Love: Curses at Dusk

Chapters

1. Figuring out the Frames
2. Bad News at Breakfast
3. More News & Fluttershy's Theory

1. Figuring out the Frames

The wind was like harmony as it quickly brushed up against her face and soft, luscious mane. The air was nice and perfect and it almost was like she had gone to paradise. Her wings spread out and she soars up into the sky, for a test flight to relax. Her hooves graciously pulled on the invisible thread in the air to fly. She was known by many, many ponies. Her name, was Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.

Cadenza, or Cadence, was an alicorn who was the niece of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. She found herself lucky to live side-by-side with them, because it wasn’t often that it could happen. Her talent was helping ponies who were in tight relationships that needed a nudge so the ponies in love could learn to love better, without so much feuding and fighting. Unlike the ‘Love Potion’ Hearts and Hooves day was based off of, Cadence could help without any harm.

The wind was majestic as her horn was slowly enveloped in a pink flame of amazing beauty; something that was like seeing the sun never come back. The pink flame suddenly shot up at the lowering sun, turning it more of a pinkish orange like the sunset. Suddenly, the sun had a lightly painted heart on it. She smiled at her work as the poem of love began to echo out, and she sang along with it.

“I love the way you look at me,
Your eyes so bright and blue.
I love the way you kiss me,
Your lips so soft and smooth.

I love the way you make me so happy,
And the ways you show you care.
I love the way you say, "I Love You,"
And the way you're always there.

I love the way you touch me,
Always sending chills down my spine.
I love that you are with me,
And glad that you are mine.”

The poem was one that showed every lover that love was for eternity, even if rough times were ahead. But the delicate pink alicorn had dedicated that very poem to her love forever, Shining Armor. She had loved his so dearly and even for being married for two years, they had never had a decision to have a child or not.

After the poem had faded off, Cadence spun around like silk gently in the air and flew back to Canterlot Castle, a place full of bright colors. There waiting, would be her aunt Luna, ready to raise to moon. Not to waste time, Cadence quickened her flight and she saw Luna on the balcony, smiling at her. Cadence smiled back as she slowed down and stepped onto the balcony.

“Well done, Cadence. You always make Tia’s sun look as amazing as ever.” Luna said, a slight anxious note in her tone. Cadence nodded and blushed at the pleasing comment.

“Thank you, Luna. Are we ready to raise the moon?” Cadence asked, watching as the sun finally slipped behind the mountains. Luna nodded and blue aura began to envelop both of them. Luna’s eyes turned completely white as well as Cadence’s. Luna’s horn enveloped with a darker blue aura and the moon began to rise above the sky.

Cadence’s horn now enveloped with its regular color; and the moon continued to rise, it gained a pinkish glow like the sun, and a blue heart. Cadence’s poem began to recite through the air and Luna sang along with Cadence.

“Moon in your splendor,
Shine your light on me,
Blue moon, half moon,
Makes no difference,
You see, to me you will always be
The man in the moon,
Who lights the way, for my love,
So he can open my heart with his key.
Man in the moon, silvery moon
Light my life with thee.”

The song was on a silver note and the moon looked like a crystal ball that had been enchanted by some sort of beautiful sorcery. Cadence’s eyes turned normal and she lowered back down but Luna was still high in the air. The moon finally reached the top where it continued on its own and Luna lowered back down too.

“Amazing...where do you come up with these poems, Cadence?” Luna asks, watching the moon’s blue heart flicker in the far distance. Cadence chuckled a little and responded,

“Oh Luna, you must enjoy your surroundings to create a poem..some poems take certain states, like depression or happiness.” Luna stared at Cadence with interest as she went on and on about her poems.

“Ah, I see. Well, Tia must be waiting for me. I’ll let her you said goodnight, alright?” Luna said, looking back at the moon in honor. She stared down at the Canterlot towns to see busy ponies quickly go home to sleep.

“Of course, Luna. Goodnight.” Cadence replied. Luna kissed her forehead and then quietly trotted off to the door. Cadence smiled as she heard the door open and shut quietly, and then open again. She turned to see Shining Armor coming in.

“Oh, hello Shining~” She said as he trotted over to her, taking off his armor and placing it on the rack. He smiled at her and they both closed in, kissing for a moment. Shining broke the kiss slowly and then blushed.

“What a busy day huh? I heard you and Luna singing...you both make harmony.” He said, going over to the bed and snuggling in. Cadence followed him and then they both snuggled up to each other happily, and Cadence sighed.

“Well, goodnight, Shining love.” She cooed, about to turn off their light. She used her magic to close the balcony doors and Shining replied softly,

“Goodnight, Mi Amore Cadenza.” Cadence giggled and with one last blink, the light was turned off and they were fast asleep. Well, one was.

