The sharp whistle of the train sounded as it pulled into Canterlot Station. Balanced Aspect and Bon Bon were waiting for Rainbow and her other friends as the train came to a stop. The door opened and Pinkie cartwheeled out, ending with a hug on Aspect as she scrunched up her nose and sneezed confetti.

“You’re never going to make sense, are you?” Aspect asked the mare that was currently hugging him.

“What fun is there in making sense?” Pinkie replied and booped his nose. “Beeesides, admit it. You’d be more weirded out by me being normal.”

“At this point?” Aspect asked. “Yes. I would think something was wrong.”

“See?” And with a light giggle, she bounced away. Everypony else was present, and Twilight was looking more than a little excited over the prospect of what was happening tomorrow. The only one that seemed concerned by the dozens of guards around, not to mention the massive shield was Applejack and Fluttershy. Rarity was too busy with her nose in a sketchbook she was floating, Pinkie was being Pinkie and Rainbow was talking about her Sonic Rainboom she was getting to perform.

“I admit, the shield does seem a bit excessive,” Aspect mused. “But, considering how often things like this did happen, Celly’s had the idea of ‘no such thing as overprepared’ all but drilled into her. I could regale you with stories about what happened when we were resting on our laurels, but I’d rather avoid frightening you.”

Then he saw Twilight. Torn evenly between hearing stories of the past, and racing off to find Cadance and Shining… the poor mare looked ready to explode as her head flicked back and forth.

“Come on, let’s go to the castle,” Aspect chuckled as he began leading the mares away. “We have a royal wedding to prepare for.”

“But… stories… castle… wedding… history…” Twilight twitched as a lock of her mane sprung up.

“Whoever said you can’t have a story on the way?” Aspect asked over his shoulder. “Just clear it with your friends first.”

“You infuriate me so bucking much!” Twilight yelled as she trotted after him.

“That he does,” Rainbow giggled as she settled into a lazy flap next to him. “But he’s also cute, so he gets a pass, especially when your reactions are so hilarious.”

Before Twilight could mount what could have been a sizeable tonguelashing, a white unicorn stallion, decked out in royal purple and gold armor trotted towards them. The second Twilight saw him, she ran over to him and the pair nuzzled.

“Ahh, I take it that that is the ‘Big Brother Best Friend Forever’ we got a song about earlier?” Rainbow Dash asked Aspect. “If so… rawr~”

“Down girl, you’re taken and so is he,” Aspect warned her.

“Hey, if you’re allowed to enjoy other mares, then I can take in that fine piece of stallion meat,” she replied with a cheeky expression. “I mean, he’s no Soarin’ but… oh, dat ass!”

“He is getting married soon,” Aspect pointed out. “That’s kind of why you’re here.”

“Mhm, again, so are you,” Rainbow taunted.

“Is Cadence going to have to worry about you trying to seduce her fiance?” the stallion asked.

“Naah,” Rainbow waved a wing. “I’m just window shopping. But seriously, what is it with our friends having hot older brothers. Twilight, AJ… Actually, it’s just them.”

“Whut ya say about mah brother?” Applejack spoke up.

“Nothing,” Rainbow waved a wing as Aspect saw Shining fire a blast up and ripple across the shield. Ahh, so that was the culprit for the bubble dome. He’d have to remember that. Shielding magic like that, that was that powerful, was rare.

“Well, shall we go inside?” Aspect asked. “We have a bride to be to meet.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Rainbow nodded as Shining led Twilight off, the group following them. It didn’t take long to find the pink alicorn, and Aspect was then witness to the most adorable greeting he’d ever seen.

“Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake!” Twilight sang, going through a series of motions. "Clap your hooves and do a little shake~”

Cadance merely raised an eyebrow at that and brushed the mare off. “Uhuh…” She draped a wing over Shining and hummed. “Ready to be married stud.”

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Shining nodded, Twilight looking… rather dejected at being ignored. Aspect raised an eyebrow at that. That...didn’t seem like the Cadance he knew, to just brush off others.

“I’ll be glad when it’s over really,” Cadance sighed. “I’m absolutely exhausted. Trying to arrange all of this has been a real hassle.”

“That’s why we’re here,” Applejack nodded. “Don’t you worry none princess. With our help, you’ll have more free time on your hooves.”

“I’m counting on it,” Cadance smiled.

Hmm...well, that...could explain it. Still...it didn’t feel right. “Let’s make some lists and get some tasks passed out,” Aspect suggested. “That’ll make the work go faster.”

“I… can handle lists,” Twilight said, recovering from her funk. “That’s something of a specialty.”

Cadance nodded, before taking her leave and leaving them in the hooves of Shining Armor again. Once she left, the stallion sighed.

“Sorry if she sounded… curt,” he said. “This whole threat thing has her really stressed out.”

“Eh, sounds like a Wednesday to me,” Aspect waved it off. “Then again, she’s not me with my combat experience.”

“Exactly,” Shining said. “She’s a sweet mare, she doesn’t deserve this on her special day.”

“Well gang, let’s get to work!” Rainbow said.

“Rainbow, y’all ain’t even doing anything til after the wedding,” Applejack chuckled. “Ah could use a hoof in the kitchen…”

“Bai!” the mare said and rocketed off, leaving a rainbow contrail in her wake.

“It’s fine,” Aspect chuckled. “I’ll suggest she help you with decorating later, Rarity.”

“Many thanks,” Rarity chuckled. “Provided you catch her. And send her Pinkie’s way. I’m working on the dresses and Rainbow’s input would be…” She paused, trying to think of a polite word to use. “Detrimental.”

“The trick to catching the Dash is to both be the bait and the trap,” Aspect replied enigmatically as he nodded to Shining, before trotting into the castle. Everyone present looked… rather confused though.

As Aspect strode through the castle halls, he passed by two guards standing next to a door, and as he did…

Smack!

That was something hitting his flank as he passed.

Aspect paused, before slowly turning and looking at the guards. His gaze was one that held fury behind it, because only a few mares were allowed to do that. “Did either of you just touch me?” he asked in a dangerously calm voice.

