PROLOGE-A canterlot wedding - Part 1
[code]It was a beautiful spring day in Ponyville, just like so many others that had come before it. And because it was so nice and nothing seemed to be going on, Twilight and her friends had opted to get together for a small picnic. Aside from Rarity wearing a small hat to protect her head from the sun, nopony was wearing anything at all.
The sun was shining and birds were singing, and nopony had any reason to suspect that the day would be at all different from any other. But they were unknowingly about to be proven wrong.
Unknown to the ponies, Spike was rushing out to their location with important news that he had just received! He ran faster and faster, trying to get to them as soon as possible! The news he had to share with them was incredibly urgent and very concerning!
At last, the little dragon came upon the gathering of the six mares. He was all but out of breath as he panted. " Twi... light! ...I... have... Lemme just..." He paused for a moment to catch his breath. And as he did so, he belched up a scroll right in front of everyone.
Twilight picked up the scroll with her magic, unfolded it and began to read it aloud. It read as follows:
Dear Twilight, I am sure you are as excited as I am about the upcoming wedding in Canterlot.
Twilight paused momentarily in her reading as she blinked in confusion. "Wedding? First I'm hearing of this." But she still kept reading:
I will be presiding over the ceremony along with Luna, but would very much like you and your friends to help with the preparations for this wonderful occasion. I'm sure you'll all find your assigned roles to be to your liking. Fluttershy, I would like you and your songbird choir to provide the music, especially when the bride walks down the aisle.
"Oh my goodness! What an honor!" Fluttershy happily declared! "I'm flattered!"
Twilight continued reading as she listed off the roles her friends were to play in the wedding:
Pinkie Pie, I can think of no one more qualified than you to host the reception. I know you'll give it your special Pinkie Pie touch.
Pinkie Pie beamed from ear to ear. "Hip, hip, hooray! I've always wanted to host a wedding reception on a major stage, and now's my chance!"
Applejack was the next to be informed of her assigned role as Twilight told her via the scroll:
Applejack, you will be in charge of the catering for the reception.
Applejack adjusted her trusty stetson and replied. "Well, color me pleased as punch! It'll be my pleasure to serve the bride, the groom and everypony else. I'll give 'em a taste of genuine Apple family cookin'."
Rainbow Dash yawned, uninterested in anything she might be asked to do for a wedding. That is, until she was told by Twilight:
Rainbow Dash, I would very much appreciate it if you could perform a sonic rainboom as the bride and groom complete their "I do"'s.
That was enough to get the brash speedster all fired up as she happily shouted! "Yes!" And did so at the top of her lungs to boot!
Next it was Rarity's turn to be informed of her assigned task for the wedding:
Rarity, you will be responsible for designing the dresses for both the bride and her bridesmaids. I'm certain you'll bring your very best.
The news came as such a shock to Rarity that she all but fainted right on the spot! "A Canterlot wedding! And Princess Celestia wants me, me to design the dresses! I... I..." And after stumbling around a little bit, she finally collapsed onto the grass. It would be a minute or two before she would come to, and the shock would wear off.
Twilight just smiled and ignored Rarity's dramatic outburst as she read further:
And as for you, Twilight, you will be playing the most important role of all: Making sure that everything goes as planned. See you all very soon.
Yours,
Princess Celestia.
Yet upon concluding her reading, the studious unicorn was still left with a nagging question that concerned her. " But... I don't understand.A wedding? Who's getting married? Who could possibly be so important that Princess Celestia would ask us to oversee the preparations and the reception?"
"Oh," Spike realized all of a sudden. "My bad. I meant to give you this scroll first, Twilight. It's why I came all the way out here. Wanted to get it to you as soon as possible." And he gave her another scroll, one that he'd been holding onto for some time now.
Twilight took this other scroll, unfurled it and read aloud:
Princess Celestia cordially invites you to the wedding of Princess Mi Amo"re Cadenza and...
Then Twilight gasped as she saw the name of the groom on the invitation: Shining Armor. "Wait, my brother's getting married?!" She all but dropped the scroll in shock! Needless to say, she hadn't been expecting this news out of the blue.
"That isn´t awesome ?¡ Your brother will get married sugarcube" said AppeJack with a big smile
Twilight was still grumbling evn after the shock had worn. "I know Shining Armor and I haven't seen each other a lot recently, but we have had some encounters since I moved to Ponyville. He couldn't tell me at any of those times?: My birthday party in Canterlot? Last Hearth's Warming? Or heck, even when he caught me sneaking into the Canterlot Archives? Is this his idea of a joke or something?!"
"A joke? What's the punchline?" Pinkie Pie pondered.
