The Wolf King

Darkness, that was all she saw. One moment Twilight saw with horror the thing she had feared and wanted to prove so badly, somepony had replaced both Cadence and Chrysalis, the two beings who had profoundly impacted her life. It was then that reality came crashing back down up Twilight as she immediately woke up in a panic breathing heavily and on the verge of a panic attack, that was until she felt a hand upon her shoulder. She was about to try and attack this unknown individual but, for a moment she didn’t, for that hand was clad in a black and gold steel gauntlet.

“Easy now miss Sparkle, you are quite safe though our troubles have only know begun.” Ulfric said before standing examining the large crystal filled room they were in.

“Hello? Is anyone there?” Twilight said with uncertainty as her voice echoed through the cave system. There was a loud thud before laughter echoed throughout the chamber

“Where are we?” Twilight asked though the reply she got was not what she wanted to hear.

“The caves beneath Canterlot, once home to greedy unicorns who wanted to claim the gems that could be found inside. And now, your prison.” A pair of voices echoed

“Help! Help!” Twilight yelled as while Ulfric stood with his sword drawn and golden energy crackling in his left hand searching for this new enemy.

“It’s no use. No one can hear you. And no one will ever think to look for you, either. Most ponies have forgotten that these caves even exist, which is why they are the ideal place to keep the ones who try to interfere with my plans.” one of the voice cackled wickedly.

“Plan? What plans.“ Twilight said starting to panic a little .

“The plans I have for your brother of course.” the voice said as an image formed on the surface of a large crystal, said image was that of Cadence except instead of her normal blue eyes they were blood red.

“Don't you dare do anything to my brother, you... you monster!” Twilight shouted stomping her foot against the ground as magic began building up on her horn.

“Only way to stop me is to catch me.” the fake Cadence said as she laughed, the crystal her image had appeared on suddenly shattered as twilight shot a concentrated beam of magic at it.

“Over here.” another crystal was shattered

“Nope over here now.” but as the last crystal was broken behind it was revealed to be another Cadence and Chrysalis who both were cut and bruised and their clothes in tatters. However before the two mares or Ulfric could react Twilight in a fit of anger lunged at both of them knocking them to the ground.

“No! Wait! Ugh! Please! Don't hurt us! Twilight, it's us! Please, you have to believe me. I've been imprisoned like you. The Cadence and Chrysalis who brought you down here are imposters. “ The new Cadence said as she shook with fear.

“Likely story” Twilight said as magic once again began to charge up on her horn. Thinking fast the scared bubblegum princess did the first thing that came to her mind.

“Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake. Clap your hands,” she said as she repeat the motions of this little dance she had taught Twilight so long ago

“And do a little shake.” they both said as Twilight became overjoyed to know this was the real Cadence.

“You remember me.” Twilight said as she gave Cadence a hug.

“Of course I do. How could I forget the filly I love to sit for the most?” Cadence said returning the hug.

“But how do I know your the real Chryssi?” Twilight said pointing at the Changeling Queen. Chrysalis shakily stood to her feet standing before Twilight

“Moonshine, Moonshine Crickets all sing, raise your voice,” she said clapping her hands with Twilights.

“And welcome spring, Chrysalis! “ Twilight shouted leaping into the Changelings arms as the two embraced now knowing for sure that these were the real foal sitters she remembered so fondly.

“But how do we get out of here.” Twilight said as she let go of chrysalis scanning the walls for any kind of exit or tunnel.

“Hmm I think I might have a solution, stand back please.” Ulfric said returning his sword to its scabbard, before violet energy began gathering in his armored hands before releasing the balls of energy up and away from him. The walls were then painted with energy as it flowed around them, before abruptly ending a few seconds later.

"This way, hurry." Ulfric said dashing down a tunnel, off to the side, with the two mares and changeling queen doing their best to keep up with Ulfric. Through twists and turns the four made their way through the deep caves, before rounding a corner they came upon a disused mine cart track.

“Good, with any luck these rail should lead us back to the surface.” Ulfric said quickening his pace, the mares close behind him.

“Agreed we have to stop her before she takes our Shining Armor from us.” Cadence said stumbling over a rock and nearly falling face first onto the stone floor.

“Stop who?” Twilight ask as she helped Cadence regain her footing.

“My literally insane sister Chaurus, stupid bitch was always hungry for power even when she and I were nymphs.” chrysalis spat with disgust.

“Wait sister? How come you never said anything or talked about her when I was a little filly?” Twilight ask her interest and attention now fully directed at Chrysalis. The look on the Changelings face showed that it was something she was not pleasantly fond of telling. With a heavy sigh she began her story.