The guard on the left groaned and facehooved, while the second snickered. She looked up and he saw green eyes and brown fur, as well as a cheeky fanged smile.

“Midnight,” Aspect sighed, relaxing his stance. “Honestly. You could announce yourself.”

“My method was more fun,” she smirked and leaned forwards, kissing his lips. “My sweet silly stallion.”

“You’re with her?” the other said, a pegasus mare. “My condolences.”

“She’s not that bad,” Aspect said, giving the mare a moment to be confused before he clarified. “She’s worse.”

“Don’t I know it,” the pegasus sighed and removed her helmet. She had a sunny yellow coat and a deep black mane. Her eyes a pale bluish-white. “Name’s Secure Lines. I’m this idiot’s partner whenever she’s in Canterlot.” She set her spear under one wing and held out a hoof.

“I’m sorry for all the material I’ve been providing her,” Aspect replied, shaking the mare’s hoof.

“Ah, so that was you huh?” Secure chuckled as she broke the hoof shake. “Congratulations, you’ve doomed all of Equestria.”

“Is that so?” Midnight purred and put a wing over her, pulling her close. “I should start with you then~?”

“Eep!” Secure shoved her back and blushed. “I-Idiot!”

“Middy, down,” Aspect said. “You know better than that.”

“She is fun to tease,” Midnight smirked and winked. “So, why are you wandering around aimlessly?”

“I’m not wandering aimlessly, I’m heading to my room,” Aspect countered. “Then Dash will most likely seek me out, and I’ll be able to rope her into helping with the wedding efforts.”

“Ahh,” Midnight nodded wisely. “Try and avoid the Princess, she’s been… a bit snappish today.”

“I’ve noticed,” Aspect sighed. “I guess this must really be weighing on her.”

“Likely,” Midnight shrugged. “Well, it’ll be over and done with tomorrow. Then the Princesses can start actively seeking this threat.”

Speaking of, Aspect realized that Luna hadn’t come on the train with Twilight and the others. She must still be at his home…

Eh, he’d send her a reminder to come and see the wedding tomorrow. With a nod to both of the guardsmares, he trotted off towards his bedroom.

So, that was a bust. He had no idea where Rainbow had gotten to, and after lazing around in his room alone for a while, he decided to head back out. Bon Bon wasn’t around, so maybe Dash was off with her?

When he did find the pegasus, she was with the rest of her friends at a nearby cafe, and caught the tail end of a conversation with Twilight looking rather distraught about something.

“Hello girls,” Aspect said, sitting nearby. “How goes it?”

“Jus’ Twilight spoutin’ how Cadance is a fake,” Applejack rolled her eyes. “Jus’ because she’s acting a might antsy. This one’s now convinced she’s some kinda imposter.”

“Because she is!” Twilight slapped a hoof on the table. “I mean, she threw your food in the garbage, she said such spiteful things about the stunning dress Rarity made her and was mean to Pinkie about her party planning choices!”

“Hmm,” Aspect mused. “If it helps any, I’ll go talk with Cadance about it. I know she’s not in a good mood, but this seems a bit over the top, taking it out on others.”

“See, FINALLY, somepony agrees with me,” Twilight nodded. “Hmph.”

“Ah still reckon y’all are overreacting,” Applejack said. “Plus the rehersal’s tomorrow, so don’t go rilin’ her up befer the big day Aspect.” She turned and poked his chest. “How would ya like it if somepony stirred up yer mares on their wedding night?”

“Fair enough, but there’s a difference between jitters and lashing out,” the stallion riposted. “All I’ll ask is that she not be so antagonistic to the ponies that are trying to help her.”

“Well all she did was offer a bit of critique," Rarity shrugged. “The dress is hers to wear on her special day, why shouldn’t she decide on how it looks?”

“And she’s prolly tryin’ ta diet or sumthin,” Applejack said. “A dun mind none…”

“And I guess my party ideas were a biiit childish,” Pinkie said, though she didn’t sound overly convinced…

“I’ll get to the bottom of this…” Twilight muttered as she got up and stormed away.

“Thank you for your comments, girls,” Aspect nodded to them all as he got up to leave. “I’ll make sure things run smoothly tomorrow.”

They simply shared looks between one another, wondering what the heck just happened there.

After a few directions, Aspect found Cadance’s room, and knocked on the door a few times. As the door opened slightly, he saw her talking with Shining Armor. He suddenly winced, and Cadance cooed, zapping him with a green lance of magic that made his eyes swirl for a moment, before he recovered.

“That looked, interesting,” Aspect mused as he stood there.

“What happened?” Twilight said from beside him. SweetmotherbuckingAspects! Where the hell did she come from!?

“I honestly don’t know,” Aspect replied. “Didn’t look like any headache spell I’ve seen.”

“Mind control!?” Twilight gasped, but that also got the attention of the two ponies in the room.

“Who’s there?” Cadance demanded as she walked towards the door, her horn lighting up.

“Cadance, don’t you recognize your grandfather when you see him?” Aspect asked, pushing the door open.

Cadance sighed and powered down her horn. “Don’t startle me like that Aspect,” she sighed. “In case you haven’t noticed. Canterlot is under tight security. Why are you sneaking around in the halls with…” She paused and tilted her head.

“Twiley?” Shining said. “What are you doing out?”

“Well I…” she said, her brain stalling.

“Ohh,” Cadance hummed. “Naughty grandfather, running around with such a young mare~”

“What!?” Shining’s eyes widened, as did Twilight’s.

“No, he’s not… we’re not…” she said, flustered. “I mean.. There was that one time when I got drunk and…”

“WHAT!?” Shining roared, before glaring at Aspect as his horn glowed brightly.

“Stand down boy,” Aspect warned. “Your sister is a grown mare that can make her own decisions.”

“Shiny, it’s okay, really!” Twilight said, putting her hooves on his chest. “It was a weird time, but nothing much happened, I promise. I more or less just… erm… watched him and his mares is all.”

“Oohh, naughty~” Cadance said and licked her lips. “Hey Shiny, can she watch us too?”

“W-What!?” Shining’s rage lost all momentum as he stood there, gaping like a fish as he blushed hard, Twilight doing the same.

