Cadance's life was always a mystery, she knew early on that she was picked up from the door of a home in the country. She was said to have been born with her Cutie Mark, something so mysterious and not normal. Cadance remembered well the day she became an alicorn, it was when Celestia ordered her to guard the Empire, during that time Cadance became too connected to that place, it seemed that Celestia knew she would like that Empire. The doubts came when Cadance asked Celestia why she ordered her such a mandate, the princess' face frowned, saying:

"I did not command anything, Cadance."

That day Cadance locked herself in her room for days, thinking and thinking. Celestia had told her, but that day she had acted so...strange.

And now she didn't remember.

Cadance's past crept into her eyes as she looked out the window at Canterlot, her breathing rapid. How would she beat Sombra? She didn't have as much power as the princesses, even though Twilight was a unicorn, she knew more about magic than the princess of love herself.

"Princess" a guard called, the princess stood still, looking out the window. "We have obtained information from the Empire, the Sombra King is said to be keeping the princesses, but there is one thing in particular, Queen Chrysalis has allied herself with the Dark Lord."

Cadance turned to look at the serious guard. "Who? , I've never heard that name. Now I see that Celestia is hiding more from me than I thought." the princess lowered her gaze, as a small dark tear trickled from her tear duct.

As a good guard, she only listened in silence, until she broke the atmosphere." Princess, we must act quickly, we have received a letter from the Lost Empire."

Cadance suddenly looked at the guard, nodding. Cadance's footsteps were accelerated, when she opened the door she found many ponies inside, the new Council room was in total silence, while Cadance took the letter and took it out of its envelope.

"Hello princess, I hope you remember me. It may be that for you time is short, maybe only a few weeks or even days passed, but a month passed. Maybe two months when the letter arrives, I heard how you fell into a temporary sleep, I didn't like the idea, but I had to accept it. I have to tell you something Cadance, it's very serious, it's about you. Something is growing inside you, a... Darkness. "

Cadance stopped reading, her thoughts turned to the letter, she found herself plunged into a pensive abyss. Until again she connected her eyes with the letter.

"I don't have much time, Sombra is coming back. Don't worry, I'm not going to let him hurt your friends. The Empire is in his hooves, you were right Cadance, Sombra is no good. I hope you will forgive me.

Sincerely yours: Radiant Hope."

Cadance's eyes welled up with tears, while her whole body began to tremble.

"P-princess, are you all right?" asked a pegasus.

The ward tried not to approach the princess, as her horn began to sparkle. Her aura, it was different, it had become dark. Cadance burned the letter, her eyes guided to nothingness, her body stopped shaking, she turned around and walked to the door. She turned her face to the side.

"I will not leave the Empire in their hooves, I want information about this Queen Chrysalis" and with those words she left the room.

Meanwhile, Discord was smiling broadly dancing on the ceiling of Cadance's room. He could see how the princess had believed it all. Discord touched his chin, thoughtfully. Maybe he was a great actor, impersonating Radiant Hope was difficult, he spent hours searching for the right words! But in the end she believed him.... Cadance was a good puppet regarding dark magic, maybe Discord told her a lot of information there, in the letter, about the dark magic he believed grown her. In her heart. Discord teleported out of the cave.

All this time Cadance thought she was in Canterlot, clumsy Alicorn, she was in a cave in the middle of Everfree Forest.

"Maybe the illusions won't turn out so bad after all," Discord praised himself.

He sat down on a dusty chair and began to play with his puppets. One was dressed in the armor of the royal guard, while the other had only part of it.

Discord looked at the throne, it was a pile of dirt in the shape of a throne. The chaos creature hid as she watched the princess sit on the earthen throne, she didn't notice that she was dusting her hooves with dust, while her hair was somewhat dull. She looked tired.

"Guards!" she called, it seemed her words were laden with pain.

Discord snapped his fingers and had two guards appear running down the hallway. He article his mouth ready to speak through them.

"Yes, your majesty?" Cadance arched an eyebrow, somewhat confused. 'Your majesty' sounded so odd.

"I want to see Celestia's armor."

Discord was transfixed, how was he going to get said armor? "Your majesty..." spoke Discord, through one of the guards. "Only Princess Celestia knows where it is, I'm sorry princess..."

Princess Cadance kept staring into nothingness. "Oh... Well, could...could you...could you get me some water? Please?" the princess suddenly felt very dizzy. Discord did nothing, he let his puppets stay silent and still. While the dark magic acted.

Cadance fell to the ground, her gaze became weak, her eyes started to become a ruby color. Until she passed out.

Cadance saw herself, in a mirror in the middle of nowhere. Everything was dark, her reflection exposed. Suddenly, her reflection was double, one was herself, while the other was... She was different, her hair was black and her eyes were mean.

"Cadance, you have to fight!" shrieked the normal Cadance. The other one looked sideways.

"Don't."

Cadance looked carefully at the two, walked backwards, but saw that the mirror was following her.

"Don't listen to her, she's a monster."

