Cadence dreamed she was falling. Purple, pink, and cream colored strands of her mane blocked her vision as she tumbled through the air. She could feel herself screaming, but heard nothing as the air screeched in her eardrums. Her hooves grasped aimlessly at the sides of the crystal void she was tumbling through but she could not find purchase. Wind forced the tears out of her eyes. She looked down at the crystal death that awaited her, seeing the bottom of the small tunnel that didn't look so far away. But the laughing was the worst part. She didn't know where it came from, but it tingled down her spine and into her brain, like an insect clicking across her skull. Like a wicked lullaby it blocked out all of her thoughts except one thing: she was going to die. Cadence was going to die, and no one would even know. The copy of her was going to marry Shining Armor, and everyone would cheer as the two kissed and the wedding bells rang. The happy couple would wave to the cheering crowd below the balcony they stood on and the other Cadence would paste on a fake smile. No pony would know that she had fooled every one of them.
Cadence stared at the hard surface of crystals and rock below. It wasn't too far now. In fact...
Cadence felt the air abruptly stop and prepared herself for the bone-smashing end to come.
Cadence jerked forward and screamed, waking Shining Armor next to her. Tears flowed steadily from her eyes as she clung to the blankets around her. She sucked in breath at a rapid pace and tried to stop crying as Shining Armor pulled her close to him, stroking her mane and telling her everything would be all right. She heard the door slam open and the melodic sound of armored hooves clacking on the floor. She heard the same words that had been spoken for the last week: "Princess, are you alright?" Cadence looked up to respond but Shining Armor answered for her.
"She's fine. The nightmare again. Go back to your posts." The guards stomped away and closed the door loudly behind them.
Cadence sighed and detached herself from her husbands embrace, collapsing tiredly back onto the bed. She wiped the tears away from her eyes and levitated a brush up to her hair, brushing the locks back into their everyday curls. She rearranged the blankets around her and closed her eyes, but there was no chance for sleep. She didn't want to sleep. She and Shining both knew that the moment she drifted off, she was falling again.
"You can't act like nothing is happening, Cadence. You can't just pass this off as meaningless dreams. Something is wrong. No pony, or alicorn for your sake, just has nightmares like that, over and over, every night." Shining sounded almost angry.
"What do you expect me to do? Clap my hooves and summon a fairy to bippidy boppidy boo away my nightmares? I can't control the subconscious and neither can you." Cadence heard Shining let out his breath in surprise at her sudden outburst.
"Listen to me Shining. Im going mad. Taking this out on you. Im sorry. Its just the nightmares keeping me up, haunting me, and its all so overwhel-" Shining leaned over and kissed her.
"Don't worry about it. I know the story. Im going to go down to my study and work on some paperwork. I want you to have some fun. Clear your mind. Why don't you talk to Twilight? She might be able to help you out. Invite some friends over, I don't care. Just try to forget." Shining gave her one more quick kiss and went to the bathing room to get ready. As the door to the bathing room closed, Cadence unraveled herself from the blankets and trotted out of the room and down to her study.
She closed the door of the tiny little workspace and flicked off the lights. The princess lit a lavender candle and set it on her desk, preparing a blank piece of parchment and a quill pen. With a deep sigh, Cadence began to write.
Twilight Sparkle stepped off of her hot air balloon and breathed in the fresh Canterlot air. She sometimes missed her hometown even though Ponyville was where she was to stay. She whipped out her checklist and ran through, making sure she had everything with her. She especially made sure that the letter Princess Cadence had sent was tucked into her saddlebag. She turned around to Spike and smiled.
"Are we all set? Are you sure you can carry those bags?" She giggled as the baby dragon tried to balance the three suitcases on his back. "Spike let me get those. Your going to get my stuff everywhere. You know I can't lose any of my books." She began to lift them up from his grasp, but she was suddenly face to face with three armored ponies.
"Let us get those miss. We will take them to Room 707, the guest room next to Princess Cadence's bedroom." Twilight nodded, surprised at the authority of the princess's guards, and watched as they trotted away in synchronized movements.
"Jeez. This is the real deal, huh Spike?" Twilight turned to look at him, but he was already running towards the doors.
"Oh, Spike." Twilight sighed inwardly and galloped after him.