Twilight snorted. "You tell me, I'm as clueless as you are. I don't see how this is funny," She all but rolled her eyes. "I get it, he has an important job and it's not like he could just up and come to Ponyville at the drop of a hat. But for something as important as him getting married, I think I'm entitled to a heads up! Could he really not tell me personally?" She levitated over a sandwich, throwing her voice to try to sound like her brother as best she could. "Hey, Twilight, just thought you should know I'm making a really big decision that changes everything. Oh, never mind, I'm sure you'll hear all about it when you get the invitation."
"I'm sure your brother had his reasons, whatever they might be," Rarity pointed out. "Perhaps he sent letters and they got lost in the mail or something? It happens more than you might think."
Twilight wasn't convinced. "I didn't even know he was seeing somepony, let alone that he was thinking of proposing marriage to this 'Princess Mi Amore Cadenza', whoever the hoof (whoever was this pony) that is!"
Fluttershy became concerned when she saw Twilight's eyes start to narrow in what seemed like anger. "Um, Twilight? Are you feeling okay? you look...angry and upset that your brother is getting married."
The unicorn mare with a light purple coat let out a sigh, taking a deep breath (and a moment to compose herself). Then she apologized. "Sorry. I know I shouldn't be so upset. My brother has his own life, and so do I. He doesn't need my approval to marry anypony. But we were always so close growing up: He's my B.B.B.F.F. for crying out loud!" When all her friends blinked in confusion, she had to explain. "Big Brother Best Friend Forever."
"Oh... " Was all the other mares could bring themselves to say.
A sigh escaped the unicorn's lips as she started to recall what fond memories she had of her brother, and there were plenty. " Before I came here and learned the importance of friendship, Shining Armor was the only pony I ever really accepted as a friend, even if back then I had little idea of what a 'friend' really was." Then, with the memories welling up inside her...
Applejack took it upon herself to comfort her friend who seemed to be on the verge of crying. "Listen, sugarcube, As one of your P.F.F.'s: You know, pony friends forever, I mean it when I say that your brother sounds like a really nice stallion. I know what it's like to have an older brother, even if Big Mac and I ain't as close as you and your brother used to be."
Twilight nodded. "Well, your brother isn't captain of the Royal Guard, for one thing. It was always his dream to be a member of the royal guard. But I never would've expected him to become their youngest captain ever, its something ...admirable"
That off the cuff statement came as a shock to all of Twilight's friends, but to Rarity it was an especially powerful shock. "So let me get this straight. We're helping out with the wedding of not only a princess, but a captain of the Royal Guard?" She asked her fellow unicorn, and upon receiving confirmation she again fainted.
Meanwhile, Spike had noticed something that he had originally believed it was just an illusion or his eyes playing tricks on him. But now he knew that what he was seeing was all too real, and he wanted the ponies to notice it too. "Not that I mean to change the subject, but does anypony know why Canterlot looks like it's encased in a bubble?"
All eyes now fell upon the city of Canterlot off in the distance. And they could see that indeed it did appear as though Equestria's capitol city was surrounded by a huge, pink bubble.
"Wait, I know that spell!" Twilight realized in an instant! "It's my brother's signature shield spell. He spent so many years perfecting it. It's pretty much what he owed his promotion to captain to," And now a feeling of dread began to overtake her. "He wouldn't just cast that spell to show off. Something must be going on!" She let out a gasp! "What if he's in danger?! Or what if Canterlot is danger?!"
"Wouldn't we have received a summons from the princess if that was the case?" Rarity pondered. "Even with Discord, we at least had that to let us know things were indeed bad."
But Spike protested. "I never received any other scrolls from Princess Celestia aside from the wedding invitation, and the assignments related to the royal wedding. And I haven't heard anything from Princess Luna either despite her being my designated dragonsitter."
The studious unicorn wasn't so convinced. "Something must be wrong if his brother's casting his shield spell, it just has to be," And she looked to her friends. "I have a feeling things may not be what they seem with this wedding."
"You think maybe it's all a coverup to let us sneek into the city without attracting attention?" Rainbow Dash pondered with what sounded like excitement. "After all, we're kind of a big deal now, at least in Canterlot. And honestly, even with the whole 'Sonic Rainboom' thing, a royal wedding isn't exactly my idea of a good time."
Twilight immediately vowed. "Well there's only one way we'll know for sure. We need to get to Canterlot as soon as possible! And one way or another, I'll find out what my brother knows even if he doesn't want to tell me. He's always been there for me, so now it's my turn to be there for him when he needs me most!"
The train ride up to Canterlot passed uneventfully for all involved, even as Twilight Sparkle worried herself about what was happening in Canterlot. More specifically, about what kind of circumstances could've possibly required her brother to cast his shield spell over an entire city. Was he perhaps not actually getting married after all? If so, why go through all the trouble of having Princess Celestia assign Twilight and her friends to tasks they wouldn't actually be performing?