The mean Cadance turned to the other Cadance and let the mirror only show her." You don't understand, Cadance. If you accept this part of you, you can be on Celestia's level. Even better."

"What? Who are you?" asked Cadance.

"A pleasure, Cadance. I'm Twisted Princess Love, don't you recognize me?"

"No..." Cadance could not recognize that individual in front of her. Princess of twisted love? She is a princess of unconditional love! Not twisted love, Cadance steeled herself. "I don't know you, you're not real. I'm... Too stressed, you're a figment of my imagination." repeated Cadance to herself, several times.

The wicked princess wore a devilish grin. "How are you sure I'm not real? You want me to tell you a secret?" Cadance looked at her with glittering eyes, intent on her twisted words. "Sombra didn't usurp the Empire, on the contrary, he's saving it. No one is actually coming to wage war, because there isn't one."

Cadance let out a chuckle. "I don't believe you. Sombra did usurp the Empire, and he's coming for Canterlot soon."

Evil Cadance stepped out of the mirror, Cadance stepped back looking at her with wide eyes. "Hmm, yes? Open your eyes, time is passing through your eyes as fast as possible, you have no notion of time, because they are messing with your reality."

"What?"

"Discord, he's the one you need to watch out for. Take care of us." the evil Cadance projected with her horn a dark aura, which suddenly made several papers appear. They appeared to be letters or... "Discord has been playing with your reality, do you really think you've been locked up in a dungeon?

Cadance sobbed." No... What are you talking about? I can't understand you! I was in that dungeon, it was torture! You're trying to play games with me," Cadance shrieked.

Evil Cadance frowned." I don't like games. Discord has long had his eye on the Crystal Empire, but he couldn't play the cards alone, he had to seek help. Sunset Shimmer, Celestia's former student, has been helping Discord gather information about you. The least powerful princess, the least recognized, the princess of mysterious lineage, curious isn't it? Discord knows how to make chaos perfect, and he really has, with you of course. "

Cadance sobbed." Wh-wh-what did Discord do?

"He was keeping a close eye on Radiant Hope, he knew that Sombra wanted his close friend to steal Crystal's heart. So he let her do it, but seeing that wolf attack you, it was his perfect plan. He has created a reality, for your eyes only. Did you really think Sombra saved you? Radiant Hope stole the heart from your hooves and never came back. Discord has been playing with your reality, very chaotic isn't it? Twilight doesn't know anything about you, everyone thinks you're missing.

"So, the story about Sombra that Radiant told me, it's a lie?" asked Cadance, totally in confusion.

"No, that part is true. Rabia too, minus the part about you guys meeting. They don't even know what your voice is like, ironic isn't it?

"Wow, this is really weird, I know the Sombra King's story, and I think I know Amore's too."

"Our mother, you say?" the evil princess smiled.

Cadance's mind was exhausted.

"Nothing is real?" she asked.

"I never said that."

Suddenly, everything went blank, and Cadance awoke. She was on her throne, but she was now awake. She knew it wasn't a real throne. Maybe Cadance didn't know about magic, but she did know about casting blasts. She emitted a great blast with her power, the walls shattered, they seemed to be made of illusion.

And there it was... Discord, behind a wall sipping tea, his eyes filled with embarrassment. Cadance snorted.

"You! Being rude, selfish and foolish!" shrieked Cadance, approaching Discord. He was offended.

"Silly? You're the fool here! Wait... What?
"Discordia was suddenly long seconds silent." No...how did you know. It's impossible! "

Cadance slammed his helmet on the ground." No, it isn't. You've been doing your own thing for a long time, Discord. It's time to put an end to you.

Discord burst out laughing. "You? And what are you going to be? May I remind you that you are the least powerful alicorn? Or the least recognized?" Discord's words were laced with venom.

Cadance took a long look at the chaos creature. "During those illusions, you taught me that cunning is not part of you."

Discord arched an eyebrow. "Now I'm not understanding you, hmm." he stammered, turning like clockwork.

Cadance took a step forward. "Create a reality before my eyes, for what? Cunning wasn't it, revenge? Maybe? I don't think so, tell me your motives. Draconequus."

Dicordia stopped rolling, and folded his arms somewhat offended. "I will not tell you."

"Then you wouldn't mind if I got out of the cave without being chased. Or do you?" Cadance was least suited for persuasion, but it seemed someone else was speaking for her.

"No, I wouldn't mind." the answer caused Cadance to smile, she turned her back to him, while her mane was provided at her side. It was jet, dark as a raven in the nights. Discord watched her leave, utterly disgusted and angry, now his plan was ruined. But why? What had gone wrong?

Cadance came out of the cave, she started walking towards the sun, towards the Empire. Perhaps the journey would be long, but it was certainly mysterious. Because Cadance was no longer Cadance, she was now asleep. Now she was now Princess of twisted love, a new princess, evil. What would become of the Empire now.

Had it really all been an illusion?

Or was it all true?

Author's Note

And now what has happened?

Discord, inventing illusions?

Nothing was real? I never said no... Or did I?

Doubts should be clarified as soon as possible, see you in the next chapter!