“Whoops, looks like I broke them,” Cadance giggled.

Aspect sighed and shook his head. “Cadance, we need to talk about your behavior,” he said. “I understand we’re under a threat, that you might be under stress. But that’s no reason to go and lash out at the others that are only trying to help you. If you need to vent, I promise to listen, okay?”

“I…” She sighed and looked away. “Sorry… it’s been a trying few days is all.”

“And I get that, I do,” Aspect soothed. “But maybe being snide isn’t the way to release the pressure? Just...try to be the granddaughter I met back at my home?”

“Yeah, I’ll try…” she said and looked at him. “It’s… good to see you again though. It’s been a while.” Her expression now had a much, softer look to it.

“You should visit me more often then,” Aspect joked. “In any case. Do take care, granddaughter. Tomorrow’s your big day, then you have to wed me and my herd.”

“Y-Your herd?” Cadance blinked and coughed into her hoof. “Ahhaha… y-yes. O-of course. I’d be most happy to do such a thing… To you… and your herd…”

“G’night then,” Aspect replied, giving her a quick nuzzle before walking out and taking Twilight with him. Shining may have growled a little as he did, but was dragged back inside by Cadance.

“I.. what… what happened?” Twilight blinked, snapping back to reality as she looked up at the taller stallion.

“There was a situation, it was defused,” Aspect replied. “In any case, Cadance will be a little nicer tomorrow.”

“Oh…” Twilight sighed and looked away, out the window at the night sky. “So, I was wrong huh?” Well, wasn’t that a good thing?

So, why did she feel so lousy about it? Why was her gut still churning?

“She might just be confused,” Aspect mused aloud, thinking out loud as he continued. “She didn’t know about my herd...and she insinuated things between yourself and your brother…”

“W-Why would I watch… gah, I’m not some… voyuer!” she blushed hard and looked away. “I’m going to bed and pretending this night never happened.”

“If you say so,” Aspect replied as he gave Twilight a goodbye nuzzle. “Take care.” And with that, the stallion was off looking for his room.

Twilight tossed and turned in her bed. She just… couldn’t sleep. Groaning, she sat up and squeaked when she came face to face with Cadance.

“C-Cadance? What are you doing in my room!?”

“You…” the mare said, her eyes flashing green. “You are far too perceptive for your own good. Seems the Princess was right about you.”

“W-What?”

“So, I’m going to have you step away for a while,” she murred. “This is too important for you to screw up.” Her horn flashed and a ring of emerald flame surrounded the unicorn. “Sleep well little unicorn~”

Twilight didn’t even get to scream for help before she vanished, the flames dissipating as Cadance chuckled, a small squeak in her tone. “Perfect… tommorow will be simply… perfect~”

“I told you didn’t I?” Cadance said as she paced in a tight circle. “Honestly mare, it’s like you’re trying to screw this up on purpose.”

“Well excuse me if I’m multitasking a hundred things at once,” her doppel said in a snappish tone. “You never said he had a bucking herd. This is a man that hasn’t laid with a mare in two and half thousand years! Now he has a bucking harem!?”

“I know, isn’t it amazing!” Cadance squealed and clapped her hooves. “Oooooh! And he wants me to marry them!? Ahhh. I’M SO EXCITED!”

“I’m so confused,” Twilight mumbled as she reclined in the hottub, reading a book on Trigonometry.

“Well you shouldn’t have been so damned suspicious,” Doppel Cadence said. “You can stay here with Cadance until this blows over. Do you have any idea how hard it was to set a spa up underground?”

“You couldn’t have sent us to… I dunno, Las Pegasus?” Twilight snarked.

“This cavern has unique properties. None of the other Aspects can sense what’s under here,” Doppel said with a sigh. “The last thing I need is Sunbutt or Yggdrasil springing the trap early. I can hide my one, and mimic Lovebutt’s signature. But with you running around crying wolf…”

“Technically, she’s not wrong,” Cadance giggled.

Doppel rolled her eyes and looked at her. “I’m sending your bridemares down here too. I’m going to replace them with Sparkle’s friends. Keep them close so I can keep my eye on them.”

“Not a bad plan,” Cadance nodded and hugged her Doppel. “How’s Shiny?”

“He’s actually a surprisingly good actor,” Doppel said with a nod. “I almost thought he’d lose it last night, but he played along marvelously.”

“All those years of O&O,” Cadance and Twilight said in unison.

“That’s creepy,” Doppel shook her head. “Fine… see you mares later… hopefully.”

“So, our end of the plan still on?”

“Yup, be sure to act accordingly.”

“Yes Ma’am,” Cadance saluted and Doppel teleported away. Twilight sighed and shrugged, before returning to her book.

“So, is this really necessary?” Twilight asked. “Can’t you just… ask him to release the power?”

“No,” Cadance shook her head. “Aspect is a good stallion… man… eh, whatever. Point is, he’ll subconsciously hold back if he isn’t provoked, like he was against Discord. And the longer he holds onto Arabus, the stronger Arabus will get when he is released. Honestly, we should have done this months ago. But Chrysalis is ever the pragmatist.”

“Well, if you say so… this feels out of my league,” Twilight sighed. This Aspect stuff was something she’d never gotten the chance to understand, again, Christopher being tight lipped about information with her.

Chrysalis sighed as she appeared back in the castle, applying her magic disguise as she produced the power of the Aspect of Love. It was a good thing she was getting so much from Shining to maintain it.

And now was the perfect time. After Discord, Christopher’s guard was always up… always suspecting. But now? He’d all but forgotten. He’d slipped back into a life of peace and she knew attacking now would have the greatest impact. Thankfully she’d been able to distract him earlier, but she’d have to keep Twilight away from him. She herself would also need to avoid him unless necessary, he was annoyingly perceptive in his own right.

Pupal made the perfect spy, the little ling was gifted in that art. So innocent and she made it look natural. Well, she was a daughter hatched by Chrysalis herself, so that was to be expected of a proto-queen Changeling~

“I love it when a plan comes together,” she chuckled as she walked down the dark halls.