When the train reached the edge of the protective bubble, however, the reality of the situation started to slowly sink in for all involved. The train was halted right on the tracks as two royal guards performed an unannounced inspection of the train from locomotive all the way through the cars coupled on. Only once the entire train had been inspected inside and out did the guards return to their posts, raise their spears and allow the train to pass into Canterlot proper.
The royal guard presence only increased as the train slowed to a stop at the station. It seemed like the whole city was being heavily guarded, making it feel more like a reinforced prison than the shining capitol city of Equestria.
"Okay, seriously, what's with all the guards?" Rainbow Dash openly questioned as the six mares and dragon departed the train. "It's starting to freak me out. And I don't freak easily!"
Rarity tried to shrug it off as best she could. "It could just be a precaution because the wedding is involving royalty, especially a royalty we've never heard of before," She concluded. "It would make sense to go the extra mile to protect the bride and groom if their positions are important. And royal weddings do tend to bring out the strangest of ponies."
As if to prove Rarity's point, Pinkie Pie promptly let out a sneeze. But instead of mucus, she shot out some confetti from her nose. The guards seemed to react with puzzled expressions upon witnessing such a display.
The fashionsita decided not to draw attention to the unusual display, least the guards have any reason to hold anypony for questioning. "What matters is we're here now, and we have work to do. I'm sure all will be explained before long."
"Great, you girls get to it," Twilight instructed as she began to trot off. "Me personally, I've got a certain big brother that I need to give a piece of my mind."
"Twilight, I-" Applejack cautioned. "I'm not sayin' you don't have a right to be upset with your brother for all of this, but please don't let your anger get the best of you. Give him an honest chance to explain himself. You're family, and family shouldn't stay mad at each other."
Twilight just replied. "I'll decide for myself how long I should stay mad at him. He'd better have a very good answer for his sake." And then she left her friends as she went to go find her brother.
Twilight really needed to talk to her brother about it, although suddenly her anger was taking over her body.
Twilight didn't have long to wait before she spotted her brother. He was out near the barracks, overseeing several of the royal guards while wearing that light purple armor he always wore while officially on duty. Without bothering for formalities, Twilight firmly called out to him from afar. "I've got something to say to you, mister. You've got a lot of nerve keeping me in the dark like this. If this is your idea of a joke, it's not funny."
Shining Armor immediately motioned to the guards to lower their spears. "Stand down, men," He instructed to them in a calm and friendly tone of voice. "I'll handle this myself: Family to family," Then he took off his helmet and ran out to greet his little sister, all but wrapping his hooves around her as he excitedly greeted! "Twily! Ah, I've missed so much you, kid."
Twilight groaned and snorted. "It hasn't been that long since we've seen each other," Then she immediately launched in the reason behind her unannounced confrontation. "How dare you not tell me in pony that you're getting married! I'm your sister, for pony's sake! In all the times we saw each other after I moved to Ponyville, you couldn't once have mentioned you were seeing somepony?!"
Shining Armor did his best not to look too guilty. "It's not like I didn't try, Twily. I kept meaning to tell you, but something always came up," Then he let out an unhappy sigh. "And I apologize for the increased security and lack of a formal invitation from me personally. But recently, a threat was made against Canterlot."
At that, any anger and resentment Twilight might have felt towards her older brother faded away. Now it was replaced by concern and worry. "What kind of threat? It must be a big deal if you have to cast your shield spell over an entire city. You've never done that before!"
The stallion with a majestic white coat firmly nodded, and even winced a bit from what seemed like pain. "Yeah, it's a pretty big deal, alright. We don't know who sent it, but they threatened an invasion of Canterlot and said they would not be denied. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were both convinced the threat was serious, and that it's out there, somewhere. Hence, the increased security measures," He then apologized. "Sorry you had to find out this way. I can only imagine how much of a shock it'll be for Mom and Dad when they see all of this."
The unicorn mare found herself moved to sympathy for her older brother. He could easily be forgiven now for not having found the time to notify her personally about his impending marriage. "Okay, I suppose I can understand. You've been busy since the threat was made, so busy that you forgot to tell me you were getting married. And here I was worried that you didn't think I was important anymore."
Shining smiled and put a hoof around his little sister as he walked alongside her out to a bridge. "Hey. You're my little sister. Of course you're important to me," With a wink and a grin he then added. "But I'd understand if you didn't want to be my best mare now."
"What? That's nonsense!" Twilight protested. "¡Of course I'll be your best mare, if you want me to!"
Shining nodded. "I can think of nopony more qualified than you, Twily."
Twilight blushed. But then another nagging thought came into her mind. "I'm still pretty ticked you're marrying somepony I don't know, though. You never even told me you were seeing somepony, let alone that it was royalty."
