It had been two weeks since Fluttershy had begun providing Rarity and Sweetie Belle with meat. Largely their lives had returned to normal, Rarity was busy making dresses while Sweetie Belle was going to school with her friends. Both Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon had been leaving their group alone but the peace they had found was about to be shattered.

Rarity unaware of future events was trotting through Ponyville with a smile, she was wearing a nice sun hat. She smiled as she arrived at the picnic with her friends, Pinkie and Applejack had made multiple treats for the picnic while Rainbow had made sure that there were no cloud in the area that day. Rarity sat down with a smile “Today is a beautiful day for a picnic.”

Applejack smiled “Ah agree, Rainbow did a good job with the clouds.”

Rainbow boasted “Of course I did, I’m awesome.” Rarity giggled at Rainbow’s boast, she took an apple fritter as well as one of Pinkie’s cupcakes. Pinkie’s cupcakes definitely were sweeter for most ponies but the Apple family recipes always pleased Rarity more as they were made with love of family.

Just then Spike ran over panting “Twilight … I got ... a letter” he then burped green flames.

Twilight Sparkle up the letter and began to read the letter

Dear Twilight

I hope you’re excited for the Royal Wedding.

Twilight blinked as she looked around “Did any of you hear about a Royal Wedding?” The other girls shook their heads, Twilight continued reading with a frown

I will be presiding over the ceremony but I was hoping you and your friends would assist me with setting up the wedding itself. Fluttershy, I would like you and you choir of Songbirds to perform the orchestra.

Fluttershy blushed “Oh, wow. I was not expecting to perform for a Royal wedding.”

Pinkie Pie, you are a pony full of joy. I couldn’t think of a better pony to run the reception.

Pinkie Pie cheered “HOORAY!”

Applejack I was hoping you could provide the catering for the event.

Applejack smiled “Ah’ll gladly do it.”

Rainbow Dash yawned “Boring.’” Twilight grinned as she read the next part

I would appreciate it if Rainbow Dash could perform s Sonic Rainboom as the bride and groom complete their I do’s.

Rainbow grinned as did several loops in the air “Best Wedding Ever!”

I was hoping Rarity would be willing to design the dresses for the big day.

Rarity’s eyes widened “Dresses… Royal Wedding…” Her eyes rolled back into her head as she collapsed to the ground.

As for you Twilight, you’re planning skills are second to none so I was hoping you could make sure everything goes smoothly.

From Princess Celestia

Twilight raised an eyebrow “Who’s supposed to be getting married, it doesn't say anywhere on the letter.”

Spike stood up “Sorry, I was supposed to give you this one first.” Twilight smiled as she levitated the letter over and began to read

Dear Twilight

You are cordially invited to the Wedding of Princess Cadenza Mi Amore and …

Twilight exclaimed as her eyes widened in shock “My brother!” An hour or two later the Six bearers of Harmony were on the train, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were with them. Twilight exclaimed angrily “How could Shining Armour not tell me he was getting married?! He’s my brother!”

Applejack frowned “I’m sure he had a good reason to, family would not forget about something like this without good reason.”

Rarity was about add something when she heard buzzing, she turned to Sweetie Belle who nodded. Rarity nodded back, the two had heard the buzzing and it was only growing louder as they approached the city.

Rarity whispered to Sweetie Belle “I hope the Changelings aren’t planning something today.”

Sweetie Belle whispered back “ I’m guessing we need to keep this quiet.”

Rarity nodded, she frowned as she saw the huge pink barrier “Why is that there?” In truth Rarity had her own suspicions but she kept them to herself.

Applejack frowned “It’s Royal Wedding, Ah thought of all ponies ya would know exactly why the security is so tight. This is a major event, one that will be recorded in the history books.”

Rarity muttered “I hope it’s not one that will be recorded for the wrong reasons.” Rarity and Sweetie Belle both felt a tingling as they passed the pink barrier.

The whole group save Twilight who was busy confronting her brother entered the castle to prepare for the wedding. Rarity was busy making the dresses for the wedding, Sweetie Belle was helping her sister by arranging the fabric into the correct places so Rarity could keep working.

Lyra, Minuette and Twinkleshine enter. They smiled at their dresses “They look fantastic.”