Aspect groaned as he got up the next morning. It was time for the rehearsal today. Absently, he sought out a blanket to cover his eyes, it was too early to be up. And the sunlight that streamed in seemed to hit him in the eyes jusssst so.

“Wake uuup,” a voice cooed in his ear. “Or I’ll do things to you~”

Aspect snorted, flicked his ear, and rolled over in bed, burrowing deeper under the sheets.

“Ookay, Midnight?”

He heard a gargling sound… he had no clue that Midnight was gargling a glass of ice water…

Not until a long, ice-cold tongue wormed into his ear.

“GAH!” Aspect yelled as he jumped five feet straight up, his wings flinging the covers off as he hovered there and twitched a few times. “Cold cold COLD!”

“Hahahahahaha!” Rainbow cackled, falling onto her back as Midnight and Bon Bon giggled as well, his reaction was deliciously over the top.

The stallion fell on the bed and huffed a few times, getting his breath back under control before glaring at the mares. “That,” he managed to say. “Was uncalled for.”

“You should learn to wake up when we tell you then,” Midnight said with a teasing smile. “We did warn you oh husband to be.”

“Coffee would have been a better motivator,” the stallion grumbled.

“Buut way less fun,” Rainbow snickered.

“Coffee is still a must,” Bon Bon nodded. “Come on, we’ll go and get some breakfast before heading to rehersal yes?”

“Yes please,” Aspect nodded, even though afterwards he yawned. “Bleh...morning comes too early,” he griped.

“Blame your daughter,” Bon Bon mused as she helped him up. “Come along my sleepy stallion. If I have to get up at three am to throw up because of your child, you can get up at a regular hour.”

“Bite me,” Aspect muttered as he began shuffling off towards the door.

So Midnight did.

On the butt.

With her fangs.

The stallion let out a yelp as he turned and glared at the mare. She simply smiled and gave him a fanged grin.

“You asked,” she said and skipped out of the door. For a bat, she was surprisingly peppy in the morning.

“Bloody…” Aspect muttered as he shook his head again. Today was going to be perfectly annoying, judging by his wake up call.

So the first thing that Aspect noticed at the rehearsal was one… Twilight wasn’t present. And two, her five friends were now bridesmares? What? Wasn’t Lyra and some of her friends supposed to be the wedding party? And Twilight was supossed to be Shining’s Best Mare.

This was...not right. He’d be asking Cadance about this later. Like, once they’d finished this rehearsal later.

The rehearsal did go quite smoothly otherwise, though he did notice Celestia looking a little off put by something, likely her missing student. She turned to Cadance and asked something, the mare replying and Celestia sighing in response.

Aspect still had plenty of questions, though.

As the group started to file out, Cadance brushed past him to head for the exit…

“Cadance, a word?” Aspect asked as he tried to keep up.

She stifled a sigh and turned her head. “Can it be quick, I have a lot to do and little time to do so.”

“Do you know where Lyra or her friends are?” the stallion posed. “I ask because she’s a friend of Bon Bon, one of the mares in my herd. I just want to be sure she’s okay, Cadance. I don’t think she’d turn down something like this.”

“Ah,” Cadance said and sighed. “Seems they went ahead and had a small party last night, and got a case of food poisoning. It’s a sad tale, but Miss Lyra was the one that suggested I choose Twilight’s friends, and since I was so horrible to them yesterday, I thought it’d be a good way to make it up to them.”

“Fair enough,” Aspect replied. And without missing a beat, he asked the next question. “So where’d the Best Mare go to?”

“Ahh,” Cadance chuckled. “She was a naughty pony and stayed up reading most of the night. The migraine she has now should teach her to get a proper night’s sleep, especially before such an important event.”

“Hmm,” Aspect hummed, scrutinizing the stories for a moment, before nodding. “Very well then. Sorry for disturbing you.”

“It’s fine, I should have told you… but I have a million things going on right now,” she smiled and leaned down, nuzzling him gently. “Worry not Christopher. Everything will be as it should soon enough. Wait just a little bit longer.”

“I do hope so,” the stallion sighed. “So, what’s next for the agenda?”

“Nothing for you, get some rest,” Cadance chuckled. “The ceremony is in a few hours. And it's going to be quite the event.” With a light giggle, she trotted off, leaving the stallion to his own devices for now.

Aspect nodded as he walked off to his own room again. Hopefully everything would proceed apace. He’d hate for Cadance’s wedding to be interrupted by whatever was going on.

“Okay, and you’re all set,” Bon Bon giggled as she straightened his tie. “Mm, don’t you look all handsome in a suit~”

“I still have no idea how Rarity measured me for this,” Aspect muttered. It wasn’t uncomfortable in the least, which should have disturbed him.

“She has a gift,” the mare giggled as she gave him another once over. “I feel bad for Lyra though. She must be so disappointed that she got sick. It was nice of her to recommend the others though. I’ll have to give her a treat later.”

“Ah, more famous Bon-Bon cooking, I see,” Aspect mused as he looked at himself in the mirror. “Do you bribe all your friends with food, or are we special?”

“Only the ponies I like,” she giggled again. Midnight was there, though she had her armor instead of a dress. Seems she was running security for the event. And Rainbow was likely with the other bridesmares.

“Well, let’s go attend one of the bigger weddings in history,” Aspect chuckled, before turning and catching Bon Bon in a nuzzle. “And then we can have ours,” he whispered. The earth mare flushed a cute pink hue and she smiled, nodding slightly. She couldn’t wait for it.

There were quite a few ponies here. Celestia at the pedastal, being the one that would marry the pair. And Shining Armor was looking rather dapper and… slightly nervous. The seating held near a hundred ponies, nobles, the press and other guests.

Then the music started to play as Cadance emerged from the huge double doors, walking down the aisle with confidence.

“Ah, now isn’t this a sight,” Aspect sighed as he watched the event play out. Truly, something for the history books, how the Aspect of Love looked on her wedding day. She truly was beautiful, and her dress was stunning, as were all the girls. The fact that Rarity whipped them up overnight was a feat in and of itself.

Cadance reached the platform and looked out over the crowd… her eyes lingering on Aspect for a moment as she smiled. The stallion mouthed a simple sentence. Knock ‘em out.