Shining Armor chuckled. "I'm surprised you haven't already figured it out, Twilight. You always prided yourself on knowing everything."
"So just who is this 'Princess Mi Amore Cadenza'?" The studious unicorn inquried with a mix of concern and curiosity. "Have I met them before, i know her?"
Shining nodded once again. "You most certainly have. Princess Mi Amore Cadenza is none other than Cadence, your old foalsitter."
At that, an image came into Twilight's mind of a pony she'd had fond memories of as a child: Memories of a certain pony she'd later come to learn was called an alicorn. "No, not the Princess Cadence!" She gasped as she turned to face her brother! "The greatest foalsitter in all the history of foalsitters?!"
The stallion chuckled. "You tell me. She was your foalsitter, after all. Her services were in high demand throughout Canterlot, yet she always told me she had a special attachment to you. A bond she never had with any other colt or filly under her care."
Twilight was practically beside herself as the memories flashed in her mind! She could still well remember what Princess Cadence looked like: A tall (though not as tall as Princess Celestia) alicorn with a candy pink coat. Her eyes were the most beautiful shade of light purple, always full of love and warmth. Her mane and tail consisted of moderate violet and rose locks always styled so straight, but not enough to cover up the light yellow streaks in the back of her head and tail. Freuqently when foalsitting, the princess would wear her mane and tail in buns, held up by beautiful blue bows.
Even though it had been years since Twilight last remembered being foalsat by Princess Cadence, she still fondly recalled her interactions with the alicorn. She'd only somewhat known that Cadence was in fact royalty, let alone the adopted niece of Princess Celestia (Cadence had always deflected the subject to somewhere else whenever she was asked about her parents or where she'd come from). It didn't change what the filly had thought of her favorite foalsitter. "I am so lucky to have you as my foalsitter!" She once told the candy colored alicorn.
Cadence had sweetly replied in that sweet tone of hers. "I'm the one who's lucky, Twilight."
A young Twilight had dismissively remarked. "But you're a princess. I'm just a regular old unicorn."
Cadence had immediately moved to dispel any such notions in her charge. "You are anything but a regular old unicorn, Twilight. Don't ever think otherwise. You're special just the way you are, and I wouldn't have you any other way."
Twilight could also remember the occasions where she had seen Princess Cadence demonstrate her unique abilities, such as on one occassion where the alicorn had managed to get a married couple to stop arguing about whether the mare should get a hooficure. But whenever she did so, Cadence was always quick to warn Twilight. "My powers are not to be taken lightly. I can only rekindle love where it already exists. I cannot compel any ponies to be in love if they don't want to be in love."
And best of all, the two ponies had developed their own secret hoofshake that was complete with its own set of special gestures. And whenever they did it they would always chant together: "Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!"
The flashbacks and fond memories ended as Twilight looked to her big brother with a smile. Any of her earlier complaints or concerns had now left her. Now everything made sense. "How many ponies can spread love wherever they go? I only know of one, and you're marrying her, B.B.B.F.F.!" She began to happily prance and bounce around not unlike you'd expect Pinkie Pie to do, all the while she chanted happily in a singsong tone of voice! "You're marrying Cadence! You're marrying Cadence!"
Suddenly, a voice that was very familiar to Twilight called out in a rather rude tone. "Hope I'm not interrupting anything important." It was an instantly recognizable pink coated alicorn. The only thing different about her appearance compared to what Twilight remembered was that the bows and the bun style were gone. Now Cadence's multi-colored mane and tail flowed naturally, to the point where one side of her mane hung lower than the other.
Overcome with joy, Twilight ran right up to the princess. "Hi, Cadence!" She greeted and then began to chant. "Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!" She made sure to repeat the gestures she'd always performed in the past when doing the chant.
Instead of joining in or even repeating the chant and the gestures, however, Princess Cadence's response was to bat an eye at Twilight. In particular, she seemed to be confused about why Twilight had brought her tail and her rump to face towards the princess without being prompted to. "Uh, what are you doing?" She asked with a quirked brow.
The studious unicorn found that response to be most odd. "Our secret hoofshake, Cadence. Don't you remember? We used to do it all the time when I was a filly."
"Did we now?" Cadence inquired in a confused tone of voice. "I'm sorry, guess it's been a long time since we've seen each other." And she trotted past Twilight without even acknowledging the unicorn's presence any further. She instead made her way over to Shining Armor and stood by him almost as if she were becoming possessive of him.
Shining Armor apologized to his sister. "Sorry, Twily, I guess Cadence doesn't remember foalsitting you as well as you did. But to be fair, we've had a lot on our mind since we agreed to get married. And the threat certainly hasn't helped matters."