Rarity smiled at the golden, blue and pink dresses she had made for them, there was wing-like design on each. Rarity was more concerned with the wedding dress. A white dress with golden accents, a Pink Alicorn strutted into the room with an upset Twilight at her side. Rarity and Sweetie Belle winced as they felt buzzing around pink Alicorn, Rarity shook her head and smiled “Princess Cadenza, how do you like your dress?”

Cadenza frowned “I want a longer train with more beading” she then looked at the bridesmaid’s dresses I want them changed as well. She then fiercely glared at the Bridesmaids who maintained their silence

Rarity smiled “I can do that, it will take some time before it’s ready.”

Cadenza nodded and left, Twilight grimaced as she left. Rarity and Sweetie Belle shared a concerned look before resuming their work.

Later on when Rarity met up with her friends, Twilight growled “Cadence has been rude to everyone! She was not like this when I was a foal!”

Rarity felt a sickening feeling in her stomach, one of the ways to tell somepony was impersonated by a changeling is them acting out of character. Applejack frowned “Are sure she’s not acting this way because of wedding pressures? It’s possible.”

Rarity frowned “I need to get back to work.” She galloped back to the dress room, Sweetie Belle was busy organising the materials for when Rarity returned. Rarity whispered “We have a problem, the bride is a changeling. We need to wait until she makes her move and then strike.”

Sweetie Belle sighed as she whispered back “So much for the fairytale ending, looks like there will be a mess at the end of this.’

Just then Cadence walked in with a smile “My previous bridesmaids have dissapeared, I humbly request you to be one of my new bridesmaids.”

Rarity bowed with a smile “I’d be honoured, how many dresses need to be made.”

Cadence smiled “Five including you, I have my faith in you to have the dresses down by tomorrow.”

Sweetie Belle began gathering fabric knowing they would have a long night ahead of them. The next day late into the afternoon, Rarity was awoken for the Wedding Rehearsal. After quickly getting ready the rehearsal begun shortly afterwards, Rarity smiled as the Crusaders headed down the hall.

She frowned when Twilight burst in (I hope she doesn’t cause a scene.) Twilight did very well cause a scene as she exclaimed angrily “Brother, neither of us should stand next to Cadence! She has been doing something to you with her magic, she has changed from the mare we remember. Her magic is green! Not to mention how she has been treating everyone, the Cadence we knew would never be so cruel”

Rarity grimaced slightly, that was a clear sign of a Changeling and she had feeling Celestia would say something against Cadence. Shining Armour growled at Twilight “She has been alleviating my headaches, Twilight!”

Twilight turned to Cadence “Stop whatever spell you’ve used on my brother!”

Cadence cried and galloped out of the room, Celestia trotted past her “You have a lot to think about.”

Shining Armour growled “You forget about being my best mare, you shouldn’t even bother attending the wedding!” Twilight began to cry.

The fact Celestia was ignoring such steadfast evidence was odd to Rarity, Celestia should know Cadence was acting oddly… Rarity frowned as a dark thought passed through her mind (Unless… I hope I’m wrong but we may have another bigger issue.) She then looked at Twilight as she left the room (You were right, Twilight but I can’t reveal myself here. I hope you’ll forgive me.)

Twilight meanwhile was crying to herself (I have ruined everything, this is all my fault. I’ve lost everything my brother, my mentor, even my friends.)

Cadence then trotted towards her with a smile, Twilight looked up at Cadence “I’m so sorry I’ve ruined everything.”

Cadence laughed evily as her horn glowed green “You will be sorry.” A burst of green flames sent Twilight away.

Celestia stepped forward with her own grin, both Alicorns burst into green flames. Cadence was a normal drone who looked up to her a much larger Changeling. The larger changeling laughed maniacally “Now no one will be able to oppose me, Queen Chrysalis the destined ruler of this world.”

Meanwhile Twilight awoke in the abandoned mines under the castle, she looked around to see Cadence taunting her “You’re trapped deep in the underground caverns of the castle, no-one can find you here.”

Twilight growled “What do you want?!”

Cadence grinned “I’m taking your brother as my own, while your to down there alone and unloved.”