***

Cadence never knew she had an evil side, however, she dreamed evil dreams frequently. If only she knew that every night while she was asleep, her evil self would rise and start chaos in Equestria.

Evil Cadence, other know as Virus, woke up, in the body of Cadence. Virus’s eyes looked similar to Chrysalis’s, but with more of a virus coding in the Iris. Virus smiled and quickly got out of bed. Suddenly, her body went different. She turned into a walking pony virus. Her body was completely made out of a coding virus, but she had the same body as Cadence. Her cutie mark was Cadence’s, but a Green Heart with green bubbles around it.

Virus chuckled softly but then swiftly turned to Shining Armor, who was shifting around in bed and mumbling Cadence’s name. Without any other distractions, Virus opened the balcony doors, went onto the balcony, and shut them quietly. Virus was excited to pull Canterlot into a nutty love town, and her intentions, she knew, couldn’t possibly be stopped.

She pulls her wings out, and soars over Canterlot. First up high, but then she began to lower down by the houses. She first landed on the house of Fancypants, who seemed to be having a party. There were several other (drunk) voices in the houses and Virus grinned. “This will be a perfect one...” She said in her raspy, robotic voice. She used her power to turn into Berry Punch, who she had found out, was not at the party. She dropped down by the door and rang the doorbell.

The door opened and Virus was greeted by a drunk Carrot Top, her body smelling like alcohol and saliva. Virus enjoyed the smell, it made her feel like her deed was done. Carrot Top spoke in words that were so shaky, it was like she was on a ride.

“Hey...hic! Berry Punch...so glad you could...hic! make it! Come on...hic! in the party is great!”
Virus simply nodded and trotted in, to find the house was at complete disaster. The floor was covered in wine bottles, beer cans, and other alcoholic beverages. Virus grinned as she saw that ponies were already doing their jobs; some ponies were banging each other, some were simply making out. However, Virus knew her job wasn’t done yet.

She made her way upstairs, many ponies already passed out in her path. She heard moaning and groaning and vomiting, and all other noises. Her magic spread high in the air filling the house with a vanilla smell, intoxicating everypony in the house with love curses. Whichever pony the other pony was looking at, no matter what gender, they became instantly in love.

She heard cries out of “Oh my Celestia, I love you sooooo much” and “I think we should get married” and all sorts of icky lovey dovey stuff. Ponies who were asleep were still intoxicated, even if they were asleep. Anypony they were close to they would become instantly in love in the morning.

Virus chuckled and then quickly left the house to get back to Canterlot Castle. She turned back into herself and flew up into the sky, onto the balcony. She landed and opened the doors and then quietly shut them again.

She gets back into bed next to Shining Armor, and when her eyes close, her body transforms into the beautiful Cadence once again.

***

2. Bad News at Breakfast

Authors note: On occasion the story will go into 1st person. Please don’t mind it, it won’t go 1st person often.

***

I was really groggy when I woke up. I had no intire clue why I was, but I had another terrible nightmare. This time it was a house full of ponies who were having a crazy party. I think it was in Canterlot or somewhere, but, needless to say, I was very hungry as usual. My stomach yelled angrily at me and I muttered for it to shut up for once. It howled all the way down the hall and the guards gave me really funny looks. I just decided to ignore them, though.

Luna was waiting at the stairs for me and she greeted me like always. However, for breakfast at the dining room today, we had some guests; Twilight Sparkle and her friends. I was excited to see Twilight again because, well, I hadn’t seen her in months. I quickly rushed downstairs and gave her a big hug, and Shining Armor came over to join in with the hug. Next thing you know, everypony is joining in and its a group hug. Even Tia joined in!

After chatting amongst us the chefs brought in a delicious breakfast banquet for us all to enjoy. I was excited to see some food and after the first bite I ate, my stomach stopped complaining. I was just about to finish my plate when the doors opened and slammed against the wall, a guard coming in with a newspaper. He told me he thought I should read it aloud and I wondered why, but before arguing he left the room. I blushed at the crowd and then spoke up.

“Evil Alicorn: Yesterday, residents in the west side of Canterlot experienced a major increase in marriages as somehow everypony at Fancypants party was cursed with some sort of love curse. After the sighting the evil alicorn wasn’t seen anywhere else. Residents believe that the evil alicorn is a changeling; because so-called “Berry Punch” had showed up right when the cursing happened, and left quickly. “I saw her leave the house and transform into an alicorn! She looked similar to Princess Cadence and she flew up to her balcony!” Says local resident Upper Crust. Authorities are trying to find out who this evil alicorn is.”