"Oh yes, that," Princess Cadence commented with what sounded like concern. "It's a nasty bit of business, isn't it?"
Shining firmly vowed. "It can't be helped. We already made all the arrangements before the threat was issued. And we can't let whoever made it feel like they can just intimidate us. The wedding will go on as planned, and the extra security will make sure it goes off without a hitch," Then he told Twilight. "I need to get back to my post, and I know you've got your official overseer duties to take care of. But don't worry, Cadence will be coming by to check up on the preparations as well. I think I speak for both of us when I say we couldn't be more excited to have you here. Right, dear?"
Princess Cadence nodded and flashed a suspicious smiled as she replied in what sounded like a sinister tone of voice. "Absolutely."
Suspecting nothing, Shining then replied. "Well then, we'll let you get to it."
Twilight tried her best to throw herself whole heartedly into her role as the official overseer for the wedding, even now that she had her responsibilities as the best mare to consider. She love's so much his B.B.B.F.F, So she wants to do it correctly, she wants everything to be perfect, even for Cadence's behavior, even if she wants it to be or not...
-Yet everywhere she went and everything she checked on, she was ultimately reminded of what (or rather who) she was trying not to think about.
It started with the very first thing Twilight tasked herself with overseeing: Applejack's work on the catering for the wedding. Naturally, Applejack took it upon herself to give every single treat a genuine Sweet Apple Acres touch. And that extended to the cake itself, even though it was lavishly decorated.
Applejack herself was rushing all about the castle's kitchens (which she had been given full access to), checking and re-checking that everything was as it should be. "Cake, check. Ice sculpture, check. Best darn bite-size apple fritter you ever tasted..." She proceeded to shove one of the fritters into Twilight's mouth.
Twilight found the fritter to be absolutely tasty, Applejack's cooking more than spoke for itself. "Check." She licked her lips to clear away the crumbs, and found herself unable to resist laughing at the fact that Spike was busy playing with the plastic stand figures of both Shining Armor and Cadence.
Just then, who should come trotting into the kitchen unannounced but Princess Cadence herself? The way she carried herself was really telling, as if she seemed to be more concerned about herself than about anything else even though she had no reason to do so.
Applejack immediately rushed to greet the alicorn, bowing her head and even taking off her hat as a show of respect. "Well hiya, Princess Cadence!"
In a snooty and almost condescending tone of voice, Cadence coldly replied. "Please, call me Princess Mi Amore Cadenza."
Applejack was quick to correct herself. "Hiya, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. You come to check out what's on the menu for your big day? I hope you'll find it to your likin'."
"Oh no, that's okay. I don't need a taste test," Princess Cadence somewhat nervously replied. "I'm sure your cooking will be... adequate."
The farm mare wasn't one to take no for an answer, not even from royalty. "Oh, but I insist. I ain't settlin' for just 'adequate'. I want the food to be the best it can possibly be. It's your weddin', you deserve nothin' but the best," And she shoved a tray of freshly baked apple fritters in front of the candy colored alicorn. "Go ahead, it's on the house." said applejack waiting for cadence to taste the apple dessert.
Twilight watched as she saw the princess light up her horn. And Twilight had to blink to make sure she wasn't seeing things. Instead of the soft blue glow she remembered Cadence's magic always having, the aura coming off of Cadence's horn was a sickly shade of green. That struck her as odd, even though Twilight herself had had her own magic change color.
As for Princess Cadence, she carefully and cautiously took a bite of one of the apple fritters and after swallowing she said with a smile. "Delicious! I love-love-love them. Really" But then she gave off a nervous laugh.
The freckled earth pony proceeded to present the princess with a brown paper bag. "In that case, why don't you take a free sample of 'em to go? I know how you brides can be. So busy, you forget to get a little somethin' in your belly. This ain't my first rodeo, or weddin' as the case may be, after all, it's the house's treat u know" She chuckled a bit at her joke. "Sorry, couldn't resist."
Fortunately, it seemed Princess Cadence had no intention of saying anything mean or rude to Applejack in reply. Instead, she simply said. "Thanks, I think." Then she went on her way. Yet just before she left the kitchen, she looked all around to make sure nopony was watching, and then she tossed the paper bag into a trash can.
Twilight gasped upon witnessing such a display! Cadence had just lied, to Applejack of all ponies!
When Twilight went to see how Rarity was doing with designing the dress for the bride and her bridesmaids a short time later, she couldn't resist grumbling about what she'd witnessed. It didn't matter to her that Rarity was too busy to really pay attention, Twilight had to get this off her chest one way or another. "Oh, you should have seen how she acted back there, Rarity. I don't know when she changed, but she sure changed alright!" In a mocking tone of voice she then repeated what she'd heard Cadence say earlier. "'Please, call me Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.'"