Twilight began angrily destroying the crystals around her, her eyes narrowed as she saw Cadence cowering in fear. She leapt at Cadence only to bump into a white wing, she heard a familiar voice “My faithful student, it’s good to see even in these trying times.”

Twilight turned around to see Princess Celestia smiling as her pink mane laid limp on her back, Twilight blinked “What happened to you?”

Celestia sighed “A week ago the fake Cadence confronted and captured me using powerful magic, she revealed herself as the Changeling Queen Chrysalis. Even now she plans to conquer our fair nation.”

Cadence growled “We need to return and find a way to stop her.”

Twilight nodded “Well then let’s go.” The trio travelled through the catacombs, desperately searching for an exit.

Meanwhile Rarity and Sweetie Belle were preparing for the wedding, Rarity and Sweetie Belle were wearing matching dresses. Sweetie Belle looked at her sister “Today everything will change for us one was or the other, the shadows that have hidden us will vanish.”

Rarity smiled “Maybe but if it does we will face it together as a family.”

The wedding soon begun, the Crusaders took their roles as Flower Fillies very seriously. Rarity frowned as the buzzing in the air was constant, Rarity was paying attention to Celestia on the dais when Twilight burst into the room alongside Celestia and Cadence. Twilight growled at the ‘Celestia and ‘Cadence’ on the dais “Those are fakes, imitations of the real things.”

The fake Celestia laughed as she burst into a flash of green “It matters not, Luna has been put into a deep sleep and none of you can best me” she then grinned “Heartsong, bring the barrier down.”

Heartsong grinned as she shed her disguise and grinned as Shining Armour under her influence let a huge horde of changelings in. Rarity pointed to Chrysalis and then to herself, she then pointed to Sweetie Belle and then to the balcony. Sweetie Belle nodded and the two sisters tossed off their dresses.

Sweetie Belle galloped towards the window while Rarity galloped towards Chrysalis, Chrysalis turned to her with a toothy grin “What does this pathetic, prissy unicorn think she can do to me.”

Everypony gasped as Rarity burst into green flames as her hole filled hoof smashed in Chrysalis’ jaw. Chrysalis stood up “So Chrysalia, my daughter I’m surprised your here. Still you are ruining my plans.” Chrysalis leapt forward delivering a mighty swing.

Rarity growled as she blocked the attack “You’re no mother of mine, I will stop you here!”

Chrysalis wiped the blood off of her muzzle as she recovered in the air “I have the whole hive behind me, I have no need to fight you fairly.”

Rarity grinned “I believe they will be quite busy dealing with their own problem.”

Sweetie Belle had just leapt off the balcony before shifting into her 10 Celestias tall and 30 Celestias wide spider form as she roared “Face me!”

Rarity then flew at her enemy, Chrysalis could barely react before Rarity punched the Changeling Queen in the stomach “You have invaded my home” she then punched her in the jaw “You have attacked my friends” her horn glowed as it blasted the Queen with magic.

Meanwhile Sweetie Belle was catching Changelings out of the air, her massive maw swallowing countless Changelings whole. The changelings tried to keep their distance as the massive spider attacked them relentlessly.

Chrysalis growled as she fired a huge blast of magic at Rarity “I am destined to rule this world, it’s my right!”

Rarity gritted her teeth as the spell sent her hurtling into the ground, Chrysalis laughed “You got a few lucky hits but now I…” Rarity teleported next to the queen and sent her hurtling into the ground, she then placed one hoof on Chrysalis’ horn with another on her neck, Rarity glared at the Queen “Yield or die!”

Chrysalis’ eyes wide in fear exclaimed “I yield!”

At that exact moment every changeling outside had their mane turn purple and flew towards Canterlot Castle. Sweetie Belle followed them with a shrug.

All the Changelings were bowing to Rarity, one approached “My Queen, what do you request of us!”

Rarity frowned “Put Chrysalis in the Castle Dungeons, I trust you can find your way there.” 50 other Changelings joined him and escorted the former to queen to the Castle Dungeons even though it would take them several hours to find it.

Celestia frowned “It appears we have a lot to talk about.”

Sweetie Belle’s multiple eyes looked in from the window “I agree with that.” Everypony in the room jumped, Rarity sighed as she knew she was in for a long couple of nights.

Author's Note

Changeling Queens can earn the title by combat.