Special Announcement *

Chrysalis was begging for her life at the hooves of her irate in-laws.

"Where's Shining Armor?" the changeling thought, "Why isn't my husband here with me?" As if in answer to her pleas, Shining Armor entered the room, with Twilight right behind him.

"Mom?! Dad?!" the children shouted in unison.

"Kids!" their parents said, relieved. Shining saw his wife being threatened by his father.

"What are you doing to Chrysalis?" Shining asked, confused.

"Stay back, son! You can't trust her," Orion barked back, "She's a changeling!"

"I know she's a changeling, dad," Shining Armor said, exasperatedly, "Celestia! I thought you two were cool with that."

"That was before she sent your mother a message saying you three were hiding in the gemstone mines," Orion said. As he spoke, Orion kept his horn pressed against the changeling's throat, "She disguised herself as Cadance and presented your mother over to a pack of wild diamond dogs!"

"Are you okay?" Twilight asked her mother. Dazzle nodded her head, but didn't say anything. She just stared at the twitching changeling with the same combination of pity and revulsion usually reserved for roadkill.

"I rescued her," Orion said, "After that, we talked to Twilight's friend Applejack and she led us here." Twilight regretted entrusting their vital secret with the compulsive truth teller.

"But Chrysalis has been with us the whole time." Shining Armor said, "Since we arrived, she hasn't left the clubhouse."

Orion raised his head. Chrysalis gulped.

"Oh," the father said, sheepishly, "Oh, I see. Sorry."

Once Orion stepped off of her, Chrysalis got to her feet. Then, without saying a word, she slowly walked over towards Shining Armor and stood beside him. She didn't cry. She didn't look at anypony; she just stared at the ground. She was becoming accustomed to having ponies hate and mistrust her. For a moment, nopony spoke. The only sounds heard were the crickets outside.

Suddenly, from the corner of the club house, the radio turned on. This caused everypony to jump.

"It's one of the Apple family's emergency EOAA radios," Twilight said, trying to calm her nervous family, "They receive a special signal that's only used to alert ponies of impending disasters or national emergencies."

Orion and his family listened carefully to the radio message.

"This is the Equestrian Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration," the radio blared, "We take you live to Canterlot Castle, where an important announcement is being made." The family gathered around the radio.

"Maybe it's the Princesses?" Twilight asked hopefully, "Maybe they'll tell us where they've been!"

"Breaking news!" a stallion said, "This is Mercury Theater, on the air. I'm coming to you live from Canterlot Gardens. We can now report with certainty that Princess Cadance has been found alive and well."

Everyone gasped. All the ponies turned to look at Chrysalis, making sure she was still there. They everyone turned back to look at the radio.

"We take you now to the steps outside the grand ballroom where Princess Cadance will address the nation," Mercury Theater said, "Fillies and gentlecolts, Princess Cadance."

There was a moment of silence as Cadance stepped forth and faced the crowd. A mass of unicorns were gathered below, cheering and adulating their princess. Some shot celebratory sparks from their horns, exploding in miniature fireworks. Overhead pegasi with cameras snapped photos for tomorrows papers. Cadance waved regally at her subjects before raising her hoof, beckoning them to be silent. She then addressed the crowd.

"I thank all those of you who searched so valiantly to find me," she said, putting on a strong face for her people,"I knew that with Celestia's grace, I would find my way back to you, my friends." The club house was silent. Shining Armor and Orion sat down, nervous.

"Cadance is still alive?!" Twilight said, dumbfounded, "inconceivable!" Dazzle stared horror-struck at her daughter-in-law.

"The things I said," Dazzle said, with tears in her eyes, "I am so sorry for ever doubting you." Chrysalis stared back at Dazzle. As she did, the changeling could feel her layers of cynicism and indifference melt away. The sincerity of her apology was there in the unicorn's remorseful eyes.

"It's alright...mom," Chrysalis said, as a tear ran down her scaly cheek.

"I have a shocking announcement to make," Cadance said, "Several weeks into my marriage with the captain of the guards, I found out a horrifying secret he had been keeping from all of us." There was a murmur from the audience. Cadance raised a hoof to silence them.

"Based on the tabloids, many of you may have guessed that I was referring to his incestuous relationship with his sister," Cadance said, scanning the crowd. Several unicorns nodded their heads solemnly.

"And while his incest is indeed a serious crime," Cadance continued, "that is not the secret I'm referring to." All eyes were on Shining Armor.

"I have no idea what she's talking about!" the white stallion shouted, "And for the record, I did not have sex with my sister!"

Dazzle blushed. The family sat as they waited for Cadance to speak again.

"I've got it!" Twilight said, "Cadance must have been the one who took the photos for the tabloid! She spied on you through a window!"

"Brilliant deduction," Shining Armor said, sarcastically, "Did you also know Cadance has the hots for our dad? I figured it out after I caught her shoving his schlong down her throat ON MY WEDDING NIGHT!" There was a pause in the conversation. Nobody spoke as Shining Armor shook with rage.

"No need to get mad," Twilight said, feeling miffed, "I was just excited to have figured it out where the photos came from." Shining Armor was embarrassed by his outburst.