"Did I hear somepony mention my name?" Princess Cadence asked, almost as if she knew she was being put on the spot.
Rarity, however, had more immediate concerns. She still had her ruby red sewing glasses on as well as her trusty tape measurer that hung around her neck. Immediately, she bowed to her unannounced visitor. "Your highness! Let me just start by saying what an honor it is to play a role in such a momentous occasion. Please, forgive my..." She briefly paused as if to think of the right word to say, finally settling for. "Frazzled state of appearance."
The princess just coldly replied in an uninterested tone of voice. "Uh-huh. Is my dress ready?"
The fashionista eagerly yet also nervously replied. "Yes, of course," And she couldn't keep herself from stammering as she continued to speak. "I've been working on it ever since I was given the assignment, and I think you'll be pleased with the results! Mmm!" It was a surprisingly simple and modest dress, even though it had yellow trim all around it.
Cadence immediately saw fit to register her discontent with the dress. "I was hoping for something with more beading and a longer train. Please tell me this is not your best!"
"Oh no no no, your highness!" Rarity protested and apologized! "As they say in the business: The customer is always right."
Cadence then looked over the bridesmaid dresses, which coincidentally matched the coats of the three unicorns currently serving as her bridesmaids: A cornflower blue coated unicorn with a bushy blue and bluish-white mane and tail that looked like toothpaste, eyes a sparkling shade of blue and a cutie mark depicting an hourglass. A whitish-gray coated unicorn with a somewhat curly pink mane and tail, arctic blue eyes and a cutie mark depicting three light blue stars. And a mint green coated unicorn with a curly pale grayish blue-green and white mane and tail and eyes the same gold color as the gold lyre depicted on her cutie mark. "And those should be a different color."
The whitish-gray coated unicorn registered her own objection almost immediately. "I think they're lovely."
"Me too! They're fine as they are!" The cornflower blue coated unicorn added.
And the mint green coated unicorn chimed in with her own thoughts. "I love them. Don't change a thing."
Yet all three unicorns were almost immediately intimidated into silence when Princess Cadence shot them a most harsh glare, something that did not go unnoticed by Twilight. Still, the princess reiterated her earlier demand. "Make them a different color, or you're fired. Understand?"
Rarity nodded. "Yes, your highness. I'll get right on it." And she set to work as the alicorn departed the room.
Twilight snorted. "Gee, maybe her name should be 'Princess Demandy-pants.'" She sarcastically quipped and went to go see how another aspect of the wedding was coming along: The reception.
Sure enough, when Twilight was checking on the wedding reception, who else but Princess Cadence should show up? And if the expression on her face was any indication, the princess was not pleased in the least by what Pinkie Pie had to offer. The entire hallway where the reception would take place looked rather... childish for lack of a better term.
But Pinkie Pie either didn't notice or didn't care about the bribe-to-be's unhappy expression and overall posture. "Okay,let me see. We've been over the games..." She briefly showed off a board game and rolled some dice that came with it. "And the dances..." She then stood next to a record player that was playing polka music. When the music stopped she gasped! "I think this reception is gonna be perfect! Don't you?"
"Yes, perfect," Princess Cadence declared before she began trotting off. And as she did so she added. "If we were celebrating a six-year-old's birthday party, that is."
Pinkie let out another gasp, apparently blind to the insult! "Why thank you! I knew birthday parties and wedding receptions were a lot alike, but I never knew they were this alike!"
The princess said nothing further, she just grinned, and then rolled her eyes when she was certain she was alone once more.
But unknown to either Cadence or Pinkie, Twilight had seen the whole thing. And she was anything but pleased. "Okay, that settles it," She unhappily thought to herself. "This is not the Princess Cadence I knew! There's no way she could've changed this much since I last saw her! Whoever this pony is, she is not Princess Cadence! So why would she want to marry my brother?"
That evening, Princess Luna came into take over the task of keeping watch over all of Canterlot. "Rest, dear sister," She told Princess Celestia. "As always, I will guard the night. I shall notify you if you're needed."
As Princess Celestia left to get some much needed rest, Twilight was calling an abrupt meeting of her friends along with Spike.
"What's this all about, Twilight?" Applejack questioned. "You've been actin' weird ever since you started overseein' the weddin' preparations."
Twilight immediately took the liberty of explaining her intentions. "It's about Cadence. She is the absolute worst bride-to-be ever! And I know she didn't always act so high and mighty, like she knew better than anypony else."
Rarity wasn't so sure. "Now Twilight, it's been year since you've seen her. Ponies can change. Besides, I'm sure Cadence is just under a lot of stress because of the wedding. Why shouldn't she demand the best? It's her wedding, after all."
