Author's Note

OH SHIT! you know stuff's getting serious when the Chapter Title isn't shouting!

first of several parts.

Chapter 17: Dark Forces: Part 1.

So today was the fabled wedding episode, the one where Chrysalis would be a very unwelcome guest to the ceremony of Cadence and Shining. Also an opportunity to see if I could succeed where Starlight had failed… unless of course changelings are different in this universe than they were in the show.

Onto other matters, for example how do I know this? Simple…

I’m Twilight’s friend, of course I’d be invited to the picnic, and when I saw spike come in and hand Twilight the scrolls I knew what was happening.

Also be prepared, for I am going to do two things I haven’t done before.

The first is that I will be writing down the song. The second will be revealed soon.

Twilight started up her lyrical moment.

“When I was just a filly,

I found it rather silly,

To see how many other ponies I could meet.

I had my books to read,

Didn’t know that I would ever need,

Other ponies, to make my life complete.

But there was one colt that I cared for,

I knew he would be there for me…

My Big Brother, Best Friend Forever!-”

“Like two peas in a pod, you did everything together!” my baritone voice cut in.

Though caught off by me joining in the song, Twilight seemed to shake it off before the next part. And as she did I decide to work background.

“He taught me how to fly a kite!” “(Best Friend Forever)”

“We never had a single fight.” “(You did everything together!)”

“We shared our hopes, we shared our dreams!

I miss him more than I realized,

It seems…”

I gestured for the others to join me, adding their voices to the song alongside me.

“Your Big Brother, Best Friend Forever!

Like two peas in a pod, you did everything together!”

“And though he’s, oh, so far away,

I hoped that he would stay,

My Big Brother, Best Friend

Forever…”

“Forever…” I finished off, then cheered a little. “That was actually kind of fun! You should invite me to sing with you more often, we could really get a harmony going!... pun not intended but I’m happy it’s there.”

Twilight looked at me in confusion. “Did you not realize how I was pouring my heart out about how Shining Armor didn’t invite me to the wedding?”

“Wait you’re still upset? Did no-one notice the massive fucking bubble around Canterlot?”

“While I do not care for Orgran’s language, he does have a point, darling.” Rarity added.

I grabbed the wedding invite before looking it over. “It says here that Shining is Captain of the Guard, and since there is a large magical barrier around the capital around the barrier, there must be a military matter going on. It makes sense Shining would be very busy.”

“It can’t be that much work! And I’m his LSBFF! He should’ve told me in person.” Twilight whined.

I sigh and put my hand on her shoulder, looking her dead in the eye. “No-one has your organisation skills Twilight, and this is more than just paperwork. Clearly someone or something has threatened the capital and as such it would be a high-ranking officer’s duty to remain vigilant until the matter is resolved, whether or not his abilities ensure it. By the look you gave the bubble, that’s clearly Shining’s magic casting that barrier, which requires constant concentration, strength and stamina. While that is certainly gonna be handy come the honeymoon-” I hoofbump Rainbow who got the joke. “-it also means he can’t take his focus away.”

“I… I get that, but who even is this Princess Mi Amore Cadenza!?” the purple unicorn asked in frustration.

“That… that is a mouthful, wouldn’t somepony like that shorten it to something better?” I did my best not to smirk, knowing what was coming.

“Yeah, I bet she’d shorten it to Princess Cadenza for the… other… IT’S CADENCE!” she shouted in realization.

“Who?” The others asked in confusion.

“My old foal-sitter! I can’t believe I didn’t notice, if I had gone up to Shining without thinking I probably would have yelled at him for no good reason and made him feel bad!” She stopped and looked at me, a soft smile on her face. “But you knew I would, didn’t you?”

“Well, I’m good at reading people, and you looked like you were gonna blow your top.” I shrugged modestly, and then found Twilight hugging me.

“Thanks Orgran, you’re a good friend.” she said, and in return I give her a friendly pat on the head, not up for hugging right now.

“No problem Twilight.” she broke off.

While the others decided to chat on the way, Twilight actually excited to attend instead of upset about her brother, which she would have been, had I not intervened. Anyway, with that going on I kept away from the group, feeling a pain in my chest the closer we got to Canterlot.

The problem eventually got bad that I had to head to the bathroom so I could take my armor off and check what was going on.

What I saw shook me to my very soul, as I looked upon a hole that appeared in my chest, and glowing within was something I remember from my dream.

Interse’s Black Heart was reacting to my future, something that it knew was happening, should I continue this path.

“Should I continue in my self-appointed mission, Canterlot shall become my tomb… you’re trying to warn me of that, aren’t you?” the heart glowed in response. “Well forget it, I’m not afraid, and if I don’t do this it means I’m abandoning these ponies, abandoning my friends, to Chrysalis. Out of the both of us you should understand most about why I’m not going to do that.” the glow dimmed, and finally faded as the hole in my chest closed up, so I put my armor back on and headed out.

Is this what you meant by protection, Interse? Giving me your heart so it would drive me away from my fate… no, there’s something more, but what?

“Hey Org, you okay?” Rainbow Dash asked as she saw me, snapping me out of my thought.

“Just fine… must be jitters, I guess.”

“About what?”

“Well it’s a wedding, for once I’m going to have to sit still and behave!” that got everypony to laugh.

But for me, my smile hid concern.