour will be-

Mine, all mine, hehehehehehahahahaha!

''Mares and Gentlecolts, we are today to witness the union of princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Shining Armour...''

Jamir's Pov:

''Oh, we're never going to save him!'' Cadence shed a few tears.

''We will.'' Twi assured. ''We just have to find a way out.'' She looked to the distance. ''There!'' That same gleam from before showed itself, but also lead to a light source from above.

''A way out, finally.'' I sighed, being tired of running through these caverns. Snapping my fingers, I teleported us to what I assumed to be one of the entrances to this place.

''Whoa.'' Twilight held her head in pain. ''I forgot how dazing teleporting can be.''

''Sorry about that hon, it should go away relatively quick, but we can talk about that as we get out of here.''

''You're not going anywhere.'' A trio of voices called.

''Huh?''  Looking ahead, three figures slowly approached us.

''Lyra?''

Some Time Later

Running through the halls of the castle, various was happening at once: I can hear the sound of the organ playing a few feet away from me, Cadence's trying her best to outrun me to get to the wedding first, and Twilight looked to be in slight pain as I heard her groan from my back.

''You okay, Twi?''

''Y-Yea.'' She mumbled. ''Just a slight headache is all.''

And why do I feel like that is nowhere near the real issue here? Hmph, we can discuss it later when-

''I now pronounce you-

Shit.

''Stoooopppppppp!'' I yelled, kicking the door open and setting Twilight down. A series of gasps rang throughout the room as everyone looked to us.

''Ugh, why do you and that human have to be so protective of her brother? W-Why are you ruining my special day?''

''Because.'' Cadence sounded from behind me. ''It's not your special day...it's mine!'' She stepped forward.

''How did you escape my bridesmaids?'' The imposter demanded.

''You're not going anywhere...'' the girls approached us.

Crap, now what? I don't want to hurt them, but it seems like-

''Look!'' Cadene wiggled a bouquet of flowers. ''Go get it!'' She hurled it behind us. Zooming past us, they fought over that stack of flowers like cats and dogs.

''Mine!''

''Don't touch it!''

''I want it!''

Or that could work.

''Let's go!'' I climbed up the rocks.

''Wait.'' Applejack paused. ''How can there be two of them?''

''This calls for an episode of Springer.'' Frank commented from the side.

''She's a changeling! She takes the form of somepony you love and feeds off your love for them!''

Changeling? Love? Why does that feel so familiar to me? Wait, maybe if I sense her aura...w-wait. This can't be...How can it be? I must be mistaken. Concentrating my magic, I felt conflicting auras interact with each other in a way much like the Affinty stones, but this feels wrong. I feel everypony's aura in the room and they're all different, save for mine, Tia and the two Cadences. Hers felt like pure love, almost but behind that was hate, so much hate, remorse, fear, and confusion, but in the midst of those feelings...another showed itself. One that I've felt a few times before, though this was more fleshed out...in the Outlands. No, nononononono!

''This is your only warning: come after me and I will see to it that everything you hold dear is taken away so quickly that your feeble primate mind will be unable to comprehend it.''

Backing away, the first my body instinctively did was trigger the fight or flight response, causing my eyes widen, body to tense up, breathing to go short, and stomach shutting off, giving me a sick feeling as I shook...in actual fear. The flames around the imposter Cadence engulfed her, changing her body in every aspect. Her slim body now grew firm and longer, hooves formed to have holes in them, her cutie mark vanished before my eyes, wings grew to an insect's  with black overtaking the entirety of her body while her mane grew thin and green, horn longer and jagged like a knife and eyes opened to reveal a deep green hue. Fangs opening, her long tongue slithered out as she laughed.

''How right you are princess.'' She flicked her mane. ''and as queen of the changelings, it is up to me to find food for my subjects. Equestria has more love than anyplace I have ever visited. My fellow changelings will be able to devour so much of it that we will more power than we have even dreamed of! Oh? Look how it is.'' She pointed a hoof to me. ''The vermin who I warned to stay out of my plans or there would be dire consequences, but you chose not to listen to me.''

''W-Who are you?'' I shook with hesitation to the question, though I really regretted doing that.

''You may call me Queen Chrysalis, or you may know me better as...Azure light.'' She hummed as she moved toward me.

''N-No, stay back, you monster: stay back or I'll-

''Do what? I already control you and you have no idea about how I did so: I can bend you to my will and there's nothing you can do about it.'' She sparked her horn and fired a blast of magic to my chest that didn't hit me, but did something worse.