"Well, she did yell at one of my songbirds during rehearsal." Fluttershy began.
Convinced that was an incriminating point, Twilight shouted out! "Aha! See? Rude!"
However, Fluttershy then explained. "But that's because he was singing way off key."
Twilight next tried to point out. "Well, Pinkie Pie, what do you have to say about the fact that she mocked your reception preparations as being for a 'six year old's birthday party'?"
Pinkie Pie pondered and put a hoof to her chin. "Maybe she could've put it in a bit nicer way. But then again, I guess the preparations are a bit childish. It's my first wedding reception I've ever planned, though."
Rainbow Dash then added. "I'm afraid I've been too busy working on my sonic rainboom to take any notice of Cadence's behavior, Twilight. But it sounds like Cadence is acting just like any other bride the night before her big day."
And so it was that all eyes fell upon Applejack as the studious unicorn questioned her. "Applejack, did you know that after Cadence said she, and I quote: 'Love love loved' your applefritters, she threw them in the trash?!"
Applejack's eyes went wide and she nearly fell off her chair in surprise! "No, I didn't, Twilight. I mean, she was probably just tryin' to spare my feelin''s and all, but she could've just said that. I worked darn hard on those fritters, no reason at all why she had to go and throw 'em out."
Twilight Sparkle nodded her head. "So you see, it's not just me. Cadence is acting like a total jerk. Or rather, somepony pretending to be Cadence is."
Applejack swallowed hard. "Sugarcube, don't take this the wrong way or anythin', but are you sure you're not just bein' possessive of your brother? You've been pretty darn mad ever since the weddin' invitation was brought to ya."
Twilight swished her tail as she protested. "I am not possessive of my brother! He doesn't need my permission to marry anypony," She then snorted. "But I get it, it's my word against all of yours. You think I don't have proof. This is starting to remind me more and more of Nightmare Moon: How I hoped I was wrong but every instinct told me I was right." And with that, she began to trot away from the table where the others were gathered.
"Twilight, wait!" Spike nervously called as he ran after her. "Don't do something you'll regret later. Please, let me help you! I'm part of your family too, you know."
But the studious unicorn only protested with an unhappy sigh. "No, Spike. I have to do this alone. I won't drag you into this when I'm the only one who thinks this isn't really Princess Cadence," Then she declared. "But I know somepony who will still listen to me. And one way or another, I will find out the truth"
"I will do it', even if no one belives me" whispered Twilight to go to her brother's house.
Twilight made her way across town to the barracks, more specifically to the captain's quarters. Sure enough, she found her big brother there. He had changed out of his royal guard attire and had dawned a bright red suit with three yellow buttons on the collar. Attached to the front was a small iron shield similar to the one depicted on Shining Armor's cutie mark.
The finely dressed stallion smiled as he saw his sister appear before him. "Twily! Your big brother's looking pretty good, don't you think?" He asked her as he struck a pose. When he didn't hear a response or even a joke from her, he knew immediately that something was wrong. And he knew from experience that this probably involved him. "Hey, everything okay, sis?" He questioned.
"No," Twilight unhappily sighed. "I wish there was an easier way for me to say it, or better yet, that somepony else were here to break the news to you," She swallowed hard and plucked up couarge, these next few words would be very important. "We need to talk, B.B.B.F.F. It's about Cadence."
"Huh, what about her?" Shining Armor pondered in an unsuspecting tone.
But before Twilight could say anything further on the matter, Princess Cadence announced her arrival with a sharp and abrupt clearing of her throat.
Shining was very surprised to see the love of his life show up unannounced, especially when it was late. "Oh, uh, hi, sweetie. Is something wrong?" He greeted as he hoped he didn't come across as nervous.
Under her breath, Twilight mumbled and grumbled. "She sure has a way of sneaking up on ponies."
"Could I speak to you for a moment, dear?" Cadence questioned her soon to be husband. "Alone if you wouldn't mind?"
Reluctantly, the suited stallion agreed as he told Twilight. "Better see what she wants." And he and Cadence went into another room to talk in private. Unknown to either of them, however, Twilight was able to peer into the room through a keyhole on the door.
"Look, we need to talk," Princess Cadence firmly insisted. "It's about your sister."
"Twily?" Shining Armor gulped as he stepped back a bit. "What about her?"
Princess Cadence replied in an ominous tone of voice. "You won't like it. But you have to know what she's been like today."
Shining immediately protested as he started to argue with his bride. "I– look, look, she's okay. She's worried about you, and about me."
The candy colored princesss argued back. "Will you just listen to me? You don't know what I know!"
"I'm listening, I'm listening," Shining protested again. "What is you want to tell me? What's going on between you and Twily? I thought you two got along?"