"Twilight Sparkle! How great it is to see you! Im so happy that you were able to come and visit. Come, you can get yourself situated in your room and then come meet me for tea in the garden." Twilight was met with Cadence's excited voice as she hugged her former foal sitter. Something seemed different about her though. Twilight pondered this as Cadence pulled her down a long regal hallway to Room 707. Cadence was acting so..skittish. Nervous. Her movements were jerky and she seemed like she was trying to make herself sound happy, when she really wasn't. She hastily left Twilight at her room and trotted briskly down a hallway, out of Twilight's sight. Spike had already run off (towards the kitchen most likely) so Twilight was alone as she entered the guest bedroom.
The room was absolutely dazzling, and Twilight gasped as she entered. The bed was a brilliant white with a canopy above and a silky screen that you could pull around to the foot. The pillows were a feathery cream with soft ruffles along the borders. There was a large window with a seat attached on the other side of the room. Next to it was an oak bookcase, empty and ready to be filled with the books Twilight had brought. The curtains had been pulled aside and there was a gorgeous view of the garden below. The dresser was a deep mahogany, and sitting on top of it was a fabulous crystal mirror with diamonds circling the border. Twilight was stunned for a few moments, and then remembered that she was expected to meet the Princess for tea, so sloppily arranged her books on the shelf and dropped her saddlebag by the other suitcases, grabbing only the letter that had been sent to her, some blank parchment and a quill pen. She stopped to ask a guard which way the garden was, hoping that she wasn't late. Even though Cadence was her favorite foal sitter, and one of the nicest friends she had, she was a princess, and she didn't want to keep her waiting, especially now that Twilight had noticed her troubled behavior. She galloped down the last long hallway towards the open door leading to the garden. It was a glorious summer day, the air was crisp and warm and the sky was a clear baby blue. She trotted down a curvy cobblestone path and spotted Cadence sitting on a fluffy pillow by a small coffee table holding a china teapot and dainty flowered teacups. She rushed over, quickly taking her seat on the soft cushion that had been set out for her. Her teacup was already full, so she levitated it up to her lips and sipped. She was nervous. The sips turned into gulps very rapidly. Whoa there Twilight, she thought Calm it down. You look like a silly filly. She set the teacup down and waited for Cadence to speak.
"Do you have any idea why I asked you to come to the castle, Twilight?" Cadence asked from across the table. She had a serious look on her face that deeply concerned the purple pony. In truth, Twilight had no idea at all, except that maybe she wanted to visit her sister-in-law. But now seeing Cadences worried expression, she knew that that was not the case. Twilight shook her head and narrowed her eyes, thinking. What could possibly worry a princess?
"You know what dreams feel like, don't you Twilight? You just kind of pop in the middle of things. You never start at the beginning. You just appear there. And you can't get a grasp on what is going on."
"Yes."
"And you know what nightmares feel like, don't you?"
"Yes. They can start from memories or things you have seen. You are scared. Terrified. You want the dream to end, and you can't. You just have to let yourself be scared."
"Precisely. Dreams, Twilight, are why I called you here today."
Twilight was confused, very confused. Ideas flashed through her mind. She forced them away and listened.
"Do you remember the Changelings, Twilight?"
Twilight's eyes widened. She did remember, even though she tried not to. That little situation hadn't seemed like a big deal to other ponies. Twilight and the gang will save the day, as always. But Twilight had been behind the scenes. She had been trapped with Cadence, the real Cadence, in a crystal cave, listening to Queen Chrysailis laugh and taunt them. Cadence had almost driven herself mad down there. It was a big impact on Twilight and Cadence both.
"What if we hadn't made it Twilight? What if that monster had married your brother? What if right now, you were talking to a monster?"
Twilight closed her eyes. "Do you have nightmares too, Cadence? The same one? Over and over?"
She nervously hoped the princess would say no. That this wasn't a problem. That this was just memories they should put behind them and Twilight was dwelling on this for too long...
"Yes, Twilight."
"Oh my..." Twilight felt almost sick with worry. Her mind was rushing with fear and uncertainty. What did this mean? Was this just mumbo jumbo and they were worried for nothing, or could this mean more? What if those nightmares weren't just their imaginations...
"I want you to stay with me, Twilight, until we can work this out. Write letters to your friends and Princess Celestia about this. Study this subject. I hope you brought a book on nightmares. We can get through this together." Cadence smiled nervously and stood up, reaching over to hug Twilight. "C'mon. Im sure Shining will want to see you once he gets word that you're here."