She smiled and replied…

As you wish~

Then a voice called out in his head. “FATHER!”

Gah! Aspect winced a little from the volume of the shout. What is it, Yggdrasil? I’m at Cadance’s wedding, for crying out loud!

“That is NOT the Aspect of Love. It’s—”

The doors burst open as Twilight and...Cadance!? They ran in, looking a little dishevelled.

“Wha…” Aspect looked back and forth between the two, before drawing blades of air on the edge of his wings. “Explain yourself!” he commanded the one standing at the podium.

“That’s not ME!” the newer Cadance said as the first chuckled in a very familiar tone, a blaze of emerald fire surrounded her as her skin burst away. The crowd gasped, some screaming and running as a new creature took her place.

“Hello!” Chrysalis purred. “It’s been a while… well, not so much for me. I’ve been seeing you all all day~”

Aspect was breathing heavily, the blades on his wings fluctuating as lightning danced between his feathers. “D-Daughter?” he dared to ask. The Changeling turned her head and looked right at him.

“Ahh, so you actually remember me Father,” she hummed as she took a step down from the pedestal. “Unlike the rest of Equestria anyway.”

“You weren’t...singled out. I left...everything familiar after Luna turned to the dark,” Aspect replied. “I needed...time. I had almost done something terrible.”

“You did do something terrible,” Chrysalis said, her features hardening. “You abandoned your duties. Your family. It was left to me to protect Equestria from the darkness. But guess what?” She was close now, looming over him. “They feared us. Despised us. Called us Monsters. Called us Cursed. Vile…” She slammed her hooves on the ground, spiderweb-like cracks forming under the blow. “And what happened? Equestria grew weak. They abused their power and it was taken from them. They are little more than sheep now. So… I shall be their shepherd. I will treat them like the herd animals they have become. They desire rule. SO I SHALL RULE THEM!”

A sound got his attention and he looked outside.

Above the shield.

Changelings. Thousands… no, tens of thousands of them. Slamming against the barrier.

“It’s not too late,” Aspect said, turning back to Chrysalis. “Call this off, we can work out your integration. You can join the world, it doesn’t have to be like this.”

“It’s already too late Father,” she practically spat that last word. “I am the Aspect of Battle. There is no way for the ponies to win this. I will take their capital city. Their Princesses will fall, your precious daughters. The ones you actually love!”

“I don’t play favorites!” Aspect replied. “I care for all of my children! Even the griffons, and they’ve been worse than you! Chryssy, don’t do this!”

He was not easily provoked was he… Fine, Plan B it was.

“Oh, you think those winged lice are worse?” she chuckled and turned, looking Midnight Song dead in the eye. “I wonder… whatever became of that darling sister of yours~”

Midnight wasn’t angry.

Angry was for ponies faaar calmer than her. She was literally vibrating with rage as she stepped forward… And Christopher could already hear her music.

He knew killing intent when he saw it… And Midnight was ready to slaughter.

“Midnight, no,” Aspect said, stepping in front of her, blocking her with his body as he stared Chrysalis in the eyes. “You can’t hurt her. But I, can.” He breathed deep breath in and…

Were the windows...groaning? It almost looked like they were bulging in.

“You’re that determined?” he asked in a soft voice. “To push me over the edge and fight you?”

“You’re old and weak,” she said. “I have trained these last thousand years… You can’t even hope to—”

Midnight had vanished, before reappearing and kicking the Queen through a wall and out into the city,

“I will murder you!” she screamed… seems Aspect’s words hadn’t done much.

“Heh,” Aspect chuckled as he flew out the new hole and into the city, staring at the revealed queen. “Consider yourself lucky, Chryssy,” Aspect taunted her as he pulled up a cloud nearby. “If Midnight does damage to you, you’ll heal from it. Eventually. Unless she remembers she has Gungnir.”

Whoops.

“WHY DOES SHE HAVE THAT BLOODY SPEAR!?” The Queen screeched as Midnight drew it out. She was channelling every inch of her Aspect of Music as she blasted down like a lightning bolt, tearing up the cobblestone as Chrysalis was forced to defend. Stepping back, she frowned as Midnight thrust forward again… before pausing to cough, her body already at it’s limits as Chrysalis snared her in her magic.

“Okay! Time out. Time the fuck out!” she yelled. “Why does a mortal Thestral have the power of a fucking Aspect!?”

“Music has been divided,” Aspect replied, reaching out a hoof and calling Gungnir to him. He’d give it back to the girls to play with later. The spear, albeit reluctantly, returned to its master. Besides…

It could tell it was about to be put to use again. It crackled with lightning, charging the cloud beneath Aspect into a thunderhead. She tossed Midnight’s weary body aside and chuckled.

“You’re not just fighting me remember?” she mused as the shield around the city shattered like glass.

And utter chaos rained down. Countless Changlings bombarded the city like mini meteors. It took but seconds for the cityscape to be utterly ruined as ponies ran screaming through the streets. Mere moments for the world to turn upside down.

“Give up while you can,” Chrysalis said. “I know you no longer have Crunch’s power. And you refuse to use Arabus. Your Runes don’t work on me, because you taught me how to counter them… face it father. I. Win.”

“What was that about refusing to use Arabus?” Aspect asked dangerously as the air gained a thicker feel to it. “You see...you did the one thing I wanted you to do, Chryssy. You opened the city up to outside influences. To all that air. If I’m going to fight you, it’ll be Aspect against Aspect. Air against Battle. So let’s do this. Because I’m not afraid to fight my family anymore. If they’ve fallen like you have? I’ll run them through!”

There wasn’t an explosion. Explosions were for villains. Instead, all the air imploded on Aspect, and there was a bright flash that was visible across the city. When it cleared…

Aspect the storm-pony was wielding a lance of lightning. His entire being was made up of a thunderhead cloud, and pooled lightning took the place of his eyes. Air, in its truest form, had been unleashed upon the city.

The stallion let out a wordless sound and raised his spear to the heavens...and instantly. The air above began to swirl and darken. A massive storm had been forced into being over the city as the winds began to howl and pick up speed. Lightning rumbled in the storm, and Aspect began ascending up towards the storm cell he’d called into being.