Rather than explain herself, however, the princess frowned as she fixed her gaze upon the suit Shining Armor was wearing. "I thought I made it perfectly clear I didn't want you to wear that stupid old thing."
Shining simply tugged on the buttons of his suit as he simply replied. "I told you, this was my favorite uncle's. He wore it to his wedding when he was my age. He said so himself.
"Yeah? So?" Cadence questioned with a roll of her eyes.
Shining Armor refused to be intimidated as he calmly asserted himself in defense of his decision. "So, I think I should wear it. It is my wedding after all."
Unknown to either pony, Twilight was now sticking her head through the door as she watched the argument unfold.
Cadence scoffed. "Are you disagreeing with me? Me?!"
The suited stallion firmly but calmly replied. "I guess I am," But then he winced and groaned as he put a hoof to his forehead, letting out a sharp cry of pain! "Ah!"
"Oh dear," Princess Cadence remarked with sounded more like malice than genuine concern. "Are you getting another of your headaches? I can fix that!"
"What are you-?!" Shining began but was quickly cut off as the pain from his headache forced him to his knees! Before he had a chance to react, he was struck head on by a beam of sickly green colored magic from Cadence's horn! He stood up very slowly, his eyes now glowing the same sickly green shade.
The princess smirked and smiled as she replied in a sickingly sweet tone of voice. "Feeling better now, hon?" And her smile only grew when she saw Shining Armor nod his head in agreement.
Twilight had seen everything, and she was immediately stricken with quite a rightful fright! She had been more right than she might have suspected about Princess Cadence's behavior! "She isn't just unpleasant and rude. She's downright evil!, Very very EVIL¡" And she ran away as fast as her hooves could carry her!
The screaming drew the attention of Shining Armor, who seemed to briefly snap out of whatever it was that Princess Cadence had done to him as he desperately called out to the distance! "Twilight!"
But Princess Cadence only coldly replied. "Just let her go."
"But she had something she was going to tell me," Shining remarked with worry. "You know how she gets when she starts one of her freakouts!"
Cadence shook her head from side to side. "Forget her. She's just trying to ruin my big day, our big day!" said her with a big smile
Twilight ran all the way back to the castle, hoping to find her friends and inform them of what she'd just witnessed! "Girls, you're not gonna believe this!" She frantically exclaimed as she pushed open a door to one of the private rooms.
But the unicorn's dark violet-purple eyes could hardly believe the sight she saw before upon entering! All of her friends were now wearing lavish dresses that were just like the ones Rarity had designed for the bridesmaids! That could only mean one thing.
Fluttershy confirmed the obvious all of a second later, when she flew up to Twilight and proudly showed off her new dress while exclaiming! "Can you believe it? We're gonna be Princess Mi Amore Cadenza's new bridesmaids! She asked us specifically!"
"New bridesmaids? What happened to her old bridesmaids?" Twilight questioned with concern, skepticism and most of all worry.
At that, Pinkie Pie pointed out. "You know, it was the strangest thing. She didn't say exactly, she just said her old bridesmaids had to step down. And she said she'd love-love-love it if we filled in for them."
Rarity added. "Seeing as we've been working so hard and everything"
"And you had your doubts about her," Applejack pointed out. "So maybe Cadence isn't who you remember bein'? She was more than willin' to make up for her bad behavior by askin' us to help out on short notice. Heck, she's even arranged for the Cutie Mark Crusaders to be the flower fillies. They're comin' here to spend the night with us!"
Rainbow Dash, however, complained about her dress as she said aloud. "You sure this is what I should wear? Doesn't seem all that aerodynamic. How can I perform a sonic rainboom in something so frilly?"
At that, Rarity eyed the dress and told her speedster friend. "I'll see what I can do. I'm sure Princess Cadence won't mind if I make a few last minute adjustments." "And i have to make more for the coronation of the Prince, i almost forgot, but we have so much time" say rarity "Yeah, yeah, but how long I'm going to have to be with this!"
Then as the rest of her friends all giggled and chattered in excitement, Twilight left the room and sighed to herself. "Looks like I'm on my own again. Maybe forever," Tears started to form in her eyes. "Maybe it's just me. Maybe I'm just seeing what I want to see," And then she began to sob audibly. "Have I truly lost my brother forever?"
And with this unhappy thought, Twilight sat down on one of the castle courtyard's steps and began to sing to herself:
He was my big brother, best friend
Forever...
And now, we'll never do anything
Together...
Author's Note
This is the first fanfic that I write, I don't speak English totally but I understand it, I hope you forgive me for my mistakes in orthography, but I hope you like this fic.
And I used some writings from other fanfis, including from wattpad, I based on what I wanted and I put it into words, I am very very new at writing this type of "books" and more so for English, even though I am very good at it.