''No!! Get out my head! Ahhhhhh!!!'' My head throbbed at the pain and shock of some many things flashing back into my mind.

''Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!'' A massive pain surged throughout the human's body: rippling his body and forcing him to scream and slam his fists to the ground, splintering the stone steps. Growling In primal rage and agony, the one thing that the human deduced was:

''This feels worse than a Centaur fucking you In the ass with a 2 foot long spiked dildo!''

Feeling his mind be pushed to the very brink and back, a type of tether snapped Inside him. A distant echo sounded from the deepest reaches of his mind and forced his entire body to move, despite the feeling of thousands of triggers fired telling him to stop.

''You sure are dense. Due to not being able to accomplish you needed to, you single handily brought about war to the Griffon Kingdom and the Ponies which resulted In the falling of so many deaths of the ones close to you.'' A vision was displayed that showing the death and destruction of Canterlot. So many building falling, explosions, screams of terror, and In the mist of It: two figures being the main cause of It. Slashing and smashing along with the sight of so many dead bodies littering the streets. I was freaking out but the worst part came when the Image shifted to the throne room: A bloody and broken Celestia guarding a horn and wingless Luna, crying.

''Stop this, you monsters...what we have done to you?'' Celestia cried.

''N-No!'' He screamed out. Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Every second, the feeling of a bomb igniting flowed through every inch of his being: his mind spun and experiencing yanking and pulling motions, his body feeling like a human conductor. No matter how, he could...feel it all. The veins in his arms pulsing, his muscles constricting, mind tearing: all threatening to consume him. Breath going short and sweat forming at a rapid pace, he struggled to stand on his feet which feels like lead, drawing him to sit back. Fighting against whatever is ailing him, the human staggered forward.

This was the sound of a mind being blown, the screams of murder right in his very core: he felt the need for retribution. Gripping the handle with so much raw force and splayed his emotions in all directions that he failed to notice the darkness spreading at exponential rate. Then after calming down for a quick moment, a pin could be dropped and all could hear it despite the distant sound of rampaging violence outside, but instead a tear fell to the floor, all eyes being on the human as he slowly shook not in pain, but sadness.

''I'm...gonna kill that bitch...''He whispered from the confines of his mind.

''What was that?'' Azure teased. ''Speak up boy, how do you think you'll be able to pleasure these mares if you don't speak up?'' She questioned.

''Uh, Azure...I think we may want to-

''Dieeeeeeeeeeee!'

''Jamir!/My love!'' I barely made out the voices of my friends as I blew steam out my nose, teeth clenching, screaming my lungs out and almost choking on the slew of emotions swirling through my mind, tears filled my eyes as I did all was able to: scream for help as Twilight hugged me as tight as possible.

''Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!''

''Hahahahahahaha! Foolish boy, I told you that you would-

''You bitch!'' Frank shouted, charging forward with Valiant and Iron, weapons in hand.

''Ha!'' the queen laughed. ''back you go.'' She blasted her magic to the trio who were forced back and knocked to the wall with a thud.

''Frank!'' Lavender ran over to check on her lover.

''You honestly think you are to take on me? Fools! When my changeling army breaks through the barrier and take Canterlot: none shall be able to stop us!''

''They'll never get the chance! Not with Shining Armour's protection spell!'' Cadence argued.

''Ha, I doubt that: every moment, Shining Armour gets weaker, and so does his spell, even now my minions are chipping away at it.''

''Why, you-

''Hmm.'' She floated over to Shining. ''He may not be my husband, but he is under my complete and total control...and i'm sorry to say: unable to perform his duties as Captain of the Royal Guard!''

Gasping, Cadence galloped forward, only to be stopped by Chrysalis.

''Ah-ah: don't want to go back to the caves, now do we?''

''Ever since I took your place, I've been feeding off of Shining Armour's love for you and it has been heavenly. First, we take Canterlot, then all Equestria!''

''N-No.'' Tia interrupted. Looking at her best I could, I found out just how serious and true our bond is as her face and actions reflected mine. Her body was shaking, teeth clenching and normally caring, unwavering eyes had tears fill them. When Luna said everything would be shared between us, I didn't think actual psychical and emotional pain applied. I can feel our mind running rampant, body scared out of its mind and our heart...beating like a drum and even though she's not here: Luna has to be feeling the exact same way. ''you won't. You may have made it impossible for Shining Armour to perform his protection spell, but now that you have so foolishly revealed your true self,'' She clashed horns with Chrysalis. ''I can protect my subjects from you!'' Tia let loose a magnificent beam of light that combated Chrysalis's magic.