And from nowhere yet everywhere...music began to play…

The music started, the stallion flared his wings, and when the beat got more intense, he dramatically dropped them.

Lightning, hundreds of bolts, darted down, branched out, and targeted only the changelings. Not a one missed their intended target. That was a significant portion of her assault force taken out with a single action.

What was disconcerting, was how quickly they were getting up again.

“You think I didn’t plan for that?” Chrysalis chuckled. “I know you wield Arabus, as well as Celestia’s Pegasus guard.” Chrysalis smiled as her body started to spark. “So I instilled a little pegasus magic into my Vanguard.”

An inferno of emerald flames burst forth and Chrysalis took a new form. “Do you like it Father?” she asked, clenching her fist. “I made it just for you.”

“You lost the right to call me father when you brought war to another Aspect,” The stallion rumbled as he held up his lance. “Gungnir, infuse!”

With a reverse bolt of lightning tracing its path, the lance went up into the stormcloud, which doubled in the intensity, the speed at which the lightning roiled around in it. The next time, when the lightning began striking…

That...that was actual injuries being inflicted on her children. Dangerous ones.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” the stallion asked. “As long as Gungnir remains within the storm, all its lightning will be as though the spear itself was striking every changeling.”

Oh shit. She’d pushed him to kill.

“I'd predicted this…” Chrysalis paused, looking at her children. She summoned a black bow… one he recognized. It was after all, his.

“Shouldn't have left your bag at home… unattended,” she smiled. “Thank Pupal for this one.”

Tenebrae, the bow of Destruction. He'd made in case weapons like Gungnir fell into the wrong hands…

And one arrow later, the spear was shattered, lighting dispersing into the clouds as Chrysalis cackled.

Aspect growled. It wasn’t destroyed, just dispelled. He exerted his effort and flexed, and even non-pegasi could tell the winds were bending.

Scant moments later, appearing out of thin air, Gungnir, in it’s powered down state, was atop the cloud next to Aspect. It wouldn’t be taking on its lance of lightning form without some serious recharging. At best, it was going to be a lightning rod. Which would serve well in recharging it, but...the middle of a battle was not the place to do it.

“You seriously think you can stop me, Chrysalis?” Aspect rumbled. “You’re in my domain now. You’re ALWAYS in my domain! You’ve flown right into the hurricane, only there’s no eye for you to take refuge in!” Aspect raised his hooves up to the sky, his storm cell rumbling as he took direct control. The lightning roiled and churned again, lancing out not quite as strong as before, but still strong enough to sting and hurt even her infused ‘lings.

Then he grunted as her fist met his gut, sending him flying as she reappeared beside him and a drop kick saw him in the center of an impact crater. “This form is made to specifically combat you!” she smiled. “Now get up and FIGHT old man!”

“You think you’ve pushed me?” Aspect asked as he got back up, the storm clouds making up his form rumbling as lightning pulsed through him. “You think you deserve me fighting you? Fine. Let’s see how you stand up to the Gale King.”

Aspect drew his wings back, before flaring them and drawing them in front of his face. The reason why became self-evident soon enough.

Massive blades of air were moving through the space between them, growing larger and larger as they rushed at their target.

She crossed her arms, making a shield around herself as the blades smashed against it, more and more as it cracked. Then with a burst of power, she sent out a wave that dispersed the waves.

“Impressive,” Aspect replied, flaring his wings as glowing points of light were visible in them. Two...six...ten…

Then the points surged at her, and ten bolts of lightning were crossing the space between them.

Chrysalis teleported.

Right behind Aspect as her hands lashed out, and with a sickening crack, snapped his wings at the joints, the appendages now hanging useless at his side.

Aspect let out a wordless grunt of pain. Okay, that was impressive. Damaging him through his transformation and all.

Fortunately...backup was here.

A stream of wind whipped through the air and poured into Aspect, causing him to glow as the damage was undone, his form becoming more loosely defined as he became more one with air itself. Oh yes...layering on Jetstream power while already transformed? Not well advised.

But the upside was…

Crack!

Aspect snapped Chrysalis’ head back with a hoof to her chin, before melting away and reappearing a fair distance from her.

It made him faster, stronger, and far harder to hit.

The Queen spat out some blood and smirked. “Your batpony hits harder,” she taunted him and made a ‘come at me’ motion with her hand. “Is that all you got?”

If Aspect did reply, it was lost in the whirling, howling winds that his voice had become. His form blurred...becoming less distinct…

And when the cloudy shape that his body had become reformed into something…

That...was about a dozen cloud-ponies staring at her with fury in their eyes.

“Hooboy,” Chrysalis whispered. This was gonna suck. “What? Can't handle me on your own then?” she yelled. She glared, before taking a relaxed stance. A Still Way stance…

The cloud ponies howled as they all made to attack in a different way. Some charged forward right off the bat. Others hung back and began charging up lightning to throw, or releasing blades of air at her. One even went above and called down a piece of storm cloud to stand on, charging it up as he hovered over the battlefield.

“Hey Father?” Chrysalis said with a small smirk as blades of magic started to swirl around her, not unlike his own previous attack. “Mirror Move!”

She swept her hands out, palms open a she started flinging blades, first attacking the charging ones, then aiming at the one above. Every time she struck a cloud clone, they puffed into insubstantiality, before reforming a short ways away. Meanwhile, the one above ducked, dodged, weaved, and ultimately ended up above her as he stomped on the cloud.

Releasing a hell of a lightning bolt.

Chrysalis stood her ground and stared up at it.

“Remember when I said I was training?”

She extended one hand up, raising her index and middle finger as she acted like a living lightning rod, before dragging her foot in a semicircle and extended her other hand in the same manner, releasing the bolt and redirecting it towards Aspect.

The cloudpony up on the cloud was forced to go incorporeal to dodge the bolt...and that caused all the copies to do the same, before they reasserted themselves. Only now, they were attacking without holding anything back.

Chrysalis raised her leg and stomped the ground. “Fight me seriously!” she yelled as she built up a ridiculous amount of magical power. She held until they were mere feet away.