“When we were both nymphs a few years younger then when I first met you Twilight, both me and chaurus were being taught how to collect and store love, the life sustaining food of Changelings.” Chrysalis said remembering back to this happy time.

“But, with each little bit she took she started to realize that with more love came more power.” Chrysalis said her tone of voice becoming sad, and regretful.

“It became so bad that she went insane from her lust for power that she declared open war on the other hives.”
Twilight was stunned she have always thought that Chrysalis was an only child, only to learn that she had a crazed sister who was currently sabotaging their wedding.

“So what happened?” Twilight asked as the group can to a large crevasse where a bridge for the cart track one spanned.

“The war as short and bloody, but in the end the numerical superiority of the other hives, was able to overwhelm Chaurus and she and her hive were trap in a containment spell unable to leave, until now it seems.”

Twilight didn’t respond as Cadence and Chrysalis flew them across the gap, before quickening their pace. What seemed like hours came to an end as the level of light in the tunnels began to increase. It was not long before they rounded a corner that the light of Celestia's sun shines brightly down on them. And before them standing proud was the city of Canterlot below them, not it would not be long now.

“Twilight you must go with Cadence and Chrysalis, I have work to do.” Ulfric said beginning to climb down the mountain towards the vast city.

“B-but what about you, where are you going off to.” Twilight said

“My job and duty.” was all Ulfric said continuing down the mountain side, yet before he could go any further, purple energy flashed before his eyes and suddenly he found himself on the streets of Canterlot. Twilight has just teleported all of them, saving time and energy.

“Quickly go and free Captain Armor, get the Elements if you can, I have a city to defend.” Ulfric said taking off towards one of the many guard house that dotted the city, hoping to gather as many of the royal Guards that he could find, knowing that outside the protective shield spell that surrounded the city was Chaurus’s army waiting for the order of their queen to attack. And if it was a fight they wanted them Ulfric was going to give them one.
He would never make it, by the time he had ran halfway to the guard house a terrible sound similar to the crashing of granite boulders was heard across the majestic city before what sounded like the breaking of glass could be heard as ponies and guards turned their gazes skyward.

“EVERYPONY RUN!” Ulfric yelled at the top of his lungs as thousands of crimson shelled Changeling scream towards the ground, some becoming enveloped in red flame before smashing into the ground each causing a thunderous impact, before they each began to hunt down the nearest pony. Ulfric found himself surrounded by now more then ten of these Changelings each brandishing a sick twisted looking sword, spear or axe.

“Surrender, mutant pony and maybe we’ll let you live.” one of them hissed, yet Ulfric said nothing. Instead he drew his sword as slowly as he could showing them that he would not be surrendering.

“I think not.” was all Ulfric said, he waited, his breathing slow and deliberate, lessons and training that had been practiced since the day he could stand on his own two feet slowly pushed to the front of his thoughts. Time slowed as the first changeling leaped at him, battle axe raised to strike yet it would not succeed. With quick side step Ulfric parried the blow before driving home the blade of Lions bane, through the changeling's chest cavity. The black and red drone gurgled, before going limp, Ulfric freed his blade as the other changelings that surrounded him screeched and hiss before they were upon him. Despite having a numerical advantage, it was Ulfric who would win, as he had many more years of experience. Steel clashed with steel, bursts of arcane magic tore through the air as more changelings joined the fray, yet fore each one that joined, three would die, burned, shocked frozen, of shredded to pieces from axe and sword.

"Quickly find somewhere safe to hide." Ulfric said to the small group of ponies that were still present, as he killed the last changeling.

"Where are you going mister." A frightened filly said as she trembled in her mothers arms.

"To fight a war." Ulfric said charging down the street searching for the next group of crimson Changelings to fight, and whatever ponies he could find to save. Through the streets he raced stopping only to help civilians or fight the Changelings of Chaurus’s hive, even rallying what ever guards he could find into rapid response strike teams to hold the city as long as possible.

Running down a side street that overlooked the lower district of the city where the royal castle also stood, Ulfric was on the move, answering the call of some beleaguered guards and drone that served Chrysalis. Skidding to a halt the human caught sight of them below trapped and restrained by thick resin the red drone has secreted. Many still struggled in vain to fight. Yet for each one that did resist they were further encased in the organic material that held them. Turning to a unicorn stallion that had followed him, a plan began to formulate within Ulfric's mind.

“Do you have experience with teleportation spell, Corporal?” Ulfric asked

“Yes Lord Commander, I was rated best in my class on the subject of teleportation.” the stallion said standing at attention. He was nervous, standing here before the highest ranking officer of the military, having not much combat experience at had left him unprepared for what had come today. And yet, seeing the Lord Commander marching forth into battle sometimes alone strengthened the stallions resolve and courage.