''Gyah!'' I slammed my fist harder into the floor, hoping to redirect the pain in some way, but it wouldn't stop. Nothing. Nothing I tried is helping me. My mind's doing donuts, too moo stuff's happening to keep track of, body's going crazy and-

The sound of screaming and the clang of metal against the floor stopped all my current feelings as I heard one name be shouted across the room.

''Princess Celestia!''

Mustering whatever strength I possessed from that whole ordeal, a burst of electricity flowed through my legs, letting me jump towards Tia with Twilight in my arms as I landed and collapsed to my knees.

''T-The elements of harmony.'' She gasped, green lighting sparking over her body. ''you must use their power to defeat the queen.''

''No.'' I picked her head and rubbed her burning forehead. ''I'll not leave you here with her.''

''It'll be okay, love.'' She smiled. ''go.'' her voice and steady calmness set an opportune rest with everyone else, though in spite of that, Tia is concentrating all her efforts to not allow the effects to dominate her. Curses, here another extemporaneous problem shows a habit of flaunting itself around every corner. No, I need to remain focused: the elements may just be precisely what we need.

''I'll be back quickly, I promise. Come on girls!'' I regained a tad of my confidence as we rushed out the doors, the girls taking off their dresses.

''Rarity!'' We called to the fashionista, trying to preserve the garbs.

''Oh, coming!'' She galloped with us.

''Hahahaha! You can run, but can't hide!'' Her voice bellowed right in my thoughts. Hitting the ground, my legs vibrated as I sped down the streets of Canterlot, trying my absolute best to orientate myself to my surroundings. Sliding down a railing, the girls each had looks of stone cold determination adorning their faces.

''Hang on,'' Twi said. ''We should be there in-

A massive sound spread in every direction, accompanied by a sickening crack from above.

''They shattered the barrier?!'' I was astounded at the size of figures floating in the air like insects.Diving down, they sooned turned into green projectiles, soaring quickly towards us.

''Move it, move it!'' I yelled. Cutting across an alleyway, the building where the elements began to be in our sights.

''Good, maybe this will be-

Blam!

A crater formed at a changeling landing in front me, bearing his fangs and hissing prompted me put a decent amount of force into a kick that knocked his body back as we continued on.

''Ignore them falling, just get to the elements!'' Twi urged. Zigagging to avoid getting hit, we went up a set of stairs and laid our eyes upon an entire platoon of changelings waiting for us, fangs shown, horns shown, and intimidation factor slightly going up.

''Now what do we do?'' Pinkie facehoofed.

''Uh, panic?'' Flutters suggested.

''We'll just have to do this the old fashioned way.'' Rainbow stretched her neck. ''a good ol' fight.'' she rushed up to meet another Rainbow Dash identical to her.

''Huh?'' She tilted her head, the double doing the same. Then an eye squint and then- ''Oof!'' Rainbow grunted, having the air knocked off of her for a moment.

''What?''

One by one, the changelings began to into Rainbow, Pinkie, Aj, Flutters, Rarity and Twilight: the one throwing me off the most was when only three turned into me.

''Stop them: they must not be allowed to reach their destination!'' A fake version of me ordered.

''Don't let them distract you: we have to remain on the task at hoof.'' Twi growled. Charging forward, what happened next was akin to a bloodbath minus the blood. So many things happened at once: Applejack uppercutted Fluttershy, Rarity bucked Rainbow, Twi backhoofed Pinkie, and a whole lot more happened, the most noticeable some even double teaming themselves. In the midst of all the fighting, the three copies of me each stood in a particular place, one right in front of me, the other just barely within my peripheral vision as I waited.

''What are you waiting for human? Attack, though it won't do you much good: just like the unicorn captain, you're slowly being drained of your magic.'' the one in front chuckled.

''Thanks for noticing: magic or no magic, I won't need it to take down two bit fakes of me.'' I cracked my knuckles.

''Ha! Think fast!'' the one on my right rushed, kneeing me in the gut.

''Ack!'' my eyes dilated from the change in speed.

''Hey, where's your cocky-ass attitude now, eh?'' the one to my left rushed in and caught me with a left jab, knocking spit out of my mouth as I got light-headed.

''B-Bastards...'' I breathed out.

''Hah!'' I got tossed to the one in front who struck me with a side kick, pushing me to the ground. Leaping up, a cocked back fist alerted me to move as I somehow managed to block the fist with my hand, albeit sloppily. Staring into the eye of this faker, I only had one thing to say.

''I-It's not my cocky attitude.'' I spat out. ''It's my confidence! Something you fuckers don't haveeeee!'' I forced him back, getting on my feet in a defensive stance.