Then she detonated. A dome-shaped burst of pure, destructive mana exploded from around her.

The clones were dispelled, and a wisp of cloud hovered around, waiting for the blast to clear, before growing and building back into a stallion form. Aspect stared at her for a moment, before reaching a hoof up into the clouds and calling on the lightning.

A massive bolt struck him...and kept striking him...and took the form of what Gungnir would look like if it were empowered. Readying his temporary lightning lance, the stallion flourished it as he stood ready to fight her.

She stepped back and lowered her stance, extending both arms as she reached in and drew as much power as she had.

What was she doing…. Wait, he knew that stance… oh.

“Kaaaaaaaa…..”

“Maaaaaeeeee”

“Haaaaaaaaaaah!!”

Oh no, no she wouldn’t. Aspect let out a growl as he advanced, ready to strike her through and pin her to the ground with his new weapon.

“Maaaeeeee!” eldritch energy formed in her palms as she took as much Love energy as she had left, before thrusting her palms out.

“HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!”

And a massive beam of green energy erupted from her hands. Aspect let out a grunt as it came rushing at him. He wouldn’t be able to reach her, it would likely rip his transformations away.

So he did the only thing he could, and threw the spear of lightning over the beam.

With a massive explosion, the two combatants were thrown back, Chrysalis abandoned her transformation as she hit the ground and tumbled until she struck a building, a cloud of dust obscuring her as she groaned, her energy nearly spent.

Aspect had been pinned to another building, which promptly blew up thanks to the attack. Once the dust cleared from that, it was revealed that he was reverted back to his base state...but when he got up, his eyes were still filled with anger and hate.

“THAT’S IT!” he bellowed as he began levitating, the winds themselves carrying him. “I tried being nice. I tried not going all out on you. NOW YOU GET THE FULL ARABUS EXPERIENCE!”

With that, he vanished from sight, melting away into the air itself.

“About fucking time…” Chrysalis coughed as Cadance teleported next to her.

“You okay Buggbutt?” she said, leaning down to nuzzle her.

“Ergh, that last attack took more out of me that I’d hoped,” she groaned as she picked herself up. “I’m running on fumes now.”

“Good thing I’m here,” the alicorn giggled as she pressed her lips to the Changeling, feeding her pure, undistilled Love energy. Chrysalis’s eyes widened…

And up above them both, the storm cloud began to shift and change. In a matter of minutes, the cloud had taken on a new form.

A form akin to a giant version of Aspect as it impacted the ground, standing taller than any building as lightning rumbled across it’s body.

Chrysalis broke the kiss, having drawn enough to continue the fight. “Right, we’re in Phase Two now. Is Lovercolt ready?”

“As he’ll ever be,” Cadance nodded as a barrier erupted from the castle, pushing the mass of cloud back as it grew larger, encompassing the city as Shining Armor poured all of his power into it. Twilight and Celestia were backing him up, funnelling their magic into him.

“Get him up, so we don’t destroy Canterlot,” Chrysalis said as she stared up as the giant cloudpony slammed against the barrier. “I need to draw Arabus into his true form, before Thanatos can get his chance to end this once and for all.”

Meanwhile, the cloud giant let out a wordless roar as he flailed against the shield...before he opened his mouth. Lightning built up in there, before erupting as a stream of plasma that caused the dome to wail in protest. It started to buckle, before Shining focused on that section and strengthened it.

“Anytime Chrys,” he grunted, the force of the magic pushing him back as sweat rolled down his forehead.

Chrysalis flew up and above the barrier. “HEY THUNDERFLANKS!” she yelled out in a magically enhanced voice. “You want me? Come and get me!”

The stallion roared as he tried snapping at her with his hooves, trying to knock her out of the sky. Only his size made him far slower, it was like trying to swat a fly as Chrysalis laughed.

“Bigger isn’t always better love~” she taunted and unloaded a barrage of magical blasts, Concussive ones designed to detonate upon impact with powerful shockwave to try and break his body apart. The clouds rippled and roiled, before a stream of wind from above snaked down and infused itself within the body, making it a little larger and holding it together a little more.

There was a whisper on the wind, a voice that could barely be heard. But it sounded like something that...was challenging her.

“Please, you’re all flash and no substance!” she laughed. “Always have been Chris. You lack skill, choosing power over actual strategy. You can’t beat me you overblown rainshower!”

The stallion let out another roar as he stood on the shield and flared his wings.

Oh…

That was…

A lot of potential lightning building up.

The sky darkened as Chrysalis stood her ground. “Well, are you waiting for a written invitation?” she asked.

The lightning lanced at her, and...not a single bolt hit her?

...Oh. It had actually been formed into a cage to hold her.

“...Well shit,” the bug queen said as she looked around. “Not bad… But I can teleport dumbass.” Her horn powered up, ready to make the jump.

The moment she pulled the magic to her horn, though, the cage bulged and a bit of the lightning was attracted to her horn. She yelped as the spark hit her and she rubbed her horn. “Ohh, clever,” she mused, remembering this trick. “But you forgot about one thing love.”

The stallion didn’t say anything, but that whisper was back, challenging her.

“We don’t fight alone,” she mused as she looked up. The sun wasn’t hiding because of dark clouds…

It was blocked by a swarm of Changelings, near a million strong. The all powered up their horns and started firing, countless blasts hammered down, like an emerald rain of death and destruction.

The giant cloud pony was broken apart, and at its core was-

Aspect, in a similar cage of lightning?

The clouds slowly reformed into a shape Chrysalis only knew because her father had described it so often. A demon made of clouds. Though it was a pale mockery of what it once had been, the demon still laughed as he reformed.

“So you’ve found my ruse,” the creature rumbled as he effortlessly picked up Aspect’s cage and tossed it lightly. “But it’s far too late. After more than a thousand years, I’m FREE! All I have to do is keep this stallion locked in his cage until I extract the last few bits of myself, drink deep of that Jetstream he provided, and I will own this pitiful world!”

“Hmm, will you now?” Chrysalis relaxed in her cage and giggled. “Oh do go on, I love it when you villains monologue.”