Everypony gasped and stared at me. Some sort of love curse? It sounded like what I saw in my nightmare! I was really confused and Tia gave me a very scornful look. I shuddered and both her and Luna ordered me to come into Tia’s room to discuss the very thing. I dropped the newspaper on the table and then quietly followed both of them into Tia’s room. Once we got there Tia started to speak.

“I am very disappointed in you Cadence. Why would you do this to everypony? Or should I say, Chrysalis.” Chrysalis?! She thought I was that dirty mouth-full of a pony? Suddenly, without warning, Tia took her hoof and hit me across the face. Hard. It hurt very bad and I fell to the floor crying. Luna quickly galloped over to me and glared at her sister.

“What art thou doing to our niece, sister?! She is not thou changeling thou speaketh of, sister, you rid of her years ago!” Luna cried, and suddenly Tia stumbled back. My face felt very hot and I could feel myself losing blood. Luna cried out for a guard and then yelled at Tia. “Looketh sister, what you have thou done to Cadence! GUARD! WE NEED THY HELP!”

Tons of guards came barreling in, and before I knew it, my mind told me to sleep. And without regretting it, I closed my eyes, and I fainted.

***

I woke up in Canterlot Hospital and fidgeted around violently. A tube was in my mouth and cords were in my arms too and I suppose, they were giving me blood. I shuddered and Luna came trotting in with the Doctor. She sighed with relief and slowly pressed her hoof against my cheek. I tried to smile, but with the tube in my mouth, I felt pretty hopeless.

“Art thou fine, child?” Luna asked. I kind of shrugged my shoulders, and Luna smiled. “Will thy niece be okay, Doctor?” Luna tried to give the most reassuring smile, but it was hard to feel better. Blamed for something I didn’t do? Lucky me, I guess. The doctor stared at the screen to check my vitals and then sighed.

“Well, the hit was pretty bad, and she lost quite an amount of blood from the hit, but I’m sure she’ll recover in a few days, at the most. Those shoes you wear and very sharp and they cut some of her cheek tissue.” Luna nodded and then she looked around the room. I didn’t know why she was looking around like that, had she ever been in a hospital before? Nopony really knows.

“Well, I now will speaketh with thy sister now, Cadence. Rest well.” I nodded a little and when the doors closed the doctor began to speak with me.

“Now Cadence, I want you to know that your injury is not too bad, but I need you to be careful when chewing your food or else that cheek tissue will start bleeding again. In a couple of hours the nurse will bring in dinner.” Dinner? Wow, how long had I been out? I mean really, I wasn’t even that hungry and I had missed lunch. Strange. Oh well, guess I’ll have to wait anyways.

The rest of the day I was just bored to death. Next thing you know, the nurse brings the dinner. She takes out my tube and I eat little by little. After the food I feel happy and satisfied.

Then, I just fall asleep.

***

Virus woke up and smiled happily. She transformed into herself and ripped the tubes out, mending up her patches with her own magic. She snorted and quietly trotted down the halls when she heard voices. She quickly transformed into a nurse and then continued down the halls, passing by every room.

The doctors and nurses were sitting around by a screen that had a camera view of every room. Each room flickered over by the channel when they flicked over to Cadence’s room. They were baffled to see she was gone; the tubes hanging by the side of the bed. The suddenly got out of their spot and ran over to her room.

Virus followed behind and then without any warning again, released her magic. This time, the air smelled the strawberries. Virus smiled when the doctors and nurses ran out of her room and left the building crying more icky lovey dovey stuff. Virus was happy but she was still not done yet. She followed out the building and then passed by other buildings, creating havoc and ponies crying for love.

Finally, after a nights work, Virus went back to the hospital, and went into her room, closing the door. She lay back in bed, and before you know it, she transforms back into the lovely Princess Cadence.

***

3. More News & Fluttershy's Theory

Cadence woke up to find her body completely mended up. She was very confused. How did it happen? She rubs her eyes with her hooves and turns to the side to find the tubes that were in her arm hanging on the side, and then she looks at her arm. No holes. No bleeding, no nothing. What happened last night? Then the news from yesterday hits her. The evil alicorn did this.

It all make sense now...I’m the evil alicorn! She thinks to herself. She calls for help but nopony answers her plead. She struggles to get out of bed and suddenly she hears loud galloping down the hall. It came from what seemed like two ponies. And it was two ponies: Tia and Luna. Cadence pleads again and they come barreling into her room.