''Rip em' to shreds boys!''

Dodging a wild right jab, I ducked under and struck the underside of the chin, a fragile, but unprotected spot that landed with a crack and yelp of pain. My eye catching a slight movement, I intercepted the low kick with my right hand as I balance myself on the other and forced my tip of my shoe to the other's chest and pulled him down, striking him to the face.

''Die!'' the leader charged, throwing a magic blast which I countered with my own that cancelled each other out with a boom. Coughing up magical residue, I moved quick and tied the other's hair together best I could to give me a moment to breathe.

Crouching down, the last copycat got back on his feet and smirked.

''Well.'' He nodded. ''the queen said nothing about you being this feisty, especially after having your mind ripped apart at the seams.''

''Oh, no: I'm still seeing and hearing those damn visions, but they're not important.''

''Impossible, how can you still be standing? You shouldn't be able to face your worst fears and nightmares, it doesn't work like that!'' He yelled.

''Maybe because you feed off of love and can never comprehend just that. I have fears, but...it's who makes me who I am!'' I ran forward and traded blows with him, each one of my strikes being blocked or dodged.

''You're not even trying are you? It has to hard managing living through all those horrible times, being conscious enough to stand, dealing with those you love not trusting you and on top of all that: you're fighting yourself!'' He shoved me back until I hit something.

''Huh? A-a-a-a-omph.'' I collapsed to the ground after a neck chop did me in. Before I blacked out, something one of the three me stooges said had me wondering.

''And he's supposed to be the savior of our world? Please, don't bucking make me laugh.''

''Wake up...'' A voice called to me. Ugh, since when has my head felt like lead?

''Love, wake up please...'' It called again. Opening my eyes, the sight of multiple blurs confused me as it took a minute to adjust, however when I did, my eyes saw something they should not have. Everypony's gone, I can hear distance screaming, and the ever so reoccurring feeling of pain swept through my body. The girls were all pinned to the floor in some kind of green webbing, the guys tied up with rope, and Tia roped up in a cocoon on the ceiling.

''Tia!''  I tried to move, but found myself unable to move.

''Good luck trying to move.'' the queen hummed. ''you just sit there and look hopeless.''

''Well, I am: do somethin' about it please!'' Frank complained as usual.

W-Wait, why am I the only one not strapped down? Seeing Chrysalis go over to the window and stare out to the distance, I tried my best to crawl over to free Cadence and Twilight.

''This day has been just perfect...the kind of day which I dreamed since I was small...everypony under my control, evert stallion, mare and foal! Who says a girl can't really have it allll?

Staggering over to her, I used whatever remainder of my magic to slice through the goop.

''Go.'' I whispered. ''while you still have the chance.''

''Shining Armour...'' Cadence breathed out, embracing him in a hug. For a few seconds, nothing happened...then a spark of love emanated from the two lovers, creating a bond of energy that reached Shining, knocking out of his daze.

''Huh? Wha? I-Is the wedding over?'' He rubbed his head.

''Hmm, so you broke my control, no matter: it does you no good! My changelings already roam free!'' She pointed a hoof outside to the unseeing chaos of ponies being held down, beaten up, chased after, and having their love drained from their hearts.

''Your spell! Use it!''

''Nggh! It's no use: my magic's too weak, I can't do anything.'' Shining  tried his best to bring life to his horn, yet only a faint spec of his aura flowed out, barely enough to light a candle.

''My love will give you strength.''

''What a touching, but boring sentiment.''

''Y-You b-bitch.'' I willed myself to speak. ''You w-won't...get away with this.''

''Oh please.'' Chrysalis sighed. ''it seems giving up just does not appear to be a word your feeble primate mind is able to process. I already have-

Whoosh!

A powerful surge of brilliant light shone from their eyes, creating a massive wave of swirling energies that forced the changelings back and out of the city with a resonating shockwave that bounced back in my ears, forcing me to howl in pain as the screams of my inner demons coursed through my every being. Managing to get to my knees and slump my head on a window, the streets looked to be rid of the changelings.

''We did it.'' Shining cheered. ''they're gone.''

''Hahahaha!'' A laugh bellowed. ''I would not go that far Captain, would not be wise to have an inflated ego.'' Chrysalis remained untouched.

''How can you still be here: that should have creamed you.'' Rainbow wound up to charge.

''I have my ways, but there are pressing matters,'' She pointed a hoof to me. ''unless you want everything you know and love to be destroyed before your very eyes...then fight for your life.''