Cadence opened her eyes, seeing her pink and purple bangs fall into her face. She slowly sat up from bed, gazing around her bedroom. Shining Armor was still sleeping peacefully, wrapped up in the soft cotton blankets of the swan bed. Cadence blinked a few times, confused, but overjoyed. The nightmare had disappeared. Cadence hadn't dreamed at all. She cautiously got out of bed, not wanting to wake Shining. She opened the door to their bedroom and quietly stole into the room next to hers, Room 707. She peeked her head in through the doorway. Twilight was still sleeping soundly, making soft little noises in her sleep. The sunlight poured in through the windows, bathing the small purple pony in golden sheets of light. The blankets were a pure white, making Twilight almost seem to glow. Spike was curled up on the foot of the bed, little smears of chocolate lining the sides of his mouth. She giggled a little and closed the door, letting them sleep a little longer. She tiptoed to the kitchen and began to make pancake batter. As she worked, the Princess thought about the nightmare. Why did it stop like that? Cadence and Twilight had slept in the same room for a week, curled up by each other in fear, and both woke up screaming in the darkness of night. Finally Cadence decided to try, one night, to sleep in her own bedroom and Twilight sleep in hers. And suddenly the nightmare stopped coming?
Cadence smiled. Maybe it was just their memories getting the best of them. She began to poor the batter into tiny liquid circles on a frying pan, flipping them every so often and putting them on a plate. No one was awake, so she took two and loaded them with powdered sugar, bananas, strawberries, and syrup. She sipped a glass of orange juice and sat in the quiet of morning, waiting for the others to come down for breakfast. No one came, so she finished her breakfast, scooped up a book, and curled up on the couch in the living room.
Something nagged at her, tearing her focus away from the book. There had to be something deeper going on. Something wasn't right.
Cadence heard the thump of footsteps on the stairs. She turned to see a small purple figure running down the stairs.
"Hello, Spike."
"Hello Princess..." The baby dragon looked scared. He ran on short legs and jumped onto the couch next to her, curling on by her side.
"Princess....something is...wrong. Shining Armor...I woke up..and saw him... I couldn't tell what was happening. Im scared.." He spoke in gasps.
Cadence narrowed her eyes. She put her foreleg around him, pulling him closer to her. She was protective of small creatures, and Spike was a very sweet little dragon that she had known for a long time.
"Get on my back. Im going to look. Don't be scared. Its all going to be okay. You're going to be fine." Cadence trotted quietly up the stairs, summoning energy to her horn. She opened her large purple wings and covered Spike with them, hiding his body completely. Cadence took cautious steps towards her bedroom door. As she got closer she could hear the grunts and growls of Shining Armor. He sounded like he was in pain. Cadence walked faster, approaching the door. It was barely open. Cadence very cautiously peeked her head inside. She screamed at what she saw, backing up with rapid pace, tears pouring from her eyes. She panted, feeling that same fear that she felt in her nightmare. She turned away from the door and retched, weak and sick. Cadence collapsed in a heap on the floor. The same image that she had just seen flashed through her mind: Shining lying on the floor, his white fur and skin peeling away from his body like wrapping paper from a gift. It fluttered into the air, leaving his body a jet black. And the worst part: his eyes. He had squeezed his eyes shut from pain, but as Cadence entered, they snapped open, revealing an evil pair of emerald green and blue eyes. The same eyes that she had seen on the Changeling queen.
Cadence looked over to the open door, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure all of Equestria could hear it. She watched in horror as the figure, a disgusting black alicorn, stepped out of the doorway. The creature still had patches of white fur clinging to her body, and her mane was the same blue that Shining's had been. Cadence looked away, glimpsing the door beside her. It was Room 707. Twilight was in there. Cadence struggled to her feet, shaking away the weakness, and burst into the room, closing and locking the door behind her. She could hear the Changeling pounding away at the door.
"Come on out, honey." She hissed in Shining Armor's silly voice. She laughed then, and Cadence cringed at the evil sound echoing through the castle.
"Princess!" Cadence saw Twilight, groggy and confused, standing by the foot of the bed. "What's going on? Are you okay? Where's Shi-." Twilight was cut off as Queen Chrysalis pounded furiously at the door. Twilight backed up, whimpering.
"We need to get out, now." Cadence crossed the room to the large window, forcing the glass up. She turned to Twilight.
"Get out on the roof. Take Spike. I will lift you onto my back. Whatever you do, you can't scream. You must be silent. She will hear you." Cadence looked back at the door. The Changeling was still screeching angrily and pounding against it.
Twilight began to cry, fear clouding her eyes. Cadence opened her wings and Spike jumped down, toddling over to Twilight who lifted him onto her back.
"Hold on, Spike. Don't let go of my mane." She gingerly stepped out onto the tiny square of roof. She turned to Cadence, narrowing her eyes, trying to be strong. "Okay."