“Don’t forget, little sister,” the cloud being stated as he began becoming more and more defined. “You fit that role too. You attacked your fellow Aspects. You caused him to call on my power. You abused his trust, destroyed that which your sister held dear. You’re no saint in the world’s eyes.” His eyes glimmered with mischief. “Why, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say the bad old days never left, thanks to you!”

“Is that what you think of me?” she mused and licked her fangs. “I’m flattered that I’ve done such a good job. I mean, he called upon you… just as I planned after all~”

“Oh really?” Arabus asked as he flexed, starting to seem more real by the moment. “You planned for the original Aspect of Air to break free of his prison? Because I’ve learned so much while I was inside him. I’ll lay waste to any settlement of ponies with all the things he’s built up.”

“You could…” Chrysalis said as she sat up. Her swarm had dispersed for now. “I mean… provided on one, teensy little thing of course.”

“And what, praytell, could stop me now?” Arabus asked as his form started to billow a little more. “You’re just an insect in a cage.”

“True I am indeed,” she smiled. “But remember what I said poppet… We don’t fight alone~”

A gap opened in the shield. Far below, on the castle rooftop, an Earth Pony mare looked down the scope of her weapon.

“Give my husband back,” she growled as her hoof squeezed the lever. The Bowcannon’s barrel opened like the maw of a dragon, crackling with lightning as the metal projectile fired… Slamming into the demon at Mach 7, and the spell inside the shell activated, detonating upon impact.

Arabus was forced into an incorporeal state, while the cage around Aspect bounced and rolled off the shield, coming to rest somewhere in Canterlot. It took Arabus a full minute to reform himself, before growling down at the shield itself.

“Pesky, puny little thing,” he snarled as he raised his arms. “I’ll smash it and the one that dares strike at me!”

The demon poured lightning like it was a liquid out of his palms, trying his hardest to break through. The shield groaned as it started to crack, before he felt a new presence.

“Hello Arabus~” a voice sounded. The Alicorn of the Sun’s mane blazed like wildfire, her coat a pure white as her eyes burned with magical might.

“And so the little foal comes to fight the battle her father has already lost,” Arabus taunted her. “Face it! I am freed! Once I gorge on the Jetstream, you will not be able to stop me, filly! I am older and more powerful than you will ever be!”

“You threaten my ponies. I have guided them for as long as you have been sealed.” She lanced out with a sword made of pure sunfire. Her voice lowered as she glared at him. “You will die here and now. Niflheim awaits your blackened soul.”

“I think not,” Arabus said, pulling the tail end of his form free form Aspect’s fallen body. “The last of my self is freed from that prison. Air walks again! And I think I know the first thing I am going to take...where is that delightful spear?”

“May I say one last thing?” Chrysalis asked sweetly, freed from her cage while he was talking with Celestia. The demon turned to her and his eyes widened at her being free as well.

“Mirror Move.”

Celestia’s sunfire lanced out, bursting out all around him as Chrysalis weaved her spell into it…

And the demon was now in a cage of his own design, the Changeling warping Tia’s magic to create a prison of her own.

“This will not hold me!” the demon raged as he pushed against the sunfire bars. “The air itself answers to me! I hold all of your precious father’s power now! Air is mine to command, as it always should have been! You cannot defeat me!”

“I know we can’t,” Chrysalis said as she drew closer. “You see poppet. This has always been about you. All of this…” She swept her hooves out. “Was to goad Christopher into finally releasing you. Luring the stallion into a peaceful calm. Setting up this wedding, this farce of an invasion… All of it carefully and meticulously planned. And even in the end, you’re just another stepping stone to the true goal. But… none of that will matter to you. Because I have someone who is just dying to meet you~”

“I will be free of this cage!” Arabus said as he forced his form up against the limits of it. “I will rain destruction from on high! I will—”

“You will be silent,” a new voice proclaimed as a chill swept over the battlefield. Arabus slowly turned around, and if he had skin, he would have paled under it.

The grim pony, Mortal Coil, was there...with his scythe drawn, and an empty hourglass in his other hoof.

“Oooh, introductions!” Chrysalis clapped her hooves. “Arabus, this is Mortal Coil, aka Thanatos, aka the Grim Pony… aka, your imminent death. Morty? Meet Arabus. He’s been tormenting daddy for far too long now don’t you think?”

“Indeed,” Mortal Coil replied, holding up the hourglass. “He should have been dead the moment his original body died. He was a human before he drank of the fountain, you know. Without it, he’s just a soul on the wind...a soul that is now...unprotected by father’s body.”

“You see Arabus,” Chrysalis smirked, dangerously so. “I always have a plan. Now… Do give my regards to Gelgeth and his children when you meet them. Tatah~”

“No, no, no!” Arabus tried his best to flee, to break the bars. “Not again! I was so close! I nearly had—”

SWISH.

The scythe cut through the sunfire bars, and cut right into the ball of cloud they were containing. Arabus let out a wail as his soul was absorbed by the scythe, the ball dissipating with nothing to hold it anymore.

Far below, the lightning cage surrounding Aspect vanished, as for the first time in thousands of years...he fell into a peaceful sleep.

The pieces of the Jetstream that Arabus had absorbed into himself were released into the sky, weaving their way back into the whole in no time. Meanwhile, all the power the demon had pulled from the stallion sought out a plain, bronze spear...and infused themselves into it, before the thing jumped up and flew off towards its master.

Gungnir landed next to Aspect and fell on top of him, letting the power it had borrowed seep back into him...without the taint of the demon anywhere in it, this time.

“Sweet christ that sucked,” Chrysalis groaned as she started to fall, only for Celestia to catch her. “Oh...thanks sis.”

“Ohh, I am plenty pissed at you for keeping me out of the loop,” Celestia warned her. “But, while Twilight and Cadance gave me the cliff notes, I expect a full briefing.”

“Mhm, when my everything stops hurting,” the Changeling groaned. “Come on… let’s go save dear old dad.”

“Honestly…” the solar mare sighed. Today just had to be one of those days didn’t it?

Author's Note

I took extra care when writing and reviewing this chapter. Any mistakes can be blamed on strange aussie magic.

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