“Good, when I say now I want you to teleport me directly in front of them, understood?” Ulfric said as his left hand began to glow with Snow White energy. Taking a few dozen steps back, he got a running start.

“NOW!” Ulfric yelled the corporals horn glowed with magic and then there was aloud pop and Ulfric was gone.
Sergeant Amber Lilac struggled against her bonds as she tried to free herself from the organic matter that restrained her, cursing, yelling as she sought to break free. What would she tell her vampony colt friend when she was taken away to be drained of love. Yet before she could even try to free herself again, there was the telltale pop of a teleportation spell, followed by a flash of white light, she felt her bonds break and crumble as she was thrown to the ground a few feet away. Lifting herself up and her vision clearing she saw something, no someone standing before them all. Approaching with a slow pace was the Lord Commander, she could see his ice blue eyes scanning over the guards and drone of the emerald hive.

“Take up arms.” Ulfric said in a reassuring tone, Amber lilac was confused as her head still spun from being thrown into the pavement.

“Fight.” Ulfric said as now even the red drones began to regain their sense of balance and direction.

“FIGHT!” Ulfric yelled, some way somehow it invigorated the guards and emerald hive drones, as they all began to yell out and fight their way to their feet grabbing anything and everything to fight with. Ulfric did not sit idle, as his mares, stallion and now drones in arms began to fight so to did he, a crimson drone came at him from the side only to be met with the blade of Wolfsfang to its head, another caught the downward diagonal slash of LionsBane across its chest, with a third stabbed straight through the heart.

“AMBER!” A pegasus called out holding up the two handed sword she often carried, taking the hilt in both her hands she ripped it free of the scabbard just in time to parry the swing of a crimson drones axe, hitting it with enough force to topple the drone onto its back. With the most immediate threat taken care of she turned her attention to the next drone, soon pony and emerald hive drones had turned the area into an all out brawl.

“Strike with fury.” Ulfric yelled as three red drones were reduced to ashes by a stream of flame

“FOR WE ARE EQUESTRIA’S DEFENDERS!” the guards replied in unison

“Strike with honor.”

“FOR WE SHALL DEFEND THE WEAK AND HELPLESS!”

“Strike with courage.”

“FOR WE SHALL FIGHT UNTO OUR DYING BREATH! “

“To The Castle ponies, FORWARD!” Ulfric cried pointing the blade of his sword to the white and gold structured that towered over the city. With a warcry of defiance that shook the heavens those that he had managed to gather, pony and emerald hive drones broke into a fighting spring towards Canterlot castle, the large mob of warriors slowed for nothing save to free any trapped guards or civilians before continuing onwards. Yet as they finally ran the home stretch and were about to reach the castle Gates, things took an interesting turn. Before anyone could even speak a single syllable, there was a massive pulse of magic, before a swirling sphere of blue, pink and green magic erupted outwards from the castle in all directions sending the drones of Chaurus’s hive away from the city toppling head over heels. Yet it was Ulfric who caught site of the crazed queen as she flew by over head screaming at the top of her lungs. For the briefest of moments both she and Ulfric locked eyes, before she was out of sight.

Three days later

The following few days were a blur, the real wedding was planned out the way the brides and groom had wanted it from the start with Cadence and Chrysalis both taking a healthy liking to the sweets applejack had bake, so much that she had to shoo them out of the kitchen after the each ate a full tray of her apple fritters. The dances and decorations were also redone and planned. When the time came, both Cadence and Chrysalis both walked down the aisle in elegant dresses that showed of their figures and curves very nicely, and when the time came to finally take their vows to each other, the entire audiences hearts melted from the love, even Ulfric whose heart was normally hardened to all save for Luna felt his warming up and the breathtaking sight. Those in attendance did get a laugh when it came time to kiss and Shining Armor found himself being pounced by two love hungry women, earning a healthy dose of laughter from everyone.

The reception went smoothly as both the groom and brides began to dance with each other, Shining Armor found himself constantly switching between his new wives, so that they each could have a turn to dance with their husband. Ulfric ever the stubborn man even found himself dancing as Everypony joined in in the fun. Luna giggled as she danced with the human she loved dearly she mentally laughed again when she remembered the look on Ulfric's face when she had told him she had teleported to the everfree castle to retrieve her armor and sword when the fighting broke, but for now she only cared about being with her beloved.

The dancing and merriment went on into the night, many a hangover would be expected but in the end they all agreed on the same thing. It was worth it.