"I'm sorry, Twily," her brother said, scratching his mane with his fore-hoof, "The only reason why you're involved in this mess at all is because of me. I shouldn't have snapped at you. It's just that, I thought we were done with her, and I know that whatever she's about to announce, it's not going to be good for us." Having built up the tension sufficiently, Cadance continued.

"After being married for a few weeks, I uncovered a terrible secret," the alicorn said, "That my husband, Shining Armor, had been in league with the changeling queen!" There was an audible gasp from the crowd assembled in Canterlot. Shining Armor and Chrysalis exchanged worried looks. He pulled her close to him.

"During the attack on our wedding day, Shining Armor waited for the drones to amass outside the walls of the city," Cadance said, the fervor in her voice rising, "When the attacking swarm was in position, the captain of the guards purposefully lowered his shield over the city."

"Lies!" Orion and his family shouted in unison.

"He willfully gave the changeling menace free reign over our capital city," Cadance said, pausing for a moment to let the gravity of that statement sink in, "My husband planned for the changelings to take over. His goal was to usurp the throne from my aunt and replace her sovereign rule with his ironhoofed dictatorship; enforced by an army of changeling drones."

Orion and his family sat speechless around the radio. Cadance had the crowd eating out of her hooves.

"I foiled the invasion, though at the time I had no idea my...love...was the one behind it all," Cadance said, getting emotional. A tear ran down her face as she bit her lip to maintain her composure.

"In my compassionate heart, I thought he loved me," Cadance said, a righteous indignation rising in her voice, "but I was only a pawn in his scheme for global conquest. When I banished the invading horde with my magic, I thought they were working alone. It wasn't until later I found out how far the treachery went."

"How is she still alive?" Orion asked, fuming, "I thought this waking nightmare was over!" The blue stallion turned to look at the changeling queen.

"Chrysalis I'm so sorry for suspecting you." the blue stallion said.

"No, it is alright," Chrysalis said, magnanimously, "If my creator is still alive, I understand why you would have thought I was involved."

"This traitorous blood courses through Shining Armor's whole family," Cadance shouted with passion, "His parents have orchestrated this takeover since the birth of their children. Even as foals, they were groomed to one day take positions of prominence and power within the kingdom. Even Twilight Sparkle, the so-called hero, has had an active role in seeking to overthrow her mentor."

"What!" Twilight shouted, "That bitch!"

"Twily, such language," Dazzle said, curtly.

"Sorry, mom," Twilight said.

"I would've called her the 'C' word," Dazzle said, smirking as she blushed.

"Oh, mom," Twilight said, smiling.

"Celestia and Luna's whereabouts remain unknown," Cadance said somberly, "They are believed to be in a safe, undisclosed location, due to the sun and moon rising and setting as normal. Their seclusion is a precautionary measure in order to protect them from the family of terrorists, who at this very moment are planning their assassinations."

Twilight wanted to reach through the radio and stab Cadance's eyes out.

"In Celestia and Luna's absence, and with the desertion of the traitorous Shining Armor, I will assume command of the Royal Guard and lead the effort to ensure these criminals are brought to justice," Cadance said. The crowd cheered. Sweat started running down the faces of all those in the clubhouse.

"Orion and his family should be seen as traitors to ponykind." Cadance said in a deathly serious tone, "The four are currently on the run with the queen of the changelings. Anypony with any information regarding their whereabouts should contact the Royal Guards immediately. Anypony caught harboring these known fugitives will be charged with treason."

Remembering that she still needed Orion alive, she added one final note to her speech.

"Do not kill the fugitives!" Cadance said, "They must pay for their crimes of treason! I bless you in your efforts to stamp out this cancerous plague in our fair land. May Celestia watch over you, in Luna's name. Good night."

The crowd cheered as the Equestrian national anthem played the alicorn off stage.

"The fire of friendship lives in our hearts, as long as it burns..."

(Boom!)

Shining Armor had caused the radio to explode with a blast of magical energy. He grit his teeth and started to hyperventilate.

"She can't do this!" Shining Armor shouted, fuming, "She's made our family the most hated thing since Discord!"

"Welcome to my world," Chrysalis said, annoyed, "It's no fun being hated for who you are when you haven't done anything to deserve it!"

"Chrysalis!" Shining Armor said, shouting down his wife, "You know I'm on your side, but that isn't helping right now." Before the family could figure out what to do next, voices could be heard outside.

"Twilight!" Applejack shouted, "You an' your kin best come out quietly! We ain't gonna' harbor any traitors to Princess Celestia!"

"Never trust a bug buggerer." Applejack muttered, to her brother.

"Eeyup," Big Mac said.

"You might as well turn yourselves in," Applejack said, "Your sitchiation is purty nigh hopeless."

"Damn, we're in a tight spot!" Orion said.

"Come out, Twilight!" Applejack said, "We have you surrounded!"

Twilight looked out the window. They were indeed 'surrounded.' Applejack, Big Macintosh, Apple Bloom and Granny Smith were each guarding a side of the club house.

"Just like Daring Do," Twilight said, smirking, "The path of least resistance."

With that, the entire group jumped out the window. They knocked Granny Smith down as Orion and his family ran through the Apple family orchards. The family ran, following Twilight towards the Everfree Forest, with the Apple family in hot pursuit,