“Cadence! Are you alright?!” Luna asks, coming over to check her. She notices the tubes hanging on the side of the bed and her body flinches. “What happened to you?!” Cadence shakes her head and tries to think more but her mind is full of fog. She suddenly snaps and with a hoarse voice, she cries out,

“The evil alicorn is me!” Tia shakes her head sternly, trying to object the thought of her own niece being evil. But it grasps her so hard she nearly plunges at Cadence again. But with Luna there, Luna creates a barrier of magic to block Tia away.

“Sister! She means it in a different way!” Luna yells. Tia “Oh!”’s and then backs away, apologizing once more to Cadence. “Cadence, what do you mean, you're the evil alicorn?” Cadence tries to think of her theory again and then her face lights up.

“Every night, my body turns evil and terrorizes the city! It all make sense!” Tia tries to think of a different theory but she tries to add more detail instead.

“So if your body is the evil alicorn, how can you stop it..?” She asks. Cadence shrugs her shoulders when more ponies seem to be galloping down the hall to her room. Twilight, Fluttershy, and Rarity come in and they cry out for Cadence.

“Princess Cadence, what happened?!” She asks quickly. However, Luna nods at Cadence and speaks for her herself. She says it in a defying tone that seems to scare everypony out of their wits.

“Dearest Twilight, Cadence is the evil alicorn. Whenever she goes to sleep the spirit takes over the body of her.” Twilight jumped back startled and Fluttershy simply lowers her head in fear. Rarity seems pretty neutral about it, but something seems weird that she isn’t too concerned.

“We have to help you, Cadence.” Twilight says sternly. Cadence nods and both Rarity and Twilight begin to think of some ideas.

“Maybe we can put you in some sort of coma?” Twilight asks.

“Or possibly we can watch over you at night when you sleep so she doesn’t escape?” Rarity replies.

“Or maybe we can use a spell so the spirit gets sucked out of you?” Twilight asks again.

“Girls, I um..have a better idea..” Fluttershy says softly under her pink mane, however, nopony can hear her.

“Maybe we can tie you up with some of my ribbon at night?” Rarity says happily.

“Girls, I have a um..better idea..” Fluttershy says a little louder, but still nopony can hear her.

“Oh! Maybe we can lock you up in a cell!” Twilight says, Cadence’s face becoming more and more concerned and afraid. Finally, the ignorance of her makes Fluttershy blow her top.

“Girls!” Fluttershy yells, and everypony suddenly stares at her. Fluttershy blushes and lowers her voice. “I have a better idea.”

“Then what's your idea, Fluttershy?” Twilight asks, looking at her more closely. Fluttershy smiles.

“Cadence should try and not sleep, that way her evil self can’t be summoned.” Twilight sighs, thinking of other things that could go along with it.

“What if her evil self summons when she’s asleep?” Fluttershy sighs and just whispers,

“Just an idea..” Twilight sighs and shrugs her shoulders.

“I guess its worth a try, hopefully it works.” So everypony cares for Cadence the whole day and at night, they go up to Canterlot Castle to rest, leaving a doctor and Fluttershy to watch the screen and make sure she’s okay.

Cadence goes for a couple hours, but its too much to handle just to keep up for herself. Before she knows it, she’s beat, and she falls fast asleep.

***

Virus’s eyes open, even more aglow than ever, and if only did the friends and princesses know, that Virus was listening in while contained in Cadence’s body. So, she decided to terrorize Fluttershy and the doctor, taking away one less friend of the group to help. So, she gets out of the bed and quietly goes halfway down the hall.

“What was that?” Says one of the two voices, which she presumes as the doctor. Then the other voice speaks up, but more quietly.

“I don’t know, should we um...go check?” She knows this is Fluttershy. But before they can check, Virus uses her magic to make the air smell like strawberries again, creating the love curse. She hears some muttering noises then both of the ponies break.

“You're my honey bear of feathers, Fluttershy~” Says the doctor, and Fluttershy giggles, and speaks in a terribly cute voice.

“You're my snuggle bunny cutie cat, Mr. Doc~” Virus giggles evilly as they continue to talk in lovey dovey voices.

“Miss Fluttershy, I heard you have a case of the cutie wootie loveitus~” Fluttershy giggles and then in an over-exaggerated voice, she says,

“Oh its soooo true, Mr. Love Doctor, I have the case of cutie wootie snuggly loveitus for you~” The Doctor laughs and then Virus hears kissing.

“I’m soooo in love, Miss snuggly bunny bear of love Fluttershy~” Virus chuckles a little more and then trots back to her room, the sounds of over-exaggerated lovey dovey words her medication and power, just like Chaos is Discords power.

And once more, she hops back in bed, turning into Cadence again.

***