Cadence ran for the window, ducking at the last moment as she shot out into the clear sky, fanning her wings out on either side. She banked and landed on the patch of roof. Twilight and Spike quickly arranged themselves on her back, clinging to her sides and to each other.
"Hang on tight. And don't speak a word. Im going to hide us. If she hears you, she will come straight for you. And just because you are young doesn't mean she won't take your body." She looked at Spike. Inside the room, Cadence could see the door straining to hold together, ready to break. Cadence looked back. "Here we go."
Cadence flapped her wings, making slow progress, not used to the weight of a pony and a baby dragon. But she forced herself into the air, fueled with the fear of death. She hadn't had time to process what had just happened, so she began to cry quietly. When she thought she had defeated the evil queen on her wedding day, the queen had really found her way into Shining's body. Cadence had married the fake after all...
The princess shook her head. She had to focus.
She gazed down at the landscape below them. She kept an eye out for the familiar patch of rock that Shining had shown her before they had gotten married. It was a tiny little cave that could fit two full grown ponies. One alicorn, one pony, one baby dragon...it was estimation, but she hoped that it was big enough. She spotted it after a few minutes, well aware that the queen had taken flight by now, and could be anywhere. She prayed that she didn't see them through the heavy patches of clouds. Cadence took a quick note of her surroundings, watching for the black Changeling. It was clear.
Oh Celestia, she prayed. Keep us safe.
Cadence dropped downward. She felt Twilight cling tighter to her neck and flank. Fortunately, the pony was obedient. She didn't make a sound as they began their descent. As the ground grew closer, fear grew larger in her heart. If they were spotted, would Cadence, weakened already by retching up her fluids, and Twilight have enough magic to defeat the enemy? That monster had taken down Princess Celestia.
Cadence lighted on the emerald blades of grass, gently shaking off Twilight and Spike. The baby dragon had fallen asleep in Twilights grasp, and now groggily lifted his head to take in the scene, then relaxed on Twilights back. Cadence waved them along and silently jammed herself into the hidden cave. Twilight went in after her, squeezing against the princess. It wasn't the biggest cave. The entrance made it look tiny, but inside it gave them just enough room to sit or lay down. Outside the entrance were wild onions, so they wouldn't starve. Cadence didn't know what to do. They couldn't hide here forever.
Spike sat up suddenly, eyes widening. Twilight frantically tried to cover his mouth, as she knew what was happening. His cheeks puffed out, and fire burst from his mouth, and a piece of parchment fell to the ground. Fire bursted into air, lighting the back of Twilight's mane on fire. The two ponies winced. Cadence closed her eyes in fear. Maybe the Changeling hadn't heard it....
A laugh rang in the air outside the cave. Cadence felt the tears streak down her face. She squeezed out of the entrance and faced the wicked creature before her. This was her battle. Twilight started for the entrance, but Cadence used the last bit of her magic to create a magic wall. It blocked the entrance. "Cadence, no! No!" Twilight screamed and pounded at the wall. Spike grabbed her hoof and looked her in the eye. Twilight dropped to the ground, her tears making a small puddle on the floor.
Cadence turned to look at the torn face of Queen Chrysalis.
The Changeling's green eyes seemed to bore down to her soul, fear eating her from the inside out. Cadence was scared, overwhelmed with fear, but she had to keep the younger ponies safe. And all Chrysalis wanted was her body. So she was going to let her have it.
Queen Chrysalis smiled a wicked grin. Crooked fangs jutted from her jaw, and her horn was ripped and torn, like chunks had been taken from it.
"Look who we have here. If it isn't the princess. What a beautiful body you have. And it's all mine." The queen chuckled. "I have been listening to you. It's funny that you actually thought that those visions were nightmares. I actually laughed!" Chrysalis pushed her face right into Cadences. Green fire flared in the monster's eyes. "And you think that all I want is you. But I don't want just you. That little purple unicorn will give me a good source of magic when I rip it clean out of her body." In the corner of her eye, Cadence saw Twilight pounding against the force field once more, her muffled screams useless.
"Don't hurt her!" Cadence whispered angrily at Chrysalis. She pushed her forehead angrily against the mangled face of the Queen's. Her voice shook. "She's just an innocent pony. She doesn't deserve this."
"You don't deserve this either, princess. But yet it is happening to you." The Changeling smiled once more, eyes flaring. "Long live the queen."
The Changeling stepped forward, and Cadence felt herself sinking. Green fire surrounded her. The eyes of the queen were the last thing she saw before